History of Righteousness
Series: MADE NEW
Speaker: John Lau
Date: 29th May 2022
Passage: Romans 4:1-25
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 I started doing park run last year.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 It was a regular gathering on Saturday.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 I said in the morning to run, or in my case, to walk,
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 5K around Ataman and Willoughby,
00:00:14 --> 00:00:15 with a big group of people.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:17 And at the end of the run,
00:00:18 --> 00:00:22 we scanned a barcode that records our time of the day.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 Apart from the exercise,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:29 I enjoyed being a walker in a lap-around course.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:32 I got to say hello to the same group of people,
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33 people that I actually know,
00:00:33 --> 00:00:37 two to three times as they passed me in a different direction.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:42 I often finish the top five longest time,
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 in real time, which means the last five.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 And I try not to be the last one to finish.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 As I walk the course slowly,
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 it was most encouraging
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 when someone joined to finish a course together
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 at the same pace as me.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:07 When we're working on something hard or require endurance,
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 having a pace setter or companion
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 can make the journey more doable and enjoyable.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 Sometimes that may be the key to a breakthrough
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 in our quest or journeys.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 Paul provides the best companion
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 or a pace setter for us
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 to follow in the passage we are looking at today.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 Abraham, a great figure in the Old Testament,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:38 is well-known by the original audience,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 also become well-known by three of the major religions
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 in our modern days.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 Judaism, Christianity, and Muslim.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 He had the right relationship with God
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 based on faith alone.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 He is someone from way past
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 to show us how God has always been
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 crediting righteousness by faith.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 Abraham was a man, a human being,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 just like any one of us when God called him.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:11 Let me explain.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:15 Abraham was a child to his parents,
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 a husband to his spouse,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:20 and a parent to his children.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 He cared for his deceased brother's children
00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 and earned a living as a migrant in a foreign land.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:32 He was well-to-do,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:34 but at the same time,
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 he cared a lot about his close relatives.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 He knew what to do to protect them
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 if they get into trouble,
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 willing to take a fight when needed.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 He was generous
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 and valued relationship above other things.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 He was also a man of principles,
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 giving honors where honors are due,
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 and not taking advantage of any situation
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 to profit for himself.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 However, driven by fear,
00:03:04 --> 00:03:08 he also did some not very honorable things.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:13 He told only a half-truth about his marital status
00:03:13 --> 00:03:14 on a few occasions
00:03:14 --> 00:03:18 and almost caused irreparable consequences.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 He took things into his own hands
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 to ensure there was someone
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 to look after his family
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 and his wealth when he died.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:32 If you do not know much about Abraham,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 let me encourage you to read
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 the Old Testament book of Genesis,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 starting from chapter 12.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 But from what I just described,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 what do you think of him?
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 He sounded like all kinds of guys,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 just a normal human being,
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51 isn't he?
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 He sounds all right, isn't he?
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 Paul states in our chapter today,
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 in verse 1 to 2,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 what then shall we say about Abraham,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 our forefather according to the flesh,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 discovered in this matter?
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 If in fact Abraham was justified by works,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 he has something to boast about,
00:04:14 --> 00:04:15 but not before God.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 Even Paul says,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 looking at what Abraham did,
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 based on his works,
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 he has something to boast about,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 but not before God.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:27 Why is it not before God?
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 Because the scripture said,
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 Abraham believed God
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 and it was credited to him as righteousness.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 Abraham's right standing with God
00:04:39 --> 00:04:43 does not come from his obedience or works.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 It was credited to him.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 The word credited appears 10 times
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 in this passage,
00:04:51 --> 00:04:55 with the word Kant in verse 8,
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 which both come from
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 the same original language of the New Testament.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 They are all accounting terms,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 meaning to Kant as.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 So far in our journey in Romans,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 one observation I have is that
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 Paul tends to repeat the same phrase or word
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 to highlight his points.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:20 In Steve's introduction,
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 a few weeks back on chapter 1,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 he pointed out that the word gospel
00:05:25 --> 00:05:30 shows up more in the first 17 verses
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 than anywhere else in Romans.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 The word gospel appears more per face
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 in these verses than anywhere else in the Bible.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:42 In the second half of chapter 1,
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 Paul shows us a long and devastating
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 critics of human nature
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 and how we deserve only God's wrath
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 and his righteous anger.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 And in chapter 2,
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 the theme judgment shows how
00:05:58 --> 00:06:02 our religiosity and hypocrisy
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 further inflame God's wrath
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 and justify God's righteous judgment against us.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:10 And last week,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:11 in chapter 3,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 the word righteousness
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 took a podium position
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 after leaving all the other runners behind.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 In our chapter today,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:20 in chapter 4,
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 Paul shows us that
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 the righteousness
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 that was leading the pack of runners
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 has a special name.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 It was credited righteousness.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:33 To credit something
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 is to confer a status
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 that was not there before.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 It would be like
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 end of the pack run,
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 a person who ran first
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 waited for me at the finish line
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 and handed me his barcode
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 to scan as my record.
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 And not just that,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 the person finished first,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:56 not just him,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 but everyone else
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 finished before or after me
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 was congratulating me,
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 celebrating and cheering
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 that I'm the first
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 with the shortest time.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 Ridiculous sounds to be.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 But faith counted as righteousness
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 means that God treated Abraham
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 as though he lived a righteous life.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 His faith was not righteous,
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 but God counted it
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 as if it were.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 Now, to the one who works,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 wages are not credited
00:07:29 --> 00:07:29 as a gift,
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 but as an obligation.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:32 However,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 to the one who does not work,
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 but trusts God,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 who justifies ungodly,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 their faith is credited
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 as righteousness.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 Faith credited as righteousness
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 is a profound concept.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 I believe it's much easier
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 for us humans
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 to understand the system
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 of obligation
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 that we live in
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 than to understand
00:07:56 --> 00:07:56 what it means
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 to have faith credited
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 as righteousness.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 People living
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 in a democratic country
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 often highlight
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 the freedom
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 and the right they enjoy
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 and decry
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 the lack of freedom
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 of those living in others.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 But are you really
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 or truly free?
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 Are you truly?
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 Can you truly be
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 whoever
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 and whatever
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 you want to be?
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 Can anyone truly
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 disregard the law?
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 Relationally,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 when someone is nice to me,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 I feel obliged
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 to return the favor
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 or I feel indebted
00:08:39 --> 00:08:39 to that person.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 But on the other hand,
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 if someone harms me
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 or my family,
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 I feel I have the right
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 to harm them back.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 I'm glad
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 I'm refrained
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 from doing so overly
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 due to our legal system.
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 A few weeks ago,
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 in my personal Bible reading
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 and reflection time,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 I read about
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 a conversation
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 a father had
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 with him
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 when he was
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 in his last year
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 in high school.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 And he said,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 son,
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 you know,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 as soon as you finish school,
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 you have to look
00:09:16 --> 00:09:16 for a job
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 every day
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 until you find one.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 Your success
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 or failure
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 will mean
00:09:22 --> 00:09:22 a good
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 or bad repetition
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 for our family.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 We are obliged
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 to do right
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 by our family
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 or our society.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 By human standards,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 we are considered
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 right
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 and good
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 if we abide
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 by the law
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 of our society.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 Live within our means,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 treat others nicely,
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 and be generous
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 and charitable.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:47 We should
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 pack ourselves
00:09:48 --> 00:09:48 on the back
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 and say,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 well done, mate.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 And it is so easy
00:09:53 --> 00:09:53 for us
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 to misunderstand
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 God requires
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 the same thing
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 from us.
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 That we need
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 to earn
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 favor from God.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 That we need
00:10:02 --> 00:10:02 to work
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 for our righteousness.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 But on the fifth side,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 we can also
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 fall into thinking
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 that we deserve
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 God's grace.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:14 As soon as we think
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 that we can earn
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 God's favor
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 and be righteous
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 in His sight
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 by our effort,
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 we cheapen
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 the grace
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 that God has shown
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 through His Son,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:24 Jesus.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 We steal
00:10:26 --> 00:10:26 God's glory
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 and do not know
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 what saving faith
00:10:29 --> 00:10:29 is about.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 I'm glad
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 Abraham
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 has been highlighted
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 as our case study
00:10:35 --> 00:10:35 of faith,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 showing us
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 what saving faith
00:10:38 --> 00:10:38 is about.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 from verse 9
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 to 12,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 it says this,
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 Abraham's faith
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 was credited
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 to him
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 as righteousness.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 He received
00:10:48 --> 00:10:48 a seal
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 of the righteousness
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 that he had
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 by faith,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 so that he is
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 a father
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 of all who believe,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 in order that righteousness
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 may be credited
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 to them,
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 who also follow
00:11:00 --> 00:11:00 the footsteps
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 of the faith
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 that our father
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 Abraham had.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 Abraham
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 is not just
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 our pay setter.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 he is also
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 our guarantee
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 because Paul says
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 he is a father
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 of all
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 who believes,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 of all
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 who follow
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 in the footsteps
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 of his faith.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 We,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 as we follow him,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 we experience
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 the reality
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 of being loved
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 and accepted
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 by God
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 while we are
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 sinful
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 and imperfect.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:33 Abraham
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 was not
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 himself
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 righteous,
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 perfect,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 or blameless,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 but God
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 treated him
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 as though
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 he were.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 God shows us
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 through Abraham
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 that our justification
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 or credited
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 righteousness
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 is by faith
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 in him alone.
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 So,
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 what does it mean
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 to follow
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 in faith?
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 What is the faith
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 that saved Abraham
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 and which will
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 save us also?
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 first five
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 tell us
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 that faith
00:12:05 --> 00:12:05 equals
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 trust God
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 who justifies
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 the ungodly.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 It does not
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 merely believe
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 God exists,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 but believes
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 and trust
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 in what God
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 has
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 and will do
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 for us.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 Verse 17
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 to 25
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 shows us
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 that
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 believe God
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 or trust God
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 has these
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 three things.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 Firstly,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 verse 18
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 to 19
00:12:29 --> 00:12:32 against all hope
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 Abraham in hope
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 believed
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 and so become
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 the father
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 of many nations.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 Just as it had
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 been said to him,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 so shall your
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 offspring be.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 Without
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 weakening
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 in his faith,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 he faced
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 the fact that
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 his body
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 was as good
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 as dead
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 since he was
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 about a hundred
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 years old
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 and that
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 Sarah's room
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 was also dead.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 God promised
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 Abraham
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 that his
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 offspring
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 would be
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 as numerous
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 as the stars
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 in the sky,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 but he was
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 still
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 childless
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 when he was
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 about a hundred
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 years old.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 Abraham's body
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 appeased
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 hopeless,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 but he does
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 not go on
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 appearance.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 Faith is
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 not opposed
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 to reason,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 but it's
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 sometimes opposed
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 to feelings
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 and appearance.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 it's not
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 simply
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 an optimism
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 about life
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 in general,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:30 not going
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 on about
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 saying
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 always look
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 on the bright
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 side of life,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 nor faith
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 in oneself.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 It does not
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 keep saying,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 I think I can
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 as we come
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 at the mountain.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 Abraham
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 shows that
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 saving faith
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 is kind of
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 a death
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 to self-trust.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 It's going
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 on something
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 despite our
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 weakness,
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 feeling,
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 and perceptions.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 He goes
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 on God's
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 promise.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 So first
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 things,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 not go on
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 appearance,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 but goes
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 on God's
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 promise.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 Secondly,
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 verse 20
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 to 21,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 yet he did
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 not wafer
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 to unbelief
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 regarding the
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 promise of
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 God,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 but was
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 strengthened
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 in his
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 faith
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 and gave
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 glory to
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 God,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 being fully
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 persuaded
00:14:20 --> 00:14:49 things that
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 were not.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 So he
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 insisted
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 on this
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 measured
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 reflection
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 about God.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 Abraham
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 shows us
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 that
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 saving faith
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 and believing
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 in God
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 is not
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 the absence
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 of thinking,
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 but rather
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 a profound
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 insistence
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 on acting
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 out of our
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 focus on
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 the facts
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 about God.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 Saving faith
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 is thinking
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 about who
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 God is
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 and his
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 power
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 and focusing
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 about the
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 facts of
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 him.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 Abraham
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 did not
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 have much
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 to go on
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 except God's
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 word of
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 promise.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 We have
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 far more
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 facts about
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 God to
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 focus on,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:37 a far
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 greater
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 demonstration
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 of his
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 love and
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 power,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 because we
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 know that
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 God raised
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 his own
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 son,
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 Jesus,
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 to life
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 as we
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 just
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 celebrated
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 Easter
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 only a
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 month ago.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 So secondly,
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 he insists
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 on focusing
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 on facts
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 about God.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 Thirdly,
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 which is
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 developed
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 from what
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 I just
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 said,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 believe God
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 means to
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 trust the
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 bare words
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 of God.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 Abraham
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 believed
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 that God
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 had the
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 power to
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 do what
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 he has
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 promised.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 He
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 trusts in
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 his word.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 Verse 21,
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 being fully
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 persuaded,
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 that God
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 had power
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 to do
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 what he
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 had promised
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 it.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 Are you
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 willing to
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 take God
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 at his
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 word when
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 feeling
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 popular
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 opinion
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 and common
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 sense
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 contradict
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 God's
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 promise?
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 Are you
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 going to
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 look at
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 what he
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 has said
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 and let
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 that define
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 reality for
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 you?
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 So there
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 are three
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 things.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 Go on
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 God's
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 promise,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 insist on
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 focus on
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 the facts
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 about God
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 and trust
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 the bare
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 words of
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 God.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 You can
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 have lots
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 and lots
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 of strong
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 faith that
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 God exists,
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 that he
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 is loving,
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 that he
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 is holy.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 You can
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 believe that
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 the Bible
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 is of
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 God's
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 holy word.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 You can
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 show great
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 reference
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 for God.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 Yet,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 seek to
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 be your
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 own
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 savior
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 and
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 justify
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 by trusting
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 your
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 performance
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 in religion,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 moral
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 character,
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 job,
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 or parenting.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 You can
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 let those
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 things define
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 reality for
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 you or
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 have saving
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 faith and
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 transfer your
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 trust to
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 God and
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 his word.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 And when
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 you do,
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 you will
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 enjoy your
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 faith journey
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 with Abraham
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 and many
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 others who
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 have gone
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 before you
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 and after
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 you to
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 treasure Jesus
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 together.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 So,
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 how are
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 we saved?
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 Paul says
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 in verse
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 23 to
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 25,
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 the word
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 it was
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 credited to
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 him were
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 written not
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 for him
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 alone,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 but also
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 for us,
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 to whom
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 God will
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 credit
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 righteousness
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 for us,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 who believe
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 in him,
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 who raised
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 Jesus our
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 Lord from
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 the dead.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 He was
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 delivered over
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 to death
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 for our
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 sins and
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 was raised
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 to life
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 for our
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 justification.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:07 God's
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 promise of
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 credited
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 righteousness
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 is for
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 us,
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 who believe
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 in God,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 who raised
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 his son
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 Jesus for
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 our sins
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 and justification.
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 Tim Keller
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 sums it up
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 this way,
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 Abraham's
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 faith was
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 in the
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 promise of
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 a descendant.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 Our
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 faith is
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 in what
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 God says
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 one of
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 his
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 descendants
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 has
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 achieved.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 This is
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 a promise
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 which is
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 to define
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 our reality
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 and shape
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 our lives.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 As I
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 illustrated
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 before,
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 being credited
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 or counted
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 as righteousness
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 is like
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 the runner
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 that finished
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 first in
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 a 5k
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 pack run
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 did under
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 20 minutes
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 and wait
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 at the
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 finish line
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 for another
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 30 or
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 40 minutes
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 to give
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 me his
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 barcode
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 to record
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 as my
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 time.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 But not
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 just that,
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 he grabbed
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 my barcode
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 as his
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 record.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 And so
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 I can
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 count
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 with his
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 best
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 record
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 and he
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 took my
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 bad
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 record
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 onto
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 himself.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 The
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 person
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 who
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 come
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 out
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 victorious
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 and
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 waiting
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 and
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 trade
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 places
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 with
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 us
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 is
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 not
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 Abraham
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 but
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 our
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 savior
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 Jesus.
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 The
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 descendant
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 of
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 Abraham
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 that we
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 are
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 looking
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 to
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 is
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 an
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 author
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 and
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 perfecter
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 of
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 faith
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 who
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 endures a
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 cross for
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 the joy
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 set
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 before him.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 Our
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 salvation
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 is
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 nothing
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 to do
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 with
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 what
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 is
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 in
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 us
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 or
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 what
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 we
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 achieve
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 but
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 has
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 everything
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 to do
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 with
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 God's
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 work
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 of
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 grace
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 in
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 his
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 son
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 Jesus.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 Abraham
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 is
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 one of
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 many
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 witnesses
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 that
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 point
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 us
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 to
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 Jesus
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 the
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 pioneer
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 and
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 perfecter
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 of
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 faith.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 You
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 can
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 see
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 the
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 whole
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 list
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 of
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 examples
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 in
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 the
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 New
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 Testament
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 book
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 of
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 Hebrews
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 chapter
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 11.
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00 12.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 And in
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 chapter
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 12.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 Verse 2-3
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 it says
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 this.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 For the
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 joy set
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 before him
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 which
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 Jesus
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 he
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 endured
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 the
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 cross
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 scorning
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 his
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 shame
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 and sat
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 down
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 at the
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 right
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 hand
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 of the
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 throne
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 of
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 God
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 consider
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 him
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 who
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 endured
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 such
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 opposition
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 from
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 sinners
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 so that
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 you
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 will not
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 grow
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 weary
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 or lose
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 heart.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 Jesus
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26 endured
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 the cross
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 for God
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 to
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 credit
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 his
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 righteousness
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 to
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 us.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 As
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 we
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 receive
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 our
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 righteousness
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 we
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 also
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 join
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 in
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 the
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 joy
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 that
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 was
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 before
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 Jesus
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 and
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 give
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 glory
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 to
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 God
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 and
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 have
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 a
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 hopeful
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 humility
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 about
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 ourselves.
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 Crucifixion
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 is the
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 most
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 shameful
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 way
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 to be
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 punished.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 Jesus
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 scorned
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 shame
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 and
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 credited
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 us
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 righteous
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 so that
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 we
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 do not
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 need to
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 be
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 ashamed
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 of
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 our
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00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 justification
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00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 eternal
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 life
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00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 renewed
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 world.
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00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 our
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00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 of being
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 transformed
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 by the
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 gospel
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 through
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 Romans.