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The Five Solas (2017): Sola Fide · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Please take out your copy of God's Word, which I pray is with you.
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It's well read and treasured in your hearts.
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And turn to the book of Galatians chapter 3.
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On the 31st of this month, we will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's 95 theses being nailed to the door of the Wittenberg Church.
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An event which ignited a flame of doctrinal purification in Europe.
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Much of the Reformers' teaching has been summed up systematically in what are known as the Solas, which we are considering one at a time leading up to the Sunday before the 31st.
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So far we have considered a Sola Scriptura, and that is that God's Scripture, the Bible, the 66 books that we have canonized in our Protestant Bible,
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are the final authority of God on earth.
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We considered last week, Sola Gratia, by grace alone.
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Salvation is a gift of God.
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Today we're going to consider Sola Fide, or faith alone.
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That is to say that we are justified through faith alone.
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And in the coming two weeks, Solus Christus, in Christ alone, or justified by faith alone, in Christ alone.
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And finally, Soli Deo Gloria.
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That is, all is to the glory of God alone.
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Now the Reformers were speaking to audiences that considered themselves Christian.
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It was a very Christianized culture.
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There was not opposition in Luther's day to Scripture, or grace, or faith, or Christ, or the glory of God.
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But there was much addition and subtraction from these key doctrines.
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And that is why the Reformers loved the word alone or only.
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And we find in our day much error as well.
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And it's why we should also look to the past and to our Bibles to see that the Bible alone is authority of God.
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Final authority.
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We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
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And this is all to the glory of God alone.
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So as we consider today, Sola Fide, faith alone, let's look at Galatians 3, verses 10-14.
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Before I read, I remind you, beloved, that this is God's word to us.
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It was written for His glory and for our good.
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And we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
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Let's begin in verse 10 and following.
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For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse.
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For it is written,
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Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law and do them.
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Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law,
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for the righteous shall live by faith.
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But the law is not of faith.
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Rather, the one who does them shall live by them.
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Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
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For it is written,
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Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.
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So that in Christ Jesus, the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles,
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so that we might receive the promised spirit through faith.
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The producer of a podcast called The White Horse Inn,
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which I would commend to you,
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recently conducted a survey at a conference for evangelical pastors
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where he asked the following questions.
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Number one,
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are we justified by faith alone,
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by faith and works,
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or by works alone?
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And,
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in your view,
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is justification a one-time declaration,
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or a lifelong process?
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Now these two questions are pursuing the same point,
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and it is a point that is extremely vital
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to a proper understanding of the good news of Jesus Christ.
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So I know I've tipped you off a little already,
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but take a moment and consider how you would answer these two questions.
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Somebody comes up to you on the street with a microphone,
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and says,
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are we justified by faith alone,
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by faith and works,
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or by works alone?
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And,
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in your view,
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is justification a one-time declaration,
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or a lifelong process?
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The majority response of the pastors at this particular conference were,
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we are justified by faith and works,
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and justification is a lifelong process.
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If you answer these questions in the same way,
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you are dreadfully wrong.
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This is likely not entirely your fault.
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You may have grown up in a church
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that one of these men pastored,
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that never addressed the matter,
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or,
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if they did,
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they did so poorly.
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But,
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beloved,
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a proper understanding of justification
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is at the very heart of the gospel.
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And at the end of all things,
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you will not be able to plead before God
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that your Bible went unread
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because of the church you grew up in.
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You see,
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if we fail to understand justification
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through faith alone,
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we fail to understand the gospel.
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In fact,
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any misunderstanding of justification
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is antithetical to the gospel
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and is very egregious.
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That is to say,
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it's the opposite of the gospel.
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I fear that in our day,
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there is more misunderstanding
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of how a person is saved
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than there was in the medieval Europe
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of Luther's day.
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So let's be sure today
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that we all have a clear understanding
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of justification through faith alone
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so that,
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number one,
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we can be saved.
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You may find yourself here this morning
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believing that you're in Christ
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because you have not understood
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justification by faith alone.
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You may think that you can be justified
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by your works.
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That you even being here
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is gaining you some favor with God
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so that we can be saved.
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Secondly,
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if we are,
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in fact,
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saved,
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that we can have assurance
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of our salvation.
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How is it that we can know
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that we belong to God,
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that we are justified
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before Him?
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And thirdly,
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so that we can help others
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come to faith
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and have assurance.
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If I am correct,
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and I believe that I am,
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about how much our culture
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is erring on this,
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then we need to be ambassadors
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for Christ.
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We need to preach the true gospel
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and help people understand
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how it is they can be saved
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and how it is they can be confident
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that they are saved.
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So let's do so by asking
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and answering four questions.
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I'm not going to alliterate today
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to make John MacArthur proud.
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I'm going to ask questions
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to make Clay Namor proud.
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Those questions are going to be as follows.
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Number one,
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what does it mean to be justified?
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I'm going to use that word a lot today.
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What does it mean
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to be justified?
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Secondly,
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why do we need to be justified
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through faith?
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Thirdly,
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how are we justified?
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Through faith?
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And fourthly,
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what is the relationship
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between faith
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and works?
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So number one,
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what does it mean
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to be
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justified?
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At Christ Family Church,
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we don't use
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large words
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because we want to
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appear smart.
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We try to use
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Bible words
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because if you're going to be
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faithful to the Scripture,
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you're going to come across
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these words.
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Some of you,
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I know,
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might be going,
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justified,
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that seems like a kind of
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churchy word.
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Yeah,
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it is.
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Because we're a people
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of the Word.
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So you've got to know
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what these things mean
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when you come across them
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in the Scripture.
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So we don't want to
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do away with
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big words,
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but we want to press you
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to understand
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big words.
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What a novel idea
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to give you an education.
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What a crazy thing.
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So,
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justification
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is a
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one-time
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declaration
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that we are
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righteous
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before God.
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The doctrine
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of justification
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includes
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both the idea
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that our guilt
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has been
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expunged,
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it's been done
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away with,
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and that we have
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been granted
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perfection.
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So,
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the negative
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debt that we had
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has been brought
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up to zero,
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and we've been given,
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we've been credited
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to our account,
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perfection,
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the righteousness
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that is Christ's.
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The occasion
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for Paul's writing
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of this letter
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to the church
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of Galatia
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was men
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who had come
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teaching
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what Paul calls
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a different
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and contrary
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gospel,
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right?
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An antithetical
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gospel.
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Look at Galatians
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chapter 1
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verse 6
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and following.
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Paul writes,
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I am astonished
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that you are so
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quickly deserting
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him,
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this is Christ,
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who called you,
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excuse me,
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it's the spirit,
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who called you
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in the grace
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of Christ
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and are turning
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to a different
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gospel.
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Not that there
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is another one,
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he's saying that
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there isn't good
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news found anywhere
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else,
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not that there
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is another one,
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but there are
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some who trouble
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you and want
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to distort
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the gospel
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of Christ.
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He then has
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some very strong
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words for anyone
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who would preach
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such a gospel
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beginning in verse
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8.
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But even if we
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or an angel
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from heaven
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should preach
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to you a gospel
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contrary to the
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one we preach
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to you,
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let him be
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accursed.
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As we have said
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before,
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so now I say
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again,
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if anyone is
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preaching to you
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a gospel contrary
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to the one you
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have received,
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let him be
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accursed.
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These men
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who would come
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into the church
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of Galatia
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who are often
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called Judaizers
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were teaching
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faith in Jesus
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plus circumcision.
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Faith in Jesus
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plus the observation
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of certain feasts
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and this equals
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justification.
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This was the equation
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that they were teaching.
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Yeah,
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yeah,
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yeah.
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Right?
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Faith is good
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but also
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must add on to
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faith
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works.
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And Paul
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cries out
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in his letter
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to the Galatian
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church,
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no,
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by faith alone
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is one
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justified
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before God.
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So this is
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what justification
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is.
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A one-time
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declaration
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that we are
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righteous
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before God.
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Secondly,
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why do we need
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to be justified
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through faith?
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Back in our text,
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chapter 3,
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verse 10
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and following.
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For all who rely
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on works of the law
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are under
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a curse.
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We are
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cursed
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and we are
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incapable
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of earning
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our justification.
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Right?
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this is the purpose
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of the law
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to bring us
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to Christ.
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To show us
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how incapable
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we are
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of pleasing
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God
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apart
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from Christ.
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As previously stated,
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we are justified
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through faith
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alone.
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No one is justified
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by their works.
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Paul is abundantly
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clear about this
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in Romans chapter 3.
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Turn with me,
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if you will,
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please,
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to Romans 3.
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beginning
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in verse 10,
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Paul cites
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ancient words.
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He appeals
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to the authority
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of Scripture
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to make his case
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in Romans 3.
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As it is written,
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none is righteous.
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No,
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not one.
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No one understands.
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No one seeks
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for God.
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All have turned aside.
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Together they have
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become worthless.
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No one does good.
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Not even one.
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Their throat
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is an empty grave.
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They use their tongues
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to deceive.
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The venom of asps
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is under their lips.
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Their mouth
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is full of curses
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and bitterness.
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Their feet
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are swift
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to shed blood.
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And their paths
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are ruin
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and misery.
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And the way
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of peace
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they have not known.
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There is no
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fear of God
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before their eyes.
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This is not
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the beginning
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of the gospel
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preached
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in most churches
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today.
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Apart from Christ,
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you have become
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worthless.
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In Christ,
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you have
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great worth.
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But apart from Him,
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you are as dross
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to be thrown away
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of no value
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whatsoever
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in the kingdom
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of God.
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Flee
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to Christ.
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This is what
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the law
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is doing for us.
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It's showing us
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our great
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need.
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I've heard
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visitors of
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our church
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go away
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and complain
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that don't make
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them feel good
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about themselves
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when they come here.
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It's not my job
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to make you feel
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good about yourself.
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It's my job
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to make much
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of Christ.
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God is aimed
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at this
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very purpose.
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Paul is aimed
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at this
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very purpose.
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Flee to Christ.
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We have no
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righteousness of our own.
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We need the
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righteousness
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of Christ.
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And Paul's not
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alone in this.
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Remember verse 10,
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he says,
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as it is
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written.
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Psalm 14,
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1-3.
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Psalm 53,
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1-3.
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Psalm 5,
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9.
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Psalm 143.
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Psalm 10,
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7.
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Proverbs 1,
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16.
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Chapter 3,
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verse 15-17.
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Isaiah 59,
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7-8.
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And Psalm 36,
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1.
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The text I just
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read to you,
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those are the places,
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those are all of the
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references for the
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places.
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The scripture speaks
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loudly to this point.
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We are under the
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curse of Adam.
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We have his
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sin apart
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from Christ.
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So,
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we cannot
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earn
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our way
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to heaven.
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It is
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a grand
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impossibility.
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Paul has been
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pressing this
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same point
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in his letter
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to the Galatians.
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You can go back
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to Galatians
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chapter 2,
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verse 16.
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We know
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that a person
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is not justified
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by works
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of the law,
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but through faith
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in Jesus Christ.
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So,
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we also have
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believed in
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Christ Jesus
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in order to be
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justified by faith
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in Christ
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and not by works
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of the law.
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Because by works
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of the law,
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no one
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will be
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justified.
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This is the
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very beginning.
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This is the
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bad news
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of the gospel
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of Jesus Christ.
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No one will be
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justified before God
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by their own
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working.
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And in many
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churches today,
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this doctrine,
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justification by faith
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alone,
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has been disregarded
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altogether.
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Many churches
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today,
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even this morning,
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I say with a
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great deal
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of grief,
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are preaching
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a soft
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prosperity gospel
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that says,
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do good
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so that you'll
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feel good
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and you'll
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get good.
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Beloved,
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this is not
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the gospel
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of Jesus Christ.
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Once a person
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realizes their
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need of
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justification,
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they recognize
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they cannot
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stand rightly
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before the
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creator of
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heaven and
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earth.
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They need
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to be
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justified.
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There is no
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greater question
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for that person
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to ask
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than,
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how must
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I be
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justified?
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How is it
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then?
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If I can't
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do it,
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how is it
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then that
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I can be
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justified?
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This was the
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great question
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of the
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Reformation.
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This was the
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splinter in
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Martin Luther's
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mind.
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This is what
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drove him to
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become a monk.
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He thought,
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certainly if
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there's any
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place that
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righteousness
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can be
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found,
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it's in
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the good
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work of
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the
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monkery,
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which is
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the proper
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word.
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But he
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did not
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find it
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there.
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Rather,
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he found
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it in
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the scripture
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as he
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was preparing,
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he was
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translating,
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preparing to
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lecture from
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Romans chapter
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one.
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The righteous
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shall live
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by faith.
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It is of
18:13
highest importance
18:14
this morning
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that you see
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your need
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of justification
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by faith
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alone.
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Now,
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what is
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faith?
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Faith is
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not merely
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a mental
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ascension.
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Faith is
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not merely
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going,
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yeah,
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yeah,
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Jesus.
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But it
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is belief
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or I
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prefer
18:36
trust.
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But this
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trust can
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not just be
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placed anywhere
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that you would
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like to place
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your trust.
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You cannot
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simply have
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faith in
18:46
anything,
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but you
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must place
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your trust
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in the
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person and
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work of
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Jesus Christ.
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So we are
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justified
18:55
through faith
18:57
alone in
18:58
Christ
19:00
alone.
19:02
And that
19:03
brings us to
19:03
our third
19:03
question,
19:04
which I just
19:04
kind of
19:05
answered.
19:05
but how
19:06
are we
19:06
justified
19:06
through
19:08
faith?
19:11
Verse 13,
19:13
Galatians
19:13
chapter 3,
19:15
Christ
19:16
redeemed us
19:17
from the
19:18
curse of the
19:19
law by
19:19
becoming a
19:20
curse for
19:21
us.
19:22
So saving
19:23
faith,
19:23
trust that
19:24
Jesus
19:25
is the
19:27
Christ.
19:28
It's a title
19:29
given to
19:29
him,
19:29
the promised
19:31
redeemer of
19:32
the Old
19:33
Testament.
19:33
God a
19:33
promise to
19:34
sin,
19:34
and that
19:35
he is
19:36
the son
19:37
of God.
19:39
Christ
19:39
redeemed us.
19:41
Christ
19:41
paid the
19:43
ransom to
19:43
deliver us
19:44
from the
19:44
captivity of
19:46
our sin.
19:48
John writes
19:49
in 1 John
19:50
5,
19:51
1,
19:52
everyone who
19:53
believes that
19:53
Jesus is
19:55
the Christ
19:56
has been
19:57
born of
19:59
God.
20:00
So saving
20:01
faith,
20:02
trust in
20:03
the person
20:03
of Christ,
20:05
who he
20:06
in fact
20:06
is,
20:07
who he
20:07
said he
20:08
is,
20:09
and saving
20:11
faith,
20:11
trust in
20:12
the work
20:13
of Jesus
20:15
Christ.
20:17
So in
20:17
verses 13
20:18
to 14,
20:18
we have
20:18
these two
20:19
phrases,
20:19
Christ
20:20
redeemed us
20:20
from the
20:20
curse of
20:21
the law
20:21
by becoming
20:22
a curse
20:23
for us.
20:25
As it is
20:26
written,
20:26
cursed is
20:27
everyone who
20:27
hangs on
20:28
a tree.
20:29
So Jesus
20:30
takes our
20:31
place on
20:33
the cross
20:33
of Calvary.
20:35
And the
20:36
second phrase,
20:37
so that
20:38
we might
20:38
receive the
20:39
promised
20:40
spirit
20:40
through faith.
20:43
I see in
20:44
these two
20:44
phrases both
20:45
sides of
20:46
justification.
20:47
Recall that
20:48
our previously
20:48
defined
20:49
justification
20:49
as follows.
20:50
Justification
20:51
is a
20:51
one-time
20:52
declaration
20:52
that we
20:53
are righteous
20:54
before God.
20:56
And then I
20:56
went on to
20:56
say the
20:57
doctrine
20:57
includes
20:58
both the
20:59
idea that
20:59
our guilt
21:00
has been
21:00
expunged
21:02
and we
21:03
have been
21:03
granted
21:04
perfection.
21:07
So first
21:08
we see that
21:08
our sins
21:09
have been
21:09
forgiven
21:09
because
21:10
Christ
21:10
became
21:11
a curse
21:12
for us.
21:15
Beloved,
21:16
you see,
21:16
because God
21:17
is just,
21:17
He cannot
21:18
merely dismiss
21:19
crimes
21:20
against Him.
21:21
He doesn't
21:22
simply overlook
21:23
the offense
21:24
because it
21:24
would be
21:24
against His
21:25
character.
21:25
He cannot.
21:27
He must
21:27
punish
21:28
crime
21:29
against Him.
21:32
And if you
21:32
have placed
21:32
your faith
21:33
in Jesus
21:33
Christ,
21:34
then your
21:35
sins were
21:35
punished
21:36
in Christ.
21:39
This is
21:40
often called
21:41
Jesus'
21:41
passive
21:43
obedience.
21:45
He died
21:46
in your
21:47
stead.
21:48
He was
21:49
sacrificed
21:49
as your
21:50
substitute.
21:53
This is
21:53
called
21:54
substitutionary,
21:55
atonement.
21:56
This is a
21:57
good
21:57
reformation
21:58
phrase.
22:00
Christ
22:01
died.
22:01
He atoned
22:02
for us
22:03
in our
22:04
place.
22:07
Only
22:08
God
22:09
Himself
22:10
could bear
22:10
the wrath
22:11
of God.
22:12
Eternal
22:13
punishment
22:13
poured out
22:14
in those
22:15
moments on
22:16
the cross
22:16
in Christ.
22:18
Your sins
22:19
were imputed,
22:20
were given
22:21
to Christ
22:22
as He
22:23
suffered
22:23
on the
22:24
cross.
22:26
And secondly,
22:28
that we have
22:29
been granted
22:29
His righteousness
22:30
because we
22:31
have received
22:32
the promised
22:33
Spirit
22:33
through faith.
22:36
In verse
22:36
11,
22:37
Paul cites
22:37
Habakkuk 2.4,
22:38
the righteous
22:39
shall live
22:40
by faith.
22:42
In Romans
22:43
8.4,
22:50
and then in
22:51
verse 9,
22:52
Paul wrote,
22:53
In order
22:54
that the
22:54
righteous
22:55
requirement of
22:56
the law
22:56
might be
22:57
fulfilled in
22:57
us,
22:58
who walk
22:59
not according
23:00
to the
23:00
flesh,
23:01
but according
23:02
to the
23:03
Spirit.
23:03
And then in
23:04
verse 9,
23:04
You,
23:05
however,
23:05
are not in
23:05
the flesh,
23:06
but in
23:06
the Spirit,
23:07
if in fact
23:07
the Spirit
23:08
of God
23:09
dwells in
23:10
you.
23:10
If anyone
23:11
does not
23:11
have the
23:12
Spirit of
23:12
Christ,
23:15
he does
23:16
not belong
23:17
to Him.
23:18
You can tell
23:18
my notes
23:19
got goofy
23:19
there for
23:20
a second.
23:21
So that
23:23
we can
23:24
receive the
23:24
promise of
23:25
the Spirit
23:25
through
23:27
faith.
23:29
I believe
23:29
that Paul
23:30
here is
23:30
given that
23:30
other
23:31
expression
23:32
of it.
23:32
Because we
23:33
are found
23:33
righteous
23:33
in Christ
23:34
by the
23:35
power
23:35
of the
23:36
Spirit.
23:38
God
23:38
requires
23:39
perfection.
23:40
And through
23:41
faith,
23:41
we are
23:41
made
23:42
perfect
23:43
in
23:43
Christ.
23:45
He
23:45
perfectly
23:46
kept
23:46
God's
23:47
law.
23:48
This is
23:48
often referred
23:49
to as
23:49
His
23:49
active
23:50
obedience.
23:52
And His
23:53
righteousness
23:54
is imputed,
23:56
it's given
23:56
to us.
23:58
Martin Luther
23:58
called this
23:59
the great
23:59
exchange.
24:01
We can
24:01
find in
24:02
2 Corinthians
24:02
chapter 5
24:03
verse 21
24:03
a beautiful
24:04
summary of
24:05
Christ's
24:05
work in
24:06
our
24:06
justification.
24:07
Paul
24:07
wrote,
24:08
For our
24:09
sake,
24:09
God
24:09
made
24:10
Jesus
24:11
to be
24:11
sin
24:12
who
24:13
knew
24:13
no
24:13
sin
24:13
so
24:14
that
24:14
in
24:14
Him
24:15
we
24:15
might
24:15
become
24:16
the
24:16
righteousness
24:17
of God.
24:19
This
24:20
double
24:21
imputation
24:22
is what
24:23
justifies
24:24
us
24:24
through
24:25
faith.
24:26
It
24:27
cannot be
24:27
achieved
24:28
by works
24:29
but only
24:30
through
24:30
faith in
24:30
Jesus
24:31
Christ's
24:31
person
24:32
and
24:33
work.
24:34
Faith
24:35
is the
24:36
instrument
24:37
of our
24:38
justification
24:39
but our
24:40
justification
24:41
is still
24:42
all of
24:43
grace.
24:44
We are
24:44
justified
24:45
by grace
24:46
through
24:47
faith
24:47
in
24:48
Christ.
24:50
That is
24:50
why we
24:50
do not
24:50
say we
24:51
are justified
24:51
because
24:53
of faith
24:54
but rather
24:55
through it.
24:58
Here
24:58
a reformer
24:59
spoke of
24:59
faith like
25:00
an open
25:01
hand.
25:03
A hand
25:04
that receives
25:06
the merit
25:06
of Christ.
25:10
It's not
25:10
the work
25:11
of faith
25:11
that makes
25:12
us justified.
25:13
It's that
25:14
we believe
25:15
in the
25:15
merit of
25:16
Jesus Christ.
25:16
This open
25:17
hand
25:17
grasps
25:18
hold of
25:19
Him
25:19
and what
25:20
He did
25:21
bearing
25:23
our sin
25:24
and granting
25:24
us
25:25
His
25:26
righteousness.
25:28
And that's
25:28
why we
25:28
often link
25:29
the solos
25:30
together
25:30
as we
25:30
speak of
25:31
them.
25:31
Justified
25:31
by grace
25:32
alone
25:32
through
25:32
faith
25:32
alone
25:33
in
25:33
Christ
25:34
alone.
25:36
In
25:36
this way
25:37
saving
25:37
faith
25:38
is a
25:39
resting
25:40
faith.
25:41
It
25:41
rests
25:42
in
25:42
Christ's
25:43
work
25:44
on our
25:45
behalf.
25:47
This is
25:47
one way
25:47
you have
25:48
assurance
25:48
before God
25:49
because
25:50
Christ
25:50
accomplished
25:52
it.
25:52
In the
25:53
beloved
25:53
accepted
25:55
and free.
25:56
We're
25:57
accepted
25:57
in
25:58
Christ.
25:58
Jesus
26:01
tells a
26:02
parable
26:02
in
26:02
Luke
26:02
chapter
26:03
18
26:04
beginning
26:04
in
26:04
verse
26:05
9.
26:06
Luke
26:06
records
26:06
Jesus
26:06
also
26:07
told
26:07
this
26:07
parable
26:07
to
26:08
some
26:08
who
26:08
trusted
26:08
in
26:09
themselves
26:09
that
26:10
they
26:10
were
26:10
righteous.
26:11
They
26:11
thought
26:12
they
26:12
could
26:12
work
26:12
their
26:12
way
26:13
into
26:13
favor
26:14
!
26:14
and
26:15
treated
26:15
others
26:16
with
26:16
contempt.
26:18
Two
26:18
men
26:18
went up
26:19
into
26:19
the
26:19
temple
26:20
to
26:20
pray.
26:21
One
26:21
a
26:22
Pharisee
26:22
and
26:23
the
26:23
other
26:23
a
26:23
tax
26:23
collector.
26:25
The
26:25
Pharisee
26:25
standing
26:26
by
26:26
himself
26:27
prayed
26:27
thus,
26:28
God
26:28
I
26:28
thank
26:28
you
26:28
that
26:29
I
26:29
am
26:29
not
26:29
like
26:29
other
26:30
men
26:30
extortioners
26:31
unjust
26:32
adulterers
26:33
or even
26:33
like
26:34
this
26:34
tax
26:35
collector.
26:36
I
26:36
fast
26:36
twice
26:37
a
26:37
week.
26:37
I
26:37
give
26:37
tithes
26:38
of
26:38
all
26:38
that
26:39
I
26:39
get.
26:40
There's
26:40
things
26:40
I
26:40
don't
26:41
do
26:41
and
26:41
there's
26:41
things
26:42
that
26:42
I
26:42
do.
26:43
I
26:43
thank
26:43
you
26:43
that
26:43
I
26:44
am
26:44
so
26:44
pleasing
26:45
to
26:45
you.
26:46
Verse
26:47
13
26:47
But
26:48
the
26:48
tax
26:49
collector
26:49
standing
26:49
far
26:50
off
26:50
would
26:51
not
26:51
even
26:51
lift
26:52
up
26:52
his
26:52
eyes
26:52
to
26:53
heaven
26:53
but
26:54
beat
26:54
his
26:54
breast
26:55
saying
26:55
God
26:55
be
26:56
merciful
26:57
to
26:57
me
26:58
a
26:59
sinner.
27:01
And
27:01
then
27:01
Jesus
27:02
says
27:02
verse
27:03
14
27:03
I
27:04
tell
27:04
you
27:04
this
27:05
man
27:06
went
27:07
down
27:07
to
27:07
his
27:07
house
27:08
justified
27:09
rather
27:11
than
27:11
the
27:12
other
27:12
for
27:13
everyone
27:13
who
27:13
exalts
27:14
himself
27:14
will
27:14
be
27:14
humbled
27:15
but
27:15
the
27:15
one
27:15
who
27:15
humbles
27:16
himself
27:16
will
27:17
be
27:17
exalted.
27:18
The
27:18
one
27:19
who
27:19
comes
27:19
humbly
27:21
I
27:21
have
27:21
nothing
27:22
to
27:22
offer
27:22
for
27:23
my
27:24
justification
27:24
except
27:26
the
27:26
completed
27:27
work
27:27
of
27:28
Christ.
27:29
So
27:30
this
27:30
is
27:30
how
27:30
it
27:31
is
27:31
that
27:31
we
27:31
are
27:32
justified
27:32
through
27:32
faith.
27:34
And
27:34
fourthly
27:34
and
27:34
lastly
27:35
!
27:35
What
27:35
is
27:35
the
27:35
relationship
27:36
between
27:37
faith
27:37
and
27:37
works?
27:39
What
27:39
of
27:39
all
27:40
the
27:40
commands
27:41
of
27:41
scripture?
27:42
What
27:43
of
27:43
the
27:43
moral
27:43
law?
27:44
We
27:44
mentioned
27:44
that
27:44
this
27:45
morning
27:45
with
27:45
the
27:45
kids.
27:46
Exodus
27:46
chapter
27:46
20
27:47
the
27:47
Ten
27:47
Commandments.
27:49
Can
27:49
a
27:49
Christian
27:50
now
27:50
just
27:51
live
27:51
in
27:51
any
27:52
way
27:52
that
27:53
they
27:53
please?
27:56
Paul
27:56
of
27:57
course
27:57
denounces
27:57
this
27:58
type
27:58
of
27:58
thinking
27:58
in
27:59
Romans
27:59
chapter
28:00
6
28:00
verses
28:01
1
28:01
and
28:01
2.
28:02
What
28:02
shall
28:03
we
28:03
say
28:03
then?
28:04
We
28:04
just
28:04
talked
28:04
about
28:05
justification
28:05
through
28:06
faith
28:07
alone.
28:07
What
28:08
shall
28:08
we
28:09
say
28:09
then?
28:10
Are
28:10
we
28:10
to
28:10
continue
28:11
in
28:11
sin
28:11
that
28:11
grace
28:12
may
28:12
abound?
28:14
And
28:14
in
28:14
verse
28:15
2
28:15
he
28:15
uses
28:16
the
28:16
strongest
28:16
Greek
28:17
expletive
28:17
which I
28:18
cannot
28:18
translate
28:18
into
28:19
English
28:19
for you
28:19
and
28:20
our
28:20
English
28:20
translators
28:21
have
28:21
rendered
28:22
it
28:22
by
28:22
no
28:23
means
28:23
by
28:24
no
28:25
means
28:25
you
28:26
can
28:26
insert
28:26
what
28:26
you
28:26
think
28:26
he
28:27
may
28:27
have
28:27
said
28:27
there
28:28
how
28:29
can
28:29
he
28:29
we
28:30
who
28:30
die
28:30
to
28:31
sin
28:31
still
28:32
live
28:33
in
28:33
it
28:34
by
28:35
no
28:35
means
28:35
we
28:35
are
28:36
not
28:36
justified
28:36
by
28:37
works
28:37
we
28:37
are
28:37
justified
28:38
by
28:38
faith
28:38
alone
28:39
but
28:39
yet
28:40
we
28:41
work
28:41
so
28:42
what
28:42
is
28:43
that
28:43
relationship
28:43
good
28:45
works
28:46
are
28:47
the
28:47
evidence
28:48
of
28:49
our
28:49
faith
28:50
and
28:51
beloved
28:51
we
28:51
must
28:52
get
28:52
this
28:52
equation
28:53
right
28:54
and
28:54
we
28:54
must
28:54
help
28:54
others
28:55
see
28:56
it
28:56
not
28:58
Jesus
28:58
plus
28:59
circumcision
29:00
and the
29:01
observation
29:01
of
29:02
certain
29:02
feasts
29:03
equals
29:03
justification
29:04
or
29:05
Jesus
29:06
plus
29:07
attending
29:08
church
29:08
or sharing
29:09
the gospel
29:09
or going
29:10
on mission
29:10
trips
29:10
or dressing
29:11
modestly
29:11
or avoiding
29:12
course
29:12
joking
29:12
or
29:13
serving
29:13
the poor
29:14
all wonderful
29:14
things
29:15
but not
29:16
Jesus
29:16
plus
29:16
those
29:17
things
29:17
equals
29:18
justification
29:19
but
29:21
rather
29:21
faith
29:22
in
29:23
Jesus
29:23
Christ
29:24
equals
29:24
justification
29:25
which
29:27
yields
29:28
good
29:29
works
29:29
faith
29:30
alone
29:31
faith
29:31
in
29:31
Jesus
29:32
Christ
29:32
equals
29:32
justification
29:33
which
29:34
yields
29:35
good
29:36
works
29:36
the
29:36
good
29:36
works
29:37
become
29:37
the
29:38
evidencing
29:38
of
29:39
the
29:39
faith
29:40
that
29:40
we
29:40
have
29:40
so
29:41
we're
29:41
accepted
29:42
therefore
29:43
we
29:43
work
29:43
not
29:44
we
29:44
work
29:45
in
29:45
order
29:45
to
29:46
be
29:46
accepted
29:47
having
29:47
been
29:48
accepted
29:48
out
29:49
of
29:49
grateful
29:49
response
29:50
the
29:51
spirit
29:51
of
29:51
God
29:51
abiding
29:51
in
29:52
us
29:52
changing
29:52
who
29:52
we
29:53
are
29:53
from
29:53
the
29:53
inside
29:54
we
29:54
begin
29:54
to
29:54
work
29:55
that
29:55
out
29:55
outside
29:57
so
29:58
we
29:58
pick
29:59
up
29:59
and we
30:00
obey
30:00
the
30:00
commands
30:01
of
30:02
God
30:02
right
30:03
we
30:03
grow
30:03
in
30:04
this
30:04
this
30:04
is
30:04
the
30:04
process
30:05
called
30:05
sanctification
30:07
right
30:07
sanctification
30:08
is a
30:08
lifelong
30:08
process
30:09
justification
30:10
is a
30:10
one
30:11
time
30:11
declaration
30:13
it
30:15
grieved
30:15
me
30:16
at a
30:16
small
30:17
local
30:18
baptist
30:18
school
30:19
that I
30:20
used to
30:20
work at
30:21
to see
30:22
the
30:22
testimonies
30:22
of students
30:23
coming in
30:23
all of the
30:24
applications
30:25
of the
30:25
school
30:25
had
30:25
testimonies
30:26
on it
30:26
how the
30:28
the
30:28
I could
30:29
sum up
30:29
for you
30:29
the
30:30
common
30:30
testimony
30:31
for young
30:32
people
30:33
coming to
30:33
this
30:34
small
30:34
baptist
30:35
college
30:35
were
30:36
something
30:36
like
30:37
this
30:37
I
30:38
grew
30:38
up
30:39
in a
30:39
Christian
30:39
home
30:39
I
30:41
attended
30:41
church
30:41
all my
30:42
life
30:42
at
30:43
summer
30:44
camp
30:44
I
30:44
responded
30:45
to an
30:45
invitation
30:46
and now
30:47
I go on
30:47
mission
30:48
trips
30:48
and I
30:49
serve
30:49
in the
30:49
church
30:49
and I
30:52
hope
30:53
with every
30:54
one of
30:54
them that
30:54
I read
30:55
I hoped
30:55
that that
30:57
little
30:58
response
30:59
was saving
31:00
but they
31:01
seem to
31:02
bank so
31:03
much
31:03
in their
31:04
pedigree
31:05
and in
31:06
their
31:07
activity
31:07
this is
31:09
how I
31:09
know
31:10
because I'm
31:11
working
31:11
look at
31:12
me
31:13
working
31:13
rather
31:15
than
31:15
praising
31:16
in their
31:17
testimony
31:17
the work
31:18
of Christ
31:19
on their
31:20
behalf
31:20
and beloved
31:21
you are not
31:22
the hero
31:22
of your
31:23
testimony
31:24
Jesus
31:24
Christ
31:25
is
31:25
and a
31:27
testimony
31:27
that's
31:28
not
31:28
just
31:31
covered
31:32
in his
31:32
blood
31:33
may not
31:34
be a
31:35
testimony
31:35
of saving
31:36
faith
31:37
now
31:39
Martin
31:40
Luther
31:40
notoriously
31:41
called
31:41
the book
31:42
of James
31:42
an epistle
31:43
of straw
31:44
and wished
31:45
it had been
31:45
excluded
31:46
from the
31:46
canon
31:47
because of
31:47
its apparent
31:48
contradiction
31:49
of the
31:49
doctrine of
31:50
justification
31:51
by faith
31:52
alone
31:52
all of
31:53
these men
31:54
had errors
31:54
at some
31:55
point
31:56
he offered
31:57
to award
31:58
anyone
31:58
who could
31:59
reconcile
31:59
James
32:00
and Paul
32:01
I wonder
32:01
what the
32:01
award would
32:02
have been
32:02
for that
32:04
I believe
32:06
this was
32:06
largely
32:07
a reaction
32:08
to Rome's
32:09
improper
32:09
use of
32:10
the book
32:11
of James
32:11
they love
32:12
to flee
32:13
to James
32:13
to make
32:15
the case
32:16
for
32:16
justification
32:17
by
32:18
works
32:19
and it's
32:20
because of
32:21
the following
32:21
text
32:21
I'm going to
32:22
invite you
32:22
to turn
32:22
with me
32:22
to James
32:23
chapter 2
32:23
it's right
32:26
after Hebrews
32:27
so if you can
32:27
hit Hebrews
32:28
it's right
32:28
after Hebrews
32:29
beginning
32:53
in verse
32:54
14
32:54
what good
32:57
is it my
32:57
brothers
32:58
if someone
32:58
says he
32:59
has faith
32:59
but does
33:00
not have
33:01
works
33:01
can that
33:03
faith
33:03
save him
33:04
if a brother
33:06
or sister
33:07
is poorly
33:07
clothed
33:08
and lacking
33:08
in daily
33:08
food
33:09
and one
33:09
of you
33:09
says to
33:10
them
33:10
go in
33:10
peace
33:11
be warmed
33:11
and filled
33:12
without giving
33:12
them the things
33:13
needed for the
33:14
body
33:14
what good
33:15
is that
33:16
so also
33:17
faith by
33:19
itself
33:19
if it does
33:20
not have
33:20
works
33:21
is dead
33:22
but what
33:23
Helmand
33:24
will say
33:24
you have
33:25
faith
33:25
and I
33:25
have
33:25
works
33:26
show me
33:27
your faith
33:27
apart from
33:28
your works
33:28
and I
33:28
will show
33:28
you my
33:29
faith
33:29
by my
33:30
works
33:30
you believe
33:32
that God
33:32
is one
33:33
you do
33:33
well
33:33
even the
33:34
demons
33:35
believe
33:35
and shudder
33:37
now if you've
33:39
been hearing me
33:40
across the past
33:41
35 or so minutes
33:44
does this create
33:47
a problem
33:47
for you
33:47
hang on a
33:48
second
33:48
he has
33:50
just said
33:50
and he's
33:50
going to
33:51
say some
33:51
things
33:51
that are
33:51
even a
33:51
little
33:51
more
33:52
controversial
33:52
soon
33:53
but
33:54
but we
33:55
have to
33:55
have
33:55
we have
33:56
to have
33:56
it
33:56
right
33:57
faith
33:58
by itself
33:58
if it
33:58
does not
33:59
have
33:59
works
34:00
is
34:01
dead
34:02
I will
34:03
show you
34:03
my faith
34:04
by my
34:05
works
34:06
but then he
34:07
sets up
34:07
for us
34:07
a very
34:08
interesting
34:08
juxtaposition
34:09
which we're
34:09
about to get
34:10
into
34:10
he starts
34:10
by saying
34:11
you believe
34:12
that God
34:13
is one
34:14
you do
34:14
well
34:15
however
34:16
is what he's
34:16
essentially saying
34:17
even the
34:18
demons
34:18
believe
34:19
and shudder
34:20
they're in
34:20
fear
34:21
of
34:21
this God
34:23
but what
34:23
do the
34:23
demons
34:23
not have
34:24
that he's
34:24
referring to
34:25
the works
34:26
right
34:26
so verse 20
34:28
he goes on
34:28
do you want
34:30
to be shown
34:30
you foolish
34:31
person
34:32
that faith
34:33
apart from
34:34
works
34:34
is useless
34:35
and here's
34:36
here's who
34:37
he sets up
34:37
as the example
34:38
against
34:39
the demons
34:40
who do
34:41
not have
34:42
good works
34:42
verse 21
34:44
was not
34:45
Abraham
34:46
our father
34:47
justified
34:48
by works
34:49
that's a
34:49
troubling phrase
34:50
isn't it
34:50
was not
34:51
Abraham
34:51
our father
34:51
justified
34:52
by works
34:53
when he
34:53
offered up
34:53
his son
34:54
Isaac
34:54
on the
34:55
altar
34:55
you see
34:56
that faith
34:57
was active
34:58
along with
34:59
his works
34:59
and faith
35:00
was completed
35:01
by his
35:02
works
35:03
and the
35:04
scripture
35:04
was fulfilled
35:05
that says
35:06
Abraham
35:06
believed
35:07
God
35:07
and it
35:07
was counted
35:08
to him
35:09
as
35:09
righteous
35:10
righteousness
35:10
and he
35:11
was called
35:12
a friend
35:13
of God
35:13
okay so
35:14
in our
35:14
in our
35:15
English
35:15
translations
35:16
this causes
35:16
a lot
35:17
of trouble
35:17
right
35:17
we go
35:18
that could
35:19
be
35:20
very troubling
35:21
but what is he
35:21
trying to show
35:22
what is the
35:23
what's the larger
35:24
context and what is he
35:24
trying to show
35:25
right
35:26
James is saying
35:27
that works
35:28
evidence
35:29
faith
35:30
right
35:31
so for someone
35:32
to simply
35:32
say they
35:33
believe
35:34
and not
35:35
believe in a
35:36
way
35:36
right
35:37
that shows
35:38
their belief
35:38
he's saying
35:39
is useless
35:40
it's dead
35:40
it's dead
35:41
faith
35:41
it's not
35:41
real faith
35:42
at all
35:43
it never
35:43
was real
35:44
faith
35:45
right
35:46
here we have
35:46
demons who say
35:47
they believe
35:48
and yet they don't
35:49
have works
35:50
evidencing that
35:51
so you've got to
35:51
you've got to see
35:52
the juxtaposition
35:53
between the demons
35:54
and Abraham
35:55
but we have
35:56
Abraham
35:57
doing what
35:58
offering up his
35:59
son Isaac
35:59
on the altar
36:00
proving
36:01
that he
36:01
believed
36:02
not just simply
36:03
saying
36:04
to God
36:05
I believe
36:05
in the
36:06
promise
36:06
but actually
36:08
proving
36:08
that he
36:09
saw God
36:10
as faithful
36:10
he believed
36:11
and it was
36:12
counted to him
36:12
as
36:14
righteousness
36:15
Paul in
36:16
Romans 4
36:17
verses 1
36:17
through 3
36:18
references the
36:20
same text
36:21
as James
36:22
here
36:22
what then
36:23
shall we say
36:24
was gained
36:24
by Abraham
36:25
our forefather
36:26
according to
36:26
the flesh
36:27
for if Abraham
36:29
was justified
36:30
by works
36:30
he has something
36:32
to boast about
36:32
but not before
36:33
God
36:33
for what
36:34
does the
36:35
scripture
36:35
say
36:35
Abraham
36:36
believed
36:37
God
36:38
and it
36:38
was
36:39
counted
36:39
to him
36:39
as
36:41
righteousness
36:41
verse 24
36:44
back in
36:45
James chapter 2
36:46
you see
36:49
that a person
36:49
is justified
36:50
by works
36:51
and not by
36:52
faith alone
36:52
another troubling
36:53
verse
36:53
and in the
36:54
same way
36:54
was not also
36:55
Rahab the
36:56
prostitute
36:56
justified
36:56
by works
36:57
when she
36:57
received
36:58
the messengers
36:58
and sent
36:59
them out
36:59
by another
37:00
way
37:01
so again
37:01
another example
37:02
of somebody
37:02
who's
37:03
working
37:04
and that
37:04
seems to
37:04
be what
37:05
James is
37:05
saying
37:05
that they're
37:06
justified
37:06
by the
37:07
work
37:08
verse 26
37:10
summarizes it
37:11
for as the
37:11
body apart
37:12
from the
37:12
spirit is
37:13
dead
37:13
so also
37:14
faith
37:16
apart
37:16
from works
37:17
is dead
37:19
so grapple
37:22
with this
37:22
what I'm
37:23
saying to
37:24
you
37:24
is that
37:25
they are
37:25
entirely
37:26
consistent
37:26
with one
37:27
another
37:27
and what
37:28
James is
37:28
communicating
37:28
to us
37:29
is that
37:29
if you
37:29
have
37:30
saving
37:30
faith
37:31
you genuinely
37:32
place faith
37:33
in Jesus
37:33
Christ
37:34
you will
37:35
work and
37:35
evidence
37:36
that
37:36
that's
37:36
the simplicity
37:37
of what
37:37
he's doing
37:37
you will
37:38
obey the
37:39
commands
37:39
of God
37:40
in a
37:40
growing way
37:41
we don't
37:42
obey it
37:42
perfectly
37:42
ever
37:43
but we're
37:44
working
37:44
this process
37:45
of sanctification
37:46
growing in
37:46
holiness
37:47
a bit
37:48
by bit
37:48
day
37:49
by day
37:49
further
37:52
to make
37:52
my point
37:53
of the
37:53
synthesis
37:54
between the
37:55
two
37:55
the book
37:56
of James
37:56
was likely
37:57
written
37:57
in 45
37:58
AD
37:59
five years
38:00
before the
38:01
Jerusalem
38:01
council
38:02
at which
38:02
Paul
38:03
and James
38:03
who was an
38:04
elder
38:04
the Jerusalem
38:05
church
38:05
agreed that
38:07
we are saved
38:07
by grace
38:08
alone
38:08
through faith
38:10
you can read
38:10
about that
38:11
in Acts
38:11
chapter 15
38:13
so we see
38:15
the synergy
38:17
between the
38:17
two of them
38:18
so
38:20
you may not
38:21
be satisfied
38:21
with that
38:22
I don't know
38:22
if Martin
38:23
Luther would
38:23
have been
38:23
but there
38:24
is Paul
38:25
and James
38:25
reconciled
38:26
pay up
38:27
Martin
38:28
Luther
38:28
later in
38:31
his life
38:31
he seemed
38:32
to have
38:32
arrived
38:33
at the
38:33
same
38:33
conclusion
38:34
listen to
38:34
a bit
38:35
of what
38:35
he wrote
38:36
the very
38:37
first part
38:38
of this
38:38
is on
38:38
your
38:38
bulletin
38:39
Luther
38:40
wrote
38:40
oh it
38:41
is a
38:41
living
38:42
busy
38:43
active
38:43
mighty
38:44
thing
38:44
this
38:45
faith
38:46
and then
38:46
he goes
38:47
on
38:47
and so
38:47
it is
38:48
impossible
38:48
for it
38:49
not to
38:49
do
38:50
good
38:50
works
38:51
I love
38:51
this word
38:51
incessantly
38:52
it does
38:54
not ask
38:54
whether there
38:54
are good
38:55
works
38:55
to do
38:55
but before
38:56
the question
38:56
rises
38:56
it has
38:57
already
38:57
done
38:58
them
38:58
and is
38:59
always
38:59
at the
39:00
doing
39:00
of them
39:01
he also
39:02
wrote
39:03
faith is a
39:03
living
39:03
restless
39:04
thing
39:05
it cannot
39:06
be
39:06
inoperative
39:07
we are not
39:08
saved
39:08
by works
39:09
but if
39:10
there be
39:10
no works
39:11
there must
39:12
be something
39:12
amiss
39:13
with faith
39:15
so in
39:17
conclusion
39:18
we are
39:19
justified
39:20
by grace
39:20
alone
39:20
through faith
39:21
alone
39:21
in Christ
39:23
alone
39:23
this
39:24
justification
39:24
is a
39:25
one time
39:26
declaration
39:26
of our
39:27
righteousness
39:27
in Jesus
39:29
Christ
39:29
which
39:30
evidences
39:31
itself
39:31
in our
39:32
activity
39:33
a faith
39:34
that rests
39:35
in the
39:36
merit of
39:36
Christ
39:37
is a
39:37
faith
39:38
that works
39:39
in grateful
39:40
response
39:41
let's pray
39:42
together