The Advantage of Following Jesus.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] All right, go ahead and have a seat welcome to Village Church [0:03] If this is your first time here [0:04] My name is Steve one of the pastors here at Village Church [0:07] And I’m always glad to see each and every one of you here on Sunday mornings [0:12] If you have your Bibles go ahead and open them up to Romans chapter 3 [0:16] We’re gonna be diving back into our series going through the entire book of Romans this morning as a church as

[0:23] We learn to study God’s Word for ourselves as we learn [0:27] During the week what the Word is teaching us about God what the Word is teaching us also though about [0:33] ourselves and how God would have us to worship him if you’ve just recently joined us you may be joining us for the first [0:41] Time in the Romans series, so I kind of want to recap a little bit [0:45] But before I do that I do want to just remind you again that next Sunday our service times are going to be changing [0:53] to 8 45 and

[0:55] 1030 so that means that next Sunday that is seven days from now [1:01] That is the next services that we will be having that means there isn’t another Sunday before we change our service times [1:07] So next Sunday we will be changing our service times to 8 45 and 10 30 [1:14] So if you come to the early service that 15 minutes needs to happen [1:19] Where you get here about 15 minutes earlier for some of you that’s gonna be 20 or 25 [1:23] But I believe that you can do it if you come to the later service that’s gonna be at

[1:28] 1030 I look forward to it. I think it’s gonna gonna help us shift some things around [1:34] For the glory of God, but in the book of Romans [1:38] Paul is telling us the story of [1:42] Christianity and the first two chapters Paul begins the story by recounting [1:47] How the gospel of Jesus has changed his life? [1:52] He believes that God became a man in

[1:56] order to [1:58] Save people from sin that God did this in Jesus by [2:02] Sacrificing his life on the cross paying the penalty for our sins [2:08] He substituted himself for us and that Jesus died so that all who trust in him [2:15] Will be saved from their sins [2:18] He rose from the dead in order to give us a new life in which we have the privilege in which we have the power

[2:26] Given to us by the Spirit of God to actually in this life follow him to in this life obey him [2:34] To in this life experience in every day [2:37] What the love of God actually does in us through us and then for other people? [2:46] So immediately you see though that this begs the question is who needs to be saved from sin [2:52] Who is it that needs for this to happen in their lives and throughout the rest of Romans chapter 1? [2:58] Paul begins to unfold that and shows us that it’s everyone

[3:02] All of us have sinned against God. All of us have been created for the specific purpose [3:09] To live our lives in worship of God to live our lives every day in showing [3:15] What God is worth to us that his value is to be seen as absolutely supreme [3:21] And in everything that we do everything that we say [3:26] Every decision that we make every moment of our lives [3:29] we exist to show how glorious God is and

[3:35] Therein lies the problem is that very early on in the history of mankind [3:41] We rebelled against this Paul shows in Romans 1 18 and following he says that we have [3:49] turned the purpose of creation [3:51] upside down that rather than living to worship and find our [3:56] satisfaction in the God who created us instead he says that we have exchanged that and [4:03] Instead tried to find our purpose trying to try to find our satisfaction and truly

[4:08] Worshiped the creation that God made rather than worshipping the Creator himself [4:15] and that in doing that we have brought ourselves into a sinful condition and [4:22] That there’s no one exempt from this. There’s no one who has obeyed God [4:26] There’s no one who has followed God completely and so we’re all sinners [4:32] But what has God done about this one chapter 2 Paul shows us that God has actually [4:38] Given to us a law in which we’re to follow and when we don’t follow it

[4:43] Which none of us do we see through that law our sin and he specifically gave this law to the people of Israel [4:48] So then the argument may be made but not all are of Israel. What about everybody that wasn’t born under the law? [4:55] What about everybody that didn’t have the written law like Israel had and Paul shows that God has actually [5:02] Written on our hearts his law that he’s number one made himself clear that he exists through creation [5:08] By seeing the creation of the world you are responsible to see that and thereby know there is a God behind that [5:17] And then on top of that every society on earth every culture that exists has an

[5:25] Understanding or some sort of recognition that there is a right and that there is a wrong [5:32] What Paul saying is that is the grace of God [5:34] He’s actually shown us by our understanding that there are rights and there are wrongs [5:39] No matter what the degree to which they are no matter what [5:42] Valuation we give right and wrong just the fact that we see that there is something called right there is something called wrong [5:48] By that we know that God has written a conscience on the heart of every single person

[5:55] No matter how depraved [5:57] They have some recognition that there’s a right and that there is a wrong [6:04] And so then he goes to those first [6:07] Who have it written on their hearts and he’s shown that everyone has expectations in their lives everyone’s puts [6:12] Expectations on themselves everyone says there is a right and there is a wrong and even those people don’t live up to their own standards [6:20] But more than that those who had the law written for them those who God came in his grace

[6:27] And said here it is. Here’s what I expect. Here’s my law. Here’s my moral code [6:33] None of them fully obeyed either [6:36] And we saw the nation of Israel had actually dwindled down the law because they found themselves so disobedient [6:42] That they thought that God had simply poured all of his grace and would save them simply because of this thing called circumcision [6:49] Simply because they thought that because they marked themselves as people of God clearly that must be enough [6:57] For God to be satisfied in them

[6:59] and at the end of chapter 2 [7:02] Paul sums it up and he says [7:04] Even if you’re circumcised the moment sin enters into your life. It’s as if your circumcision didn’t even exist [7:12] It’s of no value if you don’t follow God completely [7:17] And so that’s where we find ourselves at the beginning of Romans chapter 3 [7:21] Romans chapter 1 and 2 do a very good job of leaving us feeling very hopeless very depressed

[7:27] And that’s kind of where we left ourselves and maybe we’ve had a few uplifting weeks since then but but now we come back [7:32] To it and we’re reminded. Oh, oh, yeah, I’m not good [7:35] That’s it. That’s where we are [7:38] And so when we see Paul says oh Israel your religion is absolutely [7:45] Meaningless [7:46] Well, then that begs the question and that’s the question that Paul begins Romans chapter 3 with well

[7:53] What advantage was it to be a Jew in the first place then if the law wasn’t doing them any good if the circumcision wasn’t [7:59] Doing them any good if it didn’t get them any closer to God if it didn’t bring them [8:03] Salvation and God had planned from the beginning to actually bring the Gentiles into his covenant as well to actually save the whole world [8:11] Then what good was it for them to have any law for them to have any faith for them to have any religion [8:17] To begin with and that’s where we find in Romans 3 1 and I want to pick up there [8:22] Paul says

[8:23] Then what advantage has the Jew or what is the value of circumcision? [8:30] Much in every way to begin with the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God [8:36] What if some were unfaithful? [8:39] Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God by no means [8:45] Let God be true though [8:48] Everyone were a liar as it is written that you may be justified in your words and prevail

[8:56] when you are judged and so Paul begins a [9:02] series of questions there and then a series of answers to all of the objections that [9:09] We could have to everything that he states and this is really going to be the theme for the entire book of Romans [9:16] Is that he will state his case? [9:18] Then he will bring up the questions that he supposes [9:21] Someone may bring up to argue with him and then answer those questions

[9:26] So in in a real sense the book of Romans is written as if Paul is standing before a jury and [9:33] arguing the case of why [9:35] Christianity is valid and why everyone needs to come to faith in Christ, but here specifically [9:41] He’s going to for the next two chapters speak to the nation of Israel [9:46] He’s going to speak to those who had the law. He’s going to speak to those who are religious [9:52] He’s going to speak to those who think that by their religious activity or by the fact that by virtue

[9:58] They were born into the family that they were born into that they have some claim to God’s promises [10:05] Above everybody else and so he’s already begun to shot shoot that down [10:10] but here he begins to answer the objections and [10:14] The first answer that he gives to the question of what advantage then does the Jew have of what value is [10:21] Circumcision is the reality that he states that because you were blessed to simply know God [10:29] And I think that for where we are specifically in the context that we happen to be in in a society and in a culture

[10:37] Where many people have a background in church where many people went to church as a child some of us kind of fell off there [10:44] For a little bit, maybe you’ve come back here or maybe you came back somewhere else and you’ve begun your journey again [10:49] There is a temptation to kind of look at it and say well [10:52] What value was my childhood in the faith to begin with if I could just do it later on in life? [10:57] And so in the context that we’re in point number one that I want to make this morning is that following Jesus is better [11:05] Following Jesus is better and that’s what Paul is basically saying here to the Jew

[11:10] He’s saying it was better for you to know God in your life than it would have been for you to have not known [11:16] God in your life when he says in verses 1 & 2 what advantage has the Jew what value is circumcision [11:21] He says much in every way to begin with the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God [11:27] And so he begins to take a look at faith on the ground [11:30] He begins to take a look at what it means to know God instead of at a 15,000 foot level at a 15 foot view [11:38] He’s saying in your life

[11:40] Does it make any difference whether you follow Jesus for 50 years or whether you follow Jesus for five years or whether you follow? [11:48] Jesus for five minutes [11:50] Does it matter on the ground whether you know God in your life or not? [11:55] Is it better to know God or is it better to not know God? What is the advantage? [12:01] And so first I want to make a quick statement to you that what Paul is really saying here [12:06] Is that nothing in God’s plan has actually changed

[12:10] It was never circumcision that saved them in [12:14] Deuteronomy chapter 30 verse 6 God speaks about his law and it says the Lord your God will circumcise your heart in the heart [12:21] Of your offspring so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul that you may live [12:30] Now what he’s saying there the statement that Moses is writing in this passage is that it is not the circumcision of your outward body [12:39] That is of ultimate importance what he’s saying is that God needs to do a work in your heart [12:45] for

[12:46] You to have the life of God your [12:49] Affections must be for him your desires must be for him your love [12:56] The essence of who you are in your soul in your mind in your body in all of your being [13:04] Being for God is a work of God in your heart and in your life so that you may live [13:13] It was never something that they could do it was always something that the work of God had to do in their lives [13:19] So in that essence understand it was never

[13:23] Outward obedience it was never behavior modification. It was never outward conformity to a religious culture [13:32] It was always about the heart and it still is [13:38] It’s about what is going on inside of you [13:42] What is it that makes you do what you do? [13:46] What is it that motivates your life? What is it that motivates your choices? [13:52] Only back in Deuteronomy we see God looking in the nation of Israel and saying God wants that

[13:58] He wants you to want him [14:02] The advantage of being a Jew was primarily about affection for God in life [14:09] When you miss that you miss everything [14:13] The advantage had always been about knowing God and so in that life Paul is saying here [14:20] Is that it is a privilege to know God all of your days? [14:24] And that’s the opportunity that the nation of Israel had to begin with

[14:27] Is that they could be raised in a society in a culture in a life in which they knew God? [14:34] You know when I was growing up and then you know, I fully admit I was raised in the church [14:41] I’ve known Christianity all my days. I don’t know that I’ve known Jesus all my days, but I’ve known the faith [14:47] all my days [14:49] And so for more than three decades [14:52] I’ve been in the culture that is Christianity and when you hear about the grace of God when you’re raised in the church

[14:59] You begin to ask some really weird questions that you’re actually afraid to tell anyone because you don’t want to get in trouble [15:06] And if you were raised in the church [15:08] Maybe you understand what I’m saying and one of the questions that always came into my mind and it wasn’t until years later [15:14] When I was doing a study through the book of Romans that I understood this and that was man [15:18] I wish I hadn’t been born in a Christian family because then I could just have fun my entire life and [15:25] I could just be on my deathbed come to faith in Jesus and go to heaven

[15:31] That way I could have the best of both worlds. I [15:35] Could know all the pleasures of this life [15:37] I could know I mean just really reckless abandon doing what I want when I want then when I’m like 95 [15:44] That’s when I figured it would happen. I’m now that the way my body feels in my 30s [15:48] I don’t think I’m gonna make it that far [15:51] Maybe you’re there too

[15:53] But but so I look at I’m like hmm. Oh well, I was born in the wrong family I guess

[16:01] And Paul is actually combating that mentality [16:05] He’s saying no that wouldn’t be better at all [16:08] Paul is saying is say yes [16:10] And I want to be very clear in the scope of grace

[16:16] You can come to faith in Jesus Christ on your deathbed and I believe that is [16:22] Salvific so if you have a loved one that’s in that type of situation [16:25] Continue to hope continue to pray continue to witness, but if faith is genuine [16:33] If their repentance is real, I believe that every deathbed confession will be followed up with don’t do what I did [16:43] Don’t wait

[16:46] I wasted my life and I could have known God

[16:51] We’ve asked the repentance of every deathbed confession [16:55] And what Paul is saying in this passage is it is of great advantage [17:01] If you know Jesus the totality of your days, it is the best life possible [17:10] Because life was designed to be lived for the glory of God [17:15] Therefore there is no greater joy than living for the glory of God [17:21] Which is by the standard of the scriptures and by what Paul says in the book of Romans only available in the gospel

[17:29] Only available only available if your faith is in Jesus Christ

[17:36] Therefore [17:38] Do not wait [17:40] Do not hesitate do not believe the lie that will be put before you that you should wait until later [17:46] So that you can have your fill today because the lie that you believe is that you’re having your fill [17:51] You cannot have your fill without Jesus [17:54] You can’t do it

[17:56] I’ve heard it said many times. So this is not original to me, but I’ve heard it so many times that I don’t think anyone [18:02] knows who it’s original to [18:03] but I [18:05] Pray that my children have extremely boring testimonies

[18:11] That’s my prayer for my children [18:13] When I was young there would always be these these evangelistic rallies that I would go to and and but the best of [18:23] Motivations, I believe they happened. I’ve even planned a few [18:26] But I’ve sat in on meetings and I think that these meetings were a little off [18:30] But I was like the new guy so I never opened my mouth [18:33] Of we need to find somebody with like a really dark past

[18:37] Somebody that was like, you know killing a puppy while shooting up heroin while driving a car into an old folks home [18:45] Ready to create mass murder [18:47] we need to find that guy who came to faith in Jesus because [18:50] you know by some reason the emergency brake hit before he hit the old folks home and [18:54] Jesus appeared on a cross right before him and he’s like I give my life to you and so that guy needs to come speak [19:00] And that’s the only way we’re gonna reach this generation

[19:02] And so when I was a kid, I was like I am incapable of being a help to anyone [19:08] Because I didn’t even know where people bought drugs

[19:13] There was a time in my life where I was like I really want to do a drug but I don’t know where to get it [19:19] It’s like dimetap was my best hope [19:22] And then I was like, I’m afraid to take more than the recommended dose. I I don’t know what’s gonna happen

[19:31] Petrified I [19:32] Was like man I [19:35] I don’t know [19:37] What it’s like to do that [19:39] I was raised in the church and and and I’ve got this thing called [19:42] Conviction and so it keeps me from going there and and it was like well guess I can’t follow Jesus into ministry

[19:49] I guess I’m not gonna I don’t have a testimony. I [19:53] So I really believed that

[19:57] But as I grow in the faith as I come to a deeper understanding [20:01] I become more and more thankful for all of the years that God has given me and following him [20:06] And I don’t say this to anyone’s detriment that has one of those testimonies. I believe those are absolute [20:13] Statements of the grace of God how far they can reach who they can go to but right now [20:18] I want to speak to the people who’ve always kind of been discouraged by that [20:21] I was so I mean you have no idea the level of insecurity it caused in my life that I would never been a drug addict

[20:30] but

[20:34] The fact of the matter is is what Paul is speaking to here is a generation of people [20:41] Who have known God and he’s saying to know God is is not regretful [20:48] To know God even if it’s all of your days is of great advantage [20:55] Because that’s more time spent with him [20:58] That’s more time spent by him [21:00] That’s more time spent in finding your delight and in finding your affections and in filling your soul

[21:08] With worship and the more of that you have the more you’ll know of him and the more you can speak of him [21:15] Because following Jesus is about him. It’s not about me

[21:21] And that’s the message of grace and that’s what I missed [21:25] Is it telling others of the greatness of God and the greatness of the gospel has never been about my story

[21:34] It’s about God’s story [21:36] It’s about what he’s done [21:38] Let me fill you in the more I follow him the more I come to an understanding [21:44] I’m far greater of a sinner than I ever understood

[21:52] But Jesus is enough for the religious as well as the pagan [21:57] Jesus is enough for the sinner as well as the one who thinks he doesn’t have any sin because the lie is that you don’t have any

[22:08] Following Jesus is better [22:12] Than not following Jesus [22:15] And you will find no one who truly follows Jesus all of his days and at the end of his life looks at you and says I [22:24] Wish I’d known him less [22:27] Every saint that I’ve ever seen towards the end of their life has responded to me in the same way [22:33] I wish I had known him more

[22:37] Number two this morning [22:42] Living the mission of Jesus is a privilege [22:46] Living the mission of Jesus is a privilege [22:49] You know as I as I follow Jesus and as I go down this journey of fatherhood [22:56] I begin to understand more and more of why the scripture always leaves you with a [23:02] Vision for leaving a legacy in the next generation when you go through the old times

[23:07] And then when you go through the writings of Paul specifically in the pastoral epistles [23:12] You see this vision [23:13] That everything that you do in this life is really about your worship of God [23:20] But then it’s also about the next generation’s worship of God and that your life needs to be about [23:26] Leaving a legacy for the next generation to follow Jesus through your life and through your example [23:33] And so when I understand that I understand that there is so much advantage to following Jesus in all of my life

[23:42] That I never understand until the next opportunity [23:45] until the next day [23:47] Until the next conversation with my children until the next conversation with my wife [23:53] And then every moment that I’m following Jesus I begin to see more and more and more the advantage [23:59] I see the cleansing [24:00] I see the purifying power that it’s having in my body and then as I see I’m not an island to myself

[24:06] I see the ripple effects that go out to every single person around me

[24:12] And that’s the vision that God wants us to have because that’s what he looks to Israel and says

[24:20] Verse 2 when he tells them that you are the oracles of God what that means [24:27] Is that you are an extension you are the mouthpiece you are the one through whom God [24:33] Has spoken to the world around you and this is not something brand new the Jews were to be the light of the world [24:42] But that’s where they messed up. They kept thinking we will find our satisfaction somewhere other than God [24:49] Whether it be in the law whether it be in other people whether it be in worshiping idols or finding security from other [24:56] Nations they were constantly trying to fill themselves up with something other than God and Paul’s point to them

[25:01] Is that you were blessed to be given the responsibility? [25:05] To live as those who were to be the light of the world

[25:11] Just by way of reminder [25:12] I want to take you back to a couple of passages look at what he says in Romans chapter 2 verses 17 through 20 [25:18] He says but if you call yourself a Jew rely on the law [25:21] Boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent because you are instructed from the law if you’re sure [25:28] That you yourself are a know what he says about them. You’re a guide to the blind a [25:35] light to those who are in darkness an

[25:37] instructor of the foolish a teacher of children having in the law the [25:43] Embodiment of knowledge and truth this is what he’s saying to Israel. He’s saying it wasn’t just about you

[25:50] See you’re given this great blessing you could know God all your days, but it was so that others could know God, too [25:58] So understand that God has come into your life where you are right now in [26:04] This situation in this time whatever your background may be [26:10] So that others could see the work of God in your life [26:14] So that others could hear you tell of the testimony of [26:18] Who God is what God did on the cross of Jesus Christ this is worship

[26:26] Israel was never meant to be an [26:28] immovable [26:29] Museum for God [26:31] They were to be a movement of shining God’s light to the world [26:38] This was what God wanted from them. This was the worship that he asked of them [26:42] The mission of Jesus is the worship that God desires for all of us to live

[26:50] Jesus came and he did what Israel did not do [26:55] Matthew 5 he gives that great statement when he says you are to be the light of the world [27:02] It’d be the salt of the earth don’t hide it under a bushel [27:05] Set it up on a hill for all to see the work of God in his kingdom in your life right here right now [27:14] Everything we do reflects the value of God in our lives [27:18] Paul’s idea for the entire book of Romans was to urge us to understand the gospel so that we could live for

[27:27] The gospel and sometimes what happens in our faith is it began begins to stagnate in our lives [27:33] We don’t see God doing very much. We don’t see God working very much [27:37] So we get kind of inoculated to the power of the gospel we go to his word we find no inspiration [27:43] We try to pray and we have nothing to pray about our conversation with God dries up [27:48] Everything about God in our lives dries up because our faith has stagnated because we have not moved to mission

[27:57] You see the reason faith can seem very irrelevant in your life is because your life doesn’t depend on faith

[28:05] See the only way for faith to actually have any validity in your everyday is if your everyday depends on God [28:13] and the only way for your everyday to depend on God is [28:18] If you’re living for what God has told you to live for and if you’re living for what God has told you to live for [28:23] Your life will be a movement of mission in which you [28:27] work [28:29] To see God’s grace go into the lives of others

[28:33] Where you follow him [28:36] Because you love him, but the love that you have for him translates into a love for what he wants [28:43] What he desires and what does God desire God desires for those who know him to be a guide to the blind? [28:50] To be a light for those who are in darkness [28:53] To be an instructor of the foolish to be a teacher of children [28:59] To live for the gospel and this generation but also to live for the gospel for the next generation

[29:06] The question that all of us must wrestle with in all of our days is what kind of legacy? [29:12] Will my faith leave if it ends today?

[29:18] If my life were to end today [29:21] Which I don’t want it to by the way [29:24] What kind of legacy would I leave for my family where faith is concerned? [29:29] What kind of legacy would I leave for those? I’m in relationship with outside of my family [29:36] Would they see a person? [29:38] Who lived the mission of Jesus who made it his aim for others to know the gospel and believe the gospel and become?

[29:45] Followers of Jesus through me [29:46] And that’s the heart of what Paul is getting at when he begins to speak of them as being the oracles of God [29:52] But look at what Paul said about himself in chapter 1 starting in verse 14 [29:57] He begins to speak about the gospel and then he says I Paul am under obligation [30:03] Both to the Greeks and to the barbarians both to the wise and to the foolish [30:07] So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome

[30:12] For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation [30:17] To everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek [30:23] Know what he says he says the gospel’s come into my life and does the gospel give you an obligation Paul says yes

[30:32] This is the gospel obligates me to care about those who don’t have it [30:39] But it’s not just to be some sanctimonious sentimental care [30:42] It’s supposed to be a care that actually springs you into action because you will not see in the New Testament [30:49] Someone who had more action behind his care than the Apostle Paul [30:54] It changed everything

[30:59] Paul says I’m obligated [31:02] And to you Paul says you are obligated to me Paul says you’re obligated [31:09] To us he says you have an obligation to live what truly is [31:14] Worship and what truly is worship is the mission of Jesus to take the message of the gospel

[31:22] To others [31:24] Whether that be in my neighborhood whether that be in my workplace whether that be [31:30] Overseas to a people who have never even heard the name of Jesus [31:33] We must make it our aim to take it to those who’ve already heard it and very very [31:40] Importantly to those who do not have access to the gospel of Jesus Christ [31:46] But note where Paul goes he doesn’t just leave it at obligation

[31:50] That’s where I left it most of my life [31:53] And when it stays there [31:55] Like all other obligations it becomes a drudgery [32:00] Paul goes past obligation, and he says this is joy [32:04] This is joy note the language that he uses in verses 15 and 16 of Romans 1 Paul was eager to preach [32:13] Paul was not ashamed of the gospel

[32:18] Then he says it was God’s power in [32:23] His life these three words actually four words eager [32:29] Not ashamed [32:32] power [32:34] What Paul is getting at in this passage is this is what defines my life [32:40] This is what defines my pursuits

[32:44] This is taken my passion captive this is my joy [32:51] Is what Paul would say about following Jesus [32:54] And that’s what he means in chapter 3 verse 2 when he says you were the oracles of God [33:04] Do you have any idea the privilege that that is? [33:09] Do you have any idea the power that that is in your life that the creator of the universe would actually [33:16] Come to you and say live for me

[33:21] Represent me [33:22] My power will flow through you and you will be able to shine the light [33:29] of God’s salvation [33:31] It’s a dark places [33:33] So that’s something you can get behind that’s something that has some meat on it [33:38] That’s something that can be the defining factor of your life if you believe

[33:46] If you believe the gospel

[33:50] So because the life in the gospel says that everything else is secondary and so the question that you’ve got to deal with [33:59] Is the gospel stagnating in your life

[34:04] Do you have a little outward conformity

[34:08] But very very little joy

[34:13] If you have faith in the gospel then the good life is wrapped up in [34:19] Following Jesus so that you can live his mission [34:24] And that leads us to Paul’s third statement in here [34:28] Number three this morning is that the world will lie to you about the good life [34:36] The world will lie to you about the good life [34:39] Look in verses 3 & 4. He says what if some were unfaithful?

[34:46] Does their faithlessness? [34:48] Nullify the faithfulness of God [34:50] by no means [34:53] It’s a statement that’s gonna be found through the entire book of Romans [34:59] It’s the it’s a very extreme way of saying no in the Greek [35:04] It’s translated in some versions as God forbid

[35:09] In other words, that’s not even a possibility [35:12] That’s not even on the radar of possibility. There’s no [35:18] Possible way that is true by no means [35:24] Is that right? [35:26] Says let God be true though. Everyone were a liar [35:31] And that’s important

[35:33] We’ll get back to that as it is written that you may be justified in your words and prevail when you are judged [35:40] You know faith is ultimately believing that God is right that what God says is true in anything that opposes [35:47] What God says or contradicts what God says is not true [35:51] And I’ve often said faith is often believing that God is right and I am wrong [35:57] Because there’s one thing for God to be right and someone else to be wrong [36:00] But it’s quite another thing if you admit to yourself God is right and I am wrong

[36:06] Because you are the last person that you want to admit is wrong [36:12] But when you contradict God

[36:17] The best thing that you can do is admit you are wrong and change your view [36:22] It’s the only good thing to do [36:26] It’s the only gracious way to live and it’s the only way in which your faith will emerge [36:32] Victorious because so long as your version of the good life contradicts God’s version of the good life [36:38] You will not have the joy of God and you will not see faith work very much in your life

[36:45] You may say some people seem prosperous during their life and they make a deathbed confession [36:53] Does that nullify that following Jesus is better? [36:59] No, they wasted their life [37:03] Every moment of every day of their life was wasted until they came to faith in Jesus Christ [37:12] And the problem with many of our lives is that we [37:15] Refuse to admit that if you are not following Jesus your life can’t matter

[37:27] That’s the Bible that’s what Paul is saying [37:32] The only thing that counts for eternity is [37:36] What is done for the gospel of Jesus Christ in your life, that’s it everything else is a waste

[37:44] Therefore [37:45] Everything in your life must come down to one question. What is motivating this action or this thought? [37:51] What’s the motivation behind it? [37:54] Is it the glory of God that needs to temper all of your decisions? [37:58] And it’s to temper everything that you do in every single circumstance as I said if that [38:04] Confession of faith is genuine

[38:07] The person will tell you that every moment that came before it [38:12] Was a regretful waste for them [38:14] The first section of Romans informs us of the depths of our sin, which will bring about such deception [38:21] And I see I think that’s ultimately where we need to get in our lives is to understand that when we are being

[38:30] Coaxed or tempted away from the gospel [38:34] It is because of sin [38:38] It is because I am often [38:42] often [38:44] this morning [38:46] tempted to disbelieve the gospel in some way

[38:51] every single one of us are [38:53] About a million different things no matter how insignificant it is [38:59] I think they are or how major you think they are there is something inside of us and that something is called sin [39:05] That tempts us to disbelieve the gospel in a variety of ways every single moment of every single day [39:12] There’s a sinful belief that because so many in the world seem to live so privileged [39:20] I mean their lives are better than mine

[39:24] I mean, you know, I don’t think I need to even spell that out [39:27] From your neighbor to hgtv [39:31] To a game show you’re like they’ve got a better life than me [39:36] if only [39:39] And so we’re tempted away from riches to leisure to security to fame [39:47] friends

[39:48] If what paul’s saying here is true, it’s all a lie

[39:54] It is the same lie that the nation of israel believed when they knelt before bail

[40:01] It’s just that we don’t call our idols [40:06] by the names of deity [40:08] That doesn’t change the fact that quite often the barrier between you and the life that jesus christ has for you is that every [40:15] Day you are kneeling before a false god [40:18] Giving your life over to him giving your trust over to that false god [40:23] But other people’s sin and my sin does not nullify god’s truthfulness

[40:30] It doesn’t paul uses some pretty severe language here [40:33] He says let god be true though everyone in the world were a liar [40:37] Paul’s point in these verses in three and four is that the world is going to lie to you about god [40:42] About privilege about what the good life is [40:46] Listen then you may say [40:48] Well, what if everyone tells me?

[40:52] That I need to do this rather than follow jesus. What if everyone in the world? [40:58] Tells me god is wrong [41:01] Paul says then everyone in the world is a liar and god is still telling you the truth

[41:10] That is how extreme paul says faith needs to be to you [41:17] He says your faith in god your trust in him your belief in god needs to be so big [41:24] That even if every single person you know love believe trust [41:31] Count a friend count a father count a mother count a brother count a sister [41:36] If all of them come to you and say do not trust god in this situation [41:41] Then you look to god and say god i’m not listening to them

[41:46] You are true and every one of them is a liar [41:50] That is what paul says the life of faith will bring into your life. That is what it means to trust god [41:56] verse four decrees [41:59] That god is right and the world is wrong [42:03] Because the good life [42:07] Is knowing

[42:10] Pursuing and living

[42:15] For the gospel of jesus christ because there is salvation in no other name

[42:27] Friends [42:28] At the end of your life

[42:32] You will be glad [42:35] You followed jesus and didn’t have a deathbed confession because you trusted god

[42:43] The text ends with a very important statement, so I don’t want you to miss that statement the text ends

[42:52] By quoting

[42:56] Psalms [42:57] He says you need to trust god [43:00] And paul never shies away from this we often do in this life paul never does [43:07] Paul says you need to believe god [43:09] So that you may be justified in your words [43:13] And prevail when you’re judged see paul gives what’s called an apocalyptic promise there

[43:23] It’s that promise because he’s saying when you die [43:28] You are not going to stand in front of the people of the world [43:34] You’re not going to stand [43:35] before your friends [43:38] You’re not even going to stand before your family [43:42] To see whether what you did in this world was right

[43:46] He says you’re going to be judged by god

[43:51] And so if you want to think about eternity if you want to think about life mattering

[43:57] He has the only opinion [44:01] That counts

[44:04] And so his admonition to you his exhortation to you

[44:10] His statement of what you need to do with your life right here and right now is to give your life to jesus [44:19] So that you will have no regret [44:22] So that you will have a life of more joy than you ever thought was possible because if he is not your greatest treasure [44:30] He wants to become [44:32] your greatest treasure [44:34] He wants to save you from the sin that is keeping you from him

[44:39] He wants to save you from all of the lies [44:43] That others will attempt to coax you away from him with [44:47] To be justified in your words

[44:52] Is to live [44:54] Believing god’s truth in the gospel of jesus christ [45:00] No matter how old [45:03] Or how young you are [45:06] Believe the gospel today [45:09] And live the rest of your days

[45:12] Obligated to the greatest joy you will ever know [45:19] living for jesus [45:22] Let god be true though everyone else were a liar [45:28] As the ban comes up [45:32] Friends

[45:36] I realize every day

[45:40] That the older that I get

[45:44] The more I begin to evaluate not only what’s in front of me

[45:50] But I also oftentimes turn and I evaluate the days that are behind me

[45:57] What I should have done [46:00] Where I should have been should I have made this choice or should I have made that choice?

[46:08] Here’s what you need to understand right here and right now

[46:13] Those days are over [46:16] You will never get them back [46:19] I will never get a day before today back ever again

[46:26] The good news of that [46:29] Is it right here right now [46:33] I can move forward [46:36] With the grace of god [46:38] See the grace of god is so powerful

[46:42] That I can look to yesterday and have nothing but regret [46:47] And still have nothing but promise and potential for tomorrow [46:51] Because the grace of god never says steve [46:55] You were like that therefore tomorrow is going to be like this [46:59] The grace of god always says [47:02] No matter how much you’ve wasted

[47:07] God will fill that up [47:10] And you can just give them the rest [47:13] And so the message for us today [47:16] Is don’t hesitate to put your faith in jesus christ [47:21] Don’t hesitate to make the decisions that he wants you to make for the rest of your days

[47:28] Because the best life that is possible for you today [47:32] Tomorrow and for no matter how many years you have left for all of those years is living and loving [47:39] Jesus christ is your savior [47:42] And so for some of you in here that means life needs to change

[47:48] And no matter what yesterday looked like for you. It’s gone [47:52] And god’s grace is bigger than yesterday [47:56] But no matter what tomorrow holds for you [48:00] God’s grace is big enough for that too [48:03] And he wants you to cling to him like you’ve never clung before [48:07] He wants you to stay closer to him and depend on him than you’ve ever done before

[48:14] Follow jesus [48:16] One way that we do that here at village church every week is by reflecting on community [48:23] The cup represents his blood the bread represents his body [48:29] Because of all of my sins past present and future jesus died so that I would never have to pay the penalty for them

[48:38] And he rose so the rest of my life can count [48:41] If you believe that this morning if you’re in here right now and you say yes [48:47] I believe that and I want my life to count for the gospel [48:53] When you’re ready, I invite you to come and share a meal with jesus