1 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,360 This is ERC Sundays, the messages at Emmaus Rd. 2 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:14,240 Church in DeWitt, Iowa. ERC is a Church of people 3 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:17,280 striving to grow in Jesus and make Him known to others through 4 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,560 our faith, words and actions. Find out more about our church 5 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:25,200 at emmausrdonline.org. Here's this week's message a 6 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:30,760 little. Bit of a joke made if you if 7 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:34,680 you've come in the past month or so, I haven't preached in five 8 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,320 weeks, which seems some of you are like who that's I like that. 9 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,280 Some of you have missed me and for that I thank you. 10 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,760 There was a there was a joke made that today's sermon might 11 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,360 be extra extra long because of the five weeks. 12 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,200 I got a lot of got a lot of pent up things to say. 13 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,320 I got a lot of a lot of problems with you people and you're all 14 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,680 going to hear about it. No 90s fans. 15 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:02,280 You're welcome. That's that's the first of two 16 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:04,680 90s references we're going to have this morning. 17 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,040 So we're going to jump into the other one right now. 18 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:12,640 Mine is Pastor Matt, Really just delighted and joyful to be a 19 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,680 part of this community. Thank you for coming and 20 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,200 worshiping with us, being filled by the truth of God's Word and 21 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,720 looking forward to this week. We we celebrate the resurrection 22 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,600 of Jesus every week, but it's Easter, so that's going to be 23 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:30,720 the main, main thing this week. I recently rewatched. 24 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:35,440 And I say rewatched because it's actually like a nostalgic movie 25 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:36,960 for me. Some of you might judge my 26 00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:41,040 parents for raising me with this movie in my upbringing. 27 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:44,520 But I'm OK. With how it worked out, I 28 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,400 recently rewatched the 1992 classic My Cousin Vinny. 29 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:54,040 I'm not going to go through everything. 30 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,080 Of how the plot works. The basic premise is there's 31 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,440 these two friends from Brooklyn, They're Rd. tripping to 32 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,200 California. On their. 33 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,360 Way in the backwoods of Alabama, they stop at a convenience store 34 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,280 or gas station and they're, they're loading up all this, all 35 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,039 this stuff to bring with them on their, on their trip and they're 36 00:02:10,039 --> 00:02:13,040 arguing over whether or not to get beans and tuna and all this 37 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,360 stuff. And, and one of the friends, he 38 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,440 decides he wants to get tuna for himself, but he's all loaded up 39 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,360 and he just like stuffs the can in his jacket pocket just, and 40 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:22,600 just forgets about it. They pay for their groceries, 41 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,840 doesn't pay for the can of tuna. They forgets it's in his jacket 42 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:30,680 and they go on their way. Few miles down the road, police 43 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,120 car lights. They get pulled over and they're 44 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:34,760 freaking out. We're in the backwoods Alabama. 45 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:36,480 Like, what's the punishment for shoplifting? 46 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:41,320 Like they're crazy down here. And but like he knew he did it. 47 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,440 He he admitted that he did wrongdoing. 48 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:45,280 They get. They get. 49 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,400 Booked for shoplifting. And he's, he's wanting to be 50 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:50,440 very. Cooperative. 51 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,040 He he's got this. He's got this mindset of it's. 52 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:55,400 Just a little case of shoplifting. 53 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:56,920 How? Bad Can the penalty be a pay a 54 00:02:56,920 --> 00:02:59,160 fine? We get back on the road, it's 55 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:00,760 just a can of tune. We got to give back the can of 56 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:02,480 tune to pay a fine. We're going to be fine. 57 00:03:03,920 --> 00:03:08,040 What they didn't know when lost in translation of this, was 58 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,880 shortly after they were at that convenience store, two other 59 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:14,000 guys who looked just like them when we're driving a car very 60 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,880 similar to theirs held up that gas station, robbed it and shot 61 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,480 the clerk, shot the cashier and killed them. 62 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,480 They think they're being booked for shoplifting when in fact the 63 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,600 police have them booked for murder. 64 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,840 When they realize that, you can imagine. 65 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:36,840 Whoa, wait a minute. I don't want to deal with the 66 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,160 consequences of murder. I I was, I was ready to deal 67 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:41,520 with the. Fallout of my shoplifting. 68 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:42,880 I could. I could handle that. 69 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:44,880 I could come to grips with that. I might. 70 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:46,920 Even be able to like in in and of my own power. 71 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,600 I can deal with that murder where the death. 72 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:56,240 Penalty is on the line. I can't face those consequences. 73 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,560 I don't want to face those consequences. 74 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,200 At the root of it. I think all of us are guilty of 75 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:10,840 this at some point. We don't hate our sin, we hate 76 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:15,080 the consequences of our sin if the consequences for 77 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,600 shoplifting. Was the death penalty. 78 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,320 We wouldn't want any part of that either. 79 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,160 Why do I? Start with this solemn 80 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:34,000 reflection from a cheesy old movie in the past few weeks in 81 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:35,960 Romans 8, and we're coming to the end. 82 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:44,840 We read a big, beautiful promise from God in Romans 828 that God 83 00:04:44,840 --> 00:04:48,800 causes all things to work together for good. 84 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:52,280 We know that. God causes. 85 00:04:52,280 --> 00:04:56,360 All things to work together for good, for those who love God and 86 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,200 for those who are called according to this purpose, 87 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:04,560 according to His purpose, if you've been with us. 88 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:06,440 Through this series that promise. 89 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:10,160 In verse 28 after after going through the weeds and the 90 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,400 tension of the Spirit. Versus the flesh and sin versus 91 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:17,000 death and the Holy Spirit and salvation and sanctification and 92 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,040 all these things. Verse 28 is a is a big relief 93 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,320 that what I'm facing God's going to work it out. 94 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:29,440 But some of us can hear these verses after wrestling through 95 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,080 all that tension and what am I on the side of the Spirit or am 96 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,640 I on the side of the flesh? And we can get to this verse and 97 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:37,320 hear God works all things together for good. 98 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,000 And we go, oh. Shit, I'm off the hook. 99 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:41,880 I have to worry about those things. 100 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:45,920 We go back to living our lives the way we were. 101 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,440 Unchanged. By the work of. 102 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,400 Christ. Unfazed by our sin. 103 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,240 Because the consequence has been removed. 104 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:03,440 Church were called to more. We're called to a life. 105 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:08,560 Of love and obedience to Christ. To repent and turn. 106 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:10,880 From our. Sin I don't want. 107 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:15,320 Us to cheapen the promise of of the goodness of what's in Romans 108 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:20,160 828 what it cost God and what it cost Christ to work all things 109 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,840 together for good. I love you all too. 110 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:25,840 Much for us to be a people that does that. 111 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:30,760 Because just a few chapters earlier than where? 112 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,000 We are in Romans 6. Paul writes. 113 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,560 What shall we say then? Are we the continuance in that 114 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,440 grace may abound? The idea being the. 115 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,800 More I sin, the more God can pour out His grace on over my 116 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:44,720 sin. Isn't that great? 117 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:51,160 By no means. How can we who died to sin? 118 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,560 Still live like it. Still live in it. 119 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,360 For sin will have no dominion over you, since. 120 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:00,680 You are not under the law, but under grace. 121 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:02,160 What? Then are we to sin because we 122 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:03,840 are not under law, but under grace? 123 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:11,200 By no means for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of 124 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:15,920 God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 125 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:24,400 So you're sitting there saying, I'm glad Pastor Matt's back, 126 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,200 really glad I got out of bed for this, get beat up this morning 127 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:33,760 at church. Yeah, you did. 128 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:40,560 You're here, and I'm not here to preach the word of God to make 129 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,960 you comfortable. Living a life. 130 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,840 On a path to destruction. God's Word and His grace do not 131 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:51,000 exist to make you comfortable living a life. 132 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:55,920 Of sin. They are meant to save you, but 133 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,160 that are they are not meant to make you comfortable. 134 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,960 In that sin. Because you get the promise of 135 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,920 verse 28 and that he works all things together for good. 136 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,760 If if what? If you love God and are called 137 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:11,840 according to his purpose. I promise His purposes are not 138 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,760 for you to remain in the sin that He saved you from. 139 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:18,600 That's not what that promise is for. 140 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,400 We know that for those. Who love God all. 141 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,520 Things work together for good for those who are called 142 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:32,200 according to his purpose. We're at a critical juncture in 143 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,960 this passage. Paul is both giving an answer to 144 00:08:36,039 --> 00:08:39,039 this wrestling of sin of A. Flesh. 145 00:08:39,159 --> 00:08:42,240 Versus spirit to this point in the passage. 146 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:47,200 And he's also alluding to what remains in the rest of this 147 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:52,440 letter in Romans. We're at a big point in this 148 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,880 passage. We're a big week in this church 149 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:56,520 in. Celebrating the resurrection. 150 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:00,200 Of Jesus Christ on Easter. Every time we remember that, 151 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,440 it's by His wounds we're healed. By His resurrection, we have 152 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,400 hope of eternal life. We do that every week. 153 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,520 Next Sunday's Easter, it really matters this week. 154 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,400 We've got to get that right. This coming week that it's in. 155 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,360 The resurrection of Christ. Alone that we have hope. 156 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:23,480 Last week, Dom. Beautifully laid out this chain 157 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:27,640 of salvation that follows this 828 promise. 158 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,520 Why? How does God work all things 159 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:34,480 together for good for those who love Him and are called? 160 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,800 Well. He foreknew them. 161 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,120 He predestined them to be conformed to the image of his 162 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,720 son in order that they might be the first born in inheritance, 163 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,880 among many others. Those he predestined he also 164 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:48,600 called. Those he called he justified. 165 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:53,400 And those whom he justified, he also glorified. 166 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:58,960 That's what's at stake. Here ending in God's glory. 167 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:04,400 The fullness of God revealed in the fullness of heaven. 168 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:12,400 I saw a reel this week. I I shared it, but the Peach 169 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:15,440 preacher posed this question. I'm I'm paraphrasing if you were 170 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:17,960 to get to heaven and it was the. Glorious. 171 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,600 Paradise that you envision. All your favorite foods were 172 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:23,320 there. You were able to do whatever fun 173 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,240 activities you want. The weather's beautiful. 174 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,320 Your favorite people, your family and friends are all there 175 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:30,640 all around you. There's no sin, there's no 176 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,040 suffering, no crying, no pain, all those things. 177 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:41,640 Does that sound like heaven? Some of you are saying yes, I'm 178 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:43,120 seeing nods. Sounds like heaven. 179 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,880 That's that's. What we picture heaven to be 180 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,960 like. Now imagine there's all of those 181 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:54,040 things that I just lifted off. But there's no Jesus. 182 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:59,960 There is that heaven we got? We got some more Nos and we got 183 00:10:59,960 --> 00:11:02,600 some young Nos. I love that. 184 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:08,880 No, it's not. All of those things are not what 185 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:12,640 makes heaven heaven. Jesus is what makes heaven, 186 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:18,000 heaven, That picture of heaven without. 187 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:22,440 Jesus is not heaven. Jesus is heaven, and we're 188 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:27,240 called into relationship with Him right here and now. 189 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:31,360 Not so that we can have the paradise of heaven someday. 190 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:34,480 And, and, and set him aside. Could you imagine showing up to 191 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,040 heaven and be so enraptured with all of those other things? 192 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:38,560 You don't even care where Jesus is hanging out? 193 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:43,360 No, I'm in heaven to hang out with Jesus. 194 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:52,320 Knowing Jesus isn't just purchasing or punching a ticket 195 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:57,120 to eternity. It's knowing and growing closer 196 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,240 to the. Very source of your. 197 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,640 Being to the. Giver of eternal life. 198 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:07,440 So no, I'm not here. To make you more comfortable in 199 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:11,120 this life on earth. I'm here to build us up in his 200 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,960 words, so that our hearts. Would break for the things that 201 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,320 break. His heart that we would learn to 202 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,440 love him and each other. And the world in the way that. 203 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:24,840 He. Would I'm here to encourage. 204 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:26,960 You to live a life guided by God's Word eyes. 205 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,000 Fixed on Jesus because he's the best. 206 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,360 Thing. For you, the best thing for each 207 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:40,320 and every one of us. So here we are, our passage for 208 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,880 today, Romans 831. We're going to. 209 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:47,000 Go through verse 37. We're going to hit some overlap 210 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:58,640 in these final weeks here, but first let's pray our great God, 211 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,360 would your Spirit do its work in this time? 212 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:03,280 Rebuke, rebuke. Teach, correct. 213 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,040 Train us up in your righteousness. 214 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:13,720 May our hearts see and sense. What working out the good for 215 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,280 each of? Us, what it costs you, what it 216 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:20,440 costs Jesus. And may we respond in the lives 217 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:22,680 we're called to. Amen. 218 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:31,800 Romans 8 verses 31 through 37, reading in Jesus name. 219 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:35,720 What then shall we say to these things? 220 00:13:37,680 --> 00:13:40,880 That's the predestined, glorified that chain that we 221 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:43,120 talked about last week. What shall we say to these 222 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,800 things? If God is for us. 223 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:51,640 Who can be against us? He who did not spare his own 224 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:55,720 son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him 225 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:59,400 graciously? Give us all things who shall 226 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,160 bring any charge against God's elect? 227 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:03,440 It is God. Who justifies? 228 00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:08,360 Who is the one who condemns Christ Jesus? 229 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,760 Is he who died but rather. Was raised. 230 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:15,120 Who is at the right hand of God? Who indeed is interceding? 231 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,120 For us. Who shall separate us from the 232 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:18,680 love? Of Christ shall tribulation or 233 00:14:18,680 --> 00:14:21,200 distress, or persecution. Or famine, or nakedness, or 234 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,800 danger, or sword. It is. 235 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:28,080 Written for your sake. We are killed all day long. 236 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:29,840 We. Were regarded as sheep. 237 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:35,480 To be slaughtered. But in all these things. 238 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,840 We overwhelmingly conquer through. 239 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:42,960 Him who loved us, this is the word of God. 240 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,280 Those of you that are following along in in your own Bibles or 241 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:51,640 the the Bibles under the chairs in the ESVI took a little left 242 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:57,080 turn on that last verse. ESV says in all those things we 243 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:00,000 are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 244 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:05,560 The Greek phrase there is exceedingly conquering, 245 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:13,360 translated in the NSB as we overwhelmingly conquer through 246 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:17,360 him who loved us. And in that way, we're ending 247 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,280 with the punchline if that's the only thing that you. 248 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:23,800 Take from this message. Today, in all these things, 249 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,080 through all these things, these tribulations, trials and 250 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:30,920 persecution, Christ has overwhelmingly conquered. 251 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:32,960 And next week it's going to be that. 252 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:34,520 And the week after that it's going to be that. 253 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:41,800 Spoilers. Christ wins, not death or sin or 254 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,680 whatever is facing you in this moment. 255 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:48,680 Today, He didn't. Win it with a last minute buzzer 256 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,360 beater. The game is 100 and nothing at 257 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,000 halftime. We're just running up the score. 258 00:15:56,680 --> 00:16:06,990 Overwhelmingly conquered. Paul asks the question. 259 00:16:10,070 --> 00:16:13,270 Because like I kind of started talking about today, it seems 260 00:16:13,270 --> 00:16:18,000 like these people forgot or they're not getting it. 261 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,120 If you go back, he's said the same. 262 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,080 Thing of assurance, he's made the. 263 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,800 Same promises of blessing. Over and over again. 264 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:28,800 Just kind of. Well, maybe they'll get it this 265 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,440 way. Well, they didn't get that, so 266 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,160 I'll say it this way. They didn't get it that way, so 267 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:34,000 I'll say it this. Way. 268 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,640 And he comes to verse 31. After making these promises. 269 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:40,240 Again and again. What? 270 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:44,600 Then shall we say to these things, if God is for us? 271 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:50,560 Who can stand against us? And God. 272 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:56,480 Is for us my. Cousin Vinny on my mind, but 273 00:16:56,480 --> 00:17:01,160 that the courtroom setting of that judge I've. 274 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:02,840 Never been in a courtroom, not personally. 275 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,640 Some of you have hope. I'm never on. 276 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:08,880 The the. Stand there with facing 277 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:10,800 something that's against me, but imagine. 278 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:12,680 In that moment, imagine. Being on the stand. 279 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:18,440 And that judge is on your side. He believes you. 280 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:23,040 He knows how it actually went down, and he's ready to acquit 281 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:25,800 you. That's God for you. 282 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:29,200 When you're on trial, the judge is already on your. 283 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:35,240 Side more than that. In Christ that judge. 284 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:37,840 Imagine. Yourself in the courtroom is 285 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,440 calling up his own son to take your place. 286 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:47,960 On the stand? How much more on your side can 287 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:52,800 it get? That's the biggest thing, the 288 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,800 most valuable thing that Judge could give us. 289 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:58,200 He already gave it. We already have it. 290 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:02,520 If God is for us, if that judge is for us and he's willing to 291 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,200 give his Son, He already gave the biggest thing. 292 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:06,760 There's nothing that could overwhelm that. 293 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:08,520 There's nothing that could mean more than that. 294 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:16,680 He's asking this rhetorical. Question, almost jokingly, why? 295 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:20,480 Why are you even bringing up these things that can't measure 296 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,360 up to what God? Has already done. 297 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:27,480 Who will bring? Charges against God elect. 298 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:32,720 God is the one who justifies who. 299 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:34,360 Is the one who? Condemns How could there be 300 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:39,520 anything brought against you that Trump's what God says about 301 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:43,720 you? No one can stand against us. 302 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:48,880 No thing, we're going to get to the list. 303 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,160 That Paul rattles off. Here in just a second, but 304 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:54,280 there's nothing that could hope to. 305 00:18:54,280 --> 00:19:00,120 Oppose God and emerge. Victorious against those who are 306 00:19:00,120 --> 00:19:00,960 covered. By the blood of. 307 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:05,920 Christ at the end of. Verse 33. 308 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:16,120 That that phrase, that it is God who justifies that should do two 309 00:19:16,120 --> 00:19:22,760 things for you. It's a rebuke to our pride that 310 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:25,320 I've got this, it's only a can of tuna. 311 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:30,400 I got this. That murder charge comes up 312 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:31,680 later. God, I'm going to call you in, 313 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:33,120 but it's only a can of tuna right now. 314 00:19:33,120 --> 00:19:34,640 So I'm I'm good. Nope. 315 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:39,520 It's. God, who has justified? 316 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:41,720 It's a warning. You don't got this. 317 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:44,200 You did shoplift a can of. Tuna. 318 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:49,600 And the punishment is death. You need a God who's called you 319 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,360 innocent. In light of the sacrifice of his 320 00:19:52,360 --> 00:19:56,640 son. So while it takes our pride down 321 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:00,200 a peg, it's also a promise of assurance that God knows you 322 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:01,720 can't. Handle what's facing you. 323 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:06,280 God's got this, I've got this, he says. 324 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:10,040 You don't have to. It's God who we wronged, and 325 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:14,400 it's Jesus the Son who's actually sitting in our place on 326 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,040 the stand, leaning over, talking to the judge. 327 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:19,480 Saying, Yep, I can take that one too. 328 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:21,680 I'm going to take the punishment for that one too. 329 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,040 That one's on me too. They're covered. 330 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:36,440 I did it verse 34. Who is to condemn Jesus? 331 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:39,480 Christ is the one who died, more than that, who was raised. 332 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:42,560 What does anyone have against him? 333 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,440 Jesus willingly put himself. On the cross. 334 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:51,680 By the power of God was raised back to life. 335 00:20:53,280 --> 00:21:00,200 Who could stand and condemn you? Paul then asks. 336 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:06,400 The big question because. We are a people who are 337 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:10,520 forgetful. Who are doubtful, who are 338 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,320 unbelieving and I'm I'm saying. I'm right there. 339 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:18,440 With you, I don't have this perfectly done and figured out. 340 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:21,720 I've doubted this week. I've struggled this week. 341 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:30,760 It's unnatural for us to agree with and and and absorb these 342 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:34,160 promises of God. Our sinful flesh is prone to 343 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:39,680 doubt. So Paul asked, Who will separate 344 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:42,520 us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress? 345 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,920 Or persecution or. Famine or nakedness? 346 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:46,800 Or danger. Or sword. 347 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,400 And then he quotes. For your sake we are. 348 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:53,920 Killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep to be 349 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,360 slaughtered. That that doesn't sound like. 350 00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:59,680 Working all things together for good, that's. 351 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:05,560 But what it does promise God? What? 352 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:09,120 What God? Doesn't promise is that a life 353 00:22:09,120 --> 00:22:14,280 in Jesus is going to be a life void and immune to. 354 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:21,440 Sin and pain and struggle, we still have those things for 355 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:24,920 sure. But what Paul is asking is when 356 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,840 those things stand against you. Is your hope. 357 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:36,000 Shaken because it shouldn't. Be, he answers. 358 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:40,800 Resoundingly in all these. Things we overwhelmingly conquer 359 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:44,120 through Him who loved us. Look again at this list. 360 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,120 So tribulation or distress, or persecution or famine, or 361 00:22:49,120 --> 00:22:54,280 nakedness, or danger, or sword. This is meant to be an 362 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:59,760 exhaustive list. Paul wasn't leaving loopholes or 363 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,040 asking this as a challenge of. Can you find? 364 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:05,520 Something that God can't heal, can you? 365 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:07,600 Find something that God can't conquer. 366 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:12,560 That's not. What he's asking here, some of 367 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:13,600 these words are kind of. Broad. 368 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:15,000 Broad but I. Promise. 369 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:21,840 Whatever past, present, future struggle, you were or will be or 370 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:26,200 are in right. Now it's in this list and it 371 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:27,760 can't separate you from the love of. 372 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:31,800 Christ, he's already conquered it. 373 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:39,520 Whatever you're facing, it can't threaten your standing with God. 374 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:45,800 There is more grace in Jesus than there is sin in you, then 375 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,400 there is sin in your life. There's still more grace in 376 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,600 Jesus. And Paul didn't write these 377 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:56,280 words with a caveat either. Some of you might read these. 378 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:59,520 Words and and try to again justify yourself but remember we 379 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:03,480 just read it's God who justifies we can't even be in that place 380 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:06,280 of justifying ourself or our struggle or our sin. 381 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,840 There's there's not nothing that can separate you from the love 382 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,640 of Christ unless you had a terrible childhood or unless 383 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:17,240 you've struggled with this sin, or unless you did this terrible 384 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:18,240 thing. OK, Yeah. 385 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,200 Then those things could separate you from the love of Christ. 386 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:25,320 That's not what's in my Bible. There's no caveats. 387 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:27,920 There's no outs. There's no justifications for 388 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:32,520 why we're not covered by Christ's sacrifice. 389 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:36,120 There's no out. Christ covered it all. 390 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:44,000 Don't cheapen. The work of Christ. 391 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:48,160 With your justification or your excuses? 392 00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:52,640 For why you put. Things between yourself and God, 393 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:56,560 His love. His grace, His sacrifice. 394 00:24:57,520 --> 00:24:58,720 They're all more powerful than that. 395 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:10,600 It's the father who justified. In Mark Chapter 9 there's a 396 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:15,880 story of a man who brought his demon possessed son to Jesus and 397 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:20,680 asked him to heal him. And Jesus asked him, do you? 398 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:25,800 Believe I can do this. The man's response was, I 399 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:34,760 believe, but help my unbelief. That's the tension we get caught 400 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:36,960 in day-to-day. That's what happened on Palm 401 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,240 Sunday, right? They believed, and then five 402 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:45,600 days later, all the twists and turns of the world, all the 403 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:49,640 snares of the devil, brought them into unbelief. 404 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,920 God, I believe. But help my unbelief. 405 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:02,760 I think that's what we struggle with most. 406 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:09,040 The devil's really good at making us feel isolated and 407 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:16,080 question our worthiness of Jesus's sacrifice, even at the 408 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:20,960 point of where we fully believe that these day-to-day things can 409 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:28,680 chip and tear that down. So how do we how do we fight 410 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:31,480 that? How do we get back to? 411 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:34,200 A place of understanding that Christ already did it. 412 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:35,160 It's finished. It's. 413 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,800 Done and and we. Hold to that without being 414 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:42,320 shaken, without. Being swayed by the storms and 415 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:50,640 waves of life, how do we wholly, resolutely, fully believe? 416 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:57,440 That he's already won. I think the first step is to 417 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,720 admit your doubt. That guy with. 418 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:02,640 Jesus was I I. Believe, but it'd still be. 419 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:06,080 Crazy if you heal them like. Really. 420 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,600 Help my unbelief. Admit your doubt. 421 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:15,440 Praying that. Prayer itself, acknowledging 422 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:18,320 that you have faith, but it's weak, it's prone to be shaken. 423 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:24,720 God help my unbelief. Secondly, how do we help our 424 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:29,800 unbelief? Focus on His power and mercy 425 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:34,040 rather than your own. Capacity to believe. 426 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,120 Focus on what he did not. What you could do? 427 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:42,480 Because even if you feel like you can handle that shoplifting, 428 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:43,640 that can of tuna. You can't. 429 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:48,760 He covered it all. There's no sin too great. 430 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:49,720 There's no. Sin too. 431 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:54,960 Small that he didn't cover. Focus on what he did, not what 432 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:59,600 we could do. Admit your doubt. 433 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:01,520 Look to Jesus the third way we help. 434 00:28:01,520 --> 00:28:08,200 Our unbelief. Ask for his continued strength. 435 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:17,920 The man admitted his unbelief by saying he needed. 436 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:20,200 Help, but he also. Asked for the help. 437 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,160 Right, he said. I believe, but my faith is weak. 438 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,880 I need you to help my unbelief. Acknowledge that your. 439 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,120 Faith can be shaken, but look to God. 440 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:31,040 Pray to God. For his strength. 441 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:33,280 To help your unbelief in the final way. 442 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:35,840 Admit your doubt. Look to Jesus. 443 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:42,560 Ask God for help. Understand that it's normal. 444 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:49,800 Understand that it's not just you, it's our human condition. 445 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:57,640 The enemy wants you to think you're the only one who's so 446 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:00,440 terrible, who's so depraved, who's so messed up. 447 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:11,080 We're all right there with you. We all need Jesus just as much 448 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:15,720 as each other. Friends, there's nothing facing 449 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:20,520 you in this moment, in your past, or in your future that 450 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:24,800 Christ hasn't covered and that His grace can't redeem. 451 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:32,400 We have to return to the Father, trust that His way is best, and 452 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:35,960 cling to the Holy Spirit to help our unbelief. 453 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:41,000 Son has finished it. The battle's already won. 454 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:53,650 Let's pray, Holy Spirit, we believe, but help our unbelief. 455 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:05,120 In this time of relative safety in your. 456 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:09,640 Presence in your house. Feels like an easy prayer to 457 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:14,840 pray between the Sundays. On the battlefield. 458 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:21,080 Our human eyes lose sight of you. 459 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:25,400 Holy Spirit, fix our eyes on Jesus. 460 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:35,200 Give us daily assurance again and again through the truth of 461 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:39,320 Your Word, through your still small voice. 462 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:45,680 Remind us of your promises. Remind us of your work. 463 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:52,960 Remind us that our shortcomings are nothing compared to what 464 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:55,040 you've already faced and beaten. Jesus. 465 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:04,840 Strengthen and preserve us in true faith unto everlasting life 466 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:10,240 in a heaven where you're there. We look forward to that day. 467 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:15,760 In the name of Jesus, we pray. Would you stand and sing as we 468 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:27,240 respond? Thanks for listening to the ERC 469 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:30,760 Sundays for the work God is doing, an Amazed Rd. church. 470 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:34,280 Visit amazedrdonline.org/giving.