For God's Glory
Series: MADE NEW
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 11th September 2022
Passage: Romans 16:1-27
00:00:00 --> 00:00:22 It'll be a couple of weeks and in a couple of weeks it'll be 486 years since William Tyndale was strangled to death and his body was burned at the stake for translating the Bible into the English language.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:35 So it is no small matter for you to have the Bible open this morning and to engage what he gave his life for.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:52 And he gave his life for it because he saw, was someone who experienced the gospel, transformation his life as the hope of all of humanity and we need to see what he saw.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 And so his life was changed, transformed.
00:00:56 --> 00:01:02 In fact, it's reported that the very last words he spoke were a prayer.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:17 Lord, open the eyes of the King of England that he might see glory of Christ in the gospel and his life be transformed.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:30 And so in the introduction to the book of Romans, in the edition of the English Bible that he translated two years before his death, which he was killed at the age of 42, he wrote this.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:39 This epistle, this epistle, this epistle is the principle and the most excellent part of the New Testament.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:49 Most pure gospel and a light and a way in unto the whole of scripture.
00:01:49 --> 00:02:02 I think it is important that every Christian not only know it by rote, know it by heart, know it by heart, but also to exercise himself there in it continually.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 In other words, put it to practice continually.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:10 No person can read it too often or study it too well.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:14 For the more it is studied, the easier it is.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:18 And the more it is searched, the more precious things are found in it.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:24 So great a treasure of spiritual things lie hid therein.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:32 That's what we've been looking at since the first of May this year, the book of Romans.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:37 Romans is the most closely reasoned and compelling book of the New Testament.
00:02:37 --> 00:03:01 The massive theology of the first 11 chapters logically proceeds from the statement of the gospel in the very opening verses of chapter 1 to the need of the gospel that you see in chapters 1 to 3.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 Human sin.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:14 Next, it describes the provision of a right standing with God that comes by faith in Christ in chapters 3 and 4.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:24 Then our position in Christ is beautifully described in chapter 5 as God making a new humanity in Christ.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:33 And the secret of our spiritual victory of our overcoming in the end is mapped out in chapters 6, 7 and 8.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:48 Chapters 9 to 11 is a vindication of God's work through all of history to find its culmination in Christ for his glory.
00:03:48 --> 00:04:03 And as Paul concludes his massive theological argument, his foundational theology gives way to worship, which is where all theology ends.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:05 With worship of God.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 Chapter 36.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:19 Everything is about him.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:24 To him be glory forever.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 Amen.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:25 Amen.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:42 Then follows on the conclusion of that, a compelling call to live out the theology in practical Christian living in chapters 12 to 15.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:52 Paul exhorts, he commands, and he encourages us to practice our theology by using our gifts to serve one another in love.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:57 We are to subject ourselves to the authority over us.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:03 Living by the law of love in the church, offering all of life to God.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:11 That's the magnificent structure of this greatest theological essays ever written.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 There is nothing like the book of Romans.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:30 What we have in front of us is a transforming worldview where I see my life in clarity and where it fits for all time and eternity.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:42 As I began this series on the 1st of May, I said that there is no doubt about the power of the book of Romans to radically change lives.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:54 And the reason Romans has proved to be so life-changing and history-shaping is because of the gospel.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 It's because of the gospel.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 The gospel changes lives.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 It can change your life.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:33 It's because of the gospel.
00:06:33 --> 00:07:01 It can change your life.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:09 heart has he brought transformation and change in your life over these past few months?
00:07:09 --> 00:07:14 I'm not asking you, first and foremost, when you become a Christian. If you have, that is
00:07:14 --> 00:07:22 remarkable and massive change in your life. I'm asking you, for those who are Christian,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 what has changed for you?
00:07:31 --> 00:07:41 If nothing's changed, I grieve that that would be the case.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:53 Hear these words. Recently, an ex-pastor of St. Paul's visited this church,
00:07:53 --> 00:08:02 had face-to-face contact with a number of you. He said two things to me afterwards.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:08 It's wonderful to see the transformation of that person over the last five to six years,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:17 how they've grown. He also said, these people, nothing's changed. They're still the same.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:31 Still the same. And so now we come to the last chapter of the fitting final words of this whole
00:08:31 --> 00:08:41 letter. Three points in your St. Paul's app. Partners for God's glory, glory stealers, and glory to God
00:08:41 --> 00:08:46 alone. So if you've got the St. Paul's app, open it up along with your Bibles. Not just because
00:08:46 --> 00:08:52 Tyndall gave his life for it, but because it is the Word of God, and that it is through God's Word
00:08:52 --> 00:08:57 that he brings transformation to our life. So first of all, partners for God's glory.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:05 Now, as Paul winds up his letter, he sends greetings to 26 individuals, 24 of whom he names.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:15 Now, this is not just a skip over irrelevant list of names. You know, Paul's getting a little bit
00:09:15 --> 00:09:22 personal at the end of it kind of thing. This is a glimpse. What we have here is a glimpse of God's
00:09:22 --> 00:09:33 purpose for all of Romans. This is God's new society that the gospel builds. This is what God has been
00:09:33 --> 00:09:42 doing through the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ for his glory. What you notice in this list of names
00:09:42 --> 00:09:54 is the diversity of the early church, race, rank, and gender. What is confirmed in this list is what we
00:09:54 --> 00:10:01 know already. The church in Rome had Jew and Gentile members. Aquila and Priscilla in verse 3 were Jewish,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:10 as are Adronicus and Junia in verse 7, and Herodian in verse 11. Some of the names on the list were
00:10:10 --> 00:10:19 probably of royal rank or certainly high rank in society. Aristopoulos in verse 10 and Narcissus in
00:10:19 --> 00:10:28 verse 11. Both are said to be heads of household or an estate. It is most likely that Aristopoulos was the
00:10:28 --> 00:10:40 grandson of Herod the Great and of the current Roman emperor in the day, Claudius. Narcissus was a
00:10:40 --> 00:10:47 well-known and a rich and powerful person who exercised a very significant influence over
00:10:47 --> 00:10:58 emperor Claudius. These are people in the royal court. And yet in a different way, the most distinguished
00:10:58 --> 00:11:06 here is Rufus. What a name. It's a name that's really got to come back on, don't you think?
00:11:06 --> 00:11:13 You know, like parents have got to, someone's got to call their son Rufus somewhere. Verse 13.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:25 What makes him distinguished? His father is Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried the cross of Christ
00:11:25 --> 00:11:36 to the place of execution. And yet on the other end of the social rank here are Ampliatus in verse 8,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:47 Urbanus in verse 9, Hermes in 12, and Philogochus and Julia in verse 12. They are common names
00:11:47 --> 00:11:58 for slaves in the first century in the Roman Empire. You had people in the court. You had people who were
00:11:58 --> 00:12:07 slaves in the church in Rome. Then there's the gender diversity of the church. Nine of the 26 persons
00:12:07 --> 00:12:18 here are greeted are women. And Paul particularly marks out four of them in the deepest level of
00:12:18 --> 00:12:29 encouragement in this list. Singles out Mary, Tryphena and Tryphosa, who are twins, and Persis
00:12:29 --> 00:12:50 as having worked hard. The word here implies a strong exertion for the church, for serving Christ.
00:12:50 --> 00:13:00 This, along with the comments about Phoebe in verse 1, shows that women were active and influential
00:13:00 --> 00:13:06 in the ongoing ministry and the mission of the church. Priscilla was one of Paul's fellow workers,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:15 Junia, a well-known missionary, and Phoebe, a deacon, a servant of the church. And so we have here in
00:13:15 --> 00:13:25 this list of names a picture of God's pattern for his new society in Jesus as a richly diverse one.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:34 But the second thing we see in this list is the unity of this richly diverse people.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:44 There is a profound unity that transcends the differences. Four times Paul calls his friends
00:13:44 --> 00:13:55 here as being in Christ. Five times as being in the Lord. Twice he uses the language of a family unit
00:13:55 --> 00:14:02 in referring to them as sisters and brothers. He even calls some of them his beloved.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:11 My beloved. It's often translated as dear friends in the English.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:22 He also mentions two experiences that strengthen Christian unity. Namely, they are fellow workers,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:29 partners, verses 3 and 9, and they are fellow sufferers in verses 4 and 7.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:37 Not just a mere glimpse into the makeup of the church in Rome.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:53 The church is the only community in the world where Jesus Christ has broken down the barriers of division.
00:14:53 --> 00:15:07 salvation. Why? Because we saw in chapter 5 that his whole purpose of salvation was not so that you could
00:15:07 --> 00:15:18 go to heaven because he's building a new society for his glory. That's what he's doing. A new people for his glory.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:26 So let me take you back very quickly into chapter 15 as we looked at last week.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:31 Not because James didn't do it well, but because it serves my purpose here right now.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:41 Chapter 15. As Paul is finishing his handling of how weak and strong should relate to each other in the church,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:46 he tells them the purpose of the church.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 The purpose of St. Paul's Chatswood.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:58 And how Christ has set the pattern for how to build the church.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:02 The purpose is in verses 5 and 6.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:25 That's why Christ has saved you.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:28 It's why he builds his church.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 It's why he has bought it and builds it.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:40 Not isolated individual worship, but unified voices, whether speaking or singing for the glory of God.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 That's the purpose.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:54 Displaying the magnificence, the glory of God is the aim of the church.
00:16:54 --> 00:17:02 Then in verse 7, Paul gives, this is chapter 15 still, gives Christ as the pattern for building his church.
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 He says,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:09 Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 Why?
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 For the glory of God.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:28 That is, Jesus does everything he does, including welcoming you into his family as his much-loved child,
00:17:29 --> 00:17:34 building his church for the glory of God.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:38 You are saved by Christ for the glory of God.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:42 You are welcomed into friendship for the glory of God.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 He is humbling.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:50 Sorry, this is humbling because it means that we are never the final reason for anything.
00:17:55 --> 00:18:02 That is culture shaping in an age of excessive individualism,
00:18:03 --> 00:18:07 where everything exists for my reasoning and my purpose.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:10 Romans says,
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 No!
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 You exist for something greater.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 Something more joy-filling.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:24 Has it not escaped anyone that the more excessive we become in our individualism,
00:18:24 --> 00:18:27 the more anxiety rises in our culture?
00:18:27 --> 00:18:43 It is gloriously good news because we should not want anything else but the glory of God.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 God gets the glory and we get the joy.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 Then in verses 8, I'm still back in chapter 15.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 Verses 8 and 9,
00:18:49 --> 00:18:56 Paul underscores Christ's pattern of building the church by showing that this is the very reason he came for the nations.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 We're in mission month.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 This is the reason right here.
00:18:59 --> 00:19:05 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness,
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:17 in order that the Gentiles, the nations, might glorify God for his mercy.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:27 Christ came to prove that God is faithful to his promises and to be glorified to the nations,
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 amongst the nations.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:39 That is why evangelism, it's why missions, it's why church planning, it's why treasuring together and St. Paul's exists.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 St. Paul exists.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:46 Not for our name, but for God's glory.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:52 The vision of the church, the Roman gives us here in this list of names,
00:19:52 --> 00:20:00 is a family drawn from every nation, tribe, people and language
00:20:00 --> 00:20:12 who are singing God's praise from mouths and hearts unified in him, in the gospel.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 And it is to be the vision of this church,
00:20:17 --> 00:20:25 laboring and suffering together to bring glory to God for our joy.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 What a picture we have.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 And that's why Paul makes this sharp transition.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:38 It feels like a very sharp transition into verse 17,
00:20:38 --> 00:20:47 from greeting this church with warmth to a warning, this church of glory stealers.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:53 In verse 17, he warns the church family about divisions and obstacles.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:57 He's warning those who would actively cause division.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:06 Described in verse 18 as not serving our Lord, but their own appetites.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:11 How are these glory stealers recognised?
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 They are divisive.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:17 They teach what is contrary to the gospel.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 They are self-serving.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:24 And they persuade people through their flattery.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:28 They have no love for Jesus in the end.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 They love themselves.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:38 They have a rampant, expressive individualism.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 It's about them.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:46 They have no desire to be his willing servants and disciples.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 They are utterly self-centred.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:56 And their desire is to rob you of gospel hope and joy.
00:21:56 --> 00:22:03 Now, one of the subtle ways that this has been happening across the Western church for decades
00:22:03 --> 00:22:09 is that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
00:22:09 --> 00:22:14 is less about divine rescue mission for God's glory
00:22:14 --> 00:22:22 and more about Jesus coming as on a self-help mission to help you realise your true self.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:28 It's turning the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ around
00:22:28 --> 00:22:34 to the point where you are not in desperate need of rescue
00:22:34 --> 00:22:37 that you are dead in your transgressions and sins
00:22:37 --> 00:22:40 into a he saw potential in you.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:46 And so the gospel becomes about you.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:53 Turns Jesus into a love guru
00:22:53 --> 00:22:56 who is there to affirm my opinions,
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 to affirm my decisions in life
00:22:59 --> 00:23:04 and it results in a discipleship that is radically individualistic
00:23:04 --> 00:23:09 where the church exists for my needs,
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 to provide programs for me
00:23:12 --> 00:23:15 and my needs.
00:23:19 --> 00:23:21 It's about Jesus being my saviour.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:24 His job is to provide for me
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 eternal life in heaven
00:23:26 --> 00:23:32 but has no knowledge of his lordship over my life right now.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 Where I submit to him,
00:23:37 --> 00:23:40 Jesus becomes the extra fuel in my tank
00:23:40 --> 00:23:44 to get to the destination that I've chosen for my life.
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 It knows little of sacrifice,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 of service,
00:23:50 --> 00:23:54 it only knows a life of comfort and security
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 all in the name of Christ.
00:23:56 --> 00:24:00 The late J.I. Packer called it
00:24:00 --> 00:24:03 laid-back religion.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:12 He did not know of the term excessive individualism
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 when he wrote that book.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:19 And yet excessive individualism
00:24:19 --> 00:24:22 is the culture that we are all marinating in right now.
00:24:22 --> 00:24:27 Everything exists for my glory.
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 And it robs God of his glory
00:24:31 --> 00:24:35 and it robs you of gospel joy and hope.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:41 So how are these glory stealers stopped?
00:24:43 --> 00:24:45 We're back into chapter 16,
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 verse 19.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 I want you to be wise about what is good
00:24:50 --> 00:24:53 and innocent about what is evil.
00:24:53 --> 00:24:59 The way to stop glory stealers is in fact
00:24:59 --> 00:25:04 to grow in wisdom and obedience to God.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:09 That is, glory stealers are stopped
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 the more and more we see
00:25:11 --> 00:25:16 and we are conformed to God's glory.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 And what that means is
00:25:18 --> 00:25:21 that against every bit of teaching you hear,
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 against every moral issue you face,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:28 every choice that you are confronted with every day,
00:25:29 --> 00:25:32 there are at least three questions to throw against it.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 Does it agree with scripture?
00:25:35 --> 00:25:38 Does it glorify the Lord Jesus?
00:25:38 --> 00:25:44 Does it promote goodness for others?
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 Three questions.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 In other words,
00:25:54 --> 00:25:57 is it about me giving my life for the glory of God?
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 Does this decision that I'm making now
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 make much of me
00:26:01 --> 00:26:04 or make much of Christ?
00:26:08 --> 00:26:11 And the assurance is for the Christian
00:26:11 --> 00:26:13 who continues to pursue that life
00:26:13 --> 00:26:17 that the ultimate glory stealer,
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 Satan himself, verse 20,
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 will be crushed.
00:26:23 --> 00:26:25 Satan was defeated by the death
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 and the resurrection of Jesus,
00:26:27 --> 00:26:30 but he is yet to concede his defeat.
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 This is the great encouragement here
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 for the church of Jesus Christ.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:38 Satan, who is the great liar,
00:26:38 --> 00:26:41 the great liar,
00:26:43 --> 00:26:47 and one of his chief weapons is divisive,
00:26:48 --> 00:26:51 half-truth gospel
00:26:51 --> 00:26:54 that puts you at the center of everything.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:59 And when you're at the center of everything,
00:26:59 --> 00:27:02 it means you must push other people away.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:09 Everyone else is a threat to you being at the center
00:27:09 --> 00:27:11 because everyone else wants your throne.
00:27:13 --> 00:27:16 And it divides the church again and again
00:27:16 --> 00:27:18 and again and again and again and again.
00:27:19 --> 00:27:21 And the great news of verse 20
00:27:21 --> 00:27:23 is that Satan has been,
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 he is being,
00:27:24 --> 00:27:26 and he will be defeated.
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 And we, the church,
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 are called to resist him.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:34 And the promise here in these verses
00:27:34 --> 00:27:37 is that we, the church of Jesus Christ,
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 are not passive in this.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:42 We play a part in the victory,
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 Christ's victory over Satan.
00:27:45 --> 00:27:48 How does that happen?
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 Mission month.
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 Well, more specifically, mission.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:58 Satan suffers a blow
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 every single time
00:28:00 --> 00:28:03 someone puts their faith in Jesus Christ
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 and receives his righteousness
00:28:05 --> 00:28:08 and escapes eternal damnation.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:15 That's punching Satan,
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 poof, in the belly.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:21 Every time that happens.
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 We take part in this victory
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 every single time
00:28:25 --> 00:28:28 we obey our heavenly father joyfully.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:31 And every time God's people worship together
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 in faith and unity.
00:28:33 --> 00:28:35 and every time we sacrifice
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 for God's mission
00:28:36 --> 00:28:39 to advance it in this world.
00:28:39 --> 00:28:42 We play a part in crushing Satan.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:45 The great liar and deceiver.
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 And so that brings me to the end of Romans.
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 What's the ending of Romans?
00:28:59 --> 00:29:02 The glory of God
00:29:02 --> 00:29:04 in the face of Jesus Christ.
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 That is,
00:29:07 --> 00:29:09 what Paul does here at the end
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 is he takes us back to the beginning.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 He takes us back to the gospel.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 Back to chapter one.
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 His aim is for us
00:29:19 --> 00:29:21 to give glory to God
00:29:21 --> 00:29:23 by reminding us once more
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 of the gospel.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:27 He reminds us firstly
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 of what the gospel does.
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 In verse 25,
00:29:29 --> 00:29:31 he says that the gospel
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 is God's way
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 of establishing us.
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 The gospel is the power of God.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:42 The gospel is how God changes people
00:29:42 --> 00:29:44 and changes their futures.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:49 Paul doesn't simply say here,
00:29:50 --> 00:29:52 the gospel is able to save you.
00:29:52 --> 00:29:54 I mean,
00:29:54 --> 00:29:59 that's how it's normally communicated
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 in the Western church.
00:30:00 --> 00:30:02 The gospel is God's way
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 of saving you.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 It is.
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 But he says here,
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 it's God's way
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 of establishing you.
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 The gospel is not only
00:30:12 --> 00:30:14 the entry point
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 of the Christian life.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 It is also the way
00:30:16 --> 00:30:18 that we continue in,
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 we grow in,
00:30:19 --> 00:30:21 and we enjoy
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 the Christian life
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 in Jesus.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:26 The gospel saves us.
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 The gospel transforms us.
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 In other words,
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 Paul says here,
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 the way to beat
00:30:33 --> 00:30:35 the glory stealers,
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 continue in the gospel.
00:30:39 --> 00:30:41 Continue embracing it.
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 Continue applying it
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 to your life.
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 It is the window
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 through which you are
00:30:44 --> 00:30:46 to view your life,
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 which you are
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 to view society,
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 which you are
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 to view the world,
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 which you are
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 to view your future.
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 The gospel window.
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 And then,
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 he reminds us
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 in verse 25
00:30:56 --> 00:30:58 what the gospel is.
00:30:59 --> 00:31:01 The message I proclaim
00:31:01 --> 00:31:04 is about Jesus Christ.
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 The center of the gospel
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 is Jesus,
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 the divine man
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 who laid aside
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 his glory,
00:31:12 --> 00:31:15 became like us
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 in human form,
00:31:16 --> 00:31:20 died on the cross
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 for our sin,
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 rose triumphant
00:31:23 --> 00:31:25 over all that is evil
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 and wicked
00:31:26 --> 00:31:28 so that we
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 might partake
00:31:29 --> 00:31:31 in his glory
00:31:31 --> 00:31:33 for God's glory.
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 Jesus Christ,
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 who now rules
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 as the king
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 over all of creation
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 for all of eternity.
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 The gospel
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 is
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 Jesus.
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 Jesus.
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 No one else
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 can save us.
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 No one else
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 can change us.
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 The gospel
00:31:52 --> 00:31:54 is Jesus Christ,
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 the rescuer
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 and the ruler
00:31:56 --> 00:31:58 who was predicted,
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 as it says,
00:32:00 --> 00:32:02 has been revealed
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 and is now
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 proclaimed
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 to the ends
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 of the earth.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 Proclaimed,
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 as verse 26 says,
00:32:09 --> 00:32:11 so that all nations
00:32:11 --> 00:32:14 might believe
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 and obey him
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 in verse 26.
00:32:20 --> 00:32:22 And for 20 centuries
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 since Paul wrote
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 these words,
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 this gospel
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 has been proclaimed
00:32:26 --> 00:32:28 and lives
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 have been changed
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 from every language,
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 tribe,
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 people,
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 and nation
00:32:32 --> 00:32:34 as they embrace
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 Jesus
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 as saviour
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 and lord
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 for the glory
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 of God
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 and for their joy.
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 And maybe
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 that's the step
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 you need to take today.
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 And so as we get
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 to the end
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 of Romans,
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 we join with Paul
00:32:55 --> 00:32:57 in verse 27,
00:32:57 --> 00:33:00 to the only wise God
00:33:00 --> 00:33:02 be glory
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 forever
00:33:03 --> 00:33:05 through Jesus Christ.
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 Amen.
00:33:09 --> 00:33:11 But I'm not finished yet.
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 God's glory,
00:33:14 --> 00:33:16 I've used it
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 multiple times.
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 It's in fact
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 the title of this talk.
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 What is it?
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 God's glory
00:33:25 --> 00:33:27 is the beginning,
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 it is the end,
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 it is the purpose
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 of all things.
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 It is the pinnacle,
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 it is the top
00:33:37 --> 00:33:40 of all of Paul's
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 theological reasoning.
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 It's the thing
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 that binds
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 all of his theology
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 together.
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 It's the thing
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 and I,
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 for the sake
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 of your time,
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 I really wanted
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 to go through
00:33:52 --> 00:33:54 every single chapter
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 of Romans
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 and show you
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 glory of God,
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 glory of God,
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 it comes up
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 in every single
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 chapter and section
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 of this book.
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 It's what holds
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 it all together.
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 It's the glue.
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 So what does it mean?
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 What does it mean,
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 the glory of God?
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 Well,
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 it's almost
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 impossible
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 to define.
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 The reason
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 I say that,
00:34:18 --> 00:34:20 the word glory
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 is
00:34:21 --> 00:34:23 almost the same
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 is the word beauty.
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 It's more
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 like beauty
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 than it is
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 like basketball.
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 Right?
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 Bear with me.
00:34:37 --> 00:34:39 You can define
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 a basketball
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 by saying
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 it's round,
00:34:42 --> 00:34:44 it's inflated,
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 it's used
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 to bounce
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 and you've got
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 to put it
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 through this
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 hoop thing.
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 it's part
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 of a game.
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 But you can't
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 do the same
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 with the word beauty.
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 As the saying
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 goes,
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 beauty is in the
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 eyes of the
00:35:00 --> 00:35:00 beholder.
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 What might
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 help
00:35:03 --> 00:35:05 is
00:35:05 --> 00:35:07 to get a
00:35:07 --> 00:35:07 definition
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 of the glory
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 of God
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 is to
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 contrast it
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 with the
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 holiness
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 of God,
00:35:13 --> 00:35:14 which we can
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 define to a
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 degree.
00:35:15 --> 00:35:18 God is
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 holy
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 means that
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 God is
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 in a
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 class of
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 perfection
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 and greatness
00:35:24 --> 00:35:25 and value
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 in and of
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 himself,
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 by himself.
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 He is
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 incomparable.
00:35:33 --> 00:35:33 Nothing
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 compares with
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 him.
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 He defines
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 all things
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 but it's not
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 defined by
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 anything.
00:35:41 --> 00:35:42 His holiness
00:35:42 --> 00:35:43 is
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 his
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 utterly
00:35:45 --> 00:35:45 unique
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 and
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 perfect
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 divine
00:35:47 --> 00:35:47 essence.
00:35:48 --> 00:35:48 It
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 determines
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 all that
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 he is,
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 all that
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 he does,
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 and it's
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 determined by
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 nothing and
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 no one
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 outside of
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 himself.
00:35:57 --> 00:35:57 His
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 being is
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 not determined
00:35:59 --> 00:35:59 by anything
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 else.
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 His
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 holiness
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 is what
00:36:06 --> 00:36:06 he is
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 as God,
00:36:08 --> 00:36:10 which no
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 one else
00:36:11 --> 00:36:12 is or
00:36:12 --> 00:36:12 ever will
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 be,
00:36:13 --> 00:36:14 and it
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 signifies
00:36:15 --> 00:36:15 his
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 intrinsic
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 infinite
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 worth in
00:36:18 --> 00:36:19 and of
00:36:19 --> 00:36:19 himself.
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 His
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 holiness
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 is the
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 incomparable
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 perfection
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 and greatness
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 of his
00:36:29 --> 00:36:29 divine
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 nature.
00:36:30 --> 00:36:37 and we
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 would not
00:36:38 --> 00:36:38 know
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 him
00:36:39 --> 00:36:41 unless he
00:36:41 --> 00:36:42 was to
00:36:42 --> 00:36:42 reveal himself
00:36:42 --> 00:36:43 to us.
00:36:43 --> 00:36:44 So great
00:36:44 --> 00:36:45 is his
00:36:45 --> 00:36:45 holiness.
00:36:47 --> 00:36:48 We have
00:36:48 --> 00:36:48 no
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 comprehension
00:36:49 --> 00:36:50 of grasping
00:36:50 --> 00:36:51 his holiness
00:36:51 --> 00:36:53 unless he
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 was to
00:36:53 --> 00:36:53 reveal it
00:36:53 --> 00:36:54 to us
00:36:54 --> 00:36:57 and that
00:36:57 --> 00:36:57 is what
00:36:57 --> 00:36:58 his glory
00:36:58 --> 00:36:58 is.
00:36:58 --> 00:37:01 his glory
00:37:01 --> 00:37:01 is when
00:37:01 --> 00:37:02 he chooses
00:37:02 --> 00:37:03 to reveal
00:37:03 --> 00:37:04 himself.
00:37:07 --> 00:37:08 Holy,
00:37:08 --> 00:37:09 holy,
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 holy
00:37:10 --> 00:37:11 is the
00:37:11 --> 00:37:11 Lord
00:37:11 --> 00:37:12 almighty.
00:37:14 --> 00:37:14 Isaiah
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 6,
00:37:15 --> 00:37:15 3.
00:37:17 --> 00:37:18 The
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 whole
00:37:18 --> 00:37:19 earth
00:37:19 --> 00:37:21 is full
00:37:21 --> 00:37:22 of his
00:37:22 --> 00:37:22 glory.
00:37:23 --> 00:37:24 He
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 has
00:37:24 --> 00:37:24 himself.
00:37:24 --> 00:37:25 He
00:37:25 --> 00:37:26 glory.
00:37:26 --> 00:37:28 His
00:37:28 --> 00:37:30 glory is
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 the
00:37:30 --> 00:37:30 open
00:37:30 --> 00:37:31 revelation
00:37:31 --> 00:37:32 of the
00:37:32 --> 00:37:33 secret
00:37:33 --> 00:37:34 of his
00:37:34 --> 00:37:35 holiness.
00:37:37 --> 00:37:38 When
00:37:38 --> 00:37:38 God
00:37:38 --> 00:37:39 shows
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 himself
00:37:39 --> 00:37:39 to be
00:37:39 --> 00:37:40 holy,
00:37:40 --> 00:37:41 what we
00:37:41 --> 00:37:41 see
00:37:41 --> 00:37:42 is
00:37:42 --> 00:37:44 glory,
00:37:44 --> 00:37:47 magnificence.
00:37:47 --> 00:37:49 glory is
00:37:49 --> 00:37:49 the
00:37:49 --> 00:37:50 beauty of
00:37:50 --> 00:37:50 his
00:37:50 --> 00:37:50 holiness
00:37:50 --> 00:37:51 is what
00:37:51 --> 00:37:51 we see.
00:37:53 --> 00:37:53 The
00:37:53 --> 00:37:54 glory of
00:37:54 --> 00:37:54 God
00:37:54 --> 00:37:55 is the
00:37:55 --> 00:37:56 infinite
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 beauty
00:37:56 --> 00:37:56 and
00:37:56 --> 00:37:57 greatness
00:37:57 --> 00:37:57 of his
00:37:57 --> 00:37:58 manifold
00:37:58 --> 00:37:59 perfections.
00:38:00 --> 00:38:01 So what
00:38:01 --> 00:38:01 do we
00:38:01 --> 00:38:01 mean?
00:38:04 --> 00:38:04 What
00:38:04 --> 00:38:05 does Paul
00:38:05 --> 00:38:05 mean when
00:38:05 --> 00:38:06 he says
00:38:06 --> 00:38:07 to God
00:38:07 --> 00:38:08 be glory?
00:38:09 --> 00:38:10 What does
00:38:10 --> 00:38:10 that mean?
00:38:10 --> 00:38:14 As
00:38:14 --> 00:38:15 he ends
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 the
00:38:15 --> 00:38:15 book of
00:38:15 --> 00:38:16 Romans,
00:38:16 --> 00:38:16 to God
00:38:16 --> 00:38:17 be glory,
00:38:17 --> 00:38:17 what does
00:38:17 --> 00:38:17 he mean
00:38:17 --> 00:38:18 by that?
00:38:19 --> 00:38:20 Because
00:38:20 --> 00:38:20 if he
00:38:20 --> 00:38:20 can
00:38:20 --> 00:38:21 understand
00:38:21 --> 00:38:21 that,
00:38:21 --> 00:38:21 it
00:38:21 --> 00:38:21 helps
00:38:21 --> 00:38:21 us
00:38:21 --> 00:38:22 understand
00:38:22 --> 00:38:22 what
00:38:22 --> 00:38:24 happens
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 to
00:38:24 --> 00:38:24 us?
00:38:25 --> 00:38:26 How
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 do
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 we
00:38:26 --> 00:38:26 do
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 this?
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 Now
00:38:29 --> 00:38:29 the
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 way
00:38:30 --> 00:38:30 that
00:38:30 --> 00:38:30 Paul
00:38:30 --> 00:38:31 wrote
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 this
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 in
00:38:31 --> 00:38:31 the
00:38:31 --> 00:38:32 original
00:38:32 --> 00:38:32 language,
00:38:33 --> 00:38:33 there
00:38:33 --> 00:38:33 is
00:38:33 --> 00:38:33 no
00:38:33 --> 00:38:34 verb
00:38:34 --> 00:38:34 in
00:38:34 --> 00:38:34 this.
00:38:36 --> 00:38:36 That's
00:38:36 --> 00:38:36 a
00:38:36 --> 00:38:36 doing
00:38:36 --> 00:38:37 word.
00:38:37 --> 00:38:38 I
00:38:38 --> 00:38:38 have
00:38:38 --> 00:38:38 to
00:38:38 --> 00:38:38 keep
00:38:38 --> 00:38:38 telling
00:38:38 --> 00:38:38 myself
00:38:38 --> 00:38:38 that,
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 verb,
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 doing
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 word,
00:38:39 --> 00:38:39 right?
00:38:40 --> 00:38:41 It
00:38:41 --> 00:38:42 simply
00:38:42 --> 00:38:42 says
00:38:42 --> 00:38:42 in
00:38:42 --> 00:38:43 the
00:38:43 --> 00:38:43 original
00:38:43 --> 00:38:44 language,
00:38:44 --> 00:38:44 to
00:38:44 --> 00:38:45 him
00:38:45 --> 00:38:45 glory.
00:38:51 --> 00:38:52 I
00:38:52 --> 00:38:52 think
00:38:52 --> 00:38:53 it
00:38:53 --> 00:38:54 is
00:38:54 --> 00:38:54 both
00:38:54 --> 00:38:54 a
00:38:54 --> 00:38:55 worshipful
00:38:55 --> 00:38:55 statement
00:38:55 --> 00:38:56 of
00:38:56 --> 00:38:56 fact
00:38:56 --> 00:38:58 and
00:38:58 --> 00:38:58 it's
00:38:58 --> 00:38:59 a
00:38:59 --> 00:39:00 expression
00:39:00 --> 00:39:00 of
00:39:00 --> 00:39:01 longing.
00:39:03 --> 00:39:04 In
00:39:04 --> 00:39:04 worship,
00:39:05 --> 00:39:05 we
00:39:05 --> 00:39:06 herald
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 the
00:39:06 --> 00:39:06 fact
00:39:06 --> 00:39:07 that
00:39:07 --> 00:39:07 God
00:39:07 --> 00:39:08 is
00:39:08 --> 00:39:09 glorious.
00:39:09 --> 00:39:09 We've
00:39:09 --> 00:39:09 done it
00:39:09 --> 00:39:10 already
00:39:10 --> 00:39:10 this
00:39:10 --> 00:39:10 morning.
00:39:13 --> 00:39:13 Whether
00:39:13 --> 00:39:14 we
00:39:14 --> 00:39:14 said
00:39:14 --> 00:39:14 or
00:39:14 --> 00:39:15 not,
00:39:16 --> 00:39:17 we're
00:39:17 --> 00:39:17 glorious.
00:39:20 --> 00:39:20 He
00:39:20 --> 00:39:21 has
00:39:21 --> 00:39:21 it,
00:39:21 --> 00:39:21 he
00:39:21 --> 00:39:22 displays
00:39:22 --> 00:39:22 it.
00:39:25 --> 00:39:26 The
00:39:26 --> 00:39:26 expression
00:39:26 --> 00:39:27 of
00:39:27 --> 00:39:28 longing
00:39:28 --> 00:39:30 is
00:39:30 --> 00:39:31 something
00:39:31 --> 00:39:31 like,
00:39:32 --> 00:39:32 may
00:39:32 --> 00:39:33 glory
00:39:33 --> 00:39:33 be
00:39:33 --> 00:39:33 given
00:39:33 --> 00:39:34 to
00:39:34 --> 00:39:34 him,
00:39:35 --> 00:39:36 may
00:39:36 --> 00:39:36 people
00:39:36 --> 00:39:36 see
00:39:36 --> 00:39:37 him
00:39:37 --> 00:39:37 as
00:39:37 --> 00:39:38 glorious,
00:39:38 --> 00:39:39 may
00:39:39 --> 00:39:39 they
00:39:39 --> 00:39:39 praise
00:39:39 --> 00:39:40 him
00:39:40 --> 00:39:40 as
00:39:40 --> 00:39:41 glorious.
00:39:44 --> 00:39:44 So
00:39:44 --> 00:39:44 when I
00:39:44 --> 00:39:45 asked you
00:39:45 --> 00:39:45 at the
00:39:45 --> 00:39:45 beginning
00:39:45 --> 00:39:46 of this
00:39:46 --> 00:39:46 message,
00:39:47 --> 00:39:47 what
00:39:47 --> 00:39:48 change
00:39:48 --> 00:39:48 has
00:39:48 --> 00:39:48 happened?
00:39:49 --> 00:39:50 That's
00:39:50 --> 00:39:50 the
00:39:50 --> 00:39:51 change
00:39:51 --> 00:39:51 I'm
00:39:51 --> 00:39:51 looking
00:39:51 --> 00:39:51 for.
00:39:53 --> 00:39:54 That's
00:39:54 --> 00:39:54 what this
00:39:54 --> 00:39:54 whole
00:39:54 --> 00:39:55 Romans
00:39:55 --> 00:39:55 is
00:39:55 --> 00:39:55 about.
00:39:55 --> 00:39:56 Are
00:39:56 --> 00:39:56 you
00:39:56 --> 00:39:57 seeing
00:39:57 --> 00:39:58 and
00:39:58 --> 00:39:59 praising
00:39:59 --> 00:40:00 the
00:40:00 --> 00:40:00 glory
00:40:00 --> 00:40:01 of God
00:40:01 --> 00:40:01 more?
00:40:01 --> 00:40:01 Paul.
00:40:02 --> 00:40:03 In
00:40:03 --> 00:40:03 other
00:40:03 --> 00:40:03 words,
00:40:03 --> 00:40:03 the
00:40:03 --> 00:40:04 longing
00:40:04 --> 00:40:04 here
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00:43:13 --> 00:43:13 into my
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00:43:14 --> 00:43:14 20
00:43:14 --> 00:43:14 years
00:43:14 --> 00:43:15 ago
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00:43:17 --> 00:43:17 good
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