Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Mark 2:1-12

Transcript

Mark 2:1-12 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

• 0:00
  Alright, and please take out your copy of God's Word.
• 0:02
  Turn to the Gospel according to Mark, chapter 2.
• 0:09
  I am thankful that I read the lyrics of the song, In the Beloved.
• 0:12
  I actually had forgotten I had done that.
• 0:15
  !
• 0:30
  And when He returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that He was at home.
• 0:36
  And many were gathered together so that there was no more room, not even at the door.
• 0:41
  And He was preaching the word to them.
• 0:42
  And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic carried by four men.
• 0:46
  And when they could not get near Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him.
• 0:50
  When they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.
• 0:54
  And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,
• 0:57
  Son, your sins are forgiven.
• 1:00
  Now some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in their hearts,
• 1:02
  Why does this man speak like that?
• 1:04
  He is blaspheming.
• 1:06
  Who can forgive sins but God alone?
• 1:09
  And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His Spirit that they thus questioned within themselves,
• 1:13
  said to them,
• 1:14
  Why do you question these things in your hearts?
• 1:17
  Which is easier to say to the paralytic,
• 1:18
  Your sins are forgiven?
• 1:20
  Or to say, Rise, take up your bed, and walk.
• 1:24
  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.
• 1:28
  He said to the paralytic,
• 1:29
  I say to you, Rise, pick up your bed, and go home.
• 1:34
  And He rose and immediately picked up His bed and went out before them all,
• 1:37
  so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying,
• 1:40
  We never saw anything like this.
• 1:43
  Join me in prayer.
• 1:44
  Father, certainly this day we can praise You for Your mercy to us.
• 1:53
  We were once dead, imprisoned by sin.
• 1:57
  But because of Your loving kindness,
• 2:01
  You bestowed such a great mercy that we might have the redemption of our souls in Christ.
• 2:06
  And now You have given to us abounding grace.
• 2:11
  We have been set adrift and float effortlessly on a sea of grace.
• 2:17
  You have given us this church.
• 2:19
  And I praise You for every precious soul in this room coming together to encourage and build up one another in love.
• 2:27
  You have given us Your word that we might look at, behold, the One, the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior.
• 2:39
  And You have granted to us part of Yourself, Your Trinitarian Self, the Spirit that abides within us,
• 2:48
  that we might understand and apply these truths to our hearts.
• 2:53
  I pray, Father, You will accomplish much with us this day.
• 2:57
  We pray this in Christ's name.
• 2:59
  Amen.
• 3:01
  So we come to a rather well-known story here at the beginning of chapter 2.
• 3:07
  Before we get to that, I want to, by way of reminder, kind of bring us where we've been so far.
• 3:14
  We come to this pretty intense place.
• 3:17
  And in the next chapter, we're going to see Jesus actually confront the religious culture in a number of ways.
• 3:23
  The next five stories specifically are aimed right at that.
• 3:27
  He's flying in the face of religious culture in His day.
• 3:32
  Up to this point, though, He's been working on establishing His authority.
• 3:36
  That's what His ministry has been about.
• 3:37
  And that is the way in which Mark has recorded this for us.
• 3:41
  That we can see that He has authority over Satan.
• 3:44
  That we see that He has authority over demons and over sicknesses.
• 3:48
  Right?
• 3:48
  That He teaches as one with authority.
• 3:53
  But this is the first time in the Gospel of Mark that Christ proclaims His own deity.
• 3:59
  That Christ says, I am God.
• 4:03
  I and the Father are one.
• 4:06
  Now to be sure, Mark has already said that.
• 4:08
  He started the book out that way.
• 4:10
  He wanted us to be very sure that we understood that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• 4:16
  The Son of God.
• 4:18
  We see that right there at the very beginning.
• 4:21
  Right?
• 4:21
  But here we see Jesus for the very first time doing this.
• 4:26
  Proclaiming His deity.
• 4:28
  And we find Him back in the city of Capernaum.
• 4:32
  Right?
• 4:32
  Verse 1, chapter 2 says,
• 4:34
  And when He returned to Capernaum after some days.
• 4:39
  Now Capernaum was a city located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.
• 4:44
  Recall in verse 16 of chapter 1, He was passing alongside the Sea of Galilee where He calls Simon, which most of us know as Peter, as well as His brother Andrew.
• 4:57
  And following that, verse 21, and they went into Capernaum.
• 5:01
  So they were fishing along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
• 5:04
  And they went into the city located there on the coastline called Capernaum.
• 5:09
  Here He heals a demon-possessed man.
• 5:11
  Then in verse 29, He immediately, Mark's favorite word, leaves the synagogue and enters the house of Simon, Peter, and Andrew there in Capernaum where He heals all who were sick and oppressed that were brought to Him.
• 5:26
  That's what happens there in verse 29.
• 5:29
  In verse 38 and 39, He says to them, the disciples,
• 5:33
  Let us go on to the next towns that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.
• 5:39
  So they leave Capernaum to go to other towns, verse 39,
• 5:43
  And He went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
• 5:49
  We don't know where He goes exactly from there, but He goes and He travels around Galilee.
• 5:55
  Luke chapter 5, verse 12, speaking of this activity of Jesus cleansing the leper, which we studied last week in verses 40 through 45,
• 6:04
  Luke chapter 5, verse 12 says, while He was in one of the cities.
• 6:09
  So we're not really sure which city He was in, but while He was in one of the cities.
• 6:13
  We talked about last week how He healed a leper.
• 6:16
  And in so doing, traded places with that leper.
• 6:20
  The leper was welcomed once again back into the community of faith, could dwell amongst people.
• 6:25
  And as a result, Jesus had to go out to desolate places and minister.
• 6:30
  But when we get to chapter 2, verse 1, it's been some time, after some days, which in Greek just means some time.
• 6:38
  We don't know exactly how long.
• 6:40
  But it would seem that maybe the hubbub has died down.
• 6:44
  That the fervency, these people were following Him around because He was doing healing, has died down a bit.
• 6:49
  And He could enter back into a city.
• 6:52
  And so He's back in Capernaum.
• 6:55
  Now, you'll note that He is in a home.
• 6:59
  And it's said He was at home.
• 7:03
  But Jesus wasn't from Capernaum, was He?
• 7:05
  Jesus was from Nazareth.
• 7:08
  We know that's where He came out of.
• 7:09
  He came out of Nazareth, of Galilee, to begin His ministry.
• 7:14
  So it's believed that when He said He's at home, that He's at His home base in the area.
• 7:19
  When He's in Capernaum, He stayed at, more than likely, Peter and Andrew's house.
• 7:25
  This is the proposition I put before you, that when He's at home, this means He's at His home in Capernaum,
• 7:32
  which would have been with Simon Peter and with Andrew.
• 7:35
  And we see, once again, a great crowd gathering around Him.
• 7:40
  A crowd so large, they're packing into the house and filling the doorway so that this paralytic cannot be brought in.
• 7:46
  And they try. They try to get Him in, but it's such a packed audience that cannot be brought in.
• 7:52
  But what is Jesus doing?
• 7:53
  Let's look once again.
• 7:55
  What is it that He's doing?
• 8:00
  And He was preaching the Word to them.
• 8:02
  There it is, at the end of verse 2.
• 8:04
  And He was preaching the Word to them.
• 8:07
  And remember last week, we talked about Jesus' activity as a healer, as a miracle worker.
• 8:12
  And that this was simply meant to validate His message.
• 8:17
  Jesus' primary purpose, His major goal as He traveled around during this time, was to preach the truth.
• 8:27
  We see it recorded in chapter 1, verse 15.
• 8:29
  He says,
• 8:29
  The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.
• 8:33
  Repent and believe in the gospel.
• 8:37
  He came to preach the coming of the kingdom.
• 8:39
  We get to delve into so many wonderful parables in the Gospel of Mark.
• 8:45
  I was flipping through them this week and just getting really excited about the coming chapters.
• 8:49
  I can't wait to get to chapter 4.
• 8:50
  We'll take our time to get there.
• 8:52
  But I'm going to be really excited when we get to chapter 4.
• 8:54
  We get to start talking about the parables of the kingdom.
• 8:57
  This is the language that Jesus Christ used all the time.
• 9:00
  And so I think it's important that we just pause for a moment to think about what is the kingdom of God.
• 9:06
  A contemporary Old Testament scholar by the name of Graham Goldsworthy, which I would commend to you.
• 9:12
  He wrote a wonderful book called According to Plan.
• 9:15
  Said,
• 9:15
  The kingdom of God is God's people in God's place under God's rule.
• 9:22
  God's people in God's place under God's rule.
• 9:26
  And I think that's a beautifully simple picture of what the kingdom of God is.
• 9:31
  And this was what Jesus Christ came to preach.
• 9:35
  The coming of the kingdom of God.
• 9:38
  There's this massive crowd that's gathered around and he's preaching to them.
• 9:43
  But a side note that I think is important to mention about crowds.
• 9:48
  Numbers are not necessarily the measure of a successful ministry.
• 9:53
  Numbers are not necessarily the measure of a successful ministry.
• 9:59
  In fact, I would argue the largest church in America right now is led by a heretic.
• 10:06
  Numbers are not necessarily the measure of a successful ministry.
• 10:11
  In fact, in Acts chapter 1, after Christ has been crucified, we see together gathered 120 disciples.
• 10:19
  120 disciples gathered together after the crucifixion of Christ.
• 10:26
  This was the fruit in the flesh, in those days, measurable fruit of the work of Christ.
• 10:35
  Not the 5,000 and the 4,000 that he fed.
• 10:39
  Not the crowds that followed him everywhere, even into desolate places.
• 10:43
  These are the folks that were disciples of Christ.
• 10:47
  That had committed their lives to him.
• 10:50
  Look around this room.
• 10:52
  There are over 120 people in this room.
• 10:55
  I'm going to take just a stab at 150.
• 10:57
  I don't really know that.
• 10:58
  I know there are more than 120 people because I counted.
• 11:01
  I got to 120 and stopped.
• 11:02
  Right?
• 11:06
  This was the measure of his physical ministry.
• 11:09
  Now we know that the ministry of Christ has expanded far beyond that.
• 11:12
  That the ministry of Christ supersedes, stands over any ministry of any man.
• 11:17
  Everything belongs to him.
• 11:19
  Right?
• 11:19
  His ministry is infinite in measure.
• 11:23
  Right?
• 11:23
  But the measurable impact of this.
• 11:26
  We must not look at these crowds and assume that they were all followers of Christ.
• 11:33
  The more proper thing to assume, and we're going to see it over and over and over again,
• 11:38
  is that they just wanted what Christ could give them.
• 11:41
  And that was healing.
• 11:43
  Right?
• 11:43
  They just wanted to become and be made better.
• 11:45
  They wanted to behold something miraculous.
• 11:47
  Look at what he did.
• 11:48
  That was incredible.
• 11:50
  Right?
• 11:50
  We would do the same thing.
• 11:51
  Would we not?
• 11:52
  Anybody like illusions?
• 11:54
  Pretty fun.
• 11:55
  Right?
• 11:55
  We know it's fake.
• 11:56
  He was doing amazing things for real.
• 11:58
  And people were gathering to see what he was going to do.
• 12:02
  So this is the crowd that surrounds him.
• 12:05
  Right?
• 12:05
  Chapter 4, verses 10 through 12 says,
• 12:09
  And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
• 12:14
  And he said to them,
• 12:16
  To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God.
• 12:19
  But for those outside, everything is in parables.
• 12:22
  And he quotes from Isaiah chapter 6, verses 9 through 10,
• 12:25
  So that they may indeed see, but not perceive.
• 12:29
  And may indeed hear, but not understand.
• 12:32
  Lest they should turn and be forgiven.
• 12:34
  The very reason that Jesus Christ spoke in parables,
• 12:38
  So that these amassed crowds wouldn't understand what was being taught,
• 12:43
  Unless it was revealed to them by the Spirit.
• 12:47
  The very reason he used such complex languages,
• 12:51
  And spoke in stories so often,
• 12:54
  Was this, by his own account.
• 12:56
  You can hate that all you want to,
• 12:58
  But these are the words of Christ.
• 12:59
  This is why he spoke in these ways,
• 13:01
  To filter the crowds.
• 13:03
  For those who had the working regeneration of the Spirit in their lives.
• 13:09
  And so this is the scene that we see painted.
• 13:11
  He's sitting in, more than likely,
• 13:13
  Simon Peter and Andrew's home,
• 13:14
  With a great crowd.
• 13:15
  And he's preaching the gospel.
• 13:17
  The coming of the kingdom of God.
• 13:20
  And verse 3 says,
• 13:21
  That some men, four men,
• 13:23
  Brought a paralytic to him.
• 13:25
  We don't know exactly what degree this man was paralyzed,
• 13:28
  But certainly paralyzed enough,
• 13:30
  That he could not walk under his own strength.
• 13:32
  Right?
• 13:33
  He could have been a quadriplegic.
• 13:35
  He could have been paralyzed for the neck down.
• 13:37
  We do not know.
• 13:38
  But they carried him in on a pallet,
• 13:40
  And they could not make headway.
• 13:42
  Verse 4 says,
• 13:42
  When they could not get near him because of the crowd,
• 13:45
  They removed the roof above him.
• 13:48
  When they made an opening,
• 13:49
  Let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.
• 13:51
  Now it's really important to understand,
• 13:54
  That in this day,
• 13:55
  There was a great association of illness with sin.
• 14:01
  A great association between the two.
• 14:04
  This culture,
• 14:05
  This religious culture of this day,
• 14:07
  Saw people who were infirmed,
• 14:09
  And assumed that it was a punishment from God.
• 14:12
  And God has certainly used illness to judge the world.
• 14:15
  That is one of the effects of our fallenness.
• 14:17
  Fallenness.
• 14:19
  Right?
• 14:19
  But it does not necessarily follow,
• 14:21
  That because of sin,
• 14:23
  We suffer.
• 14:25
  Great example of this.
• 14:27
  John chapter 9,
• 14:28
  Verses 1 through 3,
• 14:29
  Says,
• 14:30
  Of Jesus,
• 14:30
  As he passed by,
• 14:32
  He saw a man blind from birth.
• 14:34
  And his disciples asked him,
• 14:36
  So here's the religious assumption.
• 14:38
  His disciples asked him,
• 14:39
  Rabbi,
• 14:40
  Who sinned,
• 14:41
  This man or his parents,
• 14:43
  That he was born blind?
• 14:44
  Jesus answered,
• 14:45
  It was not this man who sinned,
• 14:47
  Or his parents,
• 14:48
  But that the works of God might be displayed in him.
• 14:52
  So you have to catch clearly,
• 14:54
  That the two are not mutually exclusive.
• 14:57
  Right?
• 14:57
  That they don't coexist together,
• 14:58
  But the culture thought they did.
• 15:01
  Right?
• 15:01
  So even this paralyzed man
• 15:03
  Would have believed that to be true of himself.
• 15:05
  Right?
• 15:06
  Anyone who was ill,
• 15:08
  Knew they were sinners.
• 15:10
  Right?
• 15:11
  A great benefit of your illnesses,
• 15:14
  Your suffering,
• 15:15
  As you get uncomfortable in your chairs,
• 15:16
  Even today,
• 15:17
  Could be to remember the fallen state of this world,
• 15:20
  And that you are a sinner.
• 15:22
  Right?
• 15:23
  This is evidence of that.
• 15:24
  I share with you some of the pain
• 15:25
  I experienced last week in depth.
• 15:28
  Right?
• 15:28
  A great reminder to me
• 15:29
  That this world is fallen.
• 15:32
  Right?
• 15:32
  That I am being redeemed out of it.
• 15:33
  And one day I will have a new glorious body
• 15:35
  That will feel no pain.
• 15:37
  Right?
• 15:37
  Good thing to work into your mind
• 15:39
  As you think about illness.
• 15:42
  So this is this man,
• 15:43
  And this is what people would have thought of him
• 15:44
  As he was carried by his four friends.
• 15:47
  And when they couldn't get in,
• 15:48
  They went up onto the roof.
• 15:50
  Now,
• 15:50
  The typical house construction of this day
• 15:52
  Would have been single story.
• 15:53
  Would have been a very rare thing
• 15:54
  That a home would ever have been
• 15:55
  More than one story.
• 15:56
  But,
• 15:57
  The second story
• 15:59
  Was a flat top patio.
• 16:01
  Right?
• 16:02
  A roof top place
• 16:03
  That they could spend time.
• 16:05
  Flat roofs,
• 16:05
  And they spent time up on the roof
• 16:07
  Would have had an external staircase.
• 16:08
  So these men
• 16:09
  Hiked him up the stairs
• 16:10
  And got on the roof.
• 16:12
  And the roofs,
• 16:13
  The houses were built
• 16:14
  Out of straw and mud.
• 16:16
  And the roof would have been beamed.
• 16:18
  Beams running across
• 16:19
  To give strong structure.
• 16:20
  With sticks running the other way.
• 16:22
  And then thatch layered with mud.
• 16:24
  That's the way this would have all taken place.
• 16:26
  There would have been enough
• 16:26
  Wooden structure to hold mud in place.
• 16:29
  And then it would have been tiled
• 16:31
  On top of that.
• 16:32
  So they could have gone up on the roof
• 16:33
  And visited,
• 16:35
  Ate their meals,
• 16:36
  Etc.
• 16:36
  Up there on the roof.
• 16:38
  Right?
• 16:38
  And this was the structure
• 16:41
  That they dug through.
• 16:43
  Right?
• 16:44
  That they destroyed the roof
• 16:45
  Of
• 16:46
  Simon Peter and Andrew's house,
• 16:49
  Presumably,
• 16:49
  To get this man
• 16:51
  Into this room.
• 16:52
  And as I was just musing about this
• 16:54
  Because we see that Jesus is
• 16:56
  Preaching.
• 16:57
  He is sitting in the room
• 16:59
  And he is preaching a message
• 17:01
  And this is what's going on
• 17:02
  Above him.
• 17:03
  This could not have been a quiet thing.
• 17:05
  Right?
• 17:05
  It wasn't like they were picking away
• 17:06
  Quietly at straw
• 17:08
  And then suddenly there was a hole.
• 17:10
  Right?
• 17:10
  Stuff must have been raining down
• 17:12
  From the mud ceiling
• 17:13
  That would have been in this place.
• 17:15
  Right?
• 17:16
  I can't even,
• 17:16
  I just don't even,
• 17:17
  I wish I had the details.
• 17:18
  Like Mark and his punctuality
• 17:19
  Just moves us right through the process.
• 17:20
  They dug a hole
• 17:22
  And then they lowered him down.
• 17:23
  Right?
• 17:23
  But can you imagine
• 17:24
  A bunch of years ago
• 17:26
  A young girl
• 17:28
  Who's not a member of our church
• 17:29
  Any longer.
• 17:30
  She's moved.
• 17:31
  Brought her mother
• 17:32
  Who's just a little odd.
• 17:34
  And her cell phone went off
• 17:37
  In the middle of preaching
• 17:38
  One day.
• 17:40
  And it was hilarious.
• 17:41
  I can't remember.
• 17:41
  I wish I could remember what it was now.
• 17:42
  But it was like a hilarious
• 17:43
  Like classic rock and roll guitar riff.
• 17:45
  And so it went off the one time
• 17:47
  And you're kind of like
• 17:48
  Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 17:48
  Poor person.
• 17:49
  Oh gosh.
• 17:49
  They forgot to silence their phone.
• 17:50
  I think everybody's looking
• 17:51
  At their phones right now.
• 17:52
  Right?
• 17:52
  But then it went off again.
• 17:55
  And then it went off again.
• 17:57
  She was clueless.
• 17:59
  Oblivious to the fact
• 17:59
  That it was her phone.
• 18:00
  I don't know where her head was.
• 18:03
  If she could even hear.
• 18:04
  I'm not sure
• 18:04
  Really what was going on.
• 18:06
  But it went to voicemail.
• 18:07
  Like it rang
• 18:08
  All the way through to voicemail.
• 18:09
  And then the voicemail alert
• 18:10
  Went off too.
• 18:12
  Were any of you here for that?
• 18:13
  It was so
• 18:14
  It was not really funny at the time.
• 18:16
  But after the fact
• 18:16
  It was really, really funny.
• 18:17
  But I just like
• 18:18
  I had to like really focus.
• 18:19
  Like I was
• 18:20
  I was like at the edge of going
• 18:21
  Really?
• 18:22
  Come on.
• 18:23
  Really?
• 18:23
  Like it's in this area.
• 18:25
  Silence the phone.
• 18:30
  I don't know how Jesus did it.
• 18:31
  I guess he was perfect.
• 18:32
  And he pressed on through
• 18:33
  In his preaching.
• 18:37
  Don't come through our roof.
• 18:38
  I'll have to stop.
• 18:39
  I'll have to stop.
• 18:40
  This is this incredible scene.
• 18:42
  Right?
• 18:42
  And the boldness of these men
• 18:44
  As they found a way.
• 18:46
  We have a friend
• 18:47
  Who is infirmed.
• 18:49
  We desperately want him healed.
• 18:50
  And they dug a hole
• 18:51
  In the roof
• 18:53
  In order to let him through
• 18:54
  That roof.
• 18:56
  And in verse 5
• 18:56
  Jesus sees their faith.
• 18:58
  Their faith.
• 18:59
  The faith of these men.
• 19:00
  And then he says
• 19:01
  To the paralytic
• 19:02
  Son, your sins are forgiven.
• 19:05
  That's a really important thing
• 19:06
  For us to fix our attention on.
• 19:08
  It's a fascinating verse.
• 19:10
  And when Jesus saw
• 19:11
  Their faith
• 19:12
  He said to the paralytic
• 19:13
  Son, your sins are forgiven.
• 19:15
  He goes from this
• 19:16
  Broad sense of faith
• 19:19
  To a very narrow
• 19:20
  Forgiveness of sin.
• 19:22
  Right?
• 19:22
  What is meant here?
• 19:25
  And here's what I believe
• 19:26
  To be the case.
• 19:27
  That he perceives
• 19:29
  He can observe
• 19:30
  Their faith.
• 19:32
  Right?
• 19:32
  They dug a hole in the ceiling
• 19:33
  To let this man down.
• 19:35
  But what he's referring to here
• 19:36
  Is a natural faith.
• 19:38
  Right?
• 19:39
  A natural faith.
• 19:40
  They had seen Jesus.
• 19:42
  They had heard the telling
• 19:43
  Of him healing people.
• 19:44
  And therefore they believed
• 19:45
  That he could also
• 19:46
  Heal their friend.
• 19:47
  Right?
• 19:48
  The paralytic believed
• 19:49
  That he could be healed.
• 19:51
  Right?
• 19:52
  Just like we trust
• 19:53
  The structure of this floor.
• 19:56
  We trust the structure
• 19:57
  Of this floor.
• 19:58
  If you've been here
• 19:59
  For a while
• 19:59
  You've seen the
• 20:00
  Cattle trough baptismal
• 20:01
  We've been bringing in.
• 20:03
  Right?
• 20:03
  I didn't have faith
• 20:05
  In the floor
• 20:06
  On that day.
• 20:06
  I want you to know
• 20:08
  That as your pastor
• 20:09
  I jumped up and down
• 20:11
  On the stage
• 20:11
  Really really hard
• 20:13
  Just to see if maybe
• 20:13
  It would go through
• 20:14
  The floor
• 20:15
  So I would spare you all
• 20:16
  From falling
• 20:16
  A story
• 20:18
  If the floor gave way.
• 20:19
  Right?
• 20:20
  But generally
• 20:20
  We trust.
• 20:21
  Right?
• 20:21
  We have faith.
• 20:22
  Like we've been in plenty
• 20:23
  Of two story buildings
• 20:24
  With floors
• 20:25
  That hold up
• 20:26
  That pass code
• 20:27
  And they therefore
• 20:28
  Will hold us up.
• 20:29
  We trust the structure
• 20:31
  Of this ceiling
• 20:31
  Don't we?
• 20:32
  We've got all kinds
• 20:33
  Of things in here
• 20:33
  That would get horribly ruined
• 20:35
  If they got really wet.
• 20:37
  Right?
• 20:37
  We trust
• 20:38
  That the guys
• 20:39
  Who put the ceiling
• 20:40
  In place
• 20:40
  Put the metal roofing on
• 20:42
  Did it right
• 20:43
  And we're not going to get
• 20:44
  Sopping wet
• 20:45
  In here.
• 20:46
  We trust those things
• 20:46
  Naturally.
• 20:47
  Right?
• 20:47
  It's an easy thing
• 20:48
  To do.
• 20:49
  Right?
• 20:50
  If you're going to go out
• 20:50
  To eat this afternoon
• 20:51
  You trust
• 20:52
  That the people
• 20:53
  Who prepare your food
• 20:53
  Are going to do so
• 20:54
  Appropriately.
• 20:55
  Like none of you
• 20:57
  At least I don't think
• 20:58
  Will go and visit the kitchen
• 20:59
  And inspect its cleanliness
• 21:00
  Yourself.
• 21:01
  Right?
• 21:02
  You might
• 21:02
  If you're a little OCD
• 21:04
  Look at the rating
• 21:05
  On the wall
• 21:06
  Before you eat
• 21:06
  Most of us don't do that
• 21:07
  I usually notice the rating
• 21:08
  When I'm paying
• 21:09
  For the food I already ate
• 21:10
  But you and I go
• 21:11
  Oh, 88.
• 21:13
  Right?
• 21:14
  So we trust
• 21:15
  That our food
• 21:16
  That's natural faith
• 21:17
  We can do
• 21:18
  That kind of thing
• 21:20
  Easily
• 21:20
  And naturally
• 21:21
  But that is not
• 21:22
  The kind of faith
• 21:23
  That saves.
• 21:25
  So he narrows his focus
• 21:26
  From this general faith
• 21:28
  He sees their faith
• 21:29
  And then he says
• 21:30
  To the paralytic
• 21:30
  He sees something else
• 21:31
  In the paralytic
• 21:32
  And he says to him
• 21:33
  Son, your sins
• 21:33
  Are forgiven
• 21:34
  He sees in him
• 21:35
  A saving faith
• 21:36
  A supernatural faith
• 21:38
  Right?
• 21:39
  A faith that cannot be
• 21:40
  His on his own
• 21:41
  But that must be
• 21:41
  Birthed in him
• 21:42
  By the movement
• 21:43
  Of the Spirit
• 21:44
  Right?
• 21:46
  Draw your mind
• 21:47
  To John 6, 44a
• 21:49
  No one can come to me
• 21:51
  Unless the Father
• 21:52
  Who sent me
• 21:53
  Draws him
• 21:54
  Right?
• 21:55
  This is the work
• 21:55
  Of the Spirit
• 21:56
  The great ministry
• 21:57
  To us in our lives
• 21:58
  Is to draw us
• 21:59
  To the Father
• 22:00
  To work in us
• 22:01
  Saving faith
• 22:02
  To regenerate our hearts
• 22:04
  So that we can
• 22:05
  Believe
• 22:06
  Right?
• 22:07
  This is altogether
• 22:08
  A biblical case
• 22:09
  This is the way
• 22:10
  That God works
• 22:11
  In our lives
• 22:11
  And this is what
• 22:12
  Was happening
• 22:13
  In this man's life
• 22:15
  And he says to him
• 22:17
  Son, your sins
• 22:18
  Are forgiven
• 22:20
  It's by faith
• 22:23
  We're saved
• 22:23
  But it's faith
• 22:25
  That's worked
• 22:25
  In us
• 22:26
  Throughout time
• 22:28
  This has been the case
• 22:29
  Think about the fact
• 22:30
  That what faith
• 22:31
  Would be birthed
• 22:32
  In this man
• 22:33
  What is it
• 22:33
  That he was
• 22:33
  Believing in
• 22:34
  If Christ himself
• 22:36
  Is before him
• 22:37
  Christ is before him
• 22:39
  Has yet to die
• 22:40
  Has yet to bear
• 22:41
  The wrath
• 22:42
  Of God's punishment
• 22:43
  For his sin
• 22:44
  What is it
• 22:45
  That he believed?
• 22:47
  Right?
• 22:47
  What was it
• 22:47
  That he had faith in?
• 22:49
  He had faith
• 22:50
  In the promise
• 22:51
  Turn to Romans
• 22:52
  Chapter 4
• 22:53
  We're going to look
• 22:57
  At the life
• 22:57
  Of Abraham
• 22:58
  How was it
• 23:08
  That Abraham
• 23:09
  Was justified
• 23:11
  Was found
• 23:12
  In right standing
• 23:13
  Before God
• 23:14
  Right?
• 23:14
  I hope you're with me
• 23:15
  On this
• 23:16
  Abraham
• 23:16
  In the presence
• 23:18
  Of God right now
• 23:18
  Right?
• 23:19
  He's not in hell
• 23:20
  He's in heaven
• 23:21
  He's with the father
• 23:22
  Now
• 23:23
  Romans 4
• 23:23
  1-3
• 23:24
  What then shall we say
• 23:25
  Was gained by Abraham
• 23:26
  Our forefather
• 23:27
  According to the flesh
• 23:28
  For if Abraham
• 23:29
  Was justified by works
• 23:30
  He has something
• 23:31
  To boast about
• 23:31
  But not before God
• 23:33
  For what does the scripture say?
• 23:35
  Abraham believed God
• 23:37
  And it was counted to him
• 23:38
  As righteousness
• 23:40
  Right?
• 23:41
  Believed in the promise
• 23:43
  Right?
• 23:44
  He didn't even know
• 23:45
  How it was going to work out
• 23:46
  Exactly
• 23:46
  But believed
• 23:48
  What God had said
• 23:49
  To him
• 23:49
  Hebrews chapter 11
• 23:51
  I invite you to turn there
• 23:52
  Beginning in verse 8
• 23:55
  You guys might have to
• 24:03
  Tab your Bibles
• 24:04
  Hebrews chapter 11
• 24:06
  Beginning in verse 8
• 24:07
  By faith
• 24:07
  Abraham obeyed
• 24:08
  When he was called
• 24:09
  To go out
• 24:09
  To a place
• 24:10
  That he was
• 24:11
  To receive
• 24:11
  As an inheritance
• 24:12
  And he went out
• 24:13
  Not knowing
• 24:14
  Where he was going
• 24:15
  So here's the
• 24:15
  Action of his faith
• 24:16
  By faith
• 24:17
  He went to live
• 24:18
  In the land of promise
• 24:19
  As in a foreign land
• 24:20
  Living in tents
• 24:21
  With Isaac and Jacob
• 24:22
  Heirs with him
• 24:23
  Of the same promise
• 24:24
  For he was looking forward
• 24:26
  To the city
• 24:26
  That has foundations
• 24:28
  Whose designer
• 24:29
  And builder
• 24:30
  Is God
• 24:31
  Not talking about
• 24:32
  Jerusalem in this case
• 24:33
  An eternal city
• 24:34
  The new Jerusalem
• 24:35
  This is what
• 24:35
  The writer of Hebrews
• 24:37
  Says Abraham
• 24:37
  Was looking forward to
• 24:38
  Skip down to verse 13
• 24:40
  Of chapter 11
• 24:41
  These all died
• 24:43
  Speaking of all these
• 24:44
  Saints
• 24:44
  That chapter 11
• 24:45
  Is referred to
• 24:46
  In faith
• 24:46
  Not having received
• 24:48
  The things promised
• 24:49
  But having seen them
• 24:50
  And greeted them
• 24:51
  From afar
• 24:52
  And having acknowledged
• 24:53
  That they were strangers
• 24:54
  And exiles on the earth
• 24:55
  For people who speak thus
• 24:57
  Make it clear
• 24:57
  That they are seeking
• 24:58
  A homeland
• 24:59
  If they had been thinking
• 25:00
  Of that land
• 25:01
  From which they had gone out
• 25:02
  They would have had
• 25:02
  Opportunity to return
• 25:04
  But as it is
• 25:05
  They desire a better country
• 25:06
  That is a heavenly one
• 25:08
  Therefore God is not ashamed
• 25:09
  To be called their God
• 25:10
  For he has prepared
• 25:11
  For them a city
• 25:12
  Right
• 25:13
  They saw the promise
• 25:15
  From afar off
• 25:16
  Right
• 25:17
  Didn't even know
• 25:18
  How it would be fulfilled
• 25:19
  In Christ
• 25:20
  But knew that God
• 25:21
  Would accomplish
• 25:21
  The things he said
• 25:23
  He would accomplish
• 25:24
  In the Abrahamic covenant
• 25:25
  Right
• 25:26
  By their faith
• 25:28
  They were saved
• 25:29
  A faith that was worked
• 25:30
  In them
• 25:31
  By the spirit
• 25:32
  Of God
• 25:34
  Right
• 25:34
  So Jesus
• 25:35
  Sees this work
• 25:37
  And says to him
• 25:39
  Son
• 25:39
  Your sins
• 25:41
  Are forgiven
• 25:42
  Right
• 25:43
  And in this action
• 25:44
  This is one of two ways
• 25:46
  He declares
• 25:46
  His deity
• 25:47
  Right
• 25:48
  Because only God
• 25:50
  Can forgive
• 25:51
  The offenses
• 25:52
  Committed against him
• 25:54
  Right
• 25:55
  It would be really silly
• 25:56
  If you offended me
• 25:57
  Personally
• 25:57
  You came up to me
• 25:59
  And you told me
• 25:59
  That you did not like
• 26:00
  My shirt today
• 26:01
  And I was offended by that
• 26:02
  And then later on
• 26:03
  My wife said
• 26:04
  It's okay
• 26:06
  That you don't like
• 26:06
  Nathan's shirt
• 26:07
  It would make no sense
• 26:08
  Would it
• 26:08
  Right
• 26:09
  I must forgive the offense
• 26:11
  That's been given to me
• 26:12
  Right
• 26:12
  Only God
• 26:14
  Can forgive the offense
• 26:15
  Of the sin
• 26:15
  That's committed against him
• 26:16
  Right
• 26:17
  Our sin
• 26:18
  All of it
• 26:19
  Is primarily
• 26:21
  Vertical
• 26:22
  In nature
• 26:22
  Sins have horizontal effect
• 26:25
  Absolutely
• 26:25
  You tell me
• 26:26
  You don't like my shirt
• 26:27
  Right
• 26:28
  It's going to hurt my feelings
• 26:29
  This is not a sin
• 26:30
  By the way
• 26:31
  You can not like my shirt
• 26:32
  It's okay
• 26:32
  Right
• 26:32
  But sin
• 26:33
  Is primarily
• 26:35
  It's firstly
• 26:36
  Vertical
• 26:37
  It's an offense
• 26:38
  Against God
• 26:40
  Right
• 26:41
  Let's take a look at
• 26:42
  The story
• 26:43
  Of David
• 26:45
  And Bathsheba
• 26:46
  Remember the story
• 26:47
  Of David and Bathsheba
• 26:48
  He beholds
• 26:49
  A woman bathing
• 26:50
  On a roof
• 26:50
  A roof
• 26:51
  A tiled roof
• 26:52
  Is the way
• 26:52
  They would have done this
• 26:53
  Right
• 26:53
  He sees her
• 26:54
  And he wants her
• 26:55
  She's married
• 26:56
  To a man named Uriah
• 26:57
  Right
• 26:58
  And what does he do
• 26:59
  He sends off Uriah
• 27:00
  To the front
• 27:00
  To be killed
• 27:01
  And he has Bathsheba
• 27:03
  Prior to her husband
• 27:04
  Being killed
• 27:05
  Right
• 27:06
  This great offense
• 27:08
  Did he sin against Bathsheba
• 27:10
  He certainly did
• 27:11
  Did he sin against Uriah
• 27:12
  He certainly did
• 27:13
  Right
• 27:14
  But listen to what he says
• 27:15
  In Psalm 51
• 27:16
  Verse 4
• 27:17
  Against you
• 27:18
  Speaking to God
• 27:19
  Against you
• 27:20
  You only
• 27:21
  Have I sinned
• 27:21
  And done what is evil
• 27:22
  In your sight
• 27:23
  Isn't that phenomenal
• 27:26
  We should reflect upon that
• 27:29
  Great offenses
• 27:31
  Right
• 27:31
  I mean I hope
• 27:32
  I hope that
• 27:33
  We don't have any
• 27:34
  Adultering murderers
• 27:35
  In the room today
• 27:37
  Maybe
• 27:37
  Maybe
• 27:38
  I hope
• 27:39
  I hope not
• 27:39
  Right
• 27:40
  But this is a great weight
• 27:42
  This is a great thing
• 27:43
  That he did
• 27:43
  And he says
• 27:44
  Against you
• 27:44
  You only
• 27:45
  Have I sinned
• 27:46
  Right
• 27:46
  Is he saying
• 27:47
  That he didn't
• 27:47
  Offend them at all
• 27:48
  Absolutely not
• 27:48
  But in comparison
• 27:50
  The vertical nature
• 27:51
  Of his sin
• 27:52
  Vastly outweighs
• 27:53
  The horizontal nature
• 27:54
  Of his sin
• 27:55
  Charles Spurgeon
• 27:57
  In speaking of
• 27:58
  Psalm 51
• 27:58
  Said
• 27:59
  The virus of sin
• 28:00
  Lies in its opposition
• 28:02
  To God
• 28:03
  The psalmist's sense
• 28:05
  Of sin towards others
• 28:06
  Rather tended to increase
• 28:07
  The force of his feeling
• 28:08
  Of sin
• 28:09
  Against God
• 28:10
  All his wrongdoing
• 28:12
  Centered
• 28:13
  Culminated
• 28:14
  And came to a climax
• 28:15
  At the foot
• 28:16
  Of the divine throne
• 28:18
  He put it in proper
• 28:20
  Perspective
• 28:21
  He saw how really
• 28:23
  Weighty it was
• 28:24
  How infinite it was
• 28:26
  As he sinned
• 28:27
  Against
• 28:28
  An infinite
• 28:29
  God
• 28:30
  He got some
• 28:32
  Clue of this
• 28:33
  As the prophet
• 28:34
  Nathan was sent to him
• 28:35
  2 Samuel 12
• 28:36
  Verse 9
• 28:37
  Listen to what
• 28:39
  The prophet Nathan
• 28:39
  Said to David
• 28:41
  His friend
• 28:41
  Why have you
• 28:43
  Despised the word
• 28:44
  Of the Lord
• 28:44
  This is in response
• 28:45
  To the same activity
• 28:46
  Why have you
• 28:47
  Despised
• 28:48
  The word of the Lord
• 28:49
  To do what is evil
• 28:50
  In his sight
• 28:52
  You have struck down
• 28:53
  Uriah the Hittite
• 28:54
  With a sword
• 28:54
  And have taken his wife
• 28:55
  To be your wife
• 28:56
  And have killed him
• 28:57
  With the sword
• 28:58
  Of the Ammonites
• 28:59
  Why have you
• 29:01
  Despised the word
• 29:01
  Of the Lord
• 29:02
  To do what is evil
• 29:02
  In his sight
• 29:03
  Why have you
• 29:04
  Offended God
• 29:05
  In this action
• 29:06
  It's important
• 29:09
  That we get this
• 29:10
  Properly
• 29:11
  That we get this
• 29:11
  Right
• 29:12
  Jesus declares
• 29:13
  Himself
• 29:14
  God
• 29:15
  As he says
• 29:16
  Son
• 29:16
  Your sins
• 29:17
  Are forgiven
• 29:19
  Hebrews 9
• 29:21
  Verse 22
• 29:22
  Reads
• 29:24
  Indeed
• 29:24
  Under the law
• 29:25
  Almost everything
• 29:26
  Is purified
• 29:26
  With blood
• 29:27
  Some things
• 29:28
  Were purified
• 29:28
  By water
• 29:29
  Almost everything
• 29:30
  Is purified
• 29:30
  With blood
• 29:31
  And without
• 29:32
  The shedding
• 29:32
  Of blood
• 29:33
  There is no
• 29:34
  Forgiveness
• 29:35
  Of sins
• 29:37
  You have to see too
• 29:39
  And you have to
• 29:40
  Really understand
• 29:41
  Right
• 29:42
  That it's not that
• 29:43
  That God
• 29:44
  Forgives sin
• 29:45
  The way we would
• 29:45
  Forgive an offense
• 29:46
  Against us
• 29:47
  Where we just
• 29:47
  Kind of pass it over
• 29:48
  We just kind of
• 29:48
  Say it's fine
• 29:49
  Right
• 29:50
  I'll deal
• 29:51
  It's okay
• 29:52
  But because God
• 29:55
  Is all of who he is
• 29:57
  At all times
• 29:59
  It's actually a doctrine
• 29:59
  Called the simplicity
• 30:00
  Of God
• 30:01
  Right
• 30:02
  That he is always
• 30:03
  Who he is
• 30:04
  He's not bipolar
• 30:05
  He's not wrath
• 30:06
  One moment
• 30:07
  And mercy another
• 30:08
  But he's always
• 30:08
  All of these things
• 30:10
  Right
• 30:11
  Because God
• 30:11
  Is a just God
• 30:13
  He must judge sin
• 30:14
  And therefore
• 30:15
  Punish it
• 30:16
  Appropriately
• 30:17
  This is the picture
• 30:19
  Of our God
• 30:20
  He must
• 30:21
  Do this
• 30:22
  And without blood
• 30:23
  There is
• 30:24
  No forgiveness
• 30:25
  Of sins
• 30:26
  He didn't say to you
• 30:28
  When you placed your faith
• 30:29
  In Christ
• 30:29
  Yours is good
• 30:31
  Right
• 30:32
  What he said
• 30:33
  Is I've already
• 30:34
  Punished your sin
• 30:35
  In Christ
• 30:37
  Christ's blood
• 30:38
  Covered
• 30:39
  Your sin
• 30:40
  Right
• 30:41
  Christ's blood
• 30:42
  Covered the sins
• 30:43
  Of Abraham
• 30:44
  Right
• 30:45
  This work
• 30:46
  That he completed
• 30:47
  So many years
• 30:49
  Later
• 30:49
  Was the accomplishment
• 30:51
  Of the promises
• 30:52
  Given to Abraham
• 30:53
  That he might have
• 30:54
  This eternal life
• 30:56
  This is why we believe
• 30:59
  In Jesus Christ
• 31:00
  He is the lamb
• 31:02
  That was slain
• 31:03
  On our behalf
• 31:04
  Who bore our wrath
• 31:05
  Who took our punishment
• 31:07
  Gave us
• 31:08
  His righteousness
• 31:10
  The chorus
• 31:12
  Of that song
• 31:13
  In the beloved
• 31:13
  In the beloved
• 31:14
  God's marvelous grace
• 31:16
  Calls me to dwell
• 31:18
  In this wonderful place
• 31:19
  God sees my savior
• 31:21
  And then he sees me
• 31:23
  In the beloved
• 31:24
  Accepted
• 31:25
  And free
• 31:26
  And I just imagine
• 31:28
  This paralytic
• 31:29
  Right
• 31:29
  Let's assume
• 31:30
  He's a quadriplegic
• 31:31
  That he can't move at all
• 31:33
  And he's laying on a pallet
• 31:34
  He's been lowered
• 31:35
  Through the roof
• 31:35
  And Luke it says
• 31:36
  Right in front of Jesus too
• 31:37
  Again the distraction
• 31:38
  Right here
• 31:39
  Right
• 31:39
  He comes down
• 31:40
  And he's laying on the floor
• 31:42
  Right
• 31:42
  And Jesus forgives
• 31:44
  His sins
• 31:45
  Right
• 31:46
  That he would want to sing
• 31:47
  Such a song
• 31:48
  Still paralyzed
• 31:49
  Right
• 31:49
  Receiving the joy
• 31:51
  That is granted to him
• 31:54
  Because of the gospel
• 31:55
  Of Jesus Christ
• 31:56
  Right
• 31:56
  What a picture
• 31:57
  What a picture
• 31:58
  Then in verse 6
• 32:00
  We see the scoffers
• 32:02
  Sprinkled amongst the crowd
• 32:04
  Right
• 32:05
  The scribes
• 32:06
  They were sitting there
• 32:07
  And they were
• 32:08
  Questioning in their hearts
• 32:09
  Why does this man
• 32:11
  Speak like that
• 32:11
  He is blaspheming
• 32:13
  Or saying he is God
• 32:14
  Who can forgive sins
• 32:16
  But God alone
• 32:17
  And immediately
• 32:19
  Jesus perceiving in his spirit
• 32:20
  That they thus questioned
• 32:21
  Within themselves
• 32:21
  Said to them
• 32:22
  Why do you question
• 32:23
  These things in your hearts
• 32:24
  Which is easier
• 32:26
  To say to the paralytic
• 32:27
  Your sins are forgiven
• 32:28
  Or to say
• 32:28
  Rise
• 32:29
  Take up your bed
• 32:30
  And walk
• 32:31
  But that you may know
• 32:31
  That the son of man
• 32:32
  Has authority on earth
• 32:33
  To forgive sins
• 32:33
  He said to the paralytic
• 32:35
  I say to you
• 32:35
  Rise
• 32:36
  Pick up your bed
• 32:37
  And go home
• 32:39
  So we see scribes
• 32:41
  And we need to ask the question
• 32:42
  Who were these scribes
• 32:44
  In verse 16 of chapter 2
• 32:46
  We see it recorded
• 32:47
  The scribes of the Pharisees
• 32:50
  That's a way it was recorded
• 32:51
  So we see a number of sects
• 32:55
  That exist
• 32:55
  S-E-C-T-S
• 32:57
  Sects that exist
• 32:59
  In Judaism at this time
• 33:00
  And Phariseeism
• 33:01
  Was one of these things
• 33:02
  Do you know
• 33:03
  There were probably
• 33:04
  Only about 6,000 Pharisees
• 33:07
  In existence
• 33:07
  In Jesus' time
• 33:08
  But boy
• 33:10
  Do they run rampant
• 33:11
  Around Jerusalem
• 33:13
  And the neighboring area
• 33:14
  About 6,000 of them
• 33:16
  And their sect
• 33:16
  Actually
• 33:17
  Arose during the time
• 33:19
  Of Ezra
• 33:19
  Remember we studied
• 33:20
  Nehemiah together
• 33:21
  Previously
• 33:21
  At the
• 33:22
  Babylonian return
• 33:25
  When the sect
• 33:26
  Arose about
• 33:27
  400 years
• 33:28
  Earlier
• 33:28
  John MacArthur
• 33:29
  Said this of them
• 33:30
  These are the guardians
• 33:31
  Of the populist form
• 33:33
  Of apostate Judaism
• 33:34
  Right
• 33:35
  Love that sentence
• 33:36
  These are the guardians
• 33:37
  Of the populist form
• 33:38
  The popular form
• 33:40
  Of apostate Judaism
• 33:41
  They're the fundamentalists
• 33:43
  Legalists
• 33:43
  Architects
• 33:44
  And promoters of salvation
• 33:45
  By works
• 33:46
  Salvation
• 33:47
  By self-righteousness
• 33:49
  That's who these Pharisees were
• 33:50
  They constructed laws
• 33:52
  To protect people
• 33:53
  From committing laws
• 33:55
  They were called hedge laws
• 33:56
  So much so
• 33:57
  That people had lost
• 33:58
  The very point
• 33:59
  Of the law
• 34:00
  To begin with
• 34:01
  Jesus spends his time
• 34:03
  In the Sermon on the Mount
• 34:04
  Re-establishing
• 34:05
  What he was trying to teach
• 34:06
  To begin with
• 34:07
  In the giving
• 34:08
  Of the law
• 34:09
  Right
• 34:10
  These Pharisees
• 34:10
  Were tearing down
• 34:12
  Faith
• 34:13
  Any of you know
• 34:15
  People like that?
• 34:17
  Any of you been
• 34:18
  People like that?
• 34:20
  And here we have
• 34:21
  Scribes
• 34:22
  Now the scribes
• 34:23
  Would have been
• 34:23
  Like the theologians
• 34:25
  Of the day
• 34:25
  Right
• 34:26
  They were learned men
• 34:27
  They were often called
• 34:28
  Rabbis
• 34:29
  Which means teacher
• 34:30
  Not all scribes
• 34:32
  Were Pharisees
• 34:33
  And certainly not all
• 34:35
  Pharisees
• 34:36
  Were scribes
• 34:37
  Right
• 34:37
  But you get
• 34:38
  There's an intermingling
• 34:39
  Here of this
• 34:40
  Self-righteous
• 34:41
  Form of teaching
• 34:42
  And these are the men
• 34:43
  That we often see
• 34:43
  Confronting Jesus
• 34:45
  Hijacking
• 34:47
  The conversation
• 34:48
  And here we see him
• 34:49
  Boldly
• 34:50
  Confront them
• 34:51
  Even as they haven't
• 34:53
  Said anything
• 34:54
  Out loud
• 34:55
  They've simply
• 34:55
  Thought in their hearts
• 34:57
  This is blasphemy
• 34:58
  Right
• 34:58
  How is it that
• 34:59
  This man
• 35:00
  Can forgive sin
• 35:02
  Only God
• 35:03
  Can forgive sin
• 35:04
  And they're right
• 35:05
  In that
• 35:06
  Right
• 35:07
  Aren't they?
• 35:07
  But they just
• 35:08
  Didn't understand
• 35:09
  That Jesus himself
• 35:10
  Was in fact
• 35:11
  God
• 35:12
  That he
• 35:12
  Was
• 35:13
  Deity
• 35:14
  Leviticus
• 35:16
  Chapter 24
• 35:17
  Verse 16
• 35:18
  Says whoever
• 35:18
  Blasphemes
• 35:19
  The name of the
• 35:19
  Lord
• 35:19
  Shall surely
• 35:20
  Be put to death
• 35:21
  All the congregation
• 35:23
  Shall stone him
• 35:24
  This was a well
• 35:25
  Understood
• 35:25
  Jewish tradition
• 35:28
  You did not
• 35:29
  Call yourself
• 35:29
  God
• 35:30
  We will kill you
• 35:31
  If you do
• 35:32
  This is the very
• 35:33
  Accusation that's
• 35:34
  Brought to Jesus
• 35:34
  That has him
• 35:35
  Hung on a cross
• 35:36
  And his response
• 35:40
  To this
• 35:41
  Is just
• 35:41
  Phenomenal
• 35:43
  Right
• 35:43
  He says
• 35:44
  Which is easier
• 35:46
  To say
• 35:47
  This was puzzling
• 35:49
  To me
• 35:49
  For a while
• 35:50
  Because it seems
• 35:51
  That he's actually
• 35:52
  Saying that it's
• 35:53
  Easier to say
• 35:54
  Your sins are forgiven
• 35:55
  Doesn't it read
• 35:56
  That way
• 35:56
  To you
• 35:57
  Which is easier
• 35:58
  To say to the
• 35:58
  Paralytic
• 35:59
  Your sins are forgiven
• 35:59
  Or to say
• 36:00
  Rise take up
• 36:01
  Your bed and walk
• 36:01
  And then he proves it
• 36:02
  By telling him to
• 36:04
  Rise take up
• 36:04
  His bed and walk
• 36:05
  It seems that he's
• 36:05
  Saying it's harder
• 36:07
  To heal
• 36:08
  The body
• 36:09
  Than to heal
• 36:10
  The soul
• 36:11
  Who would disagree
• 36:12
  Agree with that
• 36:12
  Would we not
• 36:13
  I hope we would
• 36:14
  I do
• 36:15
  Interestingly though
• 36:18
  When you look
• 36:18
  At the original language
• 36:19
  If you look at
• 36:20
  The word in Greek
• 36:21
  For say
• 36:22
  It could also mean
• 36:23
  To affirm
• 36:24
  And I think
• 36:24
  That would be
• 36:25
  A much better
• 36:25
  Translation here
• 36:27
  Of the text
• 36:28
  Which is easier
• 36:29
  To affirm
• 36:30
  Your sins are forgiven
• 36:32
  Or easier to affirm
• 36:34
  Rise take up your bed
• 36:36
  And walk
• 36:36
  Right
• 36:37
  They could visually see
• 36:38
  I say to this man
• 36:40
  Rise take up your bed
• 36:41
  Go home
• 36:41
  And he does it
• 36:42
  It has been affirmed
• 36:43
  Or to say
• 36:44
  Your sins are forgiven
• 36:45
  Can you affirm that
• 36:47
  With the seeing
• 36:48
  With the senses
• 36:49
  You certainly cannot
• 36:50
  Right
• 36:51
  So he does something
• 36:53
  For them
• 36:53
  That they can
• 36:54
  That they can
• 36:54
  Visually see
• 36:55
  Right
• 36:56
  He not only heals
• 36:57
  The soul of this man
• 36:58
  But then he heals
• 36:59
  This body
• 37:00
  Right
• 37:00
  To display
• 37:01
  His power
• 37:02
  Right
• 37:03
  He's affirming
• 37:05
  His deity
• 37:05
  In this way
• 37:06
  He forgives sin
• 37:07
  To affirm it
• 37:08
  Right
• 37:09
  Secondly
• 37:10
  He affirms his deity
• 37:10
  By searching
• 37:11
  The hearts
• 37:12
  Of men
• 37:13
  It's a shame
• 37:15
  That these scribes
• 37:16
  Miss this
• 37:17
  As they
• 37:18
  Think these thoughts
• 37:19
  Within themselves
• 37:20
  And Jesus calls them out
• 37:22
  On the very thing
• 37:23
  Why are you thinking
• 37:24
  These things
• 37:25
  1 Chronicles 28
• 37:27
  Verse 9
• 37:28
  It says
• 37:28
  The Lord searches
• 37:29
  All hearts
• 37:30
  And understands
• 37:30
  Every plan
• 37:31
  And thought
• 37:32
  Jeremiah 17
• 37:34
  10
• 37:35
  I the Lord
• 37:35
  Search the heart
• 37:36
  And test the mind
• 37:38
  Ezekiel 11
• 37:39
  5
• 37:40
  For I know
• 37:40
  The things
• 37:41
  That come into
• 37:42
  Your mind
• 37:43
  Jesus put on
• 37:45
  His deity
• 37:45
  In great display
• 37:46
  As he draws
• 37:47
  Out of them
• 37:48
  The very things
• 37:49
  That they were thinking
• 37:50
  And he does this
• 37:51
  Over and over
• 37:52
  And over
• 37:53
  Again
• 37:54
  Throughout the gospel
• 37:55
  Of Mark
• 37:55
  And the other accounts
• 37:56
  Of Jesus' life
• 37:58
  Proclaims his deity
• 38:00
  To this people
• 38:01
  Right
• 38:03
  And then we see
• 38:03
  The response
• 38:04
  Of the paralytic
• 38:04
  He rises
• 38:05
  Immediately
• 38:06
  There's Mark's word
• 38:07
  Again
• 38:07
  And immediately
• 38:08
  He picks up his bed
• 38:08
  He goes out
• 38:10
  Before them all
• 38:10
  So that they were
• 38:11
  All amazed
• 38:12
  And glorified God
• 38:13
  Saying we never
• 38:14
  Saw anything
• 38:16
  Like this
• 38:17
  So the result of it
• 38:20
  Seems to be
• 38:20
  An amazing turning
• 38:22
  To Christ
• 38:22
  Does it not?
• 38:24
  What a neat account
• 38:25
  At the end
• 38:25
  They were all amazed
• 38:27
  And they glorified God
• 38:28
  Saying we never
• 38:30
  Saw anything
• 38:31
  Like this
• 38:32
  But the account
• 38:33
  In Matthew
• 38:33
  Chapter 9
• 38:34
  Verse 8
• 38:34
  Of the same story
• 38:35
  Says
• 38:36
  When the crowd
• 38:37
  Saw it
• 38:38
  They were afraid
• 38:38
  And they glorified God
• 38:40
  Who had given
• 38:41
  Such authority
• 38:42
  To men
• 38:43
  You catch the difference there?
• 38:47
  The crowd glorified God
• 38:49
  But they missed
• 38:50
  The fact
• 38:51
  That Jesus
• 38:51
  Himself
• 38:52
  Was God
• 38:54
  Right
• 38:55
  They were afraid
• 38:56
  They glorified God
• 38:57
  For giving such authority
• 38:58
  To a man
• 38:59
  But they missed
• 39:00
  That he himself
• 39:02
  Was God
• 39:03
  Philippians
• 39:05
  Chapter 2
• 39:06
  Verse 9
• 39:07
  States that
• 39:08
  God
• 39:08
  Has exalted
• 39:09
  Jesus Christ
• 39:11
  It's not enough
• 39:12
  For us just to believe
• 39:13
  In God
• 39:14
  But we must believe
• 39:14
  In the Son
• 39:15
  Of God
• 39:16
  The One
• 39:17
  The Person
• 39:17
  Jesus Christ
• 39:18
  Has accomplished
• 39:19
  Work on our behalf
• 39:21
  Another text
• 39:22
  Exalting
• 39:23
  Christ
• 39:24
  Revelation
• 39:25
  Chapter 5
• 39:26
  Turn there
• 39:27
  Verse 11
• 39:27
  John's account
• 39:40
  Of his vision
• 39:40
  Beginning in verse 11
• 39:41
  Then I looked
• 39:42
  And I heard around the throne
• 39:42
  The living creatures
• 39:43
  And the elders
• 39:44
  The voice of many angels
• 39:45
  Numbering myriads
• 39:47
  And myriads
• 39:48
  And thousands
• 39:49
  Of thousands
• 39:49
  Saying with a loud voice
• 39:51
  Worthy is the Lamb
• 39:52
  Who was slain
• 39:53
  To receive power
• 39:54
  And wealth
• 39:55
  And wisdom
• 39:55
  And might
• 39:56
  And honor
• 39:57
  And glory
• 39:57
  And blessing
• 39:58
  And I heard
• 39:59
  Every creature
• 40:00
  In heaven
• 40:00
  On earth
• 40:00
  And under the earth
• 40:01
  And the sea
• 40:01
  And all that is in them
• 40:02
  Saying to him
• 40:03
  Who sits on the throne
• 40:04
  And to the Lamb
• 40:04
  Be blessing
• 40:05
  And honor
• 40:06
  And glory
• 40:06
  And might
• 40:07
  Forever and ever
• 40:08
  And the four living creatures
• 40:10
  Said amen
• 40:11
  And the elders
• 40:11
  Fell down
• 40:12
  And worship
• 40:13
  The Lamb
• 40:13
  You can see
• 40:14
  Is the one
• 40:15
  Who is exalted
• 40:15
  In heaven
• 40:17
  Ephesians chapter 1
• 40:19
  Beginning in verse 19
• 40:21
  You can try to get there
• 40:22
  I'm going to keep reading though
• 40:23
  Paul prays the Ephesians
• 40:24
  Will know
• 40:25
  The immeasurable greatness
• 40:27
  Of Jesus' power
• 40:28
  Toward us who believe
• 40:30
  According to the working
• 40:31
  Of his great might
• 40:31
  That he worked in Christ
• 40:33
  When he raised him
• 40:34
  From the dead
• 40:34
  And seated him
• 40:35
  At his right hand
• 40:37
  In the heavenly places
• 40:38
  Far above all rule
• 40:39
  And authority
• 40:40
  And power
• 40:41
  And dominion
• 40:41
  And above every name
• 40:43
  That is named
• 40:43
  Not only in this age
• 40:44
  But also in the one to come
• 40:45
  And he put all things
• 40:47
  Under his feet
• 40:48
  And gave him as head
• 40:49
  Over all things
• 40:50
  To the church
• 40:51
  Which is his body
• 40:52
  The fullness of him
• 40:53
  Who fills all in all
• 40:55
  We see this picture
• 40:56
  That's repeated
• 40:56
  Throughout the scriptures
• 40:58
  Of Jesus now seated
• 40:59
  At the right hand of the Father
• 41:00
  Which is the place
• 41:01
  Of honor
• 41:02
  The Father
• 41:04
  Exalts
• 41:05
  Christ
• 41:06
  These people
• 41:08
  Exalted
• 41:09
  God
• 41:10
  They missed
• 41:11
  That Christ himself
• 41:13
  Was part of the Trinity
• 41:14
  Was God
• 41:15
  In flesh
• 41:16
  Not us
• 41:19
  We exalt
• 41:21
  Jesus Christ
• 41:22
  This is our faith
• 41:25
  The one who has power
• 41:26
  To forgive
• 41:28
  Sins
• 41:29
  The one who by grace
• 41:31
  Freely bestows
• 41:33
  Forgiveness
• 41:34
  Of sins
• 41:35
  We don't work
• 41:37
  This is unique
• 41:38
  For the world religions
• 41:39
  Right
• 41:40
  We don't work
• 41:41
  Our salvation out
• 41:43
  We cannot
• 41:44
  We are incapable
• 41:45
  Of accomplishing this
• 41:46
  On our own
• 41:47
  Praise God
• 41:48
  That he works it in us
• 41:49
  That he gives us
• 41:51
  This gift
• 41:51
  Of faith
• 41:52
  Fall on your knees
• 41:55
  And praise him
• 41:55
  For that
• 41:56
  You have no
• 41:57
  Thing good
• 41:58
  To boast in yourself
• 42:00
  Paul said
• 42:00
  Far be it for me
• 42:01
  To boast in anything
• 42:02
  But the cross
• 42:02
  Of Christ
• 42:03
  Right
• 42:04
  That's what we have
• 42:05
  To boast in
• 42:06
  His work
• 42:08
  On our behalf
• 42:09
  As a church
• 42:11
  We exist
• 42:12
  To exalt Christ
• 42:15
  I don't know if
• 42:16
  Yeah
• 42:17
  It's up there
• 42:18
  Christ's only church
• 42:21
  Exists
• 42:21
  To glorify God
• 42:23
  Right
• 42:23
  To lift him up
• 42:24
  By experiencing
• 42:25
  Proclaiming
• 42:27
  And displaying
• 42:28
  The supremacy
• 42:29
  Of Jesus Christ
• 42:30
  In all things
• 42:31
  To all people
• 42:33
  I don't have time
• 42:34
  This morning
• 42:34
  To break that
• 42:34
  All down for you
• 42:35
  Right
• 42:36
  Do you see that
• 42:37
  We as genuine
• 42:38
  Believers
• 42:39
  Right
• 42:40
  I hope that if
• 42:41
  We were standing
• 42:42
  In this crowd
• 42:42
  Right
• 42:43
  We would have
• 42:44
  Seen Jesus
• 42:44
  As the son of God
• 42:45
  Right
• 42:46
  We would have
• 42:46
  Experienced
• 42:47
  His supremacy
• 42:48
  Right
• 42:49
  Then we would have
• 42:49
  Spent the rest
• 42:50
  Of our lives
• 42:50
  Proclaiming
• 42:50
  And displaying
• 42:51
  That very truth
• 42:52
  In all things
• 42:54
  To all
• 42:55
  Peoples
• 42:55
  That's what we
• 42:57
  Have been called
• 42:57
  To
• 42:58
  To exalt him
• 42:59
  Amongst
• 43:00
  The nations
• 43:01
  Jesus Christ
• 43:04
  The son of God
• 43:06
  Who is himself
• 43:08
  God
• 43:09
  Establishes here
• 43:10
  His deity
• 43:11
  His authority
• 43:12
  Over sin
• 43:13
  I hope this morning
• 43:15
  That you can
• 43:16
  Revel in that
• 43:17
  With me
• 43:18
  You can rejoice
• 43:19
  In the fact
• 43:21
  That your sins
• 43:22
  Have been forgiven
• 43:23
  In Christ
• 43:23
  That you can say
• 43:25
  With confidence
• 43:25
  That when he
• 43:26
  Hung on that
• 43:26
  Cross
• 43:27
  And bore
• 43:27
  The wrath
• 43:28
  Of God
• 43:28
  That he
• 43:29
  Was bearing
• 43:30
  The wrath
• 43:30
  For your
• 43:31
  Sin
• 43:31
  That you
• 43:33
  Know
• 43:34
  That it
• 43:34
  Was
• 43:34
  Stricken
• 43:36
  From the
• 43:36
  Record
• 43:37
  Because
• 43:37
  Of his
• 43:38
  Work
• 43:38
  That you
• 43:39
  Know
• 43:39
  That your
• 43:40
  Name
• 43:40
  Was written
• 43:40
  In the
• 43:40
  Lamb's
• 43:41
  Book of
• 43:41
  Life
• 43:41
  Before the
• 43:41
  Foundation
• 43:42
  Of the
• 43:42
  World
• 43:42
  Because
• 43:43
  Of this
• 43:43
  Work
• 43:43
  That Christ
• 43:44
  Would
• 43:44
  Accomplish
• 43:44
  One
• 43:45
  Day
• 43:45
  That you
• 43:46
  Can say
• 43:46
  That with
• 43:47
  Confidence
• 43:48
  That the
• 43:49
  Spirit of
• 43:50
  God
• 43:50
  Has worked
• 43:50
  In you
• 43:50
  A new
• 43:51
  Heart
• 43:51
  So that
• 43:51
  You can
• 43:52
  Believe
• 43:53
  And you
• 43:53
  Have
• 43:53
  Believed
• 43:54
  And many
• 43:56
  People get
• 43:57
  Perplexed
• 43:57
  At that
• 43:57
  Point
• 43:57
  But what
• 43:58
  If I
• 43:59
  Don't
• 43:59
  Know
• 43:59
  Don't
• 44:01
  Overcomplicate
• 44:02
  It
• 44:02
  Just believe
• 44:03
  Repent
• 44:03
  And believe
• 44:04
  It's a
• 44:04
  Simple
• 44:05
  Gospel
• 44:05
  Call
• 44:06
  If you
• 44:08
  Don't
• 44:08
  Live your
• 44:08
  Life
• 44:09
  In light
• 44:09
  Of that
• 44:09
  Truth
• 44:09
  The
• 44:10
  Same
• 44:10
  Is for
• 44:11
  You
• 44:11
  Repent
• 44:11
  And believe
• 44:12
  Turn
• 44:13
  From your
• 44:13
  Sin
• 44:14
  And turn
• 44:15
  To God
• 44:15
  Let's
• 44:16
  Pray
• 44:17
  Together