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Doctrines of Grace: Unconditional Election · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Well, let's get going, guys. I'm glad I was able to make it. It kind of was just sort of up in the air, to be honest.
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I've been just, I felt pretty rough last night, yesterday, and this morning. But we'll see if I can make it through this.
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We'll see. If I just fall over, just move me out of the way, and then somebody else just pick it back up.
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How's that sound? Yeah. Let's just start in prayer, and we'll kick it off.
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Lord, we're grateful for just the grace to be able to gather as the body, and we're thankful that you've allowed us to be here tonight,
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to spend some time together looking at things that are found in your Word, and your intended purpose for those things,
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and the impact they're supposed to have on our lives.
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I pray you would just help me to teach clearly, humbly, boldly, and guard us all from error.
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And I pray that the result of our time tonight would just be encouraging and convicting to our souls,
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and we'd have a greater understanding of what you have done for us in the work of redemption and through your election, Lord.
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And I just offer this time to you as an act of worship and our teaching and our discussion,
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our listening and our obeying later. So, yeah. Yeah, in Christ's name, amen.
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Yeah, hated to miss this morning. This was not really with the program, but really glad to be here tonight.
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Tonight we're talking about election, and here's our schedule that we've sort of been following.
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So last week we talked about just sort of the introduction of where we get the terms Reformed, Calvinism,
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and as I kind of can call it, like the doctrines of amazing grace.
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And we talked about the shattered image of God and what sin is and what depravity is.
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I hope that that was like challenging and enlightening to you.
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Like, oh, I thought I was bad. I knew I was bad. I didn't think I was that bad.
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It was like we're really bad. Like it's worse than we ever could actually imagine bad.
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And that kind of sets us up to talk about, well, wait a minute, another review.
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If you're wanting this, we can talk about it later.
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But we talked about just some of the historical debate behind some of these things with Augustine and Pelagius, Luther, Erasmus,
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and the Calvinists and Arminians.
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So, and this week we're going to dive into the next part of this, which is election.
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And I really tried to condense this. I know this seems long, but if you look at it,
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I've got like some extra references of other scriptures that are at the bottom in the footnotes.
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But, yeah, we will just start walking through it.
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But before we do, every week I'm trying to give you just one example of a faithful brother from the past,
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someone in church history who we respect and look up to that believe these particular doctrines.
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And last week, I think we talked about, well, two weeks ago we did Spurgeon.
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If you remember that, he talked about how he reflected on the pursuit of God in his life
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and how he just took observation that God was just chasing him down and saw his grace in election.
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And this week I chose George Muir.
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I think I read this quite possibly during one of the Romans 9 sermons.
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But if you know him, he lived in Bristol, England and started orphanages
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and did a lot of really gospel ministry, missionary.
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But this is what he wrote when he was confronted with the idea of Calvinism or election.
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But he wrote,
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I was brought to examine these precious truths by the word of God,
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being made willing to have no glory of my own in the conversion of sinners,
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but to consider myself merely as an instrument and being made willing to receive what the scripture said.
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I went to the Lord reading the New Testament from beginning with a particular reference to these truths.
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So he's basically saying, I'm going to read the New Testament and think about the doctrines of grace
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while I'm reading it and see how many times I see it as I read it.
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And that was actually his habit with a lot of different topics.
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He said,
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So I just, you know, when I began learning these things a long time ago, it made me uncomfortable.
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And it made me, I guess, in some way feel secure.
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This has been something that's been taught for the entire history of the church
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and a lot of people that we respect and look up to.
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So in addition to, or just under the scripture, it's just good to have good reminders like that.
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So, but a good challenge.
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Yeah, read the New Testament with thinking about these things,
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see how many times it actually comes up and you'll be surprised.
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So, all right.
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Let's jump into it.
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So, just a quick definition here for you.
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Just the word itself just simply means to select out of, to pick or choose out of a group.
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Because I've seen some people just try to do word somersaults with this.
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Like, it just means that you chose him and then he chose you.
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It actually doesn't say that.
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It says that he did the choosing.
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God is the one who chose.
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And, but really simply, this is just a definition from Wayne Grudem,
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but he has said,
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Election is an act of God before creation in which he chooses some to be saved,
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not on account of any foreseen merit or faith in them,
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but only because of sovereign good pleasure.
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Here, we'll, you know, unpack that.
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So, that's just a really simple definition.
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What we see the Bible teaching on it.
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But really quick, let's review.
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Like, this is what we went over last time.
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Because I've heard people say things like,
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well, I'm a three-point Calvinist or I'm a four-pointer.
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I'm like, well, really, they all connect together.
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So, like, they're not like separate things.
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They all tie in together.
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And so, when you take what we learned from what the Scripture taught about our fallenness,
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our spiritual condition before Christ,
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you have to connect it,
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that our condition, you have to connect to election.
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So, if you remember, we talked about all this.
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We had all the Scriptures and everything,
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but born spiritually dead.
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So, not an original sin idea.
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Our minds are darkened by sin.
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Our hearts are corrupted by evil.
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Slaves to sin.
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Children of the devil.
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You know, we read a bunch of Scripture on that one.
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None good or righteous.
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And our will is in bondage to sin.
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We talked about that a couple weeks ago.
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And then we're unable to improve our condition,
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meaning that everything that's in this list,
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we just can't wake up one day and say,
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you know what?
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We're going to do better.
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You know what?
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We're going to reform ourselves.
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We're going to just cowboy up and ask God for some help.
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It just doesn't happen like that.
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So, we're unable to do anything unless God comes first.
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So, we have to carry this idea of our fallenness
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into the conversation of election.
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So, let's just start walking through this.
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This is for you.
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We're not going to read every single Scripture.
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Obviously, we'll look at a couple,
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but you can go back and look at more later.
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But, why it's so important to understand depravity?
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Remember, I said that depravity is a description of
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our condition before Christ.
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It's not who you are after Christ.
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You're a new creation.
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You're adopted into God's family.
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You're no longer worthless and useless.
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You're having the image of God restored in you
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through sanctification.
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And so, it's very different.
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But, we apply that to our first principle here.
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Right?
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So, a lot of people,
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my big objection,
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or one of them,
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when I was back in my early Christian life,
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was this seems just unfair.
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This seems like God is not doing the right thing here.
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This just doesn't sound right,
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doesn't feel right.
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And I had to revamp my thinking.
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And that's what we talked about in Romans 9, right?
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It makes God unloving, unjust,
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or it implies that He's acted without any kind of reason or purpose.
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Remember, we did a whole part of Romans 9 on that.
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But, just to help you get,
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you have to do this.
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I spent some of the time in the sermon on this,
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but,
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you have to get out of, like,
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our Western,
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democratic way of thinking.
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And you have to think ancient.
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You have to think medieval.
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You have to go back to, like,
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what happened in the context of the Scripture.
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And,
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so back then,
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as I've said before,
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a king,
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an emperor,
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they would also serve as a judge.
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Just think about,
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in the Scripture,
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Solomon was the king.
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But guess what?
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He was the judge, too.
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People came and brought cases to him.
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And,
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what would happen a lot of the time
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when a king or emperor
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was confronted,
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like they,
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you know,
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you've seen the pictures in the movies or whatever,
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like they drag a bunch of guys in chains in.
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And they say,
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hey,
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these are the guys who rebelled against you.
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These are the guys who committed,
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you know,
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murder,
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rape,
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rape,
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and plunder.
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That's all these guys did.
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And they're all guilty.
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We have,
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you know,
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witnesses,
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evidence,
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everything.
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And,
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so a lot of the times,
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what would happen is a king or emperor would say,
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hey,
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look,
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you're all guilty.
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You all deserve to die.
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Like,
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that's what you deserve.
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You deserve to die.
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But,
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because I am a merciful king,
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and I desire for my people to know me as merciful,
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I will pardon you and you.
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But the rest of you,
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you get the sword.
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Because the rest,
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because my people also need to understand
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that I take this seriously,
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that I'm not a pushover.
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If you do this,
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there will be consequences.
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And what happens is,
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in those single acts,
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they invoke loyalty and love,
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but also fear,
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in like one act.
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And so what happens is,
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those guys that were chosen to be spared,
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they have nothing to boast about.
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They're just like,
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why me?
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Like,
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why was I different than the guy next to me?
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Well,
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he wasn't.
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He was the same.
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He was guilty.
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And so,
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in that way,
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the king glorified his mercy and his justice
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in one single act.
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And I think I showed you some examples of that
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in the scripture,
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which we can look at,
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you know,
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maybe later.
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But,
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but just imagine coming before the king
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as a guilty person.
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And that ties into our first point.
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All are guilty,
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right?
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Here on our paper.
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Because all mankind
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has trampled,
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mocked,
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and spat upon
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the infinite worth of almighty God,
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all are worthy
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of only divine wrath.
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Okay?
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None are innocent
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or deserving
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of God's goodness and love.
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Like,
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that has to be,
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like,
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drilled into our heads.
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Like,
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we don't deserve it.
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Because when we
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have those thoughts
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of,
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like,
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this is wrong
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or this is unfair,
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it's basically saying,
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like,
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God owes us something.
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Like,
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we don't really deserve this.
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We deserve to be set free,
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to be let go.
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And sin
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is just taken
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very seriously
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by God.
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So,
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Ezekiel 18,
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right there,
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the soul that sins
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shall die.
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Then you get into Romans 1,
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28-32,
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and it talks about
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God gave us over.
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That was the judgment,
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right?
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God gave us over,
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gave them up,
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to a debased mind,
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to do what ought not
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to be done.
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And then it gives you
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this list of how sin
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comes out,
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how sin manifests.
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But pick up on this,
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verse 32.
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Though they know
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God's decree,
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it says,
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those who practice
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such things
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deserve to die.
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Right?
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So,
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like,
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that's the part
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you've got to remember.
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Like,
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we don't deserve mercy.
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We don't deserve
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salvation.
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And in fact,
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I remember wrangling
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with one of my friends
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a long time ago
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when I was still
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on the other side of this.
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Like,
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it's just,
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you know,
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it's just not fair.
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And he goes,
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well,
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fair would be we all die.
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Fair would be like
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no mercy.
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We were just all treated
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the same by God.
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So,
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it's a miracle
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that he showed mercy
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at all,
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right?
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And,
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if you think about,
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I think it's in
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2 Peter,
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remember this?
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And it said
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that he basically
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just immediately
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brought justice to them.
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He didn't send
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the angels any savior.
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Can you pick up on that?
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Like,
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he sent,
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when the angels
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rebelled against God,
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like,
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he sent them no one
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to redeem them.
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They were just
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immediately judged.
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So,
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the fact that
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he even sent a savior
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was just astounding
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for us.
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So,
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yep,
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wages of sin is death.
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Like,
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you just got to get that
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in your head.
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That,
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that'll help you
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face a lot of things
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in life
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when you feel entitled
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by God.
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Like,
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I don't deserve
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to be going through this
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or I don't deserve
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why things are so hard
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for me right now.
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It,
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it humbles you.
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So,
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the next principle,
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I'll stop periodically too
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and to see if there's
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any questions,
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but kind of a balance
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of that and just
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moving,
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moving forward.
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Mercy or justice?
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That's kind of what I just said.
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Because all are guilty of sin,
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God has the sovereign right
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to have mercy on whom
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he desires
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and justice on whom
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he desires.
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if he decided
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to destroy
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the whole human race
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because of their rebellion
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against him.
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And therefore,
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there is no injustice
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with God
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if he grants mercy
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to some
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and justice
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to others.
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If you look on the back,
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there's a few
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scriptures for you
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as well as there's some
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reference in the bottom.
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But,
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kind of understand that.
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Like,
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God is not
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obligated
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to do anything
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on our behalf.
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And,
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if you look at,
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I mean,
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this is just one of those
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astounding verses
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in Matthew 11.
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Just,
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never saw it before.
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Just ignore the,
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the first part of that.
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That was like an accidental one.
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I didn't mean to copy that over.
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Just cross that.
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Verse 14 out.
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Look at verse 27.
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It says,
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All these things
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have been handed over
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to my Father,
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Jesus said,
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and no one knows the Son
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except the Father,
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and no one knows the Father.
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except the Son,
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and anyone
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to whom the Son chooses
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to reveal to Him.
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Yeah.
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Pretty,
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pretty crazy.
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And then,
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as we looked at a few weeks ago
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in Romans 9,
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referring to the Exodus account,
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what shall I say then?
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Is there any injustice
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on God's part?
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By no means.
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The strongest negative,
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like in the Greek language.
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For He says to Moses,
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I will have mercy
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on whom I will have mercy.
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I will have compassion
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on whom I will have compassion.
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So then,
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it does not depend
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on human will
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or exertion,
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but on God
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who has mercy.
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So,
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pause for a couple minutes.
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Like,
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is there any thoughts so far
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or questions so far
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on the first two
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little principles here
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that all are guilty,
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none are deserving,
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God's obligated to do nothing,
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and so He has the perfect right
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to show mercy
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to whom He wants
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and to show justice
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to whom He wants
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and both bring Him honor.
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So,
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any questions
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so far?
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good.
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All right.
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Always free to come
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talk to me later too.
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All right.
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So,
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these are getting
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to the Scripture
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that points out
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that God indeed
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has a chosen people.
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This is the next part
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of this.
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So,
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there are general statements
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throughout Scripture
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that reveal
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that God has
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an elect people,
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both Jews
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and Gentiles,
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and that He has
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predestined them
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unto salvation
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and thus eternal life.
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It is blatantly clear
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that God
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did the choosing
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and not man.
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All right.
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So,
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let me see.
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Let me just pick
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a couple out here.
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Yeah,
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I mean,
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I'm trying to pick out
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the ones that are
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just sort of shockers.
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Like,
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wow,
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I never saw that.
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In Thessalonians,
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there it says,
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this is 1 Thessalonians,
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sorry,
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typo again.
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It says,
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for God has not
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destined us for wrath,
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but to obtain salvation
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through our Lord Jesus Christ,
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whom He died for us,
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so that whenever
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we are awake or asleep,
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we might live with Him.
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So,
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there's one.
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Yeah,
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let's just pick one more.
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Why not?
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But,
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yeah,
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Peter,
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you are,
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speaking to the church,
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the Christians,
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you are a chosen race,
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a royal priesthood,
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a holy nation,
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a people for His own possession,
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that you may proclaim
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the excellencies of Him
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who called you out of darkness
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into His marvelous light.
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Once you were not a people,
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but now you are God's people.
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Once you had not received mercy,
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but now you have received mercy.
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And then there's a lot of scriptures,
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like in Titus here,
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where it mentions God's elect,
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God's people.
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Actually,
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you know,
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in Matthew 24,
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where it's talking about
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the last days,
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like the end,
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it talks about how
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if it wasn't for the sake
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of the elect,
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like,
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those days would have
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kind of continued.
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But God cut them short
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for the sake of the elect.
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Which means that God's people
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probably will be here
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when stuff's happening.
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Right?
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So it's just everywhere.
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This is just that general sense
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that God has,
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a chosen people there,
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made of Jews and Gentiles.
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So,
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and then here's the big surprise,
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right?
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Before creation.
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This happened before creation.
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Before the foundation of the world,
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God chose to show mercy
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to certain individuals
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for salvation.
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And their names are written
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in the book of life.
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So here's the really famous,
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you know,
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Ephesians 1.
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He chose us in Him
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before the foundation
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of the world
20:50
that we should be holy
20:51
and blameless before Him.
20:53
In love,
20:54
He predestined us
20:55
for adoption as sons
20:56
through Jesus Christ
20:59
according to the purpose
21:00
of His will,
21:01
to the praise
21:01
of His glorious grace.
21:04
Right?
21:04
So we see all that
21:05
in Ephesians 1 there.
21:08
Pick up on this.
21:10
It says,
21:11
in love,
21:12
He predestined us.
21:13
Like,
21:14
a lot of people
21:15
want to think about this
21:16
as an arbitrary,
21:17
you know,
21:18
harsh doctrine.
21:20
And that's what it says.
21:21
In love,
21:22
He did this.
21:24
And so,
21:26
I'm trying to,
21:28
this is probably
21:29
a really poor analogy.
21:30
It's just the one
21:30
coming to my head
21:31
right now.
21:33
If you
21:34
see your child
21:36
running towards the road
21:38
into oncoming traffic,
21:40
what do you do?
21:42
Say,
21:43
hey,
21:43
come back,
21:44
come back.
21:44
You know,
21:45
or do you like
21:45
rush out there
21:47
and impose your will
21:48
on them
21:49
and bring them back?
21:50
Like,
21:51
that's,
21:51
that's what election does.
21:53
It kind of like
21:53
grabs us.
21:55
God
21:55
choosing
21:57
to reach out
21:58
and pull us away
21:59
from the danger
22:00
that we were heading towards.
22:02
So,
22:03
just in love,
22:04
He predestined us
22:05
to adoption.
22:06
As I mentioned earlier
22:07
to some people,
22:08
adoption,
22:09
like we know
22:10
that a lot of people
22:11
in our church
22:11
have adopted,
22:13
it's the parents
22:14
who do the choosing.
22:17
It's usually not the kid.
22:19
Right?
22:19
It's,
22:20
the parents initiate it,
22:21
the parents pursue it,
22:23
and the parents say,
22:24
hey,
22:24
we want you
22:25
to be in our family.
22:27
So,
22:27
it kind of mirrors
22:28
God's electing grace
22:30
in that,
22:30
that way.
22:32
Um,
22:33
all right,
22:34
so there's
22:35
2 Thessalonians.
22:38
Yeah,
22:38
but look at
22:39
Revelation 13.
22:41
This one
22:41
blew my mind
22:42
a long time ago.
22:43
Uh,
22:44
Revelation 13,
22:45
8.
22:46
It says,
22:47
and all who dwell
22:48
on the earth
22:48
will worship
22:49
everyone whose name
22:51
has not been written
22:52
before the foundation
22:54
of the world
22:54
and the book of life
22:55
of the Lamb
22:56
who was slain.
22:57
What?
22:58
Uh,
22:59
I thought,
23:01
like there was like
23:01
an angel up in heaven
23:02
with a big scroll
23:03
and a feathered pen.
23:05
Like,
23:05
every time somebody
23:06
was saved,
23:06
he went,
23:06
yay!
23:07
You know,
23:07
like,
23:08
wrote her name down
23:09
every time.
23:11
Um,
23:13
so what does it say here?
23:14
It says,
23:14
that book has been written
23:16
before the foundation
23:17
of the world.
23:19
That's,
23:19
it enforces this idea
23:21
that this is something
23:21
that God had done
23:23
already.
23:25
Um,
23:26
never picked up on that.
23:26
It actually says it again,
23:27
Revelation,
23:28
later,
23:28
later on.
23:30
So,
23:31
that,
23:31
that choosing happened
23:32
before the foundation
23:33
of the world,
23:34
so he's not making it up
23:35
as he goes.
23:36
It's like a,
23:36
a part of his plan.
23:39
Um,
23:40
then,
23:41
next point,
23:43
this is all happening
23:45
by God's good pleasure.
23:46
So why is it happening?
23:48
Because he wants to.
23:50
That's just pretty much why.
23:51
Out of his grace,
23:53
out of his goodness.
23:53
So,
23:55
God's sovereign election
23:56
is not based.
23:57
This is where a lot of people
23:58
will split,
23:59
right?
23:59
This is like the,
24:00
the split here.
24:01
Um,
24:02
and,
24:03
because you can't get around it,
24:06
like,
24:06
even people who don't believe
24:07
what we would believe here,
24:09
mostly,
24:10
they,
24:11
they see the word election,
24:12
they see the word predestined,
24:13
they have to do something with it,
24:15
so they have to figure out
24:16
how to make it work.
24:18
And I,
24:19
I did this for a solid year.
24:21
It was like,
24:21
trying to nail a,
24:22
a brown peg
24:24
in a square hole.
24:24
This wasn't working.
24:25
But,
24:27
let's read this together.
24:28
God's sovereign election
24:29
is not based
24:32
upon foreseen faith
24:34
that man would have.
24:38
Saving faith
24:38
is the result
24:39
and evidence
24:40
of God's election
24:41
and not the determining factor
24:43
of his choice.
24:45
This saving faith
24:46
does not come from man,
24:48
but as a free gift.
24:50
All right.
24:53
So,
24:54
point is,
24:56
a lot of people say,
24:58
like,
24:59
God used his omniscience
25:00
and his,
25:03
his ability
25:04
to look down
25:05
in time,
25:06
his foresight,
25:07
put it that way.
25:09
And he goes,
25:10
ooh,
25:10
you know what?
25:11
One day,
25:13
I see,
25:14
Greg Girard,
25:15
he's going to be a good guy.
25:17
He's going to,
25:17
he's going to be messed up
25:18
like all people are
25:19
before I save them.
25:21
But you know what?
25:22
He's going to get his stuff together
25:23
and he's going to place
25:24
saving faith in me.
25:25
You know what?
25:26
Therefore,
25:26
I choose him.
25:28
See that?
25:28
Like,
25:28
that's the fit.
25:30
That's like what I tried to do.
25:32
And,
25:33
it doesn't say that
25:34
because,
25:36
the Bible explicitly teaches
25:37
that saving faith
25:39
is the result
25:41
of God's election.
25:43
Like,
25:44
it's something that God gives us.
25:47
And,
25:47
I mean,
25:48
look,
25:48
this is one of those
25:49
verses that will blow your minds
25:51
in Acts 13,
25:51
48.
25:53
Paul's preaching the gospel,
25:54
right?
25:55
So,
25:55
imagine that,
25:56
like you're preaching
25:56
to a crowd of people.
25:58
You're sinners against God.
26:01
Christ came to save you
26:03
from your sin.
26:04
Put your faith in him.
26:06
Repent and believe.
26:08
And this is what it says
26:08
in verse 48.
26:09
When the Gentiles heard this,
26:12
they began rejoicing
26:13
and glorifying
26:14
the word of the Lord.
26:16
And as many who were appointed
26:18
to eternal life believed.
26:21
Interesting.
26:22
So,
26:23
their belief was a result
26:25
of their appointment
26:25
of God choosing them
26:28
before the foundation
26:29
of the world.
26:31
And,
26:31
let me see,
26:35
Ephesians 2,
26:36
just trying to pick a few here.
26:38
Yeah,
26:38
the very famous Ephesians 2.
26:41
For by grace you have been saved
26:42
through faith.
26:44
And this is not of your doing,
26:45
it is the gift of God,
26:47
not as a result of works
26:48
that no one may boast.
26:50
And so,
26:51
what he really is trying to say here
26:54
is both the grace
26:56
and the faith
26:56
are from God.
26:57
Like God gave them
26:59
the ability.
27:00
This gets into next week
27:01
a little bit,
27:02
or the week after,
27:04
about how God
27:05
actually saves us,
27:06
how he actually regenerates us,
27:08
in the relationship
27:09
to faith.
27:12
Ephesians 1.39,
27:13
it has been granted to you
27:15
so that for the sake of Christ
27:17
you should not only believe in him,
27:19
but also suffer
27:20
for his sake.
27:22
So,
27:22
wow,
27:23
so not only believe in him,
27:24
we believe because God
27:25
granted us that belief.
27:27
God's choice is not based on any
27:36
foreseen merit residing in us,
27:38
right?
27:40
Nor any good works.
27:42
So that's just important.
27:44
And so,
27:44
when we're talking about works,
27:45
we're also talking about
27:46
just like spiritual things too.
27:47
Anything spiritually good
27:49
that we think
27:49
we could contribute
27:50
to make God want to save us.
27:53
Like it just doesn't work.
27:54
He's saying it's only,
27:55
only God
27:56
has done this.
27:59
And,
27:59
and let's pick a,
28:01
pick a verse here.
28:07
And let's just look at
28:08
2 Timothy 1.9 down there.
28:10
It says that
28:11
God saved us
28:12
and called us
28:12
with a holy calling,
28:13
not because of works,
28:15
but because of his own purpose
28:16
and grace,
28:17
which he gave us
28:18
in Christ Jesus.
28:19
There it is.
28:20
Before ages began.
28:23
It's crazy.
28:25
So,
28:26
pause.
28:29
Any
28:29
questions?
28:31
Any
28:31
comments?
28:35
Before we get to the next part.
28:41
Crazy.
28:44
Yeah.
28:46
Insane.
28:49
Oh,
28:50
yeah.
29:15
I get it.
29:16
Yep.
29:17
Love it.
29:17
for people who are listening
29:24
to this recording.
29:27
All one of you,
29:28
maybe,
29:28
in the future,
29:29
when I'm dead.
29:34
The question was,
29:35
like,
29:36
how should you pray
29:37
for somebody
29:37
and their salvation,
29:39
someone to be saved,
29:41
if God has already
29:42
chosen,
29:43
right?
29:43
If God has already
29:44
chosen.
29:44
Yeah.
29:45
I'll have a whole
29:46
night on that
29:48
when we get to,
29:49
like,
29:49
the saving act
29:50
of the Holy Spirit.
29:51
But,
29:51
I can tell you
29:54
what,
29:54
you're not praying.
29:55
You're not praying,
29:55
like,
29:55
God,
29:56
please just help them
29:57
to pull their lives
29:57
together.
29:59
Please just help them
29:59
just to use their free will
30:01
to become a better person
30:02
and choose you.
30:03
You're praying,
30:04
like,
30:04
Lord,
30:06
save them.
30:06
Like,
30:07
Lord,
30:07
open their eyes.
30:08
Like,
30:08
Lord,
30:08
soften their hearts.
30:09
Like,
30:10
God,
30:10
help them to believe.
30:12
Like,
30:12
show them grace.
30:13
That's like how we pray
30:14
for people.
30:14
We pray like we believe
30:16
what we're talking about.
30:17
We don't pray for them
30:18
to kind of,
30:19
like,
30:19
use their own ability.
30:20
We pray like,
30:22
God,
30:22
they don't have the ability.
30:23
Please help them.
30:24
That's like,
30:24
sort of,
30:25
it aligns with that.
30:27
But I guess,
30:29
really quickly,
30:30
like,
30:30
you know,
30:31
again,
30:31
I definitely want to get
30:32
into this more
30:32
in the future.
30:35
Like,
30:36
I,
30:37
what you see in the
30:38
Scripture,
30:38
thankfully,
30:39
is like God
30:39
hunting down people.
30:41
You see,
30:42
he's not a lonely
30:44
old man in the sky,
30:45
just like hoping
30:46
someone will be his buddy.
30:47
You know,
30:48
like,
30:48
he's like,
30:49
I'm after that person.
30:51
So,
30:51
that brings me
30:51
to great confidence.
30:52
So,
30:53
I have some family members
30:54
who are unbelievers,
30:55
and,
30:57
election
30:59
pushes me to pray
31:02
because I'm like,
31:02
Lord,
31:03
you know,
31:04
like,
31:04
just save them.
31:04
I know you can.
31:05
Like,
31:06
if they're,
31:07
you have the power
31:08
to completely deliver them,
31:09
like,
31:10
you can do it
31:11
if you want to.
31:12
Like,
31:12
please,
31:13
like,
31:13
just open their eyes.
31:14
Please help them to
31:15
believe.
31:17
Give them,
31:17
give them eyes to see
31:18
and ears to hear.
31:20
And,
31:20
again,
31:21
like,
31:21
but if I just felt like
31:22
it was just up to them,
31:24
it'd be kind of a sad prayer.
31:25
It'd be like,
31:26
Lord,
31:26
they're lost.
31:27
Like,
31:27
Lord,
31:27
they don't see it.
31:29
They don't have the ability
31:30
to do this.
31:31
Why is it that so many
31:33
smart people in the world
31:35
haven't quite figured
31:36
this out yet?
31:37
You know?
31:38
If it was up for smart people,
31:39
we would,
31:39
they would figure it out
31:40
and we wouldn't.
31:42
And it's really just like
31:43
praying that,
31:44
like,
31:45
to a God with confidence
31:46
that He has the ability
31:47
and when He's ready,
31:48
He'll do it.
31:49
Like,
31:50
I've told my brother before,
31:52
like,
31:52
you can run from Him
31:53
but you can't hide.
31:54
Like,
31:54
He's going to find you
31:55
and when He does,
31:56
like,
31:57
there's nothing you're going
31:58
to be able to do.
31:58
He's going to corner you.
32:00
He's going to kick down the door
32:01
and He's going to make you His.
32:02
Like,
32:03
I talk to my brother like that,
32:04
you know,
32:04
sometimes.
32:07
But again,
32:08
if their salvation
32:09
was tied to,
32:10
like,
32:10
their own ability
32:11
to,
32:11
like,
32:11
get it together,
32:12
that'd be a really sad prayer.
32:14
But if it's like,
32:15
no,
32:15
no,
32:15
God's the one in charge
32:16
and God can do it,
32:17
you know?
32:18
So,
32:19
and God uses
32:20
the prayers
32:21
and intercessions
32:23
of His people
32:24
to accomplish His will.
32:26
So,
32:27
as you're praying that,
32:28
like,
32:28
that should actually
32:28
just give us confidence
32:29
that God is like,
32:31
He's hearing you,
32:31
you know?
32:32
And we're pleading
32:33
on their behalf.
32:35
So,
32:36
short answer to that,
32:38
I guess.
32:39
Anything else?
32:40
All right.
32:46
Now we get into
32:49
another controversial
32:51
part of this,
32:53
which is the question,
32:56
like,
32:57
if God has chosen
32:58
some for salvation,
33:00
that also means,
33:01
on the flip side,
33:02
that He's also chosen
33:03
not to save
33:04
other people.
33:06
And,
33:08
remember,
33:08
that the king,
33:09
I pardon you and you,
33:10
but you I don't.
33:14
It's the inevitable
33:15
other side of this.
33:18
And,
33:18
it's what's referred to
33:19
as reprobation.
33:20
And,
33:22
it's the opposite
33:22
of election,
33:23
if you look here.
33:24
It's the sovereign
33:25
decision of God
33:26
before creation
33:27
to pass over
33:28
some persons.
33:31
In sorrow,
33:32
deciding not
33:33
to save them
33:34
and to punish them
33:36
for their sins
33:36
and thereby manifest
33:37
His justice.
33:39
In other words,
33:40
God gives them over
33:41
to their already
33:43
sinful devices.
33:45
All right?
33:46
And,
33:48
let me just tell you
33:48
where we see this
33:49
in the scripture first
33:49
and then we'll talk
33:50
about it.
33:52
But,
33:52
the first scripture
33:53
I have here
33:53
is in Isaiah.
33:56
So,
33:56
remember,
33:59
unbelief
34:00
is
34:00
a judgment.
34:03
People
34:03
not able
34:04
to see and hear.
34:06
And,
34:06
it says this
34:06
in verse 9.
34:08
He said,
34:09
Go and say to those people,
34:10
this is after the great
34:11
commission of Isaiah,
34:12
right?
34:13
Keep on hearing,
34:14
but do not understand.
34:16
Keep on seeing,
34:17
but do not perceive.
34:19
Make the heart
34:20
of this people
34:20
dull and their eyes
34:22
heavy,
34:23
and blind their eyes,
34:25
lest they see
34:26
with their eyes
34:27
and hear with their ears
34:29
and understand
34:30
with their hearts
34:31
and turn and be healed.
34:33
That's like a sad
34:34
commission.
34:36
That's what he said
34:36
to Isaiah right after.
34:37
He said,
34:37
Here am I.
34:38
Send me.
34:39
So,
34:39
basically go and preach,
34:40
but they're not
34:41
going to hear.
34:43
And,
34:43
and reflecting on that
34:44
in John,
34:46
John 12,
34:48
it sucks,
34:49
you know,
34:49
talking about the Lord
34:50
here,
34:50
talking about Jesus
34:50
after he did these
34:53
miracles and things.
34:55
So,
34:55
though he had done
34:56
so many signs
34:57
before them,
34:58
they still did not
35:00
believe in him.
35:02
So that,
35:03
so,
35:03
so why didn't they
35:04
believe in him?
35:05
That's the question.
35:07
Why didn't they believe?
35:08
So that the word
35:10
spoken by the prophet
35:11
Isaiah might be
35:12
fulfilled.
35:14
Lord,
35:16
who has believed
35:17
what he heard from us
35:18
and to whom has the
35:19
arm of the Lord
35:19
been revealed?
35:21
They could not
35:22
believe.
35:23
For again,
35:24
Isaiah said,
35:25
he has blinded
35:26
their eyes
35:26
and hardened
35:27
their heart
35:27
unless they see
35:29
with their eyes
35:29
and understand
35:30
with their heart
35:31
and turn
35:32
and I would heal
35:33
them.
35:35
So,
35:35
wow,
35:35
like judgment.
35:39
And then,
35:40
we looked at this one.
35:42
We did Romans 9,
35:43
but very clearly.
35:45
But it talks about
35:46
Pharaoh.
35:48
God said to him,
35:49
for this very purpose
35:49
I've raised you up
35:50
that I might show
35:51
my power in you
35:52
that my name
35:53
might be proclaimed
35:53
in all the earth.
35:55
So then he has mercy
35:56
in whom he desires
35:56
and he hardens
35:57
whom he desires.
36:00
If you read
36:00
Exodus,
36:02
it talks about how
36:03
I think it's three times
36:04
that
36:05
that says
36:07
that the Lord
36:07
hardened Pharaoh's heart.
36:10
And then,
36:10
and then lastly,
36:11
you know,
36:11
you have 1 Peter there,
36:13
chapter 2.
36:15
The stone,
36:16
the builders rejected
36:17
to become the cornerstone,
36:19
a stumbling of,
36:20
a stone of stumbling,
36:22
a rock of offense.
36:23
They stumble
36:24
because they disobeyed
36:25
the word
36:25
and as they were
36:27
destined to do.
36:28
Like,
36:28
wow.
36:31
So,
36:32
I know those are
36:33
hard words,
36:34
but it just really
36:35
just means,
36:36
like,
36:37
so what does it mean
36:38
to harden somebody?
36:41
It's important
36:41
to understand this,
36:42
but it doesn't mean
36:43
like God
36:45
just zaps somebody
36:46
and,
36:47
and like,
36:48
evil comes out
36:49
of his finger
36:49
and it hits them
36:51
and they become bad
36:52
because that means
36:53
that evil,
36:54
God's the source,
36:55
is coming from him.
36:56
what it really means
36:58
is he just does this,
36:59
he just goes,
37:01
like,
37:02
okay.
37:04
Like,
37:04
that's what it says
37:05
in Romans 1,
37:06
he gave them over,
37:07
he gave them up
37:08
and it says that
37:09
three times,
37:10
I think,
37:11
in Romans 1.
37:13
It just means
37:14
that he leaves them
37:17
to their already
37:19
existing depravity.
37:21
right?
37:23
And,
37:24
it,
37:25
uh,
37:26
so what we would call
37:27
common grace,
37:28
there's these restraints
37:29
of God on man
37:30
that keep them
37:31
from becoming,
37:32
we talked about this
37:33
two weeks ago,
37:34
the difference between
37:35
utter depravity
37:36
and total depravity,
37:37
right?
37:37
Like,
37:39
if God removes
37:40
some of those things,
37:42
we become more evil,
37:43
like we,
37:44
our depravity gets worse,
37:46
and so we're already
37:47
sinful
37:48
on our own,
37:50
and any goodness
37:51
that we have in us
37:52
at all
37:52
is because of God's
37:53
grace in our lives.
37:54
What he does,
37:55
he just backs off,
37:56
he goes,
37:56
okay,
37:56
I'm abandoning,
37:58
abandoning you
37:59
to the consequences
38:00
of your sin.
38:02
So,
38:03
Jonathan Edwards here
38:04
wrote,
38:06
um,
38:06
about hardening
38:09
of the heart.
38:10
He said,
38:10
God is said
38:11
to harden men
38:12
in two ways.
38:14
First,
38:14
is by withholding
38:15
the powerful influences
38:17
of his Holy Spirit,
38:20
without which their hearts
38:21
remain hardened
38:22
and grow harder.
38:23
In this sense,
38:24
he hardens them
38:25
and leads them
38:26
to their hardness.
38:28
He does it also
38:29
by ordering those things
38:31
in his providence,
38:33
which through the abuse
38:34
of their corruption
38:35
become the occasion
38:36
of their hardening.
38:38
Thus,
38:38
God sends his word
38:39
and ordinances
38:40
to men,
38:40
which by their abuse
38:42
prove on occasion
38:43
of their hardening.
38:44
So,
38:45
does that make sense?
38:45
So,
38:46
so,
38:47
providentially,
38:48
God arranged the Exodus,
38:50
arranged the people
38:51
leaving Egypt,
38:52
and arranged the Red Sea
38:53
encounter
38:54
to be the circumstances
38:56
of Pharaoh's hardening.
38:59
So,
38:59
God knows what it takes
39:01
to put us
39:02
in that position.
39:03
another thing that
39:06
Jonathan Edwards wrote
39:07
that I don't have a quote
39:08
for here,
39:08
if this is helpful.
39:11
I found it helpful.
39:14
I want you to think
39:15
about the sun
39:17
and the earth.
39:20
People have already
39:20
heard this in the room.
39:21
but,
39:23
like the sun
39:24
and the earth.
39:25
The sun
39:26
just gives two things
39:28
to the earth,
39:28
right?
39:29
It gives light
39:29
and it gives heat.
39:33
And,
39:33
if you took away light
39:35
or if you took away heat,
39:36
you just,
39:37
everything would die here.
39:38
We would have no life.
39:40
So,
39:40
kind of follow me there.
39:42
So,
39:43
while the sun
39:44
is in its right place,
39:45
we have life.
39:46
We're getting light
39:47
and we're getting heat.
39:48
But,
39:49
if the sun just went,
39:51
like they were just,
39:53
certain things would happen
39:54
because of an absence
39:55
of the sun's presence.
39:58
And,
39:59
it's very similar with God.
40:00
Like,
40:01
when God is being gracious
40:02
to us,
40:03
we have life.
40:04
We have good things.
40:06
We have health,
40:07
et cetera.
40:08
And,
40:09
at very best,
40:10
salvation.
40:11
But,
40:11
if he was to,
40:12
like,
40:12
back away,
40:14
certain things happen
40:15
out of want
40:16
of his presence.
40:17
Does that make sense?
40:18
As,
40:19
as the idea of hardening
40:21
comes into play.
40:23
So,
40:24
anything on that
40:26
before we do some
40:27
closing things?
40:29
Anything else?
40:31
Yeah.
40:32
Yeah.
40:32
Yeah.
40:36
Yeah.
40:38
Can the
40:41
reprimand
40:42
ever be saved?
40:47
No.
40:48
Because,
40:48
that means
40:49
they would put them
40:49
in the category
40:50
of the elect
40:51
if they were
40:51
going to be saved.
40:53
So,
40:53
the question
40:55
that was from...
40:56
So,
40:56
don't hold me...
40:57
Answer that question.
40:59
Yeah.
40:59
But,
41:01
Nathan talked about
41:02
the mention of
41:03
the reprobate
41:04
in the passage.
41:05
When it says,
41:07
what then is there
41:08
fail to obtain
41:08
what he's seeking?
41:10
They left the weakness
41:10
of the rest of the heart.
41:12
And so,
41:12
he mentions that
41:13
those who were reprobate.
41:14
I guess my confusion
41:18
comes in
41:18
when
41:19
verse 11
41:21
says,
41:22
so I ask
41:23
that they stumble
41:23
in order that
41:24
they might fall
41:25
by no means.
41:27
Rather,
41:27
through their trespasses
41:28
they say,
41:28
salvation has come
41:29
to the Gentiles
41:30
so as to make
41:31
this a little
41:32
point.
41:33
All that means
41:34
some of Israel
41:36
who,
41:38
that it just says
41:39
was hardened
41:40
or broken off.
41:42
He also says,
41:43
maybe grab the back.
41:44
And later
41:45
in the first time.
41:48
I know what
41:49
he's talking about.
41:50
Like I,
41:51
preach the rest
41:52
of Romans 11
41:53
for us tonight.
41:54
Oh,
41:54
okay.
41:55
No.
41:55
We'll record it
41:56
and play it
41:56
next week.
41:58
No.
41:59
John,
42:00
we'll get into
42:00
that one next.
42:01
The,
42:01
uh,
42:02
from the place
42:04
he's standing
42:05
he's saying
42:06
what we're seeing
42:06
some place
42:08
may be right
42:08
but others not.
42:10
And he goes on
42:10
to say in Romans 11
42:11
but,
42:12
but they can,
42:13
right,
42:13
they can place
42:14
faith in Christ.
42:16
Sorry,
42:16
the one,
42:16
um,
42:17
yeah,
42:17
but I wouldn't
42:20
get yourself
42:21
wrapped into
42:21
the categories
42:22
because those
42:23
categories
42:24
would be
42:24
quietly confined
42:25
to the end
42:25
of all things.
42:26
Hmm.
42:28
Yeah.
42:28
I mean,
42:29
it's just basically
42:30
when you say
42:31
elected
42:32
or reprobate,
42:33
it's just another
42:34
way of saying
42:34
believer,
42:35
unbeliever,
42:36
saved,
42:36
unsaved.
42:37
but yeah,
42:38
like,
42:38
in that,
42:39
in that particular
42:39
text,
42:40
like,
42:40
if you get
42:41
stuck in a,
42:42
um,
42:43
the terms
42:43
themselves,
42:44
like,
42:44
yeah,
42:44
you'll get
42:45
kind of
42:45
confused there.
42:47
So,
42:48
yeah,
42:48
but,
42:50
yeah,
42:51
I mean,
42:51
that's what's
42:51
just crazy.
42:52
It's just
42:52
everywhere.
42:53
I just never
42:53
saw a lot
42:54
of this
42:54
so long ago.
42:55
I also just
42:56
didn't really
42:56
read my Bible
42:57
much either.
42:58
Um,
42:59
enough to,
42:59
like,
42:59
make people
43:00
happy.
43:01
But,
43:02
yep,
43:02
Romans 11.
43:04
You thought
43:04
we would get
43:04
out of that
43:05
in Romans 9,
43:05
but,
43:06
oh no,
43:06
there's more
43:06
to come.
43:26
Yeah.
43:27
Yeah.
43:34
Yeah.
43:35
Um,
43:38
like,
43:41
the,
43:42
let me think
43:43
here.
43:44
In the last,
43:45
like,
43:45
few years,
43:46
last couple
43:46
years particularly,
43:48
um,
43:49
I would,
43:51
I would
43:51
probably say
43:52
since Russia
43:53
invaded Ukraine,
43:55
Hamas
43:56
invaded Israel,
43:58
like,
43:58
we haven't
43:58
seen,
44:00
there's that
44:00
kind of stuff
44:01
that goes on
44:01
in the world,
44:01
but it's just
44:02
not for us
44:03
to see very
44:04
well.
44:05
And,
44:06
it's like
44:07
made us
44:07
wake up
44:07
like,
44:08
wow,
44:08
there's some
44:08
bad stuff
44:09
out there.
44:10
Like,
44:10
you mean
44:10
that not
44:11
everything's
44:11
just the way
44:12
it is in my
44:12
own little
44:12
world where
44:13
everybody's
44:13
mostly nice,
44:15
mostly polite.
44:17
Um,
44:17
I don't know
44:18
if it was a
44:18
mistake or
44:19
not.
44:21
Maybe it
44:21
wasn't,
44:22
but I,
44:22
I watched
44:23
some of the
44:23
videos that
44:24
Hamas made.
44:25
just brutal.
44:31
Anyway,
44:31
it tears you
44:32
up to
44:32
watch.
44:32
I'd actually
44:33
just recommend
44:33
that some
44:33
of you
44:34
don't.
44:34
If you,
44:36
but just
44:36
the blood,
44:37
the carnage,
44:38
the depravity
44:40
of what
44:40
man can
44:42
do to
44:43
other men.
44:43
and,
44:47
and even
44:47
if,
44:48
um,
44:50
Israel and
44:51
any other
44:52
allies,
44:52
like,
44:53
bring them
44:54
to justice
44:54
or,
44:55
or kill
44:55
them,
44:57
like,
44:58
the wickedness
44:59
of man,
45:00
when God
45:01
judges that
45:01
one day,
45:03
it'll be a
45:03
beautiful thing.
45:05
Like,
45:05
like,
45:05
my point is,
45:06
like,
45:06
he will be
45:07
magnified in
45:08
his justice.
45:09
Like,
45:09
it'll be
45:10
something that
45:10
we give him
45:11
great glory
45:12
for.
45:12
Like,
45:12
for being
45:13
a God
45:14
that,
45:14
like,
45:14
lets no
45:15
evil go
45:16
unpunished.
45:16
Like,
45:17
zero.
45:18
And he'll
45:19
do it
45:19
perfectly.
45:20
Like,
45:20
no injustice.
45:21
Not,
45:22
we all
45:23
will,
45:24
will see
45:24
him display
45:26
that.
45:26
And any
45:27
sin that
45:27
has,
45:28
that people
45:28
thought they
45:29
got away
45:29
with,
45:30
um,
45:31
he will
45:31
bring it
45:32
to perfect
45:32
justice.
45:33
And that's
45:33
why it says
45:34
that God
45:34
made everything
45:34
for a purpose,
45:35
even the
45:36
wicked,
45:36
for the
45:36
day of
45:37
evil.
45:37
Right?
45:37
Like,
45:38
he,
45:38
and,
45:39
and so,
45:40
while he's
45:41
destroying the
45:42
wicked,
45:42
you know,
45:42
and magnifying
45:44
his holiness
45:45
and his
45:46
righteousness,
45:47
simultaneously,
45:49
those of us
45:50
on the other
45:50
side will
45:51
just be going
45:51
like,
45:52
what?
45:54
You know,
45:54
why,
45:55
why aren't I
45:57
over there?
45:58
I,
45:58
I'm sinful.
46:00
Like,
46:00
I've rebelled
46:00
against God.
46:02
Why,
46:03
why has he
46:03
chosen
46:04
to save me?
46:06
And the
46:07
answer is like,
46:07
nothing,
46:08
there's no
46:08
reason.
46:08
Like,
46:09
there's no
46:09
reason that
46:09
in you
46:10
that he
46:11
did it.
46:12
So he
46:12
will
46:13
simultaneously
46:14
be bringing
46:15
glory to his
46:16
name by
46:17
sparing you
46:18
and showing
46:18
you mercy
46:19
and that
46:21
you are in
46:22
Christ
46:22
like Noah's
46:25
ark,
46:26
you know,
46:26
the,
46:27
you know,
46:27
you go out of the
46:28
nurseries with
46:29
kids and it's like
46:29
the little boat
46:30
with all the
46:30
animals on and
46:31
people going,
46:32
you know,
46:32
like in Noah's
46:33
ark.
46:34
I always,
46:35
I had to play the
46:36
jokes that if I
46:37
ever paint that in
46:38
my kids' room,
46:38
I'm going to paint
46:39
the people drowning
46:40
outside the boat
46:41
and to show them
46:45
that like,
46:45
yeah,
46:46
in Christ we're
46:46
saved,
46:47
but outside of
46:47
Christ we are
46:48
only going to be
46:50
destroyed,
46:51
you know.
46:52
And like,
46:52
so I just want you
46:53
to see that like
46:54
the,
46:57
it really is just
46:58
supposed to leave
47:00
you saying,
47:01
why me?
47:02
Like,
47:02
why have I
47:04
been spared?
47:06
And it kind
47:08
of leaves you
47:09
trembling a little
47:09
bit.
47:10
And it's only
47:10
because of God,
47:11
it's because of
47:12
his good pleasures,
47:12
because of what
47:13
he did.
47:15
And William
47:16
Carey,
47:17
who was a
47:17
missionary to
47:18
India,
47:20
Baptist,
47:22
founder of the
47:23
modern day
47:23
missions movement
47:24
in the late,
47:24
late 1700s,
47:26
believed deeply
47:29
in election,
47:30
believed in what
47:30
we're talking
47:30
about tonight.
47:32
And I think
47:33
he was asked,
47:35
like,
47:35
why is God
47:36
tarrying,
47:36
basically?
47:37
Why is God
47:37
waiting so long
47:38
to, like,
47:39
come and judge
47:40
the wicked?
47:41
And I'm
47:42
paraphrasing what
47:42
he said,
47:43
but he basically
47:43
said, like,
47:44
would it bring
47:44
God more glory
47:45
to wait,
47:46
or to come in
47:47
now?
47:48
Like,
47:48
come in when
47:49
evil is absolutely
47:50
at its worst,
47:52
at its strongest,
47:54
or just to come
47:55
in now?
47:57
And he basically
47:57
was saying,
47:58
well, you know,
47:58
he's going to
47:58
wait until it's
47:59
as bad as it
48:00
can be,
48:00
where he can
48:00
just come in
48:00
and just go,
48:01
just destroy it,
48:04
like,
48:04
just with the
48:05
word of his
48:05
mouth,
48:06
you know,
48:07
which is just
48:07
awesome to
48:08
think about.
48:08
You know,
48:09
like,
48:09
they're as ready
48:10
as they're going
48:10
to be,
48:10
like,
48:10
all right,
48:10
God,
48:11
we're ready.
48:12
What does it
48:12
say in Psalms 2?
48:13
He laughs at
48:13
them,
48:14
and he just
48:15
blows on them,
48:16
and that's it,
48:17
and they're done,
48:18
you know?
48:19
So,
48:20
but a lot of
48:21
people struggle
48:22
with that,
48:22
like,
48:22
how can God
48:23
do this,
48:25
you know?
48:25
Like,
48:26
how can he
48:26
pass over people
48:27
and judge them?
48:28
Well,
48:28
I mean,
48:29
again,
48:29
it magnifies
48:31
his justice,
48:32
it magnifies
48:33
his holiness,
48:33
and the only
48:35
reason you're
48:35
not on that
48:36
side of it
48:36
is because
48:37
of his grace,
48:39
and that's
48:40
it.
48:40
you're at
48:42
the throne room
48:42
of the king.
48:48
This is a quote
48:49
from a Baptist
48:50
pastor named
48:52
C.D.
48:52
Mallory in
48:53
1842,
48:55
and talking
48:55
about how
48:56
an election
48:56
can be rightly
48:57
understood,
48:58
but he says,
48:59
is it not a
49:00
doctrine that
49:01
strikes human
49:02
pride and
49:03
brings the
49:04
creature low
49:05
at the
49:05
footstool of
49:06
Jehovah?
49:07
It strips
49:08
him of all
49:09
boasting,
49:10
nourishes a
49:11
meek and
49:12
lowly sense
49:13
of dependence,
49:14
while still
49:15
tills the
49:16
soil with
49:18
adoring thoughts
49:19
of his
49:20
matchless,
49:20
sovereign,
49:21
eternal love
49:22
of God.
49:23
When the
49:23
believer reflects
49:24
that he has
49:25
been blessed
49:26
with all
49:26
spiritual blessings,
49:27
according to
49:29
God's eternal
49:29
purpose,
49:29
he exclaims,
49:30
melting into
49:31
tenderness and
49:32
grateful affection,
49:33
as he dwells
49:35
upon the
49:35
peculiar mercy
49:36
which has
49:37
rescued him
49:38
from death
49:38
and gave
49:39
him a
49:40
place at
49:41
the gospel
49:41
feast.
49:43
And he
49:43
exclaims,
49:44
why me?
49:46
That's
49:46
basically where
49:48
we kind of
49:48
find ourselves,
49:49
like how,
49:50
again,
49:50
that's the only
49:51
thing we can
49:51
really say,
49:52
we're just
49:52
sort of stunned
49:53
that God
49:54
would actually
49:54
choose to
49:55
save us.
49:57
So,
49:59
of course,
49:59
we all know
50:00
the hymn,
50:01
Amazing Grace,
50:02
this is what
50:02
he's writing
50:03
about in the
50:04
hymn,
50:04
but it's
50:07
grace that
50:07
saved us
50:10
and grace
50:10
is going to
50:11
carry us
50:11
and grace
50:12
is going to
50:12
eventually
50:12
bring us
50:13
home to
50:14
the Lord.
50:16
So,
50:17
yeah,
50:18
any other
50:19
questions?
50:21
Comments?
50:29
No,
50:30
I'd rather
50:30
not,
50:30
I'm just
50:31
kidding.
50:33
Yeah,
50:34
it's,
50:35
so basically
50:37
like what
50:37
do our
50:38
choices
50:39
and our
50:40
decisions,
50:41
like how
50:41
do they
50:41
relate?
50:42
Is that
50:42
what you're
50:42
kind of
50:42
saying?
50:43
I'm trying
50:43
to like
50:43
maybe be
50:43
more
50:44
specific.
50:53
Yeah.
50:53
Mm-hmm.
51:03
Mm-hmm.
51:06
Yeah.
51:26
Yeah.
51:26
What responsibilities men have in His salvation at all?
51:30
Yeah.
51:31
Yeah.
51:33
Well, it kind of comes in the next few weeks,
51:36
because, like, we talk about, like,
51:38
this is what man does in response to these things, you know?
51:43
And we know that, I mean, a lot of that gets down to what we talk about.
51:50
I did a little bit two weeks ago.
51:51
We talk about the will of man and how, yeah, like, we make decisions.
51:57
We are held accountable for those decisions.
52:00
You see that everywhere in the Scripture.
52:01
Like, God holds people accountable for their actions.
52:04
Like, very clearly.
52:06
And, but, but basically, maybe this goes back to this question.
52:14
I think, I think maybe just, shoot, where's my, there it is.
52:19
I'm trying to get there.
52:26
Here it is.
52:29
So, is that sort of the objection?
52:31
Like, election implies that we're not actually free, but puppets?
52:35
Okay.
52:36
Got it.
52:36
Trying to, like, get my head around the language.
52:38
Okay.
52:38
So, that was a big problem I had.
52:42
Because I was, you know, taught, and I think rightfully so, that for love to truly be love,
52:49
it has to be freely offered by both parties.
52:52
Right?
52:53
The man has to love the woman.
52:55
The woman has to love the man.
52:57
And it can't be, like, forced on them.
52:59
It can't be imposed.
53:01
And, like, so, I said, I always joke, one of the very few people I respect that were, that are more than the Armenian camp.
53:13
There's not many, to be honest, to be frank.
53:16
Like, ones that just go off into great heresies all over the place.
53:20
But one I do respect would be C.S. Lewis, I guess.
53:24
And his whole argument, as he saw election as, is taking that away from man.
53:30
Like, man's actions, man's love is not real if God forces him, if God imposes it on him.
53:37
And so, therefore, like, this just can't be true, more or less.
53:41
And to which, I would say to him, if we were just chilling out in Belfast one day, and he said that to me,
53:48
and I would just say, hey, you know what?
53:51
I completely agree with you.
53:52
Like, 100%.
53:54
You're right.
53:55
Like, for love to be love, it has to be freely offered by both parties.
54:01
I agree with you.
54:03
And then I would say, but the problem is, fallen man has no ability to love God.
54:10
And he won't love God.
54:14
Unless God does something to give him that capacity again.
54:20
And that's what we would call regeneration.
54:23
Like, that's what we would call being born again.
54:25
Given a new nature.
54:28
Ezekiel, Jeremiah.
54:30
Removing the heart of stone.
54:32
Replacing it with the heart of flesh.
54:34
And giving us plenty, putting his spirit within us.
54:39
And then, our will is set free.
54:42
And no longer is in bondage to sin.
54:44
And we can freely love God.
54:46
Freely worship God.
54:49
Or freely choose to sin still, as believers.
54:51
Like in sanctification.
54:53
And so, our actions are real.
54:55
We are not like puppets on a string.
54:57
Like, we believe in providence, not fatalism.
55:02
Fatalism basically says whatever is, must be.
55:06
The Stoics, the Greek Stoics, the Norsemen, the Vikings.
55:11
They all believe in this idea of like fatalism.
55:13
Like your fate is fixed.
55:14
You know, kind of idea.
55:15
But there is no rhyme or reason.
55:17
There is no point.
55:18
Providence only implies purpose.
55:22
Providence implies design.
55:24
And like, the salvation that we have.
55:28
Like we will give God, like praise for it one day.
55:31
Like our love for what he has done for us will be real.
55:35
You know, it will be a capacity that he has given us.
55:39
That we didn't have before we were in Christ.
55:42
And so, and you know, I guess the bottom line is.
55:47
Like you could, you could look at a million different passages.
55:50
That just talk about how God does hold us accountable for your actions.
55:53
You know, and they don't have to be at odds with each other.
55:56
God's sovereignty and our responsibility.
55:59
Like God says, choose this day whom you will serve.
56:03
Right?
56:04
He says that in Deuteronomy.
56:06
So our, we are not, yeah, puppets at all.
56:10
But we need God to set us free if we're going to love and worship him.
56:15
Um, that's like what I would kind of briefly say to that.
56:20
You know, that wasn't, wasn't brief.
56:23
But, I don't know if that was helpful at all.
56:26
You know.
56:32
Anything else?
56:33
Okay.
56:39
Um, if there was something you wanted to ask, it's not far in our bio.
56:42
We'll be here.
56:43
But yeah, next round.
56:45
We'll talk about the saving work of the sun.
56:48
All right.
56:49
Uh, I'm pretty sure it'll be next Sunday.
56:52
I know there's some stuff going on next Sunday.
56:53
Is there anything going on here at the building next Sunday?
56:56
I think Isaac and Savannah have a wedding shower.
56:59
That's earlier in the day.
57:00
Um, okay.
57:03
Yeah, but this gets into, uh, what role did Jesus play in our redemption?
57:08
But in short, we're trying to say that the Father chose,
57:14
and the Son died for not every single individual walking the planet,
57:20
but died for the elect.
57:22
He died for those that the Father gave him to save.
57:26
A very, we would call either limited atonement or particular atonement.
57:32
Like he, um, Jesus died to save his people.
57:36
And he did.
57:37
And didn't lose any of them.
57:39
So that's like what we're kind of going next week.
57:42
And, uh, so.
57:43
All right.
57:44
Um, I'll pray for us.
57:47
And then, uh, we can break.
57:49
I'll be where we're at.
57:50
Um, I'll be where we're at.