WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:07.519 We are going to be in 2 Corinthians and we are going to be in chapter 5 today, starting in verse 16. 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:18.879 And uh it's a shorter group of verses than we normally tackle on a on a Sunday because there is so much doctrine and theology that's packed into the the end of this chapter. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:20.399 So we're really going to take our time. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:41.679 We're going to be doing a little more cross-referencing than we normally typically do on a Sunday morning, but it's going to help us a lot, I think, pulling from other places where Paul has written and where Peter has written to kind of help us understand some of these deeper concepts that Paul, the author of 2 Corinthians, is communicating to us here this morning. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:46.560 So 2 Corinthians chapter 5, we're going to be reading verses 16 through the end of the chapter. 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:49.840 So if you're able, will you please stand for the reading of God's word. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:58.399 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:04.719 Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:08.640 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:12.959 The old has passed away, and see, the new has come. 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:21.359 Everything is from God who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:33.359 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he was committing or he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:39.359 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:43.280 We plead on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:52.799 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:53.920 Let's pray. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:02:12.000 Lord, we thank you so much for all that you reveal to us through your word, for what you've left for us, Lord, that we can hold your word in our hands, that we can gather together weekly and go through this together. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:24.719 So, Lord, I pray that as we gather as a body of believers, as body of Christ this morning, that you would be doing a work inside each one of us, but among us collectively as well as a church. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:41.120 That you would have your perfect will and way in each one of us, and that we would be just very willing clay in your hands for you to mold and to continue to conform, Lord, so that we become more and more like Jesus, we pray. 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:42.319 In Jesus' name. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:43.120 Amen. 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:44.400 May be seated. 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:59.520 So last week we talked a lot about how the love of Christ compels Paul to continue ministering, and how the love of Christ should compel us as well to minister for the sake of the gospel. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:08.560 In Paul's personal testimony that we've learned about so far as we've been going through this, we know that he faces hardship daily. 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:13.120 You know, he's survived countless life-threatening situations. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:18.479 Persecution to the point that he thought he was gonna die on multiple occasions. 00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:24.319 And he says that if he seems crazy for doing all of this, he says it's for God. 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:30.800 Because it is the love of Christ that compels him to do this and to keep going. 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:45.360 Because as he said in verses 14 and 15 of this chapter that we covered last week, he said, one died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:52.879 And Ben did a great job of explaining this last week, you know, the importance of us living in this same way. 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:54.560 Living for Christ. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:59.039 You know, not being saved from our sins and then saying, okay, I'm good to go. 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:10.800 You know, let's just eat, drink, and be merry because, you know, as we've learned, we're just clay jars, we're just these tents, we're not permanently here on this earth, so who cares what happens from this point on? 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:19.360 So Paul is encouraging Corinth to live like Jesus, to not just be content with your salvation and then just kind of disappear. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:25.519 But to live for Christ, living as Christ did for the benefit of others. 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:38.079 Because Jesus and Paul knew that focusing on the now, focusing on the present, you know, just looking out for this clay jar for this tent gains nothing for eternity. 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:42.399 So he says, focus on the eternal, focus on the unseen. 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:48.879 That's why Paul said at the end of chapter 4, you know, do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:54.319 For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:57.920 And that's going to come up again today in our passage. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:02.079 So I just wanted to remind us of kind of where we're coming from in 2 Corinthians. 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:08.720 You know, this whole section has been about keeping our focus on eternal things and on others. 00:05:08.959 --> 00:05:16.720 Not focusing on the outward appearance of others or the charisma of other people, but on the heart. 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:21.920 Keeping the focus on the inner person, the focus on what is truly eternal. 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:23.759 So let's get a running start here. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:28.240 We're going to start back in verse 15, and then we're going to jump into our text here this morning. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:39.680 So verse 15 says, And he died, being Jesus, for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:46.800 Verse 16, from now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:53.279 Basically, he's saying we're not evaluating others from a human standpoint anymore. 00:05:53.600 --> 00:06:01.519 And if you think about it, where we've come from in this book, what's Paul facing from his critics in Corinth? 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:03.600 They're saying he's short. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:06.480 He can't speak well, he's not that good looking. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:09.839 You know, he's always in a place of suffering, it seems like. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:13.519 You know, they were evaluating Paul from this worldly point of view. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:18.480 So he tells them, this isn't how we evaluate people in the kingdom of God. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:29.279 We evaluate them not according to the flesh, not according to a worldly point of view, but we evaluate people by what is on the inside, by their heart. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:35.920 Again, we focus not on what is seen, but what is unseen. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:47.439 And the unseen in us, as we're going to be talking a lot about today, is our spirit, but it's also the Holy Spirit, the down payment in our hearts, as Paul has already explained to them. 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:50.079 Look at the second part of verse 16 with me. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:57.600 Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:09.839 Even if we knew Jesus while he was walking on this earth in person, as some of these people did at this time that this was written, that's not how we know Jesus any longer. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:14.000 Now we know Jesus by the Holy Spirit that is inside of us. 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:18.079 So first he says, we don't evaluate people by the outside but the inside. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:22.079 But now he says we no longer know Jesus with our eyes. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:30.000 We no longer know Jesus with our touch, but by the inside, by the Spirit of God that is within us. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:33.120 Romans 8.16 says this. 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:40.720 It says, the Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:44.399 Our spirit is everything about us that's eternal. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:45.920 That's an easy way to think about it. 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:51.040 It's our heart, it's our mind, it's our soul, it's what makes us conscious. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:08:01.759 And when we're in Christ, our little S spirit can now work in harmony with the capital S spirit, with the Holy Spirit that is within us. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:09.439 And they can testify together, it says here, that we are God's children through the work of Jesus Christ. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:15.040 Remember, Jesus even said, it's better that I go and that the Holy Spirit comes. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:45.039 Because you can either have God living in the flesh as Jesus was in one place on earth at one time, or have God inside of us, living in and through you, with 24-7 access to God, relationship, conversation, where the Holy Spirit will counsel us and convict us, be our advocate, be our teacher, our encourager, be the sanctifier that's living within us. 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:57.519 And if you remember what we learned in 1 Corinthians 2.11, the Holy Spirit knows the mind of God and wants to freely relay that will, God's will, to us. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:04.080 So keeping all of this in context, we know Jesus in a way, as Paul's saying here, that is unseen. 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:06.159 Look at verse 17. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:11.200 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:15.440 The old has passed away, and see, the new has come. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:19.759 So again, we're talking about the spirit here. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:24.320 Our flesh and our blood and our bones, they're present with us. 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:27.279 They're alive and well still, as we're still on this earth. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:30.000 Maybe I should say our flesh is alive and sick, right? 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:37.279 But here we're talking about the spiritual renewal that takes place when we come to Jesus. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:41.519 We're talking about being a new creation here in verse 17. 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:47.120 And I really want to hang on this verse for a while, verse 17, and really define each part of it. 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:59.759 You know, it's a familiar verse, a lot of us maybe even have it memorized, but there's so much theology and doctrine that Paul packs into this one verse that I really want to pick it apart and really define a couple things here. 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:01.360 So let's start with just the beginning. 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:19.919 It says, if anyone is in Christ, notice it's not, if anyone is in Christ for 10 years, has dealt with the major sin in their life, only sins in their thoughts occasionally, and serves four times a month at church. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:22.080 It's not what he's saying, right? 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:28.720 He's saying, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:38.399 You know, going through all the tumor stuff that I've been going through the last six months, there is an oncologist that I've been seeing on a regular basis. 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:49.919 And early on we got to talking, he saw on my chart that I'm a pastor, and so he started asking some questions, and I started witnessing to him, and I started praying with him in his office. 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:56.720 But the thing that saddened me is I I just flat out asked him, where are you with Jesus, with your relationship with Jesus? 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:00.000 And he said, I'm a poor Christian at best. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:07.279 And I thought, no, there's not levels to Christianity. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:12.159 There's not these people that are up here, but then these ones that are they're just barely sneaking in. 00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:17.679 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:20.639 And that's what I've been trying to explain to him. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:24.320 I've been emailing back and forth with this guy, just like trying to explain. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:27.120 No, if you're in Christ, you are a new creation. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:31.919 It's not like these are up here, there are no poor Christians in the kingdom of God. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:38.320 If anyone is following Christ, he's accepted him as their Lord and Savior. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:48.080 Then verse 17 says, the next little chunk, he says, He is a new creation. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:51.279 This is what I was trying to explain to this doctor. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:12:02.799 You know, Jesus told Nicodemus, a man named Nicodemus in chapter John chapter 3, he said, Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:18.240 And then he goes on to explain to Nicodemus that not only flesh can, or to Nicodemus, that only flesh can give birth to flesh, but only the Holy Spirit can give birth to a new spirit within us. 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:27.840 And it's not a cleaned up version of who we were, it's a rebirth, a new creation in Christ Jesus. 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:32.080 Then in verse 17 he goes on, he says, The old has passed away. 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:44.799 So before we came to Jesus, our flesh, you know, our flesh and bone, our fleshly old man, was working together with our spirit before we came to Jesus. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:51.759 They were scheming together to make life as comfortable and as pleasurable and as stress-free as possible. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:13:01.440 They were chasing after things and substances to alter the discomfort of our reality, even if it was just for a moment. 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:13.360 But when we come to Christ, there's a new battle that begins between our flesh and our spirit, the new rebirth spirit, because they're no longer working together. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:15.679 There's this battle that's going on inside. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:22.000 Because our flesh still desires those same things that we desired before we came to Christ. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:26.320 But now our spirit starts to desire the things of God. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:33.600 And now our spirit, now directed by the Holy Spirit, is now fighting against our flesh. 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:37.840 And it's saying no to our flesh, and our flesh doesn't like it, does it? 00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:48.159 You know, saying those things, those substances, that money that you're chasing, the relationship that you're chasing, the comfort that you're chasing, won't bring you joy. 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:50.720 Because only Jesus can do that. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:56.399 Because our new spirit understands that the old has passed away. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.440 It's been crucified with Christ. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.960 And then the last part of verse 17, it says, and see. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:07.759 Your translation might say, Behold, the new has come. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:15.759 The rebirth, the regenerated spirit has taken place of the old spirit and has passed away. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:20.480 We're not the old spirit that is just more disciplined now. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.720 That's not who we are in Christ. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:27.919 We're not the old spirit that just has a bunch of band-aids and scars that have healed over. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:30.799 We are made new, it says. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:38.960 And yes, our flesh still has the capacity to win, and we will stumble, and we are going to sin from time to time. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:43.440 But it's not going to be because we desire to be working with the flesh anymore. 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:48.960 It's because it's a battle and we have not been perfected yet the side of eternity. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:55.120 We, like Paul, are going to find ourselves saying, you know, why do I do the things that I don't want to do? 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:58.879 And the things that I want to do, I don't do. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:24.080 But the thing is, as we abide in Christ closer, and as we allow the Holy Spirit to have more of a say in our life, and as we surrender to God on a deeper level, we'll find that our spirit, through the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us, will be winning more and more of those battles as we become more and more like Jesus Christ. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:32.559 And that's what's called sanctification, that process of us becoming more and more like Christ as we mature in our faith in Christ. 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:34.159 Look at verse 18. 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:46.559 Everything, so he's saying, all of this that we're talking about here is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:54.639 That is, in Christ, God has was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them. 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:59.039 And he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:07.279 You know, when we see that word reconciled, you know, we think of it from a spiritual point of view, and it can be like, oh, I don't know, but think of like a bank account. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.639 It's an easy way to think of it. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:13.519 Reconciling means harmony between records and accounts. 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:15.679 When we're talking about reconciling. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:23.440 Reconciled to God, excuse me, means we're brought into harmony with himself. 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:29.759 Whatever we owed has been paid, and therefore we're now in harmony with God. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.000 And what did we owe? 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:35.279 We owed death for our sin, didn't we? 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:38.000 God said, You owe this for your sins. 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:40.159 You are in debt. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:43.679 We were not in harmony with God. 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:47.759 Our account did not reconcile before Jesus. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:51.919 And Jesus said, I'll pay what you owe. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:55.679 I will pay death with my death. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:57.279 I will pay that for you. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:04.079 And I will reconcile that debt to bring you into harmony with God. 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:22.160 Like I said, you know, when we start talking about reconciliation and we start talking about death from a spiritual point of view, sometimes we can start thinking thoughts like, oh, you know, that's hard to understand, and that's just kind of all, it's kind of out there, but I just trust that it's good and I'm good to go. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:32.480 But let's take this out of a spiritual context and let's put it into a physical context to help us understand a little bit better what Jesus did. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:35.920 Everybody here, I assume, is familiar with Hearst Castle, right? 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:36.720 Yeah? 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:37.759 Okay, good. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:45.440 What you might not know is originally Hearst Castle was on an 80,000-acre ranch. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:51.599 On what is considered some of the most coveted land in all of California. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:55.839 It's estimated, and I got this from Google, so it has to be correct. 00:17:56.400 --> 00:18:01.920 It's estimated that the castle and that land would be worth$230 million today. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:05.599 So let's pretend it comes on the market. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:11.119 And you somehow find a bank that's willing to loan you the money to buy that. 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:15.279 And somehow you convince them to loan you the money. 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:21.920 Somehow you get through escrow and your first monthly payment comes due. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:24.880 You know, usually with a loan, the first month you don't have to do that payment. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.559 It's the second month that it comes in. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:35.519 So you're living it up, you're living the life at Hearst Castle, you're having fun for those first two months, but then your first monthly bill comes in. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:42.240 You know how much a 30-year fixed is on$230 million with today's interest rates? 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:43.279 I did the math. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:51.920 $1,538,701 is your monthly payment for Hearst Castle. 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:56.079 And you have to pay that every month for 30 years. 00:18:56.640 --> 00:19:03.039 You better enjoy that castle for that two months that you have before you get foreclosed on, because that's coming. 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:13.920 But a trillionaire comes along that has no debt whatsoever, says, I'll pay your$230 million debt under one condition. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:20.000 You become part of my family, and I share my inheritance with you. 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:25.359 I think our natural reaction would be, why? 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:27.440 Why would you do this? 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:32.880 To which that trillionaire replies, because I love you and I want to be with you. 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:36.480 And I want to share what I have with you. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:41.920 To which we would probably reply, but I haven't done anything for you. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:50.640 And you want to pay my debt that is impossible for me to pay, and then you want to share your inheritance with me. 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:56.480 You see, when we sinned, we took out a mortgage that we could not pay. 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:02.640 Foreclosure, you know, our physical death, our spiritual death was on the horizon. 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:07.279 And Jesus said, I'll pay your debt that you cannot pay. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:11.119 I will reconcile your account with God. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:13.119 And I'll even top that. 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:15.599 I'll give you my righteousness. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:22.000 I will welcome you into the family of God, and I will share my inheritance with you. 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:26.559 You know, when it's put that way, it's a no-brainer, isn't it? 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:35.839 When we realize what Jesus is truly offering us, it's like, why wouldn't we just jump in with both feet and say yes? 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:42.559 1 Peter 3.18 says, For Christ also suffered for sins once for all. 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:47.039 The righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:52.640 He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:56.000 He was put to death for us. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:59.759 You know, it wasn't that Jesus said, you know what, I'll talk to my dad. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:01.279 We'll see what we can work out. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:04.480 Jesus talked to his dad, he's like, yeah, we'll just forget about those sins. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:04.880 No. 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:06.720 Jesus paid for it. 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:15.039 He satisfied the wrath of God that he had toward sin and paid in full the debt that we owed. 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:20.640 So our sin, as it says, could not be counted against us. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:35.519 You know, in verses 18 and 19, it also tells us that we've been given the ministry of reconciliation and that God has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:41.680 You know, some commentators think that Paul's talking about the apostles in this statement when referring to us. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:44.880 But I think context doesn't allow that. 00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:52.720 I think Paul's talking to all Christians that have been reconciled to God, and that's all of us here today, hopefully. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:55.119 Hopefully, we've made that decision. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:59.759 But the ministry and the message of the gospel has been committed to. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.880 To us. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:04.480 The gospel is for us to share. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:13.599 Romans 10, 17 says, so faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:19.440 So I think the question becomes when we start thinking about this: why does God allow us? 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:23.200 Why does he desire us to be a part of this process? 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:30.079 Because people won't know about Jesus unless the message of Jesus is heard. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:38.079 Right before Jesus' ascension, he said, Go therefore and make disciples of all of the nations, doesn't he? 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:44.480 And yes, people have had dreams and visions and have come to Christ that way, but those are rare circumstances. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:49.279 The message of the gospel has been committed to us by God. 00:22:50.079 --> 00:23:00.480 If we are a disciple of Jesus Christ, if you are in Christ, to use the language we've been using, the ministry and the message of the good news of Jesus. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:07.279 The good news of Jesus reconciling us to God is committed to each one of us. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:13.440 You know, Romans also tells us that the gospel message is the power of God to salvation. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:15.680 But it needs to be heard. 00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:17.359 And that's our job. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:21.519 God's inviting us to help grow his kingdom. 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:32.720 Introducing Jesus to these other debtors so that he can offer them the same payment for their debt that he has already paid for us. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:35.119 Look at verse 20 with me. 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:42.240 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:46.240 We plead on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:56.000 Now, when Jesus gave the Great Commission, go therefore and make disciples of every nation, he called all of us that are in Christ to be ambassadors, didn't he? 00:23:56.480 --> 00:24:09.359 We talked about this two weeks ago, how when we decide to follow Jesus, when we're born again, have that spiritual renewal, and we serve now in the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God is now inside of us. 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:12.079 Where God is on his throne is the kingdom of God. 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:16.640 But as long as we're on this earth, we're living in a dark kingdom. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:19.200 We're not living in the kingdom of God at this moment. 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:21.119 We're living in the kingdom of Satan. 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:26.160 So Jesus says, go throughout the earth and be my ambassadors. 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:31.119 Be my representatives in the midst of this other kingdom that you're living in. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:35.759 Speak on my behalf and represent all that I represent. 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:38.880 And that's done by sharing the gospel. 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:45.599 That's done by allowing the Holy Spirit to be a light through us in a very dark world that we live in today. 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:50.079 Paul goes on in verse 21, continuing to explain exactly what Jesus did for us. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:56.079 He says, He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:25:00.799 Now I think it's important to note that Jesus did not become a sinner. 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:04.000 Rather, he bore our sin for us. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:09.519 He's not the one that took out the mortgage and got into debt. 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:14.799 He's the one that bore the weight of that mortgage for us and reconciled us with God. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:22.319 He didn't have debt of his own, but he willingly took on the debt that we had and he paid it in full. 00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:30.240 He goes on at the end of 21, he says, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:37.920 This is called justification, where God declares a sinner righteous because of the works of Jesus. 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:43.359 Romans 5 9 says that we're justified by the blood of Jesus. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:48.720 And then later on in that chapter in Romans 5, he talks specifically about that. 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:56.319 And he says, starting verse 18, so then, as through one trespass, there is condemnation for everyone. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:26:02.480 So also through one righteous act there is justification, leading to life for everyone. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:13.920 For just as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:24.079 And that word justification that we're talking about, that we see in Romans 5 there, it's the act of God declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to him. 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:26.480 That's what justification means. 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:30.880 But as I alluded to earlier, it doesn't stop there. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:38.880 Jesus says, Yes, you're not only declared righteous by God, but I'll give you my righteousness. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:41.440 I'll give you the righteousness of God. 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:46.079 It's Jesus saying, I'm not just going to get your account square with God. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:50.240 I'm going to give you my spiritual riches as well. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:58.559 Jesus' righteousness is the righteousness of God, and he freely gives that to us when we come to him. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:01.920 Philippians 3 9 talks about this. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:09.680 It says, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ. 00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:14.000 The righteousness from God based on faith. 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:21.039 Paul understood as he wrote that to the Philippians that we have no righteousness on our own. 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:22.559 And God knows that. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:24.240 Believe me, God knows that. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:28.559 So in order for us to have righteousness, it had to be given to us. 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:30.720 So he gave it to us. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:36.799 Let's all turn to Romans chapter 3, verse 22, and we'll end with this. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:46.640 We've been going back to Romans a lot, and I'm very appreciative of Romans because Paul wrote that book to a bunch of people that he had not ministered to. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:51.359 He had not been to Rome, didn't know a lot of people that were in that church. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:55.119 So he kind of had to write Romans from square one. 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.559 He had to describe everything. 00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:01.920 When we're in 2 Corinthians, Paul's talking to a church that he spent a year and a half with. 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:09.440 And so he's referring to a lot of things, you know, that we're on this end, like, wait, what did what did they already know about that? 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:09.920 You know? 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:17.119 But Romans, we keep referring back to because he explains it so clearly as if it's to somebody that knows nothing. 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:20.480 So we're going to go to Romans chapter 3, verse 22. 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:22.319 And we're going to start there. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:31.759 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:35.839 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:42.400 They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:56.000 God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 00:28:56.319 --> 00:29:09.440 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus. 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:18.720 You know, if we leave here today with anything, I hope it's a newfound appreciation for what it is that Jesus has done for us. 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:27.039 I hope we can leave with an understanding of how much God loves each and every one of us. 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:36.640 And that we have a desire to engage in the message and in the ministry of the gospel. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:43.680 Letting others know that Jesus wants to pay this debt for them as well. 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:50.240 Romans also tells us that the gospel is the power of God to salvation. 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:55.359 All we're called to do is tell people and be an example. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:57.680 And it's God that does the rest. 00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:01.599 So I want to encourage all of us, let's go live this. 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:05.039 Let's go tell people this message. 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:10.160 Let's live out this message that has been entrusted to us. 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:20.799 That God so loved the world that he gave his only son for us because he loved us that much. 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:26.400 And he wanted to be reconciled, our relationship to be reconciled. 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:28.480 And only Jesus can do that. 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:32.640 So he died the death that we deserve on the cross. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:42.000 He was buried, he was raised three days later, and then he was seen by over 500 witnesses in his resurrected state. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:52.960 And God wants us to share in that death, the death of the old man, and to be resurrected into a new life with him. 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:58.720 And all we need to do is accept that free gift that he is offering. 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:00.240 He's just kind of holding it. 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:03.200 But he doesn't throw it at us, he doesn't shove it in our pocket. 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:04.640 He just holds that gift. 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:07.839 And all we have to do is accept that free gift. 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:08.720 Free to us. 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.599 It was not free to him. 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.559 He paid for it. 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:13.839 But that's all we have to do is accept that free gift. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:22.799 And if you haven't done that today, I want to encourage you to accept that free gift and start living for Jesus Christ. 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:24.400 And you can do that right now. 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:25.759 You can do that when you get home. 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:28.640 You can come up and pray with us after whatever that looks like. 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:35.359 It's just a commitment that you are making, giving your life to Jesus Christ and saying, yes, I want that gift. 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:44.799 I want that new spiritual renewal, that regenerated spirit within that is now in line with Jesus Christ. 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:46.799 Will you please pray with me? 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:58.000 God, we thank you so much for your plan for salvation for each one of us. 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:07.279 You loved each one of us individually so much that you were willing to send your son Jesus Christ. 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:12.880 And he was willing to willfully go and die that death to pay that debt for us. 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:24.640 And now we have the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside of us, being our counselor, our advocate, our encourager, our teacher. 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:29.920 Lord, I pray that we would not take this lightly. 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:40.640 All that you've done for us, that salvation in Jesus, in all that He encompasses, that wouldn't be just be like, yeah, that's that's uh who we talk about on Sundays. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:43.920 But that would be what's inside of us. 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:47.039 The Holy Spirit living in and through us. 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:50.079 Thank you, Lord. 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:55.839 Give us hearts of gratitude and appreciation for all that you've done for us, we pray. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:57.200 In Jesus' name. 00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:57.920 Amen.