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Romans 8:14-17 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Good morning, please take your copy of God's Word, which I hope that you have with you this morning, and join me in Romans chapter 8.
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To continue our study of Romans 8, Lord willing, we will finish the chapter on Christmas Eve morning. That's the plan as it stands.
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We will, of course, still take some time and turn our attention to the coming of Christ and all that that entails, which certainly includes what Paul's teaching us in Romans 8.
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I want you to know that these decisions are made prayerfully and thoughtfully with the aim of best ministering to your souls.
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So we do hope that you'll be well served, that you don't miss too much those Advent-themed sermons as we continue with chapter 8.
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Now this morning we have further opportunity to consider the ministry of the Spirit.
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Last week we saw in verses 5-13 that the Spirit, number one, gives us life.
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Herein we find the doctrine of regeneration.
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That is to say that those who are in Christ Jesus were once dead spiritually, but are now alive spiritually.
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Those who are in Christ have been born again.
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Secondly, we saw that the Spirit empowers us to live like Christ.
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The third person of our Trinitarian God sets us free from bondage to sin and works in us to bring about holiness.
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Our justification guarantees our sanctification or gradual growing in holiness.
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Now before we press in today's text, I want to briefly address the closing phrase of it at the outset,
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a phrase that we will consider, Lord willing, at greater length next week.
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And that's this phrase, in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
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You'll see that there at the end of verse 17.
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And here we find the goal for the Christian life.
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I think that John most succinctly sums up this idea of us being glorified with Christ
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in 1 John chapter 3 and verse 2, where he says,
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Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared,
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but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him,
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because we shall see Him as He is.
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When we are glorified, we will be like the perfect, sinless Son of God.
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God accomplishes this saving work in our lives by the power of the Spirit.
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I'm aiming us there as we're thinking about these ministries of the Spirit together.
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Let me draw your attention just briefly to the names used for the Spirit in Romans so far.
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Paul's doing this inspiration very carefully to help us understand something of the Spirit's work in our lives.
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We see Him called just the Spirit in chapter 8, verse 4, verse 5, verse 6, verse 9, verse 10, verse 11, and verse 13.
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We see Him back in chapter 1 and verse 4 called the Spirit of holiness.
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We see Him in chapter 8 and verse 2 called the Spirit of life.
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In chapter 8, verse 9, and in today's text, verse 14, we see Him called the Spirit of God.
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And then we also see Him called the Spirit of Christ in chapter 8 and verse 9.
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So the Spirit brings about life and holiness, emanates from God, is part of the triune God, and works to magnify Christ.
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Paul says in Colossians chapter 1, verse 27,
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Christ in you, the hope of glory.
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The hope that we will one day be glorified.
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Christ indwelling by the Spirit in us.
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So with this in mind, let's look at Romans chapter 8, beginning in verse 14.
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Let me remind you before I read it, beloved, that this is God's Word to us.
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It was written for His glory and for our good, and so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and to obey its commands.
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For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
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For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba, Father.
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The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
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And if children, then heirs.
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Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.
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Provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
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I want to show you from our text four ways that the Spirit ministers to us.
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I am not suggesting that the Spirit's ministry is delimited by these four things, but I do believe that they are the primary ministries of the Spirit.
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They are as follows.
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Number one, because of the Spirit, we are led.
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Number two, because of the Spirit, we are accepted.
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Number three, because of the Spirit, we are confident.
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And number four, because of the Spirit, we are rewarded.
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So firstly, because of the Spirit, we are led.
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Each of these points begins with that because, because verse 14 starts with a four.
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Recall that when we see this word, it shows us what Paul is saying is a continuation of what he has previously said.
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This is not a disjointed thought.
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He is following a logical flow, and so we do well to remember the context as we consider what it means to be led by the Spirit.
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The Spirit does give us inclinations about the everyday details of our lives, but this is not what Paul is talking about here.
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I don't want to limit that, that there are things we think perhaps we should say that are led by the Spirit,
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but that's not what Paul is saying in this text.
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text.
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So, for or because what?
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We're immediately proceeding.
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Verse 14 is verse 13.
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I love how that numbering helps us.
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Romans 8.13 says this,
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For if you live according to the flesh, you will die.
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But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
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It's just after that that he says,
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For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
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Paul is specifically teaching that the Spirit empowers putting to death sin in our lives.
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The Spirit leads us away from wickedness,
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but not away from wickedness just to a position of neutrality,
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but also toward holiness.
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If you move up the chapter a little more to verse 4,
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there we see,
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In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us,
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who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
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So at the beginning, do not be confused.
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Paul is not talking about subjective inclinations here,
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but about objective holiness.
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If we are led by the Spirit of God,
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we are being led to obey the good commands of God.
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That's here what he is talking about.
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I also want to talk a little bit about the word all.
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It says,
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For all who are led by the Spirit of God.
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And this little word needs some attention.
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I will say simply,
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Those who belong to God are led by the Spirit.
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If a person is in Christ Jesus,
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then they are filled with the Spirit of Christ,
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and the only objective observable marker of the state of their souls
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is obedience to God's law.
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There's a lot of confusion about that in our day.
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If you are in Christ,
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then you have His Spirit,
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and it evidences itself in obedience to God's Word.
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Don't let somebody tell you that you have to laugh uncontrollably
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in order to be filled with the Spirit.
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It's not in the text.
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You can't find it in the text.
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What are we to do?
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We are to obey God's Word.
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But all who are sons of God
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are led by the Spirit of God.
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Now we also have to spend some time on this verb,
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led.
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What does it mean to be led by the Spirit?
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Perhaps you will tolerate me a little Greek nerdiness for a moment,
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and maybe you'll even enjoy it.
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I hope that you will.
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The verb led is in the indicative mood,
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which describes something as actual,
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not theoretical or merely possible.
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So, actually led.
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It's in the present tense,
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which describes something happening
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with no reference to its completion.
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So, it's happening and happening and happening and happening.
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In actuality, going on all the time.
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Not momentarily,
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not in little spurts,
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but all the time going on.
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And it's in the passive voice,
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which describes an action,
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where the action is happening
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to the subject of the sentence or phrase,
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regardless of the participation of the object.
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So, it's happening necessarily to.
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You see, Paul is stating
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that the leading of the Spirit
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is a thing that necessarily
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is always happening to the Christian.
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If you are a son of God,
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then you are led by the Spirit of God.
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We don't always follow the leading of the Spirit
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in our lives, to be clear.
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But you are being led
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if you are in Christ.
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Christ is in you.
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In fact, another way to translate
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the Greek verb here translated,
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led, is to take hold of.
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If we belong to Him,
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then by the Spirit,
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He has taken hold of us.
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And He is aiming us in a direction,
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which I mentioned previously,
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which is that final glory
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that we await.
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So, if we are led by the Spirit,
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then we are sons of God.
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Those led by the Spirit of God,
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the Spirit was sent by God the Father
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and God the Son
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to show that we are sons of God.
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The gift that God had given us
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proves that we belong to Him.
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Here we see the contrast
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of two categories of people
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and a pressing question.
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We see that those who are part of God's family
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and by implication,
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those who are not.
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You are either led by the Spirit
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and a son of God
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or you are not led by the Spirit
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and not a son of God.
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To which family do you belong this morning?
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Most important question about you.
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Are you led by the Spirit of God
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to put to death sin in your life
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and be obedient?
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Do you hate your sin
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and possess an innate desire
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to obey God's good commands?
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Or are you looking for every possible excuse,
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any potential justification,
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to live your life on your terms?
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I want you to keep Romans chapter 8 marked with me
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and turn with me to John chapter 8.
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It is altogether possible
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for somebody to profess faith in Jesus Christ
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and not be in Him.
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This is addressed all throughout the Bible
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and I want to show you
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where Jesus addresses it specifically.
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John 8 beginning in verse 31.
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Verse 31 reads,
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So Jesus said to the Jews
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who had believed in Him.
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Verse 30 says that a number of Jews
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had come to believe in Him.
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Who had believed in Him.
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Now listen,
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these are people who have professed belief.
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We read that and we go,
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of course, they're Christians.
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They've become Christians.
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Jesus is addressing this very thing with them.
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Those who have professed faith in Him.
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He says,
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If you abide in My Word,
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you are truly My disciples.
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And you will know the truth
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and the truth will set you free.
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Now listen to how they respond.
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They answered Him,
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We are offspring of Abraham
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and have never been enslaved to anyone.
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How is it that you say
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you will become free?
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Jesus answered them.
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Verse 34,
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Truly, truly, I say to you,
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everyone who practices sin
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is a slave to sin.
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Had they been regenerate,
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they would already be aware
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of this reality.
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Verse 35,
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The slave does not remain in the house forever.
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The son remains forever.
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So, if the son sets you free,
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you will be free indeed.
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I know that you are offspring of Abraham,
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yet you seek to kill Me
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because My Word finds no place in you.
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Like, full stop,
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are these people believers in Jesus Christ?
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Jesus says otherwise.
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Right?
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I speak of what I have seen with My Father,
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and you do what you have heard
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from your father.
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Two different families.
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They answered Him,
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Abraham is our father.
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Jesus said to them,
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If you were Abraham's children,
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you would be doing the works
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Abraham did,
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works of faith.
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But now you seek to kill Me,
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a man who has told you the truth
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that I heard from God.
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This is not what Abraham did.
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You are doing the works
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your father did.
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They said to Him,
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We were not born of sexual immorality.
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We have one father,
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even God.
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Jesus said to them,
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If God were your father,
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you would love Me.
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For I came from God,
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and I am here.
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I am not of My own accord,
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but He sent Me.
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Why do you not understand what I say?
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It is because you cannot bear
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to hear My Word.
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You are of your father,
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the devil,
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and your will is to do
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your father's desires.
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He was a murderer
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from the beginning
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and does not stand in the truth
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because there is no truth in Him.
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When He lies,
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He speaks out of His own character,
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for He is a liar
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and the father of lies.
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But because I tell you the truth,
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you do not believe Me.
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Which one of you convicts Me of sin?
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If I tell the truth,
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why do you not believe Me?
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Whoever is of God
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hears the words of God.
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The reason why you do not hear them
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is that you are not of God.
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So it is possible, right,
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to profess faith
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and not belong to God.
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What does He say?
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If you abide in My Word,
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then you are truly My disciples.
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Now, if you are in this latter category,
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this professing,
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but not truly being saved,
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it is our prayer for you this morning
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that you would repent of your sin
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and place your hope in Christ.
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Without Him,
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there is no hope
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for this life
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or the life to come.
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Would you respond in faith
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to the invitation
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of the good news
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of Jesus' life,
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His death and resurrection
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on your behalf?
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Would you be born again
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this morning?
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We read a statement together.
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It's from our confession of faith,
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which originates from
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the New Hampshire Confession
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of 1833.
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We ask the question,
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what do we believe about grace
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in regeneration?
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And I love this succinct
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and well-packed answer
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that says,
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we believe that in order to be saved,
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sinners must be regenerated
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or born again.
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That regeneration consists
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in giving a holy disposition
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to the mind,
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that it is affected
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in a manner above our comprehension
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by the power of the Holy Spirit
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in connection with divine truth
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so as to secure
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our voluntary obedience
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to the gospel
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and that its proper evidence
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appears in the holy fruits
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of repentance
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and faith
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and newness of life.
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Those found in Christ
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will be turning
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by divine power
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from their sin
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by faith
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to Christ
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and obedience
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to His Word.
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If we are sons of God,
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then we are led
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by the Spirit.
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And I just want to emphasize,
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don't turn this into
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an experiential,
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feeling-oriented thing.
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Are you being turned
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from disobedience
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to obedience
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regularly?
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Do you desire
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to live in a way
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that is pleasing
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to our God?
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Do you,
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in a growing sense,
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despise your sin?
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Do you feel the conviction
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of the Spirit
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in your life
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when you do things
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that you ought not do?
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If you don't,
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I am worried
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for your soul.
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Repent
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and believe.
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Place your faith
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in Christ.
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Because of the Spirit,
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we are led.
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Secondly,
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because of the Spirit,
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we are accepted.
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Paul says,
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verse 15,
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chapter 8,
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for you did not receive
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the Spirit of slavery
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to fall back into fear,
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but you have received
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the Spirit of adoption
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as sons
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by whom we cry,
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Abba,
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Father.
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I listened to
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a sermon this week
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by Steve Lawson.
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If you guys know Steve Lawson,
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you can appreciate him.
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You know his voice.
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You may hear his voice
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in his head.
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And he kept saying,
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Abba,
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and that may be the way
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you pronounce it,
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but it drove me crazy.
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So I'm going to say,
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Abba,
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the rest of the morning.
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Paul here,
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with verse 15,
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with another four,
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elaborates on the idea
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of being sons of God
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with a denial
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and then an affirmation.
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He's such a good teacher.
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He constantly says,
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not this,
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but this instead.
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He first says,
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you did not receive
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the Spirit of slavery
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to fall back
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into fear.
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You did not receive
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condemnation.
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You did not receive
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the guilt
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that accompanies
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your sin,
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which rightly
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causes you to tremble
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before God.
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Whether it is present
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in your conscience
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or not,
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if you are not in Christ,
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you at your very core
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know that one day
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you will stand
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before your Maker
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and you will be judged
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for your sin.
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If you are in Christ,
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then you did not receive
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condemnation.
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Chapter 8,
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verse 1.
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But have been delivered
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from slavery to sin
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and the just punishment
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that is due it.
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Rather,
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you have received
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the spirit
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of adoption
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as sons.
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Now,
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a small note
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about the idea
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of being adopted
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as sons
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for the women
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of our church.
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You want this
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to be true
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of you
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because in Paul's day
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it was sons
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who received
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the inheritance
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of their fathers.
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Just a little
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historical context
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helps us understand.
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Today,
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inheritances
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are most typically
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divided equally,
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but not so then.
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So,
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just embrace the term.
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We should all
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want to be
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sons in the sun.
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This is a good thing
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that we would be
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adopted
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sons
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of the Most High.
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So,
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if you are
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led by the Spirit
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of God,
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you are a son
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of God
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and you have
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received the spirit
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of adoption
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as a son.
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Paul is the only
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Bible writer
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that uses
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the word
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adoption.
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He only uses it
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five total times
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and three of those
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usages are found
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in Romans.
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And so,
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this language
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demands our attention.
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Why adoption?
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Why this
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particular
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word?
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Elsewhere in the Bible,
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our regeneration
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has been described
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using the metaphor
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of new birth.
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made new,
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made alive
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by this
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new birth
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which brings us
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to spiritual
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life.
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But here,
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as adoption.
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And I just think
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this is a particular
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note,
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especially
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to where
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Paul's case
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is headed
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as we'll see
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in coming
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weeks.
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I believe
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that Paul
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means to highlight
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the choosing
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work of God
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in saving us.
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Adopted children
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are chosen
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children.
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All of us
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love our kids,
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our biological kids.
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We don't
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not want them,
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but they were
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given to us.
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They were
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granted
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to us.
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Adopted
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kids
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are chosen.
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The emphasis
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here is on
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compassion
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and intimacy
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and grace
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and love.
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We'll see this
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through the end
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of chapter
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eight.
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Paul
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is saying to us
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that God
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is lavish
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in the calling
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of a people
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for his praise.
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Paul presses
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with the word
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adoption
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that we were
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once so evidently
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not a part
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of God's family,
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but we have
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now been made
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a part
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of his family.
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It places
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the work
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squarely in
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God's hands
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and leaves
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no room
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for boasting
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on our part,
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but only
23:38
reveling
23:39
in the saving
23:40
work of God
23:40
on our behalf.
23:42
as Paul
23:44
unpacks
23:44
the ministry
23:45
of the Spirit,
23:46
perhaps he
23:48
has the words
23:48
of Jesus
23:49
in John
23:49
chapter 14
23:51
verse 16
23:52
through 18
23:53
on his mind.
23:56
There Jesus
23:56
said,
23:57
I will ask
23:59
the Father
23:59
and he will
24:01
give you another
24:01
helper to be
24:02
with you
24:03
forever.
24:04
Even the
24:05
Spirit of Truth
24:06
whom the world
24:07
cannot receive
24:08
because it
24:08
neither sees
24:09
him
24:09
nor knows
24:11
him.
24:12
You know
24:12
him for
24:13
he dwells
24:14
with you
24:14
and will
24:15
be in
24:16
you.
24:17
Then verse
24:17
18 says,
24:19
I will not
24:19
leave you
24:20
as orphans.
24:22
I will
24:23
come
24:23
to you.
24:25
There,
24:26
the acting
24:27
work
24:28
of God
24:29
the Son,
24:30
working in
24:31
conjunction
24:31
with God
24:32
the Father,
24:32
by the power
24:33
of God
24:34
the Spirit
24:34
to be with
24:35
us
24:36
forever.
24:37
The doctrine
24:39
of adoption
24:40
is a
24:40
precious,
24:42
precious
24:43
doctrine.
24:45
Paul says,
24:45
you have
24:46
received the
24:47
Spirit of
24:48
adoption
24:48
as sons
24:50
by whom
24:52
we cry,
24:54
Abba,
24:55
Father.
24:57
Now,
24:58
Abba is
24:58
the informal
25:00
Aramaic
25:01
term
25:01
for Father.
25:03
He steps
25:04
out of
25:04
Koine Greek
25:05
for a moment
25:05
and uses
25:06
an Aramaic
25:07
word.
25:09
Perhaps
25:10
a modern
25:10
English equivalent
25:11
would be
25:12
daddy.
25:13
It's a term
25:13
of affection.
25:15
It connotes
25:15
tenderness,
25:17
intimacy,
25:18
dependency,
25:19
and a
25:19
total
25:20
lack of
25:21
fear.
25:22
We can
25:23
boldly
25:24
approach
25:24
God
25:25
because
25:25
He is
25:26
our
25:26
adopted
25:27
dad.
25:29
Because
25:30
of the
25:30
Spirit,
25:31
we are
25:32
accepted.
25:33
We deserve
25:35
to be
25:35
God's
25:36
enemy.
25:37
But because
25:37
of our
25:38
regenerating
25:38
work in
25:39
our lives,
25:39
He has
25:40
granted to
25:40
us the
25:41
righteousness
25:41
of Christ
25:42
and now
25:42
we are
25:43
welcomed,
25:44
open-armed,
25:45
!
26:05
rise out,
26:06
Abba,
26:06
Father.
26:07
This should
26:09
grab our
26:10
attention.
26:11
I'm going to
26:12
tell you,
26:12
but can you
26:13
think for a
26:13
moment where
26:14
else you
26:14
see this
26:15
combination of
26:16
Aramaic and
26:18
Greek?
26:19
Abba,
26:20
Father.
26:22
When Jesus
26:23
is in agony
26:24
in the garden
26:24
of Gethsemane,
26:26
the night
26:27
before His
26:27
crucifixion,
26:28
He prays to
26:30
God the
26:30
Father in
26:31
this way.
26:33
Mark 14
26:33
and verse
26:34
36,
26:35
He says,
26:36
Abba,
26:37
Father,
26:39
all things
26:39
are possible
26:40
for You.
26:42
Remove this
26:43
cup from
26:43
me,
26:44
yet not
26:45
what I
26:45
will,
26:47
but what
26:47
You will.
26:49
I think
26:50
that what
26:51
Paul is doing
26:52
here is he
26:52
has in mind
26:53
this text
26:54
and he
26:55
employs this
26:56
language in
26:57
chapter 8
26:58
to help us
27:00
think about
27:00
the suffering
27:02
we'll have to
27:02
share in
27:03
with Christ.
27:04
In verse
27:05
16,
27:05
he begins
27:06
introducing
27:07
this very
27:08
idea and
27:09
the waiting
27:10
for and
27:10
the longing
27:11
for glory
27:12
and the way
27:13
in which God's
27:14
working all
27:15
things for
27:16
good.
27:18
Paul is
27:18
beginning to
27:18
set us up
27:19
to understand
27:20
that because
27:20
we are
27:20
accepted by
27:21
God,
27:22
we can
27:22
endure all
27:23
things because
27:24
we have an
27:25
internal
27:25
inheritance in
27:27
Him.
27:28
come what
27:29
may,
27:30
Romans 8 is
27:31
going to
27:31
say to
27:31
us,
27:32
if God
27:32
is for
27:32
us,
27:34
who can
27:34
be against
27:34
us?
27:36
And he's
27:37
drawing our
27:37
minds back,
27:38
I think,
27:38
to these
27:39
words of
27:40
Christ on
27:41
the cross.
27:42
These
27:43
deeply
27:44
intimate
27:44
ways of
27:45
referring to
27:46
God as
27:48
our Father.
27:50
Now,
27:51
you may
27:51
have a
27:51
difficult time
27:52
thinking of
27:53
God as
27:53
your Abba
27:54
Father,
27:56
because perhaps
27:57
your earthly
27:57
father was
27:58
unkind or
27:59
harsh or
28:00
maybe only
28:01
extended love
28:02
to you
28:02
conditionally.
28:04
But this
28:05
is not so
28:07
of your
28:08
heavenly
28:08
Father.
28:10
Praise God
28:11
for fathers
28:11
that we can
28:12
look to,
28:13
that are an
28:13
example of
28:14
what our
28:14
heavenly
28:14
father is
28:15
like,
28:15
although
28:16
imperfectly.
28:17
But if
28:18
your father
28:18
was not
28:19
this,
28:20
look to
28:20
the text,
28:21
your father
28:21
is not
28:22
God.
28:24
Look to
28:24
the text,
28:25
what does
28:25
the Bible
28:26
say is
28:26
true of
28:27
our
28:27
heavenly
28:28
father.
28:31
J.I.
28:32
Packer
28:32
once wrote
28:33
in a book
28:34
called Knowing
28:34
God,
28:35
which I
28:35
commend
28:35
strongly to
28:36
you.
28:37
He said
28:37
this,
28:37
quote,
28:38
you sum up
28:39
the whole
28:39
of New
28:40
Testament
28:40
religion if
28:41
you describe
28:41
it as the
28:42
knowledge of
28:43
God as
28:43
one's
28:44
holy
28:44
father.
28:46
If you
28:46
want to
28:47
judge how
28:47
well a
28:47
person
28:48
understands
28:48
Christianity,
28:50
find out
28:51
how much
28:51
he makes
28:52
of the
29:04
thought of
29:05
being God's
29:06
child and
29:06
having God
29:07
as his
29:08
father.
29:10
If this
29:10
is not
29:10
the thought
29:11
that prompts
29:11
and controls
29:12
his worship
29:13
and prayers
29:14
and his
29:14
whole outlook
29:15
on life,
29:15
it means
29:16
that he
29:16
does not
29:17
understand
29:18
Christianity
29:18
very well
29:19
at all.
29:20
For
29:21
everything
29:21
that
29:22
Christ
29:22
taught,
29:23
everything
29:23
that
29:23
makes
29:24
the
29:24
New
29:24
Testament
29:24
new
29:25
and
29:25
better
29:25
than
29:26
the
29:26
old,
29:26
everything
29:26
that
29:27
is
29:27
distinctively
29:27
Christian
29:28
as opposed
29:28
to merely
29:29
Jewish,
29:30
is summed
29:30
up in
29:30
the
29:30
knowledge
29:31
of the
29:31
fatherhood
29:32
of God.
29:34
Father
29:35
is the
29:36
Christian
29:36
name
29:36
for God.
29:39
Our
29:39
understanding
29:40
of
29:40
Christianity
29:40
cannot
29:41
be better
29:42
than our
29:43
grasp
29:43
of
29:44
adoption.
29:46
So
29:47
because of
29:47
the
29:47
Spirit,
29:48
we are
29:49
led
29:49
because of
29:51
the Spirit,
29:52
we are
29:53
accepted.
29:54
We belong.
29:56
We are
29:56
rejoined
29:57
with our
29:58
Creator.
30:01
Thirdly,
30:02
because of
30:02
the Spirit,
30:03
we are
30:04
confident.
30:05
Verse 16
30:06
says,
30:06
the Spirit
30:07
himself bears
30:08
witness with
30:08
our spirit
30:09
that we
30:09
are children
30:10
of God.
30:13
Our
30:13
growing
30:14
obedience
30:14
to God's
30:15
good
30:15
commands
30:16
gives
30:16
outward
30:17
witness
30:17
that we
30:18
are children
30:18
of God.
30:20
There is
30:20
observable
30:22
obedience.
30:24
But there is
30:24
also an
30:25
inner
30:26
testimony.
30:27
But this
30:28
is not
30:28
just an
30:28
inner
30:29
small
30:29
voice.
30:31
You don't
30:31
ask yourself
30:32
the question
30:32
and the
30:33
sound out
30:34
of the
30:34
void
30:35
says,
30:35
yes,
30:36
you are
30:36
in fact
30:36
saved.
30:38
That
30:39
inner
30:39
voice
30:40
in our
30:40
heads
30:40
may be
30:41
fickle
30:42
and
30:42
easily
30:43
swayed.
30:44
It
30:45
is
30:45
rather
30:45
the
30:45
inner
30:46
work
30:46
of the
30:47
Spirit
30:47
to
30:48
illuminate
30:49
God's
30:49
Word
30:50
to us,
30:51
to
30:51
sanctify
30:52
our
30:52
thoughts
30:53
and our
30:53
passions,
30:55
and to
30:55
compel
30:56
relationship
30:57
with God.
30:59
We can
30:59
take up
31:00
and read
31:01
and God
31:02
speaks to
31:02
us by
31:03
His
31:03
Spirit
31:03
through
31:03
His
31:04
Word.
31:05
Gives
31:05
us
31:05
conviction
31:06
of our
31:07
sin,
31:07
puts
31:07
desires
31:08
in us
31:08
to change
31:09
from one
31:10
degree of
31:10
glory
31:10
to another
31:11
that we
31:12
might
31:12
have
31:13
loving
31:14
communion
31:14
with
31:15
God.
31:17
Granting
31:17
to the
31:18
believer
31:18
assurance
31:18
is a
31:19
ministry
31:20
of the
31:21
Spirit,
31:22
but some
31:22
people
31:23
really
31:23
labor
31:24
over the
31:24
assurance
31:25
of their
31:26
salvation,
31:26
and I
31:27
want you
31:27
to know
31:28
that I'm
31:29
with you
31:29
in that.
31:30
I understand
31:31
where you're
31:32
coming from.
31:33
I think
31:34
most often
31:35
though,
31:36
this is
31:36
due to
31:37
doctrinal
31:38
confusion.
31:40
Somewhere
31:40
along the
31:41
way,
31:41
you've
31:42
misread
31:43
or been
31:43
mistaught
31:45
what the
31:45
Christian
31:45
life is
31:46
to look
31:47
like.
31:48
This is
31:48
why I
31:48
will not
31:49
tire of
31:49
teaching
31:49
the
31:50
doctrines
31:51
of
31:51
grace.
31:52
I
31:52
will
31:53
hammer
31:53
them
31:53
until
31:53
the
31:53
day
31:54
I
31:54
die,
31:55
come
31:55
what
31:55
may,
31:55
with
31:56
all
31:56
their
31:56
beauty
31:56
and
31:57
all
31:57
their
31:57
complexity.
31:59
This is
31:59
why I
32:00
will not
32:00
tire of
32:00
teaching
32:01
the
32:01
relationship
32:01
between
32:02
the
32:02
law
32:03
and
32:04
the
32:04
gospel.
32:05
It's
32:05
important
32:05
that we
32:06
understand
32:06
the
32:07
way
32:07
in
32:07
which
32:07
the
32:08
!
32:08
law
32:08
is
32:08
meant
32:08
to
32:08
convict
32:09
us
32:09
of
32:09
sin
32:09
and
32:09
drive
32:10
us
32:10
to
32:10
the
32:11
gospel
32:11
and
32:11
then
32:11
once
32:12
we've
32:12
been
32:12
set
32:13
free
32:13
from
32:13
the
32:14
bondage
32:14
of
32:14
sin
32:14
the
32:15
way
32:15
that
32:15
law
32:16
is
32:16
meant
32:16
to be
32:16
employed
32:17
in
32:17
our
32:17
lives
32:18
to
32:18
give
32:18
evidence
32:19
of
32:19
our
32:20
saving
32:20
faith.
32:22
Now
32:23
when I
32:23
was a
32:23
young
32:24
teenager
32:25
I
32:26
believe
32:26
I
32:26
was
32:26
converted
32:27
at a
32:27
very
32:27
young
32:27
age
32:28
and
32:28
I
32:29
when
32:30
we
32:31
moved
32:31
to
32:31
Georgia
32:31
I
32:31
went
32:31
to
32:32
a
32:32
church
32:32
that
32:32
was
32:32
a
32:32
rather
32:32
a
32:33
large
32:33
church
32:33
that
32:34
in
32:34
many
32:34
ways
32:35
was
32:35
trying
32:36
to
32:36
manufacture
32:37
revival
32:38
many
32:40
years
32:40
later
32:40
I
32:41
can
32:41
look
32:41
back
32:42
on
32:42
it
32:42
with
32:42
some
32:42
clear
32:42
minded
32:43
scrutiny
32:44
but
32:45
there
32:45
were
32:45
times
32:45
I
32:46
sat
32:46
and
32:46
I
32:46
just
32:47
wasn't
32:48
sure
32:48
am
32:49
I
32:49
a
32:49
Christian
32:50
I
32:50
didn't
32:51
have
32:52
assurance
32:52
in
32:53
those
32:54
days
32:55
and
32:56
what
32:56
was
32:56
often
32:57
told
32:57
to
32:57
me
32:57
you
32:57
all
32:58
have
32:58
heard
32:58
this
32:58
the
32:59
pastor
32:59
there
32:59
would
33:00
say
33:00
if
33:00
you
33:00
ever
33:00
doubt
33:01
that
33:01
you're
33:01
a
33:01
Christian
33:02
he
33:07
would
33:07
say
33:07
turn
33:08
to
33:08
the
33:08
front
33:09
of
33:09
your
33:09
Bible
33:09
to
33:10
the
33:10
place
33:10
where
33:10
you
33:10
wrote
33:11
down
33:11
the
33:11
date
33:12
that
33:12
you
33:12
walked
33:12
the
33:12
aisle
33:13
and
33:14
have
33:14
assurance
33:14
this
33:18
was
33:18
really
33:18
problematic
33:18
for me
33:19
because
33:19
I
33:19
hadn't
33:19
written
33:20
a
33:20
date
33:20
down
33:20
in
33:20
the
33:20
front
33:20
of
33:20
my
33:21
Bible
33:21
I
33:22
turned
33:23
to
33:23
the
33:23
front
33:23
of
33:23
it
33:23
and
33:24
there
33:25
was
33:25
no
33:25
my
33:26
handwriting
33:26
in
33:27
the
33:27
front
33:27
of
33:28
my
33:28
Bible
33:28
and
33:28
frankly
33:29
I'm
33:30
glad
33:30
there
33:30
wasn't
33:30
because
33:31
it
33:31
would
33:31
have
33:31
been
33:31
a
33:31
very
33:31
paltry
33:32
place
33:32
to
33:33
put
33:33
my
33:33
assurance
33:34
I
33:36
didn't
33:36
need
33:36
pragmatic
33:37
decisionism
33:38
I
33:40
didn't
33:40
need
33:40
him
33:40
to
33:40
say
33:41
you
33:41
did
33:41
this
33:41
one
33:42
thing
33:42
one
33:42
time
33:43
therefore
33:43
you're
33:45
a
33:45
Christian
33:45
I
33:46
needed
33:47
biblical
33:48
instruction
33:49
in
33:49
assurance
33:50
I
33:52
needed
33:52
him
33:52
to
33:52
say
33:52
have
33:53
you
33:53
ever
33:53
doubted
33:53
that
33:53
you're
33:53
a
33:54
Christian
33:54
let
33:54
me
33:54
take
33:55
you
33:55
to
33:55
the
33:55
word
33:56
let
33:56
me
33:56
show
33:57
you
33:57
how
33:58
you
33:58
can
33:58
know
33:59
that
33:59
you're
33:59
in
34:00
Christ
34:01
just
34:02
one
34:03
example
34:03
and
34:03
I
34:03
want
34:04
to
34:04
exposit
34:04
this
34:04
whole
34:05
thing
34:05
but
34:05
I
34:05
don't
34:05
have
34:05
time
34:05
for
34:06
it
34:06
I
34:06
wish
34:07
he
34:07
had
34:07
taken
34:07
me
34:07
to
34:07
a
34:07
text
34:08
like
34:08
1
34:08
John
34:08
chapter
34:08
5
34:09
verses
34:09
1
34:09
through
34:10
5
34:11
there
34:12
the
34:12
apostle
34:13
John
34:13
writes
34:13
everyone
34:14
who
34:15
believes
34:15
that
34:15
Jesus
34:16
is
34:16
the
34:16
Christ
34:16
has
34:16
been
34:17
born
34:17
of
34:17
God
34:17
and
34:18
everyone
34:18
who
34:19
loves
34:19
the
34:19
father
34:20
loves
34:20
whoever
34:20
has
34:21
been
34:21
born
34:21
of
34:22
him
34:22
right
34:23
I'm
34:24
sitting
34:24
there
34:24
going
34:24
I
34:25
believe
34:25
that
34:25
Jesus
34:25
is
34:26
the
34:26
Christ
34:26
and
34:27
what
34:27
am
34:27
I
34:27
supposed
34:27
to
34:28
do
34:28
with
34:28
that
34:28
information
34:28
love
34:29
the
34:29
church
34:30
I
34:30
do
34:30
love
34:30
the
34:30
church
34:31
I
34:31
love
34:31
!
34:31
these
34:32
people
34:32
who
34:32
are
34:32
professing
34:33
faith
34:33
in
34:34
Christ
34:34
verse
34:35
2
34:36
by
34:36
this
34:36
we
34:36
know
34:36
that
34:37
we
34:37
love
34:38
the
34:38
children
34:38
of
34:39
God
34:39
when
34:39
we
34:39
love
34:40
God
34:40
and
34:40
we
34:41
obey
34:41
his
34:42
commandments
34:43
I
34:44
don't
34:44
obey
34:45
his
34:45
commandments
34:45
perfectly
34:46
but
34:46
I
34:46
want
34:47
to
34:47
obey
34:47
his
34:47
commandments
34:47
I
34:48
find
34:48
in
34:48
me
34:49
that
34:49
I
34:49
am
34:50
obeying
34:50
imperfectly
34:51
but
34:51
some
34:52
of
34:52
those
34:52
commandments
34:52
I
34:53
see
34:53
a
34:54
desire
34:54
and
34:54
a
34:54
growing
34:55
ability
34:55
to
34:56
do
34:56
so
34:56
verse
34:58
3
34:58
for
34:58
this
34:58
is
34:58
the
34:58
love
34:59
of
34:59
God
35:03
are
35:03
not
35:04
burdensome
35:04
for
35:06
everyone
35:06
who's
35:06
been
35:07
born
35:07
of
35:07
God
35:07
overcomes
35:08
the
35:08
world
35:08
and
35:09
this
35:09
is
35:09
the
35:09
victory
35:09
that
35:10
has
35:10
overcome
35:10
the
35:11
world
35:11
our
35:12
faith
35:12
who
35:14
is
35:14
it
35:14
that
35:14
overcomes
35:14
the
35:14
world
35:15
except
35:15
the
35:15
one
35:15
who
35:16
believes
35:17
that
35:17
Jesus
35:18
is
35:19
the
35:19
Son
35:19
of
35:19
God
35:20
man
35:21
I
35:21
needed
35:21
to
35:21
sit
35:21
on
35:22
this
35:22
and
35:22
think
35:22
about
35:23
it
35:23
and
35:23
he
35:23
wouldn't
35:24
have
35:24
read
35:24
it
35:24
to
35:24
me
35:24
and
35:24
I
35:24
wouldn't
35:25
have
35:25
gone
35:25
hey
35:25
assurance
35:26
but
35:27
I
35:33
need
35:39
help
35:39
in
35:40
this
35:40
process
35:41
I
35:42
need
35:42
to
35:42
be
35:43
reminded
35:43
that
35:43
if
35:43
I
35:43
belonged
35:44
to
35:44
Christ
35:45
then
35:46
there
35:46
was
35:46
nothing
35:46
I
35:47
could
35:47
do
35:47
to
35:48
stop
35:48
that
35:48
if
35:50
he
35:50
justified
35:50
me
35:51
he
35:52
would
35:52
sanctify
35:53
me
35:54
Thomas
35:56
Brooks
35:56
once
35:56
said
35:57
Puritan
35:58
pastor
35:58
this
35:58
is
35:58
on
35:59
the
35:59
back
35:59
of
35:59
your
35:59
bulletin
36:00
Christ
36:01
is
36:01
to
36:01
be
36:01
answerable
36:02
for
36:02
all
36:03
those
36:04
that
36:04
are
36:04
given
36:04
to
36:04
him
36:05
at
36:06
the
36:06
last
36:06
day
36:06
and
36:06
therefore
36:07
we
36:07
need
36:07
not
36:08
doubt
36:08
but
36:09
that
36:09
he
36:09
will
36:09
certainly
36:10
employ
36:10
all
36:11
the
36:11
power
36:11
of
36:11
his
36:12
Godhead
36:12
to
36:12
secure
36:13
and
36:13
save
36:14
all
36:14
those
36:15
that
36:15
he
36:15
must
36:16
be
36:16
accountable
36:17
for
36:18
if
36:19
you
36:19
belong
36:19
to
36:19
Christ
36:20
he
36:20
will
36:21
see
36:21
you
36:21
to
36:21
the
36:22
end
36:23
that
36:24
is
36:24
the
36:25
instruction
36:25
that
36:26
I
36:26
needed
36:26
because
36:27
of the
36:28
spirit
36:28
I
36:28
want
36:28
you
36:28
to
36:28
know
36:29
this
36:29
morning
36:29
beloved
36:29
we
36:31
are
36:31
confident
36:31
we
36:32
can
36:32
be
36:32
confident
36:33
you
36:34
need
36:34
to
36:34
be
36:34
taught
36:34
how
36:35
to
36:35
be
36:35
confident
36:35
how
36:35
to
36:35
be
36:35
assured
36:36
in
36:37
Christ
36:38
so
36:40
we
36:40
are
36:40
led
36:41
we
36:41
are
36:41
accepted
36:41
we
36:42
are
36:42
confident
36:42
and
36:42
lastly
36:43
and
36:43
briefly
36:43
we
36:44
are
36:45
rewarded
36:46
and
36:46
if
36:47
children
36:47
then
36:48
heirs
36:49
heirs
36:49
of
36:49
God
36:49
and
36:50
fellow
36:50
heirs
36:50
with
36:51
Christ
36:52
provided
36:52
we
36:52
suffer
36:53
with
36:53
him
36:53
in
36:53
order
36:53
that
36:54
we
36:54
may
36:54
also
36:54
be
36:54
glorified
36:55
with
36:56
him
36:56
so
36:57
briefly
36:58
as
36:58
we
36:58
will
36:58
pick
36:58
this
36:59
up
36:59
Lord
36:59
willing
37:00
again
37:00
next
37:01
week
37:02
if
37:03
we
37:03
are
37:03
children
37:04
then
37:05
we
37:05
are
37:05
heirs
37:06
heirs
37:07
of
37:08
God
37:09
we
37:11
have
37:11
an
37:11
inheritance
37:11
that
37:12
awaits
37:12
us
37:12
and
37:13
it
37:13
is
37:13
a
37:13
great
37:13
inheritance
37:14
because
37:15
that
37:15
inheritance
37:16
is
37:17
God
37:18
himself
37:19
if
37:20
your
37:20
eternal
37:21
mindset
37:21
stops
37:22
at
37:22
streets
37:23
of
37:23
gold
37:23
and
37:24
mansions
37:24
then
37:26
it
37:26
stops
37:26
too
37:27
low
37:27
we
37:29
will
37:29
have
37:29
God
37:30
and
37:30
we
37:31
will
37:31
have
37:31
God
37:32
forever
37:33
and
37:33
there
37:34
is
37:34
no
37:34
greater
37:35
inheritance
37:35
that
37:35
he
37:36
can
37:36
grant
37:36
us
37:36
than
37:37
himself
37:38
just
37:40
listen
37:40
briefly
37:40
to
37:40
the
37:40
testimony
37:41
of
37:42
a
37:42
number
37:42
of
37:43
Bible
37:44
writers
37:44
the
37:45
testimony
37:45
of
37:45
Asaph
37:46
in
37:46
Psalm
37:46
73
37:47
and
37:48
verse
37:48
25
37:49
there
37:50
he
37:50
says
37:50
to
37:50
God
37:51
whom
37:51
have
37:52
I
37:52
in
37:52
heaven
37:52
but
37:53
you
37:53
and
37:54
there
37:54
is
37:54
nothing
37:55
on
37:55
earth
37:55
that
37:55
I
37:55
desire
37:56
besides
37:57
you
37:57
and
37:58
Jeremiah
37:59
and
37:59
lamentations
38:00
chapter
38:00
3
38:01
and
38:01
verse
38:01
24
38:02
he
38:02
says
38:02
the
38:03
Lord
38:03
is
38:04
my
38:04
portion
38:05
which
38:06
means
38:06
satisfaction
38:07
therefore
38:08
I
38:09
will
38:09
hope
38:10
in
38:10
him
38:11
and
38:12
the
38:12
apostle
38:13
John
38:13
in
38:13
Revelation
38:13
chapter
38:14
21
38:15
and
38:16
verse
38:16
3
38:16
records
38:17
for
38:17
us
38:17
that
38:18
he
38:18
heard
38:18
a
38:18
loud
38:18
voice
38:19
from
38:19
the
38:20
throne
38:20
saying
38:21
behold
38:22
the
38:23
dwelling
38:23
place
38:24
of
38:24
God
38:24
is
38:25
with
38:25
man
38:25
he
38:26
will
38:26
dwell
38:27
with
38:27
them
38:27
and
38:28
they
38:28
will
38:28
be
38:28
his
38:28
people
38:29
and
38:29
God
38:30
himself
38:30
will
38:31
be
38:31
with
38:31
them
38:32
as
38:32
their
38:33
God
38:34
God
38:36
himself
38:36
is the
38:37
greatest
38:37
and highest
38:38
good
38:38
and our
38:39
restoration
38:40
to him
38:41
forever
38:41
is the
38:42
very point
38:43
of the
38:43
gospel
38:43
and the
38:44
ministry
38:45
of the
38:46
spirit
38:46
so because
38:48
of the
38:48
spirit
38:48
we are
38:50
led
38:50
we are
38:51
accepted
38:52
we are
38:53
confident
38:54
and we
38:55
are
38:55
rewarded
38:56
let's
38:57
pray
38:57
together