1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: Let us pray. And when Jesus had cried with a 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands, I commend 3 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: my spirit. And having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 4 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, 5 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: certainly this was a righteous man. Luke twenty three, forty 6 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: six and forty seven. Lord Jesus, I humble myself before you. 7 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: It breaks my heart to know the pain you suffered 8 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 1: because of my sins an arrogant pride. I weep when 9 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: I think about what they did to you, such a 10 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: gentle and innocent man. Many pass over your humanity and 11 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: your suffering because you were God. Yes you were God, 12 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: but you divested yourself of your majesty to wrap yourself 13 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: in the flesh of man. You identify with everything humanity suffers, feels, 14 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: and contends with. You felt every insulting word they mocked 15 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: you with when they ripped open your flesh with a 16 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: nine tails whip and pierced your head with a crown 17 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:19,559 Speaker 1: of thorns. You felt ever agonizing emotions when they nailed 18 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: you to the cross in humiliation before those who loved 19 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: and cared for you. It must have broken your heart 20 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: more than your body. You could have called down your 21 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 1: angelic host to deliver you from this torture, but you 22 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: yielded until it was finished. After you asked God to 23 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: forgive them and cleared your spirit. You committed your spirit 24 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: into the Father's hands and breathed your last breath. You 25 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: offered yourself in death that I might live. I seek 26 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: to glorify you Lord by living in alignment with your 27 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: word of truth. You said, if I love you, I 28 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: will keep your commandments. I do love you and will 29 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: keep your commandments in Jesus name. 30 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 2: Amen. 31 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to today's Daily Prayer for more 32 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: inspiration and an incredible message from our feature pastor, stay 33 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: tuned to Pray dot COM's Sunday service. 34 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 3: The critical work of World Challenge to encourage believers around 35 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 3: the world is made possible by the generous contributions of 36 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 3: individuals like you. Thank you for listening and supporting World 37 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 3: Challenge transforming lives through the message and mission of Jesus Christ. 38 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 2: Let me pray and then we're gonna be talking about 39 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 2: glory only in the cross. It's the afterglow of Easter. 40 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,399 Speaker 2: It's a pastor who loves teaching the word up here 41 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 2: in the pulpit, saying, I really want to make sure 42 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 2: that we understand why Jesus had to die. I really, 43 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 2: I really want to understand the power. Because it's one 44 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 2: thing to sing the glorious songs, even when the sang tonight, 45 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 2: I am free. And then if we were to ask you, 46 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 2: why are you free? You might say I feel free, 47 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 2: or I think I'm free, or but maybe there's some truth, 48 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 2: some doctrine, even here's a bad word in some circles, 49 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 2: even some theology. Theology simply means the study of God. 50 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 2: Who doesn't want to study God. I mean, he's brilliant, 51 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 2: he's wonderful, he's amazing, And so there are various types 52 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: of theologians, and we're going to be talking about that tonight. 53 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 2: We'll start in Galatians chapter six. If you have your Bible, 54 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 2: Galatians chapter six and verse fourteen. Let me pray for us. First, 55 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 2: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the grace that might 56 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 2: come upon me tonight to proclaim your word in such 57 00:03:55,680 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 2: fashion that our minds would be open to revelation, our 58 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 2: hearts would be palpitating with the vigor and vitality of 59 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 2: the newness of life, that has been received through the 60 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 2: blood of Jesus, through the Cross, through the death, through 61 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: the burial, through the resurrection, through the ascension, through the 62 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 2: being seated at the right hand of the Father. These 63 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 2: things are all realities of this singularity that we call 64 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 2: the Cross of Jesus Christ. And we only glory in 65 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 2: the cross. We don't glory in our power, we don't 66 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 2: glory in our eloquence, we don't boast in our own abilities. 67 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 2: We just know that it is all of you. And 68 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 2: I just thank you for the grace to proclaim your 69 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 2: word in Jesus name. Everybody said together, Amen, Glacians, Chapter six, 70 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 2: verse fourteen. Only glory in the cross. That's exactly what 71 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 2: this verse says. But God forbid that I should glory 72 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 2: only in the cross of Jesus Christ, except in the 73 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 2: cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world 74 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 2: has been crucified to me and I to the world. 75 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 2: Some translations say I boast only in the cross, others 76 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: I only glory in the cross. In fifteen eighteen, a 77 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 2: young monk was struggling with a very universal question, a 78 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 2: question that all of us, now five hundred years later, 79 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: are still asking. It's a question that's asked in the 80 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 2: corridors of every university, in high school campus, every family member, 81 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 2: every person walking down the streets of New York City, 82 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 2: everyone riding on a subway, really may not pay attention 83 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 2: to this question, but deep down inside they are asking 84 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 2: this question that this young monk was asking. Basically, this 85 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 2: universal question was what's wrong with me? Why do I 86 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 2: have this nagging sense of not being complete? What is 87 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 2: this thing inside of me that feels empty? That I'm 88 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 2: not enough, not a sufficient person, I'm not adequate to 89 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 2: live up to the calling on my life. And as 90 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 2: a result of that, this young man inteen in the 91 00:05:55,520 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 2: sixteenth century was depressed. He was self loathing. He was 92 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 2: a perfectionist who could never find himself doing enough. As 93 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 2: a result, he was deeply unhappy, and he was trying 94 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 2: to find the root cause for his ailment. As he 95 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: began to explore this thing that was ailing the deepest 96 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 2: part of the recesses of his heart, he came to 97 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 2: a crucial reality that all of these questions he was 98 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 2: asking actually have their root in one question. And this 99 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 2: one question became he said, the fundamental question we are 100 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 2: all asking is how can I arrive at the righteousness 101 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 2: that will enable me to stand before a holy God. 102 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 2: What he's saying is that all these other questions are 103 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 2: subsets of the deepest question that oftentimes theologians and again 104 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 2: everybody here is a theologian, even if you're an atheist, 105 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 2: you're a theologian. You're studying God in the sense of 106 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: saying he doesn't exist, or you're studying him in the 107 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 2: way he's saying that He is good, or the way 108 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 2: whatever it is. And so he's saying this fundamental question 109 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 2: comes down to are we righteous before God? And the 110 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 2: atheist or the agnostic or the lukewarm Christian probably doesn't 111 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 2: really understand they're asking that question, but they are asking 112 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 2: it because we know you're asking it. If you're asking 113 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 2: these other questions, what's the thing inside of me that 114 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: doesn't feel right about myself? Why do I wake up 115 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 2: sometimes in the morning on the wrongs? We call it, 116 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 2: what the wrong side of the bad? Who would think 117 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:28,239 Speaker 2: that those things are attached to this deeper root question 118 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 2: of what does it take to stand righteous before God? 119 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 2: How can I be accepted by Him? How can I 120 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,239 Speaker 2: be in right standing with him? How can I stand 121 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 2: before him? One day at the judgment seat, and him 122 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 2: say to me, well done, good and faithful servant. Again, 123 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: these are not questions that are formed and articulated by everyone, 124 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: but they're in the heart of every man. God says 125 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 2: that eternity is set in the heart of every man. 126 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 2: So we are all asking this question. The root of 127 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 2: all these other nagging questions that disturb our souls are 128 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 2: the one thing. How do I become righteous? How do 129 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 2: I get right with God? This young man in fifteen 130 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 2: eighteen had a spiritual breakthrough that set his soul free, 131 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 2: that turned his mind to a calm and accepting mind. 132 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 2: His acceptance before his Holy God had become secure. He 133 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 2: answered the most fundamental question, how can I become righteous 134 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 2: before God? And his heart was set on fire and 135 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 2: joy filled his soul, and a song entered into his heart, 136 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 2: and he began to study the Word and preach the 137 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 2: Word with a freedom and a victory. And he began 138 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 2: to write songs about it, like one that you may 139 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 2: have sung growing up in the church. A mighty fortress 140 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:41,439 Speaker 2: is our God. And he could realize he could put 141 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 2: his trust in the righteousness of Christ to redeem him 142 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 2: from his lostness and heal his brokenness. And restore his 143 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 2: corrupt mind and get rid of his depression and his anxiety, 144 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 2: and his fear and his stress. That fundamental question that 145 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 2: we were all asking was answered by him in one thing. 146 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 2: It is found in the blood of Jesus Christ that 147 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: makes me righteous. What a glorious spiritual breakthrough he had, 148 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 2: and what he proposed is revolutionary. What he proposed, I 149 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 2: would suggest to you is probably the most important reality 150 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 2: and truth ever discovered in the history of mankind. More 151 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 2: important than gravity, more important than the nuclear bomb, more 152 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 2: important than any other scientific or psychological or relational reality. 153 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 2: This one thing that, this revolutionary idea that he proposed, 154 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 2: I would argue, is the single most important message, even 155 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 2: for this generation. Over five hundred years later, and he 156 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 2: went to a city called Heidelberg in Germany, and there 157 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 2: he met with his other monks. There was about thirty 158 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 2: young monks who were with him, and he began to 159 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 2: what is called dispute with them. He brought out about 160 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 2: twenty five different points that basically rocked the whole Catholic 161 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:02,079 Speaker 2: world in that audience, where some young men who at 162 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:06,199 Speaker 2: the power of this revolutionary message were set free themselves 163 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 2: and joined Martin Luther in a revolution called the Reformation. 164 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:14,439 Speaker 2: That is still the roots of this church. These messages, 165 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 2: these songs, this prayer meeting. You're being saved, you're being 166 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 2: set free, You're coming to know Christ has its roots, yes, 167 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 2: in the New Testament church, more importantly in the Gospel. 168 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 2: But it was the reforming or the revival or the 169 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:34,119 Speaker 2: reawakening of these simple gospel truths that we are justified 170 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 2: by grace through faith alone, in Christ alone. And this 171 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 2: revolutionary idea came down to this. He told these thirty 172 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 2: months or so came know two things. There's two types 173 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 2: of theologians. And again these were all theologians, these monks. 174 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 2: But everyone here tonight is a theologian. And everyone in 175 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 2: this room has either one of these two types of theologies. 176 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 2: In your life. Every church has one of these two theologies. 177 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 2: First one he called is a theology of glory, theology 178 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 2: of glory. The second one he had was called the theology 179 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 2: of the Cross. And he was saying that the invitation 180 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 2: was that all of you men, I want you to 181 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 2: become to turn away from being a theologian of glory 182 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,679 Speaker 2: and become a theologian of the Cross, and bring that 183 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 2: to your church. Bring that to your nation. Bring that 184 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 2: message of the cross of Jesus Christ to the world. Now, 185 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 2: when I speak of the glory, not boasting in glory 186 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 2: or not glorying anything except the cross of the Glatians 187 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 2: passage we started with tonight, I'm not speaking of honoring 188 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:50,319 Speaker 2: the glory of God, praising the glory of God, singing 189 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 2: the glory of God, getting on your knees and honoring God. 190 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 2: That's the kind of glory we are to pursue. But 191 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 2: what Martin Luther was talking about here is a theology 192 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 2: of self glory, of how to become a person that 193 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 2: has glory, that gets glory, that obtains glory. Men and 194 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 2: women are created in the image of God, and our 195 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 2: first parents, Adam and Eve, were created in the garden, 196 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 2: filled with the glory of God, the presence of God, 197 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 2: the honor of walking with Him daily. In the garden, 198 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 2: they found love, and they found acceptance. They found a completeness, 199 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 2: They found a peace and a joy, a contentment with 200 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 2: God and with one another. They needed no marriage seminars, 201 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 2: they needed no marriage counseling, They needed no revival or 202 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 2: spiritual awakening, because they were complete in God and walked 203 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 2: with God in the garden. And then, as we know 204 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 2: the story, they fell into temptation in the garden, and 205 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 2: they fell into sin, and the sin brought separation and 206 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 2: brokenness in relationship with God and relationship with one another. 207 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 2: You see, immediately they begin to blame one another, they 208 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 2: begin to cover themselves because of the shame, and there 209 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 2: was a brokenness of the glory. Many many years later, 210 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 2: Paul writes about this that we all have sinned and 211 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 2: fall short of the glory of God. We're no longer 212 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 2: walking in that glory. We're no longer experiencing the fullness 213 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 2: of that glory. There's something missing in our heart. And 214 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 2: I would suggest to you that that this loss of glory, 215 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 2: it's that sense of something deeply missing in our hearts. 216 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 2: There's something we once had that I wish that we say, 217 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 2: I wish I could obtain that again. I wish I 218 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 2: could get back to the glory. I wish I could 219 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 2: get back to the presence, the joy, the painlessness, the sorrowlessness, 220 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:48,079 Speaker 2: the contentment. I want that kind of life. So what 221 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 2: we are longing for really is glory. And ever since 222 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 2: the loss in court curt at the Fall, there has 223 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 2: been in us an attempt to claw back to that 224 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 2: glory or to climb that ladder and say what is 225 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 2: missing in me? I will do anything to experience that. 226 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 2: Some will take drugs to experience it. Some will live 227 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,319 Speaker 2: a life of sexual immorality to experience. Some will try 228 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 2: to get rich to experience. Some will attend church to 229 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 2: experience it without really understanding that the righteousness is not 230 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 2: in a church service, in a prayer meeting and singing songs. 231 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 2: It's in the blood of Jesus cleansing us from all 232 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 2: sin and becoming righteous in Christ. And so we are attempting, 233 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 2: as I said, to claw our way back. The theologian 234 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 2: of glory as someone who is seeking glory through human 235 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 2: strength to enter it back into the garden after the fall. 236 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 2: We came from glory. Here's how it goes. We came 237 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 2: from glory. Now we're temporary derailed, but we believe it's 238 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 2: only a slight setback. It's just a temporary inconvenience, and 239 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 2: it could be remedied. So clearly, if we can just 240 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 2: have the proper human effort or will power or striving 241 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 2: in our own strength, or proper religious understanding or religious 242 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 2: activities or moral obligations or duties. If we could just 243 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 2: do it right, if we could just do life right, 244 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 2: we could get back into this glory. And that's why 245 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 2: even many churches are more about doing life right, ten 246 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 2: steps to a better marriage, how to be moral, how 247 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 2: to overcome this problem, how to do better at this. 248 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 2: They're preaching a theology of glory that you can pull 249 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 2: yourself up by your bootstraps by human will and moral effort. 250 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 2: You have the ability in yourself. Yes, you could be 251 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 2: aided by God's presence and power and grace, but substantially 252 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 2: you could do it yourself. And so there's a pursuit 253 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 2: of restoring self glory, and it says this, I can 254 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 2: access this glory through human efforts, through self achievement, through 255 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 2: self fulfillment, through self will. And the Bible has a 256 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 2: name for this. It's called being self righteous, or another 257 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 2: verse we'll look at a little bit later, putting our 258 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 2: confidence in the flesh. Basically, we're saying I want that 259 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 2: former glory. Basically it's saying I know I can get it. 260 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 2: It's basically saying I know how to get it. And 261 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 2: then it's basically saying I know what it takes to 262 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 2: achieve this glory that my heart longs to be restored. 263 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 2: A theologian of glory believes all we need to answer 264 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 2: this nagging question of what's wrong in the deepest recesses 265 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 2: of my heart in life is positive reinforcement or bolstering 266 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 2: a sagging ego or a constant voice surrounding us of optimism. Optimism. 267 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 2: You can get your glory back by believing in yourself. 268 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 2: You can get your glory back by believing in God. 269 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 2: We are bombarded by this message from our parents when 270 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 2: we are children and we paint the ugliest picture and 271 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 2: they put it up on the refrigerator, saying you're going 272 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 2: to be an artist, and we sing a song and 273 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 2: it's totally off key, and they say, maybe you're going 274 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 2: to be the next Beyonce. That we're bombarded with this 275 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 2: optimistic message. And then we go to our schools and 276 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 2: they're putting gold stars on our f grade things, and 277 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 2: in our sports they're no longer keeping score. When I 278 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,400 Speaker 2: see my grandson play, I am in my own mind 279 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 2: keeping score. We're winning thirteen to five. And so we're 280 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 2: bombarded with this message of glory. You're glorious, you're worthy, 281 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 2: you're wonderful, you're amazing, you can do anything. And then 282 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 2: we go to church. God help us. We're hearing messages 283 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 2: that I could hardly tell whether it's Oprah preaching or 284 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 2: Joe Olstein. Hardly can tell the difference, same message. You 285 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 2: can do it. Just try hard enough, Just smile more, 286 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 2: just be happy more, Just claim your inheritance. Just believe 287 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 2: in yourself. Just know that you It's heretical, it's false teaching. 288 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 2: It's what Luther said was killing me. It's killing me, 289 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:12,159 Speaker 2: it's killing the church. It's causing this nagging sense of 290 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 2: something wrong in my soul. And what it is is 291 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 2: that this glory hunger inside of me thinks that I 292 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 2: can obtain it myself without the Cross of Jesus Christ, 293 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 2: without the glory of God being present in my life. 294 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 2: And so we have pop psychologists, we have a whole 295 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 2: self help industry, and I would suggest to you many 296 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 2: of the most popular preachers today try and prop us 297 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 2: up with self esteem, with unceasing optimism, optimistic platitudes, pronouncements, 298 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 2: and pleasant sounding melodies of praise, calling us good when 299 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 2: we're walking in evil, not calling out sin any longer, 300 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 2: not calling out unrighteousness, not calling out our hopelessness, not 301 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 2: calling sin sin, Yet more and more people seem to 302 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:02,959 Speaker 2: be The more we prop up people through praise and 303 00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 2: adoration and affirmation and optimism, the more we prop people up, 304 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 2: even in our churches, the more depressed people are becoming, 305 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 2: the more the more self esteem they're they're lacking. We're 306 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,719 Speaker 2: getting lower than ever in self esteem the more we 307 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,720 Speaker 2: try to raise up self esteem. Because we don't understand 308 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 2: to live is Christ and to die is gain. We 309 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 2: got it backwards. We think we're trying to live. We're 310 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 2: trying to get that glory back rather than the Later 311 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,920 Speaker 2: on we'll talk about the theology of the Cross. And 312 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 2: don't hear me as unsympathetic, even though oftentimes I can be. 313 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 2: But hear me as as one who's saying that optimism 314 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 2: has its proper place. I learned a new word last week. 315 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 2: It's called pen ultimate. I'd never heard it before. Have 316 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 2: you heard the word pen ultimate? Basically, pen ultimate is 317 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 2: when something is ultimate. Pen Ultimate is right behind it 318 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 2: in second place. It's not like unworthy or not good 319 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 2: or worthless or to be abhorred. It's it's like it's 320 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 2: like right there, but not quite. It's it's not the ultimate, 321 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 2: and so optimism is good. I don't want people walking 322 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 2: around me and say, you're you're lousy. You know, you're 323 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:24,719 Speaker 2: you're you're you're worthless, You're you're no good. Who wants that? Right? 324 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 2: Raise your handers want that? No, don't raise your hand 325 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 2: if you want that. We optimism has its proper place, 326 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:35,639 Speaker 2: but it's pan ultimate. It's close, but it's not the 327 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:39,120 Speaker 2: best were We really need something more than that. We 328 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 2: really need more than a pepperality or pop psychology. We 329 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 2: need to get to the core of this nagging question 330 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 2: of what makes me righteous before God? What makes them acceptable? 331 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 2: Because once you get that right, then all these other 332 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 2: questions fall into place. We're no longer feeling all those things. 333 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 2: There's something wrong with me? Why am I worthless? Why 334 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 2: am I no good? Why I am not satisfied with life? 335 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:58,160 Speaker 2: Why do I need more stuff to make me happy? 336 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 2: All those questions fall to the way side when we 337 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,479 Speaker 2: answer this one question of being righteous through the power 338 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 2: of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The danger we have 339 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 2: in our life and our schools and our churches and 340 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 2: our culture is that secondary things such as optimism become 341 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 2: primary and the primary thing becomes secondary. And so the 342 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:23,439 Speaker 2: theology of glory becomes primary. Even in our churches. You 343 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 2: can do it, be better, be stronger. Optimism cannot cure 344 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 2: or nor answer the nagging question, nor fill the missing 345 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 2: place of the heart. It cannot go to the ultimate 346 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 2: need of the question of how do I become righteous? 347 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 2: A theology of glory operates under the assumption that what 348 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 2: we need is optimistic encouragement, some flattery, some positive thinking, 349 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 2: some support to build and self esteem. It operates under 350 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 2: the assumption that we are not seriously addicted to sin, 351 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 2: and that our improvement is both necessary possibility. With a 352 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 2: little boost in our desire to do good and to 353 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 2: be good, we can do anything we set our minds 354 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 2: to real quickly. I'm gonna be careful not to go 355 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 2: over time here, but I usually have six pages of 356 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 2: notes and I have ten tonight, so I'm gonna go. 357 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:24,360 Speaker 2: I'm gonna go fast. Wow. I have never been applauded 358 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:28,480 Speaker 2: for that before. Usually usually people start getting their phones out, 359 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:29,880 Speaker 2: and that's gonna be a long one, and I say, 360 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:35,719 Speaker 2: what's on the internet? Very briefly. Four. I believe in 361 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 2: our society there are four at least four three or 362 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 2: four current prominent ways that we are pursuing being a 363 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:48,400 Speaker 2: theologian of glory. The first is moralism Philippians, chapter three. 364 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,440 Speaker 2: If every Bibles look at Philippians, or to be on 365 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 2: the screen Philippians Chapter three and verse three. It says 366 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 2: we glory, for we are the circumcision which worship the 367 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:01,359 Speaker 2: Spirit of God and glory. Where does it say to 368 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 2: glory glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in 369 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 2: the flesh. A theologian of glory puts confidence in the flesh. 370 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 2: And you even go to churches and hear sermons about 371 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 2: Really they don't guys it this way, but it has 372 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:18,120 Speaker 2: to do it. Putting confidence in the flesh. You can 373 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 2: do it. You can make it happen. If you'll go 374 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 2: to some of the most popular websites of the most 375 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 2: popular preachers and the most popular churches today, you'll find 376 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 2: a plethora of sermons things like you can have the 377 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 2: most healthy marriage in your life. You can become wealthy. 378 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 2: With these three easy principles. You can find your destiny. 379 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:39,399 Speaker 2: You can find a problem free life. You can find 380 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:44,439 Speaker 2: your future, the brilliance of your future. I have done this. 381 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 2: I've looked at several websites and I found that probably 382 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:51,400 Speaker 2: ninety five percent of these places that are theologians of glory. 383 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,439 Speaker 2: How every sermon starts with you, you can do it, 384 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 2: you can make better, you can make it, you can 385 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 2: have it. Ah, I got so sick of it. I 386 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 2: don't want to talk about me. I want to talk 387 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:06,199 Speaker 2: about Jesus. I don't. I don't come to church to 388 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 2: get improvement or self help or feel a little better. 389 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:11,479 Speaker 2: I can go to the bookstore and read a thousand 390 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 2: books about how to have self improvement. I don't come 391 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:17,400 Speaker 2: to church for that. I come to hear about Him, 392 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 2: about the Cross, about Jesus, about his power, about his life. 393 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 2: And so this confidence in the flesh is basically again 394 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:30,360 Speaker 2: what Martin Luther talked about. The whole Bible, from Genesis 395 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:34,399 Speaker 2: to Revelation, has two truths in it. One is the 396 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 2: Law and the other is the Gospel. And we need 397 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:41,040 Speaker 2: to learn to distinguish between the two, because if you're 398 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 2: living under the law, you're going to be a theologian 399 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 2: of glory. What he's saying there is is if you're 400 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 2: living under the law, you're going to hear do this, 401 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 2: try harder become that it's and the law Scripture makes 402 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 2: it so clear to us. The law demands, the law requires. 403 00:24:55,680 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 2: The law speaks of actionable things to our life, but 404 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 2: it never gives us the power to do them. And 405 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 2: if we're living under the law, we're going to always 406 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 2: be under this way. What's wrong with me? Why aren't 407 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 2: I righteous enough? And what the stirring in our heart 408 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:15,239 Speaker 2: will be is I'm gonna have to try harder. I'm 409 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,400 Speaker 2: gonna have to repent more. I'm gonna have to pray more. 410 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 2: We're gonna have to read more. I'm gonna have to 411 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:21,640 Speaker 2: go to church more, and I'm gonna have to give more. 412 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 2: And I'm gonna have to go on more missions trips, 413 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 2: and I'm gonna have to witness more. And none of 414 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 2: that is should ever be anything you have to do. 415 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 2: It should be I want to do. And that's the 416 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 2: difference between law and the Gospel. Law is here's the 417 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 2: cross in the middle, and I'm on the law side, 418 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 2: trying to earn my way to get to the favor 419 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 2: of God on his cross. I'm gonna get righteous by 420 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,640 Speaker 2: doing all these good works. And then I get yeah, 421 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 2: I made it to the cross, and now Jesus accepts me. 422 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 2: His blood is finally working for me because I did 423 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 2: all this stuff. And the reality is on the other 424 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,480 Speaker 2: side of the cross is where our power comes from. 425 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 2: Jesus finished the work. It is done, it is complete. 426 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 2: And now on the other side, on the other side, 427 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 2: these good works become righteous good deeds. On this side, 428 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 2: Paul calls them filthy rags, exact same work. Giving on 429 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 2: this side, filthy rags. Giving on this side the joy 430 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:20,280 Speaker 2: of the Lord, the blessings of the Holy Spirit. Trying 431 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:22,439 Speaker 2: to love your wife on this side is law and 432 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 2: his strife, and it's a burden. Loving your wife on 433 00:26:27,280 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 2: this side still a little bit of a burden, but 434 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:36,919 Speaker 2: much easier. It's it's the opposite wives to their husband. 435 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:39,639 Speaker 2: I'm going to hear it from my wife tonight, so 436 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 2: she's sitting with The confident assessment of the theologian of 437 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 2: glory is that good works and self righteousness and effort 438 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 2: done by obedience to the divine law must be the 439 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 2: way back to glory. And I can do this. I 440 00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:59,800 Speaker 2: can keep God's law. But you see, God's law was 441 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 2: never meant to be kept in one way on this 442 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 2: side of the cross. God's law was meant to show 443 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 2: you that you can't keep it that you're insufficient, That 444 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 2: that that that that The problem isn't in your inability 445 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 2: to keep the law. The problem is that you're a sinner. 446 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,879 Speaker 2: The problem isn't that you don't feel good enough about yourself. 447 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 2: The problem is you don't know how bad you are. 448 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 2: The problem isn't you're working to get free of sin. 449 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 2: The problem is you don't know how bad a sinner 450 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 2: we really are. That that that we really need help. 451 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 2: This is this is not a self help project. This, 452 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 2: this is out of our control. This is far beyond us. 453 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 2: That this and until we understand that, we can sing 454 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 2: till we're blue in the face. But these songs about 455 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 2: the Cross and the power of the Cross and the 456 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 2: resurrection of Jesus Christ will will be encouraging, emotional, but 457 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:50,919 Speaker 2: they won't have the depth of meaning that that this 458 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 2: is what this means. I once was lost, but now 459 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 2: I'm found. I was blind, but now I see that 460 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,679 Speaker 2: he saves such a wretch like me. And then we 461 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 2: live in a culture that churches want to change the 462 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 2: word because they don't like the word wretch in there 463 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,719 Speaker 2: so such a one as me. It's happening in churches 464 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 2: all across the world. The law only produces a powerlessness. 465 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 2: In US Galatians chapter three ten, let's look at that 466 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:19,880 Speaker 2: on the screener says, if you rely on the works, 467 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 2: not only are you not making a reality making it happen, 468 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 2: but what does it say? You're cursed. Everyone who's under 469 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:30,360 Speaker 2: the law is under a curse, all right. So these 470 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 2: two distinguishing features of law and the gospel. Those who 471 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 2: are trying in their own strength to be a theologian 472 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 2: of glory, not only are striving as stressful and anxious, 473 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 2: but you're cursed. It is under the Deuteronomy twenty eight 474 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 2: curse everything that every sin that you commit is going 475 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 2: to be punished. The wages of sin is death. And 476 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 2: I will never be able to phantom the children of Israel. 477 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 2: When in Deuteronomy twenty seven, twenty eight and nine, Moses 478 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:01,960 Speaker 2: gets up there and says, here's the law of God, 479 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:04,280 Speaker 2: and I'm going to repeat the laws to you. And 480 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 2: when I'm done, you say, amen, we will do everything 481 00:29:07,040 --> 00:29:11,200 Speaker 2: written in the law. And he says, you shouldn't lust 482 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:14,720 Speaker 2: after another woman or commit adultery. Amen, we promise we'll 483 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 2: never do that. And if we do that, we're under 484 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 2: a curse. And he goes on and on all these 485 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 2: different laws. Well, amen, I'm going to do that one too. 486 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 2: That's not just the israel Church, right, that's you and me. Amen, 487 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:33,440 Speaker 2: I'm going to keep that law. How about Luke Chapter 488 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 2: I think it's ten, maybe twelve, where a man comes 489 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 2: to him, he's a lawyer, and he says, what must 490 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 2: I do to receive eternal life? That's great, that's the 491 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,320 Speaker 2: message of the gospel. But Jesus doesn't answer him with 492 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 2: the gospel. He answers him with the law. What does 493 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 2: He asks the question, what does the law say? He said, 494 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 2: because the law had not finished its work and describe. 495 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 2: Yet he still thought he was good. I've kept all 496 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:58,520 Speaker 2: these laws. Yes, Lord, I can do all those things. 497 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:00,680 Speaker 2: If I was an Israel, if I was a I 498 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 2: would not make any of those promises. If I say 499 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 2: yes to this, then I don't do it. A curse 500 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 2: is coming upon me, a curse like my fingernails will 501 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:09,960 Speaker 2: get mildew under it and my ears will explore. I 502 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 2: don't know what the whole curses are, but those were 503 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:14,080 Speaker 2: not some of them. I was trying to be funny 504 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 2: and did not succeed. But you know, I would not 505 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:20,959 Speaker 2: want to be under any of those curses. I wouldn't 506 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:23,720 Speaker 2: make those promises, because I've learned enough about myself to 507 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 2: know I don't keep my promises before God, I don't 508 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 2: keep his divine law. And so there's a curse. In 509 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 2: Romans chapter seven, verse nine, not only is there a curse, 510 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 2: but under the law, it says here, I was once 511 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 2: alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, 512 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:44,280 Speaker 2: sin came alive or another translations that sin revived and 513 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:48,680 Speaker 2: I died. The law kills me. It makes me miserable, 514 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 2: it makes me feel no good about myself, but it's 515 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 2: meant to drive us to a solution that's not of ourselves. 516 00:30:56,760 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 2: And lastly, Romans chapter five, verse twenty, and it says there, 517 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,760 Speaker 2: now the law came in to increase the trespass, or 518 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 2: another translation says to increase the sin. Isn't that amazing 519 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:12,440 Speaker 2: that the law actually, when it does its work in you, 520 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 2: it increases your sinfulness. Number one, It increases it by 521 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 2: saying to you, here's some sins you didn't even know 522 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 2: were sins, and you're committing them. Secondly, it also increases 523 00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:28,000 Speaker 2: the sin you're trying to stop. I remember when I 524 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:30,240 Speaker 2: was a young man and I was having problems with pornography. 525 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:33,600 Speaker 2: I would look at pornography and that feels so guilty. 526 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:35,960 Speaker 2: I'd just be so ashamed, and I promise God I'd 527 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 2: never look at that again. I just that's so bad, 528 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 2: and I'm so miserable, and so I hate myself, and 529 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 2: those bad feelings made me need it even more. Does 530 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:48,760 Speaker 2: that make sense? Like, Hey, I feel so bad about myself. 531 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 2: Pornography makes me feel good for a little while, maybe, 532 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:53,560 Speaker 2: or others that drugs make me feel good for a 533 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 2: little while. Lying makes me feel good about it. Cheating 534 00:31:56,920 --> 00:31:58,240 Speaker 2: on my income tax makes me feel good for a 535 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:05,360 Speaker 2: little while, But the law makes sin increase. Is like 536 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:08,520 Speaker 2: for a drug addict, the law is this, thoubt shall 537 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 2: not use drugs, thout shall quit. The law is good, right, 538 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 2: what I just said is that not a good thing 539 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:18,479 Speaker 2: for an addict. It absolutely is a law good, but 540 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:21,640 Speaker 2: it's powerless to set the addict free from his addiction 541 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:25,720 Speaker 2: or her addiction. The law proclaims something to be done, 542 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:28,640 Speaker 2: but doesn't give us, doesn't show us, doesn't empower us, 543 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 2: doesn't engrace us with the ability to accomplish the thing 544 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,719 Speaker 2: that God calls us into and it's intentional. God is 545 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 2: doing that to get rid of the theology of glory 546 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 2: in your heart. That no one should boast in the flesh, 547 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:44,160 Speaker 2: that no one should boast in their self will, their 548 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 2: self power, but that righteousness comes from God and God alone. 549 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 2: I'm going to pass that one. I'm going to pass 550 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:54,880 Speaker 2: that one, and I'm going to start just real briefly, 551 00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:57,959 Speaker 2: materialism is one of the things I'll feel good about myself. 552 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:00,840 Speaker 2: I'll return to glory if I have enough moneys, fame, 553 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 2: fortune that seeped into the church and made a thing 554 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 2: called the prosperity movement, where it's a secular idea I'll 555 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 2: feel good about myself when I obtained enough wealth and success, 556 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:14,560 Speaker 2: and then now that's absorbed into all types of things 557 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:19,240 Speaker 2: that are happening in the church. Another one is Christian nationalism. 558 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 2: It's a move from personal prosperity and faith into a 559 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:28,000 Speaker 2: national sense of morality. It's taking the law on saying 560 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:32,200 Speaker 2: America can become great again if we just have morality 561 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:34,040 Speaker 2: and if we just get the bad people to do 562 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:36,360 Speaker 2: good things. I don't want bad people just to do 563 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:38,200 Speaker 2: good things, although I want that because I'm a good 564 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 2: American and I have patriotism. I still cry at the 565 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 2: national anthem. I still put my hand on my chest. 566 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 2: I love America, but I don't believe the hope for 567 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 2: America is a moral revival. It's a spiritual revival. It's 568 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 2: an awakening of the soul. The hope for sexual immorality, 569 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:01,360 Speaker 2: the hope for perversion, hope for addiction, the hope for 570 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:06,280 Speaker 2: violence is found in Christ Jesus, not in taking the 571 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:09,240 Speaker 2: theology of glory and put it on a national scale 572 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:12,120 Speaker 2: to get those things done. So lastly, as we get 573 00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:14,920 Speaker 2: ready to close, I want to talk about the thing 574 00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:19,000 Speaker 2: I really came for tonight to I hope I've convinced 575 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,120 Speaker 2: you that a theology of glory is not a sufficient 576 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:24,399 Speaker 2: way to live your life. What is the alternative? Luther 577 00:34:24,480 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 2: talked about a theologian of the cross, or a theology 578 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 2: of understanding that is at the cross of Jesus Christ. 579 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:35,759 Speaker 2: That I find my hope. That it's that it's not 580 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:38,239 Speaker 2: in self help, that it's not in the movements of 581 00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:41,240 Speaker 2: our own flesh or in our own ability, but it 582 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:44,879 Speaker 2: comes from the grace that is found in Jesus Christ 583 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:47,720 Speaker 2: as the cross. The cross is dying to every form 584 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:51,279 Speaker 2: of self merit, or of glory, aspiration, or ever being 585 00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:54,760 Speaker 2: thinking that it's possible to obtain it by self effort. 586 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 2: The Cross puts those things to an end. Theologians of 587 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:00,359 Speaker 2: the Cross know that they can't be help helped by 588 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:04,279 Speaker 2: mere optimism, by appeals to seek glory or strength, or 589 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:07,879 Speaker 2: wisdom or positive thinking, because these things in themselves are 590 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:12,040 Speaker 2: the problem, and the Cross is striking at the root. 591 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:17,880 Speaker 2: The Cross extinguishes the flame of self achieve righteousness. It 592 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:21,520 Speaker 2: burns the flesh out, the confidence in the flesh, leaving 593 00:35:21,560 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 2: us helpless and hopeless and desperate for the alternative, which 594 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 2: is the Cross of Jesus Christ. The Cross is the 595 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:32,640 Speaker 2: only true right means to restoring what is missing. Righteousness 596 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:36,360 Speaker 2: is found not in self worth, but through Christ's work 597 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:40,840 Speaker 2: in us, the Cross of Jesus Christ. The Cross. The 598 00:35:40,920 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 2: Cross does not caudle false optimism, but calls sin sin 599 00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:47,880 Speaker 2: and calls sin to be put to death, and it 600 00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:51,200 Speaker 2: calls the sinner to be put to death so that 601 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:55,360 Speaker 2: new birth becomes a possibility. It's not tinkering with or 602 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:59,800 Speaker 2: fixing or some self improvement project. That it's actually a 603 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:05,880 Speaker 2: death that we become crucified with Christ. But nevertheless, then 604 00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:08,399 Speaker 2: we'll live. But not I live, but as Christ who 605 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:14,880 Speaker 2: lives in me. That is the work of the cross. Theology. 606 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:17,560 Speaker 2: The cross tells the truth. It tells the truth when 607 00:36:17,600 --> 00:36:19,239 Speaker 2: when you look at the cross, it tells you the 608 00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:23,480 Speaker 2: truth that you feel bad. This question we ask ourselves, 609 00:36:23,560 --> 00:36:26,239 Speaker 2: why do I feel bad about myself? The theology of 610 00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:28,280 Speaker 2: the cross is the only way that tells you the truth. 611 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 2: It's the only message that tells you the truth. You 612 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:37,000 Speaker 2: feel bad because you are bad, and no one else 613 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:39,200 Speaker 2: will tell you that. They'll try to convince you that 614 00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:42,760 Speaker 2: you're good, and then your self glory gets rekindled inside 615 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:44,440 Speaker 2: of you. The cross says no, there's no hope for you. 616 00:36:45,560 --> 00:36:48,919 Speaker 2: That that that and we live in a culture now 617 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:52,920 Speaker 2: that we don't understand how lost and rebellious, how how 618 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:55,160 Speaker 2: we are sinners at enmity with God, that we are 619 00:36:55,160 --> 00:36:59,359 Speaker 2: dead in our sins, that we are hopeless, helpless, lifeless, truthless, 620 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:02,560 Speaker 2: and that there's a total inability to live righteous or 621 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:05,839 Speaker 2: to strive for righteousness in acceptance with God by our 622 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 2: own powers. It shows us how broken and truly unfixable 623 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:12,040 Speaker 2: we are, no matter how good we are, how successful 624 00:37:12,040 --> 00:37:14,160 Speaker 2: we are, how moral we are, or the nation we 625 00:37:14,200 --> 00:37:18,560 Speaker 2: live in. We cannot restore glory of the righteousness unless 626 00:37:18,640 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 2: Christ does something for us. The Cross is actually God's 627 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:33,160 Speaker 2: attack on sin. The Cross is God's attack on sin 628 00:37:33,239 --> 00:37:38,040 Speaker 2: two types of siny attacks. Number one is unrighteousness, vile sins, 629 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:46,160 Speaker 2: sexual immorality, perversion, murders, divorce, child abuse. He attacks unrighteous 630 00:37:46,200 --> 00:37:49,680 Speaker 2: deeds of evil men and women. The Cross does that. 631 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:51,360 Speaker 2: But if the Cross has a second attack that we 632 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:54,600 Speaker 2: don't like to hear about, it's one that we want 633 00:37:54,640 --> 00:37:57,680 Speaker 2: to close our ears to. It's not the attack on unrighteousness, 634 00:37:57,719 --> 00:38:01,640 Speaker 2: but to the attack on self righteousness. It's and self 635 00:38:01,680 --> 00:38:06,960 Speaker 2: righteousness is more insidious and more dangerous because it confuses us, 636 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:10,359 Speaker 2: and it oftentimes convinces us that we're okay, that we're 637 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:12,400 Speaker 2: we're kind of right, that we're kind of we can 638 00:38:12,440 --> 00:38:14,319 Speaker 2: make it, we can we can do this. It's we're 639 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:18,160 Speaker 2: good enough, we're strong enough, we're happy enough, and it 640 00:38:18,200 --> 00:38:21,680 Speaker 2: gives us false hope. So therefore the Cross has to 641 00:38:21,680 --> 00:38:24,200 Speaker 2: do a deeper work in those of us who struggle 642 00:38:24,239 --> 00:38:27,640 Speaker 2: with self righteousness. That's been my lifelong struggle, not so 643 00:38:27,719 --> 00:38:33,239 Speaker 2: much unrighteousness. I've never committed adultery, I've never done fornication. 644 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:35,439 Speaker 2: I've never done drugs, I've never been drunk in my life, 645 00:38:35,680 --> 00:38:38,839 Speaker 2: but I've been full of self righteousness. I can do this, 646 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:42,440 Speaker 2: I can be better. I am better. I'm better than you. 647 00:38:43,560 --> 00:38:47,600 Speaker 2: That's that's self righteousness, and it's abominable to God. It's 648 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:50,960 Speaker 2: more dangerous. It's it's Jesus did well with the unrighteous. 649 00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:54,880 Speaker 2: He had a big difficulty with the self righteous. He 650 00:38:54,920 --> 00:38:57,759 Speaker 2: had a hard time because they would not come to 651 00:38:57,880 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 2: him for the work that he could do for them. 652 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:06,200 Speaker 2: And therefore we live in a culture that doesn't understand 653 00:39:06,239 --> 00:39:08,680 Speaker 2: the depth of our sinfulness. And not only do we 654 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:12,120 Speaker 2: understand it, but we in our safe zones want to 655 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:15,799 Speaker 2: do away with difficult words in the scripture, words like sin, 656 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:22,359 Speaker 2: like law like accusation, judgment, condemnation, wrath, guilt, repentance. If 657 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:24,239 Speaker 2: we get rid of those words to try to make 658 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:26,960 Speaker 2: us a feel better as theologians of the Glory, we 659 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:29,839 Speaker 2: get rid of half the scripture, and we don't have 660 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:32,880 Speaker 2: the full word of God, and we don't have the 661 00:39:32,960 --> 00:39:36,600 Speaker 2: Cross because without understanding who we are and the trouble 662 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:40,799 Speaker 2: we're in, the Cross is not supplying all that we 663 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:44,319 Speaker 2: need for the resurrection life that Christ gives to us 664 00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:46,880 Speaker 2: a worship team if you come back. The theology of 665 00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:52,279 Speaker 2: the Cross is an offensive theology. It offends the righteousness 666 00:39:52,280 --> 00:39:54,759 Speaker 2: that we want in our own strength, the confidence in 667 00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:58,640 Speaker 2: the flesh. It attacks us and saying we're saying we 668 00:39:58,719 --> 00:40:01,000 Speaker 2: can do it, and the cross to taxes and says 669 00:40:01,200 --> 00:40:04,520 Speaker 2: you cannot do it. Only Christ can do it through you, 670 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:13,000 Speaker 2: only the power of the Cross. Jesus died to deal 671 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:17,160 Speaker 2: with these two things. Our unrighteousness, that's the sin. There's 672 00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:20,799 Speaker 2: a debit, and we can't merit getting out of that sin. 673 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:24,520 Speaker 2: In Luther's time, they tried to do that. Your sin 674 00:40:24,640 --> 00:40:28,320 Speaker 2: is way down here. Pay penance, do some good works, 675 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:32,160 Speaker 2: do some good deeds, and your unrighteous deeds will be cleansed. 676 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:35,239 Speaker 2: The problem with that is only half the battle. You see, 677 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:37,600 Speaker 2: you're still not righteous. You're just you just don't have 678 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:41,200 Speaker 2: sin that that needs to be forgiven anymore, although you 679 00:40:41,239 --> 00:40:44,040 Speaker 2: actually do so you're just that level ground, but you're 680 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:46,879 Speaker 2: not still acceptable for God. And see what Jesus did 681 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:50,520 Speaker 2: is on the cross, he took your sin upon himself. 682 00:40:51,320 --> 00:40:54,360 Speaker 2: And what he also did is dealt with our self righteousness, 683 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:56,960 Speaker 2: saying you can't be self righteous and get to heaven 684 00:40:57,000 --> 00:41:00,000 Speaker 2: in yourself. You need perfect righteousness. If you're going to 685 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:01,959 Speaker 2: obey the law, you have to keep it perfectly, every 686 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:03,840 Speaker 2: one hundred percent of it. And if you fail in 687 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:07,080 Speaker 2: one thing, you're under a curse. You sin increases in 688 00:41:07,120 --> 00:41:09,759 Speaker 2: you and you are lost and will die in your 689 00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:13,880 Speaker 2: sin under the law. And so Christ comes along and says, 690 00:41:13,960 --> 00:41:17,320 Speaker 2: not only did I die for your unrighteousness to forgive 691 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:20,640 Speaker 2: your sin, but I lived a perfect life. I did 692 00:41:20,680 --> 00:41:25,320 Speaker 2: what Adam could not do. I lived sinless, spotless, kept 693 00:41:25,400 --> 00:41:29,920 Speaker 2: every single law, ceremonial, a law, civil law, moral law, 694 00:41:30,080 --> 00:41:32,719 Speaker 2: the divine law of God. I kept it all perfectly. 695 00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:35,319 Speaker 2: And so now when I come to the cross, I 696 00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:38,520 Speaker 2: have no debt to pay, and so I can use 697 00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:42,720 Speaker 2: my merit to give to somebody else. And that merit 698 00:41:42,760 --> 00:41:47,040 Speaker 2: has been given to you. And we've been talking about 699 00:41:47,120 --> 00:41:50,040 Speaker 2: theology here today, but I want to talk close with 700 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:52,640 Speaker 2: with with an illustration I heard from another pastor. It's 701 00:41:52,680 --> 00:41:56,200 Speaker 2: not my own, but he was talking about when Jesus 702 00:41:56,239 --> 00:41:58,800 Speaker 2: died on the cross. We celebrated that this past weekend. 703 00:41:58,840 --> 00:42:01,279 Speaker 2: And when Jesus died on the loss, there were two 704 00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:04,200 Speaker 2: thieves next to him, two criminals and one cursed God, 705 00:42:04,239 --> 00:42:07,320 Speaker 2: and the other said stop cursing him. He's a righteous 706 00:42:07,400 --> 00:42:10,160 Speaker 2: and uses the word he's a righteous man, and Jesus 707 00:42:10,239 --> 00:42:12,800 Speaker 2: says to him today, he'll be with me in Paradise. 708 00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:15,719 Speaker 2: And the story goes, what if we were there in 709 00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:18,600 Speaker 2: heaven when this sinner on the cross, who was a 710 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:20,799 Speaker 2: thief and really didn't know much, when he gets up 711 00:42:20,800 --> 00:42:24,200 Speaker 2: to heaven and he says, the angels in heaven say 712 00:42:24,440 --> 00:42:27,319 Speaker 2: what are you doing here? And he goes, I'm not 713 00:42:27,400 --> 00:42:30,920 Speaker 2: real sure. He goes, well, well, well, how'd you get here? 714 00:42:31,640 --> 00:42:35,200 Speaker 2: I don't really know. Well is this do you understand 715 00:42:35,560 --> 00:42:38,839 Speaker 2: justification by faith alone? I don't know what justification is. 716 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:44,759 Speaker 2: Do you know about do you know about substitutionary atonement? 717 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:47,200 Speaker 2: That Christ died in your place? And I don't really 718 00:42:47,239 --> 00:42:49,719 Speaker 2: know what substitution? Do you know what Pastor Gary was 719 00:42:49,760 --> 00:42:52,120 Speaker 2: talking about tonight? A theologian or the glory or theologian? 720 00:42:52,320 --> 00:42:54,640 Speaker 2: Now I'd never heard about either one of those. And 721 00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:58,319 Speaker 2: the angel says, well, how are you here? And the 722 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:00,839 Speaker 2: man simply says, I don't know. But the guy next 723 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:03,640 Speaker 2: to me on the cross that I could come. I'm 724 00:43:03,640 --> 00:43:13,280 Speaker 2: that amazing. Yes, that's the cross. His sufficiency not yours 725 00:43:14,280 --> 00:43:17,800 Speaker 2: him saying it is finished, not if finish it him. 726 00:43:18,440 --> 00:43:20,600 Speaker 2: That is the ultimate. Stand with me, if you would please. 727 00:43:21,480 --> 00:43:24,360 Speaker 4: The podcast The Bible in a Year with Jack Graham 728 00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:27,919 Speaker 4: is a moving and inspiring Biblical audio experience that will 729 00:43:27,920 --> 00:43:31,000 Speaker 4: help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In 730 00:43:31,040 --> 00:43:35,120 Speaker 4: each episode, you'll learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. 731 00:43:35,680 --> 00:43:38,719 Speaker 4: Each cinematic episode is a journey through the Bible's most 732 00:43:38,760 --> 00:43:42,240 Speaker 4: profound stories that will strengthen your appreciation of the Word 733 00:43:42,520 --> 00:43:46,720 Speaker 4: and inspire you to keep learning. Listen to The Bible 734 00:43:46,719 --> 00:43:49,359 Speaker 4: in a Year with Jack Graham on the iHeartRadio app 735 00:43:49,440 --> 00:43:51,719 Speaker 4: or wherever you get your podcasts.