WEBVTT 00:00:06.959 --> 00:00:08.080 Good evening. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:11.119 Glad you're here. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:18.399 If you're visiting, we're glad you're here with us this evening to worship God and to study a portion of the scriptures. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:24.320 We have been doing a series on the Roman letter from Paul to the Romans. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:28.800 Tonight we'll be in chapter 3, verses 21 through 30. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:38.799 When you go to buy a car, you usually compare features that you're looking for. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:40.079 You'd like to make comparisons. 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:47.119 Maybe compare dealerships, maybe compare prices, maybe you compare models of car, which brand of car you want. 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:56.399 If you buy a vacuum cleaner, you probably compare different models to each other, see which one's going to be the most powerful, the best one, the last longest lasting. 00:00:57.039 --> 00:00:58.719 That never works for us. 00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:00.479 They always die soon. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:04.560 But anyway, when it comes to a cordless drill set, I like to look into different brands. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:12.560 I've used several different brands, and I keep hoping the next brand, even though they're professional grade, will last longer than the last one. 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:17.439 They always fall short. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:22.719 When it comes to our living among humans, we make comparisons. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:28.159 We examine others according to our own standards of goodness and what we think a person ought to be. 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:34.799 Even in the church, we can look at one another and think, well, I'm more righteous than that person. 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:37.439 Maybe I'm a little more mature than that person. 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:38.879 I'm better than that person. 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:40.879 We can become self-righteous. 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:42.959 We can become self-saturated. 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:49.599 And I'm not accusing any of us of being that way, but I believe that it's a possibility because I can do it and I have done it. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:02:01.040 Paul is telling people there are people that don't do not know God and they're they're in a mess. 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:15.919 And he says to the Jews, don't get all puffed up because you are under judgment too, because you you say they should do those things, but you do them too. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:23.520 Basically, he goes on to say so many things about you know it's kind of bad news, really. 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:32.159 None of us are really good, not according to God's standard. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:37.599 How many of you are righteous on your own? 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:50.319 You know the state of being correct in the sight of God, able to stand before the holy, holy God as one who has just is just in his actions, his thoughts. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:03:01.120 There's a scripture I go to often, and maybe too often, but in Isaiah chapter 6, I love this throne scene that Isaiah sees. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:02.479 I'm going to read it again. 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:11.280 In Isaiah 6, verse 1, in the year of King Uzziah's death, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of his robe filling the temple. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:18.960 Seraphim stood above him, each having six wings, and with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, with two he flew. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:23.759 And one called out to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:32.879 The whole earth is full of his glory, and the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, and the temple was filling with smoke. 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:48.800 And I said, Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts. 00:03:50.319 --> 00:04:04.719 Isaiah being a righteous man, probably the most righteous person of his day, at least one of them, when he was in the presence of God, could only say, I'm doomed. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:13.520 Me and all my goodness and my service to God is not enough to stand before God's holiness. 00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:33.759 One of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs, and he touched my mouth with it, and he said, Behold, this has touched your lips, and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is forgiven. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:47.759 Already this evening we've had several scriptures, different comments about how important it is that we are so thankful for forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:56.240 Our God is a holy God, and woe is me without Jesus. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:00.399 We tend to compare ourselves with other people. 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:06.079 We compare ourselves with ourselves. 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:10.800 I'm pretty sure I'm a better example of a Christian than somebody else. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:18.399 I go to church regularly, I give on the first day of the week, and I serve others when I see a need, and we could say blah blah blah blah blah. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:22.079 We can just go on and say those good things that we about ourselves. 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:28.240 Sometimes we can be impressed with ourselves, how good we feel being in Christ. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:54.560 We must never forget the text of Romans, where Paul lays it out over and over again in different ways that Christians we have good news, but you are only justified because of Jesus, not your own good works, even after you've been baptized into Christ. 00:05:55.759 --> 00:06:09.759 In Romans chapter 1, he says, I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:17.120 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, that the righteous man shall live by faith. 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:22.720 This evening I want to talk about specifically the righteousness of God. 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:26.319 It's a big theme in the book of Romans. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:30.319 It's this this term righteousness is over 30 times. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:36.480 There's other terms that are related to it that are also in the Bible, in this book. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:40.639 Okay, yeah, we already talked about that. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:44.800 Well, let's look at Romans chapter 1 for a second. 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:51.920 So I'm not ashamed of the gospel, it's the power of God for salvation. 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:52.959 Everybody who believes. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:55.360 I usually concentrate on that part of the text. 00:06:55.519 --> 00:07:00.240 When I preach it, I think about the gospel of power, it's the dynamite to save us. 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:09.439 But in verse 17 it says, For in it, in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed. 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.480 The lid is taken off of the package. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:19.839 So when you look at the cross, Jesus has opened up the package and says, This is because I am righteous. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:26.959 So Paul talks about the righteousness of God rather than the holiness of God, but they're all connected because God is God. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:39.439 So he reveals, I'm getting ahead of myself on the slide here, but he reveals the righteousness of God in the gospel. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:42.879 And in verse 18, there's another revealing that's very important. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:51.839 The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth and unrighteousness. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:55.120 And we've had sermons on those things already. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:58.800 Well, God is impartial. 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:03.120 Doesn't matter if you're in God's family or not God's family. 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:07.600 Doesn't matter your race, doesn't matter if you're black, blue, green, or yellow. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:12.800 Everybody is the same in God's eyes as far as sin is concerned. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:26.480 In chapter three, it says, I have some scripture right there, but let's look at the alls. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:31.360 God is saying through Paul, everybody has a problem. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:37.840 And we have been hearing this for the last couple weeks about Romans. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:40.960 Every time we come, we're hearing, man, we're sinners. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:44.320 How many of you like hearing that you're a sinner? 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:48.080 Nobody raised their hand. 00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:50.480 None of us want to hear that. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:54.240 But God says you need to hear it. 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:57.519 But tonight he gets to the next step. 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:02.639 Again, it starts about, you know, the gospel's awesome, it's the power of God, but then he talks about sin. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:09.600 In chapter 3, verse 10, there is none righteous, not even one. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:12.240 None. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:19.200 Verse 11, there is none who understands, none who seeks for God. 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:24.480 Verse 12, all have turned aside, together they have become useless. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:28.639 Man, that's a positive statement. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.519 There is none who does good. 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:33.200 There is not even one. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:40.320 Their throat is an open grave, but their tongue they keep deceiving with the poison of aspets under their lips. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:41.840 Let's all move down. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:43.360 Verse 19. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:51.600 Now we know that whatever this law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be closed, that all the world may become accountable to God. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:53.039 There's that word all again. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:57.600 The word all is mentioned several times, and none is mentioned several times. 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:03.919 What God is saying is, I'm encompassing every human being that has ever lived and ever will live. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:06.720 None of you are good enough by yourself. 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:08.879 So stop thinking you can't be. 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:20.799 Chapter 3, 21. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:23.600 I'm gonna read verses 21 through 30. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:32.080 Now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:38.399 Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:39.840 There is no distinction. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:41.759 There's that word all again. 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:48.320 The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:50.480 So there's everybody's a sinner. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:11:01.120 All people are sinners, but all people have the opportunity to be righteous in God's sight, to be right before Him. 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:03.519 Verse 23, there's another all. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:07.120 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.799 Remember Isaiah? 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:14.559 Remember the throne room of God? 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:18.480 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:21.600 The whole earth is full of his glory. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:30.559 When we sin, we fall short of the glory of God. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.919 We shouldn't be in the midst of the glory of God. 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:43.039 We're not allowed within that realm of heaven. 00:11:44.159 --> 00:12:06.879 But being justified as a gift by his grace through the redemption, which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly on the cross, as a propitiation or appeasement or a satisfaction in his blood through faith, that is, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in the forbearance of God he passed over the sins previously committed. 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:16.159 For the demonstration I say of his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:19.840 Have you noticed the word righteousness in this text? 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:24.000 21, verse 21, righteousness of God. 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:26.080 22, righteousness of God. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:34.480 Verse 25, righteousness, his righteousness. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:37.279 Verse 26, his righteousness. 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:42.080 And there's more about the righteousness of God throughout the letter to the Romans. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:46.399 So the bad news is we're all sinners. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:52.000 The good news is there is power in the gospel for everyone who believes. 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:57.519 So aren't we aren't we glad for that? 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:03.679 So, you know, this section is just kind of tough. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:05.840 You just keep, it feels like you're just getting beat down. 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:06.559 We're all sinners. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:17.600 We're got a problem, but here he turns the page, he's starting to build this up, and he's saying, We have the righteousness of God when we believe in Jesus Christ, we have faith. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.440 And it's for everybody who believes. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:28.240 No distinction, doesn't matter the color, doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, doesn't matter if you live in the United States or Ethiopia. 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.840 Everybody. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:32.080 God wants everybody. 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:39.840 So the gospel is for all. 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:46.639 I talked about this a little bit already. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:49.759 So the gospel is the righteous of God revealed. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:55.200 The cross reveals justice has to take place. 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.399 I think that maybe you're kind of like me. 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:12.240 I get uh complacent in my place in Christ. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:17.120 I forget what a cost for my sins to be taken care of. 00:14:20.559 --> 00:14:28.720 It's a tendency of mankind, I think Nate mentioned this a little bit earlier today, that we want to try to fix things ourselves. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:33.600 If we make a mistake, if we do a few more good things, it'll balance out. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:37.679 We have this math card, this this tally. 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:48.960 And we think that if we if we do enough good things, we can kind of counteract with bad things, and so we're back in the same thing about trying to justify ourselves by our actions. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:53.919 I think we as Christians can still do that. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:07.440 God does not have a tally sheet up there saying, you know, he's not comparing us with other people, he's not saying, well, uh Nate is doing better than you, John. 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:10.480 He studies more than you. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:14.000 You know, he does this more than you. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:15.440 So you're behind. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.360 You're not as righteous as Nate. 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:21.519 We we can kind of see that among ourselves, we might feel that whether we say it or not. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:24.159 I I think he's better, I'm better than him, or whatever. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.519 We've talked about that before. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:27.519 God says, stop it. 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:32.240 You are only right before God by the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:35.279 It's always going to be that way. 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:40.559 Again, we're not gonna say that we shouldn't be trying to be righteous in our actions. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.759 That's not the point. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:47.840 The point is, our good deeds do not earn us righteousness or salvation. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:55.440 You cannot go to church enough times to make your lies and your hatred and your cheating and your sins go away. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:16:00.480 You cannot just claim ignorance for your sins and expect God to overlook them. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:05.600 Can you keep all the laws of the old covenant and be right with God? 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.200 It's impossible to do. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:08.879 He's talked about that. 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:17.200 Masses of people live ungodly lives doing the things that we consider horrible, and they are sinners and they reject God's word openly. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:20.000 They will receive the wrath of God. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:25.039 He allows them to wallow in their filth, Romans chapter 1. 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:36.639 And in 2 Thessalonians 1, 5 through 10, there is going to be a day when the angels come down, the mighty angels, and flame me fire, and the wrath of God will be saved. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:43.279 The Jews thought they were better and more righteous than the Gentiles because they were born into the Jewish race. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:47.360 Paul says, No, you're without excuse because you sinned as well. 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:56.639 God is righteous, He has no partiality about anybody who sins or does not sin. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.320 All of sin. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:07.119 All of us fall short of glory, the glory that God deserves, and that we cannot be in his presence that way. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:14.160 So, righteousness of God, I talked about this already, but it's a major theme. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:18.400 Jeremiah says, You are always righteous, O Lord. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.799 You are always righteous. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:24.480 You cannot be righteous on your own doing. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:33.519 We are justified before the Holy God as a gift by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:35.680 A free gift. 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:37.759 How many of you guys like free? 00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:41.359 See, some hands come up. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:46.960 I think recently there might have been a free car wash down the street, like Easter Sunday or something. 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:50.640 See all those cars lined up to Idle Luke? 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:54.480 I mean, it was just they didn't care if they were blocking the traffic. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:55.200 Free? 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:56.799 And they just line up. 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.279 Free. 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.400 I want it, I want it. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.200 Free. 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:08.720 Recently there was a basketball game, of course, the basketball season's over here at Texas Tech, but they had a bobblehead night. 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:16.079 And if you get there, if you get the first 2000 to the game, you get a free bobblehead of Christian Anderson. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.599 And who doesn't want that? 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:24.160 And so man, we wanted to go. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:30.720 Well, I I didn't go that night, but Eric and his family were there and they got enough bobblehead, so I have a free one. 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:33.039 I have a free bobblehead that's on my dresser. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:35.279 So every morning I wake up and I see that. 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:40.480 And I think he's a bobblehead, I'm an airhead, we go good together, you know. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:43.920 But I mean, who doesn't want free stuff? 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:48.079 But yet at the same time, isn't it interesting? 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:50.880 If you're at a yard sale and you have stuff, it's pretty cheap. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:53.359 A lot of times people, oh, I don't know. 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:57.279 I'll give you five cents for that when you got two bucks. 00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:03.519 And they try to chew you down, and then you have a box that says free on it, and they just walk right past it. 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:08.799 So sometimes there's stuff that's free, people have no interest in. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:10.400 Other times things are free. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.640 If it's your free food, you're gonna be there. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:14.559 If it's a free bobblehead, you want it. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:16.400 If it's a free car wash, you want it. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:21.279 There's nothing greater than the free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:25.519 How come people aren't lined up to be baptized into Christ? 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:33.039 Because they don't know, or else they're like in Romans chapter 1. 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:37.839 They're just ignoring him, and they maybe think it's too good to be true. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:39.920 Just too good. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:20:00.559 Only God can give us righteousness, that right relationship with God, justification, be being legally free from the bound, the being bound and being in jail. 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:05.519 Redemption, God paid the price, the ransom, he buys it back, it's free. 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:11.759 In Romans 5, 69 it says, While we are still helpless at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:16.400 But God demonstrated his own love toward us, and that while we are yet sinners, Christ died for us. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:21.440 Later on, it says, We will be saved from the wrath of God through him. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:24.559 And only through him. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:34.160 Jesus paid the price on the cross. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:48.160 We know that the payment to the holy God for our unholy actions through the blameless Lamb of God cost God something. 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:53.440 And sometimes we don't even think about the cost, we take it for granted. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:05.119 Wouldn't it be kind of good if every time we committed sin, even as a Christian, because we're still, even as a Christian, do we sin? 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:10.480 Do this, or else you're lying to yourself. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:15.519 All of us, even as Christians, will sin. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:21.839 Even after we've been baptized, right, we've been added to the body, we've had our sins washed away, we are now spotless. 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:24.000 For our name is written in the book of life. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:25.119 We're Christians. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:30.799 Woo-hoo! But you are still gonna sin, and when that sin happens, we sometimes take it for granted. 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:32.240 We might ask God for forgiveness. 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:37.359 We forget that that sin that we committed, somebody's gotta pay for it. 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:46.240 And if God doesn't pay for it, we have to pay for it in judgment. 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:57.200 So, friends, every time we sin, even today, we're responsible for the whiffing that Jesus took. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:09.039 Every time I sin, I have that fist hit Jesus like. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:15.119 Every time I sin, I'm responsible for that nail being driven is in his hand. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.799 And I forget about that. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:21.759 Sin becomes too common. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:27.839 We are justified by his grace. 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:30.240 We need to act like it. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:32.480 I get to act like it. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:36.160 You cannot pay for your sin. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:38.559 Jesus paid the price. 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:43.920 Have you ever had somebody go with you to dinner, take you out to dinner, and they say, Oh, we got this? 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:45.279 Right? 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:49.839 And the bill comes and they want to pay for it, and you say, Oh no, no, let me help. 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:51.359 Oh no, I got this. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:53.200 What do you want to do? 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:54.480 What do you say? 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.599 Let me at least get the tip. 00:22:58.400 --> 00:22:59.519 Does anybody ever say that? 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:00.480 You don't agree with that? 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:04.079 If you haven't, start doing it. 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:08.559 So but we all want to help out, right? 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:11.599 We want to have a part in paying something off. 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:16.079 I would like to suggest that you have no part in paying off your debt. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:20.079 You cannot make it right with us. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:23.039 Except through faith in Jesus. 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:24.559 He makes it right. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:26.799 I'm not saying we don't do something. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:28.000 We live by faith. 00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:29.440 We obey the gospel. 00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:31.839 We confess Him as our Lord. 00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:34.480 We're baptized into Christ. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:39.039 So every sin is under judgment of God. 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.480 It's not a small thing. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:42.240 Somebody's going to pay for it. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:47.200 It's either us in judgment or Jesus on the cross. 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:51.759 Turn your Bible to Ephesians chapter 1, real quick. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:58.559 I know we're studying Romans, but Paul wrote the same books and he has so many of the same themes. 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:02.559 I just want to add this verse. 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:07.519 Ephesians 1, verse 7. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:17.599 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished on us. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:24.559 In all wisdom and insight, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his kind intention, which purpose in him. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.759 He goes on and on. 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:31.359 But I want to say, in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:33.920 And it's by grace that we have been saved. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:36.240 Rome Ephesians chapter 2. 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:40.079 Flip over there. 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:42.720 Ephesians chapter 2. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:43.599 Verse 8. 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:47.119 By grace you have been saved through faith and not of yourselves. 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:54.000 It is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no man or no one will boast. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:25:03.680 We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we would walk in them. 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:08.160 Back to Romans. 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:11.359 I'm going to close this out here in a second. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:19.920 In verse 27, it says, Where is the boasting? 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:22.319 It is excluded. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.759 By what kind of law? 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:28.079 Of works, no but but the law of faith. 00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:32.720 We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:35.119 Or is God the God of the Jews only? 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:37.599 Is he not the God of Gentiles also? 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.359 Yes, of Gentiles also. 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:46.079 Since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:50.640 So in Christ Jesus, there's no place for us to boast. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:54.319 For our own righteousness. 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:57.759 We can boast about Jesus, he's awesome. 00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:02.000 But about ourselves, let us not boast. 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:05.200 Let us always have a humble attitude. 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:08.799 We sang a song about being humble before God. 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.720 We're saved by grace. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:14.640 What a great thing. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.359 Oops. 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:18.400 I guess I'm that's telling me I'm done. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:20.319 I'm not sure yet. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:23.039 There's one more verse I wanted to read. 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:26.319 It's back in Isaiah again. 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:28.400 I start with Isaiah. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:31.039 I want to close with Isaiah. 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:40.640 In Isaiah chapter 45, it says this, verse 21. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:51.519 There is no other God besides me, a righteous God and a Savior. 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:54.640 There is none except me. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:58.400 Turn to me and be saved. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:00.400 All the ends of the earth. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:03.359 For I am God and there is no other. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:14.000 And will not turn back. 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:18.400 That to me every knee will bow and every tongue will swear allegiance. 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:24.000 They will say of me, only in the Lord are righteousness and strength. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:29.839 Men will come to me, and all who are angry at him will put will be put to shame. 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:37.920 In the Lord, all the offspring of Israel will be justified and will glory. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.599 That speaks of us as well. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:43.759 Our God is only God. 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:52.079 He is righteous, he is holy, and he calls us to be his people, a righteous people, to be saved. 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:55.039 He is the one, and there's no other who can save us. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:57.599 Just a couple things I want to mention. 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:05.359 Jesus' blood makes us the righteous of God, which calls us to be slaves of righteousness. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:07.599 That's found in Romans chapter 6. 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:10.240 Slaves to righteousness. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:19.839 We are supposed to do good deeds, not to be righteous, but because we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:27.599 There is no person here that is more righteous than another based on your actions. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:30.160 We must never think we are. 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:19.519 Thank you, God, for your righteousness, your faithfulness, and your amazing grace. 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:20.160 Let's pray. 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:26.160 Holy Father, we thank you for this scripture that we've touched on this evening. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:30.720 And we know there's so much more we could talk about in even this text tonight. 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:41.680 We just pray you'd help us to continue to be students of your word and to dive into it and to be encouraged by your amazing grace, by your forgiveness. 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:44.160 Help us to not take sin lightly. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:52.079 Help us to realize that our sins are only paid because you love us so much and you're willing to pay that sacrifice. 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:57.119 We need that sacrifice every day. 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.960 We need your grace. 00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:16.880 Help us to be a people of humble hearts and hearts full of praise and workers in your kingdom that are always busy, so grateful that you've chosen us to be your children, rescued out of the shackles of sin. 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:22.720 We pray your blessing upon this congregation and all of us who work together here. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:32.319 Help us to reach out to others, to have boldness and courage to share that good gospel and reveal the righteousness of God and the salvation of Jesus. 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:33.200 We pray for us. 00:30:57.519 --> 00:31:08.160 Ask God's forgiveness, seek his cleansing, seek peace, joy, be strengthened by his arm. 00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:21.680 If there's any here who need to obey the gospel, you're ready to have your sins washed away, to become a child of God, confess Jesus as the Lord and Savior, the King of kings, we're here to assist you in that as well. 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:24.960 You can help me stand up with things together.