1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,200 Oh, Crossing Nation, it is good to be with you. 2 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:07,840 I hope you guys are doing absolutely wonderful. 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,040 I wish we could tell you every single win story from those 4 00:00:12,040 --> 00:00:13,960 baptism videos that you guys just saw. 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,160 But I'll tell you just one I was having dinner with a guy last 6 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,280 night and he goes Clayton. You guys, you know how you know 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,200 The Crossing does this where every time we have to do a 8 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,400 design in our church or whatever, we end up having like 9 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:26,920 Sharpie Sunday where you have to write people's names on the 10 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,210 steps or whatever. And he goes, I just got to 11 00:00:30,210 --> 00:00:33,250 baptize all the names that I wrote down on the steps. 12 00:00:33,490 --> 00:00:36,210 And that was just one of the stories inside of those videos. 13 00:00:36,770 --> 00:00:42,730 So hear me You might be praying for a really long time for the 14 00:00:42,730 --> 00:00:45,650 person that you care about, for the person that you love to come 15 00:00:45,650 --> 00:00:50,530 to faith in Jesus Christ. And I just want you to know God 16 00:00:50,530 --> 00:00:54,610 is not slow and keeping his promise at just the right time. 17 00:00:55,260 --> 00:00:57,900 Everything can be made right, and we're going to get more into 18 00:00:57,900 --> 00:01:00,420 that. Next week when I preach through 19 00:01:00,420 --> 00:01:06,700 Romans 8, This is a PS:. A if you were ever looking for a 20 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:12,420 weekend to bring somebody to The Crossing to hear about Jesus 21 00:01:12,620 --> 00:01:17,940 next week, Romans Chapter 8 is that weekend. 22 00:01:17,980 --> 00:01:20,380 If you're looking for a weekend for you to tell somebody, look, 23 00:01:20,940 --> 00:01:23,300 you come to church with me and I'll take you to McDonald's 24 00:01:23,300 --> 00:01:25,900 afterwards. It's that weekend. 25 00:01:26,220 --> 00:01:28,220 If you're looking for a weekend we like, come to church and I'll 26 00:01:28,220 --> 00:01:31,340 make your mortgage payment, It's that weekend. 27 00:01:31,340 --> 00:01:33,460 And you and I would love to come to church with you. 28 00:01:33,460 --> 00:01:37,540 And so if you're inviting somebody, swing by and pick me 29 00:01:37,540 --> 00:01:38,500 up. I'd love to come. 30 00:01:38,500 --> 00:01:39,860 It sounds great. I want to be there. 31 00:01:39,860 --> 00:01:42,340 OK. Today I'm going to answer 3 32 00:01:42,340 --> 00:01:45,380 questions. Question number one, what do 33 00:01:45,380 --> 00:01:48,060 Christians do with the Old Testament, the part of the Bible 34 00:01:48,060 --> 00:01:49,140 that you started to read and quit? 35 00:01:49,140 --> 00:01:52,480 What do we do with it? Question two If I'm a Christian, 36 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,360 why do I struggle so much? How many of you you're a 37 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,200 Christian? How many of you you struggle? 38 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,680 Let's answer the question, Why question #3? 39 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,040 What do you do when you're not good enough? 40 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:06,400 That's what we're going to navigate now. 41 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,759 We have so much going on at our church and so much for us to be 42 00:02:10,759 --> 00:02:14,120 incredibly thankful for. We are in a season right now 43 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,800 where you just, we cannot stop rejoicing. 44 00:02:17,070 --> 00:02:19,350 At the good works that God is doing. 45 00:02:19,350 --> 00:02:22,270 And there's a special group of people I want to say thank you 46 00:02:22,270 --> 00:02:24,270 to. Right now, we're getting ready 47 00:02:24,270 --> 00:02:26,390 to wrap up an incredible camp season. 48 00:02:26,590 --> 00:02:30,110 We have 9 uncommon conferences across the country this year. 49 00:02:30,310 --> 00:02:34,670 Rise is spinning up right now, and I just need to say a special 50 00:02:34,670 --> 00:02:38,510 thank you to those of you who serve in our Zero to 18 51 00:02:38,510 --> 00:02:41,150 ministries across all of our different locations. 52 00:02:41,430 --> 00:02:47,650 God bless you. We could not be the church we 53 00:02:47,650 --> 00:02:50,050 are and accomplish all that we are doing. 54 00:02:50,050 --> 00:02:53,570 If it were not for you, to those of you who are spending your 55 00:02:53,570 --> 00:02:57,770 summer not just vacationing, but you took your vacation to go and 56 00:02:57,770 --> 00:03:00,130 be a part of our camp. God bless you. 57 00:03:00,410 --> 00:03:04,810 On Tuesday night, I showed up to preach to a group of kids from 58 00:03:04,810 --> 00:03:07,650 all many of our different locations and when I showed up 59 00:03:07,650 --> 00:03:11,090 to preach, one of the guys who was playing guitar was the one 60 00:03:11,090 --> 00:03:14,090 of the guys playing guitar when I was going to camp. 61 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:18,560 Think about that, that this guy was leading worship when I was 62 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,920 attending camp having no clue that one day I would be his 63 00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:24,920 senior pastor. And the investments that you are 64 00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:29,520 making in the lives of kids make all the difference. 65 00:03:29,640 --> 00:03:31,920 And so I just want to pray real quick for all the zero to 18 66 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:34,720 people who are watching your kids so you can be in here. 67 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,840 Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for the people that 68 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,640 have a passion on their heart to make sure that nobody hinders 69 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,080 kids finding a relationship with you. 70 00:03:43,530 --> 00:03:47,170 God, I pray that you would raise many, many more people up just 71 00:03:47,210 --> 00:03:49,930 like them. God, that we would make an 72 00:03:49,930 --> 00:03:52,730 investment in this generation to make a difference in this 73 00:03:52,730 --> 00:03:54,130 generation. In your name I pray. 74 00:03:54,650 --> 00:03:56,730 Amen. To those of you joining from all 75 00:03:56,730 --> 00:03:58,850 of our different locations, those of you joining here at 76 00:03:58,850 --> 00:04:03,650 48th St. to those of you joining us online or inside, God bless 77 00:04:03,650 --> 00:04:05,250 you. And we are so incredibly 78 00:04:05,250 --> 00:04:07,730 thankful for the opportunity that we get to partner with you. 79 00:04:08,130 --> 00:04:10,090 And I also want to welcome those of you who are joining us for 80 00:04:10,090 --> 00:04:12,330 the first time or maybe the first time. 81 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,160 In a long time, you're coming to our church, you're hanging out 82 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,120 for a while, you start to get a little bit serious and then 83 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,399 you're like, you know what? I'm out of here and you're like, 84 00:04:19,399 --> 00:04:21,240 it's going to be weird if I come back and you're finally, like, 85 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:23,200 my life is bad enough, I'm going to finally come back. 86 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,560 I just want, you know, we are. Our doors are always open and we 87 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,640 are always glad to see you and we are so glad that you are 88 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,680 here. And in case you missed it, we 89 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,960 are in the middle of a Bible engagement initiative and we are 90 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,080 going through the book of Romans. 91 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,160 And if any point in time during the sermon you get bored, you 92 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,040 can take advantage of the QR code. 93 00:04:42,420 --> 00:04:45,020 On the seat in front of you and give you a great opportunity to 94 00:04:45,020 --> 00:04:47,620 connect to our church. But if you don't get bored. 95 00:04:48,060 --> 00:04:52,740 We purchased over 4000 books that help you go through the 96 00:04:52,740 --> 00:04:54,900 book of Romans even when you're not at church. 97 00:04:55,180 --> 00:04:58,100 And it helps you stay focused and stay on the journey so you 98 00:04:58,100 --> 00:05:01,340 can get the most out of God's Word that you can possibly get. 99 00:05:01,740 --> 00:05:05,140 Because let me tell you this, I When you are investing in God's 100 00:05:05,140 --> 00:05:08,020 Word, it produces spiritual fruit in your life. 101 00:05:08,430 --> 00:05:11,030 And when you have to navigate the challenges of this world, 102 00:05:11,190 --> 00:05:13,230 you're going to want the spiritual strength that the God 103 00:05:13,230 --> 00:05:15,110 provides. And staying connected to God's 104 00:05:15,110 --> 00:05:17,350 word is one of the ways that you do it. 105 00:05:17,630 --> 00:05:19,110 And it feel like I didn't, I didn't get a book. 106 00:05:19,510 --> 00:05:21,950 You can make sure before you leave today, you can go out in 107 00:05:21,950 --> 00:05:25,030 the lobby whatever location you are watching from and you can 108 00:05:25,030 --> 00:05:26,870 grab one. And to those who are online, 109 00:05:26,870 --> 00:05:28,870 you're like, but Clayton, I don't have a location. 110 00:05:29,150 --> 00:05:31,150 Well, you know what? We love you so much. 111 00:05:31,150 --> 00:05:32,630 We don't care if it gets complicated. 112 00:05:32,910 --> 00:05:36,310 So you just e-mail anybody on our website and they will 113 00:05:36,310 --> 00:05:40,310 forward it to somebody else. On our staff, and they will mail 114 00:05:40,310 --> 00:05:43,390 you a copy to your house, but we'll know where you live. 115 00:05:45,670 --> 00:05:48,910 And if you live somewhere sunny, I'll drive there. 116 00:05:49,110 --> 00:05:55,790 OK, Now, the Book of Romans was written to a group of Christians 117 00:05:55,790 --> 00:05:59,230 living in the city of Rome. A very real city, you guys. 118 00:05:59,270 --> 00:06:00,470 You know, you know that's where that is. 119 00:06:00,990 --> 00:06:03,150 And it was written by a man by the name of Paul. 120 00:06:03,310 --> 00:06:06,390 Paul was a jacked up, messed up dude, which is good news because 121 00:06:06,390 --> 00:06:08,830 that means that God can use jacked up, messed up people, 122 00:06:08,950 --> 00:06:12,470 which means God can use you. That's exactly right. 123 00:06:12,790 --> 00:06:15,830 And he does this to the inspiration of Jesus. 124 00:06:16,190 --> 00:06:18,070 And at the very beginning of the series, for those of you haven't 125 00:06:18,070 --> 00:06:19,030 been around, I want to catch you up. 126 00:06:19,510 --> 00:06:22,430 There was this challenge that is happening inside of this Roman 127 00:06:22,430 --> 00:06:24,590 church. There is this tension, this 128 00:06:24,790 --> 00:06:27,310 division that they're trying to navigate. 129 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,200 Because there are Jewish believers and Gentile believers 130 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,520 worshipping in the very same church. 131 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,280 More than likely this church was started by Jewish believers, but 132 00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:42,440 then due to some changes in the Roman government, the Jews were 133 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:47,280 kicked out for five years and it was ran by a bunch of Gentile 134 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,080 believers. And then there was changes in 135 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:54,760 the government and the Jewish Christians were allowed back in 136 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,940 to Rome. So a church that was most likely 137 00:06:57,940 --> 00:07:01,380 started by Jewish Christians had to leave. 138 00:07:01,740 --> 00:07:05,420 And in their absence, this church had taken on a less 139 00:07:05,540 --> 00:07:08,900 Jewish flavor. To kind of get a feel for this 140 00:07:08,900 --> 00:07:11,460 tension, I want to give you a couple of illustrations, like 141 00:07:11,620 --> 00:07:16,460 make believe if you will try to imagine with me, imagine a 142 00:07:18,100 --> 00:07:22,300 church that had. I mean, this is just an 143 00:07:22,300 --> 00:07:25,820 illustration, Republicans and Democrats. 144 00:07:27,470 --> 00:07:29,710 And they both showed up to church. 145 00:07:30,510 --> 00:07:33,590 And there were Republicans and there were Democrats who were 146 00:07:33,590 --> 00:07:39,190 fully convinced that their way was God's way of voting and 147 00:07:39,190 --> 00:07:42,950 governing. And then imagine, every four 148 00:07:42,950 --> 00:07:47,590 years they took stupid pills and went on social media and told 149 00:07:47,590 --> 00:07:51,150 everybody what they should do. And then those people who are 150 00:07:51,150 --> 00:07:53,910 really proud behind their keyboard. 151 00:07:55,010 --> 00:07:58,530 And said mean things to other people over the keyboard. 152 00:07:58,930 --> 00:08:01,570 Had to show up and sit next to each other at church. 153 00:08:03,050 --> 00:08:06,450 If you can imagine okay, maybe that's not good enough. 154 00:08:06,690 --> 00:08:11,970 Let me see if all right, this is just an illustration. 155 00:08:13,250 --> 00:08:19,570 Imagine a virus were to break out worldwide and the government 156 00:08:19,570 --> 00:08:22,930 decided, for instance, to maybe hypothetically. 157 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:25,880 Closed schools, churches and businesses. 158 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,800 And then they had a restrictions about the gatherings. 159 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:35,360 Hypothetically, let's say they mandated wearing masks, pushed 160 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:39,760 hard for people to, I don't know, take a vaccine. 161 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:44,720 Now imagine, OKI mean, listen, try to if try. 162 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:50,520 Imagine that good Christians found themselves on opposite 163 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,020 sides of the issue. It's hard to believe that that 164 00:08:53,020 --> 00:08:55,900 could happen. But like I said, imagine with me 165 00:08:56,420 --> 00:09:00,860 that some Christians believed to their core that they were doing 166 00:09:00,860 --> 00:09:04,780 the most good by isolating, testing and refraining from 167 00:09:04,780 --> 00:09:07,100 gatherings. They were the first in line to 168 00:09:07,100 --> 00:09:10,540 get the vaccine so they could travel, gain access to do 169 00:09:10,540 --> 00:09:13,100 ministry and go to work in order to provide for their family. 170 00:09:13,700 --> 00:09:15,900 In fact, they were so serious about it, they were double 171 00:09:15,900 --> 00:09:20,690 maskers. And they did this whole thing in 172 00:09:20,690 --> 00:09:23,050 an effort to love God and love their neighbor. 173 00:09:24,290 --> 00:09:30,010 Now now listen, hypothetically, imagine they were at the exact 174 00:09:30,010 --> 00:09:34,490 same time another group of Christians going through this. 175 00:09:34,530 --> 00:09:36,210 I want to make sure I pick the right word. 176 00:09:36,850 --> 00:09:41,930 Pandemic who saw this as government overreach. 177 00:09:42,970 --> 00:09:45,490 They were at a deep sense of patriotic duty. 178 00:09:46,070 --> 00:09:48,390 They believe that while the virus was dangerous, it was 179 00:09:48,390 --> 00:09:50,390 nowhere near as deadly as predicted. 180 00:09:50,950 --> 00:09:54,590 The Closings, the masks, the vaccines infringed on their 181 00:09:54,590 --> 00:09:57,910 personal liberty. They saw the closing of churches 182 00:09:57,910 --> 00:10:01,430 as an attack on religious liberty, a violation of their 183 00:10:01,430 --> 00:10:05,190 constitutional rights, and an attack on God's mission itself. 184 00:10:06,150 --> 00:10:12,630 If something like that were to happen, you can imagine tensions 185 00:10:12,710 --> 00:10:14,270 would have been at an all time high. 186 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:21,600 Oh, I've got you. You guys like, don't bring it 187 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:23,520 up. I just started talking to my 188 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,320 wife. OK, All right, listen. 189 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,440 I'm not making a value judgment. I'm saying, Can you imagine 190 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,840 going to church with people who don't believe what you believe, 191 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,200 think what you think? Agree with your take? 192 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,640 That's what Paul's writing to in the Book of Rome. 193 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,790 Except it's not a pandemic. And it's not politics. 194 00:10:46,030 --> 00:10:49,270 It's what do you do with the Old Testament? 195 00:10:50,830 --> 00:10:54,310 What do you do? A bunch of Gentile believers in 196 00:10:54,470 --> 00:10:56,430 Jesus didn't grow up with the Old Testament. 197 00:10:56,430 --> 00:10:57,750 They didn't grow up with the law. 198 00:10:57,950 --> 00:11:01,750 They're like, we don't need it. And then the Jewish people 199 00:11:01,990 --> 00:11:04,190 who've been following the law their whole life and came to 200 00:11:04,190 --> 00:11:07,310 faith in Jesus were like the law's kind of a big deal. 201 00:11:07,510 --> 00:11:11,230 And they're going, hey, Jesus was a Jew, and he did most of 202 00:11:11,230 --> 00:11:14,880 his ministry to Jews. And then they're going, yeah, 203 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,280 but we're not Jews. And they're like, yeah, but but 204 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:20,400 God gave us the law. And they're like, well, we're 205 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:24,920 not under the law. And Paul is going stop, stop 206 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:27,240 fighting over this. Let's settle it. 207 00:11:28,560 --> 00:11:33,240 So that is what brings us to Romans Chapter 7. 208 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,280 OK. I'm trying to make this 209 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:39,040 interesting because when I. OK, all right, all right. 210 00:11:39,790 --> 00:11:43,710 Question one, what do Christians do with the Old Testament laws? 211 00:11:44,430 --> 00:11:47,310 There are two groups of people, and as we get into Romans 212 00:11:47,310 --> 00:11:50,110 Chapter 7, verse one through three, he uses an illustration 213 00:11:50,110 --> 00:11:53,030 to set up the point. Do you not know brothers and 214 00:11:53,030 --> 00:11:55,830 sisters? For I'm speaking to those who 215 00:11:55,830 --> 00:12:01,870 know the law Jews that the law has authority over someone only 216 00:12:01,870 --> 00:12:07,150 as long as that person lives. How long does speed limits have 217 00:12:07,150 --> 00:12:10,030 authority over you? Up until you stop driving. 218 00:12:10,870 --> 00:12:12,870 Once you know when you're dead, you don't have to worry about 219 00:12:12,870 --> 00:12:15,510 speed limits anymore. But this is the illustration he 220 00:12:15,510 --> 00:12:19,750 uses. For example, by law, a married 221 00:12:19,750 --> 00:12:23,350 woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, which 222 00:12:23,350 --> 00:12:26,190 explains why Jennifer's always giving me Donuts and cinnamon 223 00:12:26,190 --> 00:12:28,590 rolls. She's like, eat up little buddy, 224 00:12:29,110 --> 00:12:32,990 You're just skidding bones. I love her. 225 00:12:33,790 --> 00:12:37,550 But if her husband dies, hypothetically. 226 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:42,640 From cholesterol being a little high, she is released from the 227 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,320 law that binds her to him. You're bound woman. 228 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:49,720 OK for then. If she has sexual relations with 229 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:51,760 another man, OKI probably shouldn't have used her as an 230 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,040 illustration there and I apologize. 231 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,040 So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while 232 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:00,320 her husband is still alive, she's an adulteress. 233 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,700 But. If her husband dies, she is 234 00:13:03,700 --> 00:13:06,020 released from that law and is not an adulteress. 235 00:13:06,020 --> 00:13:10,740 If she marries another man, you can see the illustration. 236 00:13:10,940 --> 00:13:13,940 He's saying once the husband is dead, she's no longer bound to 237 00:13:13,940 --> 00:13:17,020 be faithful to him, she's free to marry another. 238 00:13:17,300 --> 00:13:20,540 Now Paul goes OK, now pay attention to what I'm actually 239 00:13:20,540 --> 00:13:24,020 talking about. So my brothers and sisters, in 240 00:13:24,020 --> 00:13:30,700 verse 4, you also died to the law through the body of Christ. 241 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:35,760 That you might belong to another, to him who was raised 242 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:41,120 from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 243 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:45,480 For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions 244 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:53,040 aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for 245 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:55,800 death. But now? 246 00:13:56,670 --> 00:14:01,270 By dying to what was what once bound us, we have been released 247 00:14:01,270 --> 00:14:05,270 from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and 248 00:14:05,270 --> 00:14:10,430 not in the old way of the written code. 249 00:14:11,350 --> 00:14:15,150 Paul addresses the Jews and lets them know when you were 250 00:14:15,150 --> 00:14:18,710 baptized, you were released from the law. 251 00:14:19,630 --> 00:14:25,270 The law is now dead to you. You have become united to 252 00:14:25,270 --> 00:14:27,830 Christ. He's looking at the Jews and 253 00:14:27,830 --> 00:14:32,150 saying the law no longer has authority over you. 254 00:14:32,950 --> 00:14:35,830 Now pay attention to what happens in verse 7:00 and 12:00. 255 00:14:36,750 --> 00:14:41,190 What then shall we say? Or what shall we say Then Is the 256 00:14:41,190 --> 00:14:44,550 law sinful? Certainly not. 257 00:14:45,630 --> 00:14:50,230 Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not 258 00:14:50,230 --> 00:14:53,160 been for the law. For I would not have known what 259 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:58,880 coveting really was if the law had not said you shall not covet 260 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,680 uh oh come on, that was a double tap. 261 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:09,560 So then the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous 262 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:14,440 and good. Before the Jews or before the 263 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:18,040 Gentiles can go have their celebration happy dance about 264 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,000 what Paul just said about the law, he says, hold on a second. 265 00:15:21,790 --> 00:15:24,870 The law is a good thing. It has value. 266 00:15:25,630 --> 00:15:28,350 It's worth being a part of your life. 267 00:15:28,790 --> 00:15:30,430 He's saying, Who created the law? 268 00:15:30,910 --> 00:15:33,870 God did. Does God make good things or bad 269 00:15:33,870 --> 00:15:36,270 things? God makes good things. 270 00:15:36,510 --> 00:15:38,670 Who made the law? God made the law. 271 00:15:38,830 --> 00:15:43,870 If God makes good things, that means that the law is good. 272 00:15:45,070 --> 00:15:46,470 So you're like, hold on a second. 273 00:15:46,470 --> 00:15:47,830 So what are we supposed to do as Christians? 274 00:15:47,950 --> 00:15:49,630 Come here. Come here. 275 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,800 The Old Testament law gets broken down into three big 276 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:57,080 categories. There's the moral law, the civil 277 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:01,480 law, and the ceremonial laws. Now the ceremonial laws are no 278 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:05,040 longer applicable to us because Jesus did away with the temple 279 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:09,000 sacrificial system, becoming the once for all sacrifice for all 280 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,560 time for you and me when he died on the cross on our behalf. 281 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:17,360 So the ceremonial laws in the Old Testament gone, OK? 282 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:19,720 Now OK, well what about the civil laws? 283 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:23,760 Well, we're no longer Jewish citizens living in Israel, so 284 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:28,040 you can take those and go. However, the principles behind 285 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:32,880 the ceremonial laws and the civil laws still have relevance. 286 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:39,040 But more importantly, God also revealed His moral law and the 287 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,560 moral law found in the Old Testament. 288 00:16:41,850 --> 00:16:49,170 Gives us insight into how holy and how righteous is our God. 289 00:16:49,810 --> 00:16:52,770 It reveals to you and I when you read the Old Testament, the 290 00:16:52,770 --> 00:16:55,810 standard that God has for us. When we talk about the law, 291 00:16:55,810 --> 00:16:57,970 we're we're talking about Genesis, Ex's, Leviticus, 292 00:16:57,970 --> 00:17:00,610 Numbers, Deuteronomy. Here is how you are supposed to 293 00:17:00,610 --> 00:17:04,810 live as a person of God, and it gives us this high standard, a 294 00:17:04,810 --> 00:17:09,250 standard that you and I cannot meet, but a standard that shows 295 00:17:09,250 --> 00:17:11,579 us. How pure, how holy, how 296 00:17:11,579 --> 00:17:17,020 righteous is our God. In fact, take the most famous 10 297 00:17:17,020 --> 00:17:19,619 laws that God reveals in the Old Testament. 298 00:17:19,819 --> 00:17:22,020 You guys know what they are? They're the 10 commandments. 299 00:17:22,660 --> 00:17:26,260 Let me ask you a question. Do these still apply today? 300 00:17:27,060 --> 00:17:29,300 You shall have no other gods before me. 301 00:17:29,420 --> 00:17:32,740 Does that still apply, or are we going, Oh no, you can have all 302 00:17:32,740 --> 00:17:34,900 kinds of gods before God. He loves it. 303 00:17:35,740 --> 00:17:37,940 No, He's like no, you're that's okay. 304 00:17:37,940 --> 00:17:39,810 What about this one? You shall not make idols. 305 00:17:39,810 --> 00:17:41,490 You shall not worship other things. 306 00:17:42,170 --> 00:17:43,490 Or you're like, well, hold on a second, Clint. 307 00:17:43,490 --> 00:17:45,250 We got youth baseball. Just wrapping up. 308 00:17:45,250 --> 00:17:46,570 Give me a second. OK. 309 00:17:47,210 --> 00:17:49,410 You shall not take the name of God in vain. 310 00:17:49,410 --> 00:17:52,890 Do you think that's OK, Golfers, pay attention, OK? 311 00:17:53,650 --> 00:17:55,450 Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. 312 00:17:55,450 --> 00:17:57,730 Is it important for you to set aside time in your life that is 313 00:17:57,730 --> 00:18:00,050 fully dedicated to the Lord? Well, I think that still 314 00:18:00,050 --> 00:18:01,770 applies. Honor your father and mother. 315 00:18:01,770 --> 00:18:04,650 Some of your parents like, well, it used to in the good old days. 316 00:18:05,050 --> 00:18:06,210 Yeah. Do you think that that still 317 00:18:06,210 --> 00:18:07,490 applies? Or God's like, do whatever you 318 00:18:07,490 --> 00:18:09,290 want, kids. All right, let's. 319 00:18:09,530 --> 00:18:12,010 In case you guys are wondering if the Old Testament law still 320 00:18:12,010 --> 00:18:17,890 has some value, the next one is you shall not murder you guys. 321 00:18:17,890 --> 00:18:20,770 Getting rid of that one. Okay. 322 00:18:20,770 --> 00:18:23,530 I'm just asking. You shall not commit adultery. 323 00:18:24,650 --> 00:18:26,970 Are you guys supposed to just have sex with your spouse or can 324 00:18:26,970 --> 00:18:30,250 you have sex with anybody? Oh, okay, I guess maybe God was 325 00:18:30,250 --> 00:18:32,770 on to something You shall not steal. 326 00:18:32,890 --> 00:18:34,970 We all go and let's get away. But you know, the law is just 327 00:18:34,970 --> 00:18:37,610 archaic. Let's just do away with all this 328 00:18:37,610 --> 00:18:40,610 Old Testament stuff so we can just be free in Christ and 329 00:18:40,610 --> 00:18:43,650 steal. No, that doesn't make any sense. 330 00:18:44,130 --> 00:18:46,450 You shall not lie. Should we keep that one? 331 00:18:48,810 --> 00:18:50,930 So I guess we probably ought to keep that one. 332 00:18:50,970 --> 00:18:53,530 We want the doctor to tell us, you know, that we're not 333 00:18:53,530 --> 00:18:56,770 healthy. You look great, you little BMI 334 00:18:56,770 --> 00:19:01,690 achiever. All right, all right. 335 00:19:01,770 --> 00:19:05,010 You shall not covet, which is interesting. 336 00:19:06,210 --> 00:19:09,530 That Paul uses this one. This one's internal. 337 00:19:11,930 --> 00:19:16,610 You wouldn't know that I coveted unless the law told you that the 338 00:19:16,610 --> 00:19:19,890 desires I have to have what you have were wrong. 339 00:19:20,930 --> 00:19:24,570 You can tell if I'm having sex with somebody else's wife, it 340 00:19:24,570 --> 00:19:26,690 becomes obvious somebody eventually catches you. 341 00:19:27,170 --> 00:19:30,010 You can tell if someone's a thief because the stuff is 342 00:19:30,010 --> 00:19:33,290 missing around your house. But I could be in your house and 343 00:19:33,290 --> 00:19:35,290 covet what you have. And nobody would ever know that 344 00:19:35,290 --> 00:19:38,170 I was sinning against God if God had not told me that the desire 345 00:19:38,170 --> 00:19:41,170 that you have in your heart for other people's stuff is wrong. 346 00:19:42,330 --> 00:19:45,690 You're supposed to find all of your desires met in Him. 347 00:19:46,610 --> 00:19:50,290 The law has value. They're still important. 348 00:19:50,850 --> 00:19:53,450 Pay attention. Jesus was asked. 349 00:19:53,450 --> 00:19:56,490 What's the greatest commandment? Do you know what he says? 350 00:19:56,970 --> 00:19:58,210 Well, if you haven't, I'll remind you. 351 00:19:58,610 --> 00:20:02,330 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all 352 00:20:02,330 --> 00:20:06,490 your mind. This is the first and greatest 353 00:20:06,490 --> 00:20:09,690 commandment. And then he goes on very next 354 00:20:09,690 --> 00:20:12,730 chunk of verses and the 2nd is like it. 355 00:20:13,250 --> 00:20:19,170 Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and prophets, 356 00:20:19,330 --> 00:20:23,690 everybody say this word. Hang on these two commandments. 357 00:20:24,370 --> 00:20:33,470 So you got #1 and #2. And then you got a Old 358 00:20:34,710 --> 00:20:39,150 Testament. These are strings that they're 359 00:20:39,150 --> 00:20:40,710 hanging off of. And those of you who aren't good 360 00:20:40,710 --> 00:20:43,310 at Pictionary. OK, what's Pictionary? 361 00:20:43,510 --> 00:20:47,150 OK, sorry about that. That joke was for those pre 80s. 362 00:20:47,190 --> 00:20:52,870 OK, so does the Old Testament still have value for us today? 363 00:20:52,910 --> 00:20:54,910 The answer is yes. So keep reading your whole Bible 364 00:20:55,070 --> 00:20:57,690 question 2. If I'm a Christian, why do I 365 00:20:57,690 --> 00:21:02,370 struggle so much? Why can't I get it together? 366 00:21:03,290 --> 00:21:05,210 How many of you have had a weekend where you're at church 367 00:21:05,210 --> 00:21:06,410 you like? I'm getting it together. 368 00:21:07,090 --> 00:21:09,130 I'm turning it around. I'm doing it right from here on 369 00:21:09,130 --> 00:21:10,770 out. And the next weekend you're like 370 00:21:10,770 --> 00:21:14,610 son of a gun okay. Why do I struggle so much? 371 00:21:14,610 --> 00:21:16,850 As a Christian? Listen to what Paul says. 372 00:21:17,730 --> 00:21:21,370 We know that the law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, 373 00:21:21,610 --> 00:21:26,900 sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. 374 00:21:27,980 --> 00:21:30,540 For what I want to do, I do not do. 375 00:21:31,820 --> 00:21:36,780 But what I hate to do. And if I do what I do not want 376 00:21:36,780 --> 00:21:41,020 to do, I agree that the law is good as it is. 377 00:21:41,380 --> 00:21:45,380 It is no longer I myself who do it, but the sin living in me. 378 00:21:45,900 --> 00:21:48,340 Oh yeah, here we go. The sin made me do it. 379 00:21:49,830 --> 00:21:53,870 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me. 380 00:21:54,070 --> 00:21:56,630 Want you to pay attention to this, he's saying. 381 00:21:56,670 --> 00:22:03,030 I, for I know that good itself does not dwell in me. 382 00:22:03,030 --> 00:22:06,670 We're going to circle back to this in my sinful nature. 383 00:22:08,190 --> 00:22:15,470 For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it 384 00:22:16,150 --> 00:22:18,390 out. Has anybody ever felt that pain? 385 00:22:20,700 --> 00:22:26,860 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not 386 00:22:26,860 --> 00:22:34,500 want to do this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want 387 00:22:34,500 --> 00:22:39,100 to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin living in me that 388 00:22:39,100 --> 00:22:43,180 does it. So I find this law at work, 389 00:22:43,620 --> 00:22:48,060 although I want to do good, evil. 390 00:22:48,630 --> 00:22:55,590 Is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight 391 00:22:55,590 --> 00:23:01,110 in God's law, but I see another law at work in me waging war 392 00:23:01,110 --> 00:23:05,590 against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law 393 00:23:05,590 --> 00:23:11,830 of sin at work within me. Why do I struggle? 394 00:23:12,510 --> 00:23:16,590 Because there's a war going on. There is the desire in our 395 00:23:16,590 --> 00:23:19,670 hearts to please God and serve his purposes. 396 00:23:19,830 --> 00:23:24,950 But there is also this desire to do our own thing and go our own 397 00:23:24,950 --> 00:23:29,750 way. Inside of me, you probably can't 398 00:23:29,750 --> 00:23:33,790 see him, but there's two people that live inside of me. 399 00:23:34,710 --> 00:23:38,550 There's Skinny Clayton and there's very Fat Clayton. 400 00:23:39,470 --> 00:23:42,430 And I know from looking you can't tell which one's winning 401 00:23:42,430 --> 00:23:45,680 right now. Can you? 402 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:51,240 Skinny Clayton has all kind. You've heard me talk about 403 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:52,880 Skinny Clayton. He's fantastic. 404 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,640 Like, you would high five Skinny Clayton give him a Big Bear hug? 405 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,240 He's fun to be around. He thinks wouldn't it be awesome 406 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:02,280 to meal prep? Oh, like that sounds fantastic. 407 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:03,840 Chicken and rice. Chicken and rice. 408 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:05,600 Chicken and rice. I could do it. 409 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,520 I could do it. Or if like, I was a total crazy 410 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:10,800 person, like a Turkey bacon with no beans. 411 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:16,680 Like every day for breakfast. Just nonstop and just get all 412 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,160 the proteins, none of the carbs and get jacked. 413 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:27,040 And I don't do it because I don't want women to to lust when 414 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:40,810 they come to our church. Like Jesus, I give my body as a 415 00:24:40,810 --> 00:24:44,690 fragrant offering and I don't want to get in between you 416 00:24:44,690 --> 00:24:48,990 coming to the Lord. I want when I'm here, for Jesus 417 00:24:48,990 --> 00:24:53,990 to be lifted up. OK, I'm so sorry. 418 00:24:55,550 --> 00:24:56,550 You're not going to believe this. 419 00:24:56,550 --> 00:25:03,430 That part wasn't in the notes. OK, now how many of you got a 420 00:25:03,430 --> 00:25:06,550 skinny version of yourself that hangs around sometimes? 421 00:25:07,670 --> 00:25:11,230 And how many of you, the fat version of you has kicked the 422 00:25:11,230 --> 00:25:14,870 skinny version of you's butt? OK, I'm preaching to the right 423 00:25:14,870 --> 00:25:17,720 people. How many of you have the I want 424 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:20,800 to be a better spouse person living inside of you. 425 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:23,920 Let your other spouse raise the hand. 426 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:28,760 Which one's winning? How many of you? 427 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:32,160 There is the I want to be a better steward of my finances. 428 00:25:32,160 --> 00:25:33,840 That person exists inside of you. 429 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:36,400 Yeah. And then there's the other 430 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:40,080 person's like, oh, we should go out to eat again. 431 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:45,040 That sounds we should eat at gas stations this way. 432 00:25:45,910 --> 00:25:47,670 See, that's just how you're hardwired. 433 00:25:47,950 --> 00:25:51,350 How many of you, you, you come to faith in Jesus and you're 434 00:25:51,350 --> 00:25:53,830 going, man, I want to make him happy. 435 00:25:55,910 --> 00:25:59,230 I want to follow after him. I want to do the things that 436 00:25:59,230 --> 00:26:02,270 he's calling me to do. I want to lead my family. 437 00:26:02,270 --> 00:26:05,070 Well, I want to represent him in the workplace. 438 00:26:05,670 --> 00:26:10,750 And you can't get home from church before losing it in front 439 00:26:10,750 --> 00:26:14,030 of your family. There's a war going on. 440 00:26:15,170 --> 00:26:20,730 How do you navigate the war? Hear me? 441 00:26:21,690 --> 00:26:24,570 Deep down inside, I know that there are people in our church 442 00:26:26,530 --> 00:26:30,090 that think that just because you've been saved and baptized 443 00:26:30,130 --> 00:26:33,610 and show up for church every so often, that this battle will 444 00:26:33,610 --> 00:26:37,650 cease. However, you can have the desire 445 00:26:37,650 --> 00:26:41,410 not to cuss and it still happen. You can have the desire to not 446 00:26:41,410 --> 00:26:43,530 be prideful, but it still leaks out. 447 00:26:43,950 --> 00:26:46,590 You can have the desire to grow spiritually, but you can be too 448 00:26:46,590 --> 00:26:49,830 busy for a quiet time, too rushed to pray, too 449 00:26:49,830 --> 00:26:51,950 overcommitted to make church a priority. 450 00:26:53,110 --> 00:26:59,590 We all have this struggle, but the good news is we have an ally 451 00:26:59,750 --> 00:27:03,710 in this struggle. The Holy Spirit empowers us to 452 00:27:03,710 --> 00:27:07,910 lean into God's plan and God's purpose for our lives, and when 453 00:27:07,910 --> 00:27:10,870 we allow the Holy Spirit to do that work in us. 454 00:27:11,260 --> 00:27:15,020 Sin becomes less and less appealing. 455 00:27:15,660 --> 00:27:21,260 Our spiritual strength grows more and more, so we will sin 456 00:27:21,620 --> 00:27:24,980 less and less. Now hear me clearly. 457 00:27:25,900 --> 00:27:29,500 This side of heaven. You will not become sinless. 458 00:27:29,500 --> 00:27:32,620 I don't want you thinking that one of these days you're going 459 00:27:32,620 --> 00:27:34,580 to be as perfect as Jesus Christ himself. 460 00:27:34,580 --> 00:27:38,180 Not going to happen. Our bodies and souls will not be 461 00:27:38,180 --> 00:27:40,420 made perfect until we are in heaven. 462 00:27:41,220 --> 00:27:44,780 But while we are here on earth, while we are being empowered by 463 00:27:44,780 --> 00:27:47,300 the Holy Spirit, which is why Romans 8, I'm telling you, bring 464 00:27:47,300 --> 00:27:50,980 your friends who don't know Jesus next week for Romans 8 and 465 00:27:50,980 --> 00:27:53,780 you will see what the Holy Spirit does on our behalf to 466 00:27:53,780 --> 00:27:57,300 help us win these battles. But let me say this. 467 00:27:57,860 --> 00:28:01,660 How many of you would say you are not where you would like to 468 00:28:01,660 --> 00:28:05,420 be spiritually? OKI got right the right kind of 469 00:28:05,420 --> 00:28:07,100 people. If you didn't raise your hand, 470 00:28:07,620 --> 00:28:10,070 OK? All right. 471 00:28:10,310 --> 00:28:14,110 Now how many of you would say, but you are not where you were 472 00:28:14,110 --> 00:28:18,830 spiritually a while ago? God is moving you. 473 00:28:19,590 --> 00:28:22,670 You take some of the most spiritual people that you know 474 00:28:24,190 --> 00:28:28,830 and you ask them about their testimony, and you'll go what 475 00:28:31,590 --> 00:28:33,110 some of the most spiritual people I know. 476 00:28:33,510 --> 00:28:37,790 When you hear their testimony, you're like, oh, oh. 477 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:47,120 Oh, God comes into our life and he begins to take over and we 478 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:50,600 yield. And his spirit and powers and 479 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:54,680 the things that Satan offers us become less and less appealing. 480 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:58,800 And the things that God offers us take over more and more. 481 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:07,000 Question #3 So what do you do when you're not good enough? 482 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:12,640 If you look at the wall, you don't measure up. 483 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:15,920 You come to the quick realization you're not good 484 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:18,920 enough. When you look at your own 485 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:22,560 behavior in your own life and the things that inside of you 486 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:26,320 you want to do for God, and then you notice all the times you 487 00:29:26,320 --> 00:29:28,920 don't do the things that you want to do for God, you come to 488 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:32,560 the conclusion that you're not good enough. 489 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:36,200 What do you do when you look at yourself? 490 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:40,280 And you come to the realization that you're not good enough. 491 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,880 This is what Paul says in Romans Chapter 7, verse 24. 492 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:50,240 What a wretched man am I? Do you feel a little bit of that 493 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:52,840 right now? If I've done my job, you should 494 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:56,720 feel a little bit of it. You're going, I'm jacked up, 495 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:04,520 Paul describes in this verse. Our present state, We are 496 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:07,670 wretched people. Our present frustration. 497 00:30:08,150 --> 00:30:11,630 Even though I want to do all of these good things, I'm still so 498 00:30:11,630 --> 00:30:17,870 messed up. I want to say this carefully. 499 00:30:18,750 --> 00:30:22,830 One of the biggest barriers to you coming to faith, one of the 500 00:30:22,830 --> 00:30:26,310 biggest barriers about you getting serious about your faith 501 00:30:26,590 --> 00:30:28,590 is that you never get to this point. 502 00:30:30,150 --> 00:30:34,990 So many people are so happy thinking that they're good. 503 00:30:36,110 --> 00:30:38,590 And do you know why people think that they're good? 504 00:30:39,470 --> 00:30:42,670 Because they compare themselves to other jacked up people, 505 00:30:45,430 --> 00:30:48,910 right? Listen, if you hung out with 506 00:30:49,630 --> 00:30:53,230 with rich people all the time, you'd come to the conclusion 507 00:30:53,390 --> 00:30:57,070 that your house sucks. Have you ever been to a rich 508 00:30:57,070 --> 00:30:59,830 person's house? They got like so many shower 509 00:30:59,830 --> 00:31:03,110 heads in their showers, you can't help but get clean. 510 00:31:03,270 --> 00:31:05,200 Okay. You don't even have to work in a 511 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:08,120 rich person's shower. You just get in Okay. 512 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:10,800 You feel like you went through a washing machine that's like 513 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,920 you've been like an Airbnb and they show you all the cool 514 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:16,480 stuff. Yeah, no, pay attention. 515 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,280 When you go to a rich person's house, it changes how you view 516 00:31:19,280 --> 00:31:23,480 your house. But if you go to a bunch of poor 517 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:26,120 people's houses, you go, you know what? 518 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:28,600 My house is pretty stinking awesome. 519 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:32,600 I like my car when it's around other Jalopys. 520 00:31:33,970 --> 00:31:38,770 I have the best jalopy car, but if I pull my car into a new car 521 00:31:38,770 --> 00:31:45,370 lot, I go, oh, this car's trash. And here's what we have chosen 522 00:31:45,370 --> 00:31:48,290 to do with how good we feel we are. 523 00:31:48,850 --> 00:31:51,890 We keep comparing ourselves to other people who suck. 524 00:31:52,690 --> 00:31:55,050 And coming to the conclusion, I'm a pretty good dude. 525 00:31:55,970 --> 00:31:58,490 I hit my wife less than he hits his wife. 526 00:31:59,930 --> 00:32:01,330 You're like, I'm a pretty good guy. 527 00:32:01,660 --> 00:32:04,580 Hold on a second. You guys are like, listen, I do 528 00:32:04,580 --> 00:32:10,540 funerals and I've never been to a funeral where people don't go. 529 00:32:10,780 --> 00:32:12,180 He was one of the best guys ever. 530 00:32:12,820 --> 00:32:14,340 He would give you the shirt off his back. 531 00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:18,460 Have you ever heard anybody go to a funeral? 532 00:32:18,460 --> 00:32:20,300 They're like, I got to be honest with you, this guy was a pretty 533 00:32:20,300 --> 00:32:23,220 much, he was pretty much a jerk. It's just me and the funeral guy 534 00:32:23,220 --> 00:32:24,260 here. It's just us. 535 00:32:25,500 --> 00:32:29,660 What we do is we feel good about ourselves by comparing ourselves 536 00:32:29,660 --> 00:32:32,510 to Jack wagons. Well, I'm just, you know, I'm 537 00:32:32,710 --> 00:32:35,590 I'm not as bad as so and so. I'm not as bad as so and so. 538 00:32:35,790 --> 00:32:39,390 I'm not as bad as so and so here's what Paul does. 539 00:32:39,910 --> 00:32:43,630 He is when you read the law, you have to compare yourself to God. 540 00:32:44,870 --> 00:32:47,870 And when you compare yourself to God you will come to 1 541 00:32:47,870 --> 00:32:52,310 conclusion We are wretched people. 542 00:32:53,870 --> 00:32:56,790 I listen, you could go home to your marriage and try this out 543 00:32:56,790 --> 00:32:59,230 for size. Every time your wife wants you 544 00:32:59,230 --> 00:33:01,830 to get better, you just go, Well, I'm better than so and so 545 00:33:01,830 --> 00:33:04,510 and you know what the right response for her. 546 00:33:04,510 --> 00:33:08,590 My wife's used this well. I didn't marry so and so I 547 00:33:08,590 --> 00:33:13,790 married you if you and I. If you're going, man, I'm pretty 548 00:33:13,790 --> 00:33:17,110 stinking awesome. You are comparing yourself to 549 00:33:17,110 --> 00:33:20,150 other messed up people. Christians, compare yourself to 550 00:33:20,150 --> 00:33:23,350 the holiness and the righteousness of God revealed in 551 00:33:23,350 --> 00:33:26,190 the law and come to the conclusion that we are wretched. 552 00:33:26,870 --> 00:33:29,030 Jacked up, messed up individuals. 553 00:33:29,030 --> 00:33:32,590 Some of your guys, like, is the crossing Baptist. 554 00:33:32,750 --> 00:33:35,950 That's OK. All right, all right. 555 00:33:36,590 --> 00:33:38,310 OK. Not in my notes. 556 00:33:38,310 --> 00:33:42,230 OK. Romans 2724. 557 00:33:42,550 --> 00:33:45,630 What a wretched man am I? Then he asked this question. 558 00:33:46,070 --> 00:33:49,270 Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 559 00:33:49,630 --> 00:33:51,950 Do you notice what he's doing? He's going. 560 00:33:52,030 --> 00:33:58,220 I am so messed up. Who would dare to rescue me? 561 00:34:01,460 --> 00:34:04,540 He feels a sense of abandonment, isolation. 562 00:34:05,660 --> 00:34:08,980 If I compare myself to the holiness and the righteousness 563 00:34:08,980 --> 00:34:14,300 of God, I'm a Wretch. I have nothing to offer. 564 00:34:14,900 --> 00:34:18,100 Who would save me from myself? I'm so bad. 565 00:34:19,219 --> 00:34:22,460 Keep reading. What a wretched man am I. 566 00:34:22,870 --> 00:34:26,389 Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 567 00:34:27,310 --> 00:34:33,790 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our 568 00:34:33,790 --> 00:34:35,230 Lord. He's going. 569 00:34:35,429 --> 00:34:41,110 He did. The one who is righteous comes 570 00:34:41,110 --> 00:34:43,670 from me. The one who's perfect comes from 571 00:34:43,670 --> 00:34:46,550 my imperfection. You want to know why he's so 572 00:34:46,550 --> 00:34:49,920 excited about Jesus? Because he comes to realization 573 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:53,800 that he has nothing to offer. He is not the solution. 574 00:34:54,199 --> 00:34:58,200 But God is, and God comes and God redeems. 575 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,320 So what's the right response for you and me? 576 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:08,040 The good we do does not earn our salvation, nor will it ever make 577 00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:11,520 you good enough to be saved. But the right response to God's 578 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:15,280 love and Jesus's sacrifice for you and me is to bear fruit. 579 00:35:16,070 --> 00:35:19,790 To live a life of response to the sacrifice of Jesus. 580 00:35:20,230 --> 00:35:23,110 To live a life of appreciation for the love that he poured out 581 00:35:23,110 --> 00:35:24,590 for us. To live a life that 582 00:35:24,590 --> 00:35:27,990 sacrificially points people to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 583 00:35:28,190 --> 00:35:30,230 That's what he said at the beginning of Romans in chapter 584 00:35:30,430 --> 00:35:33,510 are 7 verse four. So, my brothers and sisters, you 585 00:35:33,510 --> 00:35:36,950 also died to the law through the body of Christ that you might 586 00:35:36,950 --> 00:35:39,150 belong to another. That's Jesus. 587 00:35:39,390 --> 00:35:43,260 To him, Jesus. Who was raised from the dead in 588 00:35:43,260 --> 00:35:47,260 order that we might bear everybody say this word, fruit 589 00:35:47,300 --> 00:35:50,420 for God. So why do Christians gather 590 00:35:50,420 --> 00:35:53,220 weakly and why do they make it a priority? 591 00:35:53,460 --> 00:35:57,380 Because God made us a priority. Why do Christians serve others? 592 00:35:57,700 --> 00:36:00,420 Because we've been served by Jesus and he models a better 593 00:36:00,420 --> 00:36:02,180 way. Why do Christians give? 594 00:36:02,380 --> 00:36:05,460 Because Jesus gave, and through our giving others find Jesus. 595 00:36:05,460 --> 00:36:08,000 Why do we pray? Because we want to interact with 596 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:10,680 the one who gave us access to God in the 1st place. 597 00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:12,400 Why do Christians read their Bible? 598 00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:15,880 Because we want to know the God who loves us and we want to live 599 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:17,960 the life that he calls us to live. 600 00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:22,120 Everything we do is a response to what God has done on our 601 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:26,680 behalf and that is Roman seven. We're moving to a time of 602 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:35,480 decision. So I was vacuuming and cooking 603 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:39,280 and and folding laundry the other day in my house and. 604 00:36:40,910 --> 00:36:47,910 As I was doing those things, I was deeply asleep inside of your 605 00:36:48,110 --> 00:36:49,630 marriage, your side of relationships. 606 00:36:49,790 --> 00:36:52,670 Have you ever had a relationship where you are trying to earn it? 607 00:36:54,510 --> 00:36:55,990 Maybe some of you. It was a dad. 608 00:36:56,710 --> 00:37:00,990 All you ever wanted to do was earn it, but you could never get 609 00:37:00,990 --> 00:37:04,070 it. But you're trying to fix your 610 00:37:04,070 --> 00:37:06,590 marriage through works, if I just. 611 00:37:09,120 --> 00:37:12,360 And so we take these earthly bindings that we have and we 612 00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:14,400 apply it to our relationship with Jesus Christ. 613 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:21,800 And the tough part is you'll never get it together. 614 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:26,800 God's law is requires A perfection. 615 00:37:27,160 --> 00:37:30,800 God's presence requires perfection. 616 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:34,440 Hear me when I say this, no matter how many people you bring 617 00:37:34,440 --> 00:37:38,770 to Jesus Christ. It's not enough to get you into 618 00:37:38,770 --> 00:37:42,970 heaven. No matter how much you serve and 619 00:37:42,970 --> 00:37:46,970 rock babies and help other people, it's not enough to get 620 00:37:46,970 --> 00:37:50,410 you into heaven. No matter how much you give, 621 00:37:50,930 --> 00:37:53,330 it's not enough. Now, how much you read your 622 00:37:53,330 --> 00:37:55,810 Bible. You could never read it enough. 623 00:37:56,330 --> 00:37:58,170 But Clayton, I pray all day long. 624 00:37:58,170 --> 00:38:01,050 I never stop. I've been praying your whole 625 00:38:01,050 --> 00:38:02,970 sermon that God would turn it around. 626 00:38:02,970 --> 00:38:06,410 OK, somebody like I didn't get that joke. 627 00:38:07,780 --> 00:38:11,220 Here's why it'll never be enough. 628 00:38:13,340 --> 00:38:16,340 So if you try to come into this relationship with God and try to 629 00:38:16,500 --> 00:38:22,180 earn your way in, it's never going to work. 630 00:38:23,900 --> 00:38:30,700 We get in because of Him. He was our perfection. 631 00:38:31,100 --> 00:38:35,220 He was our work. He was our righteousness. 632 00:38:35,540 --> 00:38:40,820 He was our sacrifice. He did it for us. 633 00:38:41,100 --> 00:38:43,700 We didn't earn it. We were the Wretch that was 634 00:38:43,700 --> 00:38:50,380 saved. Everything we do is a response 635 00:38:50,620 --> 00:38:54,860 to what he did. And you can tell a lot about a 636 00:38:54,860 --> 00:38:58,860 person by whether or not they're willing to respond. 637 00:39:00,460 --> 00:39:02,900 I'm not asking you to do these things so that way you can get 638 00:39:02,900 --> 00:39:05,360 into heaven. Because that won't work. 639 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:12,400 What you and I do shows God how much we actually love him. 640 00:39:13,720 --> 00:39:18,600 And so some of you today, you've never started an intimate, 641 00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:24,080 personal relationship with Jesus Christ for some reason or 642 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:27,320 another. You keep putting it off, and I 643 00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:30,040 just want you to hear me say this right now. 644 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:36,620 God is willing. And ready and waiting for you. 645 00:39:37,620 --> 00:39:40,380 He has already done the work on your behalf. 646 00:39:40,420 --> 00:39:43,300 All you have to do is receive it by faith. 647 00:39:43,300 --> 00:39:46,900 And one of the ways that we receive it by faith is when we 648 00:39:46,900 --> 00:39:49,020 are obedient in the area of baptism. 649 00:39:49,020 --> 00:39:52,180 And in just a few moments, when everybody else around you stands 650 00:39:52,180 --> 00:39:54,140 and begins singing, there's going to be somebody right over 651 00:39:54,140 --> 00:39:57,100 there by the baptistry who would love an opportunity to talk with 652 00:39:57,100 --> 00:39:59,540 you about what that starting that intimate personal 653 00:39:59,540 --> 00:40:01,620 relationship with Jesus Christ looks like. 654 00:40:02,460 --> 00:40:05,660 To those of you who are watching online, hopefully right now, a 655 00:40:05,660 --> 00:40:08,940 little box popped up in the chat that gives you an opportunity to 656 00:40:08,940 --> 00:40:11,820 connect, and we have a team of people who'd love to pray with 657 00:40:11,820 --> 00:40:14,580 you and talk with you and get you connected with the church to 658 00:40:14,580 --> 00:40:18,220 help you take your next steps. To the rest of you in the room, 659 00:40:18,220 --> 00:40:21,420 I'm going to ask you a gut level question. 660 00:40:22,180 --> 00:40:28,020 Does your life reflect what Jesus did on your behalf? 661 00:40:30,180 --> 00:40:33,920 Does your life? Demonstrate A meaningful love 662 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:37,200 and appreciation for God and Jesus and what they've done. 663 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:41,600 If not, this is a perfect time for us to turn it around. 664 00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:44,760 Would you stand with me? Heavenly Father, thank you so 665 00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:47,160 much for today. Thank you for the opportunity 666 00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:49,600 that we have right now to get right with you. 667 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:52,680 God, thank you for never giving up on us. 668 00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:56,640 God, thank you for giving us all the chances we've asked for. 669 00:40:57,000 --> 00:40:59,640 Because, God, we're not on our first chance or our second 670 00:40:59,640 --> 00:41:01,750 chance. Or our third chance. 671 00:41:02,470 --> 00:41:04,790 God, I know there's people in here who are going, there's no 672 00:41:04,790 --> 00:41:08,350 way that you could ever love me and God. 673 00:41:08,350 --> 00:41:11,150 I pray that you would win the war in their mind right now. 674 00:41:11,750 --> 00:41:15,030 Make it real to them. Got them asking for a special 675 00:41:15,030 --> 00:41:18,350 encounter for every person in this room so that we can be 676 00:41:18,350 --> 00:41:20,830 changed and that we can make a difference for you. 677 00:41:20,830 --> 00:41:22,230 In your name I pray. Amen.