1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,799 Well, our sermon text this morning, or our 2 00:00:02,799 --> 00:00:06,660 scripture reading comes from Romans chapter 8, verses 3 00:00:06,799 --> 00:00:09,679 1 through 4. So here now, the word 4 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:10,900 of the living God. 5 00:00:11,919 --> 00:00:12,900 There is therefore 6 00:00:13,384 --> 00:00:14,525 now no condemnation 7 00:00:14,904 --> 00:00:17,384 for those who are in Christ Jesus, for 8 00:00:17,384 --> 00:00:19,484 the law of the spirit of life 9 00:00:19,864 --> 00:00:22,824 has set you free in Christ Jesus, from 10 00:00:22,824 --> 00:00:24,844 the law of sin and death. 11 00:00:25,699 --> 00:00:28,820 For God has done what the law weakened 12 00:00:28,820 --> 00:00:30,599 by the flesh could not do. 13 00:00:31,140 --> 00:00:33,879 By sending his own son in the likeness 14 00:00:34,020 --> 00:00:35,239 of sinful flesh, 15 00:00:35,699 --> 00:00:36,840 and for sin, 16 00:00:37,539 --> 00:00:39,799 he condemned a sin in the flesh, 17 00:00:40,585 --> 00:00:42,844 in order that the righteous requirements 18 00:00:43,145 --> 00:00:45,164 of the law might be fulfilled 19 00:00:45,945 --> 00:00:46,765 in us, 20 00:00:47,304 --> 00:00:49,945 who walk not according to the flesh, but 21 00:00:49,945 --> 00:00:50,445 according 22 00:00:50,905 --> 00:00:52,824 to the spirit. This is the word of 23 00:00:52,824 --> 00:00:53,484 the Lord. 24 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,019 Thanks be to God. You may be seated. 25 00:00:59,359 --> 00:01:01,780 Well this Lord's day, we begin our journey 26 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,739 into what many people consider 27 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,560 the most beloved chapter of the entire Bible, 28 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:10,305 if not for sure the New Testament. 29 00:01:10,765 --> 00:01:13,665 Martin Luther, the great Protestant reformer called, 30 00:01:14,444 --> 00:01:17,084 Romans chapter 8, the masterpiece of the New 31 00:01:17,084 --> 00:01:17,584 Testament. 32 00:01:18,204 --> 00:01:20,204 And one pastor in a commentary that I 33 00:01:20,204 --> 00:01:21,025 read wrote, 34 00:01:21,439 --> 00:01:23,680 if the Holy Scripture was a ring and 35 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:24,420 the entire 36 00:01:24,719 --> 00:01:27,540 epistle of the Romans, its precious stone, 37 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:30,879 Romans 8 would be the sparkling point of 38 00:01:30,879 --> 00:01:31,540 the jewel. 39 00:01:32,879 --> 00:01:35,774 Some of the reasons why Romans Chapter 8 40 00:01:35,774 --> 00:01:39,314 is so cherished and beloved by God's people, 41 00:01:40,094 --> 00:01:42,494 some of those reasons are because it points 42 00:01:42,494 --> 00:01:44,594 us to the future hope that awaits us 43 00:01:44,894 --> 00:01:47,075 in communion and union with our God. 44 00:01:47,650 --> 00:01:50,629 Romans chapter 8, assures us of our salvation 45 00:01:50,849 --> 00:01:53,569 as well, and it also reminds us very 46 00:01:53,569 --> 00:01:54,629 powerfully about 47 00:01:54,930 --> 00:01:57,650 the inseparable love that God has for his 48 00:01:57,650 --> 00:01:58,150 people. 49 00:01:58,769 --> 00:02:01,430 And my prayer this morning is that 50 00:02:02,155 --> 00:02:04,234 all of us would come to understand, come 51 00:02:04,234 --> 00:02:06,334 to a fuller, comprehensive 52 00:02:06,635 --> 00:02:08,014 and exhaustive grasp 53 00:02:08,314 --> 00:02:10,474 of what Roman Romans 8 has to say, 54 00:02:10,474 --> 00:02:12,555 and in particular, verses 1 through 4, and 55 00:02:12,555 --> 00:02:14,574 really the application of it upon 56 00:02:14,909 --> 00:02:17,150 the Christian faith life and practice. I hope 57 00:02:17,150 --> 00:02:18,509 that we come to love and say the 58 00:02:18,509 --> 00:02:20,590 exact same things that Martin Luther and that 59 00:02:20,590 --> 00:02:22,830 pastor said, after we're all done in the 60 00:02:22,830 --> 00:02:25,229 next couple of weeks with Romans chapter 8. 61 00:02:25,229 --> 00:02:26,750 And so by way of introduction, let us 62 00:02:26,750 --> 00:02:27,729 go ahead and begin, 63 00:02:28,364 --> 00:02:31,164 and step into Romans chapter 8. If you 64 00:02:31,164 --> 00:02:32,625 are someone who takes notes, 65 00:02:33,405 --> 00:02:35,344 I have an outline for us this morning 66 00:02:35,564 --> 00:02:37,584 and it's threefold. The Christian Promise, 67 00:02:38,444 --> 00:02:39,824 the Christian's Security, 68 00:02:40,284 --> 00:02:42,384 and the Christian's Assurance. 69 00:02:43,099 --> 00:02:45,199 And so beginning with our first heading, 70 00:02:45,580 --> 00:02:48,060 the Christian's Promise. Look with me at verse 71 00:02:48,060 --> 00:02:48,560 1. 72 00:02:49,260 --> 00:02:52,240 Paul writes, there is therefore now no condemnation 73 00:02:52,620 --> 00:02:53,919 for those who are 74 00:02:54,219 --> 00:02:54,719 in 75 00:02:55,340 --> 00:02:56,480 Christ Jesus. 76 00:02:57,115 --> 00:02:58,794 And now there's 5 things that I want 77 00:02:58,794 --> 00:03:00,955 to note for us this morning just in 78 00:03:00,955 --> 00:03:02,555 verse 1. We'll be spending a lot of 79 00:03:02,555 --> 00:03:03,995 our time in verse 1, and then I'll 80 00:03:03,995 --> 00:03:05,854 move fairly quickly through the other 2. 81 00:03:06,235 --> 00:03:07,354 The first thing that I want us to 82 00:03:07,354 --> 00:03:09,754 notice is the word therefore. Very much like 83 00:03:09,754 --> 00:03:11,294 the English word therefore, 84 00:03:11,849 --> 00:03:15,150 Also in the Greek, it's sometimes used to 85 00:03:15,289 --> 00:03:17,050 sort of come to a conclusion in an 86 00:03:17,050 --> 00:03:17,550 argument, 87 00:03:18,169 --> 00:03:19,770 to wrap up sort of the point that 88 00:03:19,770 --> 00:03:22,090 you're making. And and I I make I 89 00:03:22,090 --> 00:03:24,090 wanna bring that point up because Paul is 90 00:03:24,090 --> 00:03:25,710 not using it in 91 00:03:26,165 --> 00:03:28,425 that way. And and we know that because, 92 00:03:28,965 --> 00:03:31,044 well Paul continues to write for another 7 93 00:03:31,044 --> 00:03:31,544 chapters. 94 00:03:32,165 --> 00:03:34,085 Right. So he's not coming to a final 95 00:03:34,085 --> 00:03:35,925 conclusion. He is not wrapping up the book 96 00:03:35,925 --> 00:03:36,585 of Romans. 97 00:03:37,205 --> 00:03:38,965 Rather what Paul is doing, he is actually 98 00:03:38,965 --> 00:03:40,025 making a shift. 99 00:03:40,919 --> 00:03:43,239 He is making a shift to really the 100 00:03:43,239 --> 00:03:45,959 implications and applications of everything that he has 101 00:03:45,959 --> 00:03:48,439 been saying since Roman 1, Romans 1 all 102 00:03:48,439 --> 00:03:49,800 the way to 7, which is that we 103 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:50,280 are, 104 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:52,860 sort of distill it down to one point. 105 00:03:53,159 --> 00:03:55,479 What Paul said from Romans 1 through 7 106 00:03:55,479 --> 00:03:58,175 is that, all of man is justified. We 107 00:03:58,175 --> 00:04:00,655 are saved and we stand before our Creator 108 00:04:00,655 --> 00:04:01,474 through faith 109 00:04:01,775 --> 00:04:04,254 in Christ Jesus. And so, what Paul is 110 00:04:04,254 --> 00:04:06,175 doing by that word therefore, he's making a 111 00:04:06,175 --> 00:04:08,995 pivot. He is now shifting to belief 112 00:04:09,659 --> 00:04:10,560 to behavior. 113 00:04:11,180 --> 00:04:12,159 From doctrine 114 00:04:12,620 --> 00:04:14,460 to duty. And I think this really speaks 115 00:04:14,460 --> 00:04:14,960 upon, 116 00:04:15,419 --> 00:04:17,420 something else about the Christian life and that, 117 00:04:17,660 --> 00:04:20,139 the Christian life and Christianity itself is not 118 00:04:20,139 --> 00:04:22,939 simply about just filling our heads with knowledge, 119 00:04:22,939 --> 00:04:23,439 but 120 00:04:23,865 --> 00:04:25,865 also allowing that knowledge to seep into our 121 00:04:25,865 --> 00:04:28,425 heart and out into our hands. We don't 122 00:04:28,425 --> 00:04:30,185 just believe things for the sake of believing, 123 00:04:30,185 --> 00:04:31,865 but we believe it because God has told 124 00:04:31,865 --> 00:04:34,425 us, but we also live it out in 125 00:04:34,425 --> 00:04:36,024 our lives. And this is the reason why 126 00:04:36,024 --> 00:04:37,644 Paul is making this pivot. 127 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,040 The second observation is that, the shift deals 128 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:43,579 with a present application. 129 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,319 This pivot deals with a present application and 130 00:04:47,319 --> 00:04:48,519 and I just want us to look at 131 00:04:48,519 --> 00:04:50,439 verse 1 again. Paul does not say, there 132 00:04:50,439 --> 00:04:52,975 is therefore a baby. Right? Some sort of 133 00:04:52,975 --> 00:04:53,475 probability. 134 00:04:53,935 --> 00:04:55,694 He also does not say that there is 135 00:04:55,694 --> 00:04:58,175 therefore soon, some sort of event that's out 136 00:04:58,175 --> 00:04:59,455 there in the future. But look at the 137 00:04:59,455 --> 00:05:02,175 text. He says, rather, Paul writes, there is 138 00:05:02,175 --> 00:05:02,675 therefore 139 00:05:03,375 --> 00:05:03,875 now. 140 00:05:04,879 --> 00:05:07,360 This is a present application. This is a 141 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:07,860 present 142 00:05:08,319 --> 00:05:09,779 implication of the gospel. 143 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,740 Which leads to the third observation, which is, 144 00:05:13,519 --> 00:05:16,720 that this present application deals with the subject 145 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:17,459 of condemnation. 146 00:05:18,314 --> 00:05:20,235 This word condemnation is not something that we 147 00:05:20,235 --> 00:05:21,935 use in our everyday vernacular. 148 00:05:22,955 --> 00:05:24,634 We might see it on some occasions or 149 00:05:24,634 --> 00:05:26,074 hear the word, but it's not something that 150 00:05:26,074 --> 00:05:28,395 we use every day. And I think it's 151 00:05:28,395 --> 00:05:30,074 important for us to learn what this word 152 00:05:30,074 --> 00:05:31,295 condemnation means, 153 00:05:32,939 --> 00:05:34,319 because it's a biblical word. 154 00:05:34,620 --> 00:05:36,699 Something that Paul uses and there's a concept 155 00:05:36,699 --> 00:05:38,000 behind it that we ought 156 00:05:38,379 --> 00:05:40,399 to understand and it's really foundational 157 00:05:40,860 --> 00:05:42,240 for grasping the gospel. 158 00:05:42,860 --> 00:05:45,819 That Greek word which means condemnation in the 159 00:05:45,819 --> 00:05:46,319 Greek, 160 00:05:46,675 --> 00:05:49,235 means two things. It means the pronouncement of 161 00:05:49,235 --> 00:05:51,314 guilt, first thing. And the second thing that 162 00:05:51,314 --> 00:05:51,895 it means, 163 00:05:52,754 --> 00:05:53,254 is 164 00:05:53,634 --> 00:05:54,375 the adjudication 165 00:05:54,754 --> 00:05:57,314 of punishment. So the pronouncement of guilt and 166 00:05:57,314 --> 00:05:57,975 the adjudication 167 00:05:58,355 --> 00:06:00,275 of punishment. This is what the Greek word 168 00:06:00,275 --> 00:06:01,735 means for condemn. 169 00:06:02,650 --> 00:06:05,790 Today when people use the word condemn, it's 170 00:06:06,009 --> 00:06:09,290 very few situations. It's often used and typically 171 00:06:09,290 --> 00:06:11,069 used only in the sense of a pronouncement 172 00:06:11,210 --> 00:06:11,870 of guilt. 173 00:06:12,250 --> 00:06:13,930 And we see this really played out in 174 00:06:13,930 --> 00:06:16,035 the realm of politics and the media. You'll 175 00:06:16,035 --> 00:06:17,814 see a journalist come up to a politician 176 00:06:17,875 --> 00:06:19,955 and say, you know, mister president, do you 177 00:06:19,955 --> 00:06:20,935 condemn this? 178 00:06:22,194 --> 00:06:22,694 Or 179 00:06:22,995 --> 00:06:23,814 mister senator, 180 00:06:24,514 --> 00:06:27,335 you condemned your colleague for this and this. 181 00:06:27,475 --> 00:06:29,259 Right? And and what you see is that 182 00:06:29,259 --> 00:06:31,420 the journalist is asking this question. He's trying 183 00:06:31,420 --> 00:06:34,060 to get the politician to condemn, make a 184 00:06:34,060 --> 00:06:36,560 pronouncement, to publicly express really, 185 00:06:37,259 --> 00:06:39,040 some sort of complete disapproval. 186 00:06:40,235 --> 00:06:42,235 And it's used in that way in our 187 00:06:42,235 --> 00:06:45,514 society. But there's no really force, some form 188 00:06:45,514 --> 00:06:47,595 of punishment that comes after. It's just a 189 00:06:47,595 --> 00:06:48,894 pronouncement of guilt. 190 00:06:50,314 --> 00:06:52,235 But the place that we do see, both 191 00:06:52,235 --> 00:06:54,814 the pronouncement of guilt and also the adjudication 192 00:06:55,035 --> 00:06:58,470 of, of of the adjudication and punishment of 193 00:06:58,930 --> 00:06:59,910 of of that guilt, 194 00:07:00,930 --> 00:07:02,550 is in the courthouse. 195 00:07:03,970 --> 00:07:05,990 We have our court system. It's working Monday 196 00:07:06,050 --> 00:07:06,870 through Saturday 197 00:07:07,330 --> 00:07:07,830 and 198 00:07:08,355 --> 00:07:10,514 the word condemnation, and especially in the way 199 00:07:10,514 --> 00:07:12,375 in which Paul would use it, 200 00:07:12,915 --> 00:07:16,275 it's fairly acted out in exactly that way 201 00:07:16,275 --> 00:07:18,375 in the court of law. 202 00:07:18,675 --> 00:07:21,889 Today, judges really condemn people by both a 203 00:07:21,889 --> 00:07:24,469 condemnation, a pronouncement and also a punishment. 204 00:07:24,930 --> 00:07:27,009 When the day, the verdict day comes, when 205 00:07:27,009 --> 00:07:29,569 the judgment day comes, if you will, the 206 00:07:29,569 --> 00:07:31,969 defendant or the person who was accused of 207 00:07:31,969 --> 00:07:33,909 a particular charge or crime, 208 00:07:34,444 --> 00:07:37,165 will stand with his lawyer before the judge, 209 00:07:37,165 --> 00:07:39,485 and what the judge will do is read 210 00:07:39,485 --> 00:07:41,245 both the the, you know, what court they're 211 00:07:41,245 --> 00:07:43,725 in. He will read the the the case 212 00:07:43,725 --> 00:07:46,064 number, the charge, and he'll read the verdict 213 00:07:46,365 --> 00:07:47,105 out loud. 214 00:07:47,659 --> 00:07:49,259 And it's at this moment, I think everybody 215 00:07:49,259 --> 00:07:51,019 has seen this, if you've watched TV or 216 00:07:51,019 --> 00:07:53,279 seen videos of a of a judge pronounce, 217 00:07:53,979 --> 00:07:56,240 this, that make the pronouncement of guilt. 218 00:07:56,699 --> 00:07:58,939 And he'll either say 2 things, guilty or 219 00:07:58,939 --> 00:07:59,680 not guilty. 220 00:08:00,725 --> 00:08:03,365 Guilty or not guilty. You'll hear a judge 221 00:08:03,365 --> 00:08:06,004 say something like, We, the jury, in count 222 00:08:06,004 --> 00:08:06,504 1, 223 00:08:06,884 --> 00:08:09,605 the charge of first degree murder, first degree 224 00:08:09,605 --> 00:08:10,105 penalty. 225 00:08:10,964 --> 00:08:12,824 We, the jury, find the defendant, 226 00:08:13,285 --> 00:08:14,264 John Doe, 227 00:08:14,884 --> 00:08:15,384 guilty. 228 00:08:16,290 --> 00:08:18,850 I've seen many videos of the pronouncement of 229 00:08:18,850 --> 00:08:21,509 guilt by a judge upon a defendant, 230 00:08:21,889 --> 00:08:24,850 and the reaction is instant disapproval, if not 231 00:08:24,850 --> 00:08:25,350 anger. 232 00:08:25,970 --> 00:08:27,589 And even in some cases, 233 00:08:28,425 --> 00:08:29,884 the person just collapses 234 00:08:30,904 --> 00:08:32,445 because of the actual 235 00:08:32,825 --> 00:08:35,225 verdict. And typically, when that's the case, it's 236 00:08:35,225 --> 00:08:37,565 because they know what comes next, 237 00:08:38,024 --> 00:08:39,085 which is the adjudication 238 00:08:39,544 --> 00:08:42,105 of the punishment. And you've have you ever 239 00:08:42,105 --> 00:08:44,159 seen, you know, even some videos of when 240 00:08:51,519 --> 00:08:53,759 a a remorse that happens in the family 241 00:08:53,759 --> 00:08:55,759 of the depend of the defendant. The defendant 242 00:08:55,759 --> 00:08:58,740 is very, terrified as well in some cases. 243 00:09:00,845 --> 00:09:02,445 Well, dear friends, when we read our Bible 244 00:09:02,445 --> 00:09:03,825 and we come across the word 245 00:09:04,204 --> 00:09:04,704 condemnation, 246 00:09:06,845 --> 00:09:08,924 a scene in our mind of you really 247 00:09:08,924 --> 00:09:11,485 standing before the throne of God on the 248 00:09:11,485 --> 00:09:12,304 day of judgment, 249 00:09:12,919 --> 00:09:14,459 should really enter your mind. 250 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:17,480 The Bible speaks of the day of judge 251 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:19,720 judgment very clearly, from the old testament all 252 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:21,740 the way to the new testament very consistently. 253 00:09:22,199 --> 00:09:24,360 And it's a reality. And I would say 254 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:25,579 it's all of our realities. 255 00:09:27,325 --> 00:09:30,045 Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verse 14 says, God will 256 00:09:30,045 --> 00:09:32,445 bring every deed into judgment with every secret 257 00:09:32,445 --> 00:09:33,825 thing, whether good or evil. 258 00:09:34,684 --> 00:09:36,925 Jesus speaks about it. He says, I tell 259 00:09:36,925 --> 00:09:39,165 you, on the day of judgment, people will 260 00:09:39,165 --> 00:09:40,065 give an account 261 00:09:40,529 --> 00:09:41,589 for every careless 262 00:09:42,529 --> 00:09:43,589 word they speak. 263 00:09:44,449 --> 00:09:46,289 Once again, this is a future reality for 264 00:09:46,289 --> 00:09:48,309 all man mankind. It's something the Bible 265 00:09:48,690 --> 00:09:49,509 speaks about. 266 00:09:50,289 --> 00:09:52,370 And with that being said, I wanna ask 267 00:09:52,370 --> 00:09:53,350 everybody here, 268 00:09:53,975 --> 00:09:56,375 how will you stand before God on judgment 269 00:09:56,375 --> 00:09:56,875 day? 270 00:09:58,375 --> 00:09:59,675 Have you considered that? 271 00:10:01,335 --> 00:10:03,035 What will you tell him? 272 00:10:04,215 --> 00:10:05,815 Or in fact, I think the more important 273 00:10:05,815 --> 00:10:07,595 question is, what will he tell you 274 00:10:08,699 --> 00:10:09,679 on that day? 275 00:10:10,860 --> 00:10:12,399 Middle schoolers and high schoolers, 276 00:10:13,179 --> 00:10:14,459 I think we need to think about this 277 00:10:14,459 --> 00:10:15,519 question as well. 278 00:10:16,299 --> 00:10:17,199 There's no 279 00:10:17,740 --> 00:10:20,059 age requirement to enter or to stand and 280 00:10:20,059 --> 00:10:21,740 before the throne of God on the day 281 00:10:21,740 --> 00:10:22,319 of judgment. 282 00:10:23,184 --> 00:10:24,324 Everybody will stand 283 00:10:24,625 --> 00:10:25,125 before 284 00:10:26,944 --> 00:10:28,865 him. And dear church, the question about your 285 00:10:28,865 --> 00:10:31,664 standing before God is really the most important 286 00:10:31,664 --> 00:10:33,664 question that you could ever ask, and it's 287 00:10:33,664 --> 00:10:35,345 also the most important question that you could 288 00:10:35,345 --> 00:10:37,669 ever pursue to answer. Because it very much 289 00:10:37,669 --> 00:10:39,690 is the difference between life and death. 290 00:10:40,950 --> 00:10:42,789 But I want to submit to us, looking 291 00:10:42,789 --> 00:10:44,809 back at verse 1, that really the answer 292 00:10:45,190 --> 00:10:46,889 is found in verse 1. 293 00:10:47,350 --> 00:10:48,809 You don't have to look far. 294 00:10:49,595 --> 00:10:51,434 Look with me again at verse 1, leads 295 00:10:51,434 --> 00:10:52,575 to my 4th observation. 296 00:10:53,514 --> 00:10:55,295 And that is that the Day of Judgment 297 00:10:56,394 --> 00:10:58,495 has already been announced for some. 298 00:10:59,274 --> 00:11:01,355 Let's look at the text again. Paul writes, 299 00:11:01,355 --> 00:11:02,735 There is therefore now 300 00:11:03,279 --> 00:11:04,019 no condemnation 301 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:06,740 for those who are in Christ. 302 00:11:07,519 --> 00:11:09,360 And what Paul is saying is that God's 303 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:11,679 verdict, the verdict that awaits all of us 304 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:12,899 on the day of judgment, 305 00:11:13,279 --> 00:11:15,299 has already been announced for some. 306 00:11:16,154 --> 00:11:18,075 In other words, there are some people that 307 00:11:18,075 --> 00:11:20,414 already know their standing before God, 308 00:11:22,315 --> 00:11:24,335 before they ever entered into his court, 309 00:11:26,075 --> 00:11:27,375 for the day of verdict. 310 00:11:28,149 --> 00:11:30,470 It's like it's been moved up. They already 311 00:11:30,470 --> 00:11:30,970 know. 312 00:11:33,110 --> 00:11:34,950 This is the observation. It is now. It 313 00:11:34,950 --> 00:11:37,589 is present. The Lord has already made his 314 00:11:37,589 --> 00:11:38,089 pronouncement. 315 00:11:38,950 --> 00:11:40,169 And this is the verdict. 316 00:11:40,549 --> 00:11:41,370 No condemnation. 317 00:11:43,125 --> 00:11:44,965 And lastly, the other thing, last thing we 318 00:11:44,965 --> 00:11:47,065 wanna notice about verse 1, is who exactly 319 00:11:47,125 --> 00:11:48,024 are these people? 320 00:11:49,925 --> 00:11:52,165 Paul does not say that there are, is 321 00:11:52,165 --> 00:11:52,665 therefore 322 00:11:53,285 --> 00:11:54,105 no condemnation 323 00:11:54,485 --> 00:11:57,139 for the Jews or no, therefore now, no 324 00:11:57,139 --> 00:12:00,500 condemnation for the Gentiles or therefore now, no 325 00:12:00,500 --> 00:12:03,559 condemnation for those who go to church or 326 00:12:03,779 --> 00:12:05,799 who participate in social justice. 327 00:12:06,980 --> 00:12:08,980 Paul also doesn't say that there is therefore 328 00:12:08,980 --> 00:12:09,960 now, no condemnation 329 00:12:10,419 --> 00:12:11,159 for me 330 00:12:11,945 --> 00:12:13,085 or for the Romans. 331 00:12:13,865 --> 00:12:15,945 In fact, he mentioned something that's very important 332 00:12:15,945 --> 00:12:16,845 for us because 333 00:12:17,225 --> 00:12:19,725 the small preposition in this great noun, 334 00:12:20,424 --> 00:12:20,924 transcends 335 00:12:21,544 --> 00:12:24,365 space and time, Old Testament and New Testament. 336 00:12:24,424 --> 00:12:25,725 Any any region, 337 00:12:26,330 --> 00:12:28,090 but rather a people that are found in 338 00:12:28,090 --> 00:12:29,149 God himself. 339 00:12:31,610 --> 00:12:32,590 The small preposition 340 00:12:32,970 --> 00:12:33,470 in 341 00:12:33,929 --> 00:12:34,909 and this noun, 342 00:12:35,529 --> 00:12:38,110 which is Christ Jesus appears over a 160 343 00:12:38,330 --> 00:12:39,789 times in the New Testament. 344 00:12:40,154 --> 00:12:42,315 These people who are not condemned are those 345 00:12:42,315 --> 00:12:44,334 people that are in Christ. 346 00:12:47,754 --> 00:12:50,074 And the phrase is shorthand to describe really 347 00:12:50,074 --> 00:12:53,195 the chief blessing of the Christian life, which 348 00:12:53,195 --> 00:12:53,934 is union 349 00:12:54,475 --> 00:12:55,294 with Christ. 350 00:12:56,490 --> 00:12:57,149 The narrowest 351 00:12:57,529 --> 00:13:00,009 description, or rather, is the narrowest description of 352 00:13:00,009 --> 00:13:01,929 what a Christian is. A Christian is not 353 00:13:01,929 --> 00:13:04,190 so much one that follows Christ, but rather, 354 00:13:04,250 --> 00:13:07,149 more specifically, one that is found in Christ. 355 00:13:08,524 --> 00:13:11,165 In Christ is intended to remind us, to 356 00:13:11,165 --> 00:13:12,465 communicate to us, 357 00:13:13,884 --> 00:13:16,305 that everybody who believes in Christ for salvation, 358 00:13:16,365 --> 00:13:17,825 that they are spiritually 359 00:13:18,925 --> 00:13:19,585 and mystically, 360 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:21,860 yet separately 361 00:13:22,639 --> 00:13:23,460 and really, 362 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,059 inseparably and really join to our savior. 363 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,000 We're really united with him and the Bible 364 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,259 talks about this in multiple places. 365 00:13:33,754 --> 00:13:36,235 John chapter 15, Jesus teaches that he is 366 00:13:36,235 --> 00:13:38,894 the vine and his people are the branches. 367 00:13:39,595 --> 00:13:40,095 Union. 368 00:13:40,715 --> 00:13:43,774 In 1st Corinthians chapter 12, Paul says that, 369 00:13:45,035 --> 00:13:46,554 Christ is the head and we are the 370 00:13:46,554 --> 00:13:47,054 body. 371 00:13:47,595 --> 00:13:48,095 Union. 372 00:13:48,980 --> 00:13:49,800 Ephesians chapter 373 00:13:50,660 --> 00:13:53,460 2. Paul teaches that Christ is the cornerstone 374 00:13:53,460 --> 00:13:55,540 and we are the stones that are built 375 00:13:55,540 --> 00:13:58,600 upon him. Once again, union. Ephesians chapter 5. 376 00:13:58,820 --> 00:14:00,120 Christ is the bridegroom 377 00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:03,559 and his church, his people are his bride. 378 00:14:04,315 --> 00:14:04,815 Union. 379 00:14:05,355 --> 00:14:06,975 But I think one of the most powerful 380 00:14:07,034 --> 00:14:07,534 evidences 381 00:14:07,995 --> 00:14:10,315 of union with Christ, at least that I've 382 00:14:10,315 --> 00:14:12,394 observed in the New Testament, is actually found 383 00:14:12,394 --> 00:14:13,774 in Acts chapter 9, 384 00:14:14,154 --> 00:14:16,554 where the Apostle Paul, the one who's writing 385 00:14:16,554 --> 00:14:19,350 this exact letter is heading over to Damascus 386 00:14:19,889 --> 00:14:22,789 to persecute Christians to imprison them. 387 00:14:23,169 --> 00:14:25,970 And the Christ, the the Jesus, has already 388 00:14:25,970 --> 00:14:27,649 ascended to the right hand of the father. 389 00:14:27,649 --> 00:14:28,549 He is in heaven, 390 00:14:28,929 --> 00:14:31,089 and he has an encounter with the risen 391 00:14:31,089 --> 00:14:31,589 Lord. 392 00:14:32,955 --> 00:14:34,254 And Paul is blinded, 393 00:14:35,115 --> 00:14:36,875 and he has no idea what is going 394 00:14:36,875 --> 00:14:38,634 on. And but the words that he does 395 00:14:38,634 --> 00:14:40,735 here is, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute 396 00:14:41,355 --> 00:14:41,855 me? 397 00:14:43,355 --> 00:14:45,115 You see, dear Christians, the the the the 398 00:14:45,115 --> 00:14:46,654 body of Christ is 399 00:14:47,179 --> 00:14:50,000 one with Christ, is united with Christ, and 400 00:14:50,299 --> 00:14:52,779 the reason why Christ could say, Saul, Saul, 401 00:14:52,779 --> 00:14:54,860 why do you persecute me? Is because we 402 00:14:54,860 --> 00:14:56,079 are united to him. 403 00:14:57,019 --> 00:14:59,039 To persecute the church is to persecute 404 00:14:59,740 --> 00:15:02,625 Christ because we are one spirit with him. 405 00:15:03,585 --> 00:15:06,164 This is union with Christ. And so, 406 00:15:07,424 --> 00:15:09,445 all that being said for verse 1, 407 00:15:10,544 --> 00:15:12,705 church meant many of us can have said 408 00:15:12,705 --> 00:15:14,945 or we do say that Christ is with 409 00:15:14,945 --> 00:15:15,445 me. 410 00:15:16,330 --> 00:15:18,409 We say that Christ is behind me. We 411 00:15:18,409 --> 00:15:19,149 say that 412 00:15:19,690 --> 00:15:21,370 Christ is before me and we'll even say 413 00:15:21,370 --> 00:15:23,129 that Christ is above me, that he's ruling 414 00:15:23,129 --> 00:15:25,389 and reigning. But but can you say 415 00:15:26,089 --> 00:15:27,870 that I am in Christ? 416 00:15:30,065 --> 00:15:32,164 That I am in my savior. 417 00:15:33,825 --> 00:15:35,684 This is really important 418 00:15:36,384 --> 00:15:39,365 and I ask this question because so long 419 00:15:39,745 --> 00:15:41,524 as you remain in Adam, as 420 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:43,919 Paul has said, and so long as you 421 00:15:43,919 --> 00:15:45,620 remain separated from Christ, 422 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,080 all that he is and all that he 423 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:49,940 has endured, all that he has suffered, 424 00:15:50,639 --> 00:15:53,299 his life, his death, his resurrection and ascension, 425 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,740 is useless and of no value to you. 426 00:15:58,605 --> 00:15:59,665 Or to me. 427 00:16:00,045 --> 00:16:01,825 Unless a man be in Christ, 428 00:16:02,205 --> 00:16:05,345 he cannot celebrate that there is therefore now 429 00:16:05,565 --> 00:16:06,384 no condemnation. 430 00:16:07,485 --> 00:16:09,825 There is therefore now no condemnation. 431 00:16:12,899 --> 00:16:14,820 This text is one that ought to be 432 00:16:14,820 --> 00:16:17,000 committed to memory as well for the Christian. 433 00:16:17,779 --> 00:16:19,879 The reason is because we're prone to wander. 434 00:16:20,259 --> 00:16:22,360 We're prone to leave the God we love. 435 00:16:22,740 --> 00:16:24,039 We're prone to 436 00:16:25,085 --> 00:16:27,404 doubt his faithfulness, especially in the midst of 437 00:16:27,404 --> 00:16:27,904 circumstances. 438 00:16:29,325 --> 00:16:31,745 We are prone to question his 439 00:16:32,045 --> 00:16:33,585 faithfulness, God's faithfulness, 440 00:16:34,125 --> 00:16:36,205 and is in those times where really sometimes 441 00:16:36,205 --> 00:16:38,125 we might begin to think that we have 442 00:16:38,125 --> 00:16:39,904 fallen out of favor with the Lord. 443 00:16:41,350 --> 00:16:43,350 But this is a promise from God. There 444 00:16:43,350 --> 00:16:46,170 is therefore now no condemnation. 445 00:16:47,590 --> 00:16:49,029 It is what he has said and is 446 00:16:49,029 --> 00:16:50,629 done, and it is finished. And it is 447 00:16:50,629 --> 00:16:52,790 one of the main reasons why later why 448 00:16:52,790 --> 00:16:54,570 later in Romans chapter 8, 449 00:16:55,345 --> 00:16:57,024 Paul could say, for I am sure that 450 00:16:57,024 --> 00:16:59,845 neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, 451 00:16:59,985 --> 00:17:03,184 nor things present, nor things to come, nor 452 00:17:03,184 --> 00:17:06,384 powers, nor heights, nor depth, nor anything else 453 00:17:06,384 --> 00:17:07,365 in all creation 454 00:17:07,849 --> 00:17:09,609 will be able to separate us from the 455 00:17:09,609 --> 00:17:12,190 love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 456 00:17:12,970 --> 00:17:15,369 Dear Christian, for those who are in Christ, 457 00:17:15,369 --> 00:17:16,990 there is no condemnation. 458 00:17:18,970 --> 00:17:20,750 And praise be to God for that. 459 00:17:21,575 --> 00:17:23,414 We now move on to our second heading, 460 00:17:23,414 --> 00:17:24,555 the Christian security, 461 00:17:25,414 --> 00:17:27,835 and let's go ahead and read, 462 00:17:28,214 --> 00:17:29,914 verse 2. And it reads, 463 00:17:30,375 --> 00:17:32,535 for the spirit of life has set you 464 00:17:32,535 --> 00:17:33,674 free from the law 465 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:35,419 of sin 466 00:17:36,039 --> 00:17:38,039 and death. And there is quite a lot 467 00:17:38,039 --> 00:17:39,559 to say about this verse, but the one 468 00:17:39,559 --> 00:17:41,799 thing I will mention is really that Greek 469 00:17:41,799 --> 00:17:44,519 verb that is that is has set you 470 00:17:44,519 --> 00:17:45,899 free. This Greek verb 471 00:17:46,335 --> 00:17:48,815 does not indicate something that happened in the 472 00:17:48,815 --> 00:17:51,615 past, although it does, but also means something 473 00:17:51,615 --> 00:17:52,115 more. 474 00:17:52,654 --> 00:17:53,875 What it means is that, 475 00:17:54,575 --> 00:17:56,914 this event is something that can't be undone. 476 00:17:58,250 --> 00:18:00,890 He has set you free. You could almost 477 00:18:00,890 --> 00:18:03,690 see as verse 1, Paul is teaching about 478 00:18:03,690 --> 00:18:06,330 the Christian's present standing before God. And in 479 00:18:06,330 --> 00:18:08,890 verse 2, by this verb, he's really making 480 00:18:08,890 --> 00:18:10,830 it clear that this is an eternal standing 481 00:18:11,450 --> 00:18:13,470 before the creator of the universe. 482 00:18:13,845 --> 00:18:14,585 No condemnation. 483 00:18:17,204 --> 00:18:20,585 And the person that applies this eternal security 484 00:18:20,724 --> 00:18:22,744 is called the Spirit of life. 485 00:18:23,525 --> 00:18:25,125 Later, we know that this is the Holy 486 00:18:25,125 --> 00:18:27,065 Spirit. We know that because later in Romans, 487 00:18:27,204 --> 00:18:29,490 it Paul makes it abundantly clear. You could 488 00:18:29,490 --> 00:18:31,569 also say that Romans chapter 8 is a 489 00:18:31,569 --> 00:18:34,309 chapter about the Holy Spirit. He is, 490 00:18:35,009 --> 00:18:35,509 really, 491 00:18:36,289 --> 00:18:37,990 fixed and focused upon 492 00:18:38,289 --> 00:18:39,430 in this chapter. 493 00:18:40,529 --> 00:18:42,130 But not only do we know that because 494 00:18:42,130 --> 00:18:43,784 He appears in Romans chapter 8 and that 495 00:18:43,784 --> 00:18:45,544 clarifies it for us. But also we know 496 00:18:45,544 --> 00:18:47,144 that it's the Holy Spirit because the Holy 497 00:18:47,144 --> 00:18:49,325 Spirit is the only power 498 00:18:50,105 --> 00:18:51,085 that can give 499 00:18:52,505 --> 00:18:54,204 physical and spiritual life. 500 00:18:55,069 --> 00:18:56,769 Is also the only 501 00:18:57,390 --> 00:18:58,369 means by which 502 00:18:58,670 --> 00:19:00,509 one could be liberated from the power of 503 00:19:00,509 --> 00:19:01,410 sin and death. 504 00:19:02,829 --> 00:19:05,069 We see the Holy Spirit's work all throughout 505 00:19:05,069 --> 00:19:05,569 scripture. 506 00:19:06,029 --> 00:19:07,710 In in terms of how the Holy Spirit 507 00:19:07,710 --> 00:19:09,150 brings life, the first thing that we could 508 00:19:09,150 --> 00:19:10,609 think of is Genesis 1. 509 00:19:11,615 --> 00:19:13,375 The Spirit of God hovered upon the face 510 00:19:13,375 --> 00:19:14,974 of the earth. And what does the Holy 511 00:19:14,974 --> 00:19:17,454 Spirit do? What does our triune God do? 512 00:19:17,454 --> 00:19:19,794 He brings that which is nothing 513 00:19:20,254 --> 00:19:21,234 into existence. 514 00:19:21,615 --> 00:19:22,434 All of creation, 515 00:19:22,734 --> 00:19:23,634 all of life, 516 00:19:24,174 --> 00:19:25,554 by the power of His word. 517 00:19:26,140 --> 00:19:27,740 And he's the in the book of Ezekiel, 518 00:19:27,740 --> 00:19:29,500 we see there's a valley of dry bones 519 00:19:29,500 --> 00:19:31,039 and it's the Spirit of God 520 00:19:31,419 --> 00:19:34,220 that restores and resurrects and brings life into 521 00:19:34,220 --> 00:19:34,960 these bones. 522 00:19:36,140 --> 00:19:38,319 In Matthew 1, the Holy Spirit brings 523 00:19:38,619 --> 00:19:40,160 life through the miracle 524 00:19:40,619 --> 00:19:41,839 of the virgin birth. 525 00:19:42,565 --> 00:19:43,625 The empty womb, 526 00:19:44,085 --> 00:19:45,945 the Holy Spirit, it says, conceived 527 00:19:46,805 --> 00:19:48,805 Christ, and it was by the Holy Spirit. 528 00:19:48,805 --> 00:19:50,565 And even in the Nicene Creed that we 529 00:19:50,565 --> 00:19:52,485 confess this morning, what do we say what 530 00:19:52,485 --> 00:19:54,725 we believe about the Holy Spirit? I believe 531 00:19:54,725 --> 00:19:56,644 the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and the giver 532 00:19:56,644 --> 00:19:57,305 of life. 533 00:19:57,809 --> 00:20:00,450 That's something that we affirm. This Spirit of 534 00:20:00,450 --> 00:20:02,849 life is the Holy Spirit. We also see 535 00:20:02,849 --> 00:20:05,250 all throughout the scriptures how the Holy Spirit 536 00:20:05,250 --> 00:20:07,029 conquers sin and death. 537 00:20:07,970 --> 00:20:10,369 The Holy Spirit empowers the prophets, empowers the 538 00:20:10,369 --> 00:20:12,474 judges to defeat the enemies of God's people 539 00:20:12,474 --> 00:20:14,015 in the Old Testament, empowers 540 00:20:14,474 --> 00:20:16,174 some of the prophets and the judges. 541 00:20:17,115 --> 00:20:19,214 Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, 542 00:20:19,595 --> 00:20:21,755 also heals the mute, the deaf and the 543 00:20:21,755 --> 00:20:22,255 blind. 544 00:20:23,210 --> 00:20:26,029 Leprosy, which was very prominent in the Gospels. 545 00:20:26,089 --> 00:20:28,430 People had, it was an infection that, 546 00:20:29,369 --> 00:20:31,609 was, that really affected all the crevices of 547 00:20:31,609 --> 00:20:33,309 your body. Inside your ears, 548 00:20:33,930 --> 00:20:34,829 on your eyes, 549 00:20:35,144 --> 00:20:37,545 It was something that that made you an 550 00:20:37,545 --> 00:20:38,765 outcast in society, 551 00:20:39,545 --> 00:20:41,465 made you unable to participate not only with 552 00:20:41,465 --> 00:20:42,845 the people of God, but, 553 00:20:43,865 --> 00:20:45,545 made you think also that somehow, some way 554 00:20:45,545 --> 00:20:47,144 that you were separated from Him. And what 555 00:20:47,144 --> 00:20:49,119 does Christ do by the power of the 556 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:51,359 Holy Spirit? When he comes, he heals the 557 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:53,679 leper. And that there is a is a 558 00:20:53,679 --> 00:20:56,000 really almost it is a symbol, the way 559 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:57,920 in which the Holy Spirit is restoring things 560 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,819 and making things new. He is conquering sin. 561 00:21:01,985 --> 00:21:04,005 Leprosy is the effect of the fall. 562 00:21:06,225 --> 00:21:08,065 And in terms of death, we celebrated last 563 00:21:08,065 --> 00:21:08,965 week the resurrection. 564 00:21:09,424 --> 00:21:11,664 Christ was raised by the power of the 565 00:21:11,664 --> 00:21:12,884 Holy Spirit. 566 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:14,960 So here we see that the Holy Spirit 567 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:16,899 is the liberator. He is, 568 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,359 our protector. He is the one that preserves 569 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:20,579 the Christian. And so 570 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,059 this is really the Christian security here. 571 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:24,819 We are 572 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:26,339 saved eternally. 573 00:21:27,255 --> 00:21:28,954 The pronouncement of no condemnation 574 00:21:29,974 --> 00:21:32,295 is no more upon the Christian. The Holy 575 00:21:32,295 --> 00:21:34,295 Spirit is our liberator. He is our protector. 576 00:21:34,295 --> 00:21:36,795 He is the one that preserves us. And, 577 00:21:37,174 --> 00:21:37,674 today, 578 00:21:38,454 --> 00:21:39,849 there is quite 579 00:21:40,150 --> 00:21:40,809 an awareness 580 00:21:41,190 --> 00:21:43,109 of bullying in our country. And I've been 581 00:21:43,109 --> 00:21:45,029 asked many times, Julio, have you ever been 582 00:21:45,029 --> 00:21:45,849 bullied before? 583 00:21:46,150 --> 00:21:47,830 And to which my answer has always been 584 00:21:47,830 --> 00:21:49,049 the same, no. Besides, 585 00:21:49,430 --> 00:21:52,170 you know, your ordinary teasing and besides your, 586 00:21:52,230 --> 00:21:53,990 you know, taunting, I I was I was 587 00:21:53,990 --> 00:21:55,244 never bullied at school. 588 00:21:56,525 --> 00:21:58,924 And it wasn't really till later where sort 589 00:21:58,924 --> 00:22:00,305 of understood why 590 00:22:00,765 --> 00:22:01,505 that was 591 00:22:02,045 --> 00:22:02,704 the case. 592 00:22:03,244 --> 00:22:05,244 And, it definitely was not because of my 593 00:22:05,244 --> 00:22:07,005 size. It definitely wasn't because of my strength. 594 00:22:07,005 --> 00:22:08,204 If you were to see pictures of me 595 00:22:08,204 --> 00:22:09,964 as a child, I was skinny. I was 596 00:22:09,964 --> 00:22:12,080 scrawny. I was quiet. And I would even 597 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:13,600 argue that I was probably the perfect target 598 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:15,380 for a bully, but no bully ever came. 599 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:17,779 And one of the reasons why was because 600 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:19,059 my cousin, 601 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,100 who was a grade above us, was right 602 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:23,140 down the hallway. 603 00:22:24,144 --> 00:22:25,664 And he was not a bully, but he 604 00:22:25,664 --> 00:22:26,804 definitely was intimidated. 605 00:22:27,105 --> 00:22:28,865 He did not have a reputation of being 606 00:22:28,865 --> 00:22:30,865 mean, but he definitely was somebody who you 607 00:22:30,865 --> 00:22:33,184 did not want to mess with physically. People 608 00:22:33,184 --> 00:22:35,125 did not want to deal with him, 609 00:22:35,984 --> 00:22:37,825 and deal with that issue, and mainly because 610 00:22:37,825 --> 00:22:38,484 they couldn't. 611 00:22:41,130 --> 00:22:43,369 Older Christians in a similar way, if we 612 00:22:43,369 --> 00:22:44,670 are united to Christ, 613 00:22:45,850 --> 00:22:47,289 and if the Holy Spirit is the one 614 00:22:47,289 --> 00:22:49,450 who has liberty liberated us, the one who 615 00:22:49,450 --> 00:22:50,970 is our comfort, the one who is our 616 00:22:50,970 --> 00:22:51,470 helper, 617 00:22:52,330 --> 00:22:53,775 who can condemn us? 618 00:22:55,214 --> 00:22:56,835 Who could reverse this condemnation 619 00:22:58,095 --> 00:23:00,894 that the creator of the universe has spoken 620 00:23:00,894 --> 00:23:02,595 upon those who are in Christ? 621 00:23:02,894 --> 00:23:05,154 Who can separate us from Christ as well? 622 00:23:06,569 --> 00:23:08,970 What can reverse this new birth? And the 623 00:23:08,970 --> 00:23:09,789 answer is, 624 00:23:11,450 --> 00:23:14,089 nobody. That is the Christian security. That not 625 00:23:14,089 --> 00:23:15,849 only that we're in Christ, but we also 626 00:23:15,849 --> 00:23:18,250 are liberated and freed by the power of 627 00:23:18,250 --> 00:23:19,929 the Holy Spirit. And later, Paul will get 628 00:23:19,929 --> 00:23:22,734 into, the subject that the Holy Spirit actually 629 00:23:22,794 --> 00:23:23,294 indwells 630 00:23:23,914 --> 00:23:24,414 us. 631 00:23:25,194 --> 00:23:27,115 Dear Christian, always remember that we live in 632 00:23:27,115 --> 00:23:29,275 a world that is passing away and everything 633 00:23:29,275 --> 00:23:30,575 that once seemed 634 00:23:31,674 --> 00:23:32,174 strong, 635 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:36,500 intimidating will become unsure, 636 00:23:37,279 --> 00:23:38,259 will become weak. 637 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:40,740 So long as we're in Christ, 638 00:23:41,839 --> 00:23:42,900 we are secure. 639 00:23:43,519 --> 00:23:45,539 We are assured of our salvation because 640 00:23:46,125 --> 00:23:48,045 Jesus Christ is the same today, tomorrow and 641 00:23:48,045 --> 00:23:48,545 forever. 642 00:23:48,924 --> 00:23:51,005 If you are in Christ and freed from 643 00:23:51,005 --> 00:23:52,365 the law of sin and death by the 644 00:23:52,365 --> 00:23:54,464 Holy Spirit, you have an assurance, 645 00:23:54,924 --> 00:23:55,505 a security, 646 00:23:56,205 --> 00:23:56,865 a comfort, 647 00:23:57,244 --> 00:23:59,505 a safety the world cannot offer. 648 00:24:01,559 --> 00:24:02,779 Do we believe this? 649 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:07,799 Now moving to our 3rd heading. Now move 650 00:24:07,799 --> 00:24:08,299 to, 651 00:24:09,079 --> 00:24:10,539 the Christian's confidence. 652 00:24:11,319 --> 00:24:13,980 Read with me verses 3 through 4. 653 00:24:15,315 --> 00:24:17,095 Paul writes, God has done 654 00:24:17,714 --> 00:24:19,954 what the law weakened by the flesh could 655 00:24:19,954 --> 00:24:20,694 not do. 656 00:24:21,315 --> 00:24:23,234 By sending his own son in the likeness 657 00:24:23,234 --> 00:24:24,375 of sinful flesh 658 00:24:24,755 --> 00:24:25,255 and 659 00:24:25,634 --> 00:24:26,454 for sin, 660 00:24:27,554 --> 00:24:28,934 he condemned sin 661 00:24:29,250 --> 00:24:31,349 in the flesh in order that the righteous 662 00:24:31,490 --> 00:24:34,130 requirements of the law might be fulfilled in 663 00:24:34,130 --> 00:24:34,630 us, 664 00:24:34,930 --> 00:24:37,890 who walk not according to the flesh, but 665 00:24:37,890 --> 00:24:39,109 according to the spirit. 666 00:24:40,930 --> 00:24:43,009 The first thing I want us to to 667 00:24:43,009 --> 00:24:44,984 notice is the first four words that that 668 00:24:44,984 --> 00:24:46,765 God that that Paul uses. 669 00:24:47,305 --> 00:24:49,644 And it is that, for God has done. 670 00:24:50,345 --> 00:24:51,565 For God has done. 671 00:24:51,945 --> 00:24:53,085 Your Christian here 672 00:24:53,785 --> 00:24:56,265 is a reminder that the Christians assurance and 673 00:24:56,265 --> 00:24:56,765 security 674 00:24:57,430 --> 00:24:59,109 does not rest upon what we have done, 675 00:24:59,109 --> 00:25:00,490 but what God has done. 676 00:25:01,109 --> 00:25:01,609 Salvation, 677 00:25:02,150 --> 00:25:03,450 us being in Christ, 678 00:25:03,830 --> 00:25:05,990 our liberation by the Holy Spirit is not 679 00:25:05,990 --> 00:25:07,690 a work of us, but is a work 680 00:25:07,910 --> 00:25:09,509 of the Holy or the Holy Spirit, the 681 00:25:09,509 --> 00:25:11,585 work of the triune God thoroughly. 682 00:25:12,204 --> 00:25:14,284 We also learned something about the character of 683 00:25:14,284 --> 00:25:15,664 God as well. In that, 684 00:25:15,964 --> 00:25:17,825 our God is not someone who is idle. 685 00:25:18,204 --> 00:25:19,964 He's not someone that is inactive. He is 686 00:25:19,964 --> 00:25:21,964 not somebody who is passive, but he is 687 00:25:21,964 --> 00:25:24,704 one that actually operates. He works 688 00:25:25,559 --> 00:25:27,880 to save his people. He knew that we 689 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:29,960 were weak, that we were mortal, that we 690 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:33,000 were frail, that we were unable to fulfill 691 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:35,419 the requirements of the law for eternal life. 692 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:37,880 He also knew that the law had no 693 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,700 power to to to stir us, 694 00:25:41,505 --> 00:25:42,644 to obey him. 695 00:25:43,744 --> 00:25:44,805 So rather the law 696 00:25:45,345 --> 00:25:46,325 condemned us. 697 00:25:47,904 --> 00:25:50,705 Paul's first word really Paul Paul's first word 698 00:25:50,705 --> 00:25:52,164 should really be the pillow upon 699 00:25:52,545 --> 00:25:55,184 we in upon which we rest our head 700 00:25:55,184 --> 00:25:56,730 for what God has done. 701 00:25:57,210 --> 00:25:58,509 Not what we have done. 702 00:25:59,130 --> 00:26:01,289 And so what did God do? Well, Paul 703 00:26:01,289 --> 00:26:03,390 says that what God did 704 00:26:04,169 --> 00:26:06,250 will send his was to send his son 705 00:26:06,250 --> 00:26:09,529 in the likeness of sinful flesh, in the 706 00:26:09,529 --> 00:26:11,945 likeness of sinful flesh. And here we have 707 00:26:11,945 --> 00:26:13,644 the doctrine of the incarnation. 708 00:26:14,984 --> 00:26:15,644 The likeness 709 00:26:16,265 --> 00:26:18,904 is the this Greek word likeness is is 710 00:26:18,904 --> 00:26:20,984 is another word for resemble. This this word 711 00:26:20,984 --> 00:26:23,325 here really leaves leaves no room or allows, 712 00:26:23,970 --> 00:26:26,789 for the interpretation. There was sin in Christ. 713 00:26:27,490 --> 00:26:30,210 I was telling the, students this morning in 714 00:26:30,210 --> 00:26:31,109 Sunday school, 715 00:26:31,650 --> 00:26:33,730 we're going through Genesis and we are we're 716 00:26:33,730 --> 00:26:35,569 discussing that we are created in the image 717 00:26:35,569 --> 00:26:37,875 of God, likeness of God. And I said, 718 00:26:37,875 --> 00:26:40,195 this likeness is is a resemblance, just like 719 00:26:40,195 --> 00:26:41,575 we you guys resemble 720 00:26:41,955 --> 00:26:43,414 y'all's parents, so also 721 00:26:44,115 --> 00:26:45,095 do do humanity, 722 00:26:46,434 --> 00:26:47,255 this man, 723 00:26:47,555 --> 00:26:49,234 is created in the likeness and the image 724 00:26:49,234 --> 00:26:49,894 of God. 725 00:26:50,674 --> 00:26:52,829 And and here we see that Christ was 726 00:26:52,829 --> 00:26:55,789 incarnate in the likeness or the resemblance of 727 00:26:55,789 --> 00:26:56,289 flesh. 728 00:26:56,910 --> 00:26:58,210 But notice why God 729 00:26:59,150 --> 00:27:01,309 sent his son in the likeness of flesh. 730 00:27:01,309 --> 00:27:04,190 Paul writes, by sending his own son in 731 00:27:04,190 --> 00:27:05,970 the likeness of sinful flesh 732 00:27:06,429 --> 00:27:08,049 and for sin. 733 00:27:09,044 --> 00:27:09,865 For sin. 734 00:27:11,365 --> 00:27:12,984 God sent his only son 735 00:27:13,365 --> 00:27:15,605 for sin. Now this Greek word too, for 736 00:27:15,605 --> 00:27:17,365 sin is the same word that's used in 737 00:27:17,365 --> 00:27:18,184 the old testament, 738 00:27:18,565 --> 00:27:21,044 in the Greek translation of the old testament 739 00:27:21,044 --> 00:27:21,865 of the Torah, 740 00:27:22,819 --> 00:27:25,160 for the, for the for the for the 741 00:27:25,220 --> 00:27:27,940 sacrifices, for the sin offerings, for the atonement 742 00:27:27,940 --> 00:27:28,599 of sin. 743 00:27:28,980 --> 00:27:31,460 And therefore, God sent his only son to 744 00:27:31,460 --> 00:27:33,160 be a sacrifice to redeem 745 00:27:33,619 --> 00:27:36,200 his people, to atone for sin. 746 00:27:36,964 --> 00:27:39,704 And when Paul says, God condemned sin 747 00:27:41,045 --> 00:27:43,704 in Christ's flesh, what that means is that 748 00:27:43,765 --> 00:27:44,744 God's adjudication 749 00:27:45,125 --> 00:27:45,865 of punishment 750 00:27:46,884 --> 00:27:48,884 that you and I deserved was poured out 751 00:27:48,884 --> 00:27:49,384 upon 752 00:27:49,684 --> 00:27:50,744 Christ's flesh. 753 00:27:51,599 --> 00:27:53,619 That that which condemned us sin 754 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:56,880 was condemned in Christ's flesh. That he bore 755 00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:57,619 our sins. 756 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:00,640 Paul also says, that that was done in 757 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:03,759 order that the righteous requirements of the law 758 00:28:03,759 --> 00:28:04,740 might be fulfilled. 759 00:28:05,765 --> 00:28:07,605 And see, it's not simply, the gospel is 760 00:28:07,605 --> 00:28:08,745 not simply that 761 00:28:09,445 --> 00:28:10,025 that Christ 762 00:28:11,845 --> 00:28:13,865 died for our sins and that he satisfied 763 00:28:13,924 --> 00:28:16,005 the wrath of God and that our sins 764 00:28:16,005 --> 00:28:18,424 were removed by his his blood, 765 00:28:19,369 --> 00:28:20,890 but it's also that he lived the life 766 00:28:20,890 --> 00:28:22,109 that we could not live. 767 00:28:23,450 --> 00:28:24,190 Not only 768 00:28:24,730 --> 00:28:25,869 by Christ's sacrifice 769 00:28:26,410 --> 00:28:28,650 is God's wrath satisfied and our tones that 770 00:28:28,650 --> 00:28:30,269 are sinful, but his life 771 00:28:31,049 --> 00:28:33,390 is credited to us by union with him. 772 00:28:34,404 --> 00:28:37,525 By union with him. Put another way, God 773 00:28:37,525 --> 00:28:38,744 treated his son 774 00:28:39,765 --> 00:28:42,085 like he lived your life so that he 775 00:28:42,085 --> 00:28:43,924 could treat you as though you lived the 776 00:28:43,924 --> 00:28:44,904 life of his son. 777 00:28:45,924 --> 00:28:47,464 That's what it was all for. 778 00:28:50,250 --> 00:28:53,289 Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 779 00:28:53,289 --> 00:28:53,789 21. 780 00:28:55,609 --> 00:28:57,450 It really gets out really what what Paul 781 00:28:57,450 --> 00:28:59,210 is saying here in Romans, but in 2nd 782 00:28:59,210 --> 00:29:01,390 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21, Paul says, 783 00:29:01,714 --> 00:29:03,815 for our sake, he being God, 784 00:29:04,275 --> 00:29:05,974 made him, that's Christ, 785 00:29:06,755 --> 00:29:08,835 to be sin who knew no sin so 786 00:29:08,835 --> 00:29:11,734 that in him, that's in Christ, once again, 787 00:29:12,275 --> 00:29:14,615 we might become the righteousness of God. 788 00:29:15,839 --> 00:29:18,160 So dear Christians, not only do we have 789 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:20,000 and live and breathe and walk in this 790 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:21,220 life free 791 00:29:21,599 --> 00:29:23,359 and liberated from sin and death by the 792 00:29:23,359 --> 00:29:24,960 power of the Holy Spirit, we're you we're 793 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:27,519 also united to Christ. We're also credited with 794 00:29:27,519 --> 00:29:30,144 his righteousness by union with him. We are 795 00:29:30,144 --> 00:29:30,884 so secure. 796 00:29:31,424 --> 00:29:33,744 We are so assured of our salvation. And 797 00:29:33,744 --> 00:29:35,744 this is what really what Paul is trying 798 00:29:35,744 --> 00:29:36,484 to get at. 799 00:29:38,144 --> 00:29:38,964 In the 1800, 800 00:29:39,744 --> 00:29:41,825 a game of French origin was played in 801 00:29:41,825 --> 00:29:44,565 which if someone wanted to find out 802 00:29:45,630 --> 00:29:48,589 the extent of an individual's affections for them, 803 00:29:48,589 --> 00:29:49,809 what they would do is 804 00:29:50,430 --> 00:29:52,529 go up to an Oxford Daisy, 805 00:29:52,830 --> 00:29:55,309 which was a very pretty Daisy. And it 806 00:29:55,309 --> 00:29:57,230 had, you know, a lot of white petals 807 00:29:57,230 --> 00:29:58,910 around it, and and it had a bright, 808 00:29:58,910 --> 00:29:59,730 really beautiful 809 00:30:00,335 --> 00:30:02,575 yellow, carpel in it. And they would pick 810 00:30:02,575 --> 00:30:04,654 up this flower, and they would begin just 811 00:30:04,654 --> 00:30:06,035 to pick off the petals. 812 00:30:06,654 --> 00:30:08,595 The one thing that this game would repeat, 813 00:30:08,894 --> 00:30:10,494 in order as they were picking off the 814 00:30:10,494 --> 00:30:11,474 petals, was 815 00:30:11,934 --> 00:30:12,674 a little, 816 00:30:13,775 --> 00:30:14,434 a lot, 817 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:16,380 passionately, 818 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:18,700 to madness, 819 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:20,299 or not at all. 820 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:22,440 It would repeat that phrase until it got 821 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:24,119 to the last petal. And that last petal, 822 00:30:24,119 --> 00:30:26,940 whichever it landed on, that supposedly was 823 00:30:27,319 --> 00:30:29,799 the verdict upon which the person's extent had 824 00:30:29,799 --> 00:30:30,539 for you. 825 00:30:31,694 --> 00:30:33,535 Today, many of us might know that game 826 00:30:33,535 --> 00:30:35,214 and it goes a little different. The he 827 00:30:35,214 --> 00:30:37,934 loves me, loves me not, she loves me 828 00:30:37,934 --> 00:30:39,234 or she loves me not. 829 00:30:39,615 --> 00:30:41,375 At least I remember doing that. I remember 830 00:30:41,375 --> 00:30:42,515 my parents discussing 831 00:30:42,974 --> 00:30:43,794 that game. 832 00:30:44,335 --> 00:30:46,194 And I bring that up because dear Christian, 833 00:30:46,890 --> 00:30:48,910 because of what God has done for us, 834 00:30:49,609 --> 00:30:51,210 we never have to play those sorts of 835 00:30:51,210 --> 00:30:51,710 games. 836 00:30:52,650 --> 00:30:53,150 Never. 837 00:30:57,690 --> 00:30:58,509 We know 838 00:30:58,945 --> 00:31:01,424 for certain that our salvation is secure simply 839 00:31:01,424 --> 00:31:03,365 by looking upon the cross of Christ. 840 00:31:05,265 --> 00:31:06,965 Looking at the cross of Christ, 841 00:31:07,585 --> 00:31:09,984 every Christian can say with confidence, all my 842 00:31:09,984 --> 00:31:11,125 sin is paid for. 843 00:31:12,450 --> 00:31:14,529 Looking at the cross of Christ, every Christian 844 00:31:14,529 --> 00:31:15,750 can say with confidence, 845 00:31:17,250 --> 00:31:17,990 there is 846 00:31:18,369 --> 00:31:20,289 nothing that could separate me from the love 847 00:31:20,289 --> 00:31:20,869 of God. 848 00:31:22,548 --> 00:31:24,788 Looking at the cross of Christ, every Christian 849 00:31:24,788 --> 00:31:26,008 could say with confidence, 850 00:31:26,788 --> 00:31:29,128 there is therefore now no condemnation. 851 00:31:30,388 --> 00:31:31,368 Let us pray.