God Can Be Trusted.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Welcome to Village Church. If this is your first time here, my name’s Steve [0:03] I’m one of the pastors here at Village Church. If you have your Bibles go ahead and open them up to Romans [0:08] Chapter 3 we’re gonna cover cover a little territory, but not a whole lot of territory [0:12] We’re gonna start reading in verse 5 and by God’s grace. We’ll get through verse 8 this morning

[0:19] But I’ll be frank with you that that from last week to this week this week [0:25] I’ll say Romans 3 1 through 8 is not [0:30] one of the easiest [0:32] texts in Scripture [0:33] To kind of be inspired by or to even really [0:38] Understand not just what Paul’s point is but really why does he see it necessary?

[0:46] To make this point and when you believe that the Bible is God’s Word [0:49] What what you believe is is that this is inspired by God. It’s an air and it’s God’s Word he he [0:57] Moved through the prophets the Apostles and the priests to write this specific word [1:02] So there’s nothing in here that’s here by accident [1:05] Everything is here on purpose and when you go through a section like Romans 3 1 through 8 you may kind of wonder [1:13] Man, I believe God has a purpose but what that purpose is is kind of beyond me

[1:19] But what I hope to show you this morning is is that there is a purpose in everyday life [1:26] For the harder texts of Scripture or the parts of Scripture that really force you [1:32] To think a little harder than maybe even I want to [1:36] Because I’ll be honest not I hit my head starts hurting after a while and I just don’t want to think about it [1:41] But so much and this kind of text is Paul kind of delving deeper into [1:47] The purposes of God and the pursuits of God for his glory

[1:52] More than our culture would really be accustomed to and [1:56] Paul’s going to address some issues this morning and one main issue [2:01] That maybe you’ve never even considered before [2:04] Maybe you’ve never thought about it before and you’re you’re gonna think about it today simply because it’s in there [2:10] And so you may do what I do. That’s like, you know if that wasn’t in there. I [2:15] Wouldn’t even think about it. But since it’s in there now the Bible has produced in me a struggle that was not there previously

[2:22] so thanks God for all your help on that and [2:26] So when we deal with texts like this we have to understand [2:32] That the Bible is not for my benefit alone [2:36] But I think oftentimes that’s how we treat the scriptures [2:40] We treat it as though it’s there for me. It needs to inspire me [2:45] It needs to benefit me and it needs to kind of cater to my personality and the way that I think

[2:51] But in texts like this what I see is a really overarching view that the Bible isn’t just for me [2:59] And that just because I don’t have a struggle in this place doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t have a struggle in this place [3:05] Just because I don’t have a question in this issue doesn’t mean someone else [3:10] Doesn’t have a question in this issue because what you’re going to see from the apostle paul this morning is this isn’t an issue [3:14] That he struggles with whatsoever [3:16] But he knows that in everything that he said thus far in the first two chapters

[3:21] Could and will in some people’s mind [3:25] create a question about [3:28] God’s glory and the sinfulness of man and [3:32] So Paul’s pursuit this morning is kind of he puts a little parentheses around this section [3:38] And he ends chapter 2 and he doesn’t really pick the same story up again until verse 9 of chapter 3 [3:45] So verses 1 through 8 are a little bit of an aside

[3:48] That paul gives to explain to us and to connect our minds to the purposes and the pursuits of god [3:56] Because the main task that scripture is going to have in your life the main task it has in my life [4:03] Is to propel me [4:05] on mission [4:07] to reach other people [4:08] with the gospel of jesus christ

[4:11] And so paul’s pursuit this week in verses 5 through 8 are to better equip us [4:18] To reach others with the scripture rather than just to reach me [4:23] with scripture [4:24] And paul has spent much of the last two chapters establishing the fact that we are sinners [4:30] In the need of salvation and repentance [4:34] But there is a possible response that paul’s going to bring up this morning and he started it last week

[4:40] That is really just the kind of way that we deal with when we’re caught in doing something wrong [4:46] There’s a couple of different avenues that you could go down and number one is to deny that you did anything wrong [4:53] I mean, it’s like I didn’t do that [4:56] So you just you’re you deny [4:58] But there’s another thing that people do and many people do this [5:02] I’m sure all of us have done this at some point or another

[5:04] Is to blame someone else [5:07] It’s their fault that I did this wrong did I do it? Yeah. Okay, I did it [5:12] But i’m not responsible for my actions [5:15] You play the victim [5:17] And all of us in one shape or form have done this before some of us have made a practice out of it our entire lives [5:22] Is that i’m not responsible for any of the damage that i’ve done in my life

[5:26] I’m not responsible for any of the damage i’ve done in someone else’s life [5:29] It’s this guy’s fault or it’s that guy’s fault or when I was five years old the ice cream man dropped my ice cream [5:34] And so that’s why I’ve hated ice cream my entire life [5:37] And so we’re always looking to find why my [5:41] sin [5:43] Is not really my fault

[5:46] Why how can I get out from under? [5:50] taking [5:51] responsibility [5:52] for my own choices [5:55] Because what the gospel does is the gospel comes in and it levels absolutely every one of us [6:01] It says look all of you

[6:04] Have sinned against god [6:06] None of you can get out from under that [6:09] But your reaction to that charge and frankly to that reality [6:15] Will determine whether or not you trust god [6:19] Because if you look to the gospel and you say, okay [6:23] So i’ve sinned against god

[6:25] well [6:26] Let me tell you why it’s god’s fault [6:30] And that’s where roman’s 3 5 finds us and so go there and let’s read [6:36] Paul writes and he says but if our unrighteousness [6:40] Serves to show the righteousness of god [6:42] What shall we say?

[6:45] That god is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us [6:49] I speak in a human way. It’s a very important phrase that we’re going to delve into in a few minutes [6:55] Then in verse six, he says by no means [6:59] For then how could god judge the world? [7:01] But if through my lie god’s truth abounds to his glory [7:05] Why am I still being condemned as a sinner?

[7:09] And why not do evil things? [7:12] That good may come [7:14] As some people slanderously charge us with saying [7:18] And then he finishes verse eight and he says [7:20] their condemnation [7:23] Is just

[7:25] And he moves on after that to another train of thought [7:30] But paul’s message here is one [7:33] That’s difficult to even begin to think about [7:37] But I want to show you three different things that this passage is telling us this morning about ourselves [7:41] But more than just about ourselves about the life that god hopes to give us [7:47] When we just simply trust god

[7:49] Paul wants to prove this morning to each and every one of us that god can be trusted [7:55] And he begins by number one this morning giving us just this reality that if you’ve ever had any doubt understand that this is [8:02] Just simply true about you

[8:07] You are responsible for your sin

[8:12] You are responsible for your sin and you may be thinking this morning. Well, that sounds very condemning [8:18] That doesn’t make me feel very good at all [8:20] But what I want you to understand is is that when you begin by understanding who you are in comparison to who god is [8:29] Taking responsibility for your sin taking responsibility for your actions taking responsibility for your false [8:37] Thought patterns and ultimately taking responsibility for your false worship of idols [8:42] Is the most liberating thing that you can do in life?

[8:48] It’s helpful

[8:51] It’s liberating it’s uplifting and you say how’s that possible and I want to unpack that but first paul poses the question [8:58] He says is god [9:00] Responsible for my sin and and here’s how he’s asking that because he just he gets confusing the apostle peter [9:06] Once wrote to a group of christians and he said oh you’re having trouble understanding what paul’s talking about [9:11] Oh, I do that too. He’s very confusing and that’s in the bible [9:16] So god inspired another guy

[9:19] To critique paul [9:22] And so if you’re struggling with paul’s train of thought don’t worry. It’s okay. I I do too [9:28] Here’s what paul is asking [9:30] in chapter one [9:32] Paul revealed to us that humans were created to live [9:36] And to show the glory of god through their actions through their thoughts through ultimately what they value and find satisfaction in this life

[9:45] But then it was shown [9:46] That we have all sinned against god [9:49] That’s what he’s talking about between verses 18 of chapter 1 and verse 23 of chapter 1 [9:55] But then it was shown that by sinning against god [9:59] god’s glory [10:00] Is then shown

[10:03] Through god judging sin [10:05] Because of his holiness [10:07] So we were supposed to live one way. We didn’t live that way [10:10] But so that god could get ultimate glory and show his holiness and show his justice god then gets glory [10:17] By judging all those that have sinned against him. Therefore if we don’t live for god’s glory because of sin [10:25] Then his glory will be seen through god judging me

[10:29] And then if that’s true [10:30] Then the question becomes [10:32] Then does my sin in a way? [10:37] Bring god glory [10:39] I mean consider the gospel the gospel of jesus is the ultimate display of god’s glory [10:45] but without sin

[10:48] the gospel of jesus [10:51] Wouldn’t have been necessary [10:54] So if god receives glory [10:56] From judging sin [10:58] And sin then because of the gospel seems to be part of god’s plan [11:04] Then is he unrighteous and judging me for my sin?

[11:10] And wouldn’t that then make god responsible for my sin? [11:15] And some of you may be responding. Well, I have never thought about that before but now that I am [11:20] How dare he

[11:25] So this is what paul’s responding to this is the conundrum that we find ourselves and this is in theological circles [11:31] This is what’s often referred to as part not in totality, but part of the problem of evil [11:36] And the only reason i’m preaching about is because it’s in the bible I prefer not [11:41] But because it’s in god’s word and we seek to be faithful to god and we seek to be faithful to his word [11:46] We can’t avoid this [11:47] We must dive headlong into it

[11:50] And paul’s response to this is very interesting the way that paul responds to this question [11:56] Is very helpful to me with an apology [12:01] Paul apologizes for even asking the question note what he says in parentheses [12:05] He says I speak in a human way [12:09] Paul is already backtracking [12:12] From the question paul wants the reader to understand. Um

[12:16] This isn’t my issue [12:18] This is this guy over here. All right, not me. I would never dare say this about god [12:26] paul doesn’t even like to ask such a question even if it’s helpful to someone that is confused because [12:33] This is what we’ll see this is ultimately a blasphemous way of thinking [12:39] And what paul’s referring back to when he says I say this in a human way [12:43] Is verse 4 of chapter 3 when he said let god be true in every man a liar

[12:49] What he’s saying is is that god’s pursuits are always good. God’s pursuits are always holy god’s pursuits are always just [12:55] They’re always righteous. They’re always good. God will never lie. He can never lie [13:00] God is always true and when anyone questions god’s trueness that person is believing a lie [13:08] And so when paul says i’m speaking in a human way what he’s getting through to us is number one that this is not [13:15] a true [13:16] Charge against god it could never be a true charge against god and paul is in a way showing his cards

[13:25] in this statement [13:26] Paul’s revealing his hand paul’s saying look I trust god completely [13:32] I’m not questioning god [13:34] Here’s sometimes what I see happening in in the current culture around us [13:38] Is that we believe that it is not good? [13:43] And it’s not missional

[13:45] To think concrete thoughts about god [13:48] We think it’s better if we say oh, well, you know, there’s there’s so many things that I don’t like about god, too [13:56] I see your point unbeliever [13:59] And we think it’s helpful. I think paul right here is kind of combating that for us [14:04] I was saying it’s not helping anyone for you to pretend to distrust god [14:09] I was saying the most helpful thing that you could do for anyone that doesn’t believe the gospel is believe the gospel

[14:15] You need to trust god [14:19] Your help to others is always found in a rock [14:23] Solid trusting in god paul is advocating here a concrete thought [14:29] He wants you to land [14:32] On the objective fact that god can be trusted and he furthers that thought in verse two [14:38] Excuse me in verse six when he says by no means

[14:42] Same for a phrase that we saw last week [14:45] It’s that statement that he’s going to continue to use through the entire book of romans to all of these rhetorical questions that he’s asking [14:51] To say in the harshest way possible. This is not even on the radar of possibility [14:57] It’s nowhere near truth. It couldn’t possibly be true and he uses such a phrase in the greek [15:04] That goes so far as to say if it’s true, then there’s no god

[15:10] This isn’t the way that god functions isn’t the way that god works [15:15] This is by no means for then how could god judge the world? [15:21] And what he’s saying there is is that if this was true, then god couldn’t be the judge because he would have to be judged

[15:29] But what I want you to understand [15:31] That this is increasingly the question that the world is saying about god [15:37] We’re saying god who is he to judge us? [15:42] He’s the one that made such a seemingly [15:46] unjust world [15:47] The misconception here though

[15:50] And the misconception with all of that train of thought is the source of god’s ultimate glory [15:57] And so he begins with one thought [16:00] That your sin [16:02] Is your responsibility? [16:04] You did it [16:06] You know my my children will sometimes do things

[16:09] And then you know the catastrophe that unfolds and for some reason they will blame my wife and I [16:17] And my response over and over them is you did it [16:21] But you brought this you brought the pain. I didn’t do it you did

[16:26] That’s the truth about your sin [16:29] Is no matter what the factors were that led to these choices that you have made [16:35] What you need to understand about your life is that you did it

[16:42] You were the choice maker [16:46] You were the deciding factor [16:50] And so blaming someone else even to a cosmic level [16:56] Of blaming god [16:59] Will ultimately [17:01] Do nothing to relieve your pain

[17:05] It will do nothing [17:07] in most situations [17:10] It will actually [17:11] Invite more pain [17:14] So you begin to go down this mountain build an avalanche running behind you of sin upon sin upon sin [17:24] And the big reason is your refusal to take responsibility for your own

[17:32] life

[17:35] That is not [17:37] The way god would have us live [17:41] Therefore [17:42] You are the one that wronged god [17:44] You see you did it you tried verse. This is what chapter one tells us you tried to rob god [17:51] Of glory by sinning god didn’t do that you did

[17:57] Therefore you wronged god and is not the other way around [18:01] So we need to understand then to answer the question for anyone that may be seeking god in this way [18:07] Well, if god doesn’t get glory out of sin, then then what is his glory? [18:11] Found in number two this morning god’s utmost glory [18:15] Is seen in redemption god’s utmost glory is seen in redemption [18:22] I want you to understand this morning

[18:25] That there is no yin and yang

[18:29] There’s there’s this this thought in in the universe and it’s becoming more and more prevalent in our day and age [18:36] It’s an ancient thought there’s nothing new under the sun. It’s a daoist belief [18:40] From from eastern religions that for for light [18:45] To function properly there must be darkness [18:48] That for good [18:49] To exist it must be balanced out by bad

[18:53] Therefore there are two [18:55] Ultimate powers in the universe. There’s the power of good. There’s the power of bad [18:59] They’re battling against each other [19:01] But when they are in conflict the world is kept at balance [19:04] This is not true and and you may say how do you know it’s not true? [19:09] Because of the bible go back to verse six

[19:13] Verse six paul says by no means for then how could god judge the world? [19:19] But if through god my lie god’s truth abounds to his glory. Why am I still being condemned? [19:27] as a sinner [19:29] So what he’s saying is if i’m believing lies if i’m going into sin and it gives god ultimate glory through the gospel [19:35] Then why am I being condemned as a sinner? [19:41] Friends the only way that you can believe god and the only way that you can trust him is to believe that he is

[19:49] Ultimately righteousness. Otherwise, how could you believe god? [19:53] Well one of paul’s big points here is if any of this is true, you can’t trust god [19:57] It would be absolutely impossible for you to trust god if he is condemning you and then on the back end [20:04] Bringing himself ultimate glory by making you enter into a life of sin that you are not even responsible for [20:12] this misconception that the world [20:15] Must be balanced out by good and evil

[20:19] Is the very foundation [20:22] Of what paul is talking about here

[20:27] But you may say [20:29] For god to get glory [20:32] It seems that it’s not totally my fault [20:36] Because if my sin gave god the ultimate glory because it made the gospel necessary therefore it made the gospel happen [20:44] Brings balance to the cosmos. That’s the way it’s got to be [20:48] But here’s the truth

[20:52] That could be true

[20:56] Unless god designed it differently

[21:01] You see the onus or the ultimate conclusions that you come to in this life are not based on [21:08] your thought [21:09] Are not based on any charge that you can bring against god nor are they based on any charge that you could bring about against god [21:15] There was a video that came out this week. That’s gaining a lot of traction by a man named steven fry in england [21:20] It was it was asked he’s an atheist was asked [21:22] Well, what if there is a god and what would you do if you stood before him?

[21:25] What would you say to him and and uh, his response was how dare you?

[21:32] You are a god [21:33] Who do you think you are? [21:35] You must be evil because you have designed a world that functions in very evil ways [21:40] And he began to bring up these different things in the world that cause a great deal of pain [21:44] And he brought up a worm that actually it’s it’s a parasite and it will go into [21:49] You know dirtier parts of the world and his whole thought life process of this worm is to eat its way out

[21:55] Of the human eye and the problem with many christians is is that we don’t want to deal with those things [22:02] We don’t want to deal with those charges [22:05] We don’t want to deal with the fact that there are people in this world increasingly every day that look at this world and say [22:11] They identify and they say this world is very dark [22:15] There’s a lot of bad things happening and to their statements. I must say yes, you are right [22:22] There is much evil taking place every single day

[22:25] There is much pain being endured by much [22:29] Of the world not even a minority of the world that experiences pain every day [22:33] Much of the world experiences pain every day and to their charge [22:37] How could god allow such things to happen and then you tell me that god is good?

[22:47] And then was like, well, I don’t know

[22:51] Paul doesn’t avoid such questions [22:55] Therefore if paul doesn’t avoid it in scripture neither should we avoid it in real life [23:03] We must delve into the difficult parts of this world, but we must explain to the world [23:10] That what is revealed in the gospel is that we have done this to the world when we get to chapter 8 of romans [23:18] What we’re going to see is that paul’s charging against every one of us is that we have condemned this world to futility god [23:23] Did not do that

[23:25] Your choice to rob god of his glory by disobeying him [23:30] Is not what gives god ultimate glory, but that’s what that question is assuming [23:35] It’s assuming that god’s getting glory out of such hard things and to that we have one response [23:42] The gospel of jesus christ you may say well, that’s not enough for the world. It’s not going to be enough for some people [23:49] Because some people no matter what the evidence that god has put into this world to prove his goodness [23:53] They will never believe because they will not have faith that does not change that it is the right answer

[24:00] You see god’s world and the way that he’s designed it and the way that it works is not up for a democratic vote

[24:08] God has designed the world to work a certain way [24:11] And it will and we have a choice to either believe that he is trustworthy with the world or we can say no [24:18] He’s not trustworthy and then we will invite condemnation on ourselves and we must be honest about that

[24:24] So does my sin how does it not though bring god glory? We’ll consider the gospel [24:30] The gospel of jesus is the ultimate display of god’s glory [24:33] We’ve already established that and without sin it would be unnecessary [24:37] That’s true admit to that don’t hide from that fact [24:41] But because of that sin then is part of god’s designed to bring himself glory [24:49] But here’s what’s also true about god in deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 4 here’s what moses writes about paul

[24:56] This is the rock [24:58] His work is perfect [24:59] All his ways are justice a god of faithfulness and without iniquity just and upright is he [25:07] So here’s what’s established very early on in this in this life [25:11] God is perfect [25:13] God only has justice

[25:14] God is faithful with no impurity [25:18] He’s completely upright is what the author says there. The point is that if god does it [25:24] Then it is good [25:26] That’s the point that deuteronomy is making right there [25:29] God is incapable of doing anything that is not good [25:34] But here’s the key of the gospel you must believe that to believe the gospel

[25:41] If you do not believe that then I would say the gospel is not trustworthy [25:48] If you don’t believe this about god, you should not believe his gospel [25:52] Because if he is not righteous if he is not completely upright if he is impure [25:57] If he does do things that are unjust then how can you believe that he’s telling you the truth about the gospel?

[26:05] The gospel does not begin with jesus on this earth the gospel begins with god before the earth ever began

[26:14] And what you believe about him eternally will determine what you believe and act on his promises practically

[26:24] So you must believe this [26:27] If sin is involved in his plan though [26:32] Isn’t that where the glory is [26:35] No [26:36] How do we know that? [26:39] again the gospel

[26:40] The gospel is the greatest evidence that how god has given to show his trustworthiness [26:47] Is good and is upright, but it also shows us about what he gets the most glory from [26:53] And if the gospel is true god does not [26:58] Get glory the utmost glory out of sin rather he gets the utmost glory out of judging sin [27:05] And you say wait a second. Isn’t that a strange trail of thought that you left a long time ago? No [27:11] no

[27:12] He tells us that he gets even more glory through judgment because through the way that god judges he’s able to redeem sinners [27:19] Look at what jesus said in john chapter 9 verse 39 [27:24] Jesus is speaking to a sinner about judgment a man who’s been caught in sin in john 9 [27:30] Here’s what jesus says jesus looks at imagine being a sinner and the first words that come out of jesus’s mouth are [27:35] I came for judgment [27:37] Oh good

[27:40] He says for judgment I came into this world that those who do not see may see and those who see [27:47] May become blind [27:48] In other words he came to equalize all of us religious [27:51] Irreligious the one that thinks he’s a saint the one that knows he’s a sinner [27:54] We’re all on equal playing ground where jesus’s judgment is concerned [27:57] It’s the kind of judgment that jesus reveals that shows us the utmost of god’s glory though

[28:03] Jesus does judge sin. He judges it by taking the penalty for sin onto himself [28:11] God reveals through jesus that his greatest glory is by justly [28:15] Redeeming sinners from their sentence so that they can know him completely and trust him fully

[28:25] He doesn’t sidestep sin [28:27] He doesn’t sidestep the payment for sin [28:30] He doesn’t sweep it under the rug. He gives full judgment [28:35] Sin is dealt with righteously and completely [28:39] god’s glory [28:41] righteousness and

[28:42] Foundational trustworthiness are all wrapped up in who jesus is and what he did how can god judge?

[28:52] From romans 3 must be turned into a different question. How did god judge?

[29:02] Because he already has [29:04] See the ultimate problem that the world has with god [29:08] Isn’t about god at all [29:11] It’s because they don’t know the whole story of god

[29:18] God’s judgment is jesus is where amazing justice for all of the wrong in the world [29:28] meets [29:30] Astounding love for sinners

[29:36] So paul’s point here is [29:39] That god can be trusted because of the way god deals with sin [29:45] His utmost glory does not come from your sinful act [29:49] His utmost glory comes from redeeming you [29:54] From your sinful acts [29:56] This is the god that we believe in

[30:02] This is the god that is presented in scripture [30:05] This is the god that we must trust and all of our fighting all of our rebellion against him [30:12] All of our accusations against him are completely [30:16] Unjust when you see the ultimate activity of god and that this is not a god who just just [30:24] flippantly [30:25] Judges sin when people go against him who’s just ruling in this sovereign way and picking the winners and the losers arbitrarily

[30:32] This is not a god who holds me accountable for things that he made me do in this world [30:39] This is a god that looks to my rebellion and says I am going to redeem you out of it at my own [30:47] expense [30:49] Friends there’s no greater love than that [30:52] There’s no greater story than that. There’s no greater god than that [30:58] And when the chips are down in your life

[31:01] Then this is the god that you want in your life [31:05] This is the god that you want in your corner [31:08] This is the god that you want interceding for you [31:11] This is the god that you want in control [31:14] Because there’s every other picture of god that this world will paint is [31:20] sick

[31:21] Either he’s a far-off deity who just arbitrarily made the world and then walked away from it or he’s an [31:28] Untouchable ruler whom you can never have confidence of what’s going to happen when you die no matter what you do [31:35] But here we have a god that is both so high and lifted up that his thoughts are so beyond mine [31:41] That he thinks in these ways [31:43] But he’s also so close to my heart that he knows where i’m going to struggle and he comes in and he says [31:48] I’m going to find justice for your sin and i’m also going to pour a love on you that you’ve never experienced in your life

[31:53] That is a god that you can trust [31:56] That is a god that you can follow [31:58] And friend if you’re in here and you don’t know him [32:01] That is the god that you need in your life and you need to repent of your sin and trust in jesus

[32:07] He is god [32:10] The thirdly this morning the final train of thought that paul’s dealing with this morning is

[32:19] That you’re somehow doing god a favor in your sin [32:22] Friend you are not doing god a favor by sinning note what he says in verses seven and eight

[32:32] This is if through my lie god’s truth abounds if i’m the yang to god’s yen

[32:40] Why is he judging me? Why am I condemned as a sinner? [32:45] The back train on that is [32:48] That paul’s actually making a statement in that question here’s the statement that he is making you are condemned as a sinner

[32:57] See he’s answering the objection to the truth the truth is at the end of the question the truth is you are condemned as a sinner [33:06] The question is how are you going to deal with that?

[33:10] And then he says in verse eight just why not do evil that good may come [33:18] I mean that’s where that’s where I finally catch up with him [33:21] I’m like i’m tracking with you now [33:25] I can do all the bad in the world and it’s gonna make good stuff happen. All right [33:30] Let’s go. Why are we even here? [33:33] I mean if that’s true, then why are we even trying if that’s true?

[33:37] Then why are we following jesus if that’s true? [33:40] Then what’s the point of anything that I do in this world? I can just stop thinking at all [33:46] And I can just do what comes natural to me because let me fill you in what comes natural to me will destroy many lives [33:54] I mean, it’s not good [33:56] But here’s what you don’t understand [33:59] What comes natural to you will also destroy many lives chiefly your own

[34:05] So we’re all in the same boat

[34:09] Paul’s dealing with this and he’s saying [34:11] Well, if god gets all this glory if sin just piles up and jesus comes and he eradicates sin [34:17] Well, let’s pile up some more sin [34:20] He’s gonna deal with this again in the book

[34:24] But note how he finishes verse eight [34:27] This is the most astounding part of the passage to me. He says as some people slanderously charge us with saying

[34:35] Their condemnation is just [34:38] Here’s what paul means by that [34:40] He’s saying if what we’re being charged with saying

[34:44] That you need to sin so god will get more glory if that’s true

[34:52] Then the condemnation that we’re receiving from the people charging against us is right and we do not have a gospel worth believing in

[35:00] That’s how seriously paul takes the truth of the gospel. That’s how seriously paul deals [35:05] With the validity of hope in jesus christ as he’s saying look if it’s not accurate if it’s not true [35:12] If it’s not right then any negative thing that anyone has to say about us is true [35:16] And we deserve the condemnation because we are doing what we’re sinning against god. We’re misrepresenting him [35:23] We’re giving a false view of him a view that would bring us just condemnation [35:28] But here’s what I want you to understand about the hope that we have in this

[35:33] Because paul is not just speaking here to coming to faith in jesus christ [35:37] That’s what he’s been dealing with. I believe until verse eight [35:40] But then verse eight would be the picture of what it looks like to follow [35:44] Jesus christ and what paul’s saying is should we then follow jesus into a life of sin and paul says [35:52] absolutely not [35:54] That’s not the life of a believer

[35:57] You see friends the thing that you need to understand about your life in christ is that god has redeemed you to restore you

[36:05] God has redeemed you to restore you [36:09] Paul writes that if these questions that are accusations are coming against him, then it’s true [36:13] But here’s what it says in james chapter one verse 13 [36:16] I often look at the book of james as a commentary on the book of romans [36:20] James the half brother of jesus probably got a little confused and he’s like well [36:23] Let me make it a little easier for everybody and here’s what james says

[36:26] He says let no one say when he is tempted. I am being tempted by god [36:31] For god cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one [36:38] You cannot lay the charge for your sin at god’s feet [36:41] That he made me this way comment does not carry weight [36:45] Because if it is against what god has said [36:49] Then he has a better life for you than one in sin

[36:54] Why not? [36:57] again [36:57] Because of jesus [36:59] Jesus offers freedom from the condemnation of sin and the ability to bring glory to god [37:05] By living his mission [37:07] and perfect obedience

[37:09] God doesn’t just redeem you into a static state [37:14] He wants to begin a journey in your life in which you can learn [37:19] How to turn your life right side up? [37:23] And worship god rather than anything else [37:26] God does not leave you where he found you [37:31] Does he find you there?

[37:34] Does god find you in some very sinful patterns very sinful habits very sinful ways of thinking very sinful ways of acting [37:41] Absolutely, and in that place he pours grace on you in that place [37:46] He gives you life, but he loves you far too much to leave you in destructive patterns [37:54] He loves you far too much to leave you in a place where you are incapable of worshipping him [38:01] He loves you far too much in leaving you in a place [38:05] That would take away from his holiness

[38:07] When god redeems you he means and he strengthens you [38:12] To restore you to the life that he wants you to have [38:19] God wants redemption [38:21] In my life he doesn’t want sin in my life [38:26] He redeemed me through jesus to begin a journey in which I repent more and more the more I get to know god [38:34] Here’s the crazy thing the more sin I find

[38:37] But the more sin I find the more repentance god gives into my life [38:42] The more turning away from it that I tend to do [38:46] Friends [38:48] God wants to build your life through faith [38:52] Jesus redeems you in order to restore [38:57] All that sin has cost you

[39:00] You say that’s hard to believe

[39:06] It would be hard for me to believe [39:10] If jesus didn’t rise from the dead, but when dead people start getting up I tend to start to believe the miraculous

[39:18] I [39:18] Tend to start believing maybe god can do a work in my life that I didn’t think he could do [39:23] I begin to think to myself. Maybe god can use me for things that I think i’m too inadequate for [39:29] Maybe god can take me to positions in life and in following him and in trusting him and in obeying him [39:35] And in being a witness to other people’s lives that I never thought possible in my life story after story after story [39:42] In scripture that is god’s methodology he takes people who are incapable and makes them more than capable

[39:51] God can use [39:52] every single man woman [39:56] boy [39:56] girl [39:57] In this room no matter what you’re struggling with no matter what you need to overcome no matter where your doubts are [40:04] Understand one thing because jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead god can use you

[40:12] For his glory and if you trust him he will

[40:18] No matter what your past god’s right in a different future and he will use you

[40:26] God deals with these complicated questions [40:31] Because these are the questions that a world drowning in sin will often want us to answer

[40:38] You see these questions can serve as an avenue to build our faith if we want them to

[40:47] Part of paul’s point here is to force us not only to think it through though but to come to answers [40:57] You see there is a wrong way to ask a question [41:01] There is a wrong way to ask a question. It’s a wrong way to do a lot of things

[41:09] Sometimes we don’t really want answers

[41:13] See sometimes i’ve been in groups of people where you know there’s that one guy

[41:19] He’s asking questions just to trip you up [41:23] He doesn’t want an answer she doesn’t want an answer she just wants to be the thorn in your side [41:29] And so then starts the marathon of endurance with that person [41:33] And you have to really depend on the spirit in those moments

[41:37] But friend sometimes you don’t want answers to the questions that you’re asking because you know the heights that god will take you to when you get answers

[41:47] And your sin is deceiving you [41:49] And to believing that you either can’t get to where god really has designed for your life to get [41:54] Or you don’t want it because you don’t want to give god glory

[41:58] Friend when you trust in god [42:02] You really believe that he is the truth and he can do whatever he wants to in your life [42:10] That’s what it means to be god [42:13] It means that what he wants from you he can get from you [42:17] And in jesus he will [42:19] You see you have to trust god’s character

[42:23] For there to be any value in redemption [42:27] If you’re someone that’s truly seeking [42:30] And you’re asking these types of questions this morning understand if you really want answers don’t shy away from those questions

[42:40] Ask them [42:41] But be prepared [42:44] Because god wants to answer them [42:47] This is about trusting god [42:51] The message of the gospel of jesus is inside of the bible so that we can learn the truth about god [42:57] It opens our eyes in ways

[43:01] That we never thought [43:03] That would before [43:05] The bible speaks truths into my life that I never thought [43:10] Had the potential of ever being answered you can build your life [43:17] Understand this morning friend you can build your whole life on the message of this book [43:24] And when you saturate your life from it with it you will find the answers that you seek

[43:30] Therefore don’t feel bad about the questions that you have [43:33] ask away [43:35] Follow jesus into the hard areas if you do that [43:40] If you do that [43:41] You will grow to trust god to live in ways that you’d probably never thought you could live before nor [43:49] Did you probably think you ever really wanted to live the way that god has prescribed but what you’ll find when you do

[43:53] Start living the ways prescribed is the life of joy

[43:58] Because the fact is when you’re not living according to god’s word you’re the sucker [44:03] I’m not i’m got joy what you got

[44:08] If you don’t build your life on this book though [44:12] If you don’t build your life [44:13] The true way that god has designed this world and the way that god has designed for his answers to be understand that you are putting yourself [44:20] At risk of believing some of the very errors that paul is dealing with here [44:27] But what you find in this section of scripture is a message of how and why you can trust god

[44:36] Friend just want to leave you with one thought

[44:40] God can be [44:43] trusted

[44:46] With your life [44:49] As the band comes up

[44:55] As i’ve followed jesus

[44:59] I found god to be far more thoughtful than I ever thought possible

[45:04] There was a time in my life when I shied away from asking hard questions. I was the child that was very annoying

[45:12] I was the guy I was just talking about I would just ask questions because I knew somebody couldn’t answer them for me

[45:18] But there came a point in my life where god really started to deal with my faith [45:22] When god really said steve you’ve got to own your faith. It can’t be someone else’s faith. It needs to be your faith steve [45:29] At that point I began to study the scriptures. I began to ask very hard questions [45:36] And some of it I can’t explain it’s just faith

[45:50] I’ve tried to find where he’s inconsistent. I’ve tried to find where he’s not faithful to me

[46:01] He’s so loving [46:04] He loves me so much [46:06] That every time he says Steve i’m gonna show you where I’m going [46:08] [46:08] [46:08]

[46:08]

[46:10] I’m gonna show you where the gospel’s true for you [46:14] And I tell you this morning if you’re in here and you’re a doubter you’ve got doubts, that’s okay [46:20] That’s fine [46:21] I love you. Here’s the key [46:24] God loves you far more than I do [46:27] And he will be true for you

[46:30] because of jesus christ [46:32] God

[46:34] Communion reflects on what jesus did [46:37] The cup represents his shed blood the bread represents his broken body [46:42] He shed that blood and he broke his body for your sin [46:47] God paid the ultimate price to redeem you and to restore you [46:52] So that you could follow him in glory [46:56] If you believe that this morning

[46:59] When you’re ready [47:02] You