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

• 0:00
  We pray the word, we recite the word, sing the word, we see the word in the ordinances, and we preach the word.
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  Paul, in his final letter, wrote to his prodigy Timothy, in 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16, you're probably familiar.
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  All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
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  That the man of God may be complete equipped for every good work.
• 0:35
  It has its very source as God. It is sufficient for the task of making us holy in Christ.
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  And then I think, in this case, the chapter break doesn't serve us well because Paul goes on to say to Timothy,
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  I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing in his kingdom.
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  Right? So there's a weighty thing that needs to be talked about.
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  Verse 2, he says, preach the word.
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  Be ready in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching.
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  And then he tells Timothy why.
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  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to soothe their own passions,
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  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
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  So his response to this coming reality, the time is coming and is now here, I'm sure that Timothy experienced in his day as well, is to preach.
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  To continue to open up the word and to proclaim it.
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  The spirit of God wields the word of God to bring about transformation in his people for the praise of his name.
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  And we don't see this most regularly in big and astounding ways, but in little, patient, steadfast ways.
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  This happens prominently as we study God's word together.
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  Secondly, I am grateful to be in fellowship with believers who want the word preached and not necessarily preached by me.
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  The following are five reasons that I don't preach every single Sunday.
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  It's by design. It's a strategy.
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  And here they are in ascending order.
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  That means that this gets more important as I go along.
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  So least important to more important.
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  Minor to major.
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  First, it's simply good for me.
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  I've been on sabbatical for the past five weeks, and it was good that I could take a time away and to do that.
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  It's good for my family.
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  It's good for me to sit with them and sing with them and lead my boys in what it looks like to be churchmen.
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  For them not to resent the church as the thing that always took daddy away.
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  Secondly, it's good for me just to have some time to catch up on other things.
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  I've told you all before that usually the weeks that I don't preach are the busiest weeks because I feel like I have infinite time available to me, and I pack it very full to be in prayer and study, to counsel, to develop leaders, etc.
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  Third, it is good for us as a church to develop future leaders by giving other men the opportunity to preach.
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  Men have varying teaching gifts which are improved by practice.
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  Public gospel preachers are both born and they are made.
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  So it's good for us to give men opportunity to stretch their legs and to give it a try and to get helpful feedback.
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  And it's much different to preach a sermon in front of a congregation than in a preaching class.
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  Number four, it is good for you to hear the gospel preached in other voices and from unique perspectives.
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  Things said differently.
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  I'm going to get into a repetition of phrasing, and it's good for you to hear stuff afresh from someone else.
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  You and I need to witness the manifold grace of God in the life of his people.
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  How is the gospel at work in us, not just in me?
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  And fifth and finally, it is good for you to value the word of God preached, proclaimed, not necessarily a particular person doing so.
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  And this is so very countercultural.
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  Many churches have become cults of personality.
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  Praise God that I can go away for five weeks.
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  Y'all kept coming.
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  That's amazing.
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  Maybe you came to hear Zach preach, and maybe you'll leave now that I'm back.
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  I don't know.
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  I hope not.
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  But it's helpful for us to see Jesus Christ as the head of the church.
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  Pastors are only ever under-shepherds of the great shepherd.
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  And it's good for us all, including myself.
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  It's good for me to be away and see the Lord hold it together using the many efforts of y'all.
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  So it's really good that I don't preach every Sunday.
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  In fact, I have a constraining quota.
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  I'm only supposed to preach half the Sundays that we're together.
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  And it's kept track of.
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  Your elders ask me, it seems like it's been a little bit.
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  How many weeks have you been preaching now?
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  It's good for us to be okay with this.
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  And I hope you will join me this morning in enjoying God's manifold grace to our congregation
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  as his word is preached every Sunday, not necessarily by me.
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  Now, that said, we are going to try something new, a little bit different.
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  But, although not a dramatic departure, we think as a general habit, the church is best served by verse-by-verse exposition.
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  So I mentioned we're starting the book of Romans this morning.
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  But for the sake of continuity, typically what we would do is we would split it up amongst different guys that are preaching.
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  But it has been suggested as a thing to try that when I'm preaching, I'll be preaching the book of Romans.
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  And it was asked to me at that time, like, what would you want to preach?
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  And I said, okay, Romans, that's what we want to preach.
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  If I get to preach the whole book, I definitely want to preach the book of Romans.
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  But we will still take some breaks from Romans.
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  And we'll have some verse-by-verse expositions of text in between my preaching in Romans.
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  So that's where we're headed.
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  I wanted you to be both aware of what we'll be doing and why we'll be doing it.
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  Now to Romans, which I argue is the greatest lever ever written.
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  It is placed in our canon at the beginning of Paul's epistles.
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  Some say because it's the longest, but I strongly disagree.
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  I think because it is the most important.
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  Martin Luther wrote of the book of Romans,
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  This epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament and is truly the purest gospel.
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  It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word by heart,
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  but also that he should occupy himself with it every day as the daily bread of the soul.
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  We can never read it or ponder over it too much,
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  for the more we deal with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes.
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  How phenomenal, right?
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  Martin Luther said,
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  At the very center of our practice together,
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  we ought to be memorizing and meditating on this letter.
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  I will add that we will have keener minds to understand the rest of Scripture
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  if we can get Romans right.
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  So we have both a significant and a delightful work ahead of us.
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  Paul most probably wrote Romans from Corinth in A.D. 57.
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  There's a little bit of dispute over this, but most have settled in on this,
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  and that he intended it to precede a visit to the church located in Rome.
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  It is his most fully formed theological work,
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  but it should not be thought to be a complete summary of Paul's theological mind.
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  It is not Paul's systematic theology.
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  He does not, for example, address in detail the doctrine of Christ,
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  like he does in Colossians,
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  or the church like he does in Ephesians,
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  or the last days like he does in 1 and 2 Thessalonians.
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  The thrust of the entirety of Paul's letter to the Romans is this.
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  If you can get your mind into this,
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  this is the thrust of it.
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  This is where he's going.
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  Salvation by grace alone,
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  through faith alone,
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  in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
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  And I am looking forward to unpacking this with you in the coming months,
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  which will likely turn into years.
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  So all that said,
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  let's begin with the first four verses of Romans chapter 1.
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  Before I read them, let me remind you, beloved,
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  this is God's word to us,
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  written for his glory and our good.
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  We would all do well to listen to it
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  in order to believe its promises
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  and to obey its commands.
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  Romans 1, verses 1 through 4.
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  Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus,
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  called to be an apostle,
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  set apart for the gospel of God,
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  which he promised beforehand through his prophets
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  in the holy scriptures,
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  concerning his son,
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  who was descended from David according to the flesh
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  and was declared to be the son of God
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  in power according to the spirit of holiness
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  by his resurrection from the dead.
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  Jesus Christ,
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  our Lord.
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  In the beginning of the salutation
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  of Paul's letter to Roman believers,
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  he establishes the authority
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  by which he writes.
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  And it is theologically rich.
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  We'll skip a stone off of it this morning.
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  This morning's outline will follow three points,
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  which are available to you on your bulletin,
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  should you like to take notes.
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  Number one, the authority of Paul.
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  Number two, the authority of the Bible.
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  And number three, the authority of Jesus Christ.
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  Firstly, the authority of Paul we see in verse one.
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  In Paul's introduction of himself
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  as the writer of this letter,
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  he gives to his readers three titles for himself.
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  First, he calls himself a servant of Christ Jesus.
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  The word servant could also be translated bond servant.
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  Mosaic law provided for an indentured servant
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  to permanently become a bondservant of a master
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  that he loved and respected.
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  A voluntary servanthood.
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  The term signifies total ownership
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  and total obedience.
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  That is to say that Paul viewed himself
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  as belonging completely to Christ Jesus
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  and called to a complete obedience to Christ Jesus.
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  Not a pick and choose kind of faith.
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  Paul is saying, I belong to him
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  and therefore I serve at his whim.
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  And note here that Paul,
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  as he introduces himself in this letter,
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  begins, he starts with humility.
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  Even as he is establishing his authority,
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  he recognizes that it is a granted authority.
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  Paul could have begun with his apostleship.
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  Rather significant position that he held.
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  He is authoring this letter
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  toward the end of his third missionary journey.
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  He could have began with his mission credentials.
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  Credentials.
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  Was no greater missionary than Paul in his day.
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  He had traveled further and accomplished more.
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  But he doesn't do either of these things.
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  He begins with his servant status.
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  He begins with humility
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  that all praise might belong to Christ.
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  He says, I am Paul.
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  I am a servant of Christ Jesus.
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  He goes on to say that he was called to be an apostle.
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  The word translated apostle simply means sent one.
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  So in a sense,
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  everyone who belongs to Christ is sent into the world,
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  light in a dark place,
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  city on a hill.
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  That's not what Paul is referring to here.
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  He's specifically referring to his calling
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  that's only shared with 12 other men.
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  The calling of apostle as a formal title.
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  Think capital A, apostle.
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  And I will say without reservation,
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  there was nobody else beyond Paul
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  called to be an apostle in this way.
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  Paul did not volunteer for the role,
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  but he was divinely appointed.
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  And he founds the authority of his ministry
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  on this calling.
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  Listen to what he says in Galatians chapter one.
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  There in verse one,
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  he introduces himself,
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  Paul, an apostle,
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  not from men nor through man,
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  but through Jesus Christ
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  and God the Father
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  who raised him from the dead.
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  And then he says on in chapter one of Galatians
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  verse 11 and 12,
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  for I would have you know, brothers,
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  that the gospel that was preached by me
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  is not man's gospel.
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  For I did not receive it from any man,
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  nor was I taught it,
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  but I received it through a revelation
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  of Jesus Christ.
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  This calling was not a feeling
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  that Paul experienced,
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  but it was an encounter
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  with the risen Christ.
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  This is unique and it is significant.
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  We see a record of this
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  in Acts chapter nine.
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  We know that Paul has been commissioned
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  to go and take captive
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  those who are claiming the name of Christ
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  to imprison them.
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  And in verse three of Acts nine says,
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  now as he went on his way,
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  he approached Damascus
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  and suddenly a light from heaven
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  shone around him
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  and falling to the ground,
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  he heard a voice saying to him,
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  Saul, Saul,
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  why are you persecuting me?
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  And he said,
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  who are you, Lord?
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  And he said,
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  I am Jesus,
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  whom you are persecuting.
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  He encountered the risen Christ.
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  Not only that,
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  but Paul was also schooled
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  by the risen Christ.
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  I just read to you Galatians chapter one,
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  verse 11 and 12.
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  The gospel didn't come to him by man.
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  He received it through a revelation of Christ.
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  And then in Galatians 1, 15 and following,
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  Paul says,
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  but when he would set me apart
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  before I was born
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  and called me by his grace,
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  was pleased to reveal his son to me
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  in order that I might preach him
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  among the Gentiles,
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  I did not immediately consult with anyone.
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  Now that's the ESV.
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  That's the end of verse 16.
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  I did not consult with anyone,
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  but I prefer the translation
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  of the New American Standard Bible
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  in this case.
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  It says,
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  I did not immediately consult
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  with flesh and blood.
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  Verse 17,
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  nor did I go up to Jerusalem
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  to those who were apostles before me,
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  but I went away into Arabia
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  and returned again to Damascus.
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  Then after three years,
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  I went up to Jerusalem
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  to visit Cephas.
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  It's the Greek name for Peter
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  and remained with him 15 days.
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  And so it's understood
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  that Paul is led away
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  into a school with Christ.
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  That Jesus spends these three years
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  teaching him
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  and he comes back
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  to confirm the things
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  that he has been taught.
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  He comes and he spends time
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  with Peter a little over two weeks,
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  being sure that he's clear
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  and he understands
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  before he goes on this ministry.
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  to the Gentiles.
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  So he is an apostle,
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  called to be an apostle.
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  And thirdly,
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  he says of himself
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  that he is set apart
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  for the gospel of God.
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  Paul was a servant
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  and a sent one
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  with a particular purpose.
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  And it is very easy
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  to be distracted
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  with lots of purposes.
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  But Paul was clear
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  that he was to be
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  a proclaimer
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  of the good news
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  of Jesus Christ.
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  The good news,
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  he will spend
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  the rest of this book
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  extolling.
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  So on these three titles,
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  Paul establishes
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  his authority to speak
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  and he ought to be
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  listened to.
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  Significant.
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  Don't miss
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  what Paul is saying
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  about who he is,
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  who he has been
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  made in Christ.
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  This kind of writing
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  is precious
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  and we so often
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  take it for granted.
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  And I want to read
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  to you at this point
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  a short excerpt
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  from the Pilgrim's Progress.
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  I commend this to you
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  all the time
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  and then I also joke
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  if you stick around long enough
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  I'll read the entirety
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  of it to you
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  in bits and pieces
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  but I think you'll
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  appreciate it
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  read linearly.
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  And there's a character
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  in it
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  named Christian.
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  And in the middle
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  of his conversion experience
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  he's led to a house
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  that is the interpreter's house.
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  And there are lessons
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  there
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  taught to him.
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  So I want to pick up
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  just a couple paragraphs here
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  when Christian arrives
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  at the house
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  and he says,
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  Sir,
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  I am a man
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  who has come
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  from the city
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  of destruction
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  and I am going
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  to Mount Zion.
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  I was told
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  by the man
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  who stands
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  at the entrance gate
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  to this way
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  that if I called here
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  the house of the interpreter
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  !
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  You would show me
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  excellent things
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  that would help me
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  on my journey.
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  Then said the interpreter
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  come in
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  I will show you
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  those things
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  that will be profitable
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  to you.
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  So he commanded
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  his servant
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  to light the candle
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  and then asked Christian
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  to follow him
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  to a private room
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  that when the man's
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  servant opened the door
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  revealed a picture
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  of a very grave person
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  hanging on the wall.
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  It was an empty room
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  with a photo
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  a painting perhaps
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  on the wall
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  of a serious person.
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  This is what the man
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  in the picture
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  looked like.
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  He had eyes
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  lifted up to heaven
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  the best of books
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  in his hand
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  the law of truth
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  written upon his lips
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  the world
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  behind his back.
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  He stood as if
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  pleading with men
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  and a crown of gold
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  hung over his head.
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  Then said Christian
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  what does this mean?
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  The man in this picture
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  represents one of a thousand.
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  He can conceive children
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  travail in birth
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  with children
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  and nurse them himself
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  when they are born.
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  And Bunyan was not
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  gender confused
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  just to be clear.
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  You see him
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  with his eyes
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  lifted up to heaven
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  the best of books
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  in his hand
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  and the law of truth
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  written on his lips.
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  All this is to show you
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  that his work
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  is to know
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  and unfold
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  dark things
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  to sinners.
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  You see him
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  pleading with men
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  the world cast behind him
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  and a crown
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  hanging over his head
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  to show you
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  that by rejecting
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  and despising
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  the things
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  of this present world
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  for the love
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  that he has
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  for his master's service
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  he is sure
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  to have glory
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  as his reward
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  in the world to come.
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  I have shown you
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  this picture first
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  because the man
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  whom it represents
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  is the only man
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  authorized by the Lord
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  of the place
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  where you are going
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  to be your guide
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  in all the difficult places
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  you will encounter
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  on the way.
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  So pay attention
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  to what I have shown you
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  and keep this picture
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  foremost in your mind
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  so that if you meet
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  with someone
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  who doesn't resemble
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  this picture's likeness
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  but who pretends
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  to lead you
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  in the right way
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  you will not
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  follow him down
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  to destruction.
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  And I say to you
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  we know that we
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  hold in our hands
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  the inspired word
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  of God
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  but I just
• 21:52
  on that point
• 21:53
  want to commend
• 21:54
  Paul to you
• 21:55
  as that kind
• 21:56
  of man.
• 21:58
  A man with his eyes
• 21:59
  fixed toward heaven
• 22:00
  the world behind
• 22:02
  looking to
• 22:03
  plead with us
• 22:04
  that we might believe
• 22:05
  the gospel.
• 22:07
  we should listen
• 22:09
  to him.
• 22:12
  Second,
• 22:12
  let's talk a bit
• 22:13
  about the authority
• 22:15
  of the Bible.
• 22:15
  What did Paul
• 22:16
  think
• 22:17
  of the scriptures?
• 22:20
  He had a very
• 22:21
  high
• 22:22
  view
• 22:23
  of the scriptures
• 22:25
  of his day
• 22:26
  which is what we have
• 22:27
  as our Old
• 22:28
  Testament.
• 22:30
  Paul had been
• 22:31
  to the seminary
• 22:32
  of his time.
• 22:34
  He was trained
• 22:35
  as a Pharisee
• 22:36
  under the tutelage
• 22:37
  of a highly
• 22:38
  esteemed teacher
• 22:38
  of the law
• 22:40
  a man named
• 22:41
  Gamaliel.
• 22:42
  He knew
• 22:43
  what the prophets
• 22:44
  of his Bible
• 22:44
  predicted about
• 22:45
  the Christ
• 22:46
  and he knew
• 22:47
  that the promises
• 22:48
  of the Old Testament
• 22:49
  had now been
• 22:50
  kept in the person
• 22:51
  and work
• 22:52
  of Jesus.
• 22:55
  Shortly
• 22:55
  in this letter
• 22:56
  he will proclaim
• 22:57
  in verse 16
• 22:58
  I am not ashamed
• 23:00
  of the gospel
• 23:01
  for it is the power
• 23:02
  of God
• 23:02
  for salvation
• 23:03
  to everyone
• 23:04
  who believes.
• 23:07
  Paul is going
• 23:08
  to root
• 23:09
  the assertions
• 23:10
  of this letter
• 23:11
  that we are saved
• 23:12
  by grace alone
• 23:12
  through faith alone
• 23:13
  in the person
• 23:14
  and work
• 23:14
  of Jesus Christ alone.
• 23:16
  He's going to root
• 23:16
  that in
• 23:17
  God's
• 23:18
  word.
• 23:20
  We will see him
• 23:21
  time and time
• 23:22
  again
• 23:23
  quote the Old Testament
• 23:25
  as an appeal
• 23:26
  to see
• 23:27
  and savor.
• 23:28
  the gospel.
• 23:30
  It is astounding
• 23:31
  to me
• 23:32
  that Paul
• 23:33
  as an apostle
• 23:34
  carried along
• 23:35
  by the Spirit
• 23:36
  in the writing
• 23:36
  of these letters
• 23:38
  still so values
• 23:40
  the word of God
• 23:41
  already spoken
• 23:42
  that it gets
• 23:43
  brought into the text
• 23:44
  again
• 23:45
  and again
• 23:45
  and again
• 23:48
  This is the
• 23:49
  very purpose
• 23:50
  that he has been
• 23:51
  set apart for
• 23:52
  the proclamation
• 23:54
  of the gospel
• 23:55
  and he has
• 23:56
  great confidence
• 23:57
  to do so
• 23:58
  because of his
• 23:59
  belief in the
• 24:00
  authority of God
• 24:00
  and therefore
• 24:01
  the authority
• 24:02
  of his word.
• 24:04
  So
• 24:05
  he will
• 24:06
  proclaim it.
• 24:08
  He will speak
• 24:09
  boldly of the
• 24:10
  judgment of God
• 24:10
  and he will speak
• 24:11
  boldly
• 24:12
  of the grace
• 24:13
  of God.
• 24:15
  He will plumb
• 24:16
  the depths
• 24:16
  of God's
• 24:17
  sovereign purpose
• 24:18
  in salvation
• 24:19
  and he will
• 24:21
  call us
• 24:21
  to obedient
• 24:22
  faith
• 24:23
  all because
• 24:25
  he believes
• 24:25
  in the authority
• 24:26
  of a God
• 24:27
  who has given
• 24:27
  to us
• 24:28
  this gospel.
• 24:32
  Paul was a man
• 24:33
  uniquely used
• 24:35
  of God
• 24:36
  in the history
• 24:37
  of the world.
• 24:39
  He was a man
• 24:40
  that by God's grace
• 24:41
  turned the world
• 24:43
  upside down
• 24:44
  as he was accused
• 24:45
  of.
• 24:47
  He was a man
• 24:48
  of conviction
• 24:49
  conviction
• 24:49
  and we can see
• 24:51
  at least in part
• 24:52
  where that conviction
• 24:54
  came from
• 24:55
  came from
• 24:56
  his understanding
• 24:57
  his illuminated
• 24:59
  understanding
• 24:59
  of the scripture.
• 25:02
  He knew
• 25:03
  that the
• 25:04
  gospel
• 25:05
  the word
• 25:06
  of God
• 25:06
  was powerful
• 25:08
  and it totally
• 25:10
  changed the
• 25:10
  trajectory of his
• 25:11
  life.
• 25:12
  He lived for it
• 25:13
  he died for it.
• 25:15
  the power
• 25:17
  of the gospel.
• 25:20
  Charles Spurgeon
• 25:20
  once said
• 25:21
  this is on your
• 25:22
  bulletin
• 25:23
  if you'd like
• 25:23
  to follow along
• 25:24
  quote
• 25:25
  see what vitality
• 25:27
  the gospel
• 25:28
  has
• 25:29
  plunge her
• 25:30
  under the wave
• 25:31
  and she rises
• 25:32
  the pure
• 25:32
  for her washing
• 25:33
  thrust her
• 25:34
  in the fire
• 25:35
  and she comes
• 25:36
  out the more
• 25:36
  bright for her
• 25:37
  burning
• 25:37
  cut her in
• 25:39
  thunder
• 25:39
  and each piece
• 25:40
  shall make
• 25:40
  another church
• 25:41
  behead her
• 25:42
  and like the
• 25:42
  hydra of old
• 25:43
  she shall have
• 25:44
  a hundred heads
• 25:45
  for every one
• 25:45
  you cut away
• 25:46
  she cannot die
• 25:48
  she must live
• 25:50
  for she has
• 25:50
  the power
• 25:51
  of God
• 25:52
  within her
• 25:53
  and beloved
• 25:55
  we have all
• 25:56
  the more
• 25:57
  reason to be
• 25:58
  confident
• 25:58
  in this text
• 26:00
  because of
• 26:02
  the faithfulness
• 26:03
  of men
• 26:03
  like Paul
• 26:04
  carried along
• 26:05
  by the spirit
• 26:05
  help us
• 26:06
  to understand
• 26:07
  we have all
• 26:09
  the more reason
• 26:10
  to be bold
• 26:11
  in the gospel
• 26:13
  and bold
• 26:14
  in the entirety
• 26:15
  of God's
• 26:16
  word
• 26:17
  so we see
• 26:19
  Paul express
• 26:19
  his authority
• 26:20
  we see his
• 26:21
  expression of
• 26:22
  the authority
• 26:22
  of the scripture
• 26:23
  and also
• 26:25
  and most
• 26:25
  importantly
• 26:26
  the authority
• 26:28
  of Jesus
• 26:28
  Christ
• 26:29
  see the last
• 26:31
  two verses
• 26:32
  this gospel
• 26:35
  message
• 26:35
  the scripture
• 26:36
  declared
• 26:37
  was concerning
• 26:38
  God's
• 26:40
  son
• 26:40
  who was
• 26:42
  descended
• 26:42
  from David
• 26:43
  according to
• 26:43
  the flesh
• 26:44
  and was
• 26:44
  declared
• 26:44
  to be
• 26:45
  the son
• 26:45
  of God
• 26:46
  in power
• 26:46
  according to
• 26:47
  the spirit
• 26:47
  of holiness
• 26:48
  by his
• 26:49
  resurrection
• 26:50
  from the dead
• 26:51
  Jesus
• 26:52
  Christ
• 26:53
  our Lord
• 26:54
  Paul begins
• 26:57
  speaking of
• 26:57
  Christ
• 26:58
  as the
• 26:59
  son of
• 27:00
  God
• 27:00
  which is a
• 27:01
  great statement
• 27:02
  of Jesus
• 27:03
  divinity
• 27:04
  he is
• 27:05
  himself
• 27:06
  God
• 27:08
  and this
• 27:09
  is an
• 27:09
  example
• 27:09
  on Paul's
• 27:10
  part
• 27:10
  of a
• 27:11
  fulfillment
• 27:11
  of the
• 27:12
  prophetic
• 27:12
  word
• 27:13
  you could
• 27:13
  see
• 27:13
  Psalm
• 27:14
  chapter 2
• 27:15
  in verse
• 27:15
  7
• 27:17
  and it is
• 27:18
  very difficult
• 27:19
  for my mind
• 27:20
  not to draw
• 27:20
  a straight line
• 27:21
  from Romans
• 27:22
  chapter 1
• 27:23
  verse 2
• 27:24
  and 3
• 27:24
  to Hebrews
• 27:25
  chapter 1
• 27:26
  verse 1
• 27:27
  and 2
• 27:29
  where the
• 27:30
  author of
• 27:31
  Hebrews
• 27:31
  who many
• 27:33
  say was
• 27:33
  Paul
• 27:33
  I think
• 27:35
  it was
• 27:35
  Apollos
• 27:35
  but
• 27:36
  that's
• 27:36
  neither here
• 27:37
  nor there
• 27:37
  writes
• 27:39
  long ago
• 27:40
  at many
• 27:41
  times
• 27:42
  and in
• 27:42
  many ways
• 27:43
  God
• 27:43
  spoke to
• 27:44
  our
• 27:44
  fathers
• 27:44
  by
• 27:45
  the
• 27:46
  prophets
• 27:47
  but in
• 27:48
  these
• 27:48
  last days
• 27:49
  he has
• 27:50
  spoken to
• 27:50
  us
• 27:51
  by his
• 27:51
  son
• 27:52
  whom he
• 27:53
  appointed
• 27:53
  the heir
• 27:54
  of all
• 27:54
  things
• 27:54
  through
• 27:55
  whom
• 27:55
  also
• 27:56
  he
• 27:56
  created
• 27:57
  the
• 27:58
  world
• 27:58
  so
• 27:59
  for
• 28:00
  Paul
• 28:00
  to
• 28:00
  begin
• 28:01
  speaking
• 28:01
  of
• 28:01
  Christ
• 28:03
  as
• 28:03
  the
• 28:03
  son
• 28:04
  of
• 28:04
  God
• 28:04
  has
• 28:04
  a
• 28:05
  massive
• 28:05
  significance
• 28:06
  packed
• 28:07
  into
• 28:07
  it
• 28:07
  which
• 28:07
  we
• 28:08
  don't
• 28:08
  have
• 28:08
  all
• 28:09
  the
• 28:09
  time
• 28:09
  we
• 28:10
  would
• 28:10
  like
• 28:10
  for
• 28:11
  this
• 28:11
  morning
• 28:12
  but
• 28:13
  we
• 28:13
  will
• 28:13
  spend
• 28:13
  the rest
• 28:14
  of
• 28:14
  this
• 28:14
  life
• 28:14
  and
• 28:15
  in
• 28:15
  the
• 28:15
  life
• 28:16
  to
• 28:16
  come
• 28:16
  for
• 28:17
  eternity
• 28:18
  figuring out
• 28:20
  all
• 28:20
  that that
• 28:21
  means
• 28:21
  Paul
• 28:23
  goes on
• 28:23
  to give
• 28:23
  an example
• 28:24
  of another
• 28:25
  fulfillment
• 28:25
  of the
• 28:25
  prophetic
• 28:26
  word
• 28:26
  concerning
• 28:27
  Jesus'
• 28:27
  humanity
• 28:29
  so his
• 28:30
  divinity
• 28:30
  and now
• 28:31
  his
• 28:31
  humanity
• 28:33
  an
• 28:34
  example
• 28:35
  Jeremiah
• 28:35
  23
• 28:36
  in
• 28:36
  verse
• 28:36
  5
• 28:37
  behold
• 28:37
  the
• 28:37
  days
• 28:37
  are
• 28:38
  coming
• 28:38
  declares
• 28:38
  the
• 28:39
  Lord
• 28:39
  when I
• 28:40
  will
• 28:40
  raise
• 28:40
  up
• 28:40
  for
• 28:41
  David
• 28:42
  a
• 28:42
  righteous
• 28:43
  branch
• 28:44
  and he
• 28:45
  shall
• 28:45
  reign
• 28:45
  as
• 28:45
  king
• 28:46
  and deal
• 28:46
  wisely
• 28:47
  and shall
• 28:47
  execute
• 28:48
  justice
• 28:48
  and
• 28:49
  righteousness
• 28:49
  in the
• 28:51
  land
• 28:51
  so he
• 28:52
  is
• 28:52
  God's
• 28:53
  son
• 28:53
  and he
• 28:54
  is
• 28:54
  in
• 28:54
  the
• 28:55
  flesh
• 28:55
  descended
• 28:56
  from
• 28:56
  David
• 28:58
  he's
• 28:59
  hearkening
• 28:59
  back
• 28:59
  to
• 29:00
  these
• 29:00
  types
• 29:00
  of
• 29:01
  predictions
• 29:01
  of
• 29:01
  who
• 29:02
  the
• 29:03
  Christ
• 29:03
  would
• 29:03
  be
• 29:03
  Paul
• 29:05
  then
• 29:05
  says
• 29:06
  in
• 29:06
  verse
• 29:06
  4
• 29:06
  that
• 29:07
  his
• 29:07
  confidence
• 29:07
  in
• 29:08
  the
• 29:08
  authority
• 29:08
  of
• 29:08
  Jesus
• 29:09
  Christ
• 29:09
  his
• 29:10
  confidence
• 29:11
  that
• 29:11
  he
• 29:11
  is
• 29:12
  in
• 29:12
  fact
• 29:12
  the
• 29:13
  Messiah
• 29:13
  comes
• 29:15
  in
• 29:15
  power
• 29:15
  from
• 29:16
  the
• 29:16
  spirit
• 29:17
  of
• 29:17
  holiness
• 29:18
  through
• 29:19
  Jesus'
• 29:19
  resurrection
• 29:21
  just
• 29:23
  think
• 29:24
  about
• 29:24
  it
• 29:24
  Paul
• 29:26
  was
• 29:26
  a
• 29:26
  success
• 29:27
  in
• 29:27
  terms
• 29:28
  of
• 29:28
  the
• 29:28
  religion
• 29:29
  of
• 29:29
  his
• 29:29
  day
• 29:30
  he
• 29:31
  had
• 29:31
  prominence
• 29:32
  and
• 29:33
  he
• 29:33
  had
• 29:33
  esteem
• 29:34
  he
• 29:35
  was
• 29:35
  a
• 29:35
  high
• 29:35
  achiever
• 29:36
  top
• 29:36
  of
• 29:36
  his
• 29:36
  class
• 29:37
  kind
• 29:37
  of
• 29:38
  guy
• 29:38
  he
• 29:39
  had
• 29:39
  been
• 29:39
  educated
• 29:40
  in
• 29:40
  the
• 29:40
  best
• 29:41
  school
• 29:42
  he
• 29:43
  was
• 29:43
  being
• 29:43
  given
• 29:44
  important
• 29:44
  assignments
• 29:45
  he
• 29:46
  had
• 29:46
  a
• 29:46
  platform
• 29:47
  and
• 29:48
  he
• 29:48
  had
• 29:48
  a
• 29:48
  following
• 29:49
  what
• 29:50
  would
• 29:51
  cause
• 29:51
  a
• 29:51
  man
• 29:51
  like
• 29:52
  that
• 29:52
  to
• 29:52
  give
• 29:53
  up
• 29:53
  all
• 29:54
  of
• 29:54
  it
• 29:54
  everything
• 29:56
  Paul
• 29:58
  encountered
• 29:58
  the
• 29:59
  living
• 29:59
  Christ
• 30:00
  he
• 30:02
  knew
• 30:02
  that
• 30:02
  all
• 30:03
  he
• 30:03
  had
• 30:03
  believed
• 30:04
  was
• 30:04
  realized
• 30:05
  in
• 30:06
  Jesus
• 30:07
  he
• 30:08
  knew
• 30:09
  that
• 30:09
  Jesus
• 30:09
  was
• 30:10
  the
• 30:10
  fulfillment
• 30:10
  of
• 30:11
  the
• 30:11
  promises
• 30:11
  of
• 30:11
  God
• 30:12
  because
• 30:12
  he
• 30:12
  was
• 30:12
  crucified
• 30:13
  and
• 30:14
  buried
• 30:14
  but
• 30:15
  rose
• 30:15
  from
• 30:15
  that
• 30:16
  grave
• 30:16
  three
• 30:17
  days
• 30:17
  later
• 30:18
  Paul
• 30:19
  encountered
• 30:20
  him
• 30:21
  spent
• 30:22
  time
• 30:22
  with
• 30:22
  him
• 30:23
  this
• 30:23
  risen
• 30:24
  Christ
• 30:25
  and
• 30:27
  it
• 30:27
  radically
• 30:27
  transformed
• 30:28
  him
• 30:28
  by
• 30:29
  the
• 30:29
  spirit
• 30:30
  here's
• 30:32
  Paul's
• 30:33
  words
• 30:33
  from
• 30:33
  Philippians
• 30:34
  chapter
• 30:35
  three
• 30:35
  he
• 30:36
  is
• 30:37
  making
• 30:37
  the
• 30:38
  case
• 30:38
  to
• 30:38
  the
• 30:38
  Philippian
• 30:39
  believers
• 30:39
  that
• 30:39
  we
• 30:39
  can't
• 30:40
  have
• 30:40
  confidence
• 30:40
  in
• 30:41
  our
• 30:41
  flesh
• 30:41
  in
• 30:41
  our
• 30:42
  works
• 30:43
  and
• 30:44
  he
• 30:44
  says
• 30:44
  beginning
• 30:45
  in
• 30:45
  verse
• 30:45
  three
• 30:45
  and
• 30:45
  following
• 30:46
  for
• 30:46
  we
• 30:47
  are
• 30:47
  the
• 30:47
  circumcision
• 30:48
  who
• 30:48
  worship
• 30:48
  by
• 30:49
  the
• 30:49
  spirit
• 30:49
  of
• 30:49
  God
• 30:50
  and
• 30:50
  glory
• 30:50
  in
• 30:51
  Christ
• 30:51
  Jesus
• 30:51
  and
• 30:52
  put
• 30:53
  no
• 30:53
  confidence
• 30:54
  in
• 30:54
  the
• 30:55
  flesh
• 30:55
  he
• 30:56
  says
• 30:56
  then
• 30:57
  though
• 30:57
  I
• 30:57
  myself
• 30:58
  have
• 30:58
  reason
• 30:59
  for
• 30:59
  confidence
• 30:59
  in
• 31:00
  the
• 31:00
  flesh
• 31:00
  also
• 31:01
  if
• 31:02
  anyone
• 31:02
  else
• 31:02
  thinks
• 31:03
  he
• 31:03
  has
• 31:03
  reason
• 31:03
  for
• 31:03
  confidence
• 31:04
  in
• 31:04
  the
• 31:04
  flesh
• 31:04
  I
• 31:05
  have
• 31:05
  more
• 31:06
  circumcised
• 31:08
  on the
• 31:09
  eighth
• 31:09
  day
• 31:10
  of
• 31:10
  the
• 31:10
  people
• 31:10
  of
• 31:11
  Israel
• 31:11
  of
• 31:11
  the
• 31:11
  tribe
• 31:12
  of
• 31:12
  Benjamin
• 31:13
  a
• 31:13
  Hebrew
• 31:14
  of
• 31:14
  Hebrews
• 31:15
  as
• 31:15
  to
• 31:16
  the
• 31:16
  law
• 31:16
  a
• 31:16
  Pharisee
• 31:17
  as
• 31:17
  to
• 31:18
  zeal
• 31:18
  a
• 31:18
  persecutor
• 31:19
  of
• 31:19
  the
• 31:20
  church
• 31:20
  as
• 31:21
  to
• 31:21
  righteousness
• 31:21
  under
• 31:22
  law
• 31:23
  blameless
• 31:24
  top
• 31:26
  of
• 31:26
  his
• 31:26
  game
• 31:27
  then
• 31:29
  he
• 31:29
  says
• 31:29
  in
• 31:29
  verse
• 31:29
  seven
• 31:30
  but
• 31:31
  whatever
• 31:31
  gain
• 31:32
  I
• 31:32
  had
• 31:33
  I
• 31:34
  counted
• 31:34
  as
• 31:35
  loss
• 31:35
  for
• 31:36
  the
• 31:36
  sake
• 31:37
  of
• 31:37
  Christ
• 31:37
  indeed
• 31:39
  I
• 31:39
  counted
• 31:39
  everything
• 31:40
  as
• 31:41
  loss
• 31:41
  because
• 31:43
  of
• 31:43
  the
• 31:43
  surpassing
• 31:44
  worth
• 31:45
  of
• 31:45
  knowing
• 31:45
  Christ
• 31:46
  Jesus
• 31:46
  my
• 31:48
  Lord
• 31:48
  for
• 31:49
  his
• 31:50
  sake
• 31:50
  I
• 31:50
  have
• 31:50
  suffered
• 31:50
  the
• 31:50
  loss
• 31:51
  of
• 31:51
  all
• 31:51
  things
• 31:51
  and
• 31:51
  count
• 31:52
  them
• 31:52
  as
• 31:53
  rubbish
• 31:54
  garbage
• 31:55
  in
• 31:56
  order
• 31:57
  that
• 31:57
  I
• 31:58
  may
• 31:58
  gain
• 31:59
  Christ
• 32:01
  radically
• 32:04
  encountered
• 32:05
  the power
• 32:06
  of the
• 32:07
  risen
• 32:07
  Christ
• 32:09
  Paul
• 32:10
  through the
• 32:11
  intervening
• 32:11
  work of
• 32:12
  God
• 32:12
  came to
• 32:13
  believe
• 32:14
  that all
• 32:14
  his effort
• 32:15
  to be made
• 32:15
  right before
• 32:16
  God
• 32:16
  was worthless
• 32:18
  apart from
• 32:19
  faith
• 32:19
  in Jesus
• 32:21
  Christ
• 32:21
  again
• 32:22
  we are
• 32:23
  saved
• 32:24
  justified
• 32:25
  made right
• 32:26
  before God
• 32:27
  by grace
• 32:28
  alone
• 32:28
  through
• 32:29
  faith
• 32:30
  alone
• 32:30
  in the
• 32:31
  person
• 32:31
  and work
• 32:32
  of
• 32:32
  Jesus
• 32:32
  Christ
• 32:33
  alone
• 32:34
  this is
• 32:36
  the good
• 32:36
  news
• 32:37
  of the
• 32:38
  gospel
• 32:39
  every
• 32:41
  world
• 32:41
  religion
• 32:41
  invites
• 32:42
  its
• 32:43
  adherents
• 32:43
  to
• 32:43
  climb
• 32:44
  a
• 32:44
  mountain
• 32:44
  that
• 32:45
  they
• 32:45
  might
• 32:46
  know
• 32:46
  the
• 32:46
  God
• 32:46
  or
• 32:47
  gods
• 32:47
  of
• 32:47
  that
• 32:47
  particular
• 32:48
  religion
• 32:49
  lays
• 32:50
  forth
• 32:51
  the
• 32:51
  philosophy
• 32:52
  and the
• 32:53
  rules
• 32:53
  by which
• 32:54
  adherents
• 32:55
  must
• 32:56
  obey
• 32:56
  our
• 32:59
  God
• 32:59
  because of
• 33:00
  his great
• 33:01
  loving kindness
• 33:01
  and mercy
• 33:02
  in the
• 33:03
  accomplished
• 33:03
  work of
• 33:04
  his son
• 33:04
  and by
• 33:05
  the power
• 33:05
  of his
• 33:06
  spirit
• 33:06
  comes down
• 33:07
  the mountain
• 33:08
  to us
• 33:09
  and offers
• 33:10
  to carry
• 33:11
  us to the
• 33:11
  top
• 33:12
  to abide
• 33:13
  with him
• 33:13
  forever
• 33:14
  this
• 33:16
  is good
• 33:17
  news
• 33:19
  it is because
• 33:21
  of this
• 33:21
  accomplished
• 33:22
  work of
• 33:22
  Christ
• 33:23
  that he
• 33:23
  is called
• 33:24
  Lord
• 33:25
  that he
• 33:27
  reigns
• 33:28
  now
• 33:28
  and
• 33:29
  forever
• 33:30
  more
• 33:32
  this is
• 33:33
  such good
• 33:34
  news
• 33:34
  it is
• 33:35
  news
• 33:35
  worth
• 33:36
  living
• 33:36
  for
• 33:37
  as
• 33:38
  Paul
• 33:38
  did
• 33:38
  it is
• 33:39
  news
• 33:39
  worth
• 33:40
  dying
• 33:40
  for
• 33:41
  as
• 33:42
  Paul
• 33:42
  did
• 33:43
  it is
• 33:45
  a news
• 33:45
  that he
• 33:45
  would have
• 33:46
  you hear
• 33:47
  and believe
• 33:48
  and give
• 33:50
  your whole
• 33:50
  self
• 33:51
  to
• 33:52
  beloved
• 33:54
  I am
• 33:55
  eager
• 33:55
  to talk
• 33:56
  with you
• 33:56
  each
• 33:56
  Lord's
• 33:57
  day
• 33:57
  given
• 33:59
  the
• 33:59
  opportunity
• 34:00
  Lord
• 34:00
  willing
• 34:01
  about
• 34:01
  this
• 34:01
  good
• 34:02
  news
• 34:03
  let's
• 34:03
  pray
• 34:04
  together