1 00:00:00,399 --> 00:00:03,220 Well, this morning we come to the end 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,099 of chapter 6 in Paul's magnificent 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:08,099 letter to the Romans. 4 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,599 And although after today, we still have 10 5 00:00:11,599 --> 00:00:13,699 chapters to go in this letter, 6 00:00:14,205 --> 00:00:17,901 This is a wonderful letter. The Apostle Paul 7 00:00:17,901 --> 00:00:21,598 has already in these these six chapters provided 8 00:00:21,598 --> 00:00:25,295 some of the most profound theological insights known 9 00:00:25,295 --> 00:00:28,539 to man. In Romans 1, verses 16 and 10 00:00:28,539 --> 00:00:30,960 17, Paul gave us the thesis statement 11 00:00:31,339 --> 00:00:32,559 for this entire letter. 12 00:00:33,020 --> 00:00:34,239 He wrote that the gospel 13 00:00:34,859 --> 00:00:36,960 is the power of God for salvation 14 00:00:37,579 --> 00:00:38,399 to everyone 15 00:00:38,939 --> 00:00:39,679 who believes. 16 00:00:40,299 --> 00:00:41,519 Because in the gospel, 17 00:00:42,505 --> 00:00:45,085 the righteousness of God is revealed from faith 18 00:00:45,465 --> 00:00:46,284 for faith. 19 00:00:47,384 --> 00:00:49,004 Paul then boldly echoed 20 00:00:49,384 --> 00:00:51,484 the words of the prophet Habakkuk 21 00:00:51,945 --> 00:00:53,244 declaring that the righteous 22 00:00:53,625 --> 00:00:54,445 shall live 23 00:00:54,824 --> 00:00:55,645 by faith. 24 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:57,979 So at the outset of this letter, 25 00:00:58,679 --> 00:01:01,640 Paul displays before his audience the way of 26 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:02,140 salvation. 27 00:01:03,079 --> 00:01:04,380 A person is saved 28 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:06,299 when God's power 29 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:07,260 works 30 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:08,540 through the gospel, 31 00:01:09,465 --> 00:01:11,245 enabling the believer to appropriate 32 00:01:11,864 --> 00:01:13,484 the righteousness of God 33 00:01:13,864 --> 00:01:14,685 by faith. 34 00:01:15,465 --> 00:01:17,784 We learned that salvation is accessible to all 35 00:01:17,784 --> 00:01:18,284 peoples 36 00:01:18,745 --> 00:01:19,805 whether Jew 37 00:01:20,185 --> 00:01:21,004 or Gentile. 38 00:01:22,060 --> 00:01:24,140 We learned that salvation is a work of 39 00:01:24,140 --> 00:01:24,959 God's power. 40 00:01:25,900 --> 00:01:27,280 We learned that the righteousness 41 00:01:27,900 --> 00:01:28,400 necessary 42 00:01:29,020 --> 00:01:31,520 for eternal life is received 43 00:01:32,459 --> 00:01:33,280 by faith. 44 00:01:34,704 --> 00:01:36,165 It doesn't matter who you are, 45 00:01:37,105 --> 00:01:39,125 it doesn't matter where you come from, 46 00:01:39,665 --> 00:01:41,525 it doesn't matter what you've done. 47 00:01:42,545 --> 00:01:44,245 Paul says, Believe the gospel, 48 00:01:45,185 --> 00:01:47,365 entrust yourself to God's power, 49 00:01:48,390 --> 00:01:48,890 receive 50 00:01:49,510 --> 00:01:51,290 God's righteousness by faith, 51 00:01:51,670 --> 00:01:53,930 and you will be saved. You will enjoy 52 00:01:54,870 --> 00:01:55,770 eternal life. 53 00:01:57,109 --> 00:01:58,409 In just a few verses, 54 00:01:58,790 --> 00:02:00,490 Paul takes us to a spiritual 55 00:02:00,950 --> 00:02:01,450 pinnacle 56 00:02:03,435 --> 00:02:06,474 placing before us the hope of eternal life. 57 00:02:06,474 --> 00:02:09,134 It is within our reach in these opening 58 00:02:09,435 --> 00:02:11,614 verses in Paul's letter to the Romans. 59 00:02:12,794 --> 00:02:13,534 But then, 60 00:02:14,875 --> 00:02:15,614 from Romans 61 00:02:15,914 --> 00:02:16,414 118 62 00:02:17,620 --> 00:02:18,840 to Romans 3:20, 63 00:02:19,379 --> 00:02:21,000 Paul takes us from the heights 64 00:02:21,460 --> 00:02:22,760 of the heavenly courts 65 00:02:23,379 --> 00:02:24,599 down to the deepest 66 00:02:24,980 --> 00:02:25,480 recesses 67 00:02:26,420 --> 00:02:27,400 of the valley 68 00:02:27,780 --> 00:02:28,520 of despair. 69 00:02:29,060 --> 00:02:30,819 Indeed, he takes us to the very gates 70 00:02:30,819 --> 00:02:31,560 of hell 71 00:02:32,294 --> 00:02:34,794 as he outlines with devastating clarity 72 00:02:35,655 --> 00:02:36,875 the wretched reality 73 00:02:37,414 --> 00:02:38,715 of the humanist state. 74 00:02:40,375 --> 00:02:43,275 And as Paul drags us through that dark 75 00:02:43,414 --> 00:02:44,634 valley of gloom, 76 00:02:45,389 --> 00:02:47,469 we learn that all human beings are by 77 00:02:47,469 --> 00:02:47,969 nature 78 00:02:48,349 --> 00:02:50,289 in rebellion against God, 79 00:02:51,709 --> 00:02:53,569 that we worship and serve the creature 80 00:02:54,349 --> 00:02:55,489 rather than the Creator, 81 00:02:56,669 --> 00:02:59,789 that we celebrate and promote all kinds of 82 00:02:59,789 --> 00:03:00,289 immorality, 83 00:03:01,675 --> 00:03:03,055 that our minds are corrupt, 84 00:03:04,235 --> 00:03:05,534 that our hearts are wicked, 85 00:03:06,474 --> 00:03:08,014 that our eyes are blind, 86 00:03:09,034 --> 00:03:10,574 that our lips blaspheme, 87 00:03:11,675 --> 00:03:14,254 that our feet are swift to shed blood, 88 00:03:15,330 --> 00:03:16,550 that along our path 89 00:03:16,930 --> 00:03:19,590 we live nothing, we leave nothing but ruin 90 00:03:19,969 --> 00:03:20,790 and misery. 91 00:03:22,210 --> 00:03:22,950 We learn 92 00:03:23,650 --> 00:03:25,730 that having knowledge of God's law will not 93 00:03:25,730 --> 00:03:26,469 save us 94 00:03:27,324 --> 00:03:30,385 because God's law only serves as a witness 95 00:03:30,444 --> 00:03:31,585 against our disobedience. 96 00:03:32,925 --> 00:03:35,344 We learned that circumcision cannot save us 97 00:03:35,724 --> 00:03:37,585 because our hearts are uncircumcised. 98 00:03:38,444 --> 00:03:40,224 They are filled with impurity 99 00:03:40,925 --> 00:03:41,665 and wickedness. 100 00:03:42,870 --> 00:03:44,810 We learned that there is not one person, 101 00:03:45,030 --> 00:03:46,650 not one who is righteous. 102 00:03:47,270 --> 00:03:49,509 No, not one Paul tells us. He stresses 103 00:03:49,509 --> 00:03:50,009 that. 104 00:03:51,030 --> 00:03:52,330 And thus it is apparent 105 00:03:53,110 --> 00:03:55,849 that between the sinful estate of man 106 00:03:56,655 --> 00:03:57,954 and the perfect righteousness 107 00:03:58,574 --> 00:03:59,555 that is required 108 00:04:00,414 --> 00:04:02,495 by God so that we can enjoy full 109 00:04:02,495 --> 00:04:03,634 communion with Him, 110 00:04:03,935 --> 00:04:05,555 there exists an insurmountable 111 00:04:05,854 --> 00:04:06,354 chasm. 112 00:04:08,014 --> 00:04:10,034 And the salvation that seems so close 113 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,060 at the beginning of Paul's letter 114 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:13,020 disappears 115 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:14,620 behind 116 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:15,740 the curtain 117 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:17,420 of God's perfect 118 00:04:17,879 --> 00:04:18,379 justice. 119 00:04:20,439 --> 00:04:21,180 But then 120 00:04:21,879 --> 00:04:25,319 beginning in Romans 3/21, Paul introduces hope once 121 00:04:25,319 --> 00:04:25,819 again. 122 00:04:26,475 --> 00:04:28,095 He writes that God's righteousness, 123 00:04:28,794 --> 00:04:31,035 which is the only righteousness that can save 124 00:04:31,035 --> 00:04:31,535 us, 125 00:04:31,995 --> 00:04:33,454 has been manifested 126 00:04:33,754 --> 00:04:35,535 apart from the law, 127 00:04:36,555 --> 00:04:37,535 that it has appeared 128 00:04:38,235 --> 00:04:38,975 in history, 129 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:41,580 that it is attainable 130 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:42,699 to us. 131 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:45,420 In other words, Paul writes 132 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,699 that though we cannot save ourselves by obeying 133 00:04:48,759 --> 00:04:49,420 the law, 134 00:04:49,879 --> 00:04:52,279 since we none of us none of us 135 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,080 can offer the perfect obedience that the law 136 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:55,580 requires, 137 00:04:56,925 --> 00:04:58,865 that nevertheless there is one 138 00:04:59,324 --> 00:05:01,024 whom God has put forth 139 00:05:01,805 --> 00:05:02,544 to accomplish 140 00:05:03,084 --> 00:05:04,225 that very thing. 141 00:05:04,845 --> 00:05:06,944 He writes that Jesus has fulfilled 142 00:05:07,564 --> 00:05:11,345 the requirements of God's law in our place. 143 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,980 Therefore, in Romans 3 verses 23 and 24, 144 00:05:16,759 --> 00:05:19,180 Paul offers these amazing words of hope. 145 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:20,220 He writes, 146 00:05:22,759 --> 00:05:24,220 For all have sinned 147 00:05:24,914 --> 00:05:26,935 and fall short of the glory of God 148 00:05:28,034 --> 00:05:29,414 and are justified 149 00:05:30,435 --> 00:05:31,495 by His grace 150 00:05:31,954 --> 00:05:32,854 as a gift 151 00:05:33,394 --> 00:05:34,454 through the redemption 152 00:05:35,154 --> 00:05:36,694 that is in Christ Jesus. 153 00:05:38,310 --> 00:05:40,089 And from that glorious statement 154 00:05:40,709 --> 00:05:43,589 of the grace of God freely offered in 155 00:05:43,589 --> 00:05:44,089 Christ, 156 00:05:44,470 --> 00:05:46,329 Paul then bifurcates humanity 157 00:05:47,430 --> 00:05:48,569 into 2 camps. 158 00:05:50,044 --> 00:05:51,985 Those who are standing on their own 159 00:05:53,084 --> 00:05:55,084 works and those who are standing on the 160 00:05:55,084 --> 00:05:56,464 works of Jesus. 161 00:05:57,725 --> 00:05:59,904 Those who are relying on their own merits 162 00:06:01,004 --> 00:06:02,925 and those who are relying on the merit 163 00:06:02,925 --> 00:06:03,584 of Christ. 164 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:06,860 Those who are united to Adam, 165 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,360 and those who are united to Christ by 166 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:10,860 faith, 167 00:06:11,879 --> 00:06:13,339 those who are slaves of sin, 168 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:15,580 and those who are slaves 169 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:16,939 of righteousness. 170 00:06:17,959 --> 00:06:19,100 And so we arrive 171 00:06:20,084 --> 00:06:21,464 at our text this morning, 172 00:06:22,084 --> 00:06:24,264 Romans 6 verses 20 to 23, 173 00:06:24,725 --> 00:06:25,865 where Paul highlights 174 00:06:26,485 --> 00:06:27,305 the transformative 175 00:06:27,685 --> 00:06:28,185 power 176 00:06:29,444 --> 00:06:31,704 of God's grace in the life 177 00:06:32,084 --> 00:06:32,745 of believers. 178 00:06:34,050 --> 00:06:36,129 We see in these verses that when someone 179 00:06:36,129 --> 00:06:37,189 becomes a Christian 180 00:06:38,129 --> 00:06:40,310 that person serves a different ruler, 181 00:06:41,649 --> 00:06:42,870 that person walks 182 00:06:43,490 --> 00:06:44,949 along a different road, 183 00:06:45,490 --> 00:06:47,029 and that person ultimately 184 00:06:47,944 --> 00:06:50,204 receives a different reward. 185 00:06:51,464 --> 00:06:53,944 So these verses invite invite us today to 186 00:06:53,944 --> 00:06:54,685 take stock 187 00:06:55,384 --> 00:06:56,524 of our own lives 188 00:06:56,824 --> 00:06:57,884 and to ask ourselves, 189 00:06:58,425 --> 00:07:00,125 which ruler do I serve? 190 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:03,060 What road 191 00:07:03,439 --> 00:07:04,339 am I traveling? 192 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:06,819 What reward 193 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:09,060 can I expect? 194 00:07:09,439 --> 00:07:11,120 These are the questions I want us to 195 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:11,620 consider 196 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,800 this morning as we close Romans 6. So 197 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,500 let's look at the first of these questions, 198 00:07:17,165 --> 00:07:18,064 Which ruler 199 00:07:18,605 --> 00:07:19,584 do I serve? 200 00:07:20,285 --> 00:07:23,004 In verses 17 to 19 of Romans 6, 201 00:07:23,004 --> 00:07:24,524 which we consider the last time that we 202 00:07:24,524 --> 00:07:25,345 looked at Romans, 203 00:07:26,285 --> 00:07:28,524 Paul writes that before someone is united to 204 00:07:28,524 --> 00:07:29,665 Christ by faith, 205 00:07:30,279 --> 00:07:33,020 that person is actually a slave to sin, 206 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:36,300 a slave to impurity, a slave to lawlessness. 207 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,520 That is strong language from Paul. In fact, 208 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:42,839 he even apologizes for that language in verse 209 00:07:42,839 --> 00:07:45,165 19 where he writes, I am speaking 210 00:07:45,625 --> 00:07:46,764 in human terms 211 00:07:47,225 --> 00:07:50,585 because of your natural limitations or literally because 212 00:07:50,585 --> 00:07:52,285 of the weakness of your flesh. 213 00:07:54,504 --> 00:07:56,685 He's not simply saying that we sometimes 214 00:07:57,384 --> 00:07:58,365 choose to sin 215 00:07:59,329 --> 00:08:01,490 or that we might occasionally and maybe even 216 00:08:01,490 --> 00:08:01,990 accidentally 217 00:08:02,930 --> 00:08:05,189 stumble in such a way that we transgress 218 00:08:05,329 --> 00:08:06,069 God's law. 219 00:08:06,449 --> 00:08:08,370 No, he writes that we are slaves to 220 00:08:08,370 --> 00:08:11,430 sin, and to impurity, and to lawlessness. 221 00:08:11,730 --> 00:08:13,670 He asserts that sin has mastery 222 00:08:14,290 --> 00:08:15,110 over us. 223 00:08:17,085 --> 00:08:19,004 Paul continues this line of thought in verse 224 00:08:19,004 --> 00:08:20,145 20 where we read, 225 00:08:20,524 --> 00:08:23,024 For when you were slaves of sin, 226 00:08:23,805 --> 00:08:25,745 you were free in regard to righteousness. 227 00:08:27,245 --> 00:08:30,145 Notice therefore that Paul in no uncertain terms 228 00:08:30,660 --> 00:08:33,480 defines the condition of fallen human beings 229 00:08:33,860 --> 00:08:35,480 as one of bondage. 230 00:08:36,980 --> 00:08:38,440 Bondage, we are slaves. 231 00:08:39,779 --> 00:08:42,279 Now in many ways, this seems rather counterintuitive 232 00:08:42,660 --> 00:08:43,320 to us. 233 00:08:43,975 --> 00:08:45,274 After all, the assumption 234 00:08:45,654 --> 00:08:47,674 that we modern human beings make 235 00:08:48,134 --> 00:08:49,835 which we might even call a basic 236 00:08:50,215 --> 00:08:50,715 western 237 00:08:51,095 --> 00:08:52,154 tenet, certainly 238 00:08:52,615 --> 00:08:53,835 an American ideal 239 00:08:54,695 --> 00:08:57,115 is that human beings are essentially 240 00:08:57,654 --> 00:08:58,154 free. 241 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,740 We affirm that our will is free, 242 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:04,360 that we are free to think whatever we 243 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:04,860 want, 244 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:07,259 and to believe whatever we want, 245 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,000 and that this natural and one might say, 246 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:11,980 inherent liberty 247 00:09:12,759 --> 00:09:13,819 ought to be protected. 248 00:09:15,375 --> 00:09:18,254 Our founding fathers enshrined this sentiment in the 249 00:09:18,254 --> 00:09:19,235 aptly titled 250 00:09:19,615 --> 00:09:21,075 declaration of independence 251 00:09:22,095 --> 00:09:24,195 where they affirm that every human being 252 00:09:24,654 --> 00:09:26,115 has the right to life, 253 00:09:26,735 --> 00:09:27,235 liberty, 254 00:09:27,695 --> 00:09:29,315 and the pursuit of happiness. 255 00:09:30,819 --> 00:09:33,220 The notion that human beings are by nature 256 00:09:33,220 --> 00:09:35,879 under any kind of bondage is entirely 257 00:09:36,339 --> 00:09:36,839 foreign 258 00:09:37,459 --> 00:09:40,279 to this document and to this idea. 259 00:09:41,779 --> 00:09:43,299 And the truth is that for most of 260 00:09:43,299 --> 00:09:43,799 us, 261 00:09:44,274 --> 00:09:45,794 before we come to know the Lord, we 262 00:09:45,794 --> 00:09:47,575 don't feel like our lives 263 00:09:48,195 --> 00:09:50,115 are hindered in any way, that our will 264 00:09:50,115 --> 00:09:51,254 certainly is hindered 265 00:09:51,634 --> 00:09:53,014 in any way, do we? 266 00:09:53,794 --> 00:09:54,294 Unless 267 00:09:54,834 --> 00:09:57,254 someone forcibly interferes with us, 268 00:09:57,570 --> 00:09:59,429 we have the freedom to do 269 00:09:59,889 --> 00:10:00,950 whatever we want. 270 00:10:02,290 --> 00:10:03,990 Yet Paul writes that as unbelievers, 271 00:10:04,610 --> 00:10:07,009 the only freedom we had is that we 272 00:10:07,009 --> 00:10:08,710 were free in regard 273 00:10:09,170 --> 00:10:09,910 to righteousness. 274 00:10:11,345 --> 00:10:13,745 In other words, righteousness had no claim upon 275 00:10:13,745 --> 00:10:14,404 our hearts. 276 00:10:15,504 --> 00:10:16,644 We did not find 277 00:10:17,264 --> 00:10:17,764 righteousness 278 00:10:18,065 --> 00:10:18,884 to be compelling 279 00:10:19,584 --> 00:10:20,565 in any way. 280 00:10:21,664 --> 00:10:23,424 Now that does not mean that we were 281 00:10:23,424 --> 00:10:26,144 not capable of doing nice things or even 282 00:10:26,144 --> 00:10:26,700 good things, 283 00:10:27,259 --> 00:10:30,299 like acts of kindness, or of charity, so 284 00:10:30,299 --> 00:10:30,799 on. 285 00:10:31,740 --> 00:10:32,639 What it means 286 00:10:33,340 --> 00:10:35,419 is that since our allegiance was not to 287 00:10:35,419 --> 00:10:35,919 God, 288 00:10:36,299 --> 00:10:38,139 since we did not have Him as our 289 00:10:38,139 --> 00:10:38,639 Lord, 290 00:10:39,179 --> 00:10:41,200 certainly we didn't view Him as our Lord, 291 00:10:41,684 --> 00:10:43,445 since we did not consider ourselves to be 292 00:10:43,445 --> 00:10:45,384 under His authority in any way, 293 00:10:46,325 --> 00:10:49,225 we never did anything, not even good things 294 00:10:49,764 --> 00:10:51,065 for the glory of God. 295 00:10:52,485 --> 00:10:55,125 And yet as our middle schoolers and high 296 00:10:55,125 --> 00:10:57,320 schoolers have been learning in their study of 297 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:58,779 the Westminster Shorter Catechism, 298 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:00,539 our chief end, 299 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,740 our main purpose as human beings 300 00:11:04,279 --> 00:11:05,419 is to glorify 301 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:06,860 and enjoy 302 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:07,980 God. 303 00:11:09,664 --> 00:11:12,565 Paul himself teaches this in 1st Corinthians 10:31 304 00:11:12,865 --> 00:11:13,684 where he writes, 305 00:11:14,225 --> 00:11:16,644 So whether you eat or drink 306 00:11:17,105 --> 00:11:18,725 or whatever you do, 307 00:11:19,264 --> 00:11:20,164 do all 308 00:11:20,544 --> 00:11:21,524 to the glory 309 00:11:21,904 --> 00:11:22,644 of God. 310 00:11:24,850 --> 00:11:26,470 Therefore, when it comes to our thoughts, 311 00:11:27,409 --> 00:11:28,309 to our actions, 312 00:11:28,850 --> 00:11:29,990 to our way of life, 313 00:11:30,769 --> 00:11:33,669 the motive behind them ought to be 314 00:11:34,210 --> 00:11:35,350 God's glory. 315 00:11:36,450 --> 00:11:37,669 That's why we exist, 316 00:11:38,425 --> 00:11:40,904 that's why He made us, that is our 317 00:11:40,904 --> 00:11:41,404 purpose. 318 00:11:43,065 --> 00:11:45,465 That is an imperative from God's word to 319 00:11:45,465 --> 00:11:48,605 every creature in His image. Whatever you do, 320 00:11:49,225 --> 00:11:50,125 do all 321 00:11:50,504 --> 00:11:51,404 to the glory 322 00:11:51,865 --> 00:11:52,524 of God. 323 00:11:54,329 --> 00:11:56,429 But before we were delivered by Christ, 324 00:11:57,049 --> 00:11:58,589 we served another Lord. 325 00:11:59,610 --> 00:12:02,009 We were slaves to sin, Paul says. And 326 00:12:02,009 --> 00:12:04,169 we were both uninterested in serving God, and 327 00:12:04,169 --> 00:12:05,470 in fact we were incapable 328 00:12:06,084 --> 00:12:09,044 of doing so because our hearts belong to 329 00:12:09,044 --> 00:12:10,024 another master. 330 00:12:11,845 --> 00:12:13,865 Notice, however, that in Romans 622, 331 00:12:14,884 --> 00:12:16,264 Paul writes that now 332 00:12:16,725 --> 00:12:19,764 we have been set free from sin and 333 00:12:19,764 --> 00:12:21,384 have become slaves of God. 334 00:12:24,059 --> 00:12:26,059 That is what he didn't write. He didn't 335 00:12:26,059 --> 00:12:28,960 write, now that you have liberated yourselves 336 00:12:29,420 --> 00:12:31,200 and are free to do as you wish. 337 00:12:31,660 --> 00:12:32,879 It's not what he said. 338 00:12:33,340 --> 00:12:34,080 He writes, 339 00:12:34,460 --> 00:12:36,639 now that you have been set free 340 00:12:37,345 --> 00:12:38,085 from sin 341 00:12:38,705 --> 00:12:40,004 and have become slaves 342 00:12:40,384 --> 00:12:41,125 of God 343 00:12:43,825 --> 00:12:44,725 In other words, 344 00:12:45,345 --> 00:12:48,004 human beings are either slaves of sin 345 00:12:49,024 --> 00:12:49,524 or 346 00:12:50,144 --> 00:12:51,284 slaves of God. 347 00:12:51,990 --> 00:12:53,450 There's no third option 348 00:12:53,909 --> 00:12:56,009 that is presented for us here. 349 00:12:57,269 --> 00:12:59,110 Look at what psalm the psalmist writes in 350 00:12:59,110 --> 00:12:59,929 Psalm 49 351 00:13:00,309 --> 00:13:02,570 verses 7 to 8, says this, 352 00:13:03,190 --> 00:13:04,970 Psalm 49 7 to 8, 353 00:13:05,750 --> 00:13:06,250 Truly 354 00:13:07,184 --> 00:13:08,965 no man can ransom another, 355 00:13:09,904 --> 00:13:11,985 or give to God the price of his 356 00:13:11,985 --> 00:13:12,485 life, 357 00:13:13,184 --> 00:13:15,684 for the ransom of their life is costly 358 00:13:16,465 --> 00:13:17,445 and can never 359 00:13:18,144 --> 00:13:18,644 suffice. 360 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:21,699 We're slaves to sin, 361 00:13:22,399 --> 00:13:24,419 and cannot purchase our own freedom. 362 00:13:25,039 --> 00:13:26,639 No matter how many good things we might 363 00:13:26,639 --> 00:13:27,139 do, 364 00:13:28,319 --> 00:13:30,339 the price that we pay will never 365 00:13:30,879 --> 00:13:31,379 suffice. 366 00:13:32,799 --> 00:13:35,059 Furthermore, no one else can purchase us 367 00:13:35,865 --> 00:13:36,924 because they also 368 00:13:37,465 --> 00:13:38,205 are enslaved 369 00:13:38,745 --> 00:13:39,404 to sin, 370 00:13:39,865 --> 00:13:42,264 and they cannot afford their own price much 371 00:13:42,264 --> 00:13:43,804 less our price. 372 00:13:45,865 --> 00:13:47,465 But look at what the psalmist then writes 373 00:13:47,465 --> 00:13:49,165 in that same Psalm, Psalm 49 374 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:50,299 verse 15. 375 00:13:51,399 --> 00:13:52,139 He writes, 376 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:53,100 But 377 00:13:53,639 --> 00:13:56,700 God will ransom my soul from the power 378 00:13:56,759 --> 00:13:57,419 of Sheol, 379 00:13:57,960 --> 00:13:58,860 for He 380 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:00,460 will receive me. 381 00:14:01,524 --> 00:14:03,225 In other words, only God 382 00:14:03,764 --> 00:14:06,325 can ransom our soul because He does not 383 00:14:06,325 --> 00:14:08,024 have any debt of His own. 384 00:14:08,644 --> 00:14:11,065 And that is exactly what God has done 385 00:14:11,445 --> 00:14:12,184 for us 386 00:14:12,565 --> 00:14:14,024 through Jesus Christ. 387 00:14:15,170 --> 00:14:17,170 Look at what Jesus says in Mark 10 388 00:14:17,170 --> 00:14:17,910 verse 45. 389 00:14:18,930 --> 00:14:21,410 He says, for even the Son of Man 390 00:14:21,410 --> 00:14:22,790 came not to be served, 391 00:14:23,410 --> 00:14:24,389 but to serve 392 00:14:25,170 --> 00:14:27,990 and to give his life as a ransom 393 00:14:28,769 --> 00:14:29,590 for many. 394 00:14:31,434 --> 00:14:33,294 Christ has purchased us 395 00:14:33,674 --> 00:14:36,335 by His blood. He has purchased our life 396 00:14:36,634 --> 00:14:37,695 with His own life. 397 00:14:38,794 --> 00:14:40,815 He alone was able to do this because 398 00:14:41,195 --> 00:14:44,475 He is entirely sinless, and therefore He has 399 00:14:44,475 --> 00:14:45,855 no debt of His own. 400 00:14:47,009 --> 00:14:47,750 And because 401 00:14:48,610 --> 00:14:50,550 at the incarnation he really 402 00:14:51,009 --> 00:14:51,509 assumed 403 00:14:51,970 --> 00:14:52,950 a human nature 404 00:14:53,330 --> 00:14:54,790 and became like us, 405 00:14:55,250 --> 00:14:58,550 he is able to represent us before God. 406 00:14:59,924 --> 00:15:02,745 That's what Paul himself asserts in 1 Timothy 407 00:15:02,884 --> 00:15:03,384 chapter 408 00:15:03,845 --> 00:15:05,465 2 verses 5 and 6 409 00:15:06,004 --> 00:15:06,985 where he writes, 410 00:15:07,924 --> 00:15:09,384 For there is one God 411 00:15:09,924 --> 00:15:12,485 and there is one mediator between God and 412 00:15:12,485 --> 00:15:12,985 men, 413 00:15:13,365 --> 00:15:14,985 the man Christ Jesus, 414 00:15:15,500 --> 00:15:16,240 who gave 415 00:15:16,779 --> 00:15:17,919 himself as a ransom 416 00:15:18,860 --> 00:15:19,600 for all. 417 00:15:20,860 --> 00:15:22,700 So the first question for you this morning 418 00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:24,799 is this, which ruler 419 00:15:25,419 --> 00:15:26,480 do you serve? 420 00:15:28,154 --> 00:15:29,695 If you don't serve God, 421 00:15:30,634 --> 00:15:31,774 then you're a slave 422 00:15:32,394 --> 00:15:33,054 of sin. 423 00:15:34,315 --> 00:15:35,454 Where's your allegiance? 424 00:15:37,434 --> 00:15:38,654 What drives you? 425 00:15:40,235 --> 00:15:41,375 Who or what 426 00:15:41,914 --> 00:15:43,214 are you living for? 427 00:15:44,929 --> 00:15:46,230 Are you living for yourself? 428 00:15:47,809 --> 00:15:50,549 Are you living for worldly things? Things that 429 00:15:51,570 --> 00:15:52,629 rust will destroy? 430 00:15:53,970 --> 00:15:54,790 Things that 431 00:15:55,250 --> 00:15:56,629 moss will eat up 432 00:15:57,090 --> 00:15:57,910 and deteriorate? 433 00:16:00,004 --> 00:16:02,325 Or are you living for God? Do you 434 00:16:02,325 --> 00:16:04,565 have your eyes set on heavenly matters, things 435 00:16:04,565 --> 00:16:05,465 that will endure? 436 00:16:07,285 --> 00:16:08,825 Perhaps the best way to answer 437 00:16:10,085 --> 00:16:12,004 these questions is to look at our second 438 00:16:12,004 --> 00:16:12,504 question 439 00:16:13,709 --> 00:16:14,370 which is 440 00:16:14,829 --> 00:16:15,649 what road 441 00:16:16,110 --> 00:16:17,009 am I traveling? 442 00:16:17,949 --> 00:16:20,429 In Matthew 7/21, Jesus gives us one of 443 00:16:20,429 --> 00:16:21,329 the most terrifying 444 00:16:21,870 --> 00:16:24,769 warnings. Matthew 7/21, he says this, 445 00:16:25,725 --> 00:16:27,804 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' 446 00:16:27,804 --> 00:16:29,345 will enter the kingdom of heaven, 447 00:16:29,884 --> 00:16:31,404 but the one who does the will of 448 00:16:31,404 --> 00:16:33,664 my Father who is in heaven. 449 00:16:35,404 --> 00:16:38,144 Therefore, the distinguishing feature for the believer, 450 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:40,759 for the one who serves God as his 451 00:16:40,759 --> 00:16:41,259 ruler 452 00:16:41,879 --> 00:16:43,799 is not what he is willing to say 453 00:16:43,799 --> 00:16:44,620 about God, 454 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:45,740 but rather 455 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:47,580 that he does the will 456 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:49,019 of God. 457 00:16:49,879 --> 00:16:52,200 Now, this does not mean that Christians always 458 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,585 do God's will, that we always do God's 459 00:16:54,585 --> 00:16:55,325 will perfectly, 460 00:16:55,705 --> 00:16:57,465 that we never sin. That's not what this 461 00:16:57,465 --> 00:16:59,304 means. And in fact in fact, the very 462 00:16:59,304 --> 00:17:00,684 next chapter in Romans, 463 00:17:01,625 --> 00:17:03,804 will make it very clear that this life 464 00:17:04,424 --> 00:17:05,404 is a struggle, 465 00:17:07,079 --> 00:17:09,000 can be characterized by the struggle of the 466 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,460 Christian against sin. 467 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,980 The struggle is real and it is fierce 468 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:15,420 as we will see. 469 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:17,900 But here but that's the point 470 00:17:18,355 --> 00:17:19,014 in fact. 471 00:17:19,394 --> 00:17:20,694 The Christian actually 472 00:17:20,994 --> 00:17:23,974 does struggle against sin. The Christian does battle 473 00:17:24,194 --> 00:17:27,174 against sin because sin is no longer 474 00:17:27,714 --> 00:17:28,534 his master. 475 00:17:30,529 --> 00:17:31,829 That's why there's a struggle. 476 00:17:32,450 --> 00:17:35,089 Therefore, the Christian, because he has been delivered 477 00:17:35,089 --> 00:17:37,269 from the domain of sin, is now capable 478 00:17:37,409 --> 00:17:38,149 of walking 479 00:17:38,529 --> 00:17:39,429 in the path 480 00:17:39,730 --> 00:17:40,470 of righteousness 481 00:17:41,089 --> 00:17:43,349 and of bearing fruit for God's kingdom. 482 00:17:44,894 --> 00:17:47,215 Look at verses 21 and 22 of Romans 483 00:17:47,215 --> 00:17:47,715 6. 484 00:17:49,695 --> 00:17:52,174 But what fruit were you getting at that 485 00:17:52,174 --> 00:17:54,174 time from the things of which you are 486 00:17:54,174 --> 00:17:54,994 now ashamed? 487 00:17:55,934 --> 00:17:58,115 For the end of those things is death. 488 00:17:59,420 --> 00:18:01,180 But now that you have been set free 489 00:18:01,180 --> 00:18:01,839 from sin 490 00:18:02,539 --> 00:18:04,480 and have become slaves of God, 491 00:18:04,940 --> 00:18:06,960 the fruit you get leads to sanctification 492 00:18:07,420 --> 00:18:08,480 and its end, 493 00:18:09,420 --> 00:18:09,920 eternal 494 00:18:10,779 --> 00:18:11,279 life. 495 00:18:12,934 --> 00:18:14,775 Paul writes that while we were in bondage 496 00:18:14,775 --> 00:18:15,434 to sin, 497 00:18:15,974 --> 00:18:17,115 we would bear fruit 498 00:18:17,414 --> 00:18:19,654 that now as we look back on it 499 00:18:19,654 --> 00:18:21,275 would actually make us ashamed. 500 00:18:22,295 --> 00:18:24,075 He writes that we were on a road 501 00:18:24,134 --> 00:18:25,755 that led to death. 502 00:18:27,539 --> 00:18:29,159 But now that we belong to God, 503 00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:31,720 Paul writes that our fruit leads to sanctification. 504 00:18:34,339 --> 00:18:35,859 He writes that we are now on a 505 00:18:35,859 --> 00:18:37,720 road that leads to eternal life. 506 00:18:39,464 --> 00:18:40,765 I can't help but think 507 00:18:41,224 --> 00:18:42,444 of Psalm 1 508 00:18:42,744 --> 00:18:44,664 as we look at these this contrast that 509 00:18:44,664 --> 00:18:47,085 takes place between the unbeliever and the believer. 510 00:18:47,144 --> 00:18:49,484 In Psalm 1, the Psalmist describes the downward 511 00:18:49,544 --> 00:18:50,044 path 512 00:18:51,224 --> 00:18:52,525 of the wicked man. 513 00:18:53,859 --> 00:18:56,119 We first find the ungodly man walking 514 00:18:57,059 --> 00:18:59,140 when he decides to give his ear to 515 00:18:59,140 --> 00:19:00,519 the counsel of the wicked. 516 00:19:02,339 --> 00:19:04,440 Then the ungodly man stops walking, 517 00:19:05,634 --> 00:19:07,795 and he gives his allegiance to sinner to 518 00:19:07,795 --> 00:19:08,855 sinners unashamedly 519 00:19:09,234 --> 00:19:10,375 standing with them. 520 00:19:12,115 --> 00:19:13,815 Finally the ungodly man 521 00:19:14,434 --> 00:19:15,255 stops standing. 522 00:19:15,954 --> 00:19:17,714 And we find him sitting in the miry 523 00:19:17,714 --> 00:19:19,494 bog as it were, and scoffing 524 00:19:20,035 --> 00:19:22,669 at God even as a squealing pig 525 00:19:22,970 --> 00:19:24,349 wallows in the mud. 526 00:19:26,089 --> 00:19:27,470 It's as if he has succumbed 527 00:19:28,169 --> 00:19:29,950 under the weight of the chains 528 00:19:30,329 --> 00:19:31,309 of his bondage 529 00:19:31,769 --> 00:19:32,509 to sin. 530 00:19:34,055 --> 00:19:35,755 You see, sin is neither pointless 531 00:19:36,934 --> 00:19:37,755 nor static. 532 00:19:39,095 --> 00:19:39,914 It purposefully, 533 00:19:41,255 --> 00:19:41,755 intentionally, 534 00:19:43,255 --> 00:19:43,994 and relentlessly 535 00:19:44,934 --> 00:19:46,075 drags you down 536 00:19:46,615 --> 00:19:47,515 to the grave. 537 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:50,140 The psalmist writes 538 00:19:50,519 --> 00:19:52,519 that the wicked will not be able to 539 00:19:52,519 --> 00:19:53,019 stand 540 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:55,799 at the final judgment, but will be like 541 00:19:55,799 --> 00:19:56,299 chaff 542 00:19:56,599 --> 00:19:58,940 that the wind drives away. 543 00:20:00,715 --> 00:20:02,555 How different on the other hand is the 544 00:20:02,555 --> 00:20:04,894 destiny of the righteous man in Psalm 1? 545 00:20:05,914 --> 00:20:08,475 The righteous man delights in God's law, and 546 00:20:08,475 --> 00:20:10,494 he meditates on God's Word 547 00:20:10,795 --> 00:20:12,015 day and night. 548 00:20:13,049 --> 00:20:14,730 The psalmist compares him to a tree that 549 00:20:14,730 --> 00:20:16,509 is planted by streams of water, 550 00:20:17,529 --> 00:20:20,190 always yielding its fruit in season, 551 00:20:20,970 --> 00:20:23,450 his leaf does not wither. In fact, in 552 00:20:23,450 --> 00:20:24,829 everything that he does, 553 00:20:25,130 --> 00:20:25,950 he ultimately 554 00:20:26,889 --> 00:20:27,389 prospers. 555 00:20:29,634 --> 00:20:31,335 So on what road are you traveling? 556 00:20:32,835 --> 00:20:33,734 Whose counsel 557 00:20:34,434 --> 00:20:35,494 has your ear? 558 00:20:36,595 --> 00:20:37,654 Who are you believing 559 00:20:38,515 --> 00:20:39,335 about life, 560 00:20:40,195 --> 00:20:41,015 about reality, 561 00:20:42,035 --> 00:20:42,855 about truth? 562 00:20:44,630 --> 00:20:46,950 What role does God's word play in your 563 00:20:46,950 --> 00:20:47,450 life? 564 00:20:48,470 --> 00:20:49,289 Do you meditate 565 00:20:49,589 --> 00:20:50,649 on God's word? 566 00:20:51,909 --> 00:20:53,669 Do you let it shape you, shape your 567 00:20:53,669 --> 00:20:55,130 worldview the way you think, 568 00:20:56,069 --> 00:20:57,769 the aspirations of your heart? 569 00:20:58,994 --> 00:21:00,454 Do you teach it to your children? 570 00:21:01,954 --> 00:21:03,714 Do they know that it matters to you? 571 00:21:03,714 --> 00:21:05,154 Do they know that that word is no 572 00:21:05,154 --> 00:21:07,394 ordinary word, but that it is your very 573 00:21:07,394 --> 00:21:07,894 life? 574 00:21:10,674 --> 00:21:11,575 Whose dreams 575 00:21:12,275 --> 00:21:13,174 are you pursuing? 576 00:21:13,930 --> 00:21:15,950 And who is shaping your children's dreams? 577 00:21:17,210 --> 00:21:18,750 Are you pursuing the happiness 578 00:21:19,289 --> 00:21:22,250 that the American dream dangles before you, if 579 00:21:22,250 --> 00:21:23,470 it still does that? 580 00:21:24,410 --> 00:21:26,109 Or are you pursuing the blessedness 581 00:21:26,809 --> 00:21:29,309 that is found in God's will? 582 00:21:31,125 --> 00:21:34,005 In Matthew 7, Jesus says that many travel 583 00:21:34,005 --> 00:21:36,105 on the wide road that leads to destruction. 584 00:21:36,805 --> 00:21:38,725 He says it's easy to travel on that 585 00:21:38,725 --> 00:21:39,225 road. 586 00:21:40,085 --> 00:21:42,404 You won't find much opposition to it. In 587 00:21:42,404 --> 00:21:44,585 fact, the world will push you along. 588 00:21:45,559 --> 00:21:46,940 It will cheer you on 589 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:48,700 while you're on that road. 590 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:50,220 It is a popular 591 00:21:50,599 --> 00:21:51,099 path 592 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:51,900 indeed. 593 00:21:53,079 --> 00:21:55,319 But on the other hand, Jesus says that 594 00:21:55,319 --> 00:21:57,799 few people travel on the narrow road that 595 00:21:57,799 --> 00:21:58,779 leads to life. 596 00:21:59,994 --> 00:22:01,674 He says that traveling on that road is 597 00:22:01,674 --> 00:22:02,335 not easy. 598 00:22:02,714 --> 00:22:03,855 He says it's hard. 599 00:22:05,194 --> 00:22:06,095 You'll be opposed. 600 00:22:07,515 --> 00:22:09,454 People will revile you for it. 601 00:22:10,234 --> 00:22:12,095 They will call you all kinds of names. 602 00:22:12,875 --> 00:22:14,255 They will scoff at you. 603 00:22:14,650 --> 00:22:15,869 They will mock you. 604 00:22:16,730 --> 00:22:17,789 All this to say, 605 00:22:18,970 --> 00:22:21,609 the right path is not necessarily the most 606 00:22:21,609 --> 00:22:22,109 obvious, 607 00:22:23,690 --> 00:22:24,829 nor the most popular, 608 00:22:26,009 --> 00:22:27,309 nor the most advertised, 609 00:22:29,305 --> 00:22:30,684 certainly not the most comfortable. 610 00:22:32,025 --> 00:22:34,045 In fact, chances are that the right path 611 00:22:34,345 --> 00:22:36,285 is the one least traveled, 612 00:22:36,825 --> 00:22:37,965 is the least popular, 613 00:22:38,744 --> 00:22:39,884 is the least recommended, 614 00:22:40,744 --> 00:22:42,525 and the one with the most opposition 615 00:22:42,825 --> 00:22:43,565 and risk. 616 00:22:44,950 --> 00:22:46,410 But Jesus calls you 617 00:22:46,950 --> 00:22:48,250 to pick up your cross 618 00:22:49,029 --> 00:22:50,650 and to follow him. 619 00:22:53,990 --> 00:22:55,130 So on what road 620 00:22:55,750 --> 00:22:58,384 are you walking? Yes. To follow Jesus is 621 00:22:58,384 --> 00:23:01,345 to receive persecution. They persecuted him. They will 622 00:23:01,345 --> 00:23:03,204 persecute you. He tells us that. 623 00:23:04,224 --> 00:23:05,525 But what road are you walking 624 00:23:06,304 --> 00:23:07,904 on? The road you walk on is a 625 00:23:07,904 --> 00:23:08,724 clear indication 626 00:23:10,630 --> 00:23:12,009 of your marching orders. 627 00:23:12,789 --> 00:23:14,569 It bears witness to the ruler 628 00:23:15,029 --> 00:23:16,170 that you are serving. 629 00:23:18,150 --> 00:23:20,250 Don't be afraid to walk 630 00:23:20,549 --> 00:23:21,450 in the footsteps 631 00:23:22,345 --> 00:23:23,005 of Jesus 632 00:23:23,625 --> 00:23:25,485 because life is only found 633 00:23:25,945 --> 00:23:28,765 along that narrow and difficult path. 634 00:23:30,184 --> 00:23:32,265 This is why Paul writes that the fruit 635 00:23:32,265 --> 00:23:34,505 that one bears in God's service leads to 636 00:23:34,505 --> 00:23:35,005 sanctification. 637 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,279 Because you see when you walk in Jesus' 638 00:23:38,279 --> 00:23:38,779 footsteps, 639 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:40,539 when you march according 640 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:42,920 to His orders which are found in the 641 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:43,420 Bible, 642 00:23:44,839 --> 00:23:46,440 that's where we get it, the marching orders 643 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,200 from our King. When you do that, you 644 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,160 become more and more like Him. That is 645 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:53,595 to say, you grow in godliness. That's what 646 00:23:53,595 --> 00:23:56,174 sanctification means. It means that you are growing 647 00:23:56,795 --> 00:23:57,535 in godliness, 648 00:23:57,835 --> 00:24:00,875 in holiness. You are resembling Jesus more and 649 00:24:00,875 --> 00:24:03,035 more. You want to resemble Him? You walk 650 00:24:03,035 --> 00:24:03,855 in His footsteps. 651 00:24:05,700 --> 00:24:07,559 And just like the rigorous regiment 652 00:24:07,940 --> 00:24:10,359 of discipline and training prepares a soldier 653 00:24:11,380 --> 00:24:12,919 to be victorious in battle, 654 00:24:13,700 --> 00:24:16,500 so too your commitment to be trained by 655 00:24:16,500 --> 00:24:17,000 righteousness, 656 00:24:18,214 --> 00:24:21,035 to train in the righteousness of God's word 657 00:24:21,494 --> 00:24:25,195 will fully equip you for every good work. 658 00:24:26,934 --> 00:24:28,615 Now, before moving on to the third and 659 00:24:28,615 --> 00:24:31,015 final question this morning, it's worth noting that 660 00:24:31,015 --> 00:24:33,275 Paul gives you a very important and tangible 661 00:24:33,335 --> 00:24:33,835 way 662 00:24:34,190 --> 00:24:34,849 to discern 663 00:24:35,150 --> 00:24:36,529 which road you're traveling. 664 00:24:37,309 --> 00:24:39,470 He writes that when you were in bondage 665 00:24:39,470 --> 00:24:40,210 to sin, 666 00:24:40,509 --> 00:24:41,490 you bore fruits 667 00:24:41,789 --> 00:24:44,029 that you are now ashamed to even think 668 00:24:44,029 --> 00:24:44,529 about. 669 00:24:46,424 --> 00:24:48,125 Perhaps there is sin in your past, 670 00:24:48,664 --> 00:24:50,445 even perhaps in your recent past. 671 00:24:51,225 --> 00:24:54,424 And perhaps that sin is the kind of 672 00:24:54,424 --> 00:24:56,445 sin that still brings shame to you. 673 00:24:57,705 --> 00:24:59,005 Well, what a great comfort 674 00:25:00,220 --> 00:25:02,940 to know that such feeling of shame instead 675 00:25:02,940 --> 00:25:04,400 of weighing you down, 676 00:25:04,859 --> 00:25:05,679 and demoralizing 677 00:25:06,059 --> 00:25:06,559 you, 678 00:25:07,019 --> 00:25:07,759 is actually 679 00:25:08,380 --> 00:25:08,880 evidence 680 00:25:09,419 --> 00:25:10,400 of your deliverance 681 00:25:11,339 --> 00:25:12,559 through Christ blood 682 00:25:12,859 --> 00:25:14,240 from the domain of sin. 683 00:25:15,315 --> 00:25:17,015 You don't boast in sin anymore, 684 00:25:17,394 --> 00:25:19,394 but you are ashamed of it, and that 685 00:25:19,394 --> 00:25:21,714 is the fruit of God's spirit working in 686 00:25:21,714 --> 00:25:23,575 you. It's a painful fruit, 687 00:25:24,835 --> 00:25:25,974 but it's fruit nonetheless. 688 00:25:27,075 --> 00:25:28,515 So let us heed the words of the 689 00:25:28,515 --> 00:25:29,494 author of Hebrews, 690 00:25:30,089 --> 00:25:32,250 who in chapter 12 of his letter calls 691 00:25:32,250 --> 00:25:35,369 us to lay aside every weight and sin 692 00:25:35,369 --> 00:25:36,669 which clings so closely, 693 00:25:37,369 --> 00:25:39,369 and let us run with endurance the race 694 00:25:39,369 --> 00:25:40,589 that is set before us, 695 00:25:40,970 --> 00:25:42,029 looking to Jesus, 696 00:25:42,755 --> 00:25:45,474 the founder and perfecter of our faith, who 697 00:25:45,474 --> 00:25:47,335 for the joy that was set before him 698 00:25:47,554 --> 00:25:48,694 endured the cross, 699 00:25:49,634 --> 00:25:51,014 despising the shame, 700 00:25:51,714 --> 00:25:53,494 and is seated at the right hand 701 00:25:54,274 --> 00:25:55,174 of the throne 702 00:25:55,875 --> 00:25:56,534 of God. 703 00:25:58,019 --> 00:26:00,340 The final question I want you to ask 704 00:26:00,340 --> 00:26:01,880 yourself this morning is this, 705 00:26:02,259 --> 00:26:03,000 what reward 706 00:26:03,779 --> 00:26:04,680 can I expect? 707 00:26:05,859 --> 00:26:07,859 We already saw that the road under sin's 708 00:26:07,859 --> 00:26:09,240 domain leads to death, 709 00:26:10,045 --> 00:26:12,285 and the road under God's rule leads to 710 00:26:12,285 --> 00:26:14,305 sanctification and eternal life. 711 00:26:14,924 --> 00:26:17,404 In verse 23, Paul explains why this is 712 00:26:17,404 --> 00:26:18,065 the case. 713 00:26:18,605 --> 00:26:19,345 He writes, 714 00:26:20,445 --> 00:26:22,625 For the wages of sin is death, 715 00:26:23,690 --> 00:26:25,470 but the free gift of God 716 00:26:26,089 --> 00:26:28,750 is eternal life in Christ Jesus 717 00:26:29,130 --> 00:26:30,190 our Lord. 718 00:26:31,450 --> 00:26:32,990 What we have here is a statement 719 00:26:33,769 --> 00:26:34,509 so theologically 720 00:26:34,809 --> 00:26:35,309 rich, 721 00:26:36,194 --> 00:26:36,934 so profound 722 00:26:37,794 --> 00:26:39,174 that the entire sermon 723 00:26:39,554 --> 00:26:42,355 could have focused just on this verse, and 724 00:26:42,355 --> 00:26:44,694 we would not exhaust its meaning 725 00:26:45,075 --> 00:26:45,575 today. 726 00:26:47,075 --> 00:26:48,375 But at the same time, 727 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:50,640 the majesty of this verse consists in the 728 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:52,579 fact that its meaning is so simple 729 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:53,779 and so clear. 730 00:26:55,599 --> 00:26:56,900 Sin is most certainly 731 00:26:57,679 --> 00:26:59,059 a harsh taskmaster, 732 00:27:00,694 --> 00:27:03,494 But it always pays its slaves the wages 733 00:27:03,494 --> 00:27:04,154 they deserve. 734 00:27:05,015 --> 00:27:06,554 And the wages they deserve 735 00:27:07,734 --> 00:27:08,554 is death. 736 00:27:10,615 --> 00:27:11,994 They can count on their payment. 737 00:27:13,369 --> 00:27:15,309 They can count on it in full. 738 00:27:16,490 --> 00:27:18,509 They shall get their due. 739 00:27:19,609 --> 00:27:21,609 And it's not simply that payment will come 740 00:27:21,609 --> 00:27:22,509 on the day of judgment, 741 00:27:23,450 --> 00:27:24,350 but the disbursements 742 00:27:24,730 --> 00:27:25,789 have already begun. 743 00:27:27,210 --> 00:27:28,109 They're on schedule. 744 00:27:30,765 --> 00:27:32,605 You see the Greek word Paul uses for 745 00:27:32,605 --> 00:27:33,904 wages refers primarily 746 00:27:34,684 --> 00:27:37,005 to the daily rations or the daily provisions 747 00:27:37,005 --> 00:27:39,105 of food that a Roman soldier would receive. 748 00:27:40,525 --> 00:27:42,785 They would typically be paid in cooked meat, 749 00:27:43,259 --> 00:27:43,759 usually 750 00:27:44,420 --> 00:27:44,920 fish. 751 00:27:45,580 --> 00:27:46,320 So too, 752 00:27:46,940 --> 00:27:49,200 sin pays the soldiers in its army 753 00:27:49,660 --> 00:27:50,559 with daily 754 00:27:50,940 --> 00:27:51,440 rations. 755 00:27:52,859 --> 00:27:54,880 It pays with food that never satisfies, 756 00:27:56,974 --> 00:27:58,835 with rations that never fill, 757 00:28:00,255 --> 00:28:01,075 with provisions 758 00:28:01,535 --> 00:28:03,555 that leave the soldiers more poor, 759 00:28:04,494 --> 00:28:05,315 more weak, 760 00:28:05,934 --> 00:28:07,955 and more dependent than ever. 761 00:28:09,659 --> 00:28:11,659 It would be unjust for the subjects of 762 00:28:11,659 --> 00:28:14,059 sin to not receive their reward. But one 763 00:28:14,059 --> 00:28:15,039 must not hope 764 00:28:15,659 --> 00:28:16,639 that sin 765 00:28:17,099 --> 00:28:19,759 will be unjust. Sin always 766 00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:21,839 exhausts its subjects, 767 00:28:22,204 --> 00:28:25,325 but it always pays its wages to the 768 00:28:25,325 --> 00:28:26,144 last penny. 769 00:28:27,964 --> 00:28:30,605 In contrast to the wages that are rightly 770 00:28:30,605 --> 00:28:32,384 exacted by the slave of sin, 771 00:28:33,484 --> 00:28:35,085 the slave of God does not receive a 772 00:28:35,085 --> 00:28:35,585 wage. 773 00:28:36,559 --> 00:28:38,179 He certainly and mercifully 774 00:28:39,039 --> 00:28:40,660 does not get what he deserves. 775 00:28:41,679 --> 00:28:42,179 Instead, 776 00:28:43,039 --> 00:28:45,539 the slave of God receives a free gift. 777 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:48,900 The slave of God receives eternal life. 778 00:28:49,694 --> 00:28:52,414 It is the most amazing reward anyone could 779 00:28:52,414 --> 00:28:53,634 ever hope to receive. 780 00:28:54,414 --> 00:28:55,315 Yet amazingly, 781 00:28:55,934 --> 00:28:56,994 it is not earned 782 00:28:57,375 --> 00:29:00,255 by the recipient. It is a free gift 783 00:29:00,255 --> 00:29:01,075 from God. 784 00:29:03,279 --> 00:29:05,279 The reason this is possible, indeed the reason 785 00:29:05,279 --> 00:29:06,180 this is certain 786 00:29:07,279 --> 00:29:09,220 is that such a marvelous reward 787 00:29:09,839 --> 00:29:11,779 is only free for the recipient, 788 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:14,019 but it was purchased 789 00:29:14,684 --> 00:29:16,144 at a humanly speaking 790 00:29:16,924 --> 00:29:17,424 impossibly 791 00:29:18,044 --> 00:29:18,544 high 792 00:29:18,924 --> 00:29:19,424 price. 793 00:29:20,924 --> 00:29:22,464 The gift of eternal life 794 00:29:22,845 --> 00:29:24,224 cost the Christian nothing, 795 00:29:25,804 --> 00:29:27,264 but it cost God everything. 796 00:29:28,740 --> 00:29:30,359 The father gave up his son 797 00:29:31,059 --> 00:29:33,000 to secure payment for such a gift. 798 00:29:34,099 --> 00:29:35,640 The son gave up his life 799 00:29:36,339 --> 00:29:37,240 as a ransom 800 00:29:37,859 --> 00:29:38,519 for many. 801 00:29:39,779 --> 00:29:41,940 Thus in his high priestly prayer Jesus says 802 00:29:41,940 --> 00:29:42,920 in John 17:3, 803 00:29:44,144 --> 00:29:45,924 And this is eternal life, 804 00:29:46,785 --> 00:29:48,005 that they know you, 805 00:29:48,384 --> 00:29:49,684 the only true God, 806 00:29:50,305 --> 00:29:51,525 and Jesus Christ 807 00:29:52,305 --> 00:29:53,445 whom you have sent. 808 00:29:55,105 --> 00:29:57,184 The free gift of eternal life was purchased 809 00:29:57,184 --> 00:29:57,924 by God, 810 00:29:58,570 --> 00:30:01,049 so it cannot be experienced outside of a 811 00:30:01,049 --> 00:30:01,549 covenant 812 00:30:02,090 --> 00:30:05,289 relationship with him. You must know God and 813 00:30:05,289 --> 00:30:06,670 he must know you covenantally. 814 00:30:10,330 --> 00:30:12,090 If Jesus tells you, on the last day 815 00:30:12,090 --> 00:30:14,025 I never knew you, you you shall not 816 00:30:14,404 --> 00:30:15,944 have eternal life. 817 00:30:18,085 --> 00:30:19,625 This is why in verse 23, 818 00:30:20,164 --> 00:30:22,325 again we read, for the wages of sin 819 00:30:22,325 --> 00:30:22,984 is death, 820 00:30:23,765 --> 00:30:26,424 but the free gift of God is eternal 821 00:30:26,484 --> 00:30:26,984 life 822 00:30:27,519 --> 00:30:28,660 in Christ 823 00:30:29,119 --> 00:30:29,619 Jesus 824 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:31,140 our Lord. 825 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:34,099 It is only in Christ Jesus 826 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:37,140 that the gift that this free gift 827 00:30:37,759 --> 00:30:38,500 is found. 828 00:30:39,725 --> 00:30:41,345 It is only under his lordship 829 00:30:42,205 --> 00:30:43,505 that such a reward 830 00:30:44,205 --> 00:30:45,105 can be enjoyed. 831 00:30:46,605 --> 00:30:48,865 Thus we find the resurrected King of glory 832 00:30:49,164 --> 00:30:51,105 cooking fish for his soldiers 833 00:30:51,779 --> 00:30:53,700 as the sun rises upon them by the 834 00:30:53,700 --> 00:30:54,519 Sea of Galilee, 835 00:30:55,140 --> 00:30:57,720 and they prepare to receive their marching orders. 836 00:30:59,059 --> 00:31:00,600 So you see in Romans 6 837 00:31:01,380 --> 00:31:03,700 verses 20 to 23, Paul speaks of 2 838 00:31:03,700 --> 00:31:04,200 rulers, 839 00:31:05,394 --> 00:31:06,375 of 2 roads, 840 00:31:07,075 --> 00:31:08,214 and of 2 rewards. 841 00:31:08,835 --> 00:31:11,414 But he only speaks of 1 redeemer, 842 00:31:12,115 --> 00:31:13,414 the Lord Jesus Christ. 843 00:31:14,994 --> 00:31:16,515 So I've asked you which ruler do you 844 00:31:16,515 --> 00:31:17,015 serve, 845 00:31:18,674 --> 00:31:20,134 and what road are you traveling, 846 00:31:21,210 --> 00:31:23,450 And what reward can you expect? But I've 847 00:31:23,450 --> 00:31:24,829 saved the most important question 848 00:31:25,369 --> 00:31:26,109 for now. 849 00:31:27,529 --> 00:31:28,669 And the question is, 850 00:31:29,049 --> 00:31:30,269 is Jesus Christ 851 00:31:31,049 --> 00:31:31,869 your Lord? 852 00:31:33,845 --> 00:31:36,085 If he was willing today to lay down 853 00:31:36,085 --> 00:31:37,625 his life to redeem you, 854 00:31:38,244 --> 00:31:39,945 won't you entrust your life 855 00:31:40,404 --> 00:31:41,305 to his care? 856 00:31:42,644 --> 00:31:45,445 The chains of sin's bondage subject you to 857 00:31:45,445 --> 00:31:45,945 misery 858 00:31:46,644 --> 00:31:47,545 and to death. 859 00:31:48,900 --> 00:31:50,759 But the chains of Christ 860 00:31:51,140 --> 00:31:52,279 are the unbreakable 861 00:31:52,580 --> 00:31:54,039 bond of his love. 862 00:31:54,980 --> 00:31:56,920 They are the precious wedding band 863 00:31:57,220 --> 00:31:58,440 of your faithful bridegroom. 864 00:31:59,539 --> 00:32:00,599 If you're his, 865 00:32:01,634 --> 00:32:03,015 he will never leave you 866 00:32:03,474 --> 00:32:05,815 nor forsake you. His yoke is easy 867 00:32:06,515 --> 00:32:07,894 and his burden is light. 868 00:32:08,835 --> 00:32:11,154 And where he is, there you shall be 869 00:32:11,154 --> 00:32:11,654 also. 870 00:32:12,767 --> 00:32:14,467 For the wages of sin is death, 871 00:32:14,846 --> 00:32:17,507 but the free gift of God 872 00:32:18,127 --> 00:32:19,346 is eternal life 873 00:32:19,887 --> 00:32:21,027 in Christ Jesus 874 00:32:21,646 --> 00:32:23,586 our Lord. Let us pray.