Praise God for the Law.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] All right, go ahead and have a seat. Welcome to Village Church. If this is your first time here, my name’s Steve [0:05] I’m one of the pastors here at Village Church [0:07] And I’m grateful and thankful to see each and every one of you this morning [0:11] If you have your Bibles go ahead and open them to Romans chapter 7 [0:15] We’re gonna be starting in verse 7 this morning [0:18] But if you want to you could also hold your thumb there and turn over to Psalm

[0:23] 119 will also be spending a little bit of time in the Psalms as well [0:27] To this point the theme of the book of Romans has been God making sinful man righteous [0:35] through the work of Jesus [0:37] Why do we need to be made righteous? [0:40] Well, the answer to that that Paul has given throughout all of Romans is that the law of God has revealed that we are [0:47] sinful and it’s exposed our sin and

[0:51] Shown that we need to be redeemed and it’s very tempting as we look through the book of Romans up to this point [0:57] To think to yourself and kind of get the idea that the law is [1:02] All negative that the law of God is this negative force in your life that is holding you down [1:09] And you know it we saw in Galatians last week that we’re cursed under the law [1:14] The law shows so much sin that the law shows us our death [1:18] It shows us our emptiness and these are all bad things

[1:22] And so what we can do then is begin to look at the law of God and begin to look at the Old Testament law [1:28] specifically, you know Exodus Deuteronomy Leviticus those books and begin to think to ourselves if we didn’t have this maybe life would be [1:36] Okay, and then as a follower of Jesus even reading through the books of the Old Testament [1:42] It doesn’t seem to be applicable now because you’ve been redeemed from that curse [1:46] We saw last week that it no longer binds you it can’t condemn you any longer [1:51] You’re alive in Christ and so what’s the point of the law? Is it all bad?

[1:58] I think part of our problem with the law is just who we are as humans [2:03] And that we do not like to be acquainted with anything that could make us look weak [2:11] I mean you’re basically inculturated to fight weakness [2:16] You’re taught to only focus on your strengths [2:20] When in an interview you may get the ridiculous question [2:23] Which is a ridiculous question if you ever interview someone don’t ask the question of what are some of your weaknesses?

[2:30] They’re going to lie [2:32] Why would you even ask such a ridiculous question? Well, I care too much [2:36] Sometimes I work too hard [2:38] Sometimes a little bit too much of a perfectionist. So you try to even take [2:43] Weaknesses and say how can I make weaknesses look strong and but the law [2:50] Reveals to each and every one of us what is universally true

[2:53] About humans and that is that we are weak people and we don’t like to be acquainted with that and [3:01] The book of second Corinthians the Apostle Paul actually [3:05] Refers in chapter 12. I think it’s in verse 9 [3:08] He starts by saying that that God’s strength is shown perfect in our weakness [3:13] And so if you ever have any hope of actually tapping into the strength of God [3:19] Then you must necessarily

[3:22] realize number one that you are weak but also kind of engage those weaknesses to see how the strength of God [3:28] informs you in your weakest state

[3:33] The Anglican pastor in the 1500s Richard Sibbes once said that weakness with [3:39] attention to it will help you to stand [3:44] Where strength with too much confidence will actually make you fall because when you are weak you seek out [3:51] What is strong and the only thing that is strong is actually God [3:56] But we revolt against such an idea even maybe in your community group when you begin to talk about, you know [4:03] How you’re struggling and maybe you can’t think of anything or maybe you can think of a hundred things and you say I wouldn’t

[4:09] Dare actually tell them the struggles that I have because then they wouldn’t love me [4:14] Because what we really believe that we’re lovable [4:18] Because of how strong we are [4:21] What I hope that we can kind of hone in on this morning is the realization that that is not true [4:28] That God doesn’t love you because of how strong you are. He loves you first because how strong he is [4:33] But he loves you in your weakness

[4:36] Is that a really understand? [4:38] The love of God is very important in your life to become very acquainted [4:44] With how you are weak and it’s very uncomfortable [4:48] It’s not always fun, but you can’t grow in the grace of God without it [4:53] Without that realization you’ll read things that are said about the law specifically in the book of Psalms. You’ll be so confused in [5:01] Psalm 119 starting in verse 97. Here’s what the psalmist actually says about the law

[5:06] He says oh how I love your law [5:09] It is my meditation all the day your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies [5:16] For it is ever with me [5:19] This seems to be a polar opposite view of the law that maybe you saw in Galatians chapter 3 last week [5:26] We make statements like oh, well, you’re under the curse of the law [5:29] It’s gonna kill you and in Jesus you’ve been redeemed from that curse

[5:34] So how do we make sense of these two different views of the law and I think that’s what the Apostle Paul is trying [5:39] To do in Romans chapter 7 [5:41] Because he wants us to understand that the law is the pathway [5:48] For you to come to faith in Jesus [5:51] The law is holy the law is righteous [5:55] The law is actually good and without the law you would very much be hopeless

[6:04] But because of it [6:05] Your need for a Savior can be understood and your need for salvation [6:12] Will then bring you to the only one who is actually strong and that is Jesus Christ [6:19] So look in Romans chapter 7. We’re gonna start reading in verse 7 this morning [6:23] Paul again asks the rhetorical question that he’s been asking all along [6:27] Well, because this stuff is true that I just said what shall we say?

[6:31] What shall we say then that the law is sin [6:34] By no means yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin [6:40] For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said you shall not covet [6:48] But sin seizing an opportunity through the commandment produced in me all kinds of covetousness [6:53] For apart from the law sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law [6:58] But when the commandment came sin came alive and I died

[7:02] The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me for sin seizing an opportunity through the commandment [7:10] Deceived me and through it killed me

[7:14] so [7:15] You might get a little confused by his conclusion after all that he just said [7:18] He said so the law is holy and the commandment is holy and righteous and [7:28] Good pray with me our father

[7:32] this morning

[7:35] It’s necessary [7:37] For us to come to a place of realizing our weakness

[7:43] so that [7:44] We can be acquainted with you were good [7:47] Lord, it’s our desire to worship you this morning. It’s our desire to glorify you this morning [7:52] So I would ask that you would soften our hearts [7:55] You would open our minds and that we would be a people who receive your gospel and it would be life to us [8:05] Lord change us as you will in the name of Jesus. I pray

[8:11] amen [8:12] The number one thing that I want you to understand this morning is that the law reveals our need for redemption [8:19] The law reveals our need for redemption [8:23] That’s the focus really of the first two verses that we read there verses 7 & 8 and that is that the law of God is [8:30] Not sin, but instead it reveals sin and that’s very important [8:35] Is the beginning of Romans 7 explained last week that through faith in Jesus?

[8:41] We’ve died to the law. It doesn’t bind us anymore [8:44] But why did it bind us it didn’t bind us in the sense that we were able to obey it and we followed it [8:49] But instead it bound us in the sense that we couldn’t follow it at all and [8:54] That it was a message of condemnation into our lives because we had no hope of ever measuring up [9:00] From the youngest of ages you struggled with lying [9:04] You struggle every one of you have you lied to your parents, but mostly

[9:09] The longer you live the more you realize you lie to yourself [9:12] My mid-30s I lie to myself sometimes and believe that I’m physically able to do some things [9:18] These are great lies and I pay for them the next morning [9:22] But the law of God [9:25] Defines for us how much we fall short of the standard to which God has for us [9:33] But in Jesus Christ we no longer live by the words of this written code

[9:39] Instead we’re saved from the penalty because Jesus took the penalty and then he transfers his righteousness [9:46] Through which he actually lived a life of perfect obedience to the law of God and he claims that he did it in our place [9:54] And we trust in him [9:56] He accounts it to us. So this is if you did it [10:00] So we can walk we said last week heads held high through this life [10:04] No more guilt to hold us in prison. No more shame to hold us in derision, but instead

[10:10] We walk as if we’ve [10:13] Completely met every demand of the law and it will always be that way for us because Jesus has never sinned [10:20] Jesus will never sin and more than that he paid the penalty for the sin that I have committed [10:25] So I stand before you I stand before God [10:28] Complete and whole that’s what faith does for you [10:32] Just nothing’s to be held against your account ever again. And that’s why Jesus is so great

[10:37] But then the end that what do we do with the Old Testament law well we notice first that it defines sin for us [10:46] when Paul begs the question of [10:49] What then is the sin is it? Excuse me? What then is the law? [10:51] Is it sinful and he responds with a very familiar response is given all through the book of Romans by no means [10:58] It means the same thing as that is impossible [11:01] It’s not even a blip on the radar of truth and then he summarizes at the end and he says the law is good

[11:08] Law is something that we look to because without the law. I want you to understand this this morning [11:15] Without the law you would just be condemned to death [11:19] That would just be your story. You’re born then you’re condemned and that’s the whole story of you [11:25] But because of the law [11:28] God illumines our life to make us realize that sin being defined is actually a work of our grace [11:38] Apart from the law sin does exist, but it can’t even be defined as sin because there’s been no standard set

[11:46] Verse 8 explains very well that sin just lies dead without the law [11:52] That doesn’t mean [11:54] That if it weren’t for the law sin would give you so much life [11:58] What it means is is that apart from the law all that you have this condemnation Romans 2 [12:04] Showed very well that even before the law people died [12:09] That’s because there was always sin

[12:12] There was always this depravity once Adam and Eve [12:15] Sinned against God every man and woman that were ever born were born with an inclination to sin and you are no different [12:23] Friend you do not sin and then become a dirty sinner [12:28] You are born a sinner and that’s why you sin [12:33] Every struggle and every problem that you have in your life can be traced to one [12:39] Unavoidable truth and that is that you are sinful

[12:44] And you’re born that way. It’s the plight of man and without the law. We wouldn’t know that [12:50] But because of the law two of them Roman says one that’s the written code given to Israel and the other one that’s written [12:57] On your heart that gives you a conscience the one that actually gives you the ability to just [13:02] Instinctively set standards for yourself and everyone around you that is a law unto yourself and you don’t live up to it [13:10] But because God in grace

[13:14] Gave us a written code [13:16] We can look and we can see and we can say oh [13:19] There’s the problem [13:22] How good do I have to be to measure up in this life? I have to be as good as God and [13:31] The law gives you the news that you’ve needed all along [13:34] You are not

[13:36] You may have believed that you are God’s gift to mankind [13:40] But the law very quickly shows no you’re not [13:45] God gives his law not just to show that you’re a sinner [13:49] God also gives you his law to show you that he exists [13:56] Is you know that in your sin? [13:58] God had no responsibility

[14:01] To even show you that he’s there [14:04] But the law is actually the first step in history of God taking the initiative [14:11] To reveal himself to you [14:14] When he gives us the law it’s the standard that set where he says I am there and I very much and am [14:21] Involved in your life God goes to the extent where he shows you I know what you’re struggling with I [14:30] Know what your sin is

[14:32] He is that involved because very tempting in this life to believe that God is completely transcendent [14:40] And that is all that you can say about him [14:43] He’s out there and he is he’s above creation and he is but there’s so much more to him than that [14:49] He’s not just some far-off untouchable deity. You just hope when you die you catch him in a good mood that day [14:56] That’s the hope of most religion

[15:01] According to the scriptures God is also imminent he’s also very involved [15:07] He’s right beside you. He’s in your life. He’s as close as your breath [15:13] And he knows exactly what is going on in your life [15:16] And that is what the law of God reveals you cannot go to it and not find something that you’re struggling in right now [15:24] You don’t even have to get through all ten you get through number one and you’re done. You’re all it filthy idolaters [15:33] I mean it doesn’t take very long to realize this

[15:36] That even in not knowing God you’ve already put someone before him [15:40] And then he finds you completely guilty by the fact that he says even in Romans chapter 1 he says oh [15:45] You know I exist I made trees [15:49] Surely you looked at them and said there’s something behind that [15:53] More complicated the biology the more abundantly clear [15:56] It is that there is a design behind it and that design has to find a source in its designer

[16:02] And that designer is God the God of Abraham the God of Isaac the God of Jacob the God of Moses who gave the law [16:10] As the God who wants to be known and the law shows that to us [16:16] Then throughout the Old Testament it becomes abundantly clear that we need to know our sin [16:21] Because without knowing your sin you can’t know the most important need that you need to know about your life [16:27] Most important need that you need to know about in your life is that you need to be forgiven [16:32] in the Old Testament

[16:33] Tells us that there are pictures all through the Old Testament all [16:39] through the stories of the priests the prophets and the kings of [16:43] Man’s need to be forgiven and there are so many stories of men who? [16:49] Struggled in sin and when they come down to realizing that their sin is against a holy and righteous God [16:54] They have one of two reactions. They either curse him or they go to him begging for forgiveness [17:00] Because if there is a lawgiver who is also the judge of the law and that is the only source of hope that you could

[17:06] Ever have of being forgiven [17:08] You can’t appeal to any other authority other than the lawgiver in hopes that he will forgive you and in the Old Testament [17:16] What you see throughout those stories that there’s always hope of forgiveness [17:20] There’s always hope that this lawgiver God Yahweh has a plan to forgive [17:26] And the only hope that you have is laying yourself down in front of him for mercy and [17:31] Hopes that he is a merciful God and I think the law actually reveals to us that there is mercy

[17:37] The law actually reveals to us that this is a God who will forgive us, but so often you do see those stories [17:45] Where people simply just want to rebel and in that rebellion you believe a very large lie and [17:52] That lie is that the law is the problem [17:54] Well number two this morning what I want you to understand is that the law isn’t the problem sin is [18:01] Sin is and always has been the problem in your life in verse 8 [18:07] He begins to unpack and he says sin

[18:10] Seized an opportunity through the commandment that sin was very much there before you knew the commandment [18:17] I bet my kids can’t say any of the commandments [18:20] They would disappoint you because I’m sure you think pastors kids should know this from from age one [18:24] But if you go right now, my son can name every rescue bot [18:29] But he will not quote you any Bible verses he’s failing

[18:36] But he’s not acquainted with it he doesn’t know it his commandments are what do mommy and daddy say [18:40] Well, I got I got to obey that or else the heat comes

[18:46] But he falls [18:49] abundantly short on [18:51] The commandments of God without even knowing them

[18:55] What Paul’s saying is is that when the commandment comes in and when you become acquainted with it [19:03] Then it begins to awaken in you desires that were already there, but now they’re specific desires [19:10] And he uses the one that we’re all going to struggle with and that is covetousness [19:16] And that is this example of wanting to have what other people have to the extent that you believe you deserve it more [19:24] I mean you’ve all done it if you haven’t done it. You’re a better person than I am [19:28] I think I do it every day on the road

[19:30] I mean I do it in every shopping center do it in every mall. I’m like man [19:34] Why do they have that I’m better than them and I know it

[19:39] And what Paul says is that when you begin to realize what the sin is it doesn’t [19:46] Relieve the pain of sin it actually [19:50] Reinforces the pain of that sin because now not only do you have the sin inside of you [19:56] But you’ve got the knowledge of what the sin is [20:00] So your sinfulness inside of you doesn’t go. Oh well now that I know that’s a problem. I’m okay [20:06] I it’s wrong. I won’t do it anymore

[20:09] Instead sin comes in you and says oh, yeah, you do and [20:13] You want more of it than you ever thought you did before and that is the problem of habitual sin in most of our lives [20:21] Is that we look to the law and we say I know this specific thing is wrong [20:27] So what I’m going to do is I’m going to get stronger. I’m going to avoid it [20:31] I’m going to post it above my computer screen. I’m going to post on the walls of my house. Don’t do that and [20:38] Then you just kind of put a blanket over the verse and you said the verse won’t see if I’ve got the blanket over

[20:43] It so I’m just going to do it then I’ll take the verse off or excuse me [20:46] I’ll take the cover off and I’ll get forgiveness or something [20:50] Is it so the law gives you absolutely no hope it just lets you know hey

[20:57] You’re weak

[21:00] But how many times in our lives [21:02] Do we attempt under our own strength to just simply look at right and wrong and [21:11] Think that we’re going to have the strength to just do right because we know it’s right [21:17] It won’t work [21:19] It’s never worked in the history of man because sin just wells itself up inside of you and says [21:27] We want to break the law and you do

[21:31] You know Romans chapter 3 gives us this this universal truth about the purpose of the law [21:38] It says we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those that are under the law and that’s all of you [21:43] Why why? [21:45] So that every mouth can be stopped [21:49] That’s a bold statement [21:52] It basically means to shut you up

[21:56] Because you are going to try to defend yourself against the law [22:02] To see how much better you are than someone else to see a well [22:05] I was having a bad day to see well [22:07] I was just having a bad moment and the law comes in and it shuts your mouth because it says no you just did wrong

[22:15] Then he says so that the whole world [22:20] Could be held accountable to God [22:22] And see that’s where our issues really pop up [22:28] Because if we don’t follow Jesus we have this temptation to say aha see there’s your problem

[22:36] It’s God who does he think he is why does he think he can hold me accountable [22:44] The fact of the matter is is that he thinks that he’s God and he thinks he can hold you accountable because he’s God [22:52] The problem with most of your definitions of God is that you can’t imagine a God that would act in a way different than you would [23:00] You can’t imagine a God existing that would have any higher authority than you have over yourself [23:06] You can’t imagine there being a God that exists that would do things and hold people accountable in ways [23:14] differently than you would

[23:17] But what the law comes in he tells us is that there is a God and all that matters is what he thinks [23:25] You are responsible for submitting to him [23:29] He says just the truth that needs to set you free this morning is found in Romans chapter 3 verse 20 [23:35] Where he says for by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight [23:41] You will not no one will since through the law comes one thing [23:46] knowledge of sin

[23:48] in grace though [23:50] God gives us his law and helps us to see the truth of who he is [23:58] In verse 9 he makes a very interesting statement in Romans chapter 7 where he actually makes the statement [24:03] He says that before the law came I once was alive [24:08] We might read that and say aha see there it is the law is a problem. I was alive [24:14] That’s not what he’s talking about there

[24:16] What he’s actually saying in verse 9 is is that before the law came I didn’t know of all the problems that I actually had [24:24] John Calvin remarking on this verse speaking of the Apostle Paul and he says before Paul’s knowledge of the law [24:31] He was satisfied with himself thinking that he had life on his own [24:38] See that’s what you believe [24:39] You don’t want to submit to an authoritative God you want to be an [24:46] authoritative God with authority over just a few people

[24:50] I mean, that’s what I would settle for I want authority over myself and then I want authority over everyone. I know [24:55] The rest of the world. I don’t need authority over them unless they meet me and then of course they must become one of my subjects [25:04] But I’d settle for that and that’s really [25:07] What sin and the deceitfulness of sin will convince you of in this life [25:14] But it’s a grace to know that there is one who’s not as petty as I am [25:20] If there’s a God out there that wouldn’t do the terrible things that I would probably do to you

[25:25] I mean, they’re bad. All right, it’s just as bad as you would do to me. Don’t worry. I know that [25:30] But you can’t know God apart from the law because the law awakens the reality of the death of sin [25:40] You see that reality was there before Paul was acquainted with the law [25:45] But the law just defined it for him [25:47] The law made it abundantly clear that this is what the problem is sin always [25:53] Was the issue for you and it always is the issue for you the problem is not God

[26:01] Because you see the law is actually loving you see you can’t know the love of God apart from the law [26:08] Without the law you can’t even really know what his expectations are [26:13] You wouldn’t know who he is or that he is there his presence demands a standard [26:20] And that’s why King David wrote in Psalm 19 defining the glory of God [26:25] He starts with creation and he says the creation just screams the glory of God and that he needs to be worshipped [26:31] But then down in verse 7 of Psalm 19, he says this he says the law of the Lord is perfect

[26:39] Reviving the soul [26:41] You ever looked at the law that way [26:44] This is the testimony of the Lord is sure [26:46] Making wise the simple the precepts of the Lord are right [26:50] Rejoicing the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes the fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever [26:58] The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether more to be desired are they than gold?

[27:05] Even much fine gold sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb more over by them is your [27:13] servant get this [27:14] warned [27:15] In keeping them there’s great reward [27:20] You look at this love song that David writes about the law and then you get to it and he says this is a warning a [27:29] warning of what

[27:30] Friends, it’s a warning of what life looks like apart from the grace of Almighty God [27:36] You see you can believe in God through the witness of creation Romans 1 and 2 make that very clear [27:42] You can look to creation and believe there’s a God there has to be that made this but the written word of the law [27:50] Reveals a good and holy God that you can know [27:56] Specifically and you can know him personally because he pours himself out to you and says this is who I am [28:05] This is what I am like

[28:07] You see what often happens though is that we see the [28:11] Expectations and instead of being brought to an all of how great God is [28:17] We become resentful because of our sin [28:20] You see this is what happens anytime we find something in the Word of God that confronts us with our sin or [28:28] disagrees with something that we believe in thought or in [28:34] action friend if you disagree with something found in the Bible understand that the problem isn’t the Bible

[28:41] Problem is always you or me [28:44] You see the Bible is this inerrant standard of God [28:48] It’s thoratative over everything in our lives [28:51] And so when we come to it and it confronts us or we come to it and it disagrees with us [28:56] Understand that it is not as subjective as we would be [28:59] See because based on your emotions and the the effectiveness that sin has corrupted inside of your emotions

[29:06] Understand that your belief system changes just based on your mood on [29:09] On Monday you believe something that by Friday you deny altogether and that’s because your mood has changed [29:15] We don’t have that problem with God because he has made his standard quite subject excuse me quite objective [29:21] And when we look to the Bible and it defines sin and we begin to explain away and say well [29:26] We’ve progressed past that understand that the only progression that you’ve had is in your sinfulness [29:32] The only progression that you’ve actually experienced is in your rebellion against God. It’s never courageous to rebel against God

[29:39] It’s not courageous to sin against him. It’s not courageous to redefine things that he’s already defined [29:45] Instead it’s rebellion and what the law means to show us is the law means to show us that we need to be redeemed from [29:52] That rebellion and that is what God wants us to know [29:56] He wants us to lay ourselves at his mercy not using our sin as an excuse [30:01] Not using our sin as a reason even to stay away from him [30:06] Instead our sin should awaken inside of us and incessant need

[30:12] for a God [30:14] that we hope [30:16] will forgive [30:18] because we realize through the standard of our own lives that that is [30:23] The only hope that any of us have it is always sin that deceives [30:28] It is not God that deceives is

[30:31] Breaking the commandment that kills is not the commandment itself that kills [30:38] You see look in verses 10 and 11 [30:41] Just what he says about that. He says the very commandment the promised life proved to be death to me [30:46] for sin [30:47] Seizing an opportunity through the commandment deceived me and through it killed me. See it wasn’t the commandment [30:54] That deceived him the commandment just is what it is

[30:58] It’s pretty blunt pretty straightforward [31:00] But instead it is sin that comes in it is temptation that comes in to break that commandment and therein lies [31:09] The deception because sin will convince us time and time again

[31:16] It’s not that bad [31:18] Or you deserve this or you shouldn’t be held accountable to this and [31:24] Deception and the deceit will always change but the covenant and the commandment never does [31:30] That’s why there’s no deception found inside of it in Leviticus chapter 18 verse 5 [31:37] Here’s what Moses writes about the law [31:38] He says you shall therefore keep my statutes in the voice of God and my rules

[31:44] If a person does them he shall live by them. I am the Lord you see the promise there [31:51] The promise is if you obey the law if you keep the standard you will live [31:58] Have you ever been frustrated by being held to a standard that you didn’t even know existed [32:04] It’s ever happened to you at work. You thought you were supposed to be doing one thing [32:08] You did another thing and your boss however many of them there are they all come down on you with raining fire [32:13] And then you’re like, I didn’t even know how can I be held accountable?

[32:18] You don’t worry about that with God [32:21] See leadership experts will always tell you that [32:24] Uncommunicated expectations will rarely be met. You don’t have to fear that with God [32:31] For in some of the issues that you may be having in your relationship with God is because you think that he wants something [32:36] That he’s not telling you about you. Don’t have to deal with that type of frustration where God is concerned [32:41] He has shown you specifically what he wants from you. The issue though is

[32:47] That you’re struggling to keep it [32:49] But the truth is that God is loving enough to tell you just how good you have to be for the life [32:57] Eternal life that he offers you have to be as good as he is [33:02] God doesn’t want you to be ignorant of his design for life [33:08] God does want you to know the cost of your rebellion against him [33:15] You see in

[33:17] showing [33:18] That believing and trusting and obeying the standards that he has said that you will find life [33:24] We also understand that the opposite is true [33:27] That when we don’t obey his standards when we don’t obey his law, we will find death [33:33] Romans has been abundantly clear about that the scriptures are abundantly clear about that at the problem in life and in death [33:41] Is that we have not met the expectations of God?

[33:45] Therefore the penalty and the cost are our very eternal lives [33:52] But he doesn’t define punishment [33:54] Without also defining hope you see the hope of the law [34:00] has always and [34:03] Is always and will always be found in the fulfillment of its requirements and that hope [34:11] Is what you find in Jesus

[34:13] You see we spoke last week to the fact that Jesus meets the expectations of the law [34:19] For you he was a substitute and what Paul is telling us about the law this week is the reality that the law wasn’t [34:26] The problem hope is actually found in the law [34:29] Hope is found in the fulfillment of the law and that’s exactly what Jesus Christ desires to give you today and forever [34:38] So number three the law is good [34:41] Because it leads to Jesus

[34:44] See I would agree with you if you said that the law is bad if it led anywhere else [34:50] The law would be a terrible thing if it just led to hell [34:54] The law would be an awful thing if it just led to the wrath of God [34:59] the law would be a terrible terrible thing if all that we ever learned of or all that we ever heard about is the [35:06] penalty of breaking the law of God [35:09] But when you get down to verse 12 what you find is a different statement and what Paul is doing in this statement

[35:16] Is he is summarizing everything that he said about the law in Jesus Christ? [35:21] Because what he has said about Jesus is that Jesus is righteous [35:25] Jesus is good Jesus is holy and that’s why salvation comes through him in verse 12 [35:30] He summarizes everything with this worship and he says the law is holy [35:35] The commandment that’s broken by sin is holy [35:41] And it’s righteous and it’s good you see friend what’s so good about the law

[35:48] God [35:49] The source is always where the goodness is found [35:54] Whatever comes from God is good and always has a purpose of good [36:01] So understand that the purpose of the law in your life is good [36:06] The story goes on to show that this holy God of justice [36:11] He brings mercy through sacrificing himself for those who sin against the law of which you are a part of

[36:20] You see in Psalm 119 if we can return there in verse 105 [36:24] Is a verse that I learned very young in life [36:28] Proclaims that the Word of God is a light [36:32] To your feet on a very dark path that sin has set you on [36:38] Says God’s Word is a lamp to my feet a light to my path [36:44] See it reveals the road that I’m actually on

[36:48] It tells me of the truth about where I actually am but then it goes further [36:54] Doesn’t say it’s just a light to my feet. It just doesn’t show me where I’m standing [36:59] But if you also use it in the right way [37:03] It can also go up and focus as a light to the path in front of you [37:08] and it projects forward and shows exactly where you are going and if you will allow the word of the Lord to [37:16] Saturate your life and to invade your very existence

[37:20] It will also show you the path that God desires to put you on and that is the path

[37:28] Where Jesus is going [37:30] Where Jesus is you see if you go to the end of the chapter of Psalm 119 [37:35] I think that everything that he says and all of those I mean there’s an abundant load of verses in this chapter [37:41] Everything that he says leads him to the very end of it where he writes this I [37:47] long [37:48] For your salvation Oh Lord

[37:51] See whenever you see in Hebrew the term longing that I long for something [37:57] It’s speaking of a feeling of desperation [38:01] It’s like the feeling that you get after too much physical activity and that’s gonna range [38:05] Depending on what kind of shape you’re in but you know if you’re really tired [38:11] You’re you just you’re parched and you’re thirsty and that’s the type of longing that he’s talking about [38:15] Oh God I long for your salvation, why would he long for it because he needs it

[38:24] He says your law is my delight

[38:31] It’s illuminating everything around him showing that this is a holy God that has a direction in mind [38:37] Says God he asks he says let my soul live and praise you let your rules help me [38:45] Why would you need help if you thought you could do it under your own strength? [38:51] You wouldn’t [38:53] Know what he says [38:55] Says I have gone astray

[38:58] like a lost sheep [39:01] It doesn’t say God I’m gonna run find you

[39:06] This is God seek your servant he knows that he’s in a desperate situation [39:11] He can’t get himself out of it the law has revealed everything that is unholy [39:17] Everything that is sinful everything that is dirty everything that gives him baggage everything that gives him shame everything gives him guilt [39:23] And it leads him to one place God. I need you to find me because I can’t pick myself up I [39:32] Have no hope of finding you on my own [39:34] Seek your servant

[39:38] For I do not forget your commandments

[39:42] See is everything else in the Old Testament was written this was also written with a hope [39:48] That the God who gave the law is a God who also has a plan to redeem [39:55] from the law [39:59] Galatians chapter 3 again from last week a [40:03] Few more verses down in verse 24 explains exactly what the psalmist is talking about in chapter 119 there at the end [40:10] He says so then

[40:12] the law [40:14] Was our guardian until Christ came in order that we might be justified by faith, but now that faith has come [40:24] We’re no longer under that guardian [40:26] For in Christ you are all sons of God through faith [40:31] You see some translations will translate Galatians 3 24 and 25 and say that the law was our school master [40:40] Teaching us our need of Christ

[40:44] See friend once you find that salvation [40:47] Once you find that hope [40:50] You no longer need to be pointed in that direction [40:54] You just walk [40:56] You just follow [40:57] You just depend upon

[40:59] Because you know that the giver of the law is good [41:04] because his son came and [41:07] Took the demands of the law unto himself obeyed them perfectly [41:13] And then sacrificed his own life for it you see friends Jesus wasn’t just as good as God [41:22] You see because that’s how good you have to be to get to heaven to be as good as God for tall order [41:29] But Jesus wasn’t just as good as God Jesus is God

[41:35] He created [41:37] He created [41:38] He gave the law [41:40] and [41:41] Then what’s fascinating about the gospel of Jesus Christ to me is the same God who gave the law [41:48] then came to

[41:51] sacrifice himself [41:53] Under the punishment that that law demanded [41:57] You see friend you can trust him [42:00] You can be a child of God through faith [42:05] See God is so good that [42:08] His holiness is uncompromising

[42:11] That’s the law shows you this is not a God of compromise

[42:16] So then therefore there must be justice for sin because he’s that good

[42:21] But he’s also so good that his mercy reigns [42:26] He wants to forgive you through faith in Jesus Christ [42:31] We have a God that’s good in every direction [42:37] Justice for your pain he’s got it [42:42] Justice for your sin [42:45] He’s got it

[42:48] Mercy for the pain you’ve caused [42:51] He’s got it [42:53] Mercy for the pain you’ve caused

[42:57] He’s got it [42:59] He’s got it friend Tim Keller has once remarked isn’t Jesus great

[43:08] It’s a profound theological reality [43:12] That only someone who’s acquainted with what he deserves and

[43:19] What God wants to give instead can have

[43:25] As the band comes forward I

[43:29] Want you to know this morning that you can be saved

[43:34] Every week we reflect through a time of communion. It’s called the Lord’s Supper [43:39] We eat the bread that’s found on the plate and we drink the cup of juice [43:47] and what we do when we eat and we drink is that we proclaim

[43:54] That God his law [43:57] And everything else about him is good

[44:02] Holy and righteous

[44:07] We also proclaim [44:10] That the greatest thing that we’ve ever experienced is that that God who’s good and holy and righteous

[44:17] forgives sinners [44:20] Of which I am before most

[44:24] Today if you’re a follower of Jesus [44:26] I want to invite you in just a minute [44:28] To the four stations up here the couple of stations in the back depending on where you’re sitting [44:35] If you eat and drink this morning understand that you have one thing to proclaim [44:42] That is [44:43] Jesus saves sinners

[44:48] Therefore [44:49] He saved you [44:52] If you can’t do that this morning [44:55] in honesty, I [44:58] Don’t want you to leave [45:01] with those questions hanging over your head I

[45:05] Want you to know that right here and right now [45:09] If you will place your faith in Jesus and the repentance for your sin [45:16] He will save you [45:18] in an instant

[45:21] Forever [45:23] I’d love to talk to you. I’ll be down here. There will be some in the back

[45:29] Jesus saves when you’re ready