1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,399 Remain standing now for the reading of God's 2 00:00:02,399 --> 00:00:04,879 word. We're in Paul's letter to the Romans 3 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:06,099 in chapter 9, 4 00:00:06,799 --> 00:00:08,179 and we're looking at 5 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:09,300 verses 6 00:00:09,839 --> 00:00:13,059 6 to 9 this morning. Again, Romans 9 7 00:00:13,785 --> 00:00:15,404 verses 6 to 9. Please 8 00:00:16,184 --> 00:00:18,204 listen to the reading of God's word. 9 00:00:21,225 --> 00:00:22,824 But it is not as though the word 10 00:00:22,824 --> 00:00:24,125 of God has failed. 11 00:00:25,224 --> 00:00:27,964 For not all who are descended from Israel 12 00:00:28,739 --> 00:00:29,719 belong to Israel, 13 00:00:30,579 --> 00:00:32,679 and not all are children of Abraham 14 00:00:33,299 --> 00:00:34,759 because they are his offspring, 15 00:00:35,539 --> 00:00:36,600 but through Isaac 16 00:00:36,899 --> 00:00:38,600 shall your offspring be named. 17 00:00:39,780 --> 00:00:41,539 This means that it is not the children 18 00:00:41,539 --> 00:00:42,280 of the flesh 19 00:00:42,954 --> 00:00:44,335 who are the children of God, 20 00:00:45,034 --> 00:00:47,034 but the children of the promise are counted 21 00:00:47,034 --> 00:00:47,774 as offspring. 22 00:00:48,795 --> 00:00:50,494 For this is what the promise said, 23 00:00:51,274 --> 00:00:52,975 about this time next year, 24 00:00:53,354 --> 00:00:54,254 I will return 25 00:00:54,890 --> 00:00:57,929 and Sarah shall have a son. This is 26 00:00:57,929 --> 00:00:58,990 the word of the lord. 27 00:00:59,370 --> 00:01:01,310 Thanks be to god. Please be seated. 28 00:01:15,734 --> 00:01:18,555 Imagine the scene from Genesis 22. 29 00:01:20,340 --> 00:01:20,840 Abraham, 30 00:01:22,260 --> 00:01:23,079 having received 31 00:01:23,620 --> 00:01:24,439 the unimaginable 32 00:01:24,819 --> 00:01:26,200 command from God, 33 00:01:27,060 --> 00:01:29,480 prepares to sacrifice his beloved son, 34 00:01:30,020 --> 00:01:30,520 Isaac, 35 00:01:31,060 --> 00:01:32,280 the very child 36 00:01:32,819 --> 00:01:35,079 that God had promised him and Sarah. 37 00:01:36,125 --> 00:01:38,625 During the 3 days journey to Mount Moriah, 38 00:01:38,685 --> 00:01:40,224 the place that God had selected 39 00:01:40,605 --> 00:01:42,144 for this terrible test, 40 00:01:42,844 --> 00:01:44,784 one can scarcely dare to imagine 41 00:01:45,325 --> 00:01:46,064 the anguish 42 00:01:46,685 --> 00:01:48,145 in Abraham's mind, 43 00:01:48,579 --> 00:01:49,319 the anguish 44 00:01:49,859 --> 00:01:50,680 in Abraham's 45 00:01:51,140 --> 00:01:51,640 heart 46 00:01:52,019 --> 00:01:52,920 as he looked 47 00:01:53,299 --> 00:01:54,200 at Isaac, 48 00:01:54,739 --> 00:01:56,840 as he looked at his beloved son walking 49 00:01:57,140 --> 00:01:59,640 next to him on this 3 days journey. 50 00:02:01,024 --> 00:02:01,524 Isaac's 51 00:02:02,304 --> 00:02:04,144 life appeared to hang in the balance as 52 00:02:04,144 --> 00:02:06,625 they were ascending to the peak of Mount 53 00:02:06,625 --> 00:02:07,125 Moriah. 54 00:02:07,825 --> 00:02:10,144 On the way up, Isaac who's carrying the 55 00:02:10,144 --> 00:02:11,205 wood for the sacrifice 56 00:02:12,384 --> 00:02:13,525 asked his father 57 00:02:13,905 --> 00:02:16,750 where the lamb is for the sacrifice that 58 00:02:16,750 --> 00:02:17,810 they are to perform. 59 00:02:18,590 --> 00:02:20,849 Every word of that question must have pierced 60 00:02:21,310 --> 00:02:24,210 Abraham's heart, yet his answer to Isaac 61 00:02:24,750 --> 00:02:26,129 revealed an unwavering 62 00:02:26,430 --> 00:02:26,930 trust 63 00:02:27,230 --> 00:02:29,889 in God's promise as he tells the boy, 64 00:02:30,110 --> 00:02:30,849 God himself 65 00:02:31,665 --> 00:02:32,885 will provide the lamb, 66 00:02:33,344 --> 00:02:34,165 my son. 67 00:02:35,344 --> 00:02:36,805 Once they reach the summit 68 00:02:37,585 --> 00:02:38,645 with no lamb 69 00:02:39,185 --> 00:02:41,125 for the sacrifice in sight, 70 00:02:41,665 --> 00:02:44,324 Abraham builds an altar and then he proceeds 71 00:02:45,020 --> 00:02:46,319 to bind his son 72 00:02:46,780 --> 00:02:47,599 upon it. 73 00:02:48,219 --> 00:02:50,620 With Isaac now aware of what is going 74 00:02:50,620 --> 00:02:53,360 on and with tears of sorrow undoubtedly 75 00:02:53,659 --> 00:02:54,159 flowing 76 00:02:54,540 --> 00:02:55,040 liberally 77 00:02:55,580 --> 00:02:59,120 from Abraham's eyes, the patriarch lifts his knife 78 00:03:00,014 --> 00:03:00,514 trusting 79 00:03:00,974 --> 00:03:01,875 his whole 80 00:03:02,254 --> 00:03:02,754 heart 81 00:03:03,455 --> 00:03:04,194 to God. 82 00:03:04,895 --> 00:03:06,835 Yet as dramatic as the scene was, 83 00:03:07,615 --> 00:03:10,034 Isaac's life was never truly 84 00:03:11,215 --> 00:03:11,875 in danger. 85 00:03:13,099 --> 00:03:13,599 Why? 86 00:03:14,219 --> 00:03:17,120 Because Isaac was the child of promise, 87 00:03:17,819 --> 00:03:20,639 the son through whom God's covenant to Abraham 88 00:03:21,419 --> 00:03:22,319 would be fulfilled. 89 00:03:23,500 --> 00:03:24,800 And Abraham knew 90 00:03:25,419 --> 00:03:26,719 what you should know, 91 00:03:27,495 --> 00:03:29,435 that God's promise 92 00:03:29,895 --> 00:03:30,395 never 93 00:03:30,855 --> 00:03:31,355 fails. 94 00:03:32,534 --> 00:03:34,615 The story that is known as the binding 95 00:03:34,615 --> 00:03:37,415 of Isaac is a powerful example of God's 96 00:03:37,415 --> 00:03:37,915 faithfulness. 97 00:03:38,455 --> 00:03:39,974 Even in what appeared to be the most 98 00:03:39,974 --> 00:03:41,034 hopeless of circumstances, 99 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:43,740 God's promise to Abraham 100 00:03:44,199 --> 00:03:45,740 was never at risk. 101 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:48,699 Even before he was conceived, 102 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:51,500 Isaac had been chosen by God 103 00:03:51,879 --> 00:03:53,819 to carry the promise forward 104 00:03:54,199 --> 00:03:55,500 and God's promise 105 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:57,020 is unbreakable. 106 00:03:58,895 --> 00:04:00,275 In much the same way, 107 00:04:01,055 --> 00:04:03,215 when we come to Romans chapter 9 verses 108 00:04:03,215 --> 00:04:05,555 6 to 9, Paul assures us 109 00:04:06,254 --> 00:04:08,495 that God's word to his people has not 110 00:04:08,495 --> 00:04:08,995 failed. 111 00:04:09,770 --> 00:04:11,210 In fact, the main point that I have 112 00:04:11,210 --> 00:04:12,750 for you this morning is this, 113 00:04:13,530 --> 00:04:14,590 God's promise 114 00:04:15,610 --> 00:04:16,509 always prevails. 115 00:04:18,170 --> 00:04:20,189 God's promise always prevails 116 00:04:20,569 --> 00:04:21,550 despite significant 117 00:04:21,930 --> 00:04:22,430 obstacles 118 00:04:23,129 --> 00:04:24,910 brought about through human rebellion 119 00:04:25,605 --> 00:04:27,785 or through human rejection of God, 120 00:04:28,725 --> 00:04:30,904 God's love for his people 121 00:04:31,285 --> 00:04:33,145 and his commitment to his word 122 00:04:33,525 --> 00:04:34,025 remains 123 00:04:34,564 --> 00:04:35,064 steadfast. 124 00:04:36,564 --> 00:04:37,785 Many Christians today 125 00:04:38,620 --> 00:04:40,379 have been taught that the church is some 126 00:04:40,379 --> 00:04:41,680 kind of plan b 127 00:04:42,300 --> 00:04:43,360 for God's purposes. 128 00:04:44,060 --> 00:04:45,279 That because his first 129 00:04:45,740 --> 00:04:46,639 plan failed, 130 00:04:47,579 --> 00:04:49,099 God had to come up with a different 131 00:04:49,099 --> 00:04:49,599 way. 132 00:04:50,774 --> 00:04:51,995 Our text this morning 133 00:04:52,455 --> 00:04:54,314 demonstrates that this is not so. 134 00:04:54,774 --> 00:04:56,295 Rather, what we are going to see is 135 00:04:56,295 --> 00:04:58,074 that the church is nothing less 136 00:04:58,694 --> 00:05:01,415 than the natural outworking of God's promise to 137 00:05:01,415 --> 00:05:01,915 Abraham. 138 00:05:02,455 --> 00:05:04,154 So let's explore this fact, 139 00:05:04,519 --> 00:05:05,899 this fact that God's promise 140 00:05:06,199 --> 00:05:07,100 always prevails 141 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:08,540 under 3 headings. 142 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:09,660 1st, 143 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:11,660 God's sovereign word. 144 00:05:13,399 --> 00:05:13,899 2nd, 145 00:05:14,439 --> 00:05:15,740 God's sovereign will. 146 00:05:16,915 --> 00:05:20,675 And third, God's sovereign work. God's sovereign word, 147 00:05:20,675 --> 00:05:22,694 how God's promises are infallible 148 00:05:23,395 --> 00:05:24,134 and certain. 149 00:05:25,074 --> 00:05:26,375 God's sovereign will, 150 00:05:26,754 --> 00:05:28,615 how God's election and choice 151 00:05:29,314 --> 00:05:31,709 establishes people, not by human descent, 152 00:05:32,569 --> 00:05:34,110 but by his divine purpose. 153 00:05:34,649 --> 00:05:37,930 And 3rd, God's sovereign work, how God's power 154 00:05:37,930 --> 00:05:39,949 ensures that his promise is fulfilled 155 00:05:40,410 --> 00:05:41,709 according to his purpose. 156 00:05:44,254 --> 00:05:46,355 So let's look at the first 157 00:05:47,214 --> 00:05:47,714 heading, 158 00:05:48,095 --> 00:05:49,395 God's sovereign word. 159 00:05:49,774 --> 00:05:51,555 In verse 6 we read again, 160 00:05:53,295 --> 00:05:54,814 but it is not as though the word 161 00:05:54,814 --> 00:05:56,115 of God has failed 162 00:05:57,009 --> 00:05:59,350 for not all who are descended from Israel 163 00:05:59,889 --> 00:06:01,029 belong to Israel. 164 00:06:02,209 --> 00:06:04,129 Last week, I said that Paul's assertions in 165 00:06:04,129 --> 00:06:06,629 Romans chapter 8 regarding God's sovereignty 166 00:06:07,170 --> 00:06:07,910 in salvation 167 00:06:08,770 --> 00:06:10,230 raised an important question. 168 00:06:11,605 --> 00:06:12,745 The question is this, 169 00:06:13,365 --> 00:06:15,785 why are so many descendants of Abraham 170 00:06:16,725 --> 00:06:17,625 not saved? 171 00:06:18,404 --> 00:06:19,225 In other words, 172 00:06:20,084 --> 00:06:22,745 did God's promise to Israel fail? 173 00:06:23,970 --> 00:06:25,910 In Romans 9 to 11, 174 00:06:26,290 --> 00:06:28,389 Paul sets to answer this very question. 175 00:06:29,170 --> 00:06:31,170 In the first five verses of Romans 9, 176 00:06:31,170 --> 00:06:32,629 which we looked at last week, 177 00:06:33,089 --> 00:06:35,509 Paul begins to answer this question by showing 178 00:06:36,064 --> 00:06:37,925 that the only way to God 179 00:06:38,464 --> 00:06:40,084 is through Jesus Christ, 180 00:06:40,544 --> 00:06:42,084 who is God overall. 181 00:06:43,425 --> 00:06:45,444 Whether you are Jew or Greek, 182 00:06:46,225 --> 00:06:47,365 from all eternity, 183 00:06:48,225 --> 00:06:50,964 God's plan to redeem his his people, 184 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:54,000 a plan to redeem a people for himself, 185 00:06:54,939 --> 00:06:57,840 was focused on the person and work 186 00:06:58,300 --> 00:06:59,439 of Jesus Christ. 187 00:07:00,939 --> 00:07:01,759 This Jesus 188 00:07:02,460 --> 00:07:04,240 was the Son of God incarnate, 189 00:07:04,779 --> 00:07:06,240 the eternally preexisting 190 00:07:06,620 --> 00:07:07,120 God 191 00:07:07,524 --> 00:07:08,824 who was from Abraham 192 00:07:09,285 --> 00:07:11,625 according to the flesh. Paul tells us that. 193 00:07:12,084 --> 00:07:13,704 From Abraham according 194 00:07:14,004 --> 00:07:15,464 to the flesh. Already, 195 00:07:16,164 --> 00:07:18,745 Paul was intimating that salvation through Christ 196 00:07:19,125 --> 00:07:20,264 had been the plan 197 00:07:20,724 --> 00:07:23,210 and therefore the promise all along. 198 00:07:24,629 --> 00:07:25,449 In other words, 199 00:07:26,470 --> 00:07:27,529 in every case, 200 00:07:28,389 --> 00:07:31,449 salvation depends on God's promise, a promise 201 00:07:31,830 --> 00:07:33,050 that never fails 202 00:07:33,509 --> 00:07:35,050 but always prevails. 203 00:07:36,574 --> 00:07:38,115 Therefore, Paul will argue 204 00:07:38,654 --> 00:07:40,435 that the rejection of the Messiah 205 00:07:41,454 --> 00:07:42,915 by so many Jews 206 00:07:43,694 --> 00:07:44,914 was not an unexpected 207 00:07:45,294 --> 00:07:45,794 wrinkle 208 00:07:46,414 --> 00:07:47,475 in God's promise, 209 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:48,860 but was 210 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:50,699 in full accord 211 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:52,540 with God's 212 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:53,420 purpose, 213 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:54,779 in full accord 214 00:07:55,319 --> 00:07:58,699 with God's promise, in full accord with God's 215 00:07:58,839 --> 00:07:59,339 word. 216 00:08:00,564 --> 00:08:03,444 That's why Paul begins by stating that it 217 00:08:03,444 --> 00:08:04,585 is not as 218 00:08:05,285 --> 00:08:06,504 though God's word 219 00:08:07,205 --> 00:08:08,024 has failed. 220 00:08:09,444 --> 00:08:11,064 Such a thing ought to be unthinkable 221 00:08:11,925 --> 00:08:13,944 since it is outright impossible. 222 00:08:15,329 --> 00:08:17,029 This is known as the infallibility 223 00:08:17,970 --> 00:08:19,029 of God's word. 224 00:08:19,889 --> 00:08:22,050 Paul can affirm that God's word has not 225 00:08:22,050 --> 00:08:22,550 failed 226 00:08:23,169 --> 00:08:24,550 because God's word 227 00:08:24,850 --> 00:08:25,350 cannot 228 00:08:26,050 --> 00:08:26,550 fail. 229 00:08:28,154 --> 00:08:28,654 Now, 230 00:08:29,354 --> 00:08:29,854 spouses 231 00:08:30,394 --> 00:08:30,894 sometimes 232 00:08:31,514 --> 00:08:32,894 fail to keep their promises. 233 00:08:34,075 --> 00:08:34,575 Parents 234 00:08:35,595 --> 00:08:36,095 sometimes 235 00:08:36,634 --> 00:08:38,014 fail to keep their promises. 236 00:08:38,875 --> 00:08:39,375 Politicians 237 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:42,179 some no. Politicians usually 238 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:44,899 fail to keep their promises, 239 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:47,220 even those who govern well. 240 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:50,580 That's why the 9th commandment exists. 241 00:08:53,605 --> 00:08:56,585 God forbids lying not because we don't struggle 242 00:08:56,965 --> 00:08:59,044 with lying, but because we do struggle with 243 00:08:59,044 --> 00:08:59,544 lying. 244 00:09:00,245 --> 00:09:02,504 All sorts of things get in our way. 245 00:09:03,524 --> 00:09:04,345 But as numbers 246 00:09:04,965 --> 00:09:05,465 23/19 247 00:09:06,085 --> 00:09:06,585 states, 248 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:09,779 God is not a man 249 00:09:10,159 --> 00:09:12,079 that he should lie or a son of 250 00:09:12,079 --> 00:09:14,019 man that he should change his mind. 251 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:15,620 Has he said 252 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:17,620 and will he not do it? 253 00:09:18,319 --> 00:09:19,539 Or has he spoken 254 00:09:20,079 --> 00:09:22,579 and will he not fulfill it? 255 00:09:24,105 --> 00:09:25,325 God does not lie. 256 00:09:26,264 --> 00:09:28,365 He does what he says he will do. 257 00:09:28,745 --> 00:09:29,565 He fulfills 258 00:09:30,345 --> 00:09:31,165 his promise. 259 00:09:32,184 --> 00:09:33,165 This makes sense 260 00:09:33,785 --> 00:09:36,684 since Paul writes in 2nd Timothy 3 16 261 00:09:37,230 --> 00:09:39,250 that all scripture is 262 00:09:39,629 --> 00:09:41,250 breathed out by God. 263 00:09:42,429 --> 00:09:43,889 This is known as the inspiration 264 00:09:44,990 --> 00:09:48,429 of scripture. Meaning that scripture is God's word, 265 00:09:48,429 --> 00:09:49,330 that he is 266 00:09:49,745 --> 00:09:52,225 the author of of of scripture, that he 267 00:09:52,225 --> 00:09:53,205 is the source 268 00:09:53,664 --> 00:09:55,605 of scripture. It comes from him. 269 00:09:56,304 --> 00:09:58,245 God really does use 270 00:09:58,705 --> 00:10:01,504 the wisdom and insights of human authors for 271 00:10:01,504 --> 00:10:03,524 scripture that nobody denies that. 272 00:10:04,250 --> 00:10:07,450 Moses really did right. David really did right. 273 00:10:07,450 --> 00:10:10,029 The prophets wrote. The apostles wrote. 274 00:10:10,730 --> 00:10:12,110 But they are all led 275 00:10:12,570 --> 00:10:15,289 by the Holy Spirit working in and through 276 00:10:15,289 --> 00:10:17,629 them to write God's word. 277 00:10:20,164 --> 00:10:22,164 This is what Peter means in 2nd Peter 278 00:10:22,164 --> 00:10:23,544 chapter 1 verse 21, 279 00:10:24,164 --> 00:10:27,284 where he writes that no prophecy was ever 280 00:10:27,284 --> 00:10:29,225 produced by the will of man, 281 00:10:29,924 --> 00:10:32,745 but men spoke from God as they were 282 00:10:33,204 --> 00:10:34,105 carried along 283 00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:35,720 by the Holy Spirit. 284 00:10:36,580 --> 00:10:38,759 That word translated carried along 285 00:10:39,379 --> 00:10:41,000 does not refer to God's 286 00:10:41,539 --> 00:10:43,320 gentle wooing of them. 287 00:10:44,419 --> 00:10:46,980 He's not putting on the charm, so to 288 00:10:46,980 --> 00:10:47,480 speak, 289 00:10:47,894 --> 00:10:50,215 and inviting them to agree with him, to 290 00:10:50,215 --> 00:10:52,634 write what he would like them to write, 291 00:10:52,855 --> 00:10:56,134 persuading them to write his will on God's 292 00:10:56,134 --> 00:10:56,634 word. 293 00:10:57,415 --> 00:10:57,915 Rather, 294 00:10:58,615 --> 00:11:00,634 the force of the verb to carry 295 00:11:01,519 --> 00:11:04,559 is to bring or even to drive along 296 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:06,980 as the ESV renders that very same verb 297 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:08,419 in acts 2715, 298 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,100 where a terrible storm in the Mediterranean 299 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:12,980 sea 300 00:11:13,455 --> 00:11:13,955 shipwrecks 301 00:11:15,055 --> 00:11:17,134 Paul, almost causing him and all others on 302 00:11:17,134 --> 00:11:18,195 the ship to perish 303 00:11:18,495 --> 00:11:20,754 after the ship is driven along 304 00:11:21,375 --> 00:11:22,355 by the unstoppable 305 00:11:22,815 --> 00:11:24,995 power of the violent winds. 306 00:11:27,039 --> 00:11:27,779 The Bible 307 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,639 is very much God's word. It is inspired 308 00:11:30,639 --> 00:11:33,059 by him and it bears his authority. 309 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:35,620 Therefore, it is infallible. 310 00:11:36,799 --> 00:11:38,100 It cannot fail 311 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,580 because God cannot fail. 312 00:11:41,375 --> 00:11:44,014 And in the context of Romans 9, this 313 00:11:44,014 --> 00:11:44,514 fact 314 00:11:45,134 --> 00:11:47,715 ought to give you confidence regarding 2 things. 315 00:11:48,815 --> 00:11:49,315 1st, 316 00:11:50,095 --> 00:11:52,115 if God wills to save you, 317 00:11:52,894 --> 00:11:54,434 if God wills to save 318 00:11:54,975 --> 00:11:56,195 your family member 319 00:11:56,789 --> 00:11:58,250 that you've been praying for, 320 00:11:58,629 --> 00:12:01,269 if God wills to save your friend that's 321 00:12:01,269 --> 00:12:03,529 been in your heart or your neighbor, 322 00:12:04,549 --> 00:12:06,649 there is no power in heaven 323 00:12:07,190 --> 00:12:09,750 or on earth or under the earth that 324 00:12:09,750 --> 00:12:12,730 will be able to thwart God's saving grace. 325 00:12:14,524 --> 00:12:15,585 In Acts 13, 326 00:12:16,045 --> 00:12:18,545 Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel to Gentiles 327 00:12:18,764 --> 00:12:20,304 in Antioch and Pisidia. 328 00:12:20,924 --> 00:12:23,245 And after the Gentiles hear the preaching of 329 00:12:23,245 --> 00:12:25,264 God's word, in Acts 1348, 330 00:12:25,644 --> 00:12:27,825 we read that the Gentiles began 331 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,179 rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, 332 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:33,740 and as many as were appointed 333 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:35,660 to eternal life 334 00:12:36,279 --> 00:12:36,779 believed. 335 00:12:38,759 --> 00:12:39,259 Why? 336 00:12:39,879 --> 00:12:42,220 Because God's word does not fail. 337 00:12:43,394 --> 00:12:45,654 This ought to bring you great comfort regarding 338 00:12:45,715 --> 00:12:47,735 regarding your assurance of salvation, 339 00:12:48,274 --> 00:12:50,115 but also this ought to bring you great 340 00:12:50,115 --> 00:12:50,615 hope 341 00:12:50,995 --> 00:12:52,855 regarding God's power to save 342 00:12:53,315 --> 00:12:55,495 even the hardest of sinners. 343 00:12:56,750 --> 00:12:58,690 So keep praying for them. 344 00:13:00,029 --> 00:13:00,529 2nd, 345 00:13:00,990 --> 00:13:03,549 the reality of God's sovereign word ought to 346 00:13:03,549 --> 00:13:05,090 put to rest any notion 347 00:13:06,029 --> 00:13:08,370 that people will be unjustly condemned 348 00:13:09,070 --> 00:13:10,210 on the last day. 349 00:13:11,414 --> 00:13:13,115 Paul is addressing the objection 350 00:13:13,735 --> 00:13:16,715 that the condemnation of the Jews was unjust 351 00:13:17,414 --> 00:13:19,195 because they were the children of Abraham. 352 00:13:20,375 --> 00:13:21,835 And had not God promised 353 00:13:22,375 --> 00:13:24,075 that Israel would be saved? 354 00:13:25,220 --> 00:13:26,440 Yet Paul is affirming 355 00:13:27,220 --> 00:13:30,980 that redemptive history is unfolding in complete accordance 356 00:13:30,980 --> 00:13:32,120 with God's promise. 357 00:13:33,220 --> 00:13:35,139 This is why he states in the second 358 00:13:35,139 --> 00:13:36,279 half of verse 6 359 00:13:36,660 --> 00:13:39,540 that not all who are descend descended from 360 00:13:39,540 --> 00:13:40,040 Israel 361 00:13:41,095 --> 00:13:41,595 belong 362 00:13:42,134 --> 00:13:42,875 to Israel. 363 00:13:43,414 --> 00:13:44,315 In other words, 364 00:13:45,254 --> 00:13:46,794 Paul is going to show 365 00:13:47,174 --> 00:13:48,235 that the objection 366 00:13:48,934 --> 00:13:51,674 does not highlight the failure of God's word. 367 00:13:52,294 --> 00:13:54,075 Instead, it highlights a misunderstanding 368 00:13:54,774 --> 00:13:55,595 of the promise 369 00:13:56,330 --> 00:13:58,190 grounded on a wrong definition 370 00:13:58,889 --> 00:13:59,790 of who 371 00:14:00,330 --> 00:14:00,830 constitutes 372 00:14:01,290 --> 00:14:01,790 Israel. 373 00:14:03,129 --> 00:14:05,149 And this brings us to our second heading, 374 00:14:05,850 --> 00:14:07,309 God's sovereign will. 375 00:14:07,769 --> 00:14:09,470 Let's look again at verse 6. 376 00:14:10,485 --> 00:14:11,764 But it is not as though the word 377 00:14:11,764 --> 00:14:12,825 of God has failed, 378 00:14:13,605 --> 00:14:16,504 for not all who are descendant from Israel 379 00:14:17,524 --> 00:14:18,745 belong to Israel. 380 00:14:19,284 --> 00:14:20,985 Notice that Paul makes a distinction 381 00:14:21,684 --> 00:14:22,985 between those who are 382 00:14:23,365 --> 00:14:24,664 descendant from Israel 383 00:14:25,029 --> 00:14:25,850 and those who 384 00:14:26,230 --> 00:14:27,529 belong to Israel. 385 00:14:28,070 --> 00:14:29,289 It's 2 different groups. 386 00:14:30,230 --> 00:14:32,330 The former clearly refers to 387 00:14:32,710 --> 00:14:33,210 physical 388 00:14:33,750 --> 00:14:35,370 or biological descent. 389 00:14:36,309 --> 00:14:38,009 They are ethnic Israel 390 00:14:38,834 --> 00:14:39,334 being 391 00:14:39,794 --> 00:14:40,615 from Israel 392 00:14:41,074 --> 00:14:41,894 by blood. 393 00:14:42,754 --> 00:14:44,375 The latter on the other hand 394 00:14:44,995 --> 00:14:46,294 belong to Israel, 395 00:14:47,154 --> 00:14:48,694 but not physically, 396 00:14:49,314 --> 00:14:50,855 not necessarily physically. 397 00:14:51,394 --> 00:14:51,894 Therefore, 398 00:14:52,899 --> 00:14:55,000 though not explicitly stated yet, 399 00:14:55,539 --> 00:14:57,159 there must be a spiritual 400 00:14:57,940 --> 00:15:00,679 or divine quality that causes this group 401 00:15:01,459 --> 00:15:02,759 to belong to Israel 402 00:15:03,379 --> 00:15:04,519 or to be reckoned 403 00:15:05,345 --> 00:15:07,184 as belonging to Israel, as a part of 404 00:15:07,184 --> 00:15:08,325 Israel, to be considered 405 00:15:08,945 --> 00:15:10,004 as part of Israel. 406 00:15:11,904 --> 00:15:14,644 Verse 7 begins to clarify what this distinguishing 407 00:15:14,785 --> 00:15:15,764 feature is. 408 00:15:16,945 --> 00:15:18,565 Again, we read in verse 7, 409 00:15:18,909 --> 00:15:21,309 and not all are children of Abraham because 410 00:15:21,309 --> 00:15:22,289 they are his offspring, 411 00:15:24,350 --> 00:15:25,730 but through Isaac 412 00:15:26,110 --> 00:15:28,529 shall your offspring be named. 413 00:15:29,309 --> 00:15:30,289 Or more literally, 414 00:15:30,590 --> 00:15:33,169 as the new King James version translates it, 415 00:15:33,534 --> 00:15:34,355 In Isaac, 416 00:15:34,975 --> 00:15:36,995 your seed shall be called. 417 00:15:38,254 --> 00:15:41,054 In Isaac, your seed shall be called. That's 418 00:15:41,054 --> 00:15:42,355 how it's in the Greek literally. 419 00:15:43,054 --> 00:15:45,634 Paul emphasizes God's sovereign will 420 00:15:46,014 --> 00:15:47,554 in divinely calling 421 00:15:48,190 --> 00:15:49,330 or even appointing 422 00:15:50,110 --> 00:15:52,769 those whom he chooses to be Israel. 423 00:15:54,269 --> 00:15:56,450 He designates Israel by his call. 424 00:15:57,149 --> 00:15:59,410 In verse 6, therefore, we learned that biology 425 00:15:59,470 --> 00:16:01,009 does not determine Israel. 426 00:16:02,105 --> 00:16:04,045 And in verse 7, the same idea 427 00:16:04,585 --> 00:16:05,404 is restated, 428 00:16:06,105 --> 00:16:08,345 but with a different focus. As Paul writes 429 00:16:08,345 --> 00:16:10,125 that neither does biology determine 430 00:16:10,985 --> 00:16:12,125 Abraham's seed. 431 00:16:13,625 --> 00:16:15,004 What defines Israel? 432 00:16:15,639 --> 00:16:18,360 The key feature that determines membership in God's 433 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:19,259 covenant people. 434 00:16:20,279 --> 00:16:21,579 The determinant factor 435 00:16:22,759 --> 00:16:25,419 that makes up the offspring of Abraham 436 00:16:25,959 --> 00:16:27,899 that is to say the children of promise 437 00:16:28,394 --> 00:16:29,615 is the divine 438 00:16:30,315 --> 00:16:30,815 call 439 00:16:31,355 --> 00:16:32,175 of God. 440 00:16:33,514 --> 00:16:34,495 Through Isaac 441 00:16:35,035 --> 00:16:37,295 shall your offspring be named. 442 00:16:38,075 --> 00:16:41,375 In Isaac, your seed shall be called, 443 00:16:41,754 --> 00:16:42,815 says the Lord. 444 00:16:44,129 --> 00:16:45,509 God's covenant people 445 00:16:46,529 --> 00:16:47,509 are constituted 446 00:16:48,450 --> 00:16:49,269 by God's 447 00:16:49,649 --> 00:16:50,710 sovereign will. 448 00:16:51,649 --> 00:16:53,990 It's always been the case, Paul is saying. 449 00:16:55,250 --> 00:16:57,884 You may recall that God had promised Abraham 450 00:16:57,884 --> 00:16:59,805 and Isaac in their old age when Sarah 451 00:16:59,805 --> 00:17:00,705 was well beyond 452 00:17:01,245 --> 00:17:02,465 the age of childbearing, 453 00:17:03,404 --> 00:17:04,945 that he would give them a son 454 00:17:05,965 --> 00:17:07,184 and would make Abraham 455 00:17:07,565 --> 00:17:10,625 the father of many nations through this son. 456 00:17:11,450 --> 00:17:14,190 But as God delayed in fulfilling this promise, 457 00:17:14,650 --> 00:17:16,490 and Abraham and Sarah were not getting any 458 00:17:16,490 --> 00:17:16,990 younger, 459 00:17:17,450 --> 00:17:18,589 they doubted him. 460 00:17:19,289 --> 00:17:22,029 So Sarah gave her servant Hagar to Abraham, 461 00:17:22,410 --> 00:17:25,230 that Abraham might become a father through 462 00:17:25,609 --> 00:17:26,109 Hagar. 463 00:17:27,825 --> 00:17:30,005 Hagar did indeed give Abraham a son 464 00:17:30,545 --> 00:17:32,325 and he was given the name Ishmael. 465 00:17:33,585 --> 00:17:36,545 God then rebuked Abraham and Sarah for their 466 00:17:36,545 --> 00:17:37,045 unbelief, 467 00:17:38,224 --> 00:17:39,525 and yet he graciously 468 00:17:39,904 --> 00:17:43,150 reiterated his promise to give Abraham a son 469 00:17:43,690 --> 00:17:44,589 through Sarah. 470 00:17:45,690 --> 00:17:47,690 The name of that child, of course, is 471 00:17:47,690 --> 00:17:48,190 Isaac. 472 00:17:48,809 --> 00:17:50,029 Now physically, 473 00:17:51,369 --> 00:17:51,869 biologically, 474 00:17:53,289 --> 00:17:53,789 genetically, 475 00:17:54,734 --> 00:17:58,035 Ishmael was just as much Abraham's son 476 00:17:58,494 --> 00:17:59,634 as Isaac was. 477 00:18:00,974 --> 00:18:01,875 And legally, 478 00:18:02,654 --> 00:18:05,934 Ishmael had an even greater claim to Abraham's 479 00:18:05,934 --> 00:18:06,434 inheritance 480 00:18:06,974 --> 00:18:07,954 as the patriarch's 481 00:18:08,494 --> 00:18:08,994 firstborn 482 00:18:09,295 --> 00:18:09,795 son. 483 00:18:11,210 --> 00:18:13,869 But God's sovereign will determined that Isaac 484 00:18:14,330 --> 00:18:15,470 and not Ishmael 485 00:18:16,410 --> 00:18:17,869 was the child of promise. 486 00:18:19,690 --> 00:18:20,910 Some people are uncomfortable 487 00:18:21,690 --> 00:18:24,330 with the personal nature of God's choice in 488 00:18:24,330 --> 00:18:24,830 electing 489 00:18:25,545 --> 00:18:26,365 some individuals 490 00:18:26,985 --> 00:18:27,965 and not others. 491 00:18:28,744 --> 00:18:30,664 They posit that in Romans 9, Paul is 492 00:18:30,664 --> 00:18:31,485 not writing 493 00:18:32,184 --> 00:18:33,725 about God choosing individuals, 494 00:18:34,505 --> 00:18:37,085 but about God choosing to favor nations. 495 00:18:38,609 --> 00:18:40,390 But the context does not permit 496 00:18:40,930 --> 00:18:41,750 this interpretation. 497 00:18:42,849 --> 00:18:45,430 God calls those whom he chooses 498 00:18:45,890 --> 00:18:46,710 by name. 499 00:18:48,369 --> 00:18:49,269 Through Isaac, 500 00:18:49,650 --> 00:18:52,309 shall your offspring be named. 501 00:18:53,845 --> 00:18:54,825 Not only this, 502 00:18:55,125 --> 00:18:57,544 but at the moment of God's sovereign choice, 503 00:18:57,845 --> 00:19:00,105 Ishmael and Isaac are not different nations. 504 00:19:01,204 --> 00:19:02,585 Physically, they are equally 505 00:19:03,044 --> 00:19:04,184 Abraham's seed. 506 00:19:05,524 --> 00:19:06,585 So far as 507 00:19:06,964 --> 00:19:09,224 so far so far are they 508 00:19:10,299 --> 00:19:11,759 from being different nations 509 00:19:12,299 --> 00:19:13,359 at the moment of 510 00:19:13,660 --> 00:19:16,380 choice, that they are even members of the 511 00:19:16,380 --> 00:19:18,000 very same household. 512 00:19:20,140 --> 00:19:22,559 Yet, Ishmael's status is firstborn notwithstanding, 513 00:19:23,345 --> 00:19:25,445 we learned that God's sovereign will 514 00:19:25,825 --> 00:19:27,125 is the sole determinant 515 00:19:27,424 --> 00:19:30,005 in how God freely distributes his favor, 516 00:19:30,305 --> 00:19:32,484 choosing Isaac as he wills 517 00:19:33,184 --> 00:19:33,924 and not 518 00:19:34,305 --> 00:19:34,805 Ishmael 519 00:19:35,984 --> 00:19:36,884 as he wills. 520 00:19:38,579 --> 00:19:40,980 Is it not encouraging, dear Christian, to know 521 00:19:40,980 --> 00:19:43,240 that God's sovereign choice in electing you 522 00:19:44,420 --> 00:19:46,039 as the object of his love 523 00:19:46,579 --> 00:19:47,720 is neither generic 524 00:19:48,259 --> 00:19:49,240 nor impersonal, 525 00:19:50,019 --> 00:19:50,920 but specific 526 00:19:51,539 --> 00:19:52,359 and intimate. 527 00:19:53,865 --> 00:19:55,085 He chooses you 528 00:19:55,785 --> 00:19:57,404 because he loves you. 529 00:19:58,984 --> 00:20:01,805 So God's promise to bless Abraham's offspring 530 00:20:02,505 --> 00:20:04,125 is carried out in accordance 531 00:20:05,144 --> 00:20:07,085 with God's sovereign will. 532 00:20:07,859 --> 00:20:10,259 And in verse 8, Paul explains the practical 533 00:20:10,259 --> 00:20:11,640 implications for the church, 534 00:20:12,099 --> 00:20:12,599 writing, 535 00:20:13,539 --> 00:20:15,240 this means that it is not 536 00:20:15,539 --> 00:20:16,980 the children of the flesh who are the 537 00:20:16,980 --> 00:20:17,960 children of God, 538 00:20:18,500 --> 00:20:20,920 but the children of the promise are counted 539 00:20:21,380 --> 00:20:22,279 as offspring. 540 00:20:23,654 --> 00:20:24,775 There are a couple of things I want 541 00:20:24,775 --> 00:20:25,515 you to note. 542 00:20:25,894 --> 00:20:26,394 1st, 543 00:20:27,494 --> 00:20:28,875 there is no fleshly 544 00:20:29,494 --> 00:20:31,674 or even worldly quality 545 00:20:32,775 --> 00:20:36,154 that automatically makes someone a child of God. 546 00:20:37,529 --> 00:20:39,389 Paul, who is an Israelite, 547 00:20:40,250 --> 00:20:41,710 a descendant of Abraham, 548 00:20:42,329 --> 00:20:44,730 a member of the tribe of Benjamin as 549 00:20:44,730 --> 00:20:47,230 Paul himself tells us in Romans 11, 550 00:20:48,009 --> 00:20:50,190 here makes it clear that his Jewishness 551 00:20:51,274 --> 00:20:53,355 does not make him or any other Jew 552 00:20:53,355 --> 00:20:54,174 for that matter, 553 00:20:55,034 --> 00:20:56,255 a child of God. 554 00:20:57,835 --> 00:20:58,654 Remember that 555 00:20:58,954 --> 00:21:01,214 Jews were complaining about Paul's teaching 556 00:21:01,595 --> 00:21:03,375 that if they rejected Jesus, 557 00:21:03,769 --> 00:21:05,769 they would in turn be rejected by God, 558 00:21:05,769 --> 00:21:07,629 saying that such teaching by Paul 559 00:21:08,009 --> 00:21:09,230 made God's promise 560 00:21:09,929 --> 00:21:10,669 to Abraham 561 00:21:11,289 --> 00:21:12,269 null and void. 562 00:21:13,369 --> 00:21:15,389 But Paul answers by saying that 563 00:21:15,690 --> 00:21:16,190 Jewishness 564 00:21:17,129 --> 00:21:18,669 is not what made Israel 565 00:21:19,694 --> 00:21:20,194 Israel. 566 00:21:21,534 --> 00:21:23,454 Just because one is a child of the 567 00:21:23,454 --> 00:21:23,954 flesh, 568 00:21:24,255 --> 00:21:24,994 he says, 569 00:21:25,375 --> 00:21:26,974 that does not make one a child of 570 00:21:26,974 --> 00:21:27,474 God. 571 00:21:28,815 --> 00:21:31,154 Paul demonstrates that it never has. 572 00:21:32,599 --> 00:21:33,500 Even Ishmael 573 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:35,420 was a child of the flesh, 574 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,220 but he was not a child 575 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:39,340 of God, 576 00:21:40,279 --> 00:21:41,820 not in a covenantal sense. 577 00:21:42,519 --> 00:21:43,019 Isaac 578 00:21:43,799 --> 00:21:46,464 was chosen by God and that is what 579 00:21:46,464 --> 00:21:49,505 gave him the special status as a child 580 00:21:49,505 --> 00:21:50,164 of promise. 581 00:21:51,505 --> 00:21:53,845 And if it was God's call 582 00:21:54,784 --> 00:21:56,085 that made one 583 00:21:56,704 --> 00:21:58,884 that made one fleshly son of Abraham 584 00:21:59,490 --> 00:21:59,990 and 585 00:22:00,690 --> 00:22:01,349 not another 586 00:22:01,730 --> 00:22:02,950 a child of promise, 587 00:22:03,410 --> 00:22:05,809 so too it is God's call that can 588 00:22:05,809 --> 00:22:06,869 make one Jew 589 00:22:07,410 --> 00:22:09,269 a child of promise like Paul 590 00:22:10,210 --> 00:22:11,109 and not another 591 00:22:12,049 --> 00:22:12,789 like Judas, 592 00:22:13,170 --> 00:22:13,910 for example. 593 00:22:14,924 --> 00:22:15,904 In other words, 594 00:22:16,605 --> 00:22:19,164 the rejection of the Messiah by many Jews 595 00:22:19,164 --> 00:22:20,065 did not mean 596 00:22:20,525 --> 00:22:21,904 that God's word 597 00:22:22,285 --> 00:22:23,105 had failed. 598 00:22:23,805 --> 00:22:26,924 Rather, it meant that those fleshly descendants of 599 00:22:26,924 --> 00:22:27,424 Abraham 600 00:22:27,965 --> 00:22:28,945 were no different 601 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,380 than the very first fleshly descendant of Abraham, 602 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:33,180 Ishmael. 603 00:22:34,039 --> 00:22:35,900 A child of Abraham to be sure, 604 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:38,279 but not a child of promise according to 605 00:22:38,279 --> 00:22:39,900 God's will, and therefore, 606 00:22:40,519 --> 00:22:41,980 not a child of God. 607 00:22:43,924 --> 00:22:45,365 The second thing I want you to note 608 00:22:45,365 --> 00:22:46,505 from Romans 9:8 609 00:22:47,365 --> 00:22:49,285 is that Paul says that the children of 610 00:22:49,285 --> 00:22:50,825 promise are counted 611 00:22:52,244 --> 00:22:52,984 as offspring. 612 00:22:54,325 --> 00:22:55,464 The word counted 613 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:58,519 is the same word that Paul employs in 614 00:22:58,519 --> 00:22:59,580 Romans 43 615 00:23:00,279 --> 00:23:01,180 where he quotes 616 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:02,619 Genesis 15 617 00:23:03,559 --> 00:23:04,700 verse 6 saying, 618 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:07,580 Abraham believed God and it was 619 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:09,180 counted to him 620 00:23:09,559 --> 00:23:10,220 as righteousness. 621 00:23:11,924 --> 00:23:13,464 Paul's point regarding Abraham 622 00:23:14,085 --> 00:23:16,105 is the same point he is making here. 623 00:23:17,605 --> 00:23:20,345 That Abraham's right standing with God 624 00:23:20,964 --> 00:23:22,664 was not due to his own 625 00:23:23,524 --> 00:23:24,024 inherent 626 00:23:24,724 --> 00:23:25,224 righteousness. 627 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:28,740 It wasn't an inherent righteousness in Abraham 628 00:23:29,279 --> 00:23:31,059 that made him righteous with God. 629 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,440 Instead, Abraham's belief in God's promise, that is 630 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:37,140 to say, his faith 631 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:38,900 was counted 632 00:23:39,279 --> 00:23:41,220 or credited or considered 633 00:23:42,115 --> 00:23:44,134 to him as righteousness. 634 00:23:44,994 --> 00:23:45,894 In other words, 635 00:23:46,914 --> 00:23:49,015 Abraham's righteousness before God 636 00:23:49,394 --> 00:23:51,575 was not an inherent righteousness, 637 00:23:52,194 --> 00:23:52,694 internal 638 00:23:53,234 --> 00:23:53,734 righteousness. 639 00:23:54,690 --> 00:23:55,829 It was an imputed 640 00:23:56,609 --> 00:23:57,109 righteousness. 641 00:23:59,569 --> 00:24:01,589 Abraham's right standing with God 642 00:24:02,369 --> 00:24:05,349 did not depend or rely upon a fleshly 643 00:24:06,129 --> 00:24:07,990 internal quality of his, 644 00:24:08,724 --> 00:24:10,024 on some intrinsic 645 00:24:10,484 --> 00:24:13,524 material reality about his purity that made him 646 00:24:13,524 --> 00:24:14,024 automatically 647 00:24:15,365 --> 00:24:15,865 righteous. 648 00:24:17,125 --> 00:24:18,184 Abraham was 649 00:24:18,724 --> 00:24:19,224 graciously 650 00:24:20,404 --> 00:24:20,904 declared 651 00:24:22,099 --> 00:24:22,599 righteousness 652 00:24:22,980 --> 00:24:23,880 or righteous. 653 00:24:25,619 --> 00:24:27,160 Abraham's favored status 654 00:24:27,779 --> 00:24:29,720 did not rest on his pedigree, 655 00:24:30,740 --> 00:24:31,960 but on God's purpose. 656 00:24:33,299 --> 00:24:34,759 Abraham's blessed condition 657 00:24:35,794 --> 00:24:37,654 did not rest on his work, 658 00:24:38,355 --> 00:24:39,734 but on God's will. 659 00:24:40,755 --> 00:24:43,414 And so it is with Abraham's true seed. 660 00:24:44,115 --> 00:24:47,255 They were never defined by pedigree nor performance, 661 00:24:47,554 --> 00:24:49,335 but by God's promise. 662 00:24:50,039 --> 00:24:52,600 That is how Paul puts it in Galatians 663 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:53,100 3. 664 00:24:53,799 --> 00:24:55,799 If we look at Galatians 3 verses 7 665 00:24:55,799 --> 00:24:57,180 to 9, we read there, 666 00:24:58,519 --> 00:25:00,779 know then that it is those of faith 667 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:02,380 who are the sons of Abraham, 668 00:25:02,994 --> 00:25:05,634 And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify 669 00:25:05,634 --> 00:25:07,095 the Gentiles by faith, 670 00:25:07,794 --> 00:25:10,214 preach the gospel beforehand to Abraham 671 00:25:11,075 --> 00:25:14,274 saying, in you shall all the nations be 672 00:25:14,274 --> 00:25:14,774 blessed. 673 00:25:15,500 --> 00:25:16,000 So 674 00:25:16,380 --> 00:25:18,240 then, those who are of faith 675 00:25:18,940 --> 00:25:20,880 are blessed along with Abraham, 676 00:25:21,420 --> 00:25:22,160 the man 677 00:25:22,539 --> 00:25:25,100 of faith. Notice the emphasis there has nothing 678 00:25:25,100 --> 00:25:26,000 to do with genetics. 679 00:25:27,259 --> 00:25:28,640 Abraham is the man 680 00:25:29,575 --> 00:25:30,315 of faith. 681 00:25:30,855 --> 00:25:33,414 It has always been through their faith and 682 00:25:33,414 --> 00:25:34,555 not through their flesh 683 00:25:35,255 --> 00:25:37,115 that God's people have demonstrated 684 00:25:37,654 --> 00:25:40,795 that they are Abraham's offspring and therefore 685 00:25:41,095 --> 00:25:42,475 the children of promise. 686 00:25:44,109 --> 00:25:45,490 Let me ask you therefore, 687 00:25:46,190 --> 00:25:47,250 are you trusting 688 00:25:47,950 --> 00:25:49,410 in God's promise 689 00:25:51,630 --> 00:25:52,849 to bless his people? 690 00:25:54,269 --> 00:25:55,490 Or might you be putting 691 00:25:55,789 --> 00:25:56,690 your faith 692 00:25:57,805 --> 00:25:59,184 in a fleshly quality 693 00:25:59,485 --> 00:26:00,945 to sustain your favorable 694 00:26:01,884 --> 00:26:03,345 relationship with God? 695 00:26:05,644 --> 00:26:07,904 In Paul's days, some Jews would say, 696 00:26:08,445 --> 00:26:09,585 we don't have to repent. 697 00:26:10,410 --> 00:26:11,150 We have Abraham 698 00:26:12,250 --> 00:26:13,230 as our father. 699 00:26:14,890 --> 00:26:16,910 You might not be relying on your Jewishness, 700 00:26:17,130 --> 00:26:18,830 although some of you are in fact 701 00:26:20,890 --> 00:26:23,390 descendants of Abraham according to the flesh. 702 00:26:25,694 --> 00:26:26,835 But are you relying 703 00:26:27,534 --> 00:26:29,534 on your on the faith of your parents, 704 00:26:29,534 --> 00:26:30,194 for example, 705 00:26:31,615 --> 00:26:33,075 or on your church attendance, 706 00:26:34,494 --> 00:26:35,794 or on your participation 707 00:26:36,414 --> 00:26:37,954 in our bible studies, 708 00:26:39,190 --> 00:26:40,170 or on your faithful 709 00:26:40,470 --> 00:26:42,090 tithing to this church 710 00:26:42,950 --> 00:26:44,490 or on your good grades 711 00:26:45,590 --> 00:26:46,809 or on your politeness 712 00:26:48,390 --> 00:26:50,170 or on your performance at work? 713 00:26:52,815 --> 00:26:54,335 Do you look to those things to say, 714 00:26:54,335 --> 00:26:56,994 I'm a good person. God should receive me. 715 00:26:57,055 --> 00:26:59,214 God should see me as righteous because look 716 00:26:59,214 --> 00:27:00,674 what kind of person I am. 717 00:27:01,214 --> 00:27:03,075 All of these things are very good things. 718 00:27:04,095 --> 00:27:05,875 There are even significant blessings. 719 00:27:07,340 --> 00:27:09,279 There are significant blessings even 720 00:27:09,580 --> 00:27:10,160 as being 721 00:27:10,940 --> 00:27:11,440 ethnically 722 00:27:12,299 --> 00:27:13,039 of Israel 723 00:27:13,340 --> 00:27:16,240 was a significant blessing before the Messiah arrived. 724 00:27:16,940 --> 00:27:19,420 But according to Paul, none of these things 725 00:27:19,420 --> 00:27:21,119 make you a child of God. 726 00:27:22,335 --> 00:27:24,034 In other words, none of these things 727 00:27:24,414 --> 00:27:26,115 puts God in your debt. 728 00:27:27,855 --> 00:27:29,634 They may put you in God's debt 729 00:27:30,095 --> 00:27:32,115 being the recipient of all these blessings, 730 00:27:32,575 --> 00:27:34,674 but they don't put God in your debt. 731 00:27:35,089 --> 00:27:37,089 God does not have to save you because 732 00:27:37,089 --> 00:27:39,329 you're polite. God does not have to save 733 00:27:39,329 --> 00:27:40,630 you because you go to church. 734 00:27:40,930 --> 00:27:43,250 God does not have to save you because 735 00:27:43,250 --> 00:27:43,750 you 736 00:27:44,049 --> 00:27:45,029 get good grades. 737 00:27:47,329 --> 00:27:48,789 To rely on these things 738 00:27:49,534 --> 00:27:51,075 is to rely on the flesh. 739 00:27:52,015 --> 00:27:54,194 And Jesus says in John 663, 740 00:27:55,214 --> 00:27:57,474 it is the spirit who gives life, 741 00:27:57,934 --> 00:27:58,674 the flesh 742 00:27:59,375 --> 00:28:00,274 is no 743 00:28:00,734 --> 00:28:02,115 help at all. 744 00:28:03,450 --> 00:28:04,429 He's talking about 745 00:28:04,970 --> 00:28:07,950 eternal life. The flesh is of no 746 00:28:08,490 --> 00:28:08,990 help 747 00:28:09,769 --> 00:28:10,429 at all. 748 00:28:11,210 --> 00:28:12,650 If you are to be a child of 749 00:28:12,650 --> 00:28:14,890 promise, then you then your trust must be 750 00:28:14,890 --> 00:28:15,869 in God's promise. 751 00:28:16,795 --> 00:28:18,894 Your trust must be in God's word. 752 00:28:20,714 --> 00:28:23,375 Is that where your trust is? Be honest. 753 00:28:24,955 --> 00:28:27,775 What if your preferred candidate loses the election? 754 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:30,559 I've heard that the world is supposed to 755 00:28:30,559 --> 00:28:31,860 end if that happens. 756 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:34,580 Where would your trust be? 757 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:38,100 What if prices continue to rise 758 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:40,420 or we enter into a more 759 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:42,340 severe economic downturn? 760 00:28:42,799 --> 00:28:44,340 Where would your trust be? 761 00:28:46,654 --> 00:28:48,515 What if you or a loved one 762 00:28:49,615 --> 00:28:50,755 receive an unwanted 763 00:28:52,174 --> 00:28:52,674 medical 764 00:28:53,134 --> 00:28:53,634 diagnosis? 765 00:28:55,134 --> 00:28:55,634 Where 766 00:28:56,174 --> 00:28:57,474 would your trust be? 767 00:28:59,289 --> 00:29:02,349 What if your marriage encountered a significant challenge? 768 00:29:03,849 --> 00:29:05,390 Where would your trust be? 769 00:29:06,730 --> 00:29:09,450 To finish Jesus' quote from John 663, it 770 00:29:09,450 --> 00:29:10,990 is the spirit who gives life, 771 00:29:11,375 --> 00:29:11,955 The flesh 772 00:29:12,414 --> 00:29:13,715 is no help at all. 773 00:29:14,335 --> 00:29:17,075 The words that I have spoken to you 774 00:29:17,455 --> 00:29:18,434 are spirit 775 00:29:18,815 --> 00:29:19,555 and life. 776 00:29:22,174 --> 00:29:24,674 Life and hope are found in God's sovereign 777 00:29:24,734 --> 00:29:25,234 word 778 00:29:25,695 --> 00:29:26,434 and there 779 00:29:27,089 --> 00:29:29,730 in God's word, in God's promise is where 780 00:29:29,730 --> 00:29:30,630 your trust 781 00:29:31,009 --> 00:29:31,509 must 782 00:29:31,970 --> 00:29:32,470 abide. 783 00:29:34,690 --> 00:29:36,289 Are you trusting in God's word or are 784 00:29:36,289 --> 00:29:38,230 you trusting in the flesh? Because the flesh 785 00:29:38,609 --> 00:29:39,669 is no help 786 00:29:40,674 --> 00:29:41,414 at all. 787 00:29:42,035 --> 00:29:44,275 Because God willed that salvation be found in 788 00:29:44,275 --> 00:29:45,095 Christ alone, 789 00:29:45,555 --> 00:29:48,615 to redeem his people, the word became flesh. 790 00:29:50,035 --> 00:29:51,654 Our flesh is of no help, 791 00:29:52,755 --> 00:29:54,055 but Christ is. 792 00:29:55,470 --> 00:29:55,970 He 793 00:29:56,589 --> 00:29:57,250 is spirit 794 00:29:57,789 --> 00:29:59,470 and he is life and he becomes flesh 795 00:29:59,470 --> 00:30:01,250 so that we can partake of him. 796 00:30:01,549 --> 00:30:03,009 God has sent his son. 797 00:30:03,789 --> 00:30:05,650 The promised offspring of Abraham, 798 00:30:06,349 --> 00:30:08,429 who would bless all the families of the 799 00:30:08,429 --> 00:30:10,369 earth has come in history. 800 00:30:11,765 --> 00:30:13,704 And in John chapter 1 801 00:30:14,085 --> 00:30:16,744 verses 12 and 13, the Apostle tells us 802 00:30:17,284 --> 00:30:19,704 that when the incarnate word came 803 00:30:20,244 --> 00:30:22,025 to all who did receive him, 804 00:30:22,404 --> 00:30:24,105 who believed in his name, 805 00:30:24,740 --> 00:30:26,840 God gave the right to become 806 00:30:27,380 --> 00:30:28,519 children of God, 807 00:30:29,059 --> 00:30:30,840 who are born not of blood, 808 00:30:32,019 --> 00:30:33,799 nor of the will of the flesh, 809 00:30:34,740 --> 00:30:36,119 nor of the will of man, 810 00:30:36,420 --> 00:30:37,400 but of God. 811 00:30:38,924 --> 00:30:41,484 It is God's sovereign will that made them 812 00:30:41,484 --> 00:30:42,544 children of God. 813 00:30:43,565 --> 00:30:44,384 Are you 814 00:30:45,404 --> 00:30:46,544 a child of God? 815 00:30:48,365 --> 00:30:49,904 Where is your trust? 816 00:30:51,659 --> 00:30:53,179 Is it in yourself? Is it in your 817 00:30:53,179 --> 00:30:53,679 flesh? 818 00:30:55,179 --> 00:30:56,880 Or is it in God's promise? 819 00:30:57,980 --> 00:31:00,319 It must be in God's promise 820 00:31:00,700 --> 00:31:02,399 because God's promise 821 00:31:02,940 --> 00:31:03,440 always 822 00:31:04,059 --> 00:31:04,559 prevails. 823 00:31:06,664 --> 00:31:09,144 Having considered God's sovereign word and God's sovereign 824 00:31:09,144 --> 00:31:11,544 will, let's look at the final heading, God's 825 00:31:11,544 --> 00:31:12,365 sovereign work. 826 00:31:12,825 --> 00:31:15,944 In verse 9 we read, for this is 827 00:31:15,944 --> 00:31:17,404 what the promise said, 828 00:31:17,944 --> 00:31:20,105 about this time next year I will return 829 00:31:20,105 --> 00:31:20,845 and Sarah 830 00:31:21,450 --> 00:31:22,669 shall have a son. 831 00:31:23,769 --> 00:31:26,490 Paul is referencing Genesis 18 where the Lord 832 00:31:26,490 --> 00:31:27,950 visits Abraham and Sarah 833 00:31:28,490 --> 00:31:30,029 and reiterates his promise 834 00:31:30,409 --> 00:31:32,750 that Sarah should bear a son for Abraham 835 00:31:33,289 --> 00:31:34,269 within a year. 836 00:31:35,375 --> 00:31:38,894 Sarah who is well past childbearing age laughs 837 00:31:38,894 --> 00:31:39,554 in disbelief 838 00:31:40,494 --> 00:31:42,115 when she hears this promise, 839 00:31:42,894 --> 00:31:45,134 but God does not shy away from his 840 00:31:45,134 --> 00:31:45,634 promise. 841 00:31:46,174 --> 00:31:48,115 He confronts Sarah about her laughter, 842 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:51,920 reassuring Abraham and Sarah that nothing is impossible 843 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:52,579 for him 844 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:55,119 even as he says, about this time next 845 00:31:55,119 --> 00:31:58,000 year, I will return and Sarah shall have 846 00:31:58,000 --> 00:31:58,660 a son. 847 00:32:00,414 --> 00:32:03,134 Of course, God fulfilled his promise because God's 848 00:32:03,134 --> 00:32:04,434 sovereign work is unstoppable. 849 00:32:06,174 --> 00:32:07,795 His promise always prevails. 850 00:32:08,575 --> 00:32:10,654 He is worthy of your trust for that 851 00:32:10,654 --> 00:32:13,474 reason. Abraham named his son of promise Isaac, 852 00:32:13,694 --> 00:32:14,994 whose name means laughter. 853 00:32:16,980 --> 00:32:17,720 So imagine 854 00:32:18,740 --> 00:32:19,720 Abraham's surprise, 855 00:32:20,500 --> 00:32:22,440 his shock, his horror. 856 00:32:22,980 --> 00:32:25,960 When in Genesis 22, god calls Abraham saying, 857 00:32:26,099 --> 00:32:27,080 take your son, 858 00:32:27,539 --> 00:32:29,880 your only son Isaac whom you love, 859 00:32:30,904 --> 00:32:32,845 and go to the land of Moriah and 860 00:32:33,865 --> 00:32:35,085 offer him there 861 00:32:35,464 --> 00:32:37,784 as a burnt offering on one of the 862 00:32:37,784 --> 00:32:38,284 mountains 863 00:32:38,585 --> 00:32:39,884 that I shall tell you. 864 00:32:41,065 --> 00:32:42,424 As I said at the beginning of the 865 00:32:42,424 --> 00:32:45,164 sermon, Abraham did take Isaac and bound him. 866 00:32:45,829 --> 00:32:48,170 And at the very moment when Abraham's darling, 867 00:32:50,630 --> 00:32:52,170 when his promised heir, 868 00:32:53,509 --> 00:32:55,509 when the hope of God's people is about 869 00:32:55,509 --> 00:32:57,430 to be sacrificed, the angel of the Lord, 870 00:32:57,430 --> 00:32:59,109 that is to say, God himself, cries out 871 00:32:59,109 --> 00:32:59,769 from heaven 872 00:33:00,095 --> 00:33:00,595 saying, 873 00:33:01,055 --> 00:33:02,035 Abraham Abraham, 874 00:33:02,335 --> 00:33:04,674 do not lay a hand on the boy. 875 00:33:05,535 --> 00:33:07,775 Do not do anything to him. Now I 876 00:33:07,775 --> 00:33:08,275 know 877 00:33:08,974 --> 00:33:10,195 that you fear God 878 00:33:10,575 --> 00:33:12,414 because you have not withheld from me your 879 00:33:12,414 --> 00:33:14,515 son, your only son. 880 00:33:16,630 --> 00:33:18,329 Though Abraham did not know it, 881 00:33:18,630 --> 00:33:19,769 God never intended 882 00:33:20,150 --> 00:33:23,430 for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. God intended to 883 00:33:23,430 --> 00:33:26,150 taste it to test Abraham and Abraham, even 884 00:33:26,150 --> 00:33:27,690 though he's a sinner, 885 00:33:28,230 --> 00:33:29,369 passes the test. 886 00:33:30,575 --> 00:33:31,555 Because he knows 887 00:33:32,015 --> 00:33:34,494 that if necessary, God will raise his son 888 00:33:34,494 --> 00:33:35,315 from the dead 889 00:33:36,095 --> 00:33:37,315 in order to safeguard 890 00:33:38,015 --> 00:33:39,474 his own promise. 891 00:33:40,654 --> 00:33:42,335 After all, he has said that it was 892 00:33:42,335 --> 00:33:45,450 through Isaac that his offspring would be 893 00:33:48,409 --> 00:33:49,470 named. You see, 894 00:33:49,849 --> 00:33:51,230 God's power guarantees 895 00:33:52,329 --> 00:33:53,470 that his promise 896 00:33:53,929 --> 00:33:54,429 always 897 00:33:54,970 --> 00:33:55,470 prevails. 898 00:33:56,250 --> 00:33:57,230 On that day, 899 00:33:58,375 --> 00:34:01,255 God provided a ram whose horns were stuck 900 00:34:01,255 --> 00:34:03,255 in a thicket to be sacrificed in the 901 00:34:03,255 --> 00:34:04,394 place of Isaac. 902 00:34:05,575 --> 00:34:07,015 But all of this was just a type 903 00:34:07,015 --> 00:34:07,674 and shadow 904 00:34:08,855 --> 00:34:10,695 of the one true sacrifice that was to 905 00:34:10,695 --> 00:34:11,195 come. 906 00:34:12,110 --> 00:34:14,369 The sacrifice that would atone for the sins 907 00:34:14,829 --> 00:34:16,210 of the children of God. 908 00:34:17,390 --> 00:34:19,730 21 centuries after Abraham sacrificed 909 00:34:20,030 --> 00:34:22,050 a ram in the place of Isaac, 910 00:34:22,430 --> 00:34:23,969 and 21 centuries ago, 911 00:34:25,005 --> 00:34:26,385 God provided a lamb 912 00:34:27,164 --> 00:34:29,824 to be offered in the place of many. 913 00:34:30,684 --> 00:34:32,144 Abraham's son, Isaac, 914 00:34:32,525 --> 00:34:33,344 had unknowingly 915 00:34:33,644 --> 00:34:35,184 carried the wood up the mountain 916 00:34:35,804 --> 00:34:37,025 that could have been 917 00:34:37,885 --> 00:34:39,424 the wood for his own sacrifice. 918 00:34:40,579 --> 00:34:41,719 God's son, Jesus, 919 00:34:42,500 --> 00:34:44,519 carried the wood up another mountain in Jerusalem 920 00:34:45,140 --> 00:34:47,159 for what he knew would be 921 00:34:47,940 --> 00:34:49,480 his own sacrifice. 922 00:34:51,059 --> 00:34:51,559 Abraham 923 00:34:52,019 --> 00:34:54,099 had offered his son all the time knowing 924 00:34:54,099 --> 00:34:54,920 that somehow 925 00:34:55,525 --> 00:34:58,184 Isaac was coming to come down that mountain 926 00:34:58,244 --> 00:35:00,824 alive because God keeps his word. 927 00:35:02,405 --> 00:35:03,385 God the father 928 00:35:04,565 --> 00:35:05,945 gave up his own son, 929 00:35:06,804 --> 00:35:07,625 his innocent 930 00:35:07,925 --> 00:35:08,425 son, 931 00:35:09,150 --> 00:35:12,030 his beloved Jesus knowing that he would unleash 932 00:35:12,030 --> 00:35:13,809 his wrath upon him on the cross 933 00:35:14,269 --> 00:35:16,130 because he always keeps his word. 934 00:35:17,710 --> 00:35:19,309 This time there would be no voice from 935 00:35:19,309 --> 00:35:21,469 heaven to stop the sacrifice. This time there 936 00:35:21,469 --> 00:35:23,329 would be no ram stuck in a thicket. 937 00:35:24,545 --> 00:35:26,085 The father and the son knew 938 00:35:26,945 --> 00:35:29,525 exactly what was going to happen at Calvary. 939 00:35:29,825 --> 00:35:31,505 The father knew that he was offering his 940 00:35:31,505 --> 00:35:33,664 son and the son knew that he was 941 00:35:33,664 --> 00:35:35,765 the lamb that must be offered. 942 00:35:37,050 --> 00:35:38,670 So Jesus really was pierced. 943 00:35:39,769 --> 00:35:42,269 He really was offered up on a cross. 944 00:35:42,410 --> 00:35:44,110 He was offered in the place of Abraham 945 00:35:44,250 --> 00:35:46,010 and in the place of Isaac and in 946 00:35:46,010 --> 00:35:47,949 the place of the children of promise. 947 00:35:49,144 --> 00:35:50,525 He took your place. 948 00:35:52,425 --> 00:35:53,085 The price 949 00:35:53,784 --> 00:35:56,184 for the sin of God's people was paid 950 00:35:56,184 --> 00:35:58,125 for by the blood of Jesus. 951 00:35:58,664 --> 00:36:00,105 It was a price that we should have 952 00:36:00,105 --> 00:36:02,025 paid, but a price that we could not 953 00:36:02,025 --> 00:36:02,525 pay. 954 00:36:03,570 --> 00:36:05,890 And just like Isaac's life was given back 955 00:36:05,890 --> 00:36:06,469 to him, 956 00:36:06,930 --> 00:36:08,630 when there seemed to be no hope, 957 00:36:09,250 --> 00:36:12,369 Jesus Christ resurrected because death could not hold 958 00:36:12,369 --> 00:36:12,869 him. 959 00:36:14,369 --> 00:36:15,110 Dear Christian, 960 00:36:15,815 --> 00:36:17,994 salvation is God's sovereign work. 961 00:36:18,375 --> 00:36:20,635 He calls his people out of darkness 962 00:36:21,815 --> 00:36:23,115 by his sovereign will. 963 00:36:23,735 --> 00:36:26,775 So trust in God's sovereign word, knowing that 964 00:36:26,775 --> 00:36:28,795 God's promise always prevails, 965 00:36:29,095 --> 00:36:30,075 though the trials 966 00:36:30,590 --> 00:36:32,369 of this world seem insurmountable. 967 00:36:33,469 --> 00:36:36,530 God's promise to sustain you will prevail. 968 00:36:37,230 --> 00:36:38,449 He promises it, 969 00:36:38,829 --> 00:36:40,769 and he always keeps his word. 970 00:36:41,070 --> 00:36:41,889 Let's pray.