1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,680 Hey, good morning. I'm. 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:05,920 Cole, if we haven't met, welcome to Frontier. 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,400 I'm psyched you're here. We got a big morning. 4 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:09,800 Right, you already know that we got. 5 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,520 A big morning we've got. We got baby. 6 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,400 Dedications this morning we're. Going to get around too yes 7 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:17,840 we've. We've got the breadies, we've 8 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:20,880 got the Moors, we've got the. Mcfarlane's They're going to 9 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:23,760 dedicate their children my. Expectation is that we. 10 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:25,480 Are going to support them this morning. 11 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,000 Sound good? So we got baby. 12 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,960 Dedications we got. Communion we and we've got 13 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,200 preaching. So I can do that for you. 14 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:34,480 Right now if. You've got a Bible. 15 00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:37,160 Go ahead and get that open to the Book of Titus. 16 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:38,920 We're going to be in Chapter 2. We're going. 17 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:42,240 To be in verses 9 through 10. If you don't know where. 18 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:43,840 Titus is. That's totally cool. 19 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:45,600 There should be an index on the inside. 20 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,680 Of your Bible. If you still can't. 21 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,280 Find it totally cool. We'll have all the relevant. 22 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,720 Words on the screen. For you this is. 23 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:56,640 Week. 10. Of the Book of Titus. 24 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,280 In our 18. Week sermon series on this 25 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:00,320 little. Letter. 26 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:01,920 Here's a question for you to start. 27 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:04,760 Marinating on right away. Right out of the gate, what 28 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,040 exactly? From a Christian perspective? 29 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,320 What exactly? Is the relationship. 30 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:18,120 Between grace and good works. What's the relationship between 31 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:22,320 gospel? And good behavior. 32 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:27,400 What's the relationship between grace and obedience and the 33 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,280 Christian perspective to this? Answer has always been. 34 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:36,400 We are saved by grace. Alone and Christ alone apart. 35 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:41,440 From works of the law, and that has always stirred up. 36 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:45,880 Some questions among Christians. The chief question is OK. 37 00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:52,320 So our good works don't. Save us our our good works don't 38 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:56,280 impress. God, our good works don't. 39 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,280 Earn salvation. Our good works don't twist 40 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,520 God's. Arm into loving him and if our 41 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:08,000 good works don't earn anything, if they don't merit anything. 42 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,360 If they don't. Convince God to love us. 43 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:13,280 Then what the heck is the point of them? 44 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:16,800 And there's an answer to that question. 45 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,080 If you're able, let's go ahead and stand for the reading of. 46 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:27,600 God's Word. What's Paul doing in in chapter 47 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:29,720 2? What Paul's doing is he's. 48 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,120 He's writing this. Letter for Titus, and Titus is 49 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,040 going to read it in front of these churches that have been 50 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:36,720 gathering in the island of Crete. 51 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,840 And right now pulls in a part of his letters where he's just kind 52 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,560 of shotgun blasting various instructions. 53 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:44,520 To different. Groups in the church, he. 54 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:49,760 Said hey, he said, hey, older men do this, older women do 55 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:55,600 this, children be like this. Men do this, women do this, and 56 00:02:55,680 --> 00:03:00,400 the last instruction he has is probably, believe it or not, the 57 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,680 most hotly contested and debated instruction. 58 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,240 Because what? Paul wants Titus to do is given 59 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:12,840 give specific instructions to the bond servants in the church 60 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:20,240 and so he says this in verse 9 bond servants are to be 61 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:24,000 submissive to their own masters in everything they. 62 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:28,840 Are to be well. Pleasing, not argumentative, not 63 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:35,800 pilfering, but showing all good faith so that in everything. 64 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,320 They may let me hear you loud and clear. 65 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,520 Adorn. Let's do that again. 66 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:48,120 Adorn so that in everything they may adorn the. 67 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:52,040 Doctrine of God our Savior. Heavenly Father, I pray. 68 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:53,280 That you would open up your word. 69 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:57,120 For us this morning. I pray that we would see the 70 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:58,440 the. Function and the. 71 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,120 Purpose of good works. In the Christian life. 72 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:08,120 If we get this wrong, we poison and. 73 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,760 Screw up. Our entire relationship with 74 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,680 you. If we think that good. 75 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,560 If we think that good works. Are a matter of impressing you 76 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:23,360 and tricking you into loving us. We will be exhausted, we'll go 77 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:30,280 crazy, and we will grow bitter. Towards you, but if we. 78 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:35,440 See our good works as a way to adorn your. 79 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:41,600 Gospel to the watching world. Then everything changes, Lord, 80 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,920 and so would you just rock us this morning? 81 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,400 For those who know Jesus, would you just send smoke and. 82 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,960 Fire in this building. Again, to reveal him more 83 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,200 mightily for those on the fence about. 84 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:56,920 Jesus, would you just put? Forth the beauty of your. 85 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,000 Son in a way that compels them to take. 86 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,840 The step this morning if we got people. 87 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:06,200 In this church who don't know Jesus, my. 88 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,800 Prayer is that the crucified Christ would be put on. 89 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:13,400 Full display so that we have people just. 90 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,000 Throwing themselves. At the feet of Jesus, by grace 91 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,600 through faith alone. So do something awesome. 92 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,200 Here this morning. It's in the precious name of 93 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:21,680 Jesus. That all God's people prayed. 94 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:23,560 Amen. You can have a. 95 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:30,940 Seat. Let's start. 96 00:05:30,940 --> 00:05:32,100 Let's start at the. Beginning of the verse. 97 00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:35,480 We're talking about what's the exact relationship. 98 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,560 Between works and gospel, and we'll answer that question, but 99 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,360 we'll take the long way, so. Let's do the back roads. 100 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:43,080 Right. At the very beginning, Paul. 101 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:47,440 Says a word, he says the word bond. 102 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,600 Servant. OK, so here's the word bond. 103 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:50,480 Servant. There are actually some 104 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,360 translations I think Bond. Servant is is the best. 105 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,040 Translation for this word so. Yay to the. 106 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,160 ESV for doing that. There are other. 107 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,280 Also literal translations that will translate that word to. 108 00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:05,840 Slave, which is. Fine, that's actually a good 109 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:08,720 enough and true enough. Word there is. 110 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:10,960 It does. Correspond one to one with the 111 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:12,040 Greek. Word for slave. 112 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:14,320 Here's the problem with using that word though. 113 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,960 If you use that word. What modern people? 114 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,160 Will do is they will. See it and interpret it wrongly, 115 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,360 primarily if they're seeing it through the lens. 116 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,240 Of racial slavery. And that is not I. 117 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,640 Cannot I? Cannot say this strong enough. 118 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,760 The bond servanthood that happened in ancient Rome was not 119 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,600 the same thing as. Racial slavery it had. 120 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:38,400 Massive distinctions. It was still a tragic reality. 121 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:39,840 I'm not. Justifying Bond. 122 00:06:39,840 --> 00:06:42,400 Servanthood in 1st century Rome. But it was a big. 123 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:43,760 Difference, and this is important for you. 124 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:45,560 You know why this is? Important for you because. 125 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:47,440 A lot of your non. Christian friends, if they're. 126 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,120 Looking for a gotcha. A lot of times what are non 127 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,440 Christian friends will do is they'll say look, look. 128 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,080 Right here. It says right here that slaves 129 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:55,760 are to. Obey their masters. 130 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,000 And so obviously. The Bible justifies slaves. 131 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,520 And then they'll spin. It on you sometimes and they'll 132 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,640 say how Can you believe in a God who justifies? 133 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:05,480 Slavery. I have an answer to that 134 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:06,720 question. It's really easy. 135 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:12,560 I don't. I don't believe in a God who 136 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:16,320 justifies racial slavery. Bond servant hood was tragic. 137 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:18,600 But it was massively different. I'll give you 2 distinctions, 138 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,600 OK? Here's here's the first 139 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,560 distinction. The first distinction is that 140 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:27,680 bond servant hood was economic. It was not. 141 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,760 Racial. The way that the system of bond 142 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,920 servant hood emerged in ancient Rome was really, really simple. 143 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,400 It wasn't based on racial inequality. 144 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:39,800 It was based on the economy. You got to realize that Ancient 145 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:45,000 Rome when a when a person went bankrupt, Ancient Rome did not 146 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:49,000 have stipends and checks and. Governmental support for those 147 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,480 people. And So what were their? 148 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:52,520 Options. Their options was a. 149 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,760 Starve to death on the street or B willingly. 150 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:01,120 Sell yourself into bond servant. Hood where you could. 151 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,920 Earn your way out of that bankruptcy by working for a 152 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,000 master. It was economic, it was not 153 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:10,320 racial. Massive distinction. 154 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:12,720 Here's the other. Piece The second thing that 155 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,840 makes it a lot different from racial slavery is not just that 156 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,800 it was economic and not racial. It was. 157 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,720 Also temporary and not permanent. 158 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,000 What a bond servant could. Do. 159 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:24,880 Is. She. 160 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:28,760 Could he could earn his? Way out of bond servant hood as 161 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,720 soon as he made enough money. To pay off his debt. 162 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,760 And then he or she. Would go free. 163 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:36,799 Do you see how that's massively different? 164 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:39,760 But it it still needs to be said. 165 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,919 That it is a tragic reality I we shouldn't overlook. 166 00:08:42,919 --> 00:08:46,680 The fact you can study. This around the time that Jesus 167 00:08:46,680 --> 00:08:50,040 was alive Bond servanthood bond servants they still. 168 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,440 Didn't have any. Legal rights in the. 169 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,040 Eyes of the Roman Government. That's disgusting. 170 00:08:55,600 --> 00:09:00,640 Right the the. The owners, the masters, they 171 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:03,480 had the power of life. And death over their bond. 172 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,000 Servant and so if they wanted to kill their bond, servant. 173 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:07,760 They could do that. Right. 174 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:09,480 And so it was. It was still a disgusting 175 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:13,280 reality. Which makes a Christian ask, OK. 176 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,480 Then why does God support it? The easy answer to that question 177 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:21,680 is he does not support it. But look at the text. 178 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,400 Bond servants are to be submissive to their own masters 179 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,200 in everything if. If God doesn't like. 180 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,960 Bond servanthood in 1st century. Rome Why does he just. 181 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:40,480 Not overthrow it in his word. Well imagine you have a non 182 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:46,640 Christian master and you're a bondservant if Paul comes to 183 00:09:46,680 --> 00:09:50,280 you. And he says, hey, you're free in 184 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,800 Jesus Christ, and you are. But if you say you're. 185 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,840 Free in Jesus Christ, so screw your master, you can run away. 186 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:00,080 What's going to happen to you if you do that? 187 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:02,920 You're going to get beat up or killed by your master. 188 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,320 That would actually be. Unkind by Paul. 189 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,040 So what's Paul's strategy? He says. 190 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:14,760 Adorn the doctrine of. God our Savior in other. 191 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:18,240 Words. Win them over to Jesus, because 192 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,800 you know what happens if your master gets won over to. 193 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:25,680 Jesus, then your bond servanthood gets. 194 00:10:25,680 --> 00:10:29,520 Overthrown by him or her because what ends up happening and we 195 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,440 have history and scripture to support this is that when a 196 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,680 Christian master becomes. Christian what he does. 197 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,040 Is he will elevate his bondservant? 198 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:41,360 To the status of brother. And sister and overthrow the 199 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:45,480 system and so this actually. Is the way that God overthrows 200 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:47,800 bond servanthood? And it actually ends up 201 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,280 happening like 50 to 70. It depends on the historian you 202 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,160 read, but roughly. 50 to 100. Years. 203 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,680 After the death of Jesus. You know what gets overthrown in 204 00:10:55,680 --> 00:10:56,560 Rome? Bond. 205 00:10:56,560 --> 00:10:59,920 Servanthood. And so Paul's strategy. 206 00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:03,760 Is strange. Look at it. 207 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,520 What's the? Strategy Bond servants be 208 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:09,280 submissive. To your masters and everything, 209 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:10,200 how? How do I do that? 210 00:11:10,560 --> 00:11:13,240 Here's here's. Paul's instructions for. 211 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,880 Winning over your masters to Jesus, he says. 212 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:21,920 Be well. Pleasing, not argumentative, not 213 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,280 pilfering. And I love. 214 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,120 How down to earth these? Instructions are right. 215 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:32,800 Say, hey, don't argue, don't steal stuff, no pilfering. 216 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:38,720 But show good faith. Believe in God in the way that 217 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,280 you work. That's that's a strategy. 218 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,240 I just, I love this. Because like if you. 219 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:44,760 If you looked at that in a job description, you would say. 220 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:46,080 Dude, don't. That's the most. 221 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,280 Unspiritual advice ever right? Don't. 222 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,080 Don't steal. Show good faith. 223 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,640 You'd be like man I. If I'm going to win somebody 224 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:58,200 over to Jesus. Like you would expect the 225 00:11:58,200 --> 00:11:59,920 instructions to be more. Spiritual like hey. 226 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:02,080 Make sure that you pray. For. 227 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:04,040 Your Co workers and masters. I think you should. 228 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,200 That's just not what Paul says. Or. 229 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:11,400 Hey, seek a prophetic word for your master. 230 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:13,600 That's not what he says, even though I think you should do 231 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:19,560 that, right, he says just. Do a good job, do a good job. 232 00:12:19,560 --> 00:12:22,880 At being work and. The results of this? 233 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,720 Are absolutely massive right what can a Christian. 234 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:33,200 Do if he or she works this way, lives this way? 235 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:35,440 And let's press the pause before we look at that answer really 236 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:42,840 quickly, OK, Because the the the effect of doing that is massive. 237 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:49,960 But the elephant in the room is. There's no bond. 238 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:55,640 Servants in our church, right? Unless I'm missing something? 239 00:12:57,160 --> 00:13:00,840 And so like the response is OK, this is for bond servants, bond 240 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:04,160 servanthood doesn't. Exist in 21st century America so 241 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:05,920 we can just. Pull the plug, we can be done. 242 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,600 With the sermon, I'll pray and then we'll dedicate, right? 243 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,880 Well. There there is a corresponding 244 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:16,640 reality to 1st century bond servanthood. 245 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:20,400 It's not a one to one correlation, it's imperfect, it 246 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,960 breaks down. But do you want to know what 247 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:27,000 structure we have in our modern world that is the closest to 248 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,480 bond servant hood it's employ? What was that? 249 00:13:30,680 --> 00:13:39,520 A job having a job it that's as. Close as you can get and so if 250 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,160 you have a job, especially if you're in a low station where 251 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:45,080 you're like at the. Bottom of the totem pole. 252 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,960 This is for you and I, I think the temptation in 21st century 253 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:52,400 America. Is to feel like if we have a 254 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,640 low. Station at work, then our work 255 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:57,440 doesn't have any. Dignity or value? 256 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,000 Right, like I think. I think what's in the air? 257 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,680 Right now in the modern. World is if your work. 258 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:03,480 Is going to have. Dignity or value you? 259 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:10,120 Got to be an entrepreneur. Or ACEO or an influencer and 260 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,880 that stuff is great. But if you're at the. 261 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,160 Bottom of the totem pole and you. 262 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:19,720 Work with good faith. And you don't steal time, 263 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:25,560 resources, any of that. Your job has incredible dignity 264 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:27,280 and value. Because you can accomplish. 265 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:29,600 The. Most important thing in the. 266 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:34,280 World which is what? Look at this end of verse 10. 267 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,200 If you do all. These things if you. 268 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,560 Work this way. If you live this way. 269 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:41,120 If you. Bring these good. 270 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:46,320 Works into the world. Then in everything you may. 271 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:51,480 Adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior. 272 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:54,840 That's the highest purpose a person. 273 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:59,600 Can have in life. Like I don't care if I'm loading 274 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:04,400 computers at Best Buy into courts like I was in college, or 275 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:05,920 preaching A sermon and leading a church. 276 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,160 The. Best thing the. 277 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:09,840 Best impact I can. Have in the world. 278 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,000 Is to make the gospel. Look beautiful to people. 279 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:17,360 And so I think this. Is such a sweet verse because. 280 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,520 It just gives so much worth and dignity and value. 281 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:22,960 To whatever it is we're. Doing in life like. 282 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:27,000 Did you know this? Did you know that God can take 283 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,840 your work, whatever it is, and He can transform it? 284 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:37,960 Into something that adorns. The Gospel of Jesus like you. 285 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,840 Just got you just got to know this if you're a Christian. 286 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:45,520 Here's what you believe. You believe that God took your 287 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:49,240 dead heart. And made it alive. 288 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,480 Amen. And so if we don't think that. 289 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,800 God can take our dead job and breathe life into it. 290 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,160 Like what are we doing? What? 291 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:02,000 Like what do we really believe? And this is a massive because 292 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,440 Paul is saying no matter what your station is in life. 293 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:10,680 You can adorn the gospel that's this is. 294 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:13,640 Longhand for the gospel, the doctrine of God our Savior 295 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,160 doctrine is a set of beliefs. So all of the different beliefs 296 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:19,680 around God, our Savior, what he's talking. 297 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,600 About is adorning the gospel. So let me let. 298 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:25,480 Me hear your voices again. Can you say adorn, Adorn. 299 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,240 You guys got a pen? It's cool if you know just. 300 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:30,880 Tattoo it on your forehead if you know. 301 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:33,680 All right, if if you got a pen, take it. 302 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:37,400 And and underline the word adorn. 303 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:43,520 Or circle it. Or you can do stars. 304 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:47,560 What's your style? Marie when you're, when you're. 305 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:48,800 Emphasizing something in Scripture. 306 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,120 What do you? Do underline, underline. 307 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,600 It underline the word adorn. What's that mean? 308 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,920 So this is really cool. And that word. 309 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:00,280 Adorn comes from the the Greek word. 310 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:05,119 Cosmeo, can anybody guess? What other English word we get? 311 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:10,760 From the Greek word cosmeo. Cosmetics what what Paul is. 312 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:14,119 Saying, Is that the way that you live your life can? 313 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:19,240 Reveal the beauty. It's like cosmetics. 314 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:20,880 To the God, the Gospel. 'S a message. 315 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,920 It's invisible but the way that you live. 316 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:27,319 Your life. Is like. 317 00:17:27,319 --> 00:17:29,840 Cosmetics. It incarnates. 318 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:32,560 It puts. Flesh On the Gospel, there's two 319 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:34,360 different. Ways you can adorn something 320 00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:35,480 one's the right. Way and. 321 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:37,280 One's the wrong way. The first. 322 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,280 Way you can try to. Adorn the Gospel. 323 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:42,240 The way that you can try to adorn something is listen, 324 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:44,400 listen carefully #1. Is. 325 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:50,120 You can try to adorn something by trying to increase. 326 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:56,360 The beauty of the object. And try and increase. 327 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,880 The beauty of the object. That is not what we are supposed 328 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:02,960 to do as Christians. Do you want to know why? 329 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:07,280 Because you cannot increase the. Beauty of the gospel. 330 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:12,240 It is already the. Perfect message of God. 331 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,560 It is already. Maximum. 332 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,200 Beauty there's. Nothing you can do to make. 333 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,960 The gospel more beautiful. It's the perfect. 334 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:22,600 Message the message that. God so loves the world. 335 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:24,200 That he put on. Flash. 336 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:28,320 Guys. And he came to earth, guys, and 337 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,000 he suffered in our place on the cross. 338 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,640 To absorb. The wrath of God that was for us 339 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:39,720 and to pay the penalty for the sins that we committed, so that 340 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:43,560 by grace, through faith alone, if we accept Jesus into our 341 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,560 hearts, we get heaven. You can't. 342 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,800 Improve on that. It's the perfect message. 343 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:53,200 It already has the maximum. Level of inherent beauty as a 344 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:56,480 message and if you think that you can improve it. 345 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:00,680 You will spoil it. Because almost always, if you 346 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:02,240 think you're. OK, OK. 347 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:07,440 I'm supposed I'm supposed. To adorn. 348 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,040 The Gospel of Jesus. So I've got to make it look more 349 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,240 beautiful than I've got to make it. 350 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:13,800 I've got to make it. Cool to people. 351 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:15,600 Almost always. What happens if? 352 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:17,480 You think that it's your job to make the gospel look more 353 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:18,800 beautiful. Is you end up. 354 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:23,280 Watering it down. I. 355 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:25,640 Got to make it look beautiful. So I'm I'm not going to talk 356 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,360 about the wrath of God. Because. 357 00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:29,720 The wrath of God makes people kind of feel icky sometimes. 358 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:31,120 I'm not going to talk. About Jesus's. 359 00:19:31,120 --> 00:19:33,720 Payment for sins. Because gosh. 360 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,280 People don't like to think about the fact that you know, they're 361 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,080 sinners and and they've sinned and that Jesus had to suffer in 362 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:41,240 in their place, the. The. 363 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:49,120 Problem with doing that is everybody internally is wrecked 364 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,480 by internal. Guilt over the terrible things 365 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,400 that every. Human being has done everybody 366 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:59,480 knows deep down inside that we're sinners and we need to be 367 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,640 saved. And if you remove those parts 368 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:04,320 from the message of Jesus to try to. 369 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:07,720 Beautify it all you. End up doing is putting. 370 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:08,840 Forth A. Gospel. 371 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:10,760 In front of people. That doesn't. 372 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,920 Actually deal with their problems. 373 00:20:15,360 --> 00:20:17,040 And so you think you're making it look more? 374 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:19,000 Beautiful. All you're doing is cooking up a 375 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:23,080 big fat nothing burger and serving it to people and it's 376 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,760 not compelling and it's not the power. 377 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:31,440 Of God. So your job is not to adorn the 378 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:36,360 gospel by seeking to increase. The beauty of it, there's a 379 00:20:36,360 --> 00:20:38,200 second way to. Adorn something. 380 00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:42,000 I just, I love that word. Adorn cosmio. 381 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:46,160 There's a second way to adorn something. 382 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:48,800 This. Approach doesn't seek to 383 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:50,720 increase the. Beauty of the object. 384 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:56,880 All this approach does. As it seeks to reveal the beauty 385 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:03,720 of the objects, reveal the beauty of the object. 386 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:09,200 I was thinking about this this week because somebody. 387 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:10,240 In our church, I can't remember who it. 388 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:14,760 Was they shared? On Instagram, a video of. 389 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:17,440 Dave Portnoy coming to Des Moines. 390 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:21,000 Do you guys know Dave Portnoy? OK, if you don't know, it's 391 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,000 fine. He's a famous influencer in the 392 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:25,000 Internet. He's famous for he does some 393 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,680 sports broadcasting. But the big thing that he's 394 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:28,960 famous. For is he does pizza. 395 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,880 Reviews. And so Dave Portnoy, he he came 396 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,000 to Des Moines apparently a couple weeks ago. 397 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:36,600 Spade was that last. Week when was up he's still. 398 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:41,680 Here. He's still here. 399 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:47,760 He's behind me. Dave. 400 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,040 Dave, come on. So it. 401 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:54,760 He was doing a review. For Chantro Pizza and Chantro 402 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:59,200 Chantro Chantro, he was doing a review for Chantro Pizza and he, 403 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:00,720 he's staying in front of the camera, right? 404 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,400 And he grabs the the pizza and, and what he does is he holds the 405 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,560 pizza in front of the camera and. 406 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:07,440 He's like, he's like, take a look at this. 407 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:08,920 If you look closely at this pizza. 408 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:10,480 You'll notice that they actually. 409 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:12,560 Sprinkled. Some of the pizza sauce. 410 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:14,480 On top of the cheese and I was like I. 411 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:18,840 Didn't notice that they did. That's that's it. 412 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:20,280 Had me on the edge of my seat. I was like, they didn't. 413 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,880 Put some on top of the cheese, and then he smelled the pizza, 414 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:25,040 right? And when he smelled the pizza, 415 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:27,160 you know what he did? His eyes rolled back. 416 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:31,480 He was like, oh, and I was like, gosh, that pizza's got to smell 417 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:34,320 good. I was on the edge of my seat. 418 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:36,840 I was, I was. I was like, I've. 419 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:38,160 Never even had Chantro. Pizza. 420 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:39,880 I got to. Go get some and then you know 421 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:40,400 what? He did. 422 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:43,920 To the bite of it. And then? 423 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:45,680 Audibly enjoyed it. Oh, you're. 424 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,360 Right, he had to like. He immediately shoved like. 425 00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:51,080 Two or three more bites in his mouth before he even breathed, 426 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:55,640 and the the. Net effect of what he did with 427 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,320 that pizza was really simple. It made me think, I've got to go 428 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:04,640 get some of that pizza. What Portnoy did was he? 429 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:07,760 Adorned. The pizza, to me, that's what 430 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:09,280 he. Did That's what he did, is what. 431 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:13,960 Notice what he didn't do? He didn't take any of the 432 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:18,320 toppings off. He didn't put any additional 433 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,160 toppings on it. Why? 434 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:27,360 Because he's not the cook. Right. 435 00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:29,040 That's what we're supposed to do with the gospel. 436 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:30,520 You're not. The cook. 437 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,120 It's not our job. To take toppings off the. 438 00:23:34,120 --> 00:23:35,320 Gospel. I don't like this part of. 439 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:38,560 Or put toppings onto. The gospel and add things to it. 440 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,600 What's your job? Your job. 441 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,120 Is to stuff. Your face with the gospel. 442 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:49,240 To enjoy it publicly. To preach to yourself the free 443 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,120 grace of Jesus. Who absorbed the wrath of God? 444 00:23:52,360 --> 00:23:54,040 And paid the penalty. For your sins. 445 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:58,240 On the cross so that in Christ you get eternity and friendship 446 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:02,800 with God, and then you just work out of that and then as you 447 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:03,800 work. Do you know what you. 448 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:06,680 Do you end up bearing? Good. 449 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:10,680 Fruit you end up doing a good. Job at work and when you do a 450 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:13,160 good job at work. You end up adorning the. 451 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:16,280 Gospel so that your boss or your Co workers or. 452 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:18,240 Whoever is watching you looks. At you and says. 453 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:21,960 What's different about you? That's all we just enjoy. 454 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,800 The gospel and live out of that. And it sounds like I'm splitting 455 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,160 the hair like it sounds like I'm splitting hairs here. 456 00:24:30,360 --> 00:24:36,680 It's this and not that, right? That sounds It sounds like I'm 457 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:38,400 splitting. Hairs like as you adorn the 458 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,160 gospel of Jesus. You should not seek to increase. 459 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:44,760 The beauty of it. You should instead just seek to 460 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:47,760 reveal the beauty of the gospel. That sounds like a minor 461 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:51,960 distinction. And if that sounds like a minor 462 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:55,520 distinction. That's probably. 463 00:24:55,520 --> 00:25:01,000 Evidence that you are not viewing your dynamic with God as 464 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:05,760 a relationship. I can. 465 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:09,000 Prove this to you. Take everything we've talked. 466 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:09,760 About. About. 467 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:15,600 Adorning the gospel and shove it into a personal example and see 468 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:16,720 what happens. Watch this. 469 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:21,680 Suppose you take some engagement photos. 470 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:24,920 Or. Minute, let's do this. 471 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:27,320 Suppose you take. Anniversary photos with your 472 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:29,240 spouse if if. You don't have a spouse. 473 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:30,200 That's cool. Just imagine. 474 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:34,920 And then later that night you upload those photos on your. 475 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:38,040 Computer and you pull up Adobe Photoshop. 476 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,160 And suppose as you're tinkering around on Photoshop, that your. 477 00:25:42,160 --> 00:25:45,840 Spouse. Walks into the room and he says 478 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:51,480 or in my case, she says. Hey, what are you doing? 479 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:56,360 Well, there's two ways to answer that question. 480 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,880 Here's number one. You can say you know the color 481 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:03,160 gradient of this photo, it it just doesn't. 482 00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:07,920 Reveal your features. In a in a great light. 483 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:09,680 So I'm just kind of playing with this lighting, right? 484 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,720 Here and honestly there's. This thing in the background 485 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:15,960 that's stealing too much of the attention away from you, so I'm 486 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:17,400 going to crop. That out or. 487 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:19,480 I'm going to. Blur that or whatever so more 488 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:23,640 attention could. Can be or sweetie, there was a. 489 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:27,360 There's a shadow. That fell on that part of. 490 00:26:27,360 --> 00:26:29,520 Your face. And so I'm going to change the 491 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:32,800 lighting right there. So that it brings out your 492 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,640 features better. Because I want more attention 493 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:37,840 drawn to that. Suppose you say that to your 494 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:43,040 spouse. How does she feel that honor, 495 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:45,720 Sir? Oh, you want to draw more? 496 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:47,720 Attention to my features. So you're going to get rid of 497 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:49,920 that background. Thing right, She thinks that's 498 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:51,400 hot. If you're married. 499 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:59,120 If you're married, that's not the only way you can answer it, 500 00:26:59,120 --> 00:27:01,400 though. Here's the second way you could 501 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:03,760 answer the question. Honey, what are you? 502 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:07,360 What are you doing on Photoshop? Well, sweetheart. 503 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:10,680 I'm actually implementing this new. 504 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:14,920 AI tool. To change the color of your eyes 505 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:21,720 to make them more beautiful. Or suppose suppose you say. 506 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:26,520 Actually what I'm doing is I'm using this tool to change the 507 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:31,200 size of. Your jaw, my brother in Christ, 508 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:38,680 run. She's going to hit you and she 509 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:43,640 deserves to. One honors her. 510 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:47,680 Because it reveals her beauty, the other. 511 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,000 Rightly angers her and dishonors her. 512 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:52,920 Do you see how when you see this through the lens of 513 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:55,440 relationship, it actually makes total sense? 514 00:27:55,800 --> 00:28:00,920 If you seek to adorn the gospel by changing it, how does that 515 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,840 make God feel angry? It does not honor him. 516 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:09,920 God does not need makeup. God doesn't. 517 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:12,720 He doesn't wear mascara. God does. 518 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:14,680 He does not. Need Photoshop? 519 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:19,640 God is perfect. In all of his ways, in all of 520 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:24,440 his deeds, in all of his attributes, everything about him 521 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:26,280 is perfect. If you. 522 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:30,120 Seek to change anything about God or anything in its message. 523 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,960 All you will do is decrease his beauty. 524 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,680 The only thing a Christian can do is reveal. 525 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:41,600 The perfections of his beauty. That's the job. 526 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,560 Of the Christian. Not to change his message. 527 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:52,160 To reveal it to. Adorn it I just love that word 528 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:57,440 adorn so that in everything they may adorn the. 529 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:00,840 Doctrine of God our Savior. I can't let you go yet. 530 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:04,600 I think the single most important thing you need to know 531 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:08,000 I need to know from this is really simple, but we've. 532 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:10,440 Got to say it, this is the trick to a vibrant. 533 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:12,480 Relationship with God. This is the trick. 534 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,600 Having a relationship with God that honors Him and glorifies 535 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:20,640 Him, but doesn't bring unrelenting stress and anxiety 536 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:24,560 into your life. And it's this please know. 537 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:28,520 That your job is to adorn the gospel for the sake. 538 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:35,400 Of your neighbors and not never. Your job is never, never, never, 539 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:39,840 never. To adorn yourself before God. 540 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:48,000 It's not what it says. Adorn the doctrine of God our 541 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:52,280 Savior, so that our bosses. And our coworkers said do not 542 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:56,240 seek. To adorn yourself before God. 543 00:29:56,440 --> 00:30:01,400 It will not work. You cannot trick God into 544 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:04,520 thinking you're more beautiful. You cannot twist His. 545 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:06,800 Arm. Into saving you. 546 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:10,600 You don't need to pretend in the presence of God, right? 547 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:13,320 This is striking. At that that. 548 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:15,120 Question we asked at the beginning of the sermon, which 549 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,960 is OK. If our good works don't justify 550 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:19,760 us or save us or. Redeem us? 551 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:22,760 What the heck? Is even the point and one of my 552 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:24,120 favorite answers to that question. 553 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:26,880 Comes from Martin Luther Luther 500 years ago. 554 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:29,880 Was a massive proponent. Of the free grace of God and the 555 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:32,840 gospel of Jesus, apart from any works of the law. 556 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:37,400 He went around preaching the gospel everywhere, and that 557 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:39,240 naturally. Stirred up a lot of questions 558 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:44,120 like hey Martin, if if our works don't justify us. 559 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:46,880 If they don't save us. What the heck is even the? 560 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:50,240 Point of that and Luther. Loved that question because he 561 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:53,160 crushed that question. This was his answer and I find 562 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:54,800 it compelling. He said. 563 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:56,600 What's the point of good? Works if they don't. 564 00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:00,320 Save us, brother, sister, God. Doesn't need. 565 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:05,920 Your good works your. Neighbor needs your good works. 566 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:13,120 That's the key. Don't adorn yourself before God. 567 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:17,320 Adorn the gospel of Jesus in front of the world. 568 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:19,440 Your neighbors need your good works your. 569 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:22,840 Boss needs your good works your. Spouse needs your good works. 570 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:25,000 God, God. Doesn't he has no needs? 571 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:33,720 If you try to, you constantly try to impress. 572 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:40,200 God and you think your good works. 573 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:48,600 Can change his. Mind into loving him, you'll go 574 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:51,280 crazy. That happened to. 575 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:55,640 Luther, like before. Before Luther started believing 576 00:31:55,640 --> 00:31:57,280 and preaching. In the gospel of the free grace 577 00:31:57,280 --> 00:31:59,680 of God. He believed that a person could. 578 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:01,800 Merit their salvation with works. 579 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:05,520 And it drove him crazy. People would find Luther on the 580 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:07,760 front steps of the church. Whipping himself. 581 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,160 Because it was never enough, and that didn't work. 582 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:12,840 It's never enough. How can I get? 583 00:32:12,840 --> 00:32:14,080 God to love me. It's never. 584 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:16,680 Everything I do is never enough. And it embittered. 585 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:18,920 Him before the Lord, and it drove him crazy. 586 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:21,240 You will go. Crazy if you do not. 587 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:24,400 Believe the Gospel of the free grace of Jesus you will, 588 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:31,040 because. My 6 year old daughter. 589 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:38,000 Sometimes she gets into my wife's makeup and it's a 590 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:40,600 disaster. It's a like it's. 591 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:43,200 A disaster when she gets into the makeup, she loves it though 592 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:46,160 she's sick. She'll find Chloe's makeup and 593 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:47,720 she doesn't know how to use it and so. 594 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:49,600 What she'll like, she'll take the lipstick and. 595 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:52,680 Smear it all over like. Anything in the general vicinity 596 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:55,240 of her lips. She'll smears it all over her 597 00:32:55,240 --> 00:32:57,280 lips. And then she'll she'll take the 598 00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,840 makeup. And she'll like smear it, use it 599 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:01,160 as. Mascara and like. 600 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:03,080 Smear it around her eyes. Can you picture this? 601 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:05,440 Can you she'll? Smear it around her eyes. 602 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:07,240 She. Looks like a clown. 603 00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:10,440 Don't tell Della about this story. 604 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:14,120 She looks like a clown, but in her head she's. 605 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:17,400 Crushing it. Like in her head, she's like a 606 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:18,920 movie star. She's like, Oh my gosh, I'm 607 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:19,880 wearing. Makeup. 608 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:24,880 I look so beautiful. And so she seeks after me, and 609 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:26,880 she finds me. She chases, she hunts me down. 610 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:31,560 And she says dad and I look at her, I'm like, oh gosh. 611 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:39,320 She'll say, Dad, do I look beautiful now and then? 612 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:43,200 She I'm not making this up. She'll flutter her eyelid. 613 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:48,760 I look beautiful now. And I don't. 614 00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:50,560 Say this, but like I'm like you look. 615 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:56,400 Like a clown, what I do. Say is sweet, sweetheart, you? 616 00:33:56,560 --> 00:34:00,640 I'm your dad. That dynamic is static. 617 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:02,400 It is set. It's permanent. 618 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:05,920 Girl, you could shave. Your head and paint yourself 619 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:08,360 yellow and I would still. Think that you're beautiful 620 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:11,440 There's. No amount of makeup that you can 621 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:14,199 put on or take. Off that would possibly. 622 00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:20,480 Change modify my the way that I see you. 623 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:22,600 And she doesn't like that answer. 624 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:23,560 She's like. Oh gosh. 625 00:34:23,639 --> 00:34:26,840 Dad, do I look beautiful? Now and I'm like sweetheart. 626 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:28,400 If you want to grow up and wear makeup. 627 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:30,320 Someday. That's fine if you want to grow 628 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,199 up and not that's. Fine to, I don't care. 629 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:35,440 I just dads, I know you feel me on this. 630 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:40,800 I don't have the capacity. To change my mind about you, I'm 631 00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:44,199 not even trying to be like. Moralistic and say, well, you 632 00:34:44,199 --> 00:34:47,120 know what a good dad would do is he wouldn't allow those, no. 633 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:50,120 No, no, I'm saying like I. Don't even have the capacity. 634 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:53,400 Inside of me. To be tricked. 635 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:59,640 By the makeup she's wearing, it just, it doesn't work, you know? 636 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:00,840 I saw you come out of the womb like. 637 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:03,680 It doesn't like sweetheart, it's me. 638 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:08,680 It doesn't change right and. If you've been sitting. 639 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:10,960 Under my preaching for a long time, you know. 640 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:13,320 Where I'm going with this? You could preach the rest of the 641 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,080 sermon. Guys, brother, sister this. 642 00:35:16,080 --> 00:35:17,440 Is a. Foreshadowing. 643 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:19,640 This is an echo of the Gospel of Jesus. 644 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:23,920 If you are in Christ. There is nothing you can do to 645 00:35:23,920 --> 00:35:27,160 increase your beauty or your. Dignity or your worth or your 646 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:29,720 value before your. Father in heaven, it can't be 647 00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:31,400 done. The. 648 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:36,200 Dynamic is permanent. You know what Jesus meant. 649 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:38,960 When he said it's finished, he meant it's finished. 650 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:41,800 He meant there's no makeup you can put on. 651 00:35:43,720 --> 00:35:45,800 There's no photoshopping to be done. 652 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:49,600 I've. Done it right and that's. 653 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:50,960 That's the key right there is the. 654 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:52,520 Recognition that. This. 655 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:56,360 Isn't like trying to use your. Works to impress God as makeup. 656 00:35:56,560 --> 00:36:00,360 It's not like a minor thing, like the consequences are 657 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:02,360 massive. You end up rejecting the 658 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:05,080 sufficiency of the crucifixion. Of Jesus because you 659 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:06,600 practically. Look at it and say. 660 00:36:06,760 --> 00:36:08,960 Yeah, that's great. Jesus, I see what you did there. 661 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:11,960 That was nice on the cross, but I should probably throw in some 662 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:12,480 of my. Good. 663 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:15,680 Works to earn my salvation. It's a rejection of the 664 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:19,120 sufficiency it. Replaces grace with achievement, 665 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:22,320 which shifts. Glory from. 666 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:26,200 God did it to undoing it. And so the results are massive 667 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:28,240 and they're catastrophic and they're exhausting. 668 00:36:28,520 --> 00:36:30,240 Essentially what I'm saying is if you try to. 669 00:36:30,240 --> 00:36:34,000 Use your goods work as as make. Up in the presence of the living 670 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:36,120 God. You'll look like a clown. 671 00:36:38,240 --> 00:36:41,720 It can't be done. And you know why it can't be 672 00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:44,680 done? Because if you are in Christ, 673 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:51,160 you have already been adorned by Jesus. 674 00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:56,200 If you're in Christ, not only has Jesus taken away. 675 00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:59,440 All of your sins, if you're in Christ not only has. 676 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:04,960 Jesus absorbed the wrath of God. He has also covered. 677 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:06,320 You in his very own righteousness. 678 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:10,920 You've been. Adorned by him, by faith. 679 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:13,040 Alone you are. Covered in the Merit. 680 00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:16,680 You're covered in the virtues. You're covered in the 681 00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:19,840 accomplishments of Jesus. So that when God looks. 682 00:37:19,840 --> 00:37:22,880 At you. There is nothing you can do. 683 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:25,760 To earn. More of his love. 684 00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:28,920 You are already in this moment. If you are in. 685 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:34,040 Christ in this moment. You are already. 686 00:37:34,040 --> 00:37:40,600 Experiencing the maximum amount. Of joy, pleasure and love. 687 00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:43,240 From God that a person could. Because he looks. 688 00:37:43,240 --> 00:37:47,000 At you and he sees. Jesus, and you can't. 689 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:50,760 Love a person more than God the. Father loves God the Son. 690 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:56,040 Now you can be unaware of that pleasure, joy and love resting 691 00:37:56,040 --> 00:37:58,560 on you, but you can't. Change it. 692 00:38:00,160 --> 00:38:07,000 And so your job is not to try to impress God or to try and twist 693 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:10,240 His arm into loving you. That will lead to stress. 694 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:14,880 Burnout and deconstruction. We have a way more stress 695 00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:20,320 freeway, more enjoyable job. Not to adorn ourselves. 696 00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:23,720 Before God. But just to adorn the gospel. 697 00:38:23,720 --> 00:38:26,760 In front of our neighbors, Co workers, spouses and kids. 698 00:38:28,000 --> 00:38:29,360 And that's way more fun. Amen. 699 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:31,840 And we got a big morning in front of. 700 00:38:31,840 --> 00:38:34,800 Us still, we've got communion. After that, we're going to be 701 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:37,120 dedicating. Three children to the Lord, and 702 00:38:37,120 --> 00:38:38,920 it's going to be. Awesome if you've got. 703 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:41,560 Kids downstairs in Roots. I'm going to pray in just a 704 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:42,200 second. Go. 705 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:44,000 Get them, bring them back up and we'll. 706 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:45,800 Have communion prepared. For you on both sides. 707 00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:47,320 Up here. If you're a follower of. 708 00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:48,880 Jesus. Communion is. 709 00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:51,080 For you do. Business with the Lord make. 710 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:54,000 Sure you don't take it in an. Unworthy manner if you need to. 711 00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:54,880 Repent. Repent. 712 00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:56,920 If you need forgiveness, seek forgiveness. 713 00:38:56,960 --> 00:39:00,440 If you need prayer, find a friend, but use this time. 714 00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:04,160 In order to. Get to, to to repent. 715 00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:05,880 And get your heart. Ready for communion? 716 00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:07,600 Heavenly. Father, I pray that you would 717 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:08,920 move. Us this morning. 718 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:12,920 I pray that you would help. Us believe the Gospel. 719 00:39:12,920 --> 00:39:16,720 That we are already adorned in Christ before you. 720 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:18,360 And so there's nothing to be done. 721 00:39:18,360 --> 00:39:25,960 There's nothing to be added. All we need to do is. 722 00:39:26,040 --> 00:39:31,360 Bear the fruit that naturally. Comes out of the gospel. 723 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:37,280 And so, Lord. Help us do that. 724 00:39:38,840 --> 00:39:43,040 Help us be the cosmetics that puts a an invisible message that 725 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:45,120 makes it. Visible to the world. 726 00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:47,320 In fact, Lord I've. Been praying about this all 727 00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:48,760 week. I think the way to do it. 728 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:51,920 Is to. Start with the question, what's 729 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:56,280 different about you? That's the question we. 730 00:39:56,280 --> 00:39:59,440 Want we want to live? In such a way that. 731 00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:01,440 People. Say what's different about you 732 00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:04,360 and Lord, I think. The key is to pray our way. 733 00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:06,280 Backwards from that question, how? 734 00:40:06,600 --> 00:40:09,600 How would a person? In my job, what behaviors would 735 00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:10,640 she or he do?