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Romans 4:1-7 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

• 0:00
  There isn't a topic under more question and attack than that of salvation.
• 0:07
  See, all the enemy has to do is not confront it head on.
• 0:11
  ! That would be ridiculous.
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  That would be...
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  It just wouldn't work for him.
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  Just put it that way.
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  Just wouldn't work.
• 0:23
  But what he does do is he attacks the details.
• 0:25
  He attacks the little things.
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  The things that maybe from our vantage point,
• 0:28
  from our viewpoint, isn't that big of a deal.
• 0:33
  For example,
• 0:35
  liberal evangelicals pleading with conservatives
• 0:39
  to drop the harshness and vulgarity of the cross.
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  The blood.
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  Get rid of the blood.
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  Because it's hard to hear.
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  People don't want to listen to that.
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  It's harsh.
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  The problem is if you get rid of the blood,
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  you get rid of the atonement.
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  If you get rid of the atonement,
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  you get rid of Christ's death,
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  meaning anything.
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  Then you get rid of salvation altogether.
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  It's a horrible, slippery slope.
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  Or the enemy will get us fighting ourselves
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  instead of the enemy himself.
• 1:12
  Like maybe a theological debate
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  over Calvinism versus Arminianism.
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  Where we become more for what we're against
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  than what we're for.
• 1:24
  Or he can use the seeker-sensitive modernists
• 1:28
  who have turned salvation
• 1:29
  into a walk down the aisle.
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  Some of you have come from a church like that.
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  Where the line is so vague
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  and so skewed together
• 1:38
  that you can't tell
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  if they're talking about walking down the aisle
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  or saying a prayer
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  or knowing Jesus himself
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  or being reborn.
• 1:47
  Regenerate.
• 1:50
  Nathan last week,
• 1:51
  or two weeks ago,
• 1:52
  I'm sorry,
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  used a great illustration
• 1:55
  to open up his sermon.
• 1:57
  He talked about the crux
• 1:58
  of mountain climbing.
• 2:00
  The hardest part of mountain climbing.
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  The hardest move.
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  The hardest problem
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  that he faces
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  or you face
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  in a climb.
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  Everything works up to it
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  and then once you get it,
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  the rest is cakewalk.
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  The rest is celebrating
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  what you've accomplished.
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  And this morning,
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  we're still on the crux
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  of the book of Romans
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  and of all Christianity.
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  We are still there
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  with the biggest problem
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  that we have to get right.
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  Christianity differentiates itself
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  from any other religion
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  by this doctrine of salvation.
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  any religion,
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  pagan or Catholic,
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  Muslim or Jehovah's Witness,
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  Mormon,
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  cult,
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  Hindu,
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  Buddhist,
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  all other religions
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  have a works-based salvation.
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  I will do this
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  and I will achieve glory.
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  I will achieve a salvation.
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  Christianity sits firmly,
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  or at least it's supposed
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  to sit firmly,
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  on the doctrine of salvation
• 3:05
  by faith alone,
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  by grace alone,
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  without works.
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  See,
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  the enemy has
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  even brought that
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  into question.
• 3:16
  Now,
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  it's one thing to say it.
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  It's one thing to say,
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  I believe in the justification
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  by faith alone,
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  by grace alone.
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  It's,
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  you may know it in your head,
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  but I think sometimes
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  there's a disconnect
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  between the head
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  and the feet.
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  You may know it,
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  but you don't do anything about it.
• 3:32
  You may know it,
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  but you don't know the details.
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  You don't know the ins and outs.
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  Whatever the case may be.
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  So this morning,
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  I want to help.
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  I want to help the college student,
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  the teacher,
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  the nurse,
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  the firefighter,
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  the lawyer.
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  I want to help this morning
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  so we're all rooted
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  and grounded
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  in the truth of God's Word.
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  So that we can all ask
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  the question that Paul does
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  in verse 3 of chapter 4,
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  what does the Scripture say?
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  And we can answer it.
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  That's what I want to happen
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  this morning
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  over this topic.
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  So we must let the Scripture
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  be our foundation.
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  Let it be our authority.
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  So let us learn
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  what Scripture says.
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  Romans chapter 4,
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  verses 1 through 8.
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  God's Word says,
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  What then shall we say
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  was gained by Abraham,
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  our forefather,
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  according to the flesh?
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  For if Abraham
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  was justified by works,
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  he has something
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  to boast about,
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  but not before God.
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  For what does the Scripture say?
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  Abraham believed God
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  and it was counted to him
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  as righteousness.
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  Now to the one who works,
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  his wages are not counted
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  as a gift,
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  but as his due.
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  And to the one
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  who does not work,
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  but believes in him
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  who justifies the ungodly,
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  his faith is counted
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  as righteousness.
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  Just as David
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  also speaks of the blessing
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  of the one to whom
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  God counts righteousness
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  apart from works,
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  blessed are those
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  whose lawless deeds
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  are forgiven
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  and whose sins
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  are covered.
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  Blessed is the man
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  against whom the Lord
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  will not count
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  his sin.
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  I ask you to pray
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  with me now.
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  Great God,
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  Almighty God,
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  our Father,
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  this is your Word.
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  we pray God
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  that your Word
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  speaks this morning.
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  I pray God
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  that you use me,
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  that you hide me
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  behind your cross
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  and the work on the cross
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  by your Son Jesus,
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  that His name
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  will be proclaimed,
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  that He will receive
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  all the glory.
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  Spirit,
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  I ask that you would move
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  in our hearts,
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  that we would be able
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  to respond
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  to what we hear
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  this morning
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  by and from you.
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  we trust
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  in what you're going
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  to do this morning.
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  We are excited
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  about what you're going
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  to do
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  and the lives
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  that you're going
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  to change.
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  In Jesus' name
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  I pray.
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  Amen.
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  I have three points
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  this morning
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  and they're straight
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  from the text.
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  They're nothing,
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  no fancy alliteration
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  or anything like that.
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  In fact,
• 6:12
  John MacArthur
• 6:12
  uses these too
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  and there's nothing
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  special about them.
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  the first point
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  is Abraham
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  was not justified
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  by works.
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  Abraham was not
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  justified by works.
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  Verses 1 and 2.
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  What then shall we say
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  was gained by Abraham
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  our forefather
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  according to the flesh?
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  For if Abraham
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  was justified by works,
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  he has something
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  to boast about,
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  but not before God.
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  Paul,
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  like he does
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  in other writings,
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  uses logic.
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  He's using logic
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  here for his argument.
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  What shall we say
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  was gained by Abraham?
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  The faithful,
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  obedient patriarch
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  of the Jewish people.
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  If Abraham
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  was justified
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  by works,
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  he would have
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  something to boast about.
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  Clear logic,
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  nothing fancy,
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  nothing hidden there.
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  True words.
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  We would,
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  if we would be
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  justified by works,
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  we would fall
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  right there with him.
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  Meaning,
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  if we obey God
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  perfectly,
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  if we were good
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  and loving
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  to all people,
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  if we did all
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  the religious activities,
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  attended all the church
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  things going on,
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  if we spoke
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  Christianese,
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  if we said the right
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  things,
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  if we get baptized,
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  if we act good
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  in front of certain people,
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  maybe the pastor
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  or other people,
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  if we followed
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  every rule
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  and every law,
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  every written,
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  we then would have
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  something to boast about.
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  if, of course,
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  our salvation
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  resulted in
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  those activities.
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  It would be
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  centered on us.
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  We would have
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  received the praise
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  for what we accomplished
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  and what we did.
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  We accomplished
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  something great
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  by getting to heaven.
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  The problem is
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  we can't.
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  It is impossible.
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  This is the point
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  that Paul
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  is making here
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  in this letter
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  to the Romans.
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  See, without God,
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  we have no hope.
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  See, Abraham
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  was called
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  by God.
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  Abraham was called
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  and didn't know
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  where he was going.
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  He just went.
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  God didn't say
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  to Abraham,
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  Abraham,
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  why don't you
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  go to Birmingham?
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  Jump on I-20,
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  head west,
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  you'll be there
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  in two hours.
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  It wasn't that way.
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  God said,
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  go,
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  and I'll show you
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  where you're going to go.
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  Abraham needed God
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  to lead him.
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  Likewise,
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  for us,
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  we need God
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  to lead us.
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  Now,
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  we've all used maps.
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  We've all used
• 8:46
  Google Maps
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  or MapQuest
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  or whatever.
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  Now,
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  mind-blowing statement here.
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  A map is only helpful
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  if it's accurate,
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  right?
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  It's only helpful
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  if it tells you
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  where you are
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  and where you're
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  trying to go.
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  Otherwise,
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  it's useless.
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  For our map
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  this morning
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  and our map
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  as a Christian
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  is the Word of God
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  and is Christ Jesus Himself.
• 9:10
  See,
• 9:10
  other religions
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  are maps
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  that are inaccurate.
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  Other religions
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  are maps
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  that take you nowhere.
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  But this morning,
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  we have a map.
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  We have the Word of God
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  sitting in your lap,
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  on your phone,
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  on your iPad,
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  whatever it is.
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  Sitting on your shelf.
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  And we're able
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  to follow God
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  and know
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  where we're going.
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  So see,
• 9:34
  it's God's action
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  on our life.
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  See,
• 9:39
  so if
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  we have something
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  to boast about,
• 9:43
  if we
• 9:44
  receive salvation
• 9:47
  by our works,
• 9:48
  justification
• 9:49
  by works,
• 9:50
  if that was possible,
• 9:51
  the end of verse 2,
• 9:53
  Paul clearly says
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  it's not going to happen.
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  Abraham cannot boast
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  before God.
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  Can't do it.
• 10:04
  It's not possible.
• 10:05
  Which means,
• 10:06
  stop playing the game.
• 10:09
  Stop pretending
• 10:10
  you're somebody
• 10:11
  that you're not.
• 10:14
  Stop being in bondage
• 10:15
  to a set of rules
• 10:16
  and laws
• 10:17
  that you cannot keep.
• 10:20
  You are enslaved
• 10:22
  to those laws
• 10:23
  and to your hard work
• 10:24
  to do right.
• 10:26
  Stop.
• 10:29
  I've used this
• 10:30
  illustration before
• 10:31
  and I'm going to use it again
• 10:32
  because it works so well
• 10:33
  for this application.
• 10:35
  You guys know
• 10:35
  in mythology,
• 10:37
  in Greek and Roman mythology,
• 10:38
  the king named Sisyphus,
• 10:40
  great name,
• 10:41
  Sisyphus,
• 10:43
  his eternal punishment
• 10:45
  was to push
• 10:46
  a giant boulder
• 10:47
  up a hill.
• 10:49
  When the boulder
• 10:50
  got almost to the top,
• 10:52
  the boulder would roll
• 10:53
  all the way back down
• 10:54
  and he would have to repeat
• 10:55
  over and over
• 10:57
  and over
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  throughout eternity.
• 11:00
  This is what you
• 11:01
  and me,
• 11:02
  you and I,
• 11:03
  proper grammar,
• 11:04
  do
• 11:05
  when we try
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  to achieve salvation
• 11:09
  by works.
• 11:10
  When we try
• 11:11
  to do things,
• 11:12
  when we pretend
• 11:13
  to be something
• 11:13
  we're not.
• 11:14
  When we,
• 11:15
  I've given you
• 11:17
  the list of works.
• 11:19
  When we do
• 11:20
  those things
• 11:21
  and we try
• 11:21
  to do those things,
• 11:22
  we are pushing
• 11:23
  a rock up a hill
• 11:24
  for it just to
• 11:25
  roll back down
• 11:26
  and not get anywhere.
• 11:29
  It is all pointless
• 11:31
  and it leads to death.
• 11:35
  Don't be fooled.
• 11:37
  Don't be fooled
• 11:38
  into believing
• 11:39
  that you just need
• 11:40
  to be good.
• 11:42
  Don't be fooled
• 11:43
  into believing
• 11:44
  that you just have
• 11:45
  to do a certain thing
• 11:46
  or pray a certain prayer.
• 11:49
  You need God
• 11:50
  to call you.
• 11:52
  You need God.
• 11:57
  Do not be fooled.
• 12:01
  If you are trying
• 12:02
  to be someone you're not,
• 12:03
  if you're trying
• 12:04
  to be moral
• 12:05
  and be good,
• 12:06
  if you're trying
• 12:06
  to gain your salvation
• 12:08
  through works,
• 12:09
  you are condemned.
• 12:11
  But there's good news.
• 12:13
  Romans 8.1
• 12:14
  There is therefore
• 12:15
  now no condemnation
• 12:17
  for those who are
• 12:17
  in Christ Jesus.
• 12:20
  Which means
• 12:21
  because of what
• 12:23
  we were enslaved to,
• 12:25
  what we were condemned
• 12:27
  by,
• 12:27
  what we tried to achieve,
• 12:29
  we were sentenced
• 12:31
  to death for,
• 12:32
  has been removed
• 12:33
  and can be removed
• 12:34
  by Christ
• 12:35
  and His life,
• 12:37
  death,
• 12:37
  and resurrection.
• 12:39
  Then,
• 12:40
  there is no condemnation.
• 12:42
  There is life,
• 12:43
  life eternal
• 12:44
  with Jesus Christ
• 12:45
  because of His work
• 12:46
  on the cross
• 12:46
  and His death
• 12:49
  and resurrection.
• 12:51
  Now,
• 12:51
  I would have to imagine
• 12:52
  that no one
• 12:53
  would come out
• 12:54
  and say that they
• 12:54
  were trying to
• 12:56
  ascend to heaven
• 12:57
  by works.
• 12:58
  I'm pretty sure
• 12:59
  that nobody would say that.
• 13:00
  But you would say
• 13:01
  something like,
• 13:01
  I'm just trying
• 13:02
  to be a good person.
• 13:02
  Or people around you
• 13:04
  would say,
• 13:04
  I'm just trying
• 13:04
  to be good.
• 13:06
  I'm just trying
• 13:06
  to love those people
• 13:07
  around me.
• 13:08
  I'm just trying
• 13:09
  to live a good,
• 13:10
  balanced life.
• 13:11
  But see,
• 13:15
  we do
• 13:16
  when we try
• 13:18
  to gain salvation
• 13:19
  by works.
• 13:22
  I'm going to answer,
• 13:23
  I'm going to ask you
• 13:24
  a question.
• 13:25
  One,
• 13:25
  if you're 100% honest,
• 13:28
  are you humble
• 13:30
  towards God?
• 13:33
  Another way to ask,
• 13:34
  are you repentant?
• 13:38
  Are you repentant
• 13:39
  for the things
• 13:39
  that you have done?
• 13:41
  Is God,
• 13:42
  is Jesus Christ
• 13:43
  your Lord?
• 13:45
  Or is He just
• 13:46
  your parole officer
• 13:47
  where you check in
• 13:47
  and tell Him
• 13:48
  how many good things
• 13:49
  you've done for Him?
• 13:51
  Because I'm afraid
• 13:52
  that that's a lot
• 13:53
  of what we,
• 13:54
  we won't say it,
• 13:55
  but that's the picture
• 13:56
  we have.
• 13:56
  Is Jesus,
• 13:57
  think of all these
• 13:58
  things I've done
• 13:59
  for you.
• 13:59
  Look at God,
• 14:00
  look at how good I am
• 14:01
  and the prayers I've prayed
• 14:02
  and the people I've loved.
• 14:08
  Jesus says,
• 14:09
  whoever follows me
• 14:10
  must deny himself,
• 14:11
  must die to himself
• 14:13
  and take up his cross.
• 14:15
  Luke 9.
• 14:18
  Notice which is first.
• 14:21
  Deny yourself
• 14:22
  and then take up your cross.
• 14:25
  See,
• 14:26
  if you deny yourself,
• 14:27
  if you die to yourself,
• 14:30
  you will not boast
• 14:31
  about what you've done
• 14:32
  for Him.
• 14:33
  Instead,
• 14:34
  you'll say,
• 14:35
  have mercy on me,
• 14:36
  a sinner.
• 14:37
  Let me,
• 14:38
  let me please you today.
• 14:39
  This is the day
• 14:39
  that you have made.
• 14:42
  It's a big difference.
• 14:44
  Big,
• 14:45
  big difference.
• 14:47
  So,
• 14:47
  we know the,
• 14:48
  we know the religious activities
• 14:50
  here in,
• 14:51
  in,
• 14:51
  in our churches.
• 14:52
  We,
• 14:52
  we,
• 14:53
  we can name them all.
• 14:55
  How about some religious activities
• 14:57
  in two other religions?
• 14:59
  Hindu.
• 15:00
  A Hindu religion.
• 15:01
  Live a life
• 15:02
  that has a growing awareness
• 15:04
  of God.
• 15:06
  Learn about God.
• 15:07
  He's around everywhere.
• 15:09
  Sounds okay.
• 15:12
  Worship an icon
• 15:13
  of your choosing.
• 15:15
  Okay?
• 15:16
  Pick a statue
• 15:17
  and worship it.
• 15:18
  Pray with chants
• 15:19
  and songs
• 15:20
  so that the gods
• 15:21
  can hear you.
• 15:23
  Hindu is where we get
• 15:24
  the word karma from
• 15:25
  or where the word karma
• 15:26
  comes from
• 15:26
  and the definition
• 15:28
  of karma
• 15:29
  is the path
• 15:29
  of right action.
• 15:31
  So,
• 15:31
  it's a work,
• 15:32
  it's a do,
• 15:33
  do,
• 15:33
  do religion
• 15:34
  that leads to nowhere.
• 15:37
  Islam.
• 15:39
  Islam's big.
• 15:41
  Five pillars
• 15:42
  of Islam.
• 15:44
  Do you know what they are?
• 15:46
  I'm going to
• 15:47
  pronounce these incorrect
• 15:48
  so don't judge me.
• 15:50
  Shahada,
• 15:51
  there is no God
• 15:52
  but Allah
• 15:53
  and Muhammad
• 15:53
  is his messenger.
• 15:55
  Okay?
• 15:56
  Number one.
• 15:58
  Salat,
• 15:58
  the practice of praying
• 15:59
  five times a day
• 16:01
  at times set
• 16:02
  by Allah.
• 16:04
  Zarkat,
• 16:05
  giving up,
• 16:06
  giving of a set amount
• 16:07
  to charity.
• 16:09
  Psalm,
• 16:09
  fasting during Ramadan
• 16:11
  and haji.
• 16:13
  Muslims from all
• 16:14
  ethnic groups
• 16:14
  stand together
• 16:15
  in front of the
• 16:16
  Kaaba,
• 16:18
  I think,
• 16:18
  the cube-shaped
• 16:20
  building in Saudi Arabia.
• 16:21
  You've seen it.
• 16:21
  It's supposed to be
• 16:22
  the holiest place
• 16:23
  for Muslims.
• 16:24
  works-based religion.
• 16:31
  Do, do, do, do, do,
• 16:33
  and it leads to nothing.
• 16:34
  It's all works
• 16:35
  and it doesn't work.
• 16:38
  We have nothing
• 16:39
  to boast about
• 16:40
  before God
• 16:42
  and ourselves.
• 16:44
  If, however,
• 16:45
  you are a Christian,
• 16:46
  if you are born again,
• 16:47
  regenerate believer,
• 16:48
  and you believe
• 16:49
  that Jesus Christ
• 16:49
  came, died,
• 16:51
  and resurrected
• 16:52
  for your sins,
• 16:54
  then you can boast.
• 16:58
  But you boast
• 16:59
  about Christ
• 16:59
  and you boast
• 17:00
  in Christ.
• 17:01
  Galatians 6, 14.
• 17:03
  But Paul says,
• 17:04
  but far be it
• 17:05
  from me to boast
• 17:06
  except in the cross
• 17:07
  of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• 17:09
  by which the world
• 17:11
  has been crucified
• 17:12
  to me
• 17:12
  and I
• 17:14
  to the world.
• 17:17
  So,
• 17:17
  Abraham was not
• 17:19
  justified
• 17:20
  by works.
• 17:21
  Paul clearly
• 17:22
  communicates that.
• 17:24
  So, second point,
• 17:25
  Abraham was justified
• 17:26
  by faith.
• 17:29
  And this we find
• 17:30
  in verses 3-5.
• 17:32
  It says,
• 17:32
  For what does
• 17:33
  the Scripture say?
• 17:35
  Abraham believed God
• 17:37
  and it was counted
• 17:38
  to him as righteousness.
• 17:40
  Now, to the one
• 17:41
  who works,
• 17:42
  his wages are not
• 17:43
  counted as a gift,
• 17:44
  but as his due.
• 17:46
  And to the one
• 17:46
  who does not work,
• 17:47
  but believes in him
• 17:48
  who justifies the ungodly,
• 17:49
  his faith
• 17:51
  is counted
• 17:51
  as righteousness.
• 17:54
  See,
• 17:54
  Paul uses
• 17:55
  the patriarch
• 17:56
  of the Jewish people.
• 17:58
  The father of them.
• 17:59
  They would all claim him.
• 18:01
  He uses him
• 18:02
  to make his argument.
• 18:05
  A man who lived
• 18:06
  2,000 years
• 18:07
  before Christ,
• 18:09
  which means he lived
• 18:09
  2,000 years
• 18:10
  plus some
• 18:11
  before Paul
• 18:12
  is writing
• 18:13
  this letter.
• 18:14
  He chooses
• 18:16
  Abraham
• 18:17
  because what we do
• 18:18
  so often by
• 18:19
  we tend
• 18:21
  to elevate guys
• 18:23
  and put them
• 18:25
  on pedestals,
• 18:26
  don't we?
• 18:27
  John Piper,
• 18:29
  Billy Graham,
• 18:30
  David Platt,
• 18:31
  Bono.
• 18:34
  Come on,
• 18:34
  you're laughing,
• 18:35
  but it's true.
• 18:38
  That is
• 18:38
  an odd collection
• 18:40
  of people,
• 18:41
  but
• 18:41
  throw Bono in there.
• 18:44
  But we do it.
• 18:45
  We lift up people
• 18:46
  and we say,
• 18:47
  sometimes we lift up
• 18:48
  our pastors.
• 18:49
  I did.
• 18:51
  And now I'm a pastor.
• 18:51
  I'm like,
• 18:52
  please don't lift me up.
• 18:55
  I lifted up my pastor
• 18:57
  and I thought,
• 18:58
  man,
• 18:58
  this guy,
• 18:59
  he's got it.
• 19:01
  He looks perfect like it.
• 19:04
  And we lift him up.
• 19:07
  See,
• 19:07
  the Jewish people
• 19:08
  lifted and elevated
• 19:09
  Abraham.
• 19:11
  The perfect,
• 19:12
  faithful patriarch.
• 19:14
  And because of that,
• 19:16
  let's dig a little deeper.
• 19:21
  Abraham was called
• 19:22
  by God
• 19:22
  out of Ur,
• 19:24
  land of the Chaldeans.
• 19:25
  Okay?
• 19:26
  It was an evil,
• 19:28
  pagan,
• 19:29
  worshiping country.
• 19:31
  Evil.
• 19:32
  Abraham
• 19:32
  was his name
• 19:33
  before Abraham.
• 19:35
  He was a pagan.
• 19:37
  He
• 19:37
  did not know
• 19:39
  who this God was
• 19:40
  when God called him.
• 19:43
  Out of the millions
• 19:44
  of people
• 19:44
  that God could have chosen,
• 19:45
  He chose Abram
• 19:46
  and God had no idea
• 19:48
  or Abram had no idea
• 19:49
  who this God was.
• 19:51
  But God called him
• 19:53
  and he followed.
• 19:54
  He went where he didn't know.
• 19:56
  He obeyed without understanding.
• 19:58
  This is where the story ends
• 20:01
  for a lot of people.
• 20:02
  See,
• 20:03
  we pick out
• 20:03
  this story
• 20:04
  and we pick out
• 20:06
  Abraham with Isaac
• 20:07
  where he obeys God
• 20:09
  and he takes Isaac up
• 20:10
  to sacrifice Isaac
• 20:11
  and God provides
• 20:13
  a goat for him.
• 20:16
  So we say,
• 20:16
  oh,
• 20:17
  Abraham,
• 20:17
  he's so faithful.
• 20:18
  Hebrews 11
• 20:19
  talks about Abraham
• 20:20
  being faithful,
• 20:21
  but
• 20:21
  there's more to the story.
• 20:25
  How about the story
• 20:27
  in Genesis 12
• 20:28
  where Abraham
• 20:29
  tells Sarah,
• 20:30
  his wife,
• 20:31
  to lie and say
• 20:32
  she's his sister
• 20:34
  because he feared his life.
• 20:37
  Not so honest.
• 20:39
  So we have
• 20:40
  Abraham who is faithful
• 20:42
  and we have Abraham
• 20:44
  who's sinful.
• 20:47
  What about
• 20:47
  later on?
• 20:51
  God has given
• 20:53
  Abraham the covenant.
• 20:53
  I'm going to bless
• 20:55
  you.
• 20:56
  I'm going to bless
• 20:56
  generations after you.
• 20:58
  Your people,
• 21:00
  your children's
• 21:01
  children's children
• 21:01
  will be blessed.
• 21:04
  Abraham didn't believe
• 21:05
  God
• 21:05
  or didn't trust
• 21:06
  completely
• 21:07
  because what did he do?
• 21:10
  He had
• 21:11
  an adulterous affair
• 21:12
  with Hagar.
• 21:15
  Coming,
• 21:16
  his wife's idea,
• 21:17
  Sarah's idea,
• 21:18
  you need to have a son
• 21:19
  because you don't have one yet
• 21:20
  and you're getting old.
• 21:21
  the luster is
• 21:26
  being removed.
• 21:28
  The shine
• 21:29
  from Abraham
• 21:30
  is being
• 21:30
  removed.
• 21:33
  The elevated
• 21:34
  Jewish
• 21:34
  leader
• 21:35
  is just a man
• 21:38
  and a man
• 21:39
  in need
• 21:40
  of salvation.
• 21:42
  And this salvation
• 21:43
  comes
• 21:44
  to the conduit
• 21:45
  called faith.
• 21:47
  Faith is the conduit.
• 21:48
  Now,
• 21:49
  some people will teach
• 21:50
  that my faith,
• 21:52
  I give Jesus,
• 21:54
  I give God my faith
• 21:55
  and I receive righteousness.
• 21:56
  That it's an exchange.
• 21:59
  That I have so much faith
• 22:01
  that God saves me.
• 22:03
  That is incorrect.
• 22:05
  Faith is the conduit
• 22:07
  by which we receive
• 22:09
  salvation.
• 22:10
  And I'll explain
• 22:11
  in just a minute.
• 22:13
  Verse 3 says,
• 22:14
  For what does the Scripture say?
• 22:16
  Abraham believed God
• 22:17
  and it was counted to him
• 22:18
  as righteousness.
• 22:20
  Counted.
• 22:21
  This word is a credit,
• 22:22
  a transaction,
• 22:24
  an exchange.
• 22:26
  See,
• 22:27
  Abraham believed
• 22:28
  the conduit
• 22:30
  and our Lord's
• 22:31
  righteousness
• 22:32
  came on him.
• 22:34
  Transaction,
• 22:35
  exchange,
• 22:36
  credit.
• 22:39
  Here's why faith
• 22:40
  is a conduit
• 22:41
  and not
• 22:42
  an exchange.
• 22:43
  Okay?
• 22:44
  There's an exchange
• 22:45
  that happens
• 22:46
  but faith
• 22:47
  is not that
• 22:47
  trade.
• 22:50
  I hope I'm not
• 22:50
  confusing you.
• 22:52
  If our faith
• 22:53
  wasn't
• 22:54
  a conduit
• 22:55
  but the payment
• 22:56
  for the price
• 22:58
  then we would have
• 22:59
  all room to boast.
• 23:01
  And then what Paul
• 23:02
  is saying here
• 23:03
  would not mean anything
• 23:04
  because
• 23:05
  we would be able
• 23:07
  to boast.
• 23:09
  Verse 4 says,
• 23:10
  Now to the one
• 23:11
  who works
• 23:11
  his wages
• 23:12
  are not counted
• 23:13
  as a gift
• 23:14
  but as his due.
• 23:15
  Okay?
• 23:16
  Clear.
• 23:18
  God makes
• 23:19
  perfect sense.
• 23:21
  Which
• 23:21
  then
• 23:23
  is works-based
• 23:24
  salvation
• 23:25
  which Paul
• 23:26
  is proving
• 23:26
  impossible.
• 23:29
  If this happens
• 23:30
  then the person
• 23:31
  who worked
• 23:32
  and received
• 23:33
  salvation,
• 23:34
  justification
• 23:34
  through his works
• 23:36
  receives glory
• 23:37
  and steals
• 23:38
  the glory
• 23:39
  reserved
• 23:39
  for God
• 23:40
  Almighty.
• 23:42
  All creation
• 23:43
  was created
• 23:44
  for God's glory.
• 23:46
  Romans 11
• 23:47
  36
• 23:47
  For from him
• 23:48
  and through him
• 23:49
  and to him
• 23:50
  are all things.
• 23:54
  To him
• 23:55
  be glory
• 23:56
  forever.
• 23:57
  Amen.
• 23:58
  Now this is not
• 23:59
  just a conclusion
• 24:00
  to a thought.
• 24:01
  This is a proclamation.
• 24:02
  To him
• 24:03
  be glory
• 24:04
  forever and ever.
• 24:06
  Amen.
• 24:08
  John MacArthur
• 24:08
  says the primary
• 24:09
  purpose of the
• 24:11
  gospel is not
• 24:11
  to save men
• 24:12
  but to glorify
• 24:13
  God.
• 24:15
  Now let's
• 24:15
  John MacArthur
• 24:16
  said it
• 24:17
  but it's rooted
• 24:18
  in Scripture.
• 24:22
  Ephesians 3
• 24:22
  20 and 21
• 24:23
  Now to him
• 24:24
  who is able
• 24:25
  to do far
• 24:26
  more abundantly
• 24:27
  than all that we
• 24:27
  ask or think
• 24:28
  according to the
• 24:29
  power at work
• 24:30
  within us
• 24:30
  to him
• 24:32
  be glory
• 24:33
  in the church
• 24:33
  and in Christ
• 24:34
  Jesus
• 24:34
  throughout all
• 24:35
  generations
• 24:35
  forever and ever.
• 24:37
  All generations
• 24:39
  forever and ever.
• 24:41
  Amen.
• 24:43
  It is an act
• 24:44
  by God
• 24:45
  on our lives
• 24:45
  and not
• 24:47
  the reverse.
• 24:48
  Now we do
• 24:49
  have responsibility.
• 24:50
  We do have
• 24:50
  we do respond
• 24:51
  but not after
• 24:53
  or not until
• 24:55
  God has
• 24:56
  worked.
• 24:58
  Verse 5
• 24:59
  And to the
• 25:01
  one who does
• 25:01
  not work
• 25:02
  but believes
• 25:02
  in him
• 25:03
  who justifies
• 25:03
  the ungodly
• 25:04
  his faith
• 25:06
  is counted
• 25:07
  as righteousness.
• 25:09
  Praise God
• 25:09
  for verse 5.
• 25:11
  For the ungodly
• 25:12
  is you
• 25:13
  and it is me.
• 25:16
  That's the
• 25:17
  Muslim.
• 25:18
  That's the
• 25:18
  Hindu man.
• 25:20
  That's the
• 25:21
  pagan
• 25:21
  atheist.
• 25:22
  All of us
• 25:23
  before Christ
• 25:24
  with a need
• 25:26
  greater than
• 25:27
  any other
• 25:28
  need.
• 25:28
  with a debt
• 25:29
  we could
• 25:30
  not pay.
• 25:32
  I'm going to
• 25:32
  read a story
• 25:33
  to you
• 25:33
  called
• 25:35
  A Great
• 25:35
  Debt
• 25:36
  Who Can
• 25:36
  Pay.
• 25:37
  I hope I
• 25:38
  don't bore
• 25:38
  you.
• 25:40
  Harry
• 25:40
  Ironside
• 25:41
  used to
• 25:41
  tell about
• 25:42
  a young
• 25:42
  Russian
• 25:43
  soldier
• 25:43
  because his
• 25:44
  father was
• 25:45
  a friend
• 25:45
  of Tsar
• 25:46
  Nicholas I.
• 25:47
  The young
• 25:48
  man had
• 25:48
  been made
• 25:49
  paymaster
• 25:50
  in one
• 25:50
  of the
• 25:50
  barracks.
• 25:52
  The young
• 25:53
  man meant
• 25:53
  well but
• 25:54
  his character
• 25:54
  was not up
• 25:55
  to his
• 25:56
  responsibility.
• 25:57
  He took
• 25:58
  to gambling
• 25:58
  and eventually
• 25:59
  gambling away
• 26:00
  a great deal
• 26:01
  of the
• 26:02
  government's
• 26:03
  money as
• 26:04
  well as
• 26:04
  all of
• 26:05
  his own.
• 26:08
  In due
• 26:09
  course the
• 26:09
  man received
• 26:10
  notice that
• 26:11
  a representative
• 26:12
  of the Tsar
• 26:13
  was coming
• 26:13
  to check
• 26:13
  accounts and
• 26:15
  he knew
• 26:15
  he was in
• 26:16
  trouble.
• 26:18
  That evening
• 26:19
  he got out
• 26:20
  the books
• 26:20
  and totaled
• 26:21
  the funds
• 26:21
  he owed.
• 26:22
  Then he
• 26:24
  went to
• 26:24
  the safe
• 26:25
  and got
• 26:25
  out his
• 26:26
  own
• 26:26
  pitifully
• 26:27
  small
• 26:27
  amount
• 26:28
  of
• 26:28
  money.
• 26:29
  As he
• 26:30
  sat and
• 26:30
  looked at
• 26:31
  the two
• 26:31
  he was
• 26:31
  overwhelmed
• 26:32
  at the
• 26:33
  astronomical
• 26:34
  debt
• 26:34
  versus his
• 26:35
  own
• 26:35
  small
• 26:36
  change.
• 26:37
  He was
• 26:37
  ruined.
• 26:39
  He knew
• 26:39
  he would
• 26:40
  be disgraced.
• 26:42
  At last
• 26:43
  the young
• 26:43
  soldier
• 26:44
  edit that
• 26:49
  for me
• 26:49
  John.
• 26:49
  at last
• 26:51
  the young
• 26:52
  soldier
• 26:52
  determined
• 26:53
  to take
• 26:53
  his
• 26:54
  life.
• 26:55
  He
• 26:55
  pulled
• 26:55
  out
• 26:55
  his
• 26:55
  revolver
• 26:56
  placed
• 26:58
  it
• 26:58
  on
• 26:58
  the
• 26:58
  table
• 26:58
  before
• 26:59
  him
• 26:59
  and
• 26:59
  wrote
• 27:00
  a
• 27:00
  summation
• 27:00
  of
• 27:01
  his
• 27:01
  misdeeds.
• 27:02
  At
• 27:03
  the
• 27:03
  bottom
• 27:03
  of
• 27:03
  the
• 27:03
  ledger
• 27:04
  where
• 27:04
  he
• 27:04
  had
• 27:04
  totaled
• 27:05
  up
• 27:05
  his
• 27:05
  illegal
• 27:05
  borrowings
• 27:06
  he
• 27:06
  wrote
• 27:06
  a
• 27:07
  great
• 27:07
  debt
• 27:08
  who
• 27:09
  can
• 27:09
  pay.
• 27:10
  He
• 27:11
  decided
• 27:11
  that
• 27:11
  at
• 27:12
  the
• 27:12
  stroke
• 27:12
  of
• 27:12
  midnight
• 27:13
  he
• 27:13
  would
• 27:13
  die.
• 27:15
  As
• 27:15
  the
• 27:15
  evening
• 27:15
  wore
• 27:16
  on
• 27:16
  the
• 27:16
  young
• 27:16
  soldier
• 27:17
  drew
• 27:17
  drowsy
• 27:19
  sleep.
• 27:20
  That
• 27:20
  night
• 27:21
  Tsar
• 27:21
  Nicholas
• 27:22
  I
• 27:22
  as
• 27:23
  was
• 27:23
  sometimes
• 27:23
  his
• 27:24
  custom
• 27:24
  made
• 27:25
  the
• 27:25
  rounds
• 27:25
  of
• 27:26
  the
• 27:26
  barracks.
• 27:27
  Seeing
• 27:27
  a
• 27:27
  light
• 27:28
  he
• 27:29
  stopped
• 27:29
  looked
• 27:30
  in
• 27:30
  and
• 27:31
  saw
• 27:31
  the
• 27:31
  young
• 27:31
  man
• 27:32
  asleep.
• 27:33
  He
• 27:33
  recognized
• 27:33
  him
• 27:34
  immediately
• 27:34
  and
• 27:35
  looking
• 27:35
  over
• 27:35
  his
• 27:36
  shoulder
• 27:36
  saw
• 27:37
  the
• 27:38
  ledger
• 27:38
  and
• 27:38
  realized
• 27:39
  all
• 27:39
  that
• 27:39
  had
• 27:39
  taken
• 27:40
  place.
• 27:41
  He
• 27:42
  was
• 27:42
  about
• 27:42
  to
• 27:42
  awaken
• 27:43
  him
• 27:43
  and
• 27:43
  put
• 27:43
  him
• 27:43
  under
• 27:44
  a
• 27:44
  rest
• 27:44
  when
• 27:44
  his
• 27:45
  eyes
• 27:45
  fastened
• 27:46
  on
• 27:46
  the
• 27:46
  young
• 27:46
  man's
• 27:47
  message
• 27:47
  a
• 27:49
  who
• 27:50
  can
• 27:50
  pay.
• 27:52
  Suddenly
• 27:52
  with a
• 27:53
  surge
• 27:53
  of
• 27:53
  magnanimity
• 27:55
  he
• 27:55
  reached
• 27:56
  over
• 27:56
  wrote
• 27:57
  one
• 27:57
  word
• 27:57
  at
• 27:57
  the
• 27:57
  bottom
• 27:58
  of
• 27:58
  the
• 27:58
  ledger
• 27:58
  and
• 27:59
  slipped
• 27:59
  out.
• 28:00
  When
• 28:01
  the
• 28:01
  young
• 28:01
  man
• 28:01
  awoke
• 28:02
  he
• 28:02
  glanced
• 28:02
  at
• 28:02
  the
• 28:03
  clock
• 28:03
  and
• 28:03
  saw
• 28:03
  that
• 28:03
  it
• 28:04
  was
• 28:04
  long
• 28:04
  after
• 28:04
  midnight
• 28:05
  he
• 28:05
  reached
• 28:05
  for
• 28:06
  his
• 28:06
  revolver
• 28:06
  to
• 28:06
  shoot
• 28:06
  himself
• 28:07
  but
• 28:08
  his
• 28:08
  eyes
• 28:09
  stood
• 28:09
  upon
• 28:09
  the
• 28:09
  ledger
• 28:10
  and
• 28:10
  he
• 28:10
  saw
• 28:11
  something
• 28:11
  that
• 28:11
  he
• 28:11
  had
• 28:11
  not
• 28:11
  seen
• 28:12
  !
• 28:12
  before
• 28:12
  there
• 28:13
  beneath
• 28:14
  his
• 28:14
  writing
• 28:14
  a
• 28:15
  great
• 28:15
  debt
• 28:15
  who
• 28:16
  can
• 28:16
  pay
• 28:16
  was
• 28:17
  written
• 28:17
  Nicholas
• 28:18
  he
• 28:20
  was
• 28:20
  dumbfounded
• 28:21
  it
• 28:21
  was
• 28:21
  the
• 28:21
  tsar's
• 28:22
  signature
• 28:22
  he
• 28:24
  said
• 28:24
  to
• 28:24
  himself
• 28:24
  the
• 28:24
  tsar
• 28:25
  must
• 28:26
  have
• 28:26
  come
• 28:26
  by
• 28:26
  when
• 28:26
  I
• 28:27
  was
• 28:27
  asleep
• 28:27
  he
• 28:28
  has
• 28:29
  seen
• 28:29
  the
• 28:29
  book
• 28:29
  he
• 28:30
  knows
• 28:30
  all
• 28:31
  still
• 28:32
  he
• 28:32
  is
• 28:32
  willing
• 28:32
  to
• 28:33
  forgive
• 28:33
  me
• 28:33
  the
• 28:35
  young
• 28:35
  soldier
• 28:36
  then
• 28:36
  rested
• 28:37
  on
• 28:37
  the
• 28:37
  word
• 28:37
  of
• 28:37
  the
• 28:38
  tsar
• 28:38
  and
• 28:38
  the
• 28:38
  next
• 28:39
  morning
• 28:39
  a
• 28:39
  messenger
• 28:39
  came
• 28:40
  from
• 28:40
  the
• 28:40
  palace
• 28:41
  and
• 28:41
  with
• 28:42
  exactly
• 28:42
  the amount
• 28:44
  of
• 28:45
  the
• 28:46
  tsar
• 28:46
  could
• 28:46
  pay
• 28:47
  and
• 28:48
  the
• 28:48
  tsar
• 28:48
  did
• 28:48
  pay
• 28:49
  now
• 28:50
  we
• 28:50
  compare
• 28:51
  God's
• 28:51
  righteousness
• 28:51
  with
• 28:52
  our
• 28:52
  own
• 28:52
  tawdry
• 28:53
  performance
• 28:54
  we
• 28:55
  asked
• 28:55
  the
• 28:55
  question
• 28:56
  a
• 28:56
  great
• 28:57
  debt
• 28:57
  to
• 28:57
  God
• 28:57
  who
• 28:58
  can
• 28:58
  pay
• 28:58
  but
• 29:00
  then
• 29:00
  the
• 29:01
  Lord
• 29:01
  Jesus
• 29:02
  Christ
• 29:02
  says
• 29:02
  for
• 29:03
  the
• 29:03
  signs
• 29:03
  his
• 29:03
  name
• 29:04
  Jesus
• 29:04
  Christ
• 29:04
  only
• 29:06
  he
• 29:06
  can
• 29:06
  pay
• 29:07
  Jesus
• 29:09
  paid
• 29:09
  the
• 29:10
  debt
• 29:10
  that
• 29:10
  we
• 29:10
  could
• 29:11
  not
• 29:11
  pay
• 29:11
  remember
• 29:13
  that I
• 29:13
  said
• 29:13
  that
• 29:13
  faith
• 29:14
  is the
• 29:14
  conduit
• 29:15
  by which
• 29:15
  the
• 29:15
  righteousness
• 29:16
  of our
• 29:16
  Lord
• 29:16
  Jesus
• 29:17
  was
• 29:17
  was
• 29:17
  imputed
• 29:18
  or
• 29:18
  exchanged
• 29:19
  or counted
• 29:19
  to us
• 29:20
  there was
• 29:22
  another
• 29:23
  exchange
• 29:23
  used
• 29:25
  by the
• 29:25
  same
• 29:26
  God
• 29:26
  conduit
• 29:27
  our
• 29:27
  sin
• 29:28
  was
• 29:28
  imputed
• 29:29
  or counted
• 29:30
  on him
• 29:31
  he
• 29:32
  bore
• 29:33
  the wrath
• 29:33
  of the
• 29:34
  Father
• 29:35
  intended
• 29:36
  for us
• 29:37
  Isaiah
• 29:38
  53
• 29:39
  verse
• 29:41
  4 and
• 29:41
  5
• 29:42
  surely
• 29:42
  surely
• 29:42
  he
• 29:42
  has
• 29:43
  borne
• 29:43
  our
• 29:43
  griefs
• 29:44
  and
• 29:44
  carried
• 29:45
  our
• 29:45
  sorrows
• 29:46
  yet
• 29:46
  we
• 29:46
  esteemed
• 29:47
  him
• 29:47
  stricken
• 29:47
  smitten
• 29:48
  by
• 29:48
  God
• 29:49
  and
• 29:49
  afflicted
• 29:50
  but
• 29:51
  he
• 29:51
  was
• 29:52
  wounded
• 29:52
  for
• 29:52
  our
• 29:52
  transgressions
• 29:53
  he
• 29:54
  was
• 29:54
  crushed
• 29:55
  for
• 29:55
  our
• 29:55
  iniquities
• 29:56
  upon
• 29:56
  him
• 29:57
  the
• 29:57
  chastisement
• 29:57
  that
• 29:58
  brought
• 29:58
  us
• 29:58
  peace
• 29:59
  and
• 30:00
  with
• 30:00
  his
• 30:00
  stripes
• 30:01
  we
• 30:01
  are
• 30:02
  healed
• 30:02
  2nd
• 30:03
  Corinthians
• 30:04
  5
• 30:04
  21
• 30:05
  some
• 30:05
  of you
• 30:05
  have
• 30:06
  this
• 30:06
  memorized
• 30:07
  for
• 30:07
  our
• 30:07
  sake
• 30:08
  he
• 30:08
  made
• 30:08
  him
• 30:08
  to
• 30:08
  be
• 30:09
  sin
• 30:09
  who
• 30:09
  knew
• 30:09
  no
• 30:09
  sin
• 30:10
  so
• 30:10
  that
• 30:10
  in
• 30:11
  him
• 30:11
  we
• 30:11
  might
• 30:11
  become
• 30:12
  the
• 30:13
  righteousness
• 30:13
  of
• 30:14
  God
• 30:14
  Abraham
• 30:17
  was justified
• 30:18
  by faith
• 30:19
  not
• 30:21
  by works
• 30:22
  the third
• 30:23
  point
• 30:23
  this
• 30:23
  morning
• 30:24
  justification
• 30:25
  is a
• 30:26
  blessing
• 30:27
  verse
• 30:29
  6
• 30:30
  through
• 30:30
  8
• 30:30
  says
• 30:32
  just as
• 30:33
  David
• 30:33
  also speaks
• 30:34
  of the
• 30:34
  blessing
• 30:35
  of the
• 30:35
  one
• 30:35
  to whom
• 30:35
  God
• 30:36
  counts
• 30:36
  righteousness
• 30:37
  apart
• 30:38
  from
• 30:38
  works
• 30:39
  blessed
• 30:40
  are
• 30:40
  those
• 30:41
  who
• 30:41
  lawless
• 30:41
  deeds
• 30:42
  are
• 30:42
  forgiven
• 30:42
  and
• 30:43
  whose
• 30:44
  sins
• 30:44
  are
• 30:45
  covered
• 30:45
  blessed
• 30:46
  is
• 30:46
  the
• 30:46
  man
• 30:46
  against
• 30:47
  whom
• 30:47
  the
• 30:47
  Lord
• 30:47
  will
• 30:48
  not
• 30:48
  count
• 30:48
  his
• 30:49
  sin
• 30:50
  now
• 30:51
  Paul
• 30:51
  used
• 30:52
  Abraham
• 30:53
  for his
• 30:53
  argument
• 30:54
  and now
• 30:54
  he brings
• 30:55
  in
• 30:55
  David
• 30:55
  whom
• 30:57
  God
• 30:57
  the
• 30:58
  king
• 30:58
  whom
• 30:58
  God
• 30:58
  chose
• 30:59
  a
• 30:59
  man
• 30:59
  after
• 30:59
  God's
• 31:00
  own
• 31:00
  heart
• 31:00
  to
• 31:01
  make
• 31:01
  his
• 31:01
  argument
• 31:02
  a
• 31:04
  man
• 31:04
  who
• 31:05
  clearly
• 31:06
  understood
• 31:07
  God's
• 31:08
  grace
• 31:09
  turn to
• 31:09
  Psalm 51
• 31:10
  and we
• 31:11
  have
• 31:12
  referenced
• 31:12
  this
• 31:12
  a few
• 31:13
  times
• 31:13
  throughout
• 31:14
  the book
• 31:14
  of Romans
• 31:15
  so far
• 31:15
  Psalm 51
• 31:18
  is the
• 31:18
  psalm
• 31:18
  that
• 31:19
  David
• 31:19
  wrote
• 31:20
  after
• 31:21
  Nathan
• 31:23
  calls him
• 31:23
  out
• 31:24
  with his
• 31:26
  adulterous
• 31:27
  act
• 31:27
  with Bathsheba
• 31:28
  and the
• 31:29
  murderous
• 31:29
  act
• 31:30
  of killing
• 31:31
  her husband
• 31:32
  Uriah
• 31:33
  David
• 31:38
  understood
• 31:39
  God's
• 31:40
  grace
• 31:40
  verse 1
• 31:42
  have
• 31:42
  mercy
• 31:43
  on me
• 31:43
  O
• 31:43
  God
• 31:44
  according
• 31:44
  to
• 31:44
  your
• 31:44
  steadfast
• 31:45
  love
• 31:45
  according
• 31:46
  to
• 31:46
  your
• 31:47
  abundant
• 31:47
  mercy
• 31:48
  blot
• 31:48
  out
• 31:49
  my
• 31:49
  transgressions
• 31:50
  verse 2
• 31:51
  wash
• 31:52
  me
• 31:52
  thoroughly
• 31:53
  from
• 31:54
  my
• 31:54
  iniquity
• 31:54
  and
• 31:55
  cleanse
• 31:55
  me
• 31:56
  from
• 31:56
  my
• 31:56
  sin
• 31:57
  for
• 31:59
  I
• 32:00
  know
• 32:00
  my
• 32:00
  transgressions
• 32:01
  and my
• 32:01
  sin
• 32:02
  is ever
• 32:02
  before
• 32:03
  me
• 32:03
  against
• 32:05
  you
• 32:05
  you
• 32:06
  only
• 32:06
  have
• 32:06
  I
• 32:06
  sinned
• 32:07
  and
• 32:07
  done
• 32:07
  what
• 32:07
  is
• 32:07
  evil
• 32:08
  in
• 32:08
  your
• 32:08
  sight
• 32:08
  so
• 32:08
  that
• 32:09
  you
• 32:09
  may
• 32:09
  be
• 32:09
  justified
• 32:10
  in
• 32:10
  your
• 32:10
  words
• 32:11
  and
• 32:11
  blameless
• 32:12
  in
• 32:12
  your
• 32:13
  judgment
• 32:13
  skip
• 32:14
  over
• 32:15
  to
• 32:15
  verse
• 32:15
  10
• 32:15
  created
• 32:16
  me
• 32:16
  a
• 32:17
  clean
• 32:17
  heart
• 32:17
  oh
• 32:17
  God
• 32:18
  and
• 32:18
  renew
• 32:18
  a
• 32:18
  right
• 32:19
  spirit
• 32:19
  within
• 32:19
  me
• 32:20
  cast
• 32:20
  me
• 32:21
  not
• 32:21
  away
• 32:21
  from
• 32:22
  your
• 32:22
  presence
• 32:22
  and
• 32:22
  take
• 32:23
  not
• 32:23
  your
• 32:23
  Holy
• 32:23
  Spirit
• 32:24
  from
• 32:24
  me
• 32:24
  restore
• 32:25
  to
• 32:26
  me
• 32:26
  the
• 32:26
  joy
• 32:26
  of
• 32:26
  your
• 32:27
  salvation
• 32:27
  and
• 32:27
  uphold
• 32:28
  me
• 32:28
  with
• 32:28
  a
• 32:29
  willing
• 32:29
  spirit
• 32:29
  that
• 32:30
  I
• 32:30
  will
• 32:31
  teach
• 32:31
  transgressors
• 32:32
  your
• 32:32
  ways
• 32:33
  and
• 32:33
  sinners
• 32:33
  will
• 32:33
  turn
• 32:34
  to
• 32:34
  you
• 32:34
  deliver
• 32:35
  me
• 32:35
  for
• 32:36
  blood
• 32:36
  guilt
• 32:37
  ness
• 32:37
  oh
• 32:37
  God
• 32:38
  oh
• 32:38
  God
• 32:38
  of
• 32:38
  my
• 32:39
  salvation
• 32:39
  and
• 32:40
  my
• 32:40
  tongue
• 32:41
  will
• 32:41
  sing
• 32:41
  aloud
• 32:41
  for
• 32:42
  your
• 32:42
  righteousness
• 32:44
  David
• 32:46
  understood
• 32:47
  God's
• 32:47
  grace
• 32:48
  the
• 32:50
  person
• 32:50
  of
• 32:50
  genuine
• 32:51
  faith
• 32:51
  is
• 32:51
  blessed
• 32:52
  another
• 32:54
  word
• 32:55
  for
• 32:55
  blessed
• 32:55
  is
• 32:56
  privileged
• 32:56
  or
• 32:57
  fortunate
• 32:57
  blessed
• 33:00
  are
• 33:00
  those
• 33:01
  whose
• 33:01
  lawless
• 33:01
  deeds
• 33:02
  are
• 33:02
  forgiven
• 33:02
  and
• 33:03
  whose
• 33:03
  sins
• 33:04
  are
• 33:04
  covered
• 33:04
  privileged
• 33:06
  fortunate
• 33:07
  are
• 33:08
  you
• 33:08
  Abraham
• 33:12
  was
• 33:12
  justified
• 33:13
  only
• 33:14
  by
• 33:15
  faith
• 33:15
  and
• 33:16
  he
• 33:16
  was
• 33:16
  blessed
• 33:17
  David
• 33:18
  was
• 33:18
  justified
• 33:18
  blessed
• 33:19
  not in
• 33:19
  a
• 33:20
  stuff
• 33:22
  not in
• 33:23
  things
• 33:24
  he
• 33:25
  was
• 33:25
  blessed
• 33:26
  because
• 33:26
  he
• 33:26
  knew
• 33:26
  the
• 33:26
  creator
• 33:27
  God
• 33:27
  he
• 33:27
  was
• 33:27
  blessed
• 33:28
  because
• 33:28
  he
• 33:28
  knew
• 33:29
  at
• 33:30
  some
• 33:30
  point
• 33:30
  when
• 33:31
  he
• 33:31
  died
• 33:31
  he
• 33:31
  was
• 33:31
  going
• 33:31
  to
• 33:32
  be
• 33:32
  eternally
• 33:33
  with
• 33:33
  him
• 33:34
  he
• 33:35
  knew
• 33:35
  the
• 33:35
  promises
• 33:35
  of
• 33:36
  God
• 33:36
  and
• 33:36
  he
• 33:36
  believed
• 33:37
  them
• 33:37
  privileged
• 33:40
  and
• 33:40
  fortunate
• 33:40
  David
• 33:42
  was
• 33:42
  justified
• 33:43
  only
• 33:43
  by
• 33:43
  faith
• 33:44
  and
• 33:45
  every
• 33:46
  believer
• 33:46
  has
• 33:47
  been
• 33:47
  justified
• 33:47
  only
• 33:48
  by
• 33:49
  faith
• 33:50
  I
• 33:52
  close
• 33:53
  with
• 33:53
  a
• 33:53
  story
• 33:53
  story
• 33:55
  is
• 33:55
  told
• 33:55
  of
• 33:56
  a
• 33:56
  poor
• 33:56
  farmer
• 33:56
  who
• 33:57
  had
• 33:58
  saved
• 33:58
  his
• 33:58
  money
• 33:59
  for
• 33:59
  years
• 33:59
  in
• 33:59
  order
• 34:00
  to
• 34:00
  buy
• 34:00
  an
• 34:00
  ox
• 34:00
  to
• 34:01
  pull
• 34:01
  his
• 34:02
  plow
• 34:03
  when
• 34:04
  he
• 34:04
  thought
• 34:05
  he
• 34:05
  had
• 34:05
  enough
• 34:05
  he
• 34:07
  started
• 34:07
  a
• 34:08
  long
• 34:08
  journey
• 34:09
  to
• 34:09
  town
• 34:09
  great
• 34:11
  distance
• 34:12
  he
• 34:13
  soon
• 34:14
  discovered
• 34:14
  the
• 34:15
  paper
• 34:15
  money
• 34:15
  that
• 34:16
  he
• 34:16
  was
• 34:16
  saving
• 34:16
  has
• 34:18
  been
• 34:18
  replaced
• 34:19
  by
• 34:19
  a
• 34:19
  new
• 34:19
  currency
• 34:20
  the
• 34:22
  date
• 34:23
  had
• 34:23
  long
• 34:23
  passed
• 34:24
  for
• 34:24
  the
• 34:24
  exchange
• 34:25
  because
• 34:28
  the
• 34:29
  man
• 34:29
  was
• 34:29
  illiterate
• 34:30
  he
• 34:30
  asked
• 34:30
  the
• 34:30
  schoolboy
• 34:31
  to
• 34:31
  write
• 34:31
  a
• 34:31
  letter
• 34:31
  to
• 34:32
  the
• 34:32
  president
• 34:32
  told
• 34:34
  the
• 34:35
  president
• 34:35
  in his
• 34:35
  letter
• 34:36
  about
• 34:36
  his
• 34:36
  dire
• 34:36
  situation
• 34:37
  and
• 34:38
  asking
• 34:38
  for
• 34:39
  an
• 34:39
  exception
• 34:39
  the
• 34:41
  president
• 34:42
  was
• 34:42
  touched
• 34:42
  by
• 34:42
  the
• 34:43
  letter
• 34:43
  and
• 34:43
  wrote
• 34:43
  back
• 34:43
  to
• 34:44
  the
• 34:44
  man
• 34:44
  said
• 34:45
  this
• 34:45
  the
• 34:46
  law
• 34:47
  must
• 34:48
  be
• 34:48
  followed
• 34:49
  because
• 34:50
  the
• 34:50
  deadline
• 34:51
  for
• 34:51
  exchanging
• 34:52
  bills
• 34:52
  has
• 34:52
  already
• 34:53
  passed
• 34:53
  the
• 34:54
  government
• 34:54
  can
• 34:55
  no
• 34:55
  longer
• 34:56
  change
• 34:56
  your
• 34:56
  bills
• 34:56
  for
• 34:57
  the
• 34:57
  new
• 34:57
  ones
• 34:57
  even
• 34:58
  the
• 34:58
  president
• 34:59
  is
• 35:00
  not
• 35:00
  exempt
• 35:01
  from
• 35:01
  this
• 35:01
  rule
• 35:02
  however
• 35:03
  because
• 35:04
  I
• 35:05
  believe
• 35:05
  that
• 35:05
  you
• 35:05
  really
• 35:05
  worked
• 35:06
  hard
• 35:06
  to
• 35:06
  save
• 35:06
  this
• 35:07
  money
• 35:07
  I
• 35:08
  am
• 35:08
  changing
• 35:09
  your
• 35:09
  money
• 35:09
  for
• 35:09
  new
• 35:09
  money
• 35:10
  for
• 35:10
  my
• 35:10
  own
• 35:10
  personal
• 35:11
  funds
• 35:12
  so that
• 35:13
  you
• 35:13
  will be
• 35:14
  able
• 35:14
  to
• 35:14
  buy
• 35:14
  your
• 35:15
  ox
• 35:16
  there
• 35:18
  was
• 35:18
  nothing
• 35:18
  the
• 35:18
  farmer
• 35:19
  could
• 35:19
  do
• 35:19
  he
• 35:20
  was
• 35:21
  shown
• 35:21
  favor
• 35:22
  by
• 35:23
  the
• 35:23
  president
• 35:24
  he
• 35:24
  was
• 35:24
  blessed
• 35:25
  by
• 35:26
  the
• 35:26
  president
• 35:26
  he
• 35:27
  was
• 35:27
  shown
• 35:27
  grace
• 35:28
  likewise
• 35:30
  when
• 35:31
  sinners
• 35:31
  us
• 35:32
  before
• 35:33
  christ
• 35:34
  have
• 35:34
  no
• 35:34
  ability
• 35:35
  none
• 35:36
  to
• 35:36
  buy
• 35:37
  their
• 35:37
  salvation
• 35:38
  we
• 35:40
  have
• 35:40
  to
• 35:40
  cast
• 35:41
  ourselves
• 35:41
  at
• 35:42
  the
• 35:42
  mercy
• 35:42
  of
• 35:42
  almighty
• 35:43
  god
• 35:43
  and
• 35:44
  accept
• 35:44
  by
• 35:45
  faith
• 35:45
  the
• 35:46
  lord's
• 35:46
  atoning
• 35:47
  work
• 35:47
  on
• 35:48
  their
• 35:48
  behalf
• 35:48
  on
• 35:49
  our
• 35:49
  behalf
• 35:49
  then
• 35:51
  we
• 35:51
  can
• 35:52
  stand
• 35:52
  we
• 35:53
  can
• 35:53
  stand
• 35:53
  forgiven
• 35:54
  and
• 35:55
  righteous
• 35:55
  not
• 35:57
  because
• 35:58
  of our
• 35:58
  works
• 35:59
  not
• 35:59
  because
• 35:59
  of
• 36:00
  what
• 36:00
  we've
• 36:00
  done
• 36:00
  but
• 36:02
  because
• 36:02
  of
• 36:02
  our
• 36:02
  lord
• 36:02
  jesus
• 36:03
  christ
• 36:03
  let's
• 36:05
  pray
• 36:05
  father
• 36:11
  we
• 36:11
  thank you
• 36:12
  for
• 36:13
  this
• 36:14
  time
• 36:14
  thank you
• 36:15
  for your
• 36:15
  word
• 36:16
  thank you
• 36:18
  that your
• 36:18
  word
• 36:18
  proclaims
• 36:19
  truth
• 36:19
  and in
• 36:20
  that
• 36:20
  truth
• 36:21
  tells
• 36:22
  of a
• 36:22
  redeeming
• 36:23
  story
• 36:24
  the
• 36:26
  redeeming
• 36:27
  story
• 36:27
  of
• 36:27
  us
• 36:28
  of
• 36:29
  abraham
• 36:30
  !
• 36:30
  of david!
• 36:31
  and the
• 36:32
  call that you
• 36:33
  have on
• 36:33
  lives
• 36:34
  god
• 36:35
  i pray
• 36:36
  that you
• 36:36
  would
• 36:36
  call
• 36:37
  those
• 36:38
  to you
• 36:39
  this
• 36:39
  morning
• 36:40
  those
• 36:41
  that you
• 36:41
  have
• 36:41
  called
• 36:43
  that you
• 36:43
  have
• 36:43
  chosen
• 36:44
  god
• 36:44
  that you
• 36:44
  would
• 36:44
  bring
• 36:45
  people
• 36:46
  to you
• 36:46
  this
• 36:46
  morning
• 36:47
  for the
• 36:47
  first
• 36:47
  time
• 36:48
  they
• 36:49
  could
• 36:49
  not
• 36:49
  do
• 36:51
  anything
• 36:51
  but
• 36:51
  respond
• 36:52
  to the
• 36:52
  call
• 36:52
  that you
• 36:53
  have
• 36:53
  on
• 36:53
  their
• 36:53
  life
• 36:53
  i
• 36:56
  thank you
• 36:57
  for
• 36:57
  for
• 36:58
  justification
• 36:59
  i
• 36:59
  thank you
• 36:59
  that
• 37:00
  that i
• 37:02
  have
• 37:02
  nothing
• 37:03
  to boast
• 37:03
  about
• 37:03
  that
• 37:06
  nothing
• 37:06
  i've
• 37:06
  done
• 37:07
  has
• 37:07
  earned
• 37:07
  what
• 37:07
  you
• 37:07
  have
• 37:08
  done
• 37:08
  for
• 37:08
  me
• 37:08
  but
• 37:09
  what
• 37:09
  i
• 37:10
  can
• 37:10
  boast
• 37:10
  about
• 37:10
  i
• 37:11
  can
• 37:11
  boast
• 37:12
  about
• 37:12
  you
• 37:12
  and
• 37:13
  your
• 37:13
  son
• 37:14
  lord
• 37:15
  jesus
• 37:15
  christ
• 37:16
  i
• 37:18
  can
• 37:18
  boast
• 37:18
  about
• 37:18
  his
• 37:18
  life
• 37:19
  his
• 37:20
  death
• 37:20
  and
• 37:20
  his
• 37:20
  resurrection
• 37:21
  i
• 37:22
  can
• 37:22
  boast
• 37:22
  about
• 37:22
  the
• 37:23
  grace
• 37:23
  that
• 37:23
  you
• 37:23
  have
• 37:23
  shown
• 37:23
  us
• 37:24
  i
• 37:26
  can
• 37:26
  boast
• 37:27
  about
• 37:27
  the
• 37:27
  work
• 37:27
  that
• 37:28
  you're
• 37:28
  doing
• 37:28
  in
• 37:28
  this
• 37:28
  world
• 37:29
  around
• 37:29
  us
• 37:29
  i
• 37:32
  thank
• 37:32
  you
• 37:32
  for
• 37:32
  for
• 37:33
  calling
• 37:34
  me
• 37:34
  i
• 37:35
  thank
• 37:35
  you
• 37:35
  that
• 37:35
  i
• 37:36
  can
• 37:36
  stand
• 37:36
  here
• 37:36
  and
• 37:36
  call
• 37:37
  you
• 37:37
  father
• 37:37
  and
• 37:39
  i
• 37:39
  can
• 37:39
  pray
• 37:40
  to
• 37:40
  you
• 37:40
  i
• 37:41
  thank
• 37:41
  you
• 37:41
  for
• 37:42
  the
• 37:42
  people
• 37:42
  in
• 37:42
  this
• 37:42
  room
• 37:42
  that
• 37:43
  can
• 37:43
  do
• 37:43
  !
• 37:43
  !
• 37:43
  we
• 37:44
  love
• 37:45
  you
• 37:45
  in
• 37:45
  Jesus
• 37:45
  name
• 37:46
  !
• 37:47
  in