The Justification of Man.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] If you have your Bible go ahead and open it up to Galatians chapter 2 we’re gonna start in verse 15 [0:07] We’re gonna review two verses that we talked about last week [0:11] And then we’re gonna go on to the next section of verses and we’re gonna finish chapter 2 up today [0:16] If you were here with us the past couple of weeks [0:19] You know that we are in a series going through the book of Galatians right now [0:24] We’re going verse by verse through the entire book learning how to study God’s Word together

[0:29] the message that Paul had for one of the New Testament churches that [0:34] Kind of struggles with some of the same things we struggle with today the struggle of religion the struggle of trying to earn your place [0:41] In life trying to earn some sense of redemption in your life, but finding that in the end [0:48] We’re left bankrupt [0:50] We’re left morally bankrupt. We’re left feeling hopelessness and feeling empty and last week [0:56] We talked about a confrontation that Paul had with Peter where Peter was not living for the gospel

[1:03] Peter rather had turned back and had taken a step back and was living for the [1:08] religion of his former life as a Jew and that he was actually discriminating against [1:13] Gentile believers in order to save faiths with basically the religious right of that day which were the Jews and [1:20] Paul confronts him and says don’t you understand? [1:24] That we now must live for the gospel and he picks up in verse 15 [1:29] We pick up with that story where he looks at Paul and if you join me in verse 15, he says

[1:35] As I should have probably already turned there, but I didn’t

[1:40] Forgive me where he looks at Paul and he ends it and he says we ourselves are Jews by birth and [1:48] not [1:49] Gentile sinners [1:51] So he looks at Paul and he seemingly says something that sort of bigoted or it seems to be like a bit of bigotry [1:57] Against the Gentiles he says you understand we are Jews by birth and we are not like those Gentile sinners [2:05] It almost seems like he’s saying something against the Gentiles, but I assure you he’s not

[2:11] Now if you’ll remember if you’ve been with us for a few weeks [2:14] There are basically two groups in the world at this point [2:17] There are the Jews of the Old Testament and there’s everybody else the Gentiles most of us would fall in that category [2:23] We’re just Gentiles. We weren’t born Jews [2:26] We weren’t born in the covenant of Israel and Paul looks at Peter and he says you’re a Jew [2:31] You’re not a Gentile sinner

[2:32] But what he’s actually doing here is he’s gonna begin a train of thought where he explains to Paul to Peter. Excuse me [2:41] Why? [2:41] He is a Jew sinner just like a Gentile sinner [2:46] He’s actually showing in this verse that there is no partiality between the two [2:51] He says you were born a Jew not a Gentile sinner, and then he continues

[2:58] Yet we know [3:00] That a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus [3:06] So we also have believed in Christ Jesus in order to be justified by faith in Christ and [3:13] Not by works of the law because by works of the law no one will be justified [3:20] Now at this point in the history of the world you have to understand where the Jews found themselves [3:25] They were the people that in the book of Exodus Moses received the law

[3:31] And you’ve seen it in its condensed form the Ten Commandments. Maybe you’ve seen the movie Charlton Heston [3:36] Where he holds the Ten Commandments up and all of his victory?

[3:41] Where they’ve received this Ten Commandments and if you fast forward to the first century where we are right here in this story [3:47] What they did was they took these Ten Commandments and they were so proud of these Ten Commandments [3:54] Of course you would be God chose your people to be the people who received his specific [4:01] Revelation for how man is to live in accordance to what God is who God is and how righteous God is [4:09] So through the history of Israel through all of their sin through all of their turning away from God [4:14] They had finally come to a point where they thought they were being very obedient to the law and they became very

[4:20] prideful of the fact that they had the law and [4:25] Paul looks at them and says you think that because you’re a Jew and you have the law you have this special place in [4:32] God’s book and in God’s history [4:35] That he separates you away from everybody else and you can point the finger at everyone else and say you’re a sinner [4:41] You don’t have the law. We’re not sinners because we have the law and [4:48] Paul has basically one point in what he’s saying to them right there

[4:53] His point is we are not acceptable to God

[4:58] Paul shows them that they are not acceptable if you were to rewind and [5:04] Go to Romans chapter 2 which Romans was actually written after Galatians [5:07] But that’s not important in Romans chapter 2 Paul makes the point even more specific [5:12] He says you are prideful because God gave you his law [5:16] But let me ask you what good does it do you if you have the law if you are disobedient? [5:23] to this law

[5:26] You tell people not to steal do you steal yourself you tell people they cannot commit adultery do you commit adultery and [5:35] Paul looks at them in Romans chapter 2 and he says Israel as a whole you have the law, but you’ve been completely [5:41] disobedient to the law and [5:45] That is what Paul is pointing out right here when he says don’t you understand now [5:50] Let me give you a little hint as to when you read Paul understand that he’s very sarcastic and [5:56] When he writes these words whenever you see him writing do you not know or don’t you understand depending on what version you’re reading?

[6:03] He’s basically being very facetious with them because he knows the answer to that he knows the answer is no they don’t understand [6:10] So he kind of begs that thought and he kind of picks out of me says don’t you get this? [6:15] Because they don’t get it [6:17] At this point in the history of the world they do not understand the problem [6:22] They do not understand that in their lives even though they have the law the fact that they cannot be completely obedient to the law [6:30] proves

[6:32] That having the law does not save you

[6:36] What happens when you break a law there are consequences [6:42] And Paul is showing them when you break the law there are consequences and so he continues

[6:54] In verse [6:55] 17 [6:57] But if in our endeavor to be justified in Christ [7:02] We too were found to be sinners is Christ then a servant of sin [7:10] Certainly not or in the Greek it would be more specific to say God forbid that even be a reality [7:18] For if I rebuild what I tore down I prove myself

[7:23] to be a transgressor [7:26] Remember Paul is speaking to a Christian in this passage. He’s speaking to a group of Christians [7:31] So of course brings Jesus into the argument when you’re a Christian. That’s probably a good thing to do start with Jesus [7:36] You’ll get somewhere with that [7:39] So he goes to Jesus and he says look if I look at the law of God and I see through God’s laws [7:46] Don’t lie don’t steal don’t murder don’t commit adultery

[7:50] If I see by those laws that I’ve been guilty of some of those laws does that make God? [7:57] sinful [7:58] Who is the author of the law Christ being God? [8:02] Paul says absolutely not that couldn’t even possibly be a reality [8:08] Paul is pointing here to the justification of God or to the righteousness of God or to the fact that God is [8:14] Completely righteous, and there is absolutely no sin no

[8:19] imperfection no [8:20] injustice found within who God is and [8:26] As Paul carries this thought through he says do you not understand that if I am guilty of breaking God’s law [8:33] It doesn’t mean God’s unrighteous. It means that I show that I [8:37] am unrighteous

[8:41] He’s showing so specifically how [8:44] unacceptable our lives and our standards and even the way that we view the law of God is [8:51] to God [8:53] He’s showing their absolute sinfulness notice the language that he uses about himself [8:59] He says God is not the transgressor God has not caused me to go into this life of sin [9:04] I have caused myself to do it so I cannot lay any blame on the account of God

[9:10] For the things that I do or the consequences that I bring on to myself [9:16] through my sin [9:18] it’s kind of like when we make a thousand bad decisions and [9:22] After the thousandth one we realize that we’ve made a thousand bad decisions [9:25] And then we say God I blame you for those thousand bad decisions look at the place. I am right now. Where are you?

[9:31] You can’t go a hundred miles in the wrong direction

[9:35] When you’ve been told by the law to go in the right direction and then blame the lawgiver [9:40] It’s like when you go past the destination that your garment if you have a garment if your garment tells you where to go [9:46] And then I have it set to like an English voice, and it’s keep saying recalculating recalculating make a u-10 as soon as you can [9:53] If I keep going straight, and I get to my destination [9:57] Or I get way past my destination rather. I can’t look at my garments a stupid garment. You took me to the wrong place [10:05] But that is what we do to God so many times we go way past where he wants us to go

[10:13] And look to him and say how dare you bring me to this place in life God

[10:19] It’s like blaming the credit card company when you max it out who spent the money you did

[10:30] When the consequences to sin come into our lives [10:34] When we realize our sinful state when we realize we’ve gone in the wrong direction [10:40] That is not the time to blame God [10:43] That is the time to realize that you have broken God’s law and that you are a sinner

[10:54] So are we hopeless so what does this mean?

[11:00] It means that our sin must be dealt with and specifically it means that our sin must be put to death if you [11:07] Know scripture you spend any time in Sunday school surely you possibly learned a verse that says for the consequences of sin is death [11:14] Or the wages of sin is death or the payment that is required for sin is that you must die [11:20] So we understand through the scriptures that sin must somehow be put to death [11:26] So then we kind of take that we mean oh my goodness if I’m a sinner I’m going to die yeah [11:29] That’s probably that’s actually true. You’re going to die. I’m going to die at some point everyone dies

[11:36] it’s kind of one of the [11:38] Natural laws of life you were born you start dying immediately

[11:44] But here’s something different [11:46] Paul seems to turn this on its head in the way that he writes because if you go back to that same verse [11:51] he says for the wages of sin is death, but [11:55] The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord [11:59] So he kind of starts with this one reality and that’s the reality most of the world finds itself in today [12:04] It’s facing this endless chasm where we look dead on into death

[12:09] And we become a society that is obsessed with death and throughout our lives [12:14] We just simply wait try to have as much fun as we can try to live as good as we can [12:19] Until we die and then we leave the rest to consequences [12:22] Or we hope that in the end God is going to somehow change things and not hold us accountable [12:29] for the things that we do in our lives

[12:34] Unfortunately, that’s not exactly the reality that exists

[12:39] You see when I talked earlier about God’s righteousness [12:42] Scripture holds God into this and he tells us that God is in this state, and he’s always been in this state [12:48] From eternity past until eternity future where this will never end where God is a completely righteous and perfect God [12:55] We already covered that he’s holy [12:57] Isaiah chapter 6 puts God in this light where there are even angels that fly around God and [13:04] Proclaim his holiness for eternity. That’s their job

[13:08] They simply fly around God and proclaim holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty [13:14] Because he’s so holy that [13:16] It must be proclaimed and then when sin comes into his presence the job of these angels is to get that sin out of his presence [13:25] And we’ve constantly maybe heard this moniker throughout our entire lives [13:29] If you’re somebody that’s been to church or you’ve heard this moniker that God can’t look on sin

[13:37] I’m not trying to burst your bubble God can he can I

[13:42] know he can look on sin because [13:44] You know Satan went before him and talked about Job for a while Satan was there [13:50] But here’s here’s the actual reality God cannot look on sin according to the end of the book of Job where Satan actually [13:55] Comes into God’s presence [13:58] Job comes the end of his life and Job says this very important thing about God [14:01] He says God cannot put his eyes on sin and not judge

[14:08] sin

[14:11] So all those times in your life when you’ve been sinning and you’re like well in this period of my life [14:16] God just isn’t looking on me [14:18] It’s kind of like I’ve got a cloud over my head and God can’t see me while I’m sinning [14:22] But once I eventually repent of this sin God will then start looking on me [14:27] But he doesn’t see my sin because he can’t look on sin God sees your sin very well [14:35] God sees everything that we do good and bad

[14:40] But the key is when God looks on sin he’s filled with rage [14:44] For lack of better terminology in this culture or wrath as it would be put in Greek culture [14:51] God is wrathful towards in scripture actually says he burns in wrath [14:55] Towards sin in Ephesians chapter 2 we actually have this reality about sin where it says [15:01] That don’t you understand another another place where Paul’s kind of being sarcastic with us because he kind of treats us like we’re preschoolers [15:08] He says don’t you understand that you

[15:13] Were at one time after you accept Christ you were at one time children of wrath reserved for damnation

[15:26] So this thing with sin to where we kind of have taken it lightly because we live in the age where it’s like [15:33] You know except Jesus says your savior sins not a big deal

[15:37] Sin’s a big deal [15:39] It can’t not be a big deal if it weren’t a big deal God would not be righteous [15:45] But because God is so completely separated from sin when we pervert that which is good [15:53] That is not of God that is the definition of ungodliness and when sin happens [15:58] God his hand is basically forced and in order for his righteousness to be proclaimed to the whole world for [16:05] His glory to be protected and for him to be worshiped in the end God will judge sin

[16:13] And that’s the God that most of us have a problem with

[16:17] That’s the God that most of us don’t want to think about [16:20] We much prefer the hippie God who just kind of gives us a flower and he says you haven’t sinned at all

[16:28] It’s okay

[16:31] I [16:32] Understand how pervert perverted I just made up a strange pronunciation of a word how perverted that would make the cross be

[16:42] If sin weren’t absolutely condemnable

[16:50] See in the way we live our lives and maybe you’ve been with me

[16:57] From [16:58] Basically 1975 or so even until today

[17:04] Some of us have lived in this bad sense of reality

[17:10] Where we don’t really take sin that seriously we don’t understand how sinful sin actually is [17:16] Where we possibly at one point were? [17:21] Understanding of how sinful we were and then we were told the consequence of that sin would be [17:28] You’re thrown into an oven [17:29] very hot one where there’s fire and you’re gonna burn forever and [17:36] In understanding that we would prefer not to be on fire I’ve burned myself before that’s not pleasant

[17:42] We’re understanding that we would prefer not to spend forever in a fire [17:47] We said well, what do I have to do to avoid this?

[17:52] And then we were told well repeat after me and then we prayed a prayer

[18:00] And then we prayed that prayer and he said okay now you have Jesus now you’re gonna go to heaven

[18:06] But then we turn from that [18:09] We just go on with our lives [18:11] We continue in our sin [18:14] We continue living a life where our sin is okay, and it’s excusable because don’t you understand I prayed this prayer

[18:22] I’ve got security

[18:25] I’ve got my Jesus card and no matter how much I sin he’s never gonna leave me [18:32] No matter how much I do that’s against him. He’s never gonna leave me

[18:38] And I’m gonna need you to track with me for the next few minutes [18:41] Because at first there’s gonna be a lot of like warning signs come up in your head. You’re gonna think that’s no that’s wrong [18:47] You’re wrong Steve [18:50] Just track with me for a few minutes. Okay bear with me while I explain this out. That’s wrong

[18:57] That’s not real that’s not security that’s not security worth having [19:03] And I’ll explain why but you got to continue with me in this passage, okay

[19:11] Go down to verse 18 [19:14] For if I rebuild what I tore down I [19:19] Prove myself to be a [19:21] Transgressor now I want you to track with me in this passage and understand what Paul’s talking about Paul’s talking about if I come to Jesus

[19:31] And then go back and [19:35] Continue in my sin I [19:38] Show myself to be a transgressor or I show myself to be one without God [19:46] That’s what transgressor means [19:49] Let’s keep going [19:51] For the through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God

[19:59] I have been crucified with Christ

[20:08] See we’re kind of comfortable with the Bible until we come to this type of [20:15] Subject [20:17] When it gets very hard, and it’s very hard for me to pretty it up for you and [20:22] Make it tasty. This is not like a McDonald’s cheeseburger. This is broccoli [20:27] This is stuff you want to put cheese over, but I can’t put the cheese over [20:30] There’s got to give you broccoli straight because you need the nutrients

[20:34] You need this

[20:38] Paul says if I go about and I live a life that is not [20:45] Transformed if I live a life that goes away from God rather than a life that is for God once I have come to Jesus [20:53] I do not have Jesus and the reason I don’t have Jesus is because if I [20:59] Really came to Jesus. I went to the cross with [21:03] Jesus I am [21:05] crucified with Christ

[21:11] Paul is saying that if you really came to Jesus then your sin would have been put to death on the cross

[21:26] Notice [21:26] Back in verse 15 verse 15 16 17 there’s this word that keeps popping up this word is justified [21:35] Says it three or four times in those verses [21:37] He says don’t you understand we’re not justified through the law rather were justified through Jesus [21:43] And then he continues this track he says if there is sin in my life is God a sinner no if I [21:49] Rebuild what he tore down then I show myself to be a sinner because he’s the one that’s doing the work

[21:55] I’ve been crucified with Christ [21:57] And he uses this term justified to explain what is needed with us

[22:04] Okay and track with me justification is the work of redemption [22:09] Justification is what happening happens when you get redeemed okay, and here’s why [22:14] Sin is so bad that sin separates us from God forever remember when Adam and Eve were created [22:20] And they lived this life where they were in perfect harmony [22:22] And they were tiptoeing through the tulips and naming animals and stuff and then one day Eve [22:28] took a bite of the apple Adam took a bite of the apple and

[22:32] God could not walk and talk with them anymore more than that they were kicked out of the garden [22:37] They were kicked out of God’s presence [22:38] They were condemned to live a life and then die a life Adam was condemned to live a life of work [22:44] Where it was hard and he sweat and we’ve been hating manual labor ever since [22:48] Eve was condemned to have pain during childbirth and for childbirth to apparently be very painful and very unpleasant [22:56] But even more than that they were condemned to a death and then a death that would separate them eternally from God

[23:04] Okay

[23:08] Sin is [23:10] Us [23:11] Breaking a law and when you break a law there are consequences and the consequences of sin are death [23:18] separation from God eternal damnation [23:22] Which eternal damnation is that you are eternally damned by God you are eternally separated from God you will never see God [23:30] You will never know God you will be in agony you will be anguishing

[23:34] Because you do not you are not allowed to be in the presence of God because you have no righteousness [23:39] So what is needed for us is that we are desperately in need of being justified [23:45] Before God when you offend someone here on earth when you offend a friend [23:50] Constantly sometimes we try to defend ourselves and what we say I was justified in what I did

[23:58] And [23:59] So what we need is we need to be justified before God we need to be able to come before God and say God [24:04] I was justified in what I did [24:06] The problem is is there is no justification of sin [24:11] You can’t go before God and say God. I know I was rebellious against you, but I was justified in my rebellion against you

[24:19] You can’t do that [24:21] So we need to be justified and when Paul uses this terminology and he says I have been crucified with [24:29] Christ and then right before that when in the verse very previous that he says for through the law [24:35] I died to the law so that I might live to God [24:37] He’s using this language saying sin must be put to death because the only way that we can stand before God and say [24:44] I’m justified in what I do is if sin is not a problem

[24:52] What Jesus does is Jesus makes it so that sin is not a problem [24:58] He justifies us before God [25:01] But how does he do that when you are a lawbreaker? What happens consequences come I?

[25:11] Mean this is very common sense terminology, but we make it very complicated [25:15] When you speed and a cop catches you what happens?

[25:21] You get a ticket you get irritated you probably cuss

[25:27] Women cry me, too

[25:33] You have to pay a ticket you have to pay a fine if you’re as stupid as me you go to court [25:39] Because you forgot about the ticket and then you wake up on the court day and you’re like ah [25:44] Once I’m had to drive to North Carolina because I did that I got a ticket in North Carolina. It’s a long story

[25:51] You have to pay there’s a payment the worst the crime bigger the payment

[26:00] Sometimes you have to go to jail sometimes you have to go to the electric chair there are consequences to your actions

[26:07] Do you think God did not create the justice system [26:11] Do you think God did not create our sense of justice because it’s his sense of justice [26:17] God put that sense of justice inside of us so that we would understand that when wrong is done payment must come

[26:27] But here is where Jesus comes in and why this phrase I am crucified with Christ is so important [26:34] Because in that section of Ephesians chapter 2 [26:38] When I said Ephesians chapter 2 says that we are children reserved for wrath because of our sin the very next verse starts out [26:45] But God being rich in mercy

[26:52] Saw fit to lay the blame on his son

[26:57] In other words

[27:01] Jesus the Son of God

[27:05] Became a human being and this is something that most of us accept [27:10] Jesus became human in becoming human [27:13] He lived a perfect sinless life second Corinthians 521. I’ll say it so many times [27:20] Says he who knew no sin Jesus didn’t know sin. He didn’t commit sin ever [27:28] He was blameless. He was justified before God

[27:34] Says he became sin [27:38] On our behalf in other words [27:41] All of the penalties all of the payments all of the offense that God had towards sin

[27:49] He took it off of us [27:51] And he said I’m not gonna make you pay for it

[27:55] I’m not gonna hold you accountable for it [27:58] He took it and he poured his hot

[28:04] condemning [28:04] Angry wrath onto his own son while he was on the cross

[28:15] Justifying us before himself

[28:18] Justification is the work of redemption and in that moment where Jesus was crucified Paul is saying

[28:31] All of your sin was on the cross with him your sin is dead

[28:40] Jesus killed it

[28:45] Don’t miss this part

[28:50] Justification brings transformation

[28:56] This is where I started and I said we’ve been taught we pray this little prayer sometimes [29:01] We’ve been taught that and then we just go about business as usual after that prayer [29:05] And we’ve got that security to hold on to here’s why that’s wrong keep reading [29:11] Galatians 2 20 I have been crucified with Christ [29:17] It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me [29:23] And the life I now live in the flesh

[29:27] I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me gave himself for me [29:34] You could also say who loved me and paid the penalty for me

[29:43] When you accept Jesus [29:47] You cry out to God

[29:52] You say father forgive me I want to trust in Jesus

[29:57] And you believe that you’re saved you’re redeemed believe that

[30:05] But I also believe that when you get up and you go about your life [30:11] It’ll never be the same

[30:15] Because the scripture says I am crucified with Christ Paul gives it the sureness my sin is dead [30:21] I’ll never have to pay for it again, and then he continues and he says I [30:26] No longer live [30:27] Christ lives in me if your sin has been paid for by Jesus on the cross if he took your sin onto the cross [30:36] With him and he died for that sin paying the penalty from God [30:42] Onto himself for us if he paid that penalty you can no longer

[30:48] Live in your sinful life and go on as if nothing has changed [30:53] Because the scripture says you died on the cross with Jesus and the life you now live you live by faith in the Son of God [31:01] Who loved you gave himself for you?

[31:06] You are transformed you are reborn 2nd Corinthians 5 17 puts it this way [31:11] The old is gone the new has come because you’re a new [31:16] Creation and now when you walk through life you walk through life as a redeemed person [31:22] Transformed forever and when you obey God guess what you’re obeying God through the power of Jesus on the cross and [31:30] When you disobey God you pretend that the cross never even happened

[31:38] You’re saved by the gospel [31:41] You live by the gospel [31:44] Talk about the gospel here a lot at the village [31:47] Because we believe it’s something that we once tried to hold on to to get us in the heaven [31:54] But we don’t hold on to it to get us through life

[31:59] The gospel is how you live life

[32:03] Because it’s not you anymore if you’re saved if you’re redeemed it’s Jesus [32:09] He brings transformation

[32:13] Then let’s finish in verse 21 I do not nullify the grace of God [32:20] For if righteousness were through the law [32:23] Then Christ died for no purpose

[32:31] How you doing today [32:34] Are you trying to earn

[32:38] Credit with God for the good things that you do

[32:42] Are you holding on to this prayer that you prayed one time and now you come to church [32:47] Yeah, you maybe even go to a Bible study and you give to church every once in a while whenever you’ve got a few extra dollars [32:55] But really the rest of your life [32:57] There’s not really much of a difference

[33:02] Can I tell you that that nullifies the grace of God

[33:07] If Jesus hasn’t come into your life and taken over

[33:12] Maybe he hasn’t come into your life

[33:17] If you haven’t experienced that transformation

[33:21] Maybe you need to [33:24] Romans 8 13 puts it this way for if you live according to the flesh you will die

[33:32] There’s that payment because if Jesus hasn’t paid for your sin guess who gets to pay for

[33:39] But [33:41] But there’s a very important but in that verse [33:44] But if you live by the Spirit [33:47] God the Holy Spirit comes through Jesus if you live by the Spirit [33:51] You put to death the deeds of the body and you will live [34:00] Acts chapter 11 says there is no other name under heaven by which man must be saved except Jesus

[34:09] See [34:11] When we’re thinking about [34:15] This type of [34:17] Thing our sin Jesus’s sin no excuse me Jesus taking our sins Jesus didn’t sin [34:24] When we think about Jesus and us and the life that he gives us [34:29] We’re often very very confused as to how it works. Why did Jesus have to die? What does death mean?

[34:35] What does our death mean? [34:37] When Jesus was about to go to the cross

[34:41] He shared one last meal with his 12 disciples and around the Easter we typically talk about it [34:49] Shares his one last meal and it’s called the Last Supper. Maybe you didn’t know this but in Israel every year [34:54] They have this thing called the Passover and the Passover

[34:58] represents God’s sovereign protection of his people and [35:03] The fact that he is their security [35:07] And they do this by eating unleavened bread and drinking wine [35:11] The reason they eat unleavened bread is because unleavened bread doesn’t have any impurity in it [35:16] That’s the the representation of leavening coming into bread making it rise and [35:20] Israel and the scriptures kind of said that that is brings kind of impurity into it

[35:24] But if you leave the leaven out and the bread stays flat [35:27] It has no leaven in it then that bread is seen as pure and it represents the purity the righteousness the holiness of God [35:35] And when Jesus was sharing this Last Supper with the disciples [35:40] He said that the Passover [35:43] After his death and after his resurrection would represent something different [35:47] It would no longer represent God’s protection of just Israel

[35:51] But rather it would represent God’s sovereignty his righteousness and his protection of the whole world all who would believe in Jesus [35:59] And he took that bread

[36:04] And he held it up to his disciples [36:07] And he said this is my body [36:09] Why would he say this is my body [36:12] What does the body do the body possesses life [36:18] He said this is my body [36:21] This is what possesses life, and it’s unleavened says my body’s pure

[36:26] It’s righteous. It’s holy. He’s Jesus the son of God [36:31] Then he says which is broken [36:35] For you and I could imagine in that moment that Jesus took the bread which was not like the the matzah crackers that we have [36:41] Here, but rather it was it was a whole loaf of unleavened bread probably just hot out of a fiery oven and he tore it [36:49] As he said that this is my body is broken

[36:55] For you [36:56] He held it up and he said [36:58] Do this and remembrance of me

[37:05] Then he held up the cup

[37:11] And he says this cup is the new covenant in my blood

[37:19] See in Scripture blood represents life the body possesses life [37:28] But the blood is life [37:31] When we see blood flow it’s representative of life leaving the body

[37:39] See in the Old Testament sacrifices for sin go through the book of Leviticus they all involve the shedding of blood

[37:49] You ever seen somebody in a terrible accident or cut yourself

[37:57] Blood makes us squeamish sometimes bloods rather disgusting you see enough of it you’re gonna get nauseated [38:05] See I think God gave us that reaction [38:10] Because blood represents and the loss of blood in the flowing of blood when it turns that red once it hit hits oxygen

[38:20] Represents death [38:23] Destruction [38:25] Which is what sin brings

[38:29] It’s why we have this reaction turning away from bloody messes

[38:36] And when Jesus says this cup is the new covenant in my blood

[38:45] Represents [38:47] What he was about to do on the cross the blood that he was about to shed [38:52] When he was beaten by the centurions the hair ripped from his head his face spat upon [39:00] Nailed to that cross beaten with those whips [39:05] crown of thorns forced onto his head spear [39:09] Piercing his side blood flowed from Jesus which was on our

[39:16] Be half and he tells us this before he ever even goes to the cross [39:19] He says this cup is the new covenant because the old one condemns you the law [39:27] Condemns you the new covenant in my blood will free you

[39:34] He says do this as often as you drink it and remembrance of me

[39:45] Then Paul also states he says for as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup you proclaim the Lord’s death [39:52] until he comes

[39:57] See God gave this to us this picture [40:03] Of broken bread [40:06] And a cup of red juice

[40:12] Because he knows how forgetful we are

[40:16] And he knows how often we go through life and we forget what he did for us [40:20] We forget the fact that he took our sin to the cross and that if you don’t have him [40:25] He can take your sin. He already did you just need to believe it. You will be redeemed [40:31] He took it to the cross. So he gives us [40:35] This tangible [40:38] Example and he commands the church to do this

[40:39] He says do this until I return because every time you do it you proclaim my death for you

[40:50] So this morning I can’t think of a better way

[40:55] To end this [40:57] Then for us to gather [41:00] And proclaim the Lord’s death together [41:03] Proclaim his sacrifice for us together [41:08] Because this table represents the death of sin

[41:13] It represents the death of our sin on the cross with Jesus it represents what God [41:18] Did for us on our behalf [41:23] So that we could stand before a holy and righteous God [41:30] Absolutely justified [41:32] Absolutely free [41:34] Hebrews chapter 4 says once you’ve been redeemed by God

[41:38] Paul writes that you can come before the presence of God boldly in confidence because you have a savior who understands [41:47] Your needs he says come boldly for grace and mercy in your time of need [41:51] In other words in the greek what that means is is you can come before the grace of God as if you belong there [41:58] zero fear [41:59] Zero worry of him condemning you because he already condemned his son [42:04] For you

[42:07] Then Jesus rose from the dead winning victory over death so that we could have eternal life [42:15] With God [42:18] Not beginning in heaven

[42:22] Beginning here [42:24] Because you see that transformation starts now so when does the kingdom of God start starts now

[42:33] So you don’t live the transformed life once you’re in heaven you live the transformed life [42:38] here [42:38] Now on earth because that’s the only way others will see that it is true is if we live it out

[42:48] So i’m going to ask you to respond in just a few moments [42:53] I’m going to ask you to possibly do something a little different than you’ve done when you’ve observed the lord’s supper [42:58] I’m going to ask you actually to come forward [43:01] Get it take it back to your chair [43:03] And partake of the bread partake of the cup realizing that there is no salvation [43:10] In this stuff

[43:13] This is a representation of salvation [43:18] This is a representation of you understanding [43:21] Jesus of you being saved by Jesus of you being redeemed by Jesus [43:26] This also understand this [43:30] If you’ve not been redeemed if you’re not a follower of Jesus [43:34] I ask that you not partake this

[43:38] Paul tells us in the very next verses [43:40] He says if anyone eats or drinks of this cup in an unworthy manner. He is eating and drinking damnation unto himself

[43:48] Because that’s a very serious warning from paul what it means is is if you’re not saved if jesus [43:54] Means nothing to you if you’re not a follower of christ. This is pointless to you. This means nothing

[44:03] You don’t worship him so if you come and pretend like you do

[44:11] It’s blasphemy

[44:14] But i’ll also tell you this [44:16] Maybe you’re sitting there and you’ve been listening to us and [44:18] And you’ve been hearing about transformation. You’ve been hearing about redemption. You’ve been hearing about being justified before god [44:24] And you say I don’t know if I am

[44:30] You can be

[44:34] Today here [44:36] You can be redeemed and then you can come up here and you can glory [44:41] In the death burial and resurrection of jesus just like all of the followers of jesus that are here today can [44:48] If you’re here and you’re like that [44:50] I’m gonna ask you to do something else just a few minutes [44:53] I’m gonna go over there to the corner and there’s gonna be a couple of other people there with me

[44:57] And we’re gonna be there and i’ll talk with you. I’ll pray with you. I’m not gonna do it here in front of a bunch of people [45:03] I’m not gonna do it in mass

[45:07] Because maybe you need to understand a little more and I want to talk to you personally [45:12] So that you can come up here certain of your redemption. You can be certain today of your redemption [45:21] believers [45:22] If you’re here today and you have been redeemed and you’re confident in your redemption

[45:28] I’m going to give you a few moments music is going to play really softly [45:33] And I want you to sit there for a few minutes and I want you to reflect on the cross [45:38] I want you to reflect on the crucifixion of jesus. I want you to reflect on galatians 2 20 when it says I am [45:44] crucified with [45:45] christ [45:47] Your sin

[45:49] Was taken to the cross by jesus and I want you to pray for a few minutes whenever you’re ready [45:55] Just come up and you take the bread you take the cup [46:00] Come by couples you can come by family however you want to you can come and pray right down here if you need to [46:05] total freedom of worship right here [46:08] Whatever you need to do that needs to be your response [46:13] But whenever you’re ready come and get this

[46:16] And then the band will lead us in a few songs but from here [46:20] Until we close [46:22] for freedom [46:23] To partake of the cup and remember I am back there. I want to talk to you if you need to be redeemed today [46:28] Let’s pray

[46:32] Father we come before you

[46:37] We are a needy people

[46:40] And we need you [46:43] Lord may we never forget the cross [46:48] Lord I pray that from today on out we would live a cross centered life [46:55] And as we reflect on your cross as we worship you this morning god

[47:02] Lord I pray that redemption would be found in our lives that comes only through your son jesus [47:07] And only through his sacrifice [47:10] for our sins

[47:14] For the next few minutes [47:16] Just pray quietly

[47:19] And when you’re ready [47:22] You come and proclaim [47:25] that jesus is [47:27] God and god forgave your sins through him by eating this bread [47:34] And drinking this cup