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Romans 4:1-12 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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It's nice to be with you this morning. Please open up your copy of God's Word to Romans chapter 4.
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Our text for today's study will be Romans chapter 4, verses 1-12.
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As we have studied Paul's letter to the Romans, it has been a concern that you all may grow tired of hearing Paul's argument that we are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
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Alone? I hope not.
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But Paul makes his case in mere minutes in the opening chapters of this book if we were to read it straight through.
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But as we slow down to consider it in small bites, the lesson gets drawn out.
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Two weeks ago, I preached what I felt was the necessary introduction as we began our study of chapter 4,
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and we thought together about the five solas of the Reformation, Latin terms that were used in that day.
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The Bible alone is God's final authority, sola scriptura.
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And it is on its pages that we learn that we are saved by God's grace alone, sola gratia,
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through faith alone, sola fide, in Jesus Christ alone, solus Christus,
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and this salvation and all things exist for the glory of God alone, soli Deo Gloria.
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We gave particular attention to the doctrine of sola scriptura those two weeks ago because I want you to want to stick to the text,
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to really settle into our studies of long books like the book of Romans,
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to relish in its teaching and trust that God knew what he was doing as these books were penned
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and knows what he was doing as we open them and take them piece by piece together.
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As we begin chapter 4, Paul continues to draw out his theme of justification by grace alone,
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through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone,
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with a particular attention in these first 12 verses to faith alone, sola fide.
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Notice the beginning of verse 1, chapter 4.
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He then says,
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What then shall we say?
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Let me draw you back just a little bit to Romans chapter 3, verse 21 and 22.
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And in response to the argument he's been making,
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this what then shall we say in chapter 4 and verse 1,
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Romans 3, 21 and 22,
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But now, the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law.
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Although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,
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the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
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For there is no distinction.
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So whether Jew or Gentile, just everyone not Jewish,
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we are justified, which means to be declared righteous through faith.
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We are justified through faith, and through faith alone.
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Paul will continue to make this point in the first 12 verses of chapter 4.
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Now, normally, we tend to follow a pattern in our preaching,
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which is a very old pattern of preaching.
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Many of the great Puritan preachers followed this pattern,
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and it goes like this.
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Exegesis, that is, explain what the text says.
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Doctrine, what doctrines does the text teach,
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and then application.
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So what do we do with these doctrines?
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Exegesis, doctrine, application.
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They would often title the sections of their sermons in this way,
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and they would announce them as they came to them.
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They would say, here is the exegesis, and go on to explain.
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And then they would say, here is the doctrine, and so forth.
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Now, we don't announce the sections like that as we preach,
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but we normally follow a very similar pattern.
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Now that I've told you about it, you're probably going to notice it quite often.
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Exegesis, doctrine, application.
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But sometimes that happens for each point of the sermon,
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so often it'll go exegesis, doctrine, application, exegesis, doctrine, application,
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and so forth for however many points there may be for that day's text.
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Now today, though, I'm going to mix the outline up a little bit.
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I have already stated the doctrine.
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We are justified through faith alone.
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That is the doctrine presented in this text, sola fide.
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To be justified means that God has declared you morally perfect.
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We use that term righteous.
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He's declared you morally perfect.
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Roman 3.26 states that God is just
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and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus Christ.
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So it is God who does the declaration.
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You cannot declare yourself morally perfect.
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And it is moral perfection that we are concerned with here.
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This is not physical perfection.
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People spend a lot of time pursuing that, whatever that means.
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Or professional perfection, or any other way you may define perfection.
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Here we are talking about the only thing that will matter in the end.
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Moral perfection.
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Have you kept God's law?
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So this is the doctrine.
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We are justified through faith alone.
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So I now want to state the application.
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And then I promise we will exegete the text.
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So in brief, application as we approach these verses together.
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Today you find yourself in one of either two categories.
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Most simply, one of two categories.
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First, today, you are either not justified.
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Or, I hope you can guess it, justified.
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You have either not been declared by God to be righteous, morally perfect.
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Or you have been declared by God to be justified, morally perfect.
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If you are not declared righteous by God, then when you pass from this life and stand before him,
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he will cast you forever from his presence to a place of eternal punishment.
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And the Bible says much about this, and oh, is there so much that could be said here.
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But I simply this morning want you to hear.
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Your soul is in a desperate state now and will be forever if you do not place saving faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
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You are guilty and you will stand in judgment.
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You are guilty and you must be forgiven if you will avoid this eternal punishment.
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God in his great loving kindness has made it possible for your sins to be forgotten.
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For you, excuse me, to be declared righteous.
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I believe that as you have gathered with us today, that God is doing a work in your life.
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I just say it matter of factly.
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There are better places to be if you care nothing about the eternal state of your soul.
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If you are living for this life, there are more fun things to be doing.
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But I hope that you are concerned about the eternal state of your soul.
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And that I believe that God is at work bringing you to this place on this day.
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He's either given you parents who love you enough to bring you to church or a friend that has invited you.
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Or he has compelled you to come on your own.
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Any number of possible other reasons exist.
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How it is you found yourself sitting and listening now to God's word.
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But you are not here by accident.
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Hear God's word to you this day.
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Turn from your sin.
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Flee to Christ.
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Let this be the day of your salvation.
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If you are declared righteous,
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I believe this represents the majority of people who are here with us today.
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If you are declared morally perfect by God,
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you also need to heed the words of today's text.
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Because perhaps you need to be reminded that if you are justified,
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then you are justified by grace alone through faith alone.
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We can be declared righteous and heir in two ways as we respond to this declaration.
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We can first live as if the way we live doesn't matter at all.
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The argument goes something like,
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I am saved by faith alone.
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So how I live is inconsequential as long as I have faith.
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There's a lot of people in our day that live in this way.
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Or secondly, and I think this is typically more true of us,
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I know can tend to be true of me.
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We can live as if we began by faith,
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but now we must be continually justified by our works.
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I forget sometimes.
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And it is subtle and it creeps up
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that I'm justified, declared righteous by God.
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My salvation, my eternal standing with God,
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does not depend on me,
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but on Him and the work that He has accomplished.
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Now both errors stem from forgetfulness
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and a misunderstanding of the difference
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between justification and sanctification.
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Both justification and sanctification
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are brought about by grace alone through faith alone.
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God gives to us His Spirit
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and declares us righteous in justification.
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He removes the guilt of our sin
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as He punished it in Christ as He hung on the cross.
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He grants us the moral perfection of Christ
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that was gained by His sinless life.
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I like it when I hear someone say,
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we are saved by works but not our own,
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the works of another.
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And they're talking about Jesus.
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Jesus' perfect life.
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When we are justified,
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we become His.
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He makes us His own.
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In sanctification,
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we are brought degree by degree,
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bit by bit,
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into conformity with who He has declared us to be
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by the power of the Spirit within us.
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He has declared that we are something,
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and sanctification is bringing us to that reality.
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Declared, not made righteous,
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declared righteous.
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Sanctification is the process by which
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we are being made righteous,
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which will be fully realized
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when the Lord Jesus Christ returns.
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We will be finally made perfect
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in that very last day,
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but we are meant to be moving in degree toward it
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in between now and then.
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If we rightly understand this,
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then we will not live however we see fit,
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but we'll want to see our lives
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bear witness to our faith in Christ.
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Evidence what we believe to be true
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of who God has made us.
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If we rightly understand this,
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then we will,
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when we fail to live as God would have us,
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we will not lose all hope,
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but we'll repent and press on.
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I think many good,
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God-fearing Christians
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think they must have some
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long extended time of penitence.
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How sad must I feel
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over my sin when I sin?
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And this gets asked to me fairly regularly,
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and here's the answer.
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As long as it takes
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to get you back to the cross,
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back to the reality
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that if you are in Christ,
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then God has declared you righteous.
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Grieve over your sin,
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but only as long as it takes
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for you to go back to the truth
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of what God has accomplished
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on your behalf
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in the person and work
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of Jesus Christ.
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We cannot live as if how we live
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does not matter.
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Neither can we live
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as if how we live
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is all that matters.
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Beloved, let us not forget
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that we are saved
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by the works
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of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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And that out of wonder,
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love, and awe,
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by grace alone,
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through faith alone,
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in the power of the Spirit,
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let us press on
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in holy endeavors.
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because of what God
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has done for us,
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sola fide,
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through faith,
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let us press on
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to holiness.
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holiness.
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This is the application.
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Now to our text
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and the exegesis.
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Romans chapter 4,
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verses 1 through 12.
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Beloved,
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this is God's word to us,
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written for his glory
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and our good,
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so we would all do well
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to listen to it
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in order to believe
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its promises
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and to obey its commands.
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What then shall we say
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was gained by Abraham,
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our forefather,
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according to the flesh?
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For if Abraham
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was justified by works,
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he has something
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to boast about,
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but not before God.
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For what does
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the scripture say?
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Abraham believed God
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and it was counted to him
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as righteousness.
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Now to the one who works,
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his wages are not counted
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as a gift,
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but as his due.
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And to the one
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who does not work,
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but believes in him
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who justifies the ungodly,
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his faith is counted
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as righteousness.
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Just as David also speaks
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of the blessing
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of the one to whom
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God counts righteousness
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apart from works.
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Blessed are those
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whose lawless deeds
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are forgiven
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and whose sins
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are covered.
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Blessed is the man
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against whom the Lord
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will not count his sin.
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Is this blessing
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then only for the circumcised
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or also for the uncircumcised?
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See there,
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Jew and Gentile.
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For we say that faith
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was counted to Abraham
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as righteousness.
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How then was it counted
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to him?
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Was it before
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or after
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he had been circumcised?
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It was not after,
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but before
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he was circumcised.
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He received
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the sign of circumcision
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as a seal
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of the righteousness
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that he had by faith
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while he was still
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uncircumcised.
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The purpose
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was to make him
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the father
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of all who believe
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without being circumcised
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so that righteousness
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would be counted
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to them as well
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and to make them
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the father
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of the circumcised
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who are not merely
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circumcised
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but who also walk
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in the footsteps
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of the faith
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that our father Abraham
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had before
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he was circumcised.
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So,
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simple outline for you
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this morning.
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Just three points.
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Number one,
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sola fide
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cries Abraham.
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Number two,
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sola fide
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cries David.
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And number three,
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sola fide
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cries the church.
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Number one,
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sola fide
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cries Abraham.
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Paul appeals
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to what the scripture
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has to say
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about Abraham.
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What shall we say
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was gained by Abraham?
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If Abraham was justified
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by works,
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he has something
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to boast about.
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But what does
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the scripture say?
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Verse three,
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Abraham believed God
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and was counted
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to him
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as righteousness.
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His belief,
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his faith
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was counted
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as righteousness.
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This is a quotation
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from Genesis chapter 15
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and verse six.
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Paul's a good preacher.
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He is using
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the scripture
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to help people
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understand
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the plan
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of God.
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So I would
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like to ask you
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to join me
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in Genesis
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chapter 15.
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I think it'll
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serve you well
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to see those
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first six verses
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and I'll draw
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your attention
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to some neighboring
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material as well.
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So as you're getting there,
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Genesis chapter 15,
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it's back in
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Genesis chapter 12
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that God
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calls Abraham,
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then called
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Abram,
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and tells him,
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Abram,
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and I will make
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of you
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a great nation.
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This is the beginning
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of verse two
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of chapter 12
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and this will
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be tied together
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a bit later
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as I read to you
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from the book
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of Galatians.
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He there says,
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part of the promise
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he makes,
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God makes
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when he calls
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Abram,
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I will make of you
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a great nation.
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You will be the
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father
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of many
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people.
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back to
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Romans chapter
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4.
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And a number
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of things
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come to pass.
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If you're not
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familiar with the
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story,
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you should read
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the story,
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the things that
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are happening.
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Some significant
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things happen
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in between
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chapter 12
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and chapter
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15.
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There we read,
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after these things,
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beginning of
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chapter 15,
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the word of the
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Lord came to
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Abram in a vision.
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Fear not,
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Abram,
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I am your shield,
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your reward
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shall be very
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great.
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But Abram
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said,
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O Lord God,
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what will you
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give me?
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For I continue
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childless,
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and the heir of
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my house is
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Eleazar of
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Damascus.
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And Abram
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said,
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Behold,
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you have given
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me no offspring,
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and a member
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of my household
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will be my
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heir.
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He's saying,
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how am I going
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to be the
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father of
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nations?
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How is this
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possible?
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I don't have
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a son.
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Verse 4,
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And behold,
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the word of the
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Lord came to
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him,
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this man shall
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not be your
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heir,
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your very own
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son shall be
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your heir.
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And he brought
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him outside
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and said,
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look toward
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heaven and
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number the
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stars if you
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are able to
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number them.
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Then he said
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to him,
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so shall your
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offspring be.
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Now,
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Abram is very
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old at this
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point.
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If my memory
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is serving me
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correct,
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someone's going
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to come up and
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tell me that I'm
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wrong at the
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end of this,
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I'm sure.
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I believe he's
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87.
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Ben.
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Something like
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that.
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He's in his
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80s,
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to be sure.
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His wife,
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Sarah,
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is yet to be
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pregnant.
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So,
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none of this
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has actually
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happened yet.
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In a vision,
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he goes out
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and God
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says to him,
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look toward
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heaven and
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number the
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stars.
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If you're
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able to
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number them,
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so shall
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your offspring
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be.
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And then
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verse 6,
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which is what
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Paul is
19:49
citing in
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Romans chapter
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4,
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and he
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believed
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the Lord.
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He believed
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the promise,
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and God
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counted it
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to him
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as
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righteousness.
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Now,
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it is not
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until
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Genesis chapter
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17
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when
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circumcision
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comes up,
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and this is
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at least
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13 years
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later.
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At least.
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Probably more,
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but it's at least
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13 years
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later.
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So,
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Abram's faith
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is counted to
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him as
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righteousness
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long before
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the circumcision.
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So,
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what is it
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that Abram
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has to boast
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in?
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Nothing.
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There's nothing
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to boast in
20:35
at all.
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Right?
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He believed
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the promise
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of God,
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and God
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declared him
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morally
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perfect.
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And Paul's
20:45
just going on
20:46
to explain
20:46
that back
20:46
in Romans
20:47
chapter 4.
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Now,
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to the one
20:48
who works,
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he's reasoning
20:49
with us.
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If you work,
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then you're
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due your
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wages.
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It's good
20:55
to thank
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your boss
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for your
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paycheck.
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It's not a
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bad thing
20:59
to do,
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but I hope
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that you
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earned
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your paycheck.
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You traded
21:03
labor for
21:04
those wages.
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They're not
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counted as a
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gift,
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he says in
21:08
verse 4,
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but as
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your due.
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Of course.
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Typically,
21:12
a good boss
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will say that,
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oh,
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no,
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thank you
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for working.
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I appreciate
21:16
that.
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But the
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one who
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does not
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work,
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but believes
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in him
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who justifies
21:23
the ungodly,
21:25
his faith
21:25
is counted
21:27
as righteousness.
21:28
So we are
21:29
justified
21:30
by faith
21:31
alone.
21:32
The point
21:32
is being
21:33
pressed.
21:34
Paul writes
21:35
later in
21:35
Ephesians
21:35
chapter 2,
21:36
verse 8 and
21:36
9,
21:36
for by grace
21:37
you have been
21:38
saved through
21:38
faith,
21:39
and this is
21:39
not your
21:40
own doing,
21:40
it is the
21:41
gift of
21:41
God,
21:42
not a
21:43
result of
21:43
work,
21:44
so that
21:44
no one
21:45
may boast.
21:50
Beloved,
21:50
if we have
21:50
anything to boast
21:51
in at all,
21:52
it is what
21:52
God has done
21:53
on our behalf
21:53
in the
21:54
personal work
21:55
of the
21:56
Lord Jesus
21:56
Christ.
21:57
We are
21:57
undeserving
21:58
of the
21:59
salvation
21:59
that is
22:00
ours.
22:01
Why do
22:01
we continue
22:02
to act
22:02
as if we
22:02
must
22:03
deserve it?
22:04
As if we
22:05
must earn
22:06
it?
22:08
May it
22:09
never be.
22:10
May we
22:11
press on in
22:11
holiness because
22:12
of who God
22:13
has declared
22:14
us to be
22:16
by grace
22:17
through faith.
22:19
So Abraham,
22:21
the story of
22:21
Abraham cries
22:22
out to us,
22:23
sola
22:24
fide.
22:26
But also
22:27
David,
22:29
Paul goes
22:29
on in
22:30
Romans 4
22:30
verse 6,
22:32
just as
22:33
David also,
22:34
he is just
22:35
reiterating,
22:36
he is driving
22:37
his point,
22:37
he is piling
22:38
up the
22:39
argument,
22:40
speaks of
22:41
the blessing
22:41
of the one
22:42
to whom God
22:43
counts righteous
22:44
apart from
22:44
works.
22:45
Blessed are
22:46
those whose
22:47
lawless deeds
22:48
are forgiven
22:48
and whose
22:49
sins are
22:49
covered.
22:51
Blessed is
22:51
the man
22:52
against whom
22:52
the Lord
22:53
will not
22:53
count his
22:55
sin.
22:56
This is
22:57
Psalm 32
22:57
verses 1
22:58
and the
22:58
first half
22:59
ish of
23:00
verse 2.
23:03
David had
23:04
committed
23:04
egregious
23:06
sins.
23:07
David had
23:07
committed sins
23:08
that there
23:09
was no
23:10
reparation for
23:11
in the
23:12
law.
23:14
David had
23:15
no hope
23:15
of going
23:16
to the
23:16
temple
23:16
and giving
23:17
the forgiveness
23:17
of his
23:18
sins for
23:18
the sins
23:18
that he
23:19
had
23:19
committed.
23:20
So what
23:20
does he
23:20
do?
23:21
He throws
23:22
himself on
23:23
the mercy
23:23
of God.
23:25
By faith
23:25
he believes
23:26
that somehow
23:28
God's promises
23:30
will be true
23:30
and his sins
23:32
will be forgiven.
23:34
Turn to
23:34
Psalm 32.
23:35
Let's read
23:36
it in
23:36
its
23:36
entirety.
23:40
When Paul
23:40
cites these
23:41
texts it's
23:42
most likely
23:43
his original
23:44
hearers knew
23:45
the psalm.
23:46
He's pulling
23:46
out a piece
23:47
of it but
23:47
they would
23:47
have heard
23:48
it in its
23:49
entirety as
23:50
this letter
23:50
was read
23:50
to them.
23:51
Psalm 32.
24:07
Read all
24:07
11 verses.
24:10
Blessed is
24:10
the one
24:11
whose
24:11
transgression
24:12
is forgiven,
24:13
whose sin
24:14
is covered.
24:16
Blessed is
24:17
the man
24:17
against whom
24:18
the Lord
24:18
counts no
24:19
iniquity and
24:19
in whose
24:20
spirit
24:20
there is
24:21
no deceit.
24:23
For when
24:24
I kept
24:24
silent my
24:25
bones wasted
24:27
away through
24:27
my groaning
24:28
all day
24:29
long.
24:30
For day
24:31
and night
24:32
your hand
24:33
was heavy
24:33
upon me.
24:35
My strength
24:35
was dried
24:36
up as by
24:37
the heat
24:37
of summer.
24:39
He's under
24:40
the conviction
24:41
of his
24:42
sin.
24:43
He's not
24:43
crying out
24:44
to God
24:44
and it's
24:45
destroying
24:46
him.
24:48
I acknowledge
24:49
my sin
24:49
to you,
24:50
verse 5,
24:50
and I
24:52
did not
24:52
cover
24:53
my
24:53
iniquity.
24:54
I
24:54
said,
24:55
I will
24:55
confess
24:56
my
24:56
transgressions
24:56
to the
24:57
Lord
24:57
and you
24:58
forgave
24:58
the
24:59
iniquity
25:00
of my
25:01
sin.
25:03
Therefore,
25:03
let everyone
25:04
who is
25:04
godly
25:05
offer
25:05
prayer to
25:06
you at
25:06
a time
25:06
when you
25:07
may be
25:07
found.
25:07
Surely,
25:08
in the
25:09
rush of
25:09
great
25:09
waters,
25:10
they shall
25:10
not
25:11
reach him.
25:13
He's
25:13
talking there
25:14
about
25:14
judgment.
25:15
Water
25:15
was
25:15
frightening
25:16
to these
25:18
people.
25:19
In judgment
25:20
we will
25:20
not find
25:20
him.
25:21
Let us
25:22
cry now
25:23
while he
25:23
is to
25:24
be found.
25:25
Verse 7,
25:25
you are a
25:26
hiding place
25:27
for me.
25:28
You preserve
25:29
me from
25:30
trouble.
25:30
You surround
25:31
me with
25:32
shouts
25:33
of deliverance.
25:36
And then the
25:36
voice of the
25:36
psalm
25:37
changes.
25:38
It's now
25:38
God speaking.
25:39
He says,
25:40
I will
25:40
instruct
25:41
you
25:41
and teach
25:42
you
25:43
in the
25:43
way
25:43
you
25:44
should
25:44
go.
25:45
I will
25:46
counsel
25:46
you
25:46
with
25:47
my
25:47
eye
25:48
upon
25:48
you.
25:50
Be
25:50
not
25:50
like
25:51
a
25:51
horse
25:51
or a
25:52
mule
25:52
without
25:52
understanding
25:53
which
25:53
must
25:54
be
25:54
curbed
25:55
with
25:55
bit
25:55
and
25:56
bridle
25:57
or
25:57
it
25:57
will
25:58
not
25:58
stay
25:58
near
25:59
you.
25:59
Do
26:00
not
26:00
be
26:00
stubborn
26:00
like
26:01
a
26:01
horse
26:01
or
26:03
a
26:03
mule.
26:04
Many
26:05
are
26:05
the
26:05
sorrows
26:06
of
26:06
the
26:06
wicked
26:06
but
26:06
steadfast
26:07
love
26:07
surrounds
26:08
the
26:08
one
26:09
who
26:09
trusts
26:09
in
26:10
the
26:10
Lord.
26:10
Be
26:11
glad
26:11
in
26:11
the
26:11
Lord
26:12
and
26:12
rejoice
26:13
O
26:13
righteous
26:14
and
26:14
shout
26:14
for
26:15
joy
26:15
all
26:15
you
26:16
upright
26:16
in
26:18
heart.
26:18
Right?
26:18
So
26:19
David
26:20
throws
26:21
himself
26:21
on
26:22
the
26:22
mercy
26:22
of
26:22
God
26:23
and
26:23
understands
26:24
that
26:24
as
26:25
he
26:25
does
26:25
so
26:26
God
26:26
will
26:27
forgive
26:27
his
26:28
sins.
26:29
It
26:30
has
26:30
been
26:30
repeatedly
26:30
stated
26:31
that
26:31
we
26:31
are
26:31
justified
26:31
by
26:31
grace
26:32
alone
26:32
through
26:32
faith
26:32
alone
26:32
and
26:33
Jesus
26:33
Christ
26:33
alone.
26:35
But
26:35
how
26:35
can
26:35
it
26:36
be
26:36
that
26:36
those
26:36
people
26:37
who
26:37
lived
26:37
before
26:38
Christ
26:39
were
26:40
justified?
26:41
How
26:41
is this
26:41
true of
26:42
Abraham
26:43
and of
26:44
David
26:45
and of
26:45
many
26:45
other
26:46
saints?
26:47
The
26:47
author of
26:48
Hebrews
26:48
gives us
26:49
some help
26:50
in this
26:50
matter
26:50
beginning
26:51
in the
26:52
beginning
26:52
of chapter
26:53
11 of
26:53
Hebrews.
26:54
There he
26:54
says,
26:55
now faith
26:55
is the
26:56
assurance
26:56
of things
26:57
hoped
26:58
for.
26:58
The
26:59
conviction
26:59
of things
27:00
not
27:01
seen.
27:02
Wasn't
27:02
this
27:02
true of
27:03
Abraham
27:03
and of
27:05
David
27:05
and many
27:06
others
27:06
like them?
27:07
Verse 2
27:08
he says,
27:08
for by
27:09
it
27:09
the
27:10
people
27:10
of
27:10
old
27:11
received
27:11
their
27:12
commendation.
27:14
Then
27:15
verses 3
27:16
through 12
27:16
of
27:17
Hebrews
27:17
11,
27:18
we see
27:18
a list
27:19
of
27:19
people
27:20
like
27:20
Abel
27:20
and
27:21
Noah
27:21
and
27:21
Enoch
27:22
and
27:22
Abraham.
27:25
And
27:25
then
27:25
in
27:25
verse
27:25
13
27:25
he
27:26
says,
27:26
these
27:26
all
27:27
died
27:27
in
27:28
faith,
27:29
not
27:29
having
27:30
received
27:30
the
27:30
things
27:30
promised,
27:31
but
27:31
having
27:31
seen
27:32
them
27:32
and
27:32
greeted
27:33
them
27:33
from
27:33
afar,
27:34
and
27:34
having
27:34
acknowledged
27:35
that
27:35
they
27:35
were
27:35
strangers
27:36
and
27:36
exiles
27:37
on
27:38
the
27:38
earth.
27:39
For
27:39
people
27:40
who
27:40
speak
27:40
thus
27:41
make
27:41
it
27:41
clear
27:41
that
27:41
they
27:42
are
27:42
seeking
27:42
a
27:43
homeland.
27:44
If
27:44
they
27:44
had
27:45
been
27:45
thinking
27:45
of
27:45
that
27:45
land
27:45
from
27:46
which
27:46
they
27:46
had
27:46
gone
27:46
out,
27:46
they
27:46
would
27:47
have
27:47
had
27:47
opportunity
27:48
to
27:48
return.
27:49
But
27:49
as
27:49
it
27:49
is,
27:49
they
27:50
desire
27:50
a
27:50
better
27:51
country
27:51
that
27:51
is
27:52
a
27:52
heavenly
27:52
one.
27:53
Therefore
27:54
God
27:54
is not
27:54
ashamed
27:55
to be
27:56
called
27:56
their
27:56
God,
27:57
for
27:57
he
27:57
has
27:57
prepared
27:57
for
27:58
them
27:58
a
27:59
city.
28:00
Faith,
28:01
future
28:02
promise.
28:04
Then
28:04
in
28:04
verses
28:04
17
28:05
through
28:05
38
28:05
we
28:06
get
28:06
more
28:06
of
28:06
these
28:07
people
28:07
of
28:07
old
28:08
listed.
28:09
And
28:09
in
28:09
verse
28:10
39
28:10
the
28:11
author
28:11
of
28:12
Hebrews
28:12
says,
28:12
And
28:12
all
28:13
these
28:13
though
28:14
commended
28:14
through
28:15
their
28:15
faith
28:15
did
28:16
not
28:16
receive
28:17
what
28:17
was
28:17
promised
28:18
since
28:18
God
28:19
had
28:19
provided
28:19
something
28:20
better
28:21
for
28:22
us
28:22
that
28:23
apart
28:23
from
28:23
us
28:24
they
28:25
should
28:25
not
28:25
be
28:26
made
28:26
perfect.
28:28
So
28:28
the
28:29
people
28:29
of
28:29
old
28:29
awaited
28:30
the
28:31
promise
28:31
of
28:31
the
28:31
coming
28:31
Christ
28:32
that
28:33
the
28:33
church
28:33
would
28:34
be
28:34
gathered
28:34
together
28:35
that
28:36
all
28:36
of
28:37
us
28:37
one
28:38
day
28:38
will
28:38
rejoice
28:39
together
28:40
in
28:40
the
28:41
presence
28:41
of
28:42
God.
28:43
Brings
28:44
us to
28:44
the
28:45
third
28:45
point.
28:45
Sola
28:46
fide
28:46
cries
28:48
the
28:49
church.
28:50
This
28:51
church
28:51
that this
28:52
letter was
28:52
written to
28:52
in Rome
28:53
and
28:53
us
28:55
today
28:56
is the
28:57
blessing
28:57
only for
28:58
the
28:58
circumcised
28:59
or also
29:00
the
29:00
uncircumcised.
29:01
Praise
29:01
be to
29:01
God.
29:02
The
29:02
answer
29:02
is
29:03
for
29:04
both.
29:06
I
29:06
think
29:06
some
29:07
of
29:07
you
29:07
may
29:07
be
29:07
ethnically
29:08
Jewish.
29:08
Most
29:09
of
29:09
us
29:09
are
29:09
not.
29:10
I'm
29:11
so
29:11
grateful
29:12
that
29:13
the
29:13
gospel
29:13
of
29:13
Jesus
29:14
Christ
29:14
is
29:14
for
29:14
all
29:15
of
29:16
us.
29:17
And
29:17
he
29:17
makes
29:17
this
29:18
argument.
29:19
When
29:19
was
29:19
the
29:19
righteousness
29:20
counted
29:20
to
29:21
Abraham?
29:22
Before
29:23
or
29:23
after
29:24
he
29:24
was
29:24
circumcised?
29:25
And
29:25
it
29:25
was
29:25
most
29:25
certainly
29:26
before.
29:27
As
29:27
I
29:27
said,
29:27
at
29:27
least
29:28
13
29:28
years
29:29
before.
29:30
There's
29:30
a
29:30
great
29:31
gap
29:31
of
29:32
time
29:32
from
29:32
the
29:32
beginning
29:33
of
29:34
Genesis
29:34
chapter
29:34
15
29:35
to
29:35
the
29:35
beginning
29:35
of
29:36
Genesis
29:36
chapter
29:37
17.
29:38
Not
29:39
justified
29:39
by works
29:40
of
29:41
the
29:41
law.
29:42
The
29:43
law
29:43
bears
29:44
witness
29:44
to
29:45
our
29:45
sinful
29:45
state
29:46
and
29:46
our
29:46
need
29:46
of
29:46
a
29:46
savior.
29:47
It
29:47
helps
29:48
us
29:48
be
29:48
aware
29:49
of
29:49
our
29:49
transgression.
29:50
Once
29:51
counted,
29:52
declared
29:52
righteous,
29:53
it
29:54
helps
29:54
us
29:54
to
29:54
know
29:54
how
29:55
we
29:55
ought
29:55
to
29:55
walk
29:55
to
29:56
please
29:56
our
29:56
God.
29:57
But
29:57
we
29:57
are
29:57
not
29:58
justified
29:59
by
30:00
works
30:00
of
30:01
the
30:01
law.
30:04
Galatians
30:04
chapter
30:05
3.
30:06
Last
30:07
text
30:07
for
30:07
today.
30:08
Verse
30:09
6
30:09
and
30:09
following.
30:10
There
30:12
Paul
30:12
says,
30:14
Abraham
30:14
believed
30:15
God
30:16
and it
30:16
was
30:16
counted
30:17
to
30:17
him
30:17
as
30:18
righteousness.
30:19
Genesis
30:19
15
30:19
6.
30:20
Know
30:21
then
30:21
that
30:21
it
30:21
is
30:22
those
30:22
of
30:22
faith
30:22
who
30:23
are
30:23
the
30:23
sons
30:23
of
30:24
Abraham.
30:25
And
30:25
the
30:25
scripture
30:26
foreseeing
30:26
that
30:26
God
30:27
would
30:27
justify
30:27
the
30:28
Gentiles
30:28
by
30:28
faith
30:29
preached
30:29
the
30:30
gospel
30:30
beforehand
30:31
to
30:31
Abraham
30:32
saying
30:32
in
30:33
you
30:33
shall
30:34
all
30:34
the
30:34
nations
30:35
be
30:35
blessed.
30:36
Remember
30:36
that
30:36
back
30:37
from
30:37
the
30:38
beginning
30:38
of
30:38
chapter
30:39
12?
30:39
In
30:40
you
30:41
shall
30:42
all
30:42
the
30:42
nations
30:42
be
30:42
blessed.
30:43
And
30:43
here
30:43
Paul
30:44
says
30:44
under
30:44
the
30:44
inspiration
30:45
of
30:45
the
30:45
spirit
30:45
that
30:46
this
30:46
was
30:47
the
30:47
scriptures
30:47
preaching
30:48
the
30:49
gospel.
30:50
That's
30:50
cool.
30:51
So cool.
30:52
Verse
30:53
9
30:53
Galatians 3
30:54
So then
30:54
those
30:55
who
30:55
are
30:55
of
30:56
faith
30:56
are
30:56
blessed
30:56
along
30:57
with
30:57
Abraham
30:57
the
30:58
man
30:58
of
30:58
faith.
31:00
For
31:00
all
31:00
who
31:00
rely
31:00
on
31:01
works
31:01
of
31:01
the
31:01
law
31:01
are
31:01
under
31:02
a
31:02
curse
31:02
for
31:03
it
31:03
is
31:03
written
31:03
curse
31:04
be
31:04
everyone
31:04
who
31:05
does
31:05
not
31:05
abide
31:05
by
31:05
all
31:06
things
31:06
written
31:06
in
31:07
the
31:07
book
31:07
of
31:07
the
31:07
law
31:08
and
31:08
do
31:08
them.
31:09
And
31:09
there
31:09
what
31:09
he's
31:09
saying
31:09
is
31:10
if
31:10
you're
31:10
!
31:10
counting
31:10
!
31:10
on
31:11
your
31:12
keeping
31:12
of
31:12
the
31:12
law
31:13
to
31:13
save
31:13
you've
31:14
broken
31:14
it
31:15
and
31:15
you're
31:15
cursed.
31:16
It
31:17
will
31:17
not
31:17
save
31:18
you.
31:19
Now
31:19
it
31:19
is
31:19
evident
31:20
that
31:21
no
31:21
one
31:21
is
31:21
justified
31:21
before
31:22
God
31:22
by
31:22
the
31:22
law
31:23
for
31:23
the
31:24
righteous
31:24
shall
31:25
live
31:26
by
31:27
faith.
31:30
The
31:30
Bible
31:31
alone
31:31
is
31:31
God's
31:32
final
31:32
authority
31:33
sola
31:34
scriptura
31:35
and
31:35
it
31:36
is
31:36
on
31:36
its
31:36
pages
31:36
that
31:36
we
31:37
learn
31:37
that
31:37
we
31:37
are
31:37
saved
31:37
by
31:37
God's
31:38
grace
31:38
alone
31:38
sola
31:39
gratia
31:39
through
31:40
faith
31:40
alone
31:40
sola
31:41
!
31:41
fide
31:41
in
31:41
Jesus
31:42
Christ
31:42
!
31:42
alone
31:43
solus
31:44
Christus
31:44
and
31:45
this
31:45
salvation
31:46
and
31:46
all
31:46
things
31:47
exist
31:47
for
31:47
the
31:47
glory
31:48
of
31:48
God
31:49
alone
31:50
solely
31:51
Deo
31:52
Gloria.
31:54
Now
31:54
in a few
31:54
minutes
31:55
the band's
31:56
going to
31:56
come
31:56
and
31:56
they're
31:56
going to
31:56
lead us
31:57
in
31:57
the song
31:58
In
31:59
Christ
31:59
Alone.
32:01
So I
32:01
just want
32:01
you to
32:01
take a
32:02
few
32:02
moments
32:03
and let
32:03
me
32:03
read
32:04
these
32:04
lyrics
32:05
to
32:05
you
32:05
that
32:06
you
32:06
might
32:06
sit
32:07
and
32:08
think
32:08
and
32:08
meditate
32:09
on
32:09
their
32:09
truth
32:09
and
32:11
then
32:11
we'll
32:11
sing
32:11
the
32:11
song
32:12
together
32:13
In
32:16
Christ
32:16
alone
32:17
my
32:18
hope is
32:19
found
32:19
He
32:20
is my
32:21
light
32:21
my
32:22
strength
32:23
my
32:24
song
32:24
this
32:25
cornerstone
32:26
this
32:27
solid
32:28
ground
32:28
firm
32:30
through the
32:30
fiercest
32:31
drought
32:31
and
32:32
storm
32:33
!
32:34
What
32:34
heights
32:35
of love
32:35
what
32:35
depths
32:36
of
32:36
peace
32:37
when
32:38
fears
32:39
are
32:39
stilled
32:40
when
32:40
strivings
32:41
cease
32:42
my
32:43
comforter
32:44
my
32:45
all
32:45
in all
32:46
here
32:47
in the
32:47
love
32:47
of
32:48
Christ
32:48
I
32:49
stand
32:49
in
32:51
Christ
32:52
alone
32:52
who
32:52
took
32:53
on
32:53
flesh
32:54
fullness
32:55
of
32:55
God
32:56
in
32:56
helpless
32:57
babe
32:57
this
32:58
gift
32:59
of
32:59
love
32:59
and
33:00
righteousness
33:00
scorned
33:02
by the
33:02
ones
33:03
he
33:03
came
33:04
to
33:04
save
33:04
till
33:06
on
33:06
that
33:06
cross
33:07
as
33:07
Jesus
33:08
died
33:08
the
33:09
wrath
33:10
of
33:10
God
33:11
was
33:11
satisfied
33:12
for
33:13
every
33:14
sin
33:14
on
33:15
him
33:15
was
33:16
laid
33:16
here
33:17
in the
33:19
death
33:19
of
33:19
Christ
33:19
I
33:20
live
33:21
there
33:23
in the
33:23
ground
33:23
his
33:24
body
33:24
lay
33:24
light
33:26
of
33:26
the
33:26
world
33:26
by
33:27
darkness
33:27
slain
33:28
then
33:29
bursting
33:30
forth
33:30
in
33:31
glorious
33:31
day
33:32
up
33:32
from
33:33
the
33:33
grave
33:33
he
33:34
rose
33:34
again
33:35
and
33:36
as
33:36
he
33:36
stands
33:36
in
33:37
victory
33:37
sin's
33:38
cursed
33:39
has
33:39
lost
33:39
its
33:40
grip
33:40
on
33:40
me
33:41
for
33:42
I
33:42
am
33:42
his
33:42
and
33:43
he
33:43
is
33:44
mine
33:44
I
33:45
bought
33:45
with
33:46
the
33:46
precious
33:46
blood
33:47
of
33:48
Christ
33:48
no
33:50
guilt
33:50
in
33:51
life
33:51
no
33:51
fear
33:52
in
33:52
death
33:52
this
33:53
is
33:53
the
33:53
power
33:53
of
33:54
Christ
33:54
in
33:55
me
33:55
from
33:56
life's
33:57
first
33:57
cry
33:58
to
33:58
final
33:59
breath
33:59
Jesus
34:00
commands
34:01
my
34:02
destiny
34:02
no
34:04
power
34:04
of
34:04
hell
34:05
no
34:05
scheme
34:06
of
34:06
man
34:06
can
34:06
ever
34:07
pluck
34:08
me
34:08
from
34:09
his
34:10
hand
34:10
till
34:11
he
34:11
returns
34:12
or
34:13
calls
34:13
me
34:13
home
34:14
here
34:15
in
34:15
the
34:15
power
34:15
of
34:15
Christ
34:16
I'll
34:17
stand
34:17
let's
34:18
pray
34:18
together