Right with God
Series: MADE NEW
Speaker: James Barnett
Date: 22nd May 2022
Passage: Romans 3:1-31
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Good morning, everyone.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:12 There is a psychological phenomenon, if I can say that word, phenomenon called illusory superiority.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:18 It's a mental bias where a person overestimates their own qualities or abilities.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:23 And so surveys have been done where a hundred people were asked a question
00:00:23 --> 00:00:30 and the vast majority of people rated themselves as better than average as drivers,
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 which just can't be true if you ask a hundred people.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 The same goes if you ask people to rate their own intelligence
00:00:38 --> 00:00:43 or rate themselves how funny they are or how attractive they are
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 or how charitable or generous they are.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 The vast majority of people rate themselves as better than average.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 Positive traits like these are often hard to define.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 And there's often this wiggle room to make us think,
00:00:57 --> 00:00:58 oh yeah, I think I'm a pretty good driver.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 I reckon I'm better than everybody else.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:04 But it means that we end up building an over-inflated sense of self.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 There's one group that's immune to this.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 Those that are depressed or have anxiety.
00:01:11 --> 00:01:15 They often rate themselves the opposite way, lower than the average.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 Now, we're not going to do a survey here.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:19 You know, we could do a quick survey.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:21 You know, pull out your phones, rate yourself.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:25 If you think you're better than everybody else at driving, we're not going to do that.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 But it points to how we view ourselves.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:34 We have a skewed sense of self.
00:01:34 --> 00:01:40 And I wonder if it's possible that we bring this skewed sense of self before God.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:47 I wonder if we compare ourselves to others when we're thinking about our place before God.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:53 Would we think that we are more deserving of God's love and his forgiveness than other people?
00:01:53 --> 00:02:00 Is it possible then that we even extend this illusory superiority to other people and think,
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 Oh, well, do you know what?
00:02:02 --> 00:02:03 You know, I'll point at James Cason.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 I often like to pick on James Cason.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:06 So I'll pick on James Cason.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:07 He's a pretty good bloke.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 You know, he seems to be a good young husband now.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:10 Do you know what?
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 I reckon he's right with God too.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 Because he seems to be a pretty good bloke.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:22 We are swimming in a culture which tells us that we can have it all.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 Not only that, but we actually deserve it all.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 We deserve to have everything good.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:33 I was walking home the other day and I saw a sign that said,
00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 You deserve a break.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:36 Have a Kit Kat.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 And I thought, you know what?
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 I think I've already had three Kit Kats today, so I probably shouldn't have another one.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:52 So when it comes to righteousness with God, is it possible that we view ourselves and we view others as deserving of righteousness?
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 Deserving of good things from God?
00:02:56 --> 00:02:56 Because, you know what?
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 We're pretty good people.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 So not only culture tells us that, you know, we're deserving.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 Every other religion says you can do it.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 You can deserve good things.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:13 Other religions build up performance records so you can be right with God.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:21 Whether it's following the eightfold path or removing suffering or doing the duty of your caste.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:30 Each is something that goes on a performance record that we hold in our minds or on our souls that we present to God on the day of judgment.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:37 So when it comes to the good news of the gospel, there can be this expectation that it is earned.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 We can hold this view that, do you know what?
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 Good from God must be earned.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 But also, I'm a pretty special person.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 I'm a good guy.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:50 You know, I'm just like James.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51 I'm a good husband.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:56 And, you know, God deserves, he really should take care of me because I've earned it.
00:03:56 --> 00:04:04 And so when we hear the Bible read by Tanya just a moment ago, when it says that we are justified freely by God's grace,
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 we think, yeah, sure.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 But doesn't everybody have something to offer God?
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 Doesn't everybody deserve something good from God?
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 We're continuing in the book of Romans.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:25 And the first two chapters have really presented a radical opinion, something very contradictory to that worldview,
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 that we all deserve something good from God.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:36 And Paul in Romans 3 is really going to just nail home this view that we actually do not deserve anything good from God.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:44 And we come to what Martin Luther of the Reformation called the center of the Bible, which is a big claim.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 And so we're going to see if it actually holds up to that.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:54 And the challenge for us today will be to see what we actually deserve from God and what he gives us and how.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 And a thing called justification by faith.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:03 And how wonderful it is that we do not deserve it, but it is offered to us freely.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 So let me pray for us as we look at Romans 3.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:09 Heavenly Father, we thank you for this chance to look at your word this morning.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:16 Heavenly Father, we have mixed expectations when it comes to you.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:21 In the one sense, we expect good because we think we are good.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:30 But Lord, we also know we are full of sin and can struggle and feel anxiety when it comes to what we deserve from you.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:35 Help us to know how to be right with you today, Lord.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 Amen.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:36 Amen.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 So please have Romans 3 open.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:44 Firstly, we'll see that from what Paul says, we deserve nothing.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:48 If you've got the St. Paul's app there, you can follow along in the points.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:52 And if you don't have the app, there should be a little QR code in front of you on the seats.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 You can follow that to get the St. Paul's app.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 And Paul builds up a big argument about what we deserve from God.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 And it's not pretty.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:02 It's not pretty at all.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:10 Paul has been cutting away any ground to think that we are above average in God's sight.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 And it's made for uncomfortable listening in those first two chapters.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:20 And in the first 20 verses of chapter 3, which we're going to look at briefly, Paul moves forward to the conclusion.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:26 At the end of verse 20, no one will be declared righteousness in God's sight.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 So he's going to build up this big picture.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 And that's the spoiler.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 That's the end point.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 No one is righteous.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 Paul goes back and forward in the first nine verses.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 We're not going to look at the first nine verses in detail.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 But Paul has this argument with himself.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 He asks this question and then he answers it.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 He does this several times.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:47 But they amount to being, well, isn't there an advantage for the Jew?
00:06:48 --> 00:06:54 The Jew has been part of God's people for centuries and generations.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 They've had God's word for so long.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 Don't they get some benefit?
00:06:58 --> 00:07:03 Don't they have some advantage to having the very words of God, the Old Testament?
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 And it's this comparison question.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 Comparatively, shouldn't the Jews deserve more from God?
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 They've been God's people.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 They've had his law.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:20 Surely God is going to judge them more favorably than those who've been far away from him.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 Surely the Jews are closer to God.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 They're closer to righteousness.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 They're closer to being accepted by God.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:32 But it's not about comparing ourselves to others.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 It's our position before God.
00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 It's a legal position.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 Verse 9 describes us as all under the power of sin.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 Is there anybody here that likes to do lap swimming?
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 Anybody that likes to have a good swim?
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 Paul, what is a long distance to swim?
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 For you?
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 Two Ks.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 Okay, two Ks.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 That sounds like a very long way for me.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 Two Ks sounds good.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 So Paul can be our benchmark.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 Now, imagine if there was a couple of us going for a swim.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:09 They were going to swim from Sydney to New Zealand.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 Okay?
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 We've set ourselves a goal.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:12 There's three people.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 There's one who can't swim at all.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 And they get out into Sydney Harbour.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 And because they can't swim, they go straight down.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 They sink and they drown.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 The next swimmer, let's say it's Paul.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 We'll use Paul as an example.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:27 Thank you, dear brother.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:28 Let's say it's Paul.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 Pretty good swimmer.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 Paul's pretty fit.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 Liked to swim regularly.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 He gets out in the harbour.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 He swims.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 He gets out of the harbour, out of the headlands.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 And he's doing really well.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 He beats his PB of 2K.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 He actually gets 5K.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 And then he sinks and he drowns.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:46 Sorry, Paul.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:47 Nice knowing you, dear brother.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:52 The last person, well, let's say this third person is a champion swimmer.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 Champion Olympic level swimmer.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 Swims easily past Paul's PB.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 Does a little bit of wave on the way past.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 Gets 50 kilometres out.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:04 Straightforward.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 The next 100 kilometres is a struggle.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 The next 50 kilometres, they're just trying to stay afloat.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 And then finally, they drown.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 And falling short by only 2 kilometres.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:25 Is that last Olympic swimmer who got closer more or less drowned than the others?
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 It doesn't matter.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 None of them get anywhere near their destination.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 The person who considers themselves moral and good.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:39 And the person who indulges in every fleeting sin and pursues everything.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:44 Neither of them come even anywhere close to being righteous.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 They are equally alike.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 Far from God.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:54 There is such a gulf between righteousness and unrighteousness.
00:09:54 --> 00:10:01 That our moral standing, all of our good works, have no ability to contribute anything to our salvation.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 And Paul gives a full picture of what it means to be far from God.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 And how fully we sin.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 And the reality of our sinfulness.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 He says, there is no one righteous.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 Not even one.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 It is this legal standing.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:21 It is like saying a person is innocent or guilty.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 You can't be a little bit innocent or a little bit guilty.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 It is one or the other.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 And then verse 11.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 It says that our minds are corrupt.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 No one understands God.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 No one seeks his truth.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:42 We can see, Romans has told us in chapter 1, that we can see God's goodness to us around us.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:49 We can see it in his rising sun, in the fact that he provides us rain so that plants grow.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 Even if I wanted God to provide a little bit less rain.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 But Paul says we can't actually see God's goodness.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 We're blind to him.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 We can't see the reality of God around us.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 Our minds are darkened.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 We don't understand.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 Secondly, we don't seek God.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 Our motives are twisted.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:11 None of us really want to find God.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:17 Our will, we've actually chosen to turn away.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:22 And there's this horrible picture in verse 13 of our mouths.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 Our throats are open graves.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 Our tongues practice deceit.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:33 It's this picture of our mouths as an open grave, as in just rotten.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 Only rottenness comes out of our mouths.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 It's this horrible picture.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:43 Our relationships with people are damaged because we shed blood.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 There is no peace.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 And finally, our relationship with God, well, we don't fear him.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 We don't fear God.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 We think we are God.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 We think we are in control.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:58 It is a detailed and depressing list.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 But this is all people before God.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 All people in a position of unrighteousness.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:09 But also people who expect the very best from God.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:15 It is that illusion, illusionary superiority again.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:19 Where we view ourselves as actually being better than we really are.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:25 Can you imagine if Paul was writing a dating profile for all of humanity?
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 Well, pick on me at this point.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:30 Let's say, you know, this person in the dating profile.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 I never had to write a dating profile.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 I'm really thankful for that.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 Because I probably wouldn't write it like this.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 But let's say, writing a dating profile, okay, the person's 5'11".
00:12:40 --> 00:12:43 They have whatever color hair this is.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 Orangey, blondy, brown.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 Like walks on the beach.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 Good so far.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 This person is guilty and condemned.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 His mind is twisted and deranged.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 His heart cries out.
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 His heart is selfish.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 He only ever chooses himself.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:05 Whenever he speaks, he puts down all of those around him.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 He's a bully and he belittles people.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 He's full of cursing and bitterness.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 He's brought shame to his family.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:16 He's destroyed all his relationships, some by shedding blood, and he thinks he's God.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 Would you want to be with that kind of person?
00:13:20 --> 00:13:25 Would you want a family member to be dating that kind of person?
00:13:26 --> 00:13:31 And yet this is the person that Paul describes all of us to be.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:34 No one seeks God.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 No one does good.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:42 And yet the wonderful truth is that God chooses to have a relationship with this kind of person.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 How very thankful we should be.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:50 God chose to send his own Jesus for a despicable people.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:54 This is the theology of total depravity.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:57 That we are totally depraved people.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 Completely sinful.
00:13:58 --> 00:14:02 Even when we do good, it is twisted by our sin.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 But.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 But.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 Verse 21.
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 But now.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 It's one of my favorite buts in the Bible.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:14 There's another really great but in Ephesians 2.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 Go and read that one as homework when you get home.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 But.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:21 In contrast to what Paul has just said.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 But now it is different.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 But now.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 Second point today.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 We get everything from God.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 Verse 21.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 But now.
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 Apart from the law.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:38 The righteousness of God has been made known.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 But now.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 In contrast to all that Paul has said.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 About how he's described us to be before God.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:48 Now God has made his righteousness known.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 Before we were in a position of condemnation.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 But a new position is offered.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:56 We spoke earlier about.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:59 How we often build up a performance record.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 Of good things that we do.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 To make us think we deserve God.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 But now.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 Instead of our own performance record.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:10 God says there is a new performance record for you.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 Here you go.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:14 It's a totally unheard of approach.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 The good looking resume that we thought we had.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 Just totally didn't work.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:21 The righteousness of God.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 The right performance record.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 Is given to us.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 Verse 22.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:32 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 What an amazing, ridiculous and radical thing.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 Given freely.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 Offered, not earned.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43 You know we might think we can try and swim to New Zealand.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:46 But God is gifting us a plane ticket there.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 Here you go.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 You're just there.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 There is no comparison.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 We can try and fail.
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 Or have it given for free.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 And we come to the part of the Bible that Luther argued was the center.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:05 And this is a part of the Bible that is worth meditating on.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 It is worth memorizing.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:10 If you're going to go from here and memorize one part of the Bible this week.
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 It would be this.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 Romans 3.23 and 24.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:17 For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:22 And all are justified freely by his grace.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:26 Through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:32 And all are justified freely by his grace.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:37 How horrid would it be if Paul didn't have that and.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 If he just had the first part.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:44 But there is grace for all.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 Rather than us paying the penalty.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 The judge's son took our place.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 And we are given freedom.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 It's the beautiful scandal of the cross.
00:16:56 --> 00:17:00 That the one who was not deserving of anything in verse 23.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:03 Is given everything.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:07 By the one Jesus who does not do verse 23.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 He has not sinned.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 Jesus has not sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 He is the very glory of God.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 And yet he takes our place.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 This beautiful undeserved joy.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 Has layers to it.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 Verse 22.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:24 Says that it is presented.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 By Jesus's shedding of his blood.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 Belief in God is not good enough.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 It's actually specific.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 It has to be belief in Jesus.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 Some might say.
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 I'm so glad you have faith.
00:17:42 --> 00:17:45 But it's not just faith in something.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 It is faith in Jesus.
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 Received in Jesus.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 And as Paul has made painfully clear.
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 It has nothing to do with us.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 As Paul said.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 Oh let me go back.
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 Back.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 Back.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 There we go.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 Justified freely by his grace.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:07 Some of us can think of faith.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 As an intense attitude.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 I have to think really hard.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 I have to work really hard.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 I have to trust God really hard.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 To be justified.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:18 I have to have 100% certainty.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 That Jesus has saved me.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21 That's what it means to be justified by faith.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 I need to work really hard.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 To make sure that I'm trusting him.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 At every moment.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 I know he did.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 I sometimes have doubts.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 And I've got to get rid of those doubts.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 But that kind of faith.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 Just ends up becoming another work.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:40 It's not that faith in and of itself saves us.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:43 It is the one who our faith is in.
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 And it's freely given.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 From verse 25.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:54 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 Through the shedding of his blood.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 His death.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 His blood instead of ours.
00:18:58 --> 00:19:01 This free gift of grace is given.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Freely to us.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 And received by faith.
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 Now imagine.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 That we still need to get to New Zealand.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 You know.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 We saw Paul try and swim.
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 Did no good.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 And we thought.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 We need to get there.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 So flying is the best option.
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 I don't know of anybody that has a boat.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 So we'll go with flying as the best option.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 And there's a spot that has been freely offered.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:26 And it's not just believing in flying.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 As the best option.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 That will get us to New Zealand.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 Because if I thought it was just believing.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 If I thought it was just having faith in flying.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 As the best option.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 Do you know what I could do?
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 I could strap on some wings.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 And try and flap myself to New Zealand.
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 It's not just believing.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 In something.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 That is going to save me.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 It's believing.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 In the right thing.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:49 The place of our faith is important.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:53 Saving faith is only faith that is placed in Jesus.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 Has anybody actually been on a plane recently?
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 Has anybody started flying again?
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 A couple of us.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 Is anybody a particularly bad flyer?
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 Anybody really stressed by flying?
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 There's one person down the front.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:10 Flying can be very stressful for some of us.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 Imagine you're on that plane.
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 And some turbulence hits.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 And it's pretty bad.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 And you're worrying.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 Am I going to make it out of this alive?
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 And you're breathing into that bag.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 So you don't hyperventilate.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 You've got white knuckles at every bump.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 Every gust of air.
00:20:25 --> 00:20:29 Your faith in the airplane is very weak.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 And your faith in the pilot is very weak.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 And then sitting next to you.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 There's someone else on the plane.
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 And their faith in the plane.
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 And their faith in the pilot.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 Is very strong.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 I love flying.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 Because it's just.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 You know.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 I get X amount of hours.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 To sit and read.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 To sit and watch movies.
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 And to do whatever I like.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 The last flight I took.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 I remember.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 I was doing this.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 I was reading.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 Before the plane took off.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 And I'm like.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 Oh we're taking off.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 Not even aware.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 That we were taking off.
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 And we landed.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 It's just like.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 Oh we're landing.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 Great.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 And you know.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 You see other people.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 White knuckles.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 For some of us.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:08 We can enjoy the journey.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 Trusting in the aeroplane.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 And the pilot.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 For the person whose faith is weak.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 And really stressed.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 The entire flight.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 And the person who is totally relaxed.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 They both actually get to the same destination.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:26 The captain doesn't actually come back to the person who's stressed.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 And hyperventilating.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 And freaking out.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 The captain doesn't come back and say.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 Oh I'm sorry sir.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 I'm sorry ma'am.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 You can't actually be on this flight.
00:21:34 --> 00:21:36 You don't have enough faith.
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 To keep this plane up.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 We're actually going to have to.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 Throw you out the exit door.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 You don't get to go to the destination.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 Because you don't trust enough.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:49 It is the power of God to save.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:52 Not my power of my faith.
00:21:53 --> 00:21:55 We fix our eyes on Jesus.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 The pilot.
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 Who is pointing us to God.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 He doesn't say.
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 Oh look you're on the plane.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 But you must also flap your wings.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 Or you're not going to make it.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 You've got to be doing something.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 You've got to be really active while you're on the plane.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 Or you're not going to be saved.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 Jesus is the object of our faith.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 He is the one.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 Our faith is placed in.
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 Not us.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 And this faith is a wonderful gift that has been given.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:25 This is what justification by faith is.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:28 I'm saved by what Jesus has done.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:32 And this is a very important piece of theology for us Christians.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:36 And it's not just important for our minds.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 It's important for our hearts.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 It's important for us to know.
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 Because it's intensely personal for us all.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:45 The person who goes through life struggling.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 Believing that they're right with God.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 The person who is anxious.
00:22:50 --> 00:22:55 The person who is worried that they're saved.
00:22:56 --> 00:23:00 Well this piece of theology actually helps us to grow in God confidence.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 God I don't need to be anxious.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 I don't actually need to be worried.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 Because you have saved me.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 It is not my faith.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 It is where my faith is placed.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:12 Even if I have a tiny amount of faith in you.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 It is still in you.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 And I will still get to the destination.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:20 We don't need to compare ourselves to other Christians.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 Oh that Christian has so much faith.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:30 This theology of justification by faith is a wonderful assurance to us.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 That it is not our performance.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 It is not how strong our faith is.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 It is where our faith is placed.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 In Jesus.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 Because all of us are going to stand before God one day.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:48 And justification by faith tells us we don't need to appeal to our performance record.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 To our works.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 To the things we've done.
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 We can't point out that.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:56 Well look at least I'm better than 50% of everybody else.
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 Justification by faith is vital.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 Because it reminds us.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 The very heart of the gospel.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:07 That our standing and acceptance before God.
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 Is entirely from God.
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 And so Paul says in verse 27.
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 That there is no boasting.
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 We don't boast about this.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 Instead we have joy.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 Thankfulness.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 Because our destination is sure.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 So.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:24 If we were going to survey everyone here.
00:24:24 --> 00:24:26 If we were going to survey a hundred Christians.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:30 Whether we're more deserving of salvation than the person sitting next to you.
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 Justification by faith tells us no.
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 I am not more deserving.
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 It's not me.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 I don't deserve anything.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 But brothers and sisters.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:45 Justification by faith teaches us that we are so richly blessed by God.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:49 Freely through God's grace to us in Jesus' blood.
00:24:50 --> 00:24:55 This theology of justification by faith helps us to grow in God confidence.
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 And that's what we're doing.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 And that's what we're doing.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 And that's what we're doing.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 Maybe over the last year.
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 The last two years.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:02 You've been feeling slack as a Christian.
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 You've been feeling like.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 I just.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:07 I don't feel like I'm doing the right things.
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 You know.
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 The church.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 You know.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 People at church keep encouraging me to read my Bible.
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 You know.
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 I've heard Steve and Dan talk about it this morning.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 And I want that.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:17 And I don't feel like I'm a good Christian.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 Our destination doesn't change.
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 Because of where our heart is.
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 It doesn't.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 It doesn't mean that.
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 Oh look.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 I'm not going to.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 I'm not going to be with God.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 Because I don't.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 I'm not feeling like I'm doing the right thing.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 This teaches us that.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 We don't need to have anxiety.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 We don't need to worry about our destination.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 Instead.
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 This is a wonderful call.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 That we can draw closer to him.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 Reminds us that our faith.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:46 Is not based on our own ability.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 To fly.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 Or to swim to New Zealand.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:51 But we're able to rest in.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 And trust in God.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 For our salvation.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 So that as we journey.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 That we would grow.
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 In believing.
00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 That we would be able to place our faith.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 In him.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 As the object of our faith.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 And when we do that.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 We can have a journey.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 To him.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 That is.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 One.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 That's not white knuckled.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 But trusting.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 Even when turbulence hits.
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 We can rest assured.
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 That God.
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 Has our destination.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 Sure.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 And he is taking us there.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 Let me pray.
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 Heavenly Father.
00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 We thank you for Romans 3.
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 We thank you.
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 That even though.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 It points out.
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 A hard and painful truth.
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 About who we are.
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 That it also points out.
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 The wonderful good news.
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 Of the gospel.
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 That you have chosen.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 To justify us freely.
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 In Jesus's death.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 And resurrection.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 Heavenly Father.
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 Help us not to trust.
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 In our own ability.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 To do anything good.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 But help us to place.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 Our faith in Jesus.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 We ask this in your son's name.
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 Amen.