1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:03,279 Please remain standing now for the reading of 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:05,059 God's word. We're looking at Romans chapter 8 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:06,980 verses 4 00:00:07,679 --> 00:00:08,900 9 to 11, 5 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:12,639 and Romans 8 verses 9 to 11. And 6 00:00:12,639 --> 00:00:14,179 I wanna say this too that, 7 00:00:16,425 --> 00:00:17,644 of course, the whole Bible 8 00:00:18,425 --> 00:00:20,045 is incredibly profound, 9 00:00:20,505 --> 00:00:22,425 but within the Bible, if you had to 10 00:00:22,425 --> 00:00:23,405 pick 1 chapter 11 00:00:23,785 --> 00:00:25,005 that is especially 12 00:00:25,385 --> 00:00:28,664 rich in every way in in the depth 13 00:00:28,664 --> 00:00:29,565 of the doctrine, 14 00:00:30,119 --> 00:00:31,579 in the in the majesty 15 00:00:32,119 --> 00:00:34,379 of the way that it presents God 16 00:00:34,759 --> 00:00:36,539 and in the clarity with which, 17 00:00:37,239 --> 00:00:39,479 the grace of the Lord on behalf of 18 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:41,820 his church is presented to us. Romans 8 19 00:00:41,975 --> 00:00:42,875 is that chapter. 20 00:00:43,414 --> 00:00:45,195 And so even these three verses, 21 00:00:45,895 --> 00:00:47,734 are so profound and there's so much to 22 00:00:47,734 --> 00:00:49,335 say here that I'm actually gonna spend 2 23 00:00:49,335 --> 00:00:51,655 weeks on these three verses. And I get 24 00:00:51,655 --> 00:00:53,195 to do that and I'm excited 25 00:00:53,575 --> 00:00:54,395 to do that. 26 00:00:55,655 --> 00:00:57,494 Today we're gonna be looking as you'll see 27 00:00:57,494 --> 00:00:57,869 about 28 00:00:58,750 --> 00:01:00,350 the Holy Spirit. We're gonna look at the 29 00:01:00,350 --> 00:01:02,509 Holy Spirit work in our life. But there's 30 00:01:02,509 --> 00:01:03,869 so much more in here that it goes 31 00:01:03,869 --> 00:01:05,469 even beyond the Holy Spirit and looks at 32 00:01:05,469 --> 00:01:07,390 the triune God. We'll look at that next 33 00:01:07,390 --> 00:01:09,390 week and I'm just preparing you for that 34 00:01:09,390 --> 00:01:12,030 already. But let's look at Romans chapter 8 35 00:01:12,030 --> 00:01:13,775 verses 9 to 36 00:01:15,435 --> 00:01:16,655 11. You, however, 37 00:01:17,515 --> 00:01:18,655 are not in the flesh, 38 00:01:18,954 --> 00:01:21,114 but in the spirit, if in fact the 39 00:01:21,114 --> 00:01:22,814 spirit of God dwells in you. 40 00:01:23,435 --> 00:01:25,275 Anyone who does not have the spirit of 41 00:01:25,275 --> 00:01:25,775 Christ 42 00:01:26,234 --> 00:01:27,694 does not belong to him. 43 00:01:28,369 --> 00:01:29,829 But if Christ is in you, 44 00:01:30,290 --> 00:01:32,549 although the body is dead because of sin, 45 00:01:33,009 --> 00:01:34,310 the spirit is life 46 00:01:34,689 --> 00:01:35,829 because of righteousness. 47 00:01:36,769 --> 00:01:38,689 If the spirit of him who raised Jesus 48 00:01:38,689 --> 00:01:40,709 from the dead dwells in you, 49 00:01:41,135 --> 00:01:43,394 He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead 50 00:01:43,694 --> 00:01:46,515 will also give life to your mortal bodies 51 00:01:47,055 --> 00:01:48,034 through His Spirit 52 00:01:48,495 --> 00:01:49,234 who dwells 53 00:01:49,694 --> 00:01:51,694 in you. This is the word of the 54 00:01:51,694 --> 00:01:52,194 Lord. 55 00:01:53,614 --> 00:01:54,515 Please be seated. 56 00:01:58,439 --> 00:02:00,619 I was born and raised 57 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:02,619 in a city 58 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:06,619 called Reynosa, which is along the Mexican border 59 00:02:06,759 --> 00:02:08,459 just over a 6 hour, 60 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,164 drive due south from here, 61 00:02:12,025 --> 00:02:12,844 5 hours 62 00:02:13,384 --> 00:02:15,084 if our constable is driving. 63 00:02:15,544 --> 00:02:18,364 But, for most of us, it's 6. And 64 00:02:18,504 --> 00:02:18,824 if, 65 00:02:20,425 --> 00:02:22,504 one of the things about growing up along 66 00:02:22,504 --> 00:02:23,164 the border 67 00:02:23,819 --> 00:02:24,539 is that, 68 00:02:25,259 --> 00:02:27,120 you are exposed to so many 69 00:02:27,419 --> 00:02:28,400 very interesting 70 00:02:28,699 --> 00:02:29,199 contrasts 71 00:02:29,580 --> 00:02:31,039 in in in life 72 00:02:31,419 --> 00:02:31,819 where, 73 00:02:32,300 --> 00:02:35,439 just, when you when you cross the border, 74 00:02:35,580 --> 00:02:36,879 you see a contrast, 75 00:02:37,580 --> 00:02:38,080 across 76 00:02:38,765 --> 00:02:39,265 countries, 77 00:02:40,125 --> 00:02:40,625 across 78 00:02:40,925 --> 00:02:41,425 cultures, 79 00:02:42,125 --> 00:02:42,625 across 80 00:02:43,245 --> 00:02:43,745 landscapes, 81 00:02:44,685 --> 00:02:45,985 and across languages. 82 00:02:46,444 --> 00:02:49,405 It's it's certainly a journey that goes beyond 83 00:02:49,405 --> 00:02:50,385 just the crossing 84 00:02:50,729 --> 00:02:53,370 of a bridge, but that's not all. In 85 00:02:53,370 --> 00:02:55,610 a way the journey across the border is 86 00:02:55,610 --> 00:02:58,169 also a journey across time or at least 87 00:02:58,169 --> 00:02:59,789 it was when I was growing up. 88 00:03:00,090 --> 00:03:01,949 You see the the way of life 89 00:03:02,330 --> 00:03:04,729 and the customs in Mexico when compared to 90 00:03:04,729 --> 00:03:06,269 those in the United States 91 00:03:06,865 --> 00:03:09,365 appear to be a throwback to 92 00:03:09,665 --> 00:03:11,044 time, to a generation 93 00:03:11,585 --> 00:03:12,884 that had long passed. 94 00:03:13,344 --> 00:03:15,344 For example, in Reynosa when I was growing 95 00:03:15,344 --> 00:03:17,365 up, the idea that a child, 96 00:03:18,145 --> 00:03:19,125 even a teenager, 97 00:03:19,889 --> 00:03:20,629 would openly 98 00:03:21,409 --> 00:03:21,909 disrespect, 99 00:03:23,009 --> 00:03:23,829 his parents 100 00:03:24,530 --> 00:03:25,669 or his teachers 101 00:03:26,209 --> 00:03:27,750 was entirely unacceptable, 102 00:03:28,530 --> 00:03:30,530 even to the point of being scandalous. Have 103 00:03:30,530 --> 00:03:32,394 you heard it? Even as a child, have 104 00:03:32,394 --> 00:03:33,674 you heard that somebody did this, you would 105 00:03:33,674 --> 00:03:35,594 be scandalized by that just because it was 106 00:03:35,594 --> 00:03:37,055 such an unthinkable thing. 107 00:03:37,834 --> 00:03:40,014 One was always expected to be respectful 108 00:03:40,474 --> 00:03:42,174 to anyone who was older. 109 00:03:43,034 --> 00:03:45,674 In fact, as children and yes, even as 110 00:03:45,674 --> 00:03:46,174 teenagers, 111 00:03:46,659 --> 00:03:49,060 we were expected to wake up early every 112 00:03:49,060 --> 00:03:49,560 day, 113 00:03:50,099 --> 00:03:51,080 even on weekends, 114 00:03:51,620 --> 00:03:52,120 even 115 00:03:52,419 --> 00:03:53,319 in the summer, 116 00:03:53,860 --> 00:03:55,639 and we were expected to immediately 117 00:03:56,020 --> 00:03:58,280 get dressed so we could be presentable 118 00:03:59,219 --> 00:04:00,919 if and when company arrived. 119 00:04:01,784 --> 00:04:03,564 And company would arrive 120 00:04:04,424 --> 00:04:05,324 on any day 121 00:04:05,784 --> 00:04:07,084 and at any time. 122 00:04:07,784 --> 00:04:11,064 Families were bigger and extended family lived in 123 00:04:11,064 --> 00:04:13,324 the same city for generations, so 124 00:04:13,710 --> 00:04:17,389 grandparents and uncles and aunts and first and 125 00:04:17,389 --> 00:04:18,689 second and third cousins, 126 00:04:19,470 --> 00:04:20,529 could show up 127 00:04:20,910 --> 00:04:23,230 at any moment and they indeed would show 128 00:04:23,230 --> 00:04:25,170 up at any moment unannounced. 129 00:04:25,790 --> 00:04:27,649 And it would be considered very rude 130 00:04:28,225 --> 00:04:30,865 if you weren't ready to receive them by 131 00:04:30,865 --> 00:04:31,925 not being dressed, 132 00:04:32,545 --> 00:04:33,045 by 133 00:04:33,665 --> 00:04:35,584 not having brushed your hair, by not having 134 00:04:35,584 --> 00:04:36,084 brushed 135 00:04:36,464 --> 00:04:38,644 your teeth, and so on. 136 00:04:39,024 --> 00:04:40,245 The governing principle 137 00:04:40,889 --> 00:04:43,449 was that a way to show love and 138 00:04:43,449 --> 00:04:44,509 respect to others 139 00:04:45,290 --> 00:04:46,990 was to be ready to anticipate 140 00:04:47,769 --> 00:04:48,589 their needs, 141 00:04:49,050 --> 00:04:50,669 to count their comfort 142 00:04:51,370 --> 00:04:52,430 as more important 143 00:04:52,970 --> 00:04:53,949 than your own. 144 00:04:54,615 --> 00:04:56,394 In short, one was taught 145 00:04:56,935 --> 00:04:58,475 that it was right and necessary 146 00:04:59,415 --> 00:05:01,514 to honor your guests. 147 00:05:02,454 --> 00:05:04,855 In this morning's text, Paul writes about the 148 00:05:04,855 --> 00:05:05,675 most important, 149 00:05:06,535 --> 00:05:08,795 most significant guest anyone 150 00:05:09,175 --> 00:05:12,449 could ever hope to have. If you're a 151 00:05:12,449 --> 00:05:12,949 Christian, 152 00:05:13,649 --> 00:05:16,849 then you have this honored guest living within 153 00:05:16,849 --> 00:05:17,349 you. 154 00:05:17,970 --> 00:05:19,110 If you're not a Christian, 155 00:05:19,970 --> 00:05:21,669 then you need to let him in. 156 00:05:22,289 --> 00:05:24,610 The guest I'm referring to of course is 157 00:05:24,610 --> 00:05:25,589 the Holy Spirit, 158 00:05:26,084 --> 00:05:27,764 And the main point I want you to 159 00:05:27,764 --> 00:05:29,944 take from this sermon today is this, 160 00:05:30,725 --> 00:05:32,345 if you have the Holy Spirit, 161 00:05:33,285 --> 00:05:34,824 you have eternal life. 162 00:05:35,365 --> 00:05:37,045 If you have the Holy Spirit, you have 163 00:05:37,045 --> 00:05:38,665 eternal life because you see, 164 00:05:39,300 --> 00:05:40,519 Romans 8 places 165 00:05:40,819 --> 00:05:41,879 particular emphasis 166 00:05:42,419 --> 00:05:43,319 on the person 167 00:05:43,699 --> 00:05:44,439 and work 168 00:05:45,060 --> 00:05:47,300 of the Holy Spirit. And as we shall 169 00:05:47,300 --> 00:05:47,800 see, 170 00:05:48,180 --> 00:05:50,519 the 3 verses we are considering this morning 171 00:05:50,740 --> 00:05:53,000 highlight the role of the Holy Spirit 172 00:05:53,574 --> 00:05:54,314 in salvation 173 00:05:54,935 --> 00:05:55,754 from beginning 174 00:05:56,535 --> 00:05:57,274 to end. 175 00:05:58,295 --> 00:06:01,095 In fact, our three headings for this morning's 176 00:06:01,095 --> 00:06:02,235 sermon are these. 177 00:06:02,694 --> 00:06:03,194 1st, 178 00:06:03,735 --> 00:06:05,654 the role of the Holy Spirit in our 179 00:06:05,654 --> 00:06:06,154 justification. 180 00:06:08,199 --> 00:06:08,699 2nd, 181 00:06:09,319 --> 00:06:11,000 the role of the holy spirit in our 182 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:11,500 sanctification. 183 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,000 And 3rd, the role of the holy spirit 184 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:15,979 in our glorification. 185 00:06:17,319 --> 00:06:17,819 Justification, 186 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:19,180 sanctification, 187 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:20,300 glorification. 188 00:06:22,225 --> 00:06:24,464 Let us then consider the first heading, the 189 00:06:24,464 --> 00:06:26,004 role of the Holy Spirit 190 00:06:26,545 --> 00:06:27,444 in our justification. 191 00:06:29,264 --> 00:06:31,504 You might recall from last week that in 192 00:06:31,504 --> 00:06:34,225 verse 8, Paul wrote that those who are 193 00:06:34,225 --> 00:06:35,045 in the flesh 194 00:06:35,790 --> 00:06:37,169 cannot please God. 195 00:06:38,029 --> 00:06:39,470 He didn't write that those who are in 196 00:06:39,470 --> 00:06:40,129 the flesh 197 00:06:40,750 --> 00:06:42,129 will not please God, 198 00:06:43,149 --> 00:06:44,610 nor that they would prefer 199 00:06:45,629 --> 00:06:46,850 not to please God. 200 00:06:47,389 --> 00:06:48,829 He wrote that those who are in the 201 00:06:48,829 --> 00:06:49,329 flesh 202 00:06:49,790 --> 00:06:50,290 cannot 203 00:06:51,314 --> 00:06:52,055 please God. 204 00:06:53,314 --> 00:06:55,475 For Paul to be in the flesh is 205 00:06:55,475 --> 00:06:56,615 a technical term 206 00:06:57,154 --> 00:07:00,055 referring to the moral or spiritual status 207 00:07:00,514 --> 00:07:01,254 of unbelievers. 208 00:07:02,194 --> 00:07:04,355 In other words, if someone is in the 209 00:07:04,355 --> 00:07:04,855 flesh, 210 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:06,419 that person 211 00:07:06,879 --> 00:07:08,259 has not been born again. 212 00:07:09,199 --> 00:07:09,939 That person 213 00:07:10,479 --> 00:07:13,300 has not been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. 214 00:07:14,079 --> 00:07:16,500 So that person is still under the dominion 215 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:17,379 of sin, 216 00:07:18,014 --> 00:07:21,295 still in bondage to the tyrannical rule of 217 00:07:21,295 --> 00:07:22,514 his father nature. 218 00:07:23,694 --> 00:07:24,834 This is what it means 219 00:07:25,375 --> 00:07:27,134 to be in the flesh, and it is 220 00:07:27,134 --> 00:07:28,915 why those who are in the flesh 221 00:07:29,455 --> 00:07:29,955 cannot 222 00:07:30,334 --> 00:07:31,314 please God. 223 00:07:32,759 --> 00:07:33,660 They're not merely 224 00:07:34,199 --> 00:07:34,699 indisposed 225 00:07:35,399 --> 00:07:36,379 to please God, 226 00:07:37,319 --> 00:07:38,459 nor are they merely 227 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:39,500 predisposed 228 00:07:40,199 --> 00:07:41,419 to displease God. 229 00:07:42,599 --> 00:07:43,419 They are 230 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:44,300 utterly 231 00:07:45,079 --> 00:07:46,139 unable to 232 00:07:47,115 --> 00:07:47,615 please 233 00:07:48,074 --> 00:07:48,574 God. 234 00:07:49,355 --> 00:07:51,375 Now, think about the great peril 235 00:07:52,235 --> 00:07:53,775 that such a person 236 00:07:54,235 --> 00:07:56,335 finds himself or herself in. 237 00:07:57,355 --> 00:07:59,295 They are created by a God 238 00:07:59,754 --> 00:08:01,134 that they do not love. 239 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:03,500 They are liable 240 00:08:03,879 --> 00:08:04,779 to a law 241 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:06,540 that they cannot keep. 242 00:08:07,879 --> 00:08:09,740 They are guilty before a judge 243 00:08:10,279 --> 00:08:11,660 that they cannot bribe. 244 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,180 And they are condemned to a punishment 245 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:17,500 that they cannot escape. 246 00:08:18,714 --> 00:08:21,354 Such is the state or condition of most 247 00:08:21,354 --> 00:08:22,735 people that you meet, 248 00:08:23,194 --> 00:08:25,375 and most people that you interact with 249 00:08:25,834 --> 00:08:27,134 each and every 250 00:08:27,514 --> 00:08:28,014 day. 251 00:08:29,274 --> 00:08:31,214 Perhaps that's your condition today. 252 00:08:31,949 --> 00:08:33,889 It certainly is the wretched condition 253 00:08:34,509 --> 00:08:36,690 that each and every one of us inherited 254 00:08:37,149 --> 00:08:39,089 the very moment that we were conceived 255 00:08:39,709 --> 00:08:42,610 as David himself tells us in Psalm 51 256 00:08:42,669 --> 00:08:45,330 where he cries out, he laments, 257 00:08:45,894 --> 00:08:46,394 in 258 00:08:46,855 --> 00:08:49,034 sin did my mother conceive me. 259 00:08:50,294 --> 00:08:52,875 In our heart of hearts, we were all 260 00:08:53,254 --> 00:08:53,995 in total 261 00:08:54,375 --> 00:08:54,875 rebellion 262 00:08:55,575 --> 00:08:56,394 against God. 263 00:08:57,575 --> 00:08:59,595 We were pursuing our own pleasure 264 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:02,700 instead of trying to please God, 265 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:05,399 and we were laboring to build our own 266 00:09:05,399 --> 00:09:08,059 kingdoms instead of advancing God's kingdom. 267 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:09,820 We were 268 00:09:10,279 --> 00:09:10,779 unapologetically 269 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:11,820 unrepentant, 270 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:14,059 unwise, 271 00:09:15,575 --> 00:09:16,075 unrighteous 272 00:09:16,934 --> 00:09:18,075 and unjustified. 273 00:09:19,495 --> 00:09:21,495 We were created by a God we did 274 00:09:21,495 --> 00:09:22,315 not love 275 00:09:23,254 --> 00:09:25,514 and we were liable to a law we 276 00:09:25,735 --> 00:09:26,795 could not keep 277 00:09:27,839 --> 00:09:29,759 and we were guilty before a judge that 278 00:09:29,759 --> 00:09:31,059 we could not bribe 279 00:09:31,919 --> 00:09:34,320 and we were condemned to a punishment that 280 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:36,100 we, in and of ourselves, 281 00:09:36,639 --> 00:09:37,700 could not escape. 282 00:09:39,279 --> 00:09:40,500 That was our reality 283 00:09:41,125 --> 00:09:41,945 when we were 284 00:09:42,245 --> 00:09:43,225 in the flesh. 285 00:09:44,565 --> 00:09:47,545 Now, look at what verse 9 says, 286 00:09:49,205 --> 00:09:50,105 You, however, 287 00:09:50,884 --> 00:09:51,625 are not 288 00:09:52,004 --> 00:09:52,985 in the flesh, 289 00:09:53,549 --> 00:09:55,549 but in the spirit, if in fact the 290 00:09:55,549 --> 00:09:57,250 spirit of God dwells in you. 291 00:09:57,710 --> 00:10:00,029 Anyone who does not have the spirit of 292 00:10:00,029 --> 00:10:00,529 Christ 293 00:10:01,389 --> 00:10:02,769 does not belong to him. 294 00:10:03,710 --> 00:10:05,470 Anyone who does not have the spirit of 295 00:10:05,470 --> 00:10:07,250 Christ does not belong to him, 296 00:10:07,644 --> 00:10:08,464 because anyone 297 00:10:09,245 --> 00:10:11,345 who does not have the spirit of Christ 298 00:10:11,644 --> 00:10:12,144 belongs 299 00:10:12,845 --> 00:10:13,904 to another master. 300 00:10:14,605 --> 00:10:17,004 That person belongs to the flesh. That person 301 00:10:17,004 --> 00:10:20,065 belongs to sin. That person belongs to death. 302 00:10:21,870 --> 00:10:22,610 The person, 303 00:10:24,029 --> 00:10:26,289 who does not belong to Christ, 304 00:10:26,669 --> 00:10:29,089 but belongs to the flesh and to sin 305 00:10:29,309 --> 00:10:31,549 and to death may be a baptized member 306 00:10:31,549 --> 00:10:32,370 in good standing 307 00:10:33,149 --> 00:10:36,129 of a bible believing in bible proclaiming church. 308 00:10:37,365 --> 00:10:39,524 That person may partake or even administer the 309 00:10:39,524 --> 00:10:40,024 sacraments. 310 00:10:41,205 --> 00:10:43,845 But unless the spirit of God dwells in 311 00:10:43,845 --> 00:10:44,585 that person, 312 00:10:45,285 --> 00:10:47,465 unless the spirit of God has taken residence 313 00:10:48,085 --> 00:10:49,465 in that person's heart, 314 00:10:50,339 --> 00:10:51,639 that person is 315 00:10:52,019 --> 00:10:52,519 unjustified 316 00:10:53,459 --> 00:10:54,279 before God. 317 00:10:56,100 --> 00:10:57,000 You, however, 318 00:10:58,019 --> 00:11:00,419 are not in the flesh, but in the 319 00:11:00,419 --> 00:11:03,379 spirit, if in fact, the spirit of God 320 00:11:03,379 --> 00:11:04,440 dwells in you, 321 00:11:04,820 --> 00:11:05,639 writes Paul. 322 00:11:06,715 --> 00:11:07,535 In other words, 323 00:11:08,475 --> 00:11:08,975 the 324 00:11:09,754 --> 00:11:10,815 determining factor, 325 00:11:11,995 --> 00:11:13,375 the decisive condition 326 00:11:14,154 --> 00:11:16,634 for someone to be a Christian, for someone 327 00:11:16,634 --> 00:11:18,735 to be justified before God 328 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:20,139 is the presence 329 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:21,980 of the Holy Spirit 330 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:23,980 in that person's life. 331 00:11:25,799 --> 00:11:29,080 The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines justification in this 332 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:29,580 way. 333 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:31,100 Justification 334 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:33,820 is an act of God's free grace, 335 00:11:34,904 --> 00:11:37,245 wherein he pardons all our sins 336 00:11:37,784 --> 00:11:39,644 and accepts us as righteous 337 00:11:40,184 --> 00:11:41,084 in his sight 338 00:11:41,625 --> 00:11:45,065 only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to 339 00:11:45,065 --> 00:11:45,565 us 340 00:11:46,024 --> 00:11:46,845 and received 341 00:11:47,384 --> 00:11:48,605 by faith alone. 342 00:11:50,509 --> 00:11:51,570 So, our justification 343 00:11:53,149 --> 00:11:55,410 is not because of our works, 344 00:11:55,790 --> 00:11:59,309 it's because of God's act, right? Justification is 345 00:11:59,309 --> 00:12:00,129 an act 346 00:12:00,670 --> 00:12:03,309 of God's free grace. We are justified that 347 00:12:03,309 --> 00:12:05,330 is to say our sins are pardoned 348 00:12:05,735 --> 00:12:07,514 and we are accepted as righteous 349 00:12:08,134 --> 00:12:11,754 through an act, a decree as it were, 350 00:12:12,215 --> 00:12:12,955 of God. 351 00:12:14,695 --> 00:12:16,154 Jesus does all the work 352 00:12:16,774 --> 00:12:18,394 to merit the Father's favor. 353 00:12:19,070 --> 00:12:21,970 He lives a perfect sinless life fulfilling 354 00:12:22,269 --> 00:12:25,090 all the righteous requirements of the law. 355 00:12:25,789 --> 00:12:28,029 He dies on the cross to atone for 356 00:12:28,029 --> 00:12:29,250 the sins of his people. 357 00:12:29,629 --> 00:12:30,289 And then 358 00:12:31,070 --> 00:12:31,570 that 359 00:12:31,950 --> 00:12:32,450 perfect, 360 00:12:33,230 --> 00:12:33,730 complete, 361 00:12:34,964 --> 00:12:35,464 finished, 362 00:12:35,924 --> 00:12:38,105 saving work of Jesus is imputed 363 00:12:38,565 --> 00:12:40,264 or credited to us 364 00:12:40,964 --> 00:12:42,024 by an act 365 00:12:42,725 --> 00:12:43,384 of God. 366 00:12:44,884 --> 00:12:45,944 We were unjustified. 367 00:12:47,070 --> 00:12:48,690 That is to say, we were guilty 368 00:12:49,070 --> 00:12:51,549 when we were in the flesh. We were 369 00:12:51,549 --> 00:12:53,090 in bondage to sin. 370 00:12:53,950 --> 00:12:54,769 But now, 371 00:12:55,789 --> 00:12:57,009 we have been justified 372 00:12:57,789 --> 00:12:59,330 through an act of God 373 00:12:59,789 --> 00:13:00,289 entirely 374 00:13:01,470 --> 00:13:02,289 by grace. 375 00:13:03,915 --> 00:13:05,375 Look at how Paul puts this 376 00:13:05,754 --> 00:13:08,575 in Titus chapter 3, verses 3 to 7, 377 00:13:09,115 --> 00:13:09,855 he writes: 378 00:13:11,754 --> 00:13:12,735 For we ourselves 379 00:13:13,514 --> 00:13:14,575 were once foolish, 380 00:13:16,029 --> 00:13:16,529 disobedient, 381 00:13:17,629 --> 00:13:18,529 led astray, 382 00:13:19,870 --> 00:13:22,610 slaves to various passions and pleasures, 383 00:13:23,309 --> 00:13:24,929 passing our days in malice 384 00:13:26,029 --> 00:13:26,850 and envy, 385 00:13:27,549 --> 00:13:29,490 hated by others and hating 386 00:13:29,950 --> 00:13:30,690 one another. 387 00:13:31,004 --> 00:13:33,184 What a wretched existence that it was. 388 00:13:34,524 --> 00:13:35,345 Paul continues. 389 00:13:36,605 --> 00:13:37,745 But when the goodness 390 00:13:38,365 --> 00:13:41,745 and loving kindness of God our savior appeared, 391 00:13:42,605 --> 00:13:43,825 he saved us 392 00:13:44,879 --> 00:13:47,059 not because of works done by us 393 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:48,340 in righteousness, 394 00:13:49,519 --> 00:13:51,860 but according to his own mercy, 395 00:13:52,639 --> 00:13:54,420 by the washing of regeneration 396 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,379 and renewal of the Holy Spirit 397 00:13:58,375 --> 00:14:00,714 whom he poured out on us richly 398 00:14:01,174 --> 00:14:03,355 through Jesus Christ, our savior. 399 00:14:04,134 --> 00:14:04,634 So 400 00:14:05,095 --> 00:14:07,754 that being justified by his grace, 401 00:14:08,454 --> 00:14:11,434 we might become heirs according to the hope 402 00:14:11,815 --> 00:14:13,115 of eternal life. 403 00:14:14,509 --> 00:14:16,910 Now, does that sound like something that we 404 00:14:16,910 --> 00:14:19,149 did? No, it's the exact opposite of that. 405 00:14:19,149 --> 00:14:20,610 It's something that God did. 406 00:14:21,470 --> 00:14:23,649 Jesus did all the work, and then 407 00:14:24,110 --> 00:14:26,269 he poured out the Holy Spirit on us 408 00:14:26,269 --> 00:14:28,110 so that we could be justified by his 409 00:14:28,110 --> 00:14:28,610 grace. 410 00:14:30,134 --> 00:14:31,434 The act of God 411 00:14:32,054 --> 00:14:33,514 by which we are justified 412 00:14:34,134 --> 00:14:35,115 is the regeneration 413 00:14:35,495 --> 00:14:36,235 and renewal 414 00:14:36,934 --> 00:14:38,475 of the Holy Spirit. 415 00:14:39,894 --> 00:14:41,495 This is why in order to be a 416 00:14:41,495 --> 00:14:41,995 Christian, 417 00:14:42,629 --> 00:14:44,570 you must have the Holy Spirit. 418 00:14:46,549 --> 00:14:48,009 This makes complete sense. 419 00:14:49,269 --> 00:14:50,649 In Genesis 1, 420 00:14:51,269 --> 00:14:53,269 we read that at creation, the spirit of 421 00:14:53,269 --> 00:14:55,129 God was present as he hovered 422 00:14:55,590 --> 00:14:57,129 over the face of the waters. 423 00:14:58,105 --> 00:14:58,924 That's at 424 00:14:59,384 --> 00:14:59,884 creation. 425 00:15:00,345 --> 00:15:02,524 Well, it is no wonder that at recreation, 426 00:15:03,785 --> 00:15:05,325 when we are regenerated 427 00:15:05,705 --> 00:15:07,884 and renewed, when we are reborn, 428 00:15:08,585 --> 00:15:10,105 it is in the presence of the Holy 429 00:15:10,105 --> 00:15:11,164 Spirit as well. 430 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:12,940 It's his work. 431 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:14,620 Think about this. 432 00:15:15,639 --> 00:15:17,340 One of the biblical metaphors 433 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:20,300 for God's act of justification 434 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:23,420 is that of the separation of the wheat 435 00:15:23,559 --> 00:15:25,740 from the chaff after the harvest. 436 00:15:26,764 --> 00:15:28,065 The threshing floor 437 00:15:28,684 --> 00:15:31,424 was typically located outside of the village 438 00:15:31,804 --> 00:15:34,365 on a flat open area preferably on an 439 00:15:34,365 --> 00:15:36,924 elevated place so that the wind would blow 440 00:15:36,924 --> 00:15:38,764 and it could aid in the separation of 441 00:15:38,764 --> 00:15:41,929 the wheat which was lighter from the chaff 442 00:15:41,990 --> 00:15:42,809 which was heavier. 443 00:15:44,070 --> 00:15:45,529 After the grain was crushed 444 00:15:46,070 --> 00:15:48,549 to begin that process of separation between the 445 00:15:48,549 --> 00:15:49,049 kernels 446 00:15:49,429 --> 00:15:50,330 from the husks, 447 00:15:51,029 --> 00:15:53,269 the thrust material was then tossed in the 448 00:15:53,269 --> 00:15:54,809 air with a winnowing fork. 449 00:15:55,394 --> 00:15:57,154 As it was tossed in the air, because 450 00:15:57,154 --> 00:15:58,855 you were in a high place, the wind 451 00:15:59,154 --> 00:16:01,075 would be blowing and it would take those 452 00:16:01,075 --> 00:16:01,575 husks, 453 00:16:03,315 --> 00:16:05,014 which were which were lighter, 454 00:16:05,875 --> 00:16:08,035 and and and then the heavier grain would 455 00:16:08,035 --> 00:16:10,820 fall to the ground and the discrimination of 456 00:16:10,820 --> 00:16:13,539 the 2 would take place because of the 457 00:16:13,539 --> 00:16:14,039 work 458 00:16:14,500 --> 00:16:15,399 of the wind. 459 00:16:16,740 --> 00:16:17,639 In the metaphor, 460 00:16:18,419 --> 00:16:20,840 the chaff which was gathered 461 00:16:21,220 --> 00:16:22,120 to be burned 462 00:16:22,784 --> 00:16:24,144 as after after it was blown away, it 463 00:16:24,144 --> 00:16:25,745 would be gathered and we sent away to 464 00:16:25,745 --> 00:16:27,764 be burned, that chaff represented 465 00:16:28,704 --> 00:16:29,524 the unrighteous 466 00:16:29,985 --> 00:16:30,485 person, 467 00:16:31,184 --> 00:16:32,004 the unjustified 468 00:16:32,384 --> 00:16:34,384 person, the person that on the day of 469 00:16:34,384 --> 00:16:34,884 judgment 470 00:16:35,264 --> 00:16:36,084 will hear 471 00:16:36,839 --> 00:16:37,339 guilty 472 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:39,819 as his or her sentence. 473 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:43,339 And of course, the, 474 00:16:43,959 --> 00:16:44,699 the wheat 475 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:46,699 on the other hand represented 476 00:16:47,159 --> 00:16:48,459 those who are justified, 477 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:50,539 those who will be declared 478 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:51,740 not guilty 479 00:16:52,625 --> 00:16:54,164 on the day of judgment. 480 00:16:54,865 --> 00:16:56,884 And the key factor in the separation 481 00:16:57,585 --> 00:17:00,225 of the wheat from the chaff was the 482 00:17:00,225 --> 00:17:01,764 wind and so too, 483 00:17:02,304 --> 00:17:03,284 the key factor 484 00:17:03,585 --> 00:17:04,484 in the separation 485 00:17:05,429 --> 00:17:08,329 of the justifier from the unjustified 486 00:17:09,190 --> 00:17:11,769 is the Holy Spirit which by the way, 487 00:17:12,149 --> 00:17:13,289 both in Hebrew 488 00:17:13,909 --> 00:17:16,309 and in Greek is the same word as 489 00:17:16,309 --> 00:17:16,809 wind. 490 00:17:17,765 --> 00:17:19,544 It is the wind, it is the spirit 491 00:17:20,404 --> 00:17:21,224 that separates, 492 00:17:21,684 --> 00:17:23,464 it is the spirit that 493 00:17:24,005 --> 00:17:24,505 justifies 494 00:17:25,284 --> 00:17:26,265 as it were. 495 00:17:26,804 --> 00:17:29,365 It's no surprise therefore, that when in the 496 00:17:29,365 --> 00:17:30,024 Old Testament, 497 00:17:30,519 --> 00:17:32,920 when God calls King Solomon to build the 498 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:33,420 temple, 499 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:35,099 the very place 500 00:17:35,559 --> 00:17:36,059 where 501 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:38,759 sacrifices would be offered day in and day 502 00:17:38,759 --> 00:17:40,380 out to atone for sin, 503 00:17:40,839 --> 00:17:43,500 He calls on Solomon to build it 504 00:17:43,835 --> 00:17:46,394 on a field that David had purchased, a 505 00:17:46,394 --> 00:17:48,575 field that used to be a threshing floor, 506 00:17:49,115 --> 00:17:51,134 a field that was elevated. That's why, 507 00:17:51,515 --> 00:17:53,755 it's the temple today is on a high 508 00:17:53,755 --> 00:17:56,815 place in Jerusalem on where Moriah was. 509 00:17:57,609 --> 00:18:00,250 And it was the wind that separated the 510 00:18:00,250 --> 00:18:01,849 wheat from the chaff. And so it's also 511 00:18:01,849 --> 00:18:02,829 the Holy Spirit 512 00:18:03,210 --> 00:18:04,190 that separates 513 00:18:05,289 --> 00:18:06,029 the justified 514 00:18:06,569 --> 00:18:07,710 from the unjustified. 515 00:18:08,250 --> 00:18:10,589 So that to be justified, you must have 516 00:18:11,134 --> 00:18:13,055 the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit must do 517 00:18:13,055 --> 00:18:13,715 the work. 518 00:18:15,215 --> 00:18:16,195 This is why 519 00:18:16,894 --> 00:18:17,795 we need many 520 00:18:18,735 --> 00:18:19,235 good, 521 00:18:20,335 --> 00:18:20,835 solid, 522 00:18:21,455 --> 00:18:22,515 faithful churches 523 00:18:22,815 --> 00:18:25,075 where the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed, 524 00:18:25,319 --> 00:18:27,559 where the Holy Spirit works through the preaching 525 00:18:27,559 --> 00:18:30,279 of the word to apply the saving grace 526 00:18:30,279 --> 00:18:31,019 of justification 527 00:18:31,799 --> 00:18:32,460 to sinners, 528 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:34,139 to regenerate 529 00:18:34,599 --> 00:18:35,259 and renew 530 00:18:35,639 --> 00:18:38,599 hearts of stone into hearts of flesh by 531 00:18:38,599 --> 00:18:39,980 the work of the Holy Spirit. 532 00:18:41,734 --> 00:18:43,255 This is why God is calling us to 533 00:18:43,255 --> 00:18:44,315 plant this church. 534 00:18:46,054 --> 00:18:47,654 The church of Jesus Christ is not meant 535 00:18:47,654 --> 00:18:48,875 to be a social club 536 00:18:49,335 --> 00:18:51,514 where people can come to be entertained 537 00:18:52,534 --> 00:18:53,595 or to network 538 00:18:54,130 --> 00:18:56,049 or just to feel good about ourselves, to 539 00:18:56,049 --> 00:18:57,669 have a good time. That's not 540 00:18:58,289 --> 00:18:59,429 the primary purpose 541 00:18:59,890 --> 00:19:00,710 of the church. 542 00:19:01,890 --> 00:19:03,890 The church of Jesus Christ is an outpost 543 00:19:03,890 --> 00:19:06,069 of God's kingdom in enemy territory, 544 00:19:06,955 --> 00:19:08,335 where the message of salvation 545 00:19:08,715 --> 00:19:09,455 is clearly, 546 00:19:10,075 --> 00:19:10,575 boldly, 547 00:19:11,355 --> 00:19:14,414 and lovingly proclaimed not just by the preacher, 548 00:19:14,715 --> 00:19:16,174 but by all her members 549 00:19:16,475 --> 00:19:17,775 who through their words, 550 00:19:18,075 --> 00:19:20,575 but also through their service in the community, 551 00:19:20,990 --> 00:19:23,470 and their hospitality in their homes, and their 552 00:19:23,470 --> 00:19:26,590 generosity with their time, and their talent, and 553 00:19:26,590 --> 00:19:27,330 their treasure, 554 00:19:27,789 --> 00:19:28,289 delight 555 00:19:28,750 --> 00:19:31,230 in sharing the hope that lives within them 556 00:19:31,230 --> 00:19:32,849 with gentleness and respect. 557 00:19:34,065 --> 00:19:35,444 That's what the church is. 558 00:19:36,065 --> 00:19:38,164 It is an outpost in enemy territory. 559 00:19:39,904 --> 00:19:40,724 When Moses 560 00:19:41,105 --> 00:19:42,644 guided the people of Israel 561 00:19:43,345 --> 00:19:45,424 right up to the border of the land 562 00:19:45,424 --> 00:19:47,444 of promise, knowing that he himself 563 00:19:48,250 --> 00:19:49,549 would not be allowed 564 00:19:49,849 --> 00:19:52,169 to lead the conquest of the Holy Land, 565 00:19:52,169 --> 00:19:53,470 he called on Joshua 566 00:19:54,169 --> 00:19:56,650 and he exhorted him and all of Israel 567 00:19:56,650 --> 00:19:59,289 with him, to read God's word and to 568 00:19:59,289 --> 00:20:00,509 take it to heart, 569 00:20:00,845 --> 00:20:03,025 and to live according to his precepts saying, 570 00:20:03,085 --> 00:20:06,065 for this is no ordinary word for you, 571 00:20:06,204 --> 00:20:07,585 it is your very 572 00:20:07,884 --> 00:20:08,384 life. 573 00:20:10,445 --> 00:20:11,664 Christ now calls 574 00:20:12,605 --> 00:20:13,505 you his disciples 575 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,259 to take every square inch 576 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:17,539 in the woodlands 577 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,080 and in Montgomery County and even to the 578 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:22,400 ends of the earth and claim it for 579 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:24,240 the King of kings and the Lord of 580 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,019 lords, it belongs to Him. 581 00:20:27,065 --> 00:20:28,845 He calls us to do it by proclaiming 582 00:20:29,065 --> 00:20:29,884 His word 583 00:20:30,184 --> 00:20:31,724 which is our very life 584 00:20:32,265 --> 00:20:33,805 and which will bring justification 585 00:20:34,984 --> 00:20:35,805 for the unrighteous, 586 00:20:36,424 --> 00:20:39,480 and joy for those who mourn, and hope 587 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:42,440 for the destitute, and peace for those in 588 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:45,240 despair. That's what the spirit will do. Doesn't 589 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:46,220 that excite you? 590 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:48,940 Isn't this a call worthy 591 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:50,299 of your commitment? 592 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:52,700 In a world full of darkness, 593 00:20:53,244 --> 00:20:54,304 and full of sadness, 594 00:20:54,765 --> 00:20:57,345 and full of hate, God is calling you, 595 00:20:57,724 --> 00:20:58,865 he's calling us 596 00:20:59,325 --> 00:20:59,825 together 597 00:21:00,365 --> 00:21:02,524 to be his light, and to share his 598 00:21:02,524 --> 00:21:05,484 joy, and to demonstrate his love, to proclaim 599 00:21:05,484 --> 00:21:07,899 the good news of salvation that is found 600 00:21:07,899 --> 00:21:10,119 in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 601 00:21:11,779 --> 00:21:14,200 Now, we cannot do this on our own. 602 00:21:14,660 --> 00:21:15,960 We are not sufficient 603 00:21:16,420 --> 00:21:19,480 for these things, but his grace is sufficient. 604 00:21:19,795 --> 00:21:21,714 His grace is sufficient for us because his 605 00:21:21,714 --> 00:21:23,654 power is made perfect in our weakness. 606 00:21:25,714 --> 00:21:27,015 We cannot do this alone. 607 00:21:27,954 --> 00:21:29,015 But here's the thing. 608 00:21:29,474 --> 00:21:30,855 We are not alone. 609 00:21:32,195 --> 00:21:33,255 We are not alone. 610 00:21:34,850 --> 00:21:35,590 We have 611 00:21:36,210 --> 00:21:38,529 the Holy Spirit. In verse 9, Paul says 612 00:21:38,529 --> 00:21:39,830 that we have the Spirit 613 00:21:40,210 --> 00:21:40,950 of Christ 614 00:21:41,330 --> 00:21:43,670 and just like the Spirit of Christ transformed 615 00:21:43,890 --> 00:21:46,609 our hearts, he will transform the hearts of 616 00:21:46,609 --> 00:21:47,109 others. 617 00:21:48,194 --> 00:21:48,934 He will 618 00:21:49,234 --> 00:21:51,015 do it. He will do the work. 619 00:21:51,634 --> 00:21:54,294 He will give the increase. He will regenerate 620 00:21:54,835 --> 00:21:55,575 and justify. 621 00:21:57,315 --> 00:21:59,394 Now having considered the role of the Holy 622 00:21:59,394 --> 00:22:01,954 Spirit in our justification, let's turn our attention 623 00:22:01,954 --> 00:22:04,109 now to our second heading, the role of 624 00:22:04,109 --> 00:22:05,730 the Holy Spirit in our sanctification. 625 00:22:06,029 --> 00:22:07,970 Look at verse 10 with me. 626 00:22:09,549 --> 00:22:11,089 But if Christ is in you, 627 00:22:11,710 --> 00:22:13,970 although the body is dead because of sin, 628 00:22:14,509 --> 00:22:15,890 the spirit is life 629 00:22:16,615 --> 00:22:17,674 because of righteousness. 630 00:22:19,095 --> 00:22:21,095 The first thing to note in this verse 631 00:22:21,095 --> 00:22:23,835 this morning is that it uses a parallel 632 00:22:23,974 --> 00:22:27,355 structure to contrast the body with the spirit, 633 00:22:28,534 --> 00:22:29,355 being dead 634 00:22:29,910 --> 00:22:30,890 with life 635 00:22:31,830 --> 00:22:32,970 and sin 636 00:22:33,590 --> 00:22:34,410 with righteousness. 637 00:22:35,990 --> 00:22:38,470 The point is that since Christians possess the 638 00:22:38,470 --> 00:22:39,289 Holy Spirit, 639 00:22:39,590 --> 00:22:41,369 they will no longer be governed 640 00:22:41,910 --> 00:22:44,890 by the principle of decay which is germane 641 00:22:44,950 --> 00:22:45,609 to death. 642 00:22:46,115 --> 00:22:47,875 They will no longer be governed by that 643 00:22:47,875 --> 00:22:50,515 principle which operates in their bodies as a 644 00:22:50,515 --> 00:22:51,815 consequence of sin. 645 00:22:53,154 --> 00:22:53,654 Instead, 646 00:22:54,515 --> 00:22:57,494 because the righteous and life giving spirit 647 00:22:57,875 --> 00:23:00,515 has taken residence in the believer's heart at 648 00:23:00,515 --> 00:23:01,015 regeneration, 649 00:23:02,250 --> 00:23:03,309 he will be working 650 00:23:03,849 --> 00:23:04,349 righteousness 651 00:23:04,650 --> 00:23:05,390 and life 652 00:23:05,769 --> 00:23:07,549 in and through the believer. 653 00:23:08,330 --> 00:23:11,230 The spirit is working righteousness and life 654 00:23:11,529 --> 00:23:13,150 in and through us. 655 00:23:14,434 --> 00:23:15,734 Although because of sin, 656 00:23:16,355 --> 00:23:16,855 believers 657 00:23:17,154 --> 00:23:19,234 are still subject to all the miseries of 658 00:23:19,234 --> 00:23:19,974 this life 659 00:23:20,674 --> 00:23:22,214 including pain and suffering, 660 00:23:23,154 --> 00:23:25,015 including trials and sorrows, 661 00:23:25,714 --> 00:23:26,855 including even 662 00:23:27,315 --> 00:23:27,815 illness 663 00:23:28,595 --> 00:23:29,335 and death. 664 00:23:30,169 --> 00:23:32,490 So much for the prosperity gospel and for 665 00:23:32,490 --> 00:23:34,429 the health and wealth gospel by the way. 666 00:23:35,529 --> 00:23:36,029 Nevertheless, 667 00:23:37,369 --> 00:23:40,669 because the Holy Spirit dwells within the believer, 668 00:23:42,009 --> 00:23:42,509 Christians 669 00:23:43,325 --> 00:23:45,724 can and will bear the fruit of the 670 00:23:45,724 --> 00:23:46,224 spirit 671 00:23:46,684 --> 00:23:47,984 in this life. 672 00:23:49,964 --> 00:23:51,505 Though sin produces death 673 00:23:51,805 --> 00:23:54,065 and as a result our bodies are decaying, 674 00:23:54,365 --> 00:23:56,464 death will not have the last word. 675 00:23:58,100 --> 00:23:58,600 Rather, 676 00:23:59,140 --> 00:24:00,360 through the Holy Spirit, 677 00:24:00,980 --> 00:24:03,940 we can bear good fruit that pleases God 678 00:24:03,940 --> 00:24:06,019 and serves our neighbors. We can grow in 679 00:24:06,019 --> 00:24:06,519 godliness, 680 00:24:06,900 --> 00:24:07,799 we can become 681 00:24:08,100 --> 00:24:09,700 through the work of the Holy Spirit in 682 00:24:09,700 --> 00:24:10,360 our lives 683 00:24:10,740 --> 00:24:12,600 more and more like Christ. 684 00:24:14,394 --> 00:24:15,214 This growth 685 00:24:15,755 --> 00:24:16,815 in Christ likeness, 686 00:24:17,195 --> 00:24:20,255 this growth in holiness is known as sanctification. 687 00:24:22,154 --> 00:24:24,795 From the Latin, sanctus which means holy, we 688 00:24:24,795 --> 00:24:27,115 are being made holy, we are growing in 689 00:24:27,115 --> 00:24:29,769 holiness, we are growing in godliness. 690 00:24:30,150 --> 00:24:32,569 That's what sanctification means. Look at, 691 00:24:33,029 --> 00:24:36,169 how the Westminster Shorter Catechism defines sanctification. 692 00:24:37,429 --> 00:24:38,169 It says, 693 00:24:39,190 --> 00:24:39,690 sanctification 694 00:24:39,990 --> 00:24:40,970 is the work 695 00:24:41,509 --> 00:24:42,809 of God's free grace, 696 00:24:43,835 --> 00:24:46,154 whereby we are renewed in the whole man 697 00:24:46,154 --> 00:24:47,455 after the image of God 698 00:24:47,914 --> 00:24:50,095 and are enabled more and more 699 00:24:50,555 --> 00:24:51,855 to die into sin 700 00:24:52,234 --> 00:24:53,055 and live 701 00:24:53,515 --> 00:24:55,775 unto righteousness. Look at those contrasts 702 00:24:56,234 --> 00:24:57,214 there in sanctification. 703 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:00,700 The contrast between death and life, 704 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:02,859 the contrast between sin 705 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:03,980 and righteousness. 706 00:25:04,599 --> 00:25:06,440 And it's because it's the work of God's 707 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:08,119 free grace. It is the work of the 708 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:08,619 spirit. 709 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:11,259 Remember, justification is an act 710 00:25:11,639 --> 00:25:12,859 of God's free grace. 711 00:25:13,555 --> 00:25:15,255 Sanctification is the work 712 00:25:15,955 --> 00:25:17,095 of God's free grace. 713 00:25:18,115 --> 00:25:21,394 Justification is a one time act whereby the 714 00:25:21,394 --> 00:25:22,134 Holy Spirit 715 00:25:22,515 --> 00:25:23,015 imputes, 716 00:25:24,115 --> 00:25:24,615 credits 717 00:25:25,154 --> 00:25:25,894 the righteousness 718 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:27,539 of Jesus 719 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:30,500 to us by divine decree. 720 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,680 It's a one time act. He declares it 721 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:34,660 and it is so. 722 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:36,660 Sanctification 723 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,420 entails the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit 724 00:25:40,795 --> 00:25:43,295 whereby the Holy Spirit is working righteousness 725 00:25:43,835 --> 00:25:44,654 and life 726 00:25:45,035 --> 00:25:46,654 in and through us. 727 00:25:48,875 --> 00:25:50,174 He's moving us away 728 00:25:50,795 --> 00:25:52,255 from the sinful acts 729 00:25:53,019 --> 00:25:54,160 and sinful choices 730 00:25:54,779 --> 00:25:55,519 and sinful 731 00:25:55,980 --> 00:25:56,480 lifestyles 732 00:25:56,859 --> 00:25:58,079 that produce death. 733 00:25:59,019 --> 00:26:00,859 It's a mercy that he's moving us away 734 00:26:00,859 --> 00:26:01,599 from that. 735 00:26:02,859 --> 00:26:06,000 And instead he's working in us the righteous 736 00:26:06,059 --> 00:26:06,559 deeds, 737 00:26:07,335 --> 00:26:09,515 decisions, and habits that produce 738 00:26:10,134 --> 00:26:12,075 life. The Spirit is life 739 00:26:12,615 --> 00:26:13,674 because of righteousness, 740 00:26:14,775 --> 00:26:15,595 writes Paul. 741 00:26:16,855 --> 00:26:19,494 In other words, if the Holy Spirit dwells 742 00:26:19,494 --> 00:26:20,394 within you, 743 00:26:20,910 --> 00:26:22,690 your life will demonstrate it, 744 00:26:23,309 --> 00:26:25,170 your actions will reveal it, 745 00:26:25,789 --> 00:26:28,289 your spiritual fruit will bear witness 746 00:26:28,590 --> 00:26:31,890 to the life giving spirit dwelling in you. 747 00:26:33,464 --> 00:26:35,865 Because the true Christian has the holy spirit 748 00:26:35,865 --> 00:26:37,484 dwelling within him or her, 749 00:26:38,184 --> 00:26:39,884 the Christian will not behave 750 00:26:40,744 --> 00:26:41,565 or act 751 00:26:42,105 --> 00:26:44,585 or even speak in the same way that 752 00:26:44,585 --> 00:26:45,805 unbelievers do. 753 00:26:47,519 --> 00:26:48,900 The world will know you 754 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:50,340 by your fruit. 755 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:53,619 Good works are not the root 756 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:57,140 of your justification, but they are the fruit 757 00:26:57,519 --> 00:26:59,460 of your justification. We should expect 758 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:00,900 good works. 759 00:27:02,555 --> 00:27:04,174 This is also why we are planting 760 00:27:04,634 --> 00:27:05,375 this church. 761 00:27:05,994 --> 00:27:08,494 Our call isn't merely to make new converts, 762 00:27:08,795 --> 00:27:10,394 although that is an important part of our 763 00:27:10,394 --> 00:27:10,894 mission, 764 00:27:11,355 --> 00:27:13,775 but Christ specifically calls us to make disciples. 765 00:27:14,730 --> 00:27:17,450 So the Holy Spirit doesn't only work through 766 00:27:17,450 --> 00:27:19,930 the church, particularly in his proclamation of the 767 00:27:19,930 --> 00:27:23,309 gospel to apply Christ's work of justification 768 00:27:23,930 --> 00:27:24,750 through regeneration. 769 00:27:25,369 --> 00:27:27,644 He also works in and through the church 770 00:27:27,865 --> 00:27:29,724 to grow people in godliness, 771 00:27:30,265 --> 00:27:31,644 to sanctify us. 772 00:27:32,424 --> 00:27:34,825 This certainly happens in the church on Sunday 773 00:27:34,825 --> 00:27:35,325 mornings 774 00:27:35,704 --> 00:27:38,605 when we read God's word, and we hear 775 00:27:38,904 --> 00:27:41,384 God's word preached, and when we learn God's 776 00:27:41,384 --> 00:27:44,579 word in Sunday school and when we pray 777 00:27:44,579 --> 00:27:47,700 God's word and when we sing God's word 778 00:27:47,700 --> 00:27:50,819 and when we see, touch and taste God's 779 00:27:50,819 --> 00:27:52,440 word in the sacraments. 780 00:27:53,460 --> 00:27:55,940 The holy spirit disciples us through all of 781 00:27:55,940 --> 00:27:57,319 these means of grace 782 00:27:57,694 --> 00:28:00,815 molding us and shaping us into the image 783 00:28:00,815 --> 00:28:01,555 of Christ. 784 00:28:02,335 --> 00:28:03,954 This is why you must prioritize 785 00:28:04,654 --> 00:28:05,154 worship. 786 00:28:07,055 --> 00:28:09,535 Because you see, not only are you active 787 00:28:09,535 --> 00:28:10,674 when you attend worship, 788 00:28:11,360 --> 00:28:14,000 but the Holy Spirit is also active in 789 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:14,500 you, 790 00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:16,900 growing you in righteousness 791 00:28:17,519 --> 00:28:18,259 and in 792 00:28:18,559 --> 00:28:19,059 life. 793 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,660 But Sunday morning is not the only time 794 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:24,660 when discipleship takes place. 795 00:28:25,765 --> 00:28:27,845 And this is why we need more and 796 00:28:27,845 --> 00:28:30,345 more church plants in more and more places 797 00:28:30,644 --> 00:28:32,325 because it's not just about what happens on 798 00:28:32,325 --> 00:28:34,164 Sunday morning when somebody might be willing to 799 00:28:34,164 --> 00:28:34,664 drive 800 00:28:35,765 --> 00:28:36,345 a longer 801 00:28:36,805 --> 00:28:39,305 on a longer route. It happens every day. 802 00:28:39,869 --> 00:28:41,170 It happens in the way 803 00:28:41,630 --> 00:28:42,609 that we live. 804 00:28:43,309 --> 00:28:45,789 The Holy Spirit works in you through your 805 00:28:45,789 --> 00:28:46,769 personal devotions, 806 00:28:47,789 --> 00:28:49,490 through your time in private prayer, 807 00:28:50,269 --> 00:28:52,049 through your midweek bible studies 808 00:28:52,774 --> 00:28:54,634 and through every decision you make 809 00:28:55,095 --> 00:28:56,234 to avoid sin, 810 00:28:56,694 --> 00:28:57,674 to choose righteousness, 811 00:28:58,534 --> 00:29:01,115 to help your neighbor, to share the gospel, 812 00:29:01,414 --> 00:29:04,234 in every one of those decisions and actions, 813 00:29:05,014 --> 00:29:05,514 sanctification 814 00:29:05,815 --> 00:29:06,794 is taking place 815 00:29:07,529 --> 00:29:08,029 in 816 00:29:08,410 --> 00:29:10,990 you and in those with whom you interact, 817 00:29:11,210 --> 00:29:14,009 if indeed the Holy Spirit goes and works 818 00:29:14,009 --> 00:29:14,670 in them. 819 00:29:16,490 --> 00:29:17,950 Just like we want to 820 00:29:18,890 --> 00:29:20,509 honor guests in our homes, 821 00:29:21,384 --> 00:29:22,904 with the way that we behave when they 822 00:29:22,904 --> 00:29:23,565 are there. 823 00:29:24,025 --> 00:29:25,404 So too with our actions, 824 00:29:25,865 --> 00:29:26,924 and with our words, 825 00:29:27,304 --> 00:29:28,525 and with our behaviors, 826 00:29:28,904 --> 00:29:30,444 Christians must honor 827 00:29:31,065 --> 00:29:32,525 the distinguished guests 828 00:29:33,224 --> 00:29:34,525 dwelling within us. 829 00:29:36,179 --> 00:29:38,980 Remember the holy spirit dwells within you if 830 00:29:38,980 --> 00:29:39,960 you are a Christian. 831 00:29:41,299 --> 00:29:43,139 Think about how that needs to shape the 832 00:29:43,139 --> 00:29:44,679 way that we act 833 00:29:45,460 --> 00:29:47,960 when we think nobody else is watching us. 834 00:29:49,765 --> 00:29:51,445 God is always not just watching us, he's 835 00:29:51,445 --> 00:29:52,025 with us 836 00:29:52,644 --> 00:29:53,785 in the Holy Spirit. 837 00:29:54,884 --> 00:29:56,505 How are we honoring our guests? 838 00:29:56,884 --> 00:29:58,964 Knowing that the Holy Spirit dwells in us 839 00:29:58,964 --> 00:30:01,525 ought to curb our sinful behavior at the 840 00:30:01,525 --> 00:30:02,265 very least, 841 00:30:02,690 --> 00:30:05,329 and also should spur us to good works 842 00:30:05,329 --> 00:30:07,429 that please God, that please 843 00:30:07,730 --> 00:30:08,470 our guest. 844 00:30:10,369 --> 00:30:12,210 The body may be dying because of the 845 00:30:12,210 --> 00:30:15,009 persisting effect of sin, but the spirit will 846 00:30:15,009 --> 00:30:16,390 bear the fruit of life 847 00:30:17,005 --> 00:30:18,384 because of the righteousness 848 00:30:18,845 --> 00:30:19,664 of our guest. 849 00:30:21,325 --> 00:30:22,544 Does your life demonstrate 850 00:30:23,325 --> 00:30:25,105 that the spirit dwells in you? 851 00:30:26,285 --> 00:30:29,585 Is your love for and commitment to worship 852 00:30:30,044 --> 00:30:30,544 growing? 853 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:34,640 Is your interest in and love for God's 854 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:35,619 word increasing? 855 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:38,820 Are you communing with God 856 00:30:39,519 --> 00:30:40,259 through prayer? 857 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,320 Do you enjoy fellowship with other believers and 858 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:46,080 long for it and look for it and 859 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:47,220 prioritize it? 860 00:30:48,585 --> 00:30:49,644 Do people know 861 00:30:50,505 --> 00:30:53,065 that you belong to Jesus because of how 862 00:30:53,065 --> 00:30:55,724 you live? Because of the things you prioritize? 863 00:30:55,865 --> 00:30:58,025 Because of where you invest your time and 864 00:30:58,025 --> 00:31:00,980 your talents and your treasure? Because of your 865 00:31:00,980 --> 00:31:03,480 service to God, and your service 866 00:31:03,940 --> 00:31:04,839 in your community. 867 00:31:06,579 --> 00:31:08,039 Does this community know 868 00:31:08,500 --> 00:31:11,159 that God has called us, all of us 869 00:31:11,299 --> 00:31:13,879 to love him and to love this community 870 00:31:14,224 --> 00:31:16,164 through our love and through our service. 871 00:31:17,505 --> 00:31:18,644 That is our responsibility 872 00:31:19,664 --> 00:31:22,065 and our privilege as a church plant as 873 00:31:22,065 --> 00:31:24,325 the Holy Spirit works in and through us, 874 00:31:24,545 --> 00:31:27,445 as the Holy Spirit works life and righteousness 875 00:31:28,309 --> 00:31:31,190 in and through us, sanctifying us by making 876 00:31:31,190 --> 00:31:34,150 us faithful disciples of Jesus. We are called 877 00:31:34,150 --> 00:31:35,210 to make disciples, 878 00:31:36,150 --> 00:31:39,190 both inside of these walls and outside of 879 00:31:39,190 --> 00:31:41,750 these walls, both on Sunday morning and on 880 00:31:41,750 --> 00:31:42,569 Sunday evening 881 00:31:42,984 --> 00:31:45,144 and every day of the week. That's our 882 00:31:45,144 --> 00:31:46,524 call, and that's our privilege. 883 00:31:48,984 --> 00:31:50,664 Now having considered the role of the Holy 884 00:31:50,664 --> 00:31:51,804 Spirit in our justification 885 00:31:52,585 --> 00:31:54,105 and the role of our Holy Spirit in 886 00:31:54,105 --> 00:31:56,789 our sanctification, let's turn now to our final 887 00:31:56,789 --> 00:31:58,630 heading, the role of the Holy Spirit in 888 00:31:58,630 --> 00:31:59,369 our glorification. 889 00:31:59,750 --> 00:32:01,369 Look at verse 11 with me. 890 00:32:02,950 --> 00:32:04,789 If the spirit of him who raised Jesus 891 00:32:04,789 --> 00:32:06,329 from the dead dwells in you, 892 00:32:06,869 --> 00:32:09,029 he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead 893 00:32:09,029 --> 00:32:11,769 will also give life to your mortal bodies 894 00:32:12,365 --> 00:32:13,505 through His Spirit 895 00:32:14,045 --> 00:32:15,585 who dwells in you. 896 00:32:16,924 --> 00:32:18,225 It's difficult to imagine 897 00:32:18,605 --> 00:32:21,565 a more clear and forceful statement regarding the 898 00:32:21,565 --> 00:32:23,184 total victory of the believer 899 00:32:23,565 --> 00:32:25,105 through the power of God. 900 00:32:26,279 --> 00:32:27,580 This awesome text 901 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:31,240 teaches that if the Holy Spirit dwells in 902 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:31,740 you, 903 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:33,180 you share 904 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:35,259 in Christ's resurrection, 905 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,759 that what happened on Calvary and at the 906 00:32:38,759 --> 00:32:40,940 tomb is actually part of you. 907 00:32:41,434 --> 00:32:42,255 Is that not 908 00:32:42,755 --> 00:32:43,255 amazing? 909 00:32:43,755 --> 00:32:45,134 Is that not astonishing? 910 00:32:47,515 --> 00:32:49,275 And it's a part of you because he 911 00:32:49,275 --> 00:32:51,054 who raised Jesus from the dead 912 00:32:51,355 --> 00:32:54,554 now has taken residence in you. He dwells 913 00:32:54,554 --> 00:32:55,294 in you. 914 00:32:56,570 --> 00:32:57,470 This is amazing. 915 00:32:58,570 --> 00:33:01,289 This is why even when death claims your 916 00:33:01,289 --> 00:33:01,789 body, 917 00:33:02,170 --> 00:33:05,470 death's ostensible final word shall actually 918 00:33:05,849 --> 00:33:06,750 usher in 919 00:33:07,289 --> 00:33:07,789 death's 920 00:33:08,250 --> 00:33:09,470 final defeat. 921 00:33:11,414 --> 00:33:13,274 In a stunning turn of events 922 00:33:14,214 --> 00:33:17,274 that evidences God's unstoppable power, 923 00:33:17,894 --> 00:33:21,914 the Holy Spirit shall undo what heretofore 924 00:33:22,615 --> 00:33:25,994 was death's uncontested dominion over you. 925 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:29,559 And he will do this by transforming your 926 00:33:29,559 --> 00:33:33,320 mortal and then evidently lifeless body into an 927 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:33,820 immortal, 928 00:33:34,359 --> 00:33:34,859 imperishable, 929 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:36,220 undefiled, 930 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:37,340 unfading, 931 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:39,420 and glorious body. 932 00:33:40,294 --> 00:33:42,154 A body that will be full of vigor, 933 00:33:42,535 --> 00:33:45,914 full of health, and brimming with eternal life 934 00:33:45,974 --> 00:33:46,954 by the very 935 00:33:47,255 --> 00:33:50,394 same power that raised Jesus from the dead. 936 00:33:52,134 --> 00:33:54,694 Dear Christian, listen to this. By the most 937 00:33:54,694 --> 00:33:55,194 amazing, 938 00:33:56,049 --> 00:33:56,549 unimaginable, 939 00:33:57,009 --> 00:33:58,470 and undeserved grace, 940 00:33:58,769 --> 00:33:59,589 God's glory 941 00:34:00,049 --> 00:34:01,349 through the Holy Spirit 942 00:34:01,809 --> 00:34:02,869 dwells within 943 00:34:03,490 --> 00:34:06,070 your and mine sin infected 944 00:34:06,529 --> 00:34:08,230 and sin afflicted body. 945 00:34:10,184 --> 00:34:12,125 And this glory of God 946 00:34:12,744 --> 00:34:15,965 which dwells in you and already is producing 947 00:34:16,025 --> 00:34:19,005 life in you cannot be subdued by death 948 00:34:19,065 --> 00:34:21,485 and will not be contained by the grave. 949 00:34:23,180 --> 00:34:24,079 This is why 950 00:34:24,619 --> 00:34:26,800 if the Holy Spirit dwells in you 951 00:34:27,420 --> 00:34:28,079 with His 952 00:34:29,260 --> 00:34:29,760 unstoppable, 953 00:34:30,619 --> 00:34:31,760 glorious life, 954 00:34:32,140 --> 00:34:34,860 death will not have the final word over 955 00:34:34,860 --> 00:34:35,360 you. 956 00:34:36,815 --> 00:34:39,375 For in a moment, in the twinkling of 957 00:34:39,375 --> 00:34:42,114 an eye, death shall be swallowed up, 958 00:34:42,654 --> 00:34:44,734 and you shall have the final word as 959 00:34:44,734 --> 00:34:46,815 you cry out with a booming voice, oh, 960 00:34:46,815 --> 00:34:49,375 death, where is your victory? Oh, death, where 961 00:34:49,375 --> 00:34:50,355 is your sting?' 962 00:34:52,190 --> 00:34:53,250 Brothers and sisters, 963 00:34:53,710 --> 00:34:55,329 we are all being transformed 964 00:34:56,429 --> 00:34:58,670 into something that we cannot even begin to 965 00:34:58,670 --> 00:34:59,170 imagine. 966 00:35:00,989 --> 00:35:03,469 The great British author, C. S. Lewis, in 967 00:35:03,469 --> 00:35:05,710 his famous thought provoking essay, The Weight of 968 00:35:05,710 --> 00:35:06,210 Glory, 969 00:35:07,025 --> 00:35:10,545 addresses the awesome or terrifying destiny that awaits 970 00:35:10,545 --> 00:35:11,204 us all 971 00:35:11,585 --> 00:35:12,965 in this way. He writes, 972 00:35:15,184 --> 00:35:17,184 it is a serious thing to live in 973 00:35:17,184 --> 00:35:19,765 a society of possible gods and goddesses 974 00:35:20,909 --> 00:35:22,530 To remember that the dullest 975 00:35:23,309 --> 00:35:24,530 and most uninteresting 976 00:35:24,909 --> 00:35:25,409 person 977 00:35:26,109 --> 00:35:28,190 you can talk to may one day be 978 00:35:28,190 --> 00:35:31,089 a creature which if you saw it now, 979 00:35:32,030 --> 00:35:34,289 you would be strongly tempted to worship 980 00:35:35,195 --> 00:35:37,454 or else a horror and a corruption 981 00:35:38,715 --> 00:35:40,974 such as you now meet, if at all, 982 00:35:41,195 --> 00:35:42,655 only in a nightmare. 983 00:35:44,074 --> 00:35:47,054 All day long, we are in some degree 984 00:35:47,434 --> 00:35:50,255 helping each other to one or other 985 00:35:50,820 --> 00:35:51,559 of these 986 00:35:51,860 --> 00:35:52,360 destinations. 987 00:35:53,940 --> 00:35:55,960 It is in the light of these overwhelming 988 00:35:56,420 --> 00:35:56,920 possibilities. 989 00:35:57,860 --> 00:35:59,960 It is with the awe and the circumspection 990 00:36:00,340 --> 00:36:01,480 proper to them 991 00:36:02,099 --> 00:36:04,260 that we should conduct all our dealings with 992 00:36:04,260 --> 00:36:05,000 one another. 993 00:36:05,894 --> 00:36:06,635 All friendships, 994 00:36:07,974 --> 00:36:08,795 all loves, 995 00:36:09,735 --> 00:36:10,554 all play, 996 00:36:11,414 --> 00:36:12,315 all politics. 997 00:36:13,175 --> 00:36:15,914 There are no ordinary people. 998 00:36:17,175 --> 00:36:18,715 You have never talked 999 00:36:19,175 --> 00:36:20,315 to a mere mortal. 1000 00:36:21,949 --> 00:36:22,449 Nations, 1001 00:36:23,549 --> 00:36:24,049 cultures, 1002 00:36:24,989 --> 00:36:25,489 arts, 1003 00:36:26,429 --> 00:36:26,929 civilization, 1004 00:36:27,549 --> 00:36:30,029 these are mortal and their life is to 1005 00:36:30,029 --> 00:36:30,529 ours 1006 00:36:30,989 --> 00:36:32,929 as the life of a gnat. 1007 00:36:34,429 --> 00:36:35,650 But it is immortals 1008 00:36:36,945 --> 00:36:38,085 whom we joke with, 1009 00:36:39,265 --> 00:36:40,005 work with, 1010 00:36:42,385 --> 00:36:43,045 marry, snub, 1011 00:36:43,585 --> 00:36:44,405 and exploit 1012 00:36:44,704 --> 00:36:45,844 immortal horrors 1013 00:36:46,864 --> 00:36:47,765 or everlasting 1014 00:36:48,305 --> 00:36:48,805 splendors. 1015 00:36:52,139 --> 00:36:53,039 Listen, because 1016 00:36:53,739 --> 00:36:54,880 you have never met 1017 00:36:55,179 --> 00:36:57,839 an ordinary person that is precisely 1018 00:36:58,940 --> 00:37:00,559 why we are planting this church. 1019 00:37:02,460 --> 00:37:04,559 The message God has given us to proclaim, 1020 00:37:05,585 --> 00:37:06,724 to be shaped by, 1021 00:37:07,505 --> 00:37:09,924 and to live out has eternal consequences. 1022 00:37:11,505 --> 00:37:13,605 No one should make the mistake of assuming 1023 00:37:14,144 --> 00:37:14,884 an eternal 1024 00:37:15,424 --> 00:37:15,924 changeless 1025 00:37:16,545 --> 00:37:18,404 status quo. It does not exist. 1026 00:37:20,109 --> 00:37:22,829 Sin is either shaping you into monsters that 1027 00:37:22,829 --> 00:37:24,530 would cause demons to shutter 1028 00:37:26,190 --> 00:37:27,409 or the Holy Spirit 1029 00:37:27,869 --> 00:37:31,230 is transforming you into glorious beings that would 1030 00:37:31,230 --> 00:37:33,650 tempt angels to bend their knee before you. 1031 00:37:35,714 --> 00:37:36,214 Everyone 1032 00:37:36,674 --> 00:37:37,494 is undergoing 1033 00:37:37,795 --> 00:37:38,454 a substantial 1034 00:37:39,154 --> 00:37:40,054 and awesome 1035 00:37:40,755 --> 00:37:41,255 transformation. 1036 00:37:42,994 --> 00:37:43,974 Let us begin 1037 00:37:44,594 --> 00:37:47,474 and contribute to this transformation by setting aside 1038 00:37:47,474 --> 00:37:48,534 the Lord's day 1039 00:37:48,835 --> 00:37:49,654 as holy. 1040 00:37:51,079 --> 00:37:53,079 God gives us the 1st day of the 1041 00:37:53,079 --> 00:37:56,380 week to restore us and to rebuild us. 1042 00:37:58,199 --> 00:37:58,940 This is 1043 00:37:59,320 --> 00:37:59,820 why 1044 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:02,219 our worship service 1045 00:38:02,599 --> 00:38:04,380 might be uncomfortable to us 1046 00:38:05,234 --> 00:38:07,734 because it is the Holy Spirit's scalpel 1047 00:38:08,755 --> 00:38:10,614 as he performs heart surgery 1048 00:38:11,394 --> 00:38:13,654 to change our self centered arrhythmia 1049 00:38:14,755 --> 00:38:15,654 for a heartbeat 1050 00:38:16,034 --> 00:38:17,734 dictated by heavenly rhythms 1051 00:38:19,039 --> 00:38:20,099 and to 1052 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:22,980 do brain surgery on us 1053 00:38:23,519 --> 00:38:24,820 to renew our minds 1054 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:28,260 that instead of being filled with worldly content, 1055 00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:30,179 we might be enabled and excited 1056 00:38:31,644 --> 00:38:33,905 to think God's thoughts after him 1057 00:38:35,085 --> 00:38:36,465 and to perform eye surgery 1058 00:38:37,164 --> 00:38:39,885 to enable us to see reality as it 1059 00:38:39,885 --> 00:38:40,385 is, 1060 00:38:41,005 --> 00:38:43,724 to recognize both the snares of sin that 1061 00:38:43,724 --> 00:38:44,945 we might avoid them 1062 00:38:45,530 --> 00:38:47,449 and the footsteps of Christ that we might 1063 00:38:47,449 --> 00:38:49,230 walk in newness of life. 1064 00:38:50,010 --> 00:38:52,089 It is the Holy Spirit's scalpel to perform 1065 00:38:52,089 --> 00:38:54,670 ear surgery on us that we might discern, 1066 00:38:55,289 --> 00:38:56,589 hear and obey 1067 00:38:57,050 --> 00:38:58,269 our Shepherd's voice, 1068 00:38:59,074 --> 00:39:01,554 especially as he speaks to us through his 1069 00:39:01,554 --> 00:39:02,054 spirit 1070 00:39:02,594 --> 00:39:03,574 in his word. 1071 00:39:04,674 --> 00:39:06,295 It is the Holy Spirit's scalpel 1072 00:39:06,835 --> 00:39:09,394 as he performs mouth surgery on us that 1073 00:39:09,394 --> 00:39:11,494 our tongues might be subdued and disciplined 1074 00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:13,380 and that our lips 1075 00:39:13,920 --> 00:39:16,639 might proclaim the gospel and sing praises to 1076 00:39:16,639 --> 00:39:18,019 our God and king. 1077 00:39:19,599 --> 00:39:20,659 In the Old Testament, 1078 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:23,119 God called his people to offer him the 1079 00:39:23,119 --> 00:39:25,199 first fruits of their labors as a sign 1080 00:39:25,199 --> 00:39:27,219 of their love and devotion to him. 1081 00:39:28,164 --> 00:39:28,664 Amazingly, 1082 00:39:30,085 --> 00:39:31,385 he has now given us 1083 00:39:31,844 --> 00:39:33,224 the 1st day of the week 1084 00:39:33,684 --> 00:39:35,304 for our rest and renewal 1085 00:39:35,684 --> 00:39:38,025 as a sign of his love and devotion 1086 00:39:38,885 --> 00:39:39,625 to us. 1087 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:43,619 Christian, don't forsake this gift. 1088 00:39:45,119 --> 00:39:46,579 Use it to worship God. 1089 00:39:47,680 --> 00:39:49,300 Use it to instruct your children 1090 00:39:49,920 --> 00:39:50,980 in God's word. 1091 00:39:52,239 --> 00:39:53,940 Use it to rest 1092 00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:55,619 by disconnecting, 1093 00:39:56,815 --> 00:39:58,114 disconnecting from electronics, 1094 00:39:59,375 --> 00:40:00,755 disconnecting from the cares 1095 00:40:01,295 --> 00:40:02,275 of this world. 1096 00:40:03,215 --> 00:40:04,675 Use it to bless your neighbors 1097 00:40:05,695 --> 00:40:07,954 by welcoming them into your home 1098 00:40:09,099 --> 00:40:12,159 and enjoying fellowship around a meal. 1099 00:40:13,339 --> 00:40:14,719 Imagine if you committed 1100 00:40:15,420 --> 00:40:16,480 to this radical 1101 00:40:16,859 --> 00:40:17,359 transformation 1102 00:40:17,739 --> 00:40:18,719 even if initially 1103 00:40:19,420 --> 00:40:20,880 just on the Lord's day. 1104 00:40:22,215 --> 00:40:23,035 Now imagine 1105 00:40:23,815 --> 00:40:25,114 if we could do it together 1106 00:40:26,055 --> 00:40:27,355 as a church body. 1107 00:40:27,974 --> 00:40:29,675 How radical would that be? 1108 00:40:30,695 --> 00:40:33,015 What a blessing will we bring to this 1109 00:40:33,015 --> 00:40:33,515 community? 1110 00:40:34,289 --> 00:40:35,910 What a witness to our children, 1111 00:40:36,449 --> 00:40:37,349 to our neighbors, 1112 00:40:37,890 --> 00:40:38,789 to our friends. 1113 00:40:40,369 --> 00:40:42,949 Kids using their imaginations to play outside 1114 00:40:43,730 --> 00:40:45,829 instead of playing with electronics inside. 1115 00:40:47,264 --> 00:40:48,964 Filling our homes with guests 1116 00:40:49,424 --> 00:40:51,764 instead of filling our shopping carts with things, 1117 00:40:53,184 --> 00:40:55,284 enjoying a family feast around a table 1118 00:40:55,984 --> 00:40:58,164 instead of paying for it at a restaurant, 1119 00:40:59,679 --> 00:41:00,820 Playing games together 1120 00:41:01,360 --> 00:41:04,099 instead of spending money to watch strangers play. 1121 00:41:05,599 --> 00:41:07,539 And praising god for his goodness 1122 00:41:08,160 --> 00:41:09,780 instead of cursing in traffic 1123 00:41:10,239 --> 00:41:11,219 or at crowds. 1124 00:41:13,545 --> 00:41:14,925 If you want to feed yourself, 1125 00:41:16,184 --> 00:41:17,964 go fish with a fishing rod. 1126 00:41:18,824 --> 00:41:20,844 But if you want to feed a community, 1127 00:41:21,464 --> 00:41:22,364 grab a net 1128 00:41:23,144 --> 00:41:25,164 and go fish with your brothers. 1129 00:41:26,510 --> 00:41:28,769 Jesus calls us to be fishers of men. 1130 00:41:29,630 --> 00:41:31,089 Let us do it with a net. 1131 00:41:31,710 --> 00:41:32,849 Let us do it together. 1132 00:41:33,869 --> 00:41:34,369 Food, 1133 00:41:34,829 --> 00:41:35,329 fun, 1134 00:41:35,869 --> 00:41:36,369 fellowship, 1135 00:41:37,389 --> 00:41:37,889 rest, 1136 00:41:38,824 --> 00:41:39,324 refreshment, 1137 00:41:40,264 --> 00:41:40,764 renewal, 1138 00:41:42,025 --> 00:41:42,525 justification, 1139 00:41:43,864 --> 00:41:44,364 sanctification, 1140 00:41:45,464 --> 00:41:47,964 glorification, it is all the spirit's work. 1141 00:41:48,824 --> 00:41:49,804 If the spirit 1142 00:41:50,585 --> 00:41:51,724 dwells in you, 1143 00:41:52,659 --> 00:41:54,199 your life will be transformed. 1144 00:41:54,739 --> 00:41:55,960 Are you okay with that? 1145 00:41:56,820 --> 00:41:57,880 You need to be. 1146 00:41:58,659 --> 00:41:59,639 It will happen. 1147 00:42:00,179 --> 00:42:01,559 It is already happening. 1148 00:42:02,221 --> 00:42:04,320 It is happening now if 1149 00:42:04,860 --> 00:42:06,001 the spirit of God 1150 00:42:06,460 --> 00:42:06,960 dwells 1151 00:42:07,421 --> 00:42:09,041 in you. Let's pray.