It's All About Jesus.

Steve Gentry

[0:01] All right, go ahead and have a seat. [0:02] Welcome to Village Church. [0:04] If this is your first time here, my name’s Steve, one of the pastors here at Village [0:07] Church. [0:08] And as always, I’m thankful and grateful to see each and every one of you this morning. [0:12] If you have your Bibles, go ahead and open them up to Romans chapter 9.

[0:15] We’re going to be starting in verse 1 of Romans 9 this morning. [0:20] We considered hitting refresh, going all the way back to Romans 1, but we decided that [0:25] you guys might be okay. [0:26] We took a break from Romans for a bit, for a couple of months, and now we’re returning. [0:31] We’ve been through the first eight chapters, and until we get to the end now, we’re going [0:36] to be in the book of Romans, and we’re going to go from chapter 9 through the end.

[0:41] But before we do that, I want to kind of do a little review for you as to why it is that [0:48] very frequently we will go through entire passages, entire books of the Bible at a [0:54] time. [0:54] We’ve been through a lot of different books of the Bible over the past seven years in [0:58] Old Testament and New Testament, and right now we just happen to be in the book of Romans. [1:03] And the reason by which we do that is that we teach through entire books of Scripture

[1:08] to show what our authority actually is, that our authority is found in the Scriptures, [1:16] that the Bible is the authority over the church of Jesus Christ, but it is also the authority [1:22] over every single one of us. [1:23] And so our task on Sundays and throughout the rest of the week personally is for us [1:29] to understand the Word of God and us be more well-versed in the Word of God and be able [1:34] to in our personal lives be taught how to read the Scriptures for ourselves and teach

[1:39] ourselves the Scriptures to understand what’s going through. [1:42] It’s an authority over us. [1:44] There’s no other authority that is greater than this in our life because God Himself [1:49] speaks through His Word. [1:50] But we also do it to show priority. [1:54] The primary means of your discipleship in following Jesus is the Bible.

[1:59] You cannot grow in Christ apart from the Bible. [2:03] It needs to be the priority in your life that oftentimes, understand there’s nothing wrong [2:10] with topical sermons, there’s nothing wrong with topical sermon series, but in doing [2:14] that sometimes, our attitude is that we want to go where we are right now so God can meet [2:21] a felt need that I have right here and right now. [2:26] But oftentimes, what we do then is we put the communicative authority on ourselves.

[2:31] And so priority is set on what I need at this specific place at this specific time, and [2:36] God better minister to me the way that I want Him to. [2:39] What if you, though, don’t know what you need? [2:42] What if God actually has a higher wisdom and a greater knowledge of what you need than [2:48] even you have? [2:50] And when we give priority to the Scripture, what we’re doing is we’re saying that God’s

[2:55] communication to us and what He, at this point in time, desires to teach us has priority [3:01] over even that which I would rather put my interest in. [3:06] And so in those moments when you’re in books like 2 Chronicles and you’re like, whew, [3:09] this is some tough mud to kind of go through in my life. [3:13] When you give priority to the Word of God, what you’re doing is you’re submitting to [3:17] His authority by giving Him priority in what He desires to tell us.

[3:23] But we also teach through entire books of Scripture at a time to move our affections [3:28] to where God would have them. [3:30] Oftentimes our affections are misplaced. [3:33] And obviously there’s nothing wrong with topical sermons. [3:35] We do them all the time. [3:36] We just finished two topical sermon series.

[3:39] But even in those sermon series, we give priority and authority to the Word of God [3:43] so that our affections in those matters will be guided by God rather than by ourselves. [3:50] There is a temptation to put what we want to learn above what God wants to teach us. [3:56] And our response must always be to allow the communication that God desires for us to receive [4:03] from Him over that which we would desire to tell Him. [4:07] Faith is often a matter of trusting what God reveals that we need above what we think

[4:14] we need. [4:15] This is a matter of moving our treasure where our heart should be. [4:19] I often use the book of Exodus as an example because the way the book of Exodus starts [4:23] is this great epic story. [4:26] Maybe you’ve seen movies made about the book of Exodus. [4:28] You know, man, this is an epic event.

[4:30] And then somewhere around chapter 23, the tone changes and they start talking about [4:35] how many seamstresses to recruit to make 50 yards of fabric folded a specific way. [4:42] And you’ve got to get some some metalworkers in here to make some posts and put gold over [4:46] Acacia wood. [4:47] And you’re just like, man, that is some inspiring stuff right there. [4:53] But, you know, the reality is, is that while you may not be at a place in time right now,

[4:59] where significant and minuscule details such as those are moving your heart somewhere, [5:05] the message of that is more so that you need to move your heart to where God is because [5:09] there’s going to come a day when you need to trust in the God that is interested even [5:14] in the details. [5:16] But more so than that, even in sections of Scripture like that, the fact that Jesus came [5:20] and the actual Greek word found in John 1 14 is that He tabernacled among us.

[5:25] And when you see the grand building and architecture of the tabernacle in the Book of Exodus, [5:32] what you’re seeing is just how significant it is that God came in the person of Jesus [5:39] and tabernacled. [5:41] Every aspect of Scripture is significant for us. [5:47] And what that always reminds me of this fantasy football and Netflix documentaries, you may [5:51] say, what in the world are you talking about?

[5:54] Well, I often hear from people that, well, I’m not a reader. [5:58] That is not my thing. [6:00] And sometimes I hear, I just can’t endure through those hard places of Scripture where [6:04] it seems to have nothing to do with what I’m going through right now. [6:08] Well, think about it this way. [6:10] On Sundays in our culture, oftentimes people are watching NFL football.

[6:15] And so you watch the grand game. [6:18] And then on Sunday night, you go to the minuscule details of for your fantasy football [6:23] team of finding every stat for every running back in the entire NFL. [6:28] So you’re not a reader, but you can regurgitate every stat for every position in every moment [6:34] of that game. [6:35] And some of you are like, yeah, go after those sports guys and you could care less.

[6:39] You think you’re safe. [6:40] Well, on the other end of that spectrum, maybe your thing is Netflix documentaries. [6:46] Maybe you’re watching a true crime documentary and you’re arguing throughout the week, [6:50] which kind of seems to be having the day right now. [6:52] I think he’s innocent. [6:53] Well, I think he’s guilty.

[6:54] And so to prove yourself, what do you do? [6:56] You watch the documentary and then you will spend 10 hours on Reddit trying to find out [7:02] if sweat DNA can actually be found on a hoodlatch.

[7:09] But you cannot endure through the details. [7:14] See, the reality is that the details aren’t the problem. [7:16] Your affections are the problem. [7:19] And the word of God is calling you to move your affections to what God would have you [7:26] saturate yourself with. [7:27] Even the details are significant to everyday life.

[7:32] I think it’s vitally important for us to understand as we enter into what some have said [7:38] is one of the more controversial chapters in the entire scripture. [7:43] And that is Romans chapter nine. [7:45] As Doug Wilson has often said, there really are no problem texts in the Bible. [7:51] There are just problem to minds trying to understand the Bible. [7:56] So the reality is that when you come to a place of scripture where it challenges our

[8:00] thinking or even challenges our preconceived notions as to what God is and isn’t allowed [8:06] to do from my vantage point, the problem is never with God. [8:11] The reality is that I’m coming to it from a limited perspective and God is trying to [8:16] reveal to me what he is doing for all eternity, for all time. [8:20] And the reality is that when I’m dealing with the harder places of scripture, I need to [8:25] realize that the problem always lies with my understanding where we fail to understand

[8:31] the scriptures. There is repentance needed on our part to conform our thought patterns [8:38] with the mind of Christ. [8:41] And so when we go through Romans nine, understand I will not be making apologies for God [8:45] in Romans nine. [8:47] Instead, I will glory in his sovereign work and worship him for his divine wisdom, which [8:53] is what you need to do as well.

[8:55] Where God has been clear, we should not apologize, but rather we should repent of our faulty [9:01] thought patterns. [9:03] There are some hard truths. [9:04] I have no doubt there are some hard truths between Romans chapter nine and Romans chapter [9:11] eleven. But my hope is that we as a people will enter into it with a desire to understand [9:17] what God has decreed to his glory and find joy in it rather than a fight to maintain

[9:23] what you have always thought. [9:26] And so in Romans nine, Paul actually kickstarts our journey through this section of scripture [9:32] with a reminder to what he’s been talking about since the very beginning of the chapter. [9:37] So look in Romans chapter nine. I’m going to start reading in verse one. [9:41] Paul writes, he says, I am speaking the truth in Christ. [9:44] I’m not lying. My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow

[9:51] and unceasing anguish in my heart, for I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off [9:57] from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. [10:01] They’re Israelites and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the [10:07] patriarch, the giving of the law, the worship, the promises to them belong the patriarchs. [10:12] And from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all blessed [10:18] forever. Amen.

[10:20] But it is not as though the word of God has failed for not all who are descended from [10:26] Israel belong to Israel and not all are children of Abraham because they’re his offspring. [10:32] But through Isaac shall your offspring be named. [10:36] This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but [10:41] the children of the promise are counted as offspring. [10:45] Pray with me, Father, we are thankful that you have chosen to speak to your people,

[10:56] Lord, that you have not separated yourself so far as to not communicate with us, but [11:03] instead you have chosen in your grace to reveal yourself to us over the centuries through [11:10] men chosen by you to speak through the power of your spirit. [11:15] They would record it and it would become your word. [11:19] I pray today that you would help us to engage with you in your communication to us. [11:26] There were correction is needed that we would be corrected.

[11:30] There were hope is needed that you would give us hope. [11:34] But above all, I pray that you would draw us to the faith in Jesus that your word leads [11:39] us to the name of Jesus Christ. [11:42] I pray. Amen. [11:44] Number one, this morning, I want you to understand that what Paul is trying to communicate [11:48] to us in this very first part of Romans, Chapter 9, is that passion for the mission

[11:52] is a mark of believing the gospel. [11:56] Passion for the mission is a mark of believing the gospel. [12:01] Mission is all through the scriptures. [12:04] Romans is a story of what Christianity is actually all about. [12:08] And what he starts with in Romans, Chapter 9, is a reminder of what he actually said [12:13] in Romans, Chapter 1.

[12:14] Here’s what he said at the very beginning. [12:15] This was his thesis statement. [12:17] He says, I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to [12:23] the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome, for I am [12:29] not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who [12:33] believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

[12:37] For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith. [12:42] As it is written, the righteous shall live by faith. [12:46] This is the message of Romans, that he tells the church the story of humanity, that [12:54] we were created by God, he goes on to say in Romans, Chapter 1, to find our identity [13:00] in God, to give our worship to God, and to be satisfied in a relationship with the God [13:06] who created us, to give him glory and reflect his glory to all that are around us and

[13:12] all in the universe. [13:13] But instead, the book of Romans records, we rebelled against and sinned against him and [13:19] found all of those things in the creation rather than the creator. [13:25] And God has given man over to this, but began immediately to work a mission of salvation [13:32] through Jesus Christ. [13:34] And at the very outset of Romans, he says that that message, that there is salvation

[13:39] available in Jesus, is what I have staked my life’s goals on. [13:45] It is what my mission in life is all about. [13:48] This was not a hobby for Paul. [13:51] This is not what he spent his time on when he had some downtime. [13:56] Instead, this is what saturated every moment of his life. [14:00] Everything in his life was about the mission of Jesus.

[14:05] In Romans 9 verses 1 and 2, he’s talking about the urgency and the desire that is in [14:12] him, that this message that Jesus came to save sinners controlled everything that he [14:19] did. [14:20] Because then throughout the rest of the beginning of the book of Romans, there are many [14:25] attempts by people to find redemption from sin through obedience and achievement. [14:32] There are many attempts, even when he’s going to talk about in a few verses later, to

[14:36] find redemption and hope, maybe in your very bloodline through your family tree. [14:42] There are many attempts by people to find salvation apart from God, to be redeemed from [14:48] their pain, to be redeemed from their problems in many different ways. [14:53] But he holds out and he says that there is salvation found nowhere other than the work [15:00] of God for us, that God sent his son, Jesus, to live a perfect life, to die a [15:07] substitutionary death, to bring redemption to all who would turn from sin and trust in

[15:13] Jesus. [15:13] That’s the message of Romans chapters 3 through 5. [15:17] Through faith in Jesus, then, Romans 6 informs us that we are given a new life with new [15:24] strength to seek to live as God designed us to live in worship of him. [15:30] There are struggles in that life. [15:33] Romans chapter 7 records them.

[15:35] And oftentimes we struggle to give God our all. [15:39] We struggle to move our affections to God, to desire him above everything else in the [15:45] world, to find our identity in him above other things in the world, to put our satisfaction [15:49] where he is above other things that this world would coax us to and call us to and [15:54] tempt us with. [15:56] And then at the end of Romans 7, he cries out almost in hopelessness.

[15:59] He says, Oh, wretched man that I am, is there hope to be found anywhere for me? [16:05] Then in Romans 8, 1, he reminds himself of the truth of the gospel and he says, there [16:09] is therefore now no condemnation to any who believe in Jesus and will walk by his spirit. [16:16] Romans 8 reveals that if our lives are filled with the gospel, if our lives are empowered [16:22] by the Holy Spirit of God that he gives through faith, that we can walk by God’s spirit [16:28] through trusting in the power of God, that we will never be separated from him and we

[16:33] will never be separated from God’s love through our faith. [16:39] That this is the message of Romans, that there is a God. [16:44] And not only that, there is a God who has made himself known. [16:47] And not only that, there is a God who saves and he saves forever. [16:54] And so what Paul is communicating to us in chapter one and then what he’s bookending [16:58] there in the very first two verses of chapter nine is that this is the story that I am

[17:05] basing my life on. [17:07] The gospel of Jesus is a life revolution to the apostle Paul. [17:12] It demands change of perspective. [17:14] It demands change of identity and it demands a change in the very lifestyle that Paul [17:20] writes that he wants to live. [17:22] The truths found in the first eight chapters of this book literally change everything

[17:26] about life to the core of who you are. [17:31] And then in verses one and two of Romans chapter nine, you find Paul’s reaction that [17:36] this is basically what his life is all about. [17:39] This is why the gospel demands my all. [17:43] And I want to get it to as many people as possible. [17:49] There’s a painful urgency and a painful longing for what Paul is talking about where

[17:54] the mission of Jesus is concerned. [17:56] It is a longing that every one of us, if we claim to be followers of Jesus, that all [18:01] of us should be very familiar with his desire for others to come to faith in Jesus is [18:06] so deep in this passage that he would take another person’s place in hell. [18:12] If it meant that they would trust in Jesus. [18:16] So R.C.

[18:17] Sproul says about this passage, this is how important the mission of the gospel is to [18:22] the apostle Paul. [18:24] He’s not talking about something that you grow in in your spare time. [18:27] He’s talking about something that demands every aspect of your life, every moment of [18:32] your life, every thought needs to be taken captive to this, that there are people who [18:37] are separated from God.

[18:39] And unless they come to him through Jesus Christ, they will spend their eternity [18:45] separated from him in condemnation. [18:49] It was if that is true, then how could I not be in anguish for my people? [18:56] And specifically, Paul says that he is in anguish over the people of Israel who are [19:01] his kinsmen, who have rejected Jesus as the Messiah. [19:05] This is what we desire to be known for at Village Church is what our mission statement

[19:12] echoes the thought process in Romans chapter 9 at the very beginning says that we exist [19:17] to worship God by helping as many people as possible become fully devoted followers of [19:24] Jesus. [19:25] So Paul is talking about here as many people as can come to faith. [19:29] That’s what he wants to live for. [19:31] That’s what he wants to be known for.

[19:33] That’s what he wants his time to be occupied by. [19:36] That’s what he wants his heart’s desires at the deepest levels to be filled by is a [19:42] passion for others coming to faith in Jesus Christ and not just his people of Israel, [19:48] but the Gospels for the whole world. [19:51] Even those of us who were born as Gentiles, that God has had mercy on us and brought us [19:57] into his people through the covenant that’s available in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

[20:02] He writes in Psalm chapter 86 that this was always God’s plan. [20:08] This was not just some new thing that he brings in in the New Testament. [20:11] In Psalm 86, it says all the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, [20:18] O Lord, and shall glorify your name. [20:20] For you are great and do wondrous things. [20:24] You alone are God.

[20:27] It is through Jesus that we see the how of that mission to draw people to himself. [20:35] It also reveals how it is accomplished. [20:38] The preaching of the Gospel of Jesus to all nations. [20:43] This is what Paul made his mission. [20:47] And what I would put forward to you, you need to make your mission. [20:51] And his conclusion is that this was the very mission of the nation of Israel, but they missed it.

[20:59] Point number two this morning, the very purpose of Israel is fully revealed in Jesus. [21:07] The purpose of Israel is revealed in Jesus. [21:10] Look at verse four of Romans nine. [21:13] He says, they’re Israelites. [21:15] So he’s going back in history to look at the nation of Israel. [21:18] He says, they’re Israelites.

[21:20] To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship [21:24] and the promises. [21:26] To them belong the patriarchs. [21:27] And from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all blessed [21:33] forever. Amen.

[21:36] What Paul is saying is that every part of scripture that we have seen through the nation [21:41] of Israel teaches us about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. [21:46] Friends, what I want you to understand is that don’t have a reductionistic view of the [21:51] scriptures. [21:51] Every part of the scripture teaches you something about the character of God. [21:55] In the Old Testament, we learn about God’s character.

[21:57] In Jesus, we see God’s character. [22:00] And the rest of the New Testament, we see God’s character. [22:04] It all combines to show us God’s mission for all time. [22:08] There is justice for sin. [22:09] There is grace and mercy for those who need it and want it and hope for the future. [22:14] And it all leads us to the Gospel of Jesus.

[22:20] See, in Genesis 3, right after sin entered this world through man’s disobedience to [22:27] the commands of God, God makes a promise that he will save. [22:31] And then in Genesis 15, verses 5 through 6, God initiates the pathway through which [22:36] salvation would come. [22:37] Here’s what happens. [22:38] He calls to Abraham and God brought Abraham outside of his tent and said, Abraham,

[22:44] look toward heaven and number the stars if you’re able to number them. [22:49] Then God said to Abraham, so shall your offspring be. [22:54] And he believed the Lord and he counted it to him as righteousness. [22:59] God chose Abraham and told him that his descendants would outnumber the stars and [23:04] be a great nation that God himself would deliver. [23:07] And that is what Paul is addressing in Romans, chapter 9, verses 4 and 5, that

[23:13] Jesus is the fulfillment of that covenant that God made with Abraham in [23:19] Genesis, chapter 15, that Jesus was the point of that. [23:23] And when he says that your descendants will outnumber the stars, he’s not limiting [23:27] it to just the people of Israel, rather that he is telling Abraham, all peoples of [23:33] all nations will be blessed by you through Jesus Christ. [23:39] And so when you say, what was the purpose of the Old Testament?

[23:42] What’s the purpose of all that’s going on back there? [23:44] What is God actually doing as he moves through this people? [23:47] He chose for himself a nation to sanctify for himself a bloodline so that Jesus Christ [23:54] would be born at a specific point, at a specific time in history. [23:58] It was all part of God’s plan. [24:00] And the purpose and point of every minute of it was Jesus Christ.

[24:06] Second Corinthians, chapter one, verse 20 tells us for all of the promises of God, [24:11] find there, yes, in him. [24:13] Paul wrote this as well. [24:14] And that him there is Jesus. [24:16] That is why it is through Jesus that we utter our amen to God for his glory. [24:25] Note how Paul finishes verse five with that same term.

[24:30] Amen. [24:31] Word is not insignificant. [24:33] It’s very significant. [24:34] That word means so be it. [24:37] There’s a period at the end of the sentence that Jesus is God. [24:42] Jesus is the creator blessed forever.

[24:45] Amen. [24:46] Paul summarizes why it’s all about Jesus and the importance of Israel is defined by [24:52] Jesus, that on that moment in Genesis, chapter 15, Jesus is there making a covenant [24:58] with Abraham, that Jesus is speaking to Moses from that burning bush in the Exodus, [25:02] that Jesus is the voice of every prophet and the fulfillment of every prophecy that [25:08] was ever given by any prophet, priest or king in the Old Testament or the New.

[25:13] And he came, Jesus came to fulfill the law and Jesus and Jesus alone is blessed [25:20] forever. [25:21] Amen. [25:22] So be it. [25:24] That is truth. [25:26] And there is no other is the meaning of that term.

[25:31] Amen. [25:31] Right there. [25:32] So if you ever look to the scriptures and say, I need to understand it, you need to [25:37] view it all through the lens of the gospel of Jesus Christ, because the gospel is its [25:42] meaning and there is no other. [25:44] It all leads to Jesus.

[25:46] It all comes from Jesus and it all must point directly back to Jesus. [25:52] There’s not hope to be found in any other name, but Jesus.

[26:00] So what am I saying? [26:02] It’s all about Jesus. [26:07] You can’t find hope anywhere else, friend. [26:09] Israel’s hope is in Jesus and Paul’s heart is burning that his people would come to [26:18] faith in Jesus Christ.

[26:23] Everything that ever happened through the nation of Israel was to get to Jesus and [26:27] Paul looks at them and he says, God gave you his law.

[26:32] God gave you the patriarchs. [26:34] God gave you the prophets. [26:36] God chose you as his people. [26:38] He spoke to you audibly. [26:41] He showed you prophecies hundreds of years before Jesus ever came, showing that the [26:47] Messiah would come and that he would come in a specific way.

[26:50] And Jesus fulfilled every one of them. [26:52] How did you miss it?

[26:55] Have you ever seen someone who seemed to be born with it all? [27:01] They didn’t have to do anything to get it all. [27:03] It was just kind of given to them from birth. [27:05] It’s that kid in class who had all the new stuff. [27:09] Like he doesn’t deserve it. [27:10] I do.

[27:10] It’s coveting, by the way, it’s a sin.

[27:14] But it seems it’s almost as if you’re looking at a petulant child who’s been born with all [27:19] the advantages that you wish you had.

[27:23] So you wish I wish I had parents like that guy. [27:26] I wish I had a job like that guy. [27:27] I wish I had just the opportunity that he had. [27:30] If I had if I could have had that, then I would have had more opportunity. [27:34] And so Paul’s looking at the nation of Israel and he’s saying you had more shots than anyone [27:39] else.

[27:41] So how did you miss it? [27:44] The Messiah that you were waiting for, he came. [27:48] He was there right in front of you. [27:51] Teaching, speaking, healing.

[27:56] And he even rose from the dead. [27:58] That’s a pretty significant one. [28:01] And he says you missed it.

[28:04] In Acts, chapters 26 through 28, we see this picture of a grieving apostle Paul [28:11] turning his back on his own nation, saying you have rejected the Messiah. [28:16] He calls them in the original language, a covenant breaking people. [28:19] And he says, I will take this message to the Gentiles.

[28:26] But as you can see in Romans nine, this anguish that he feels inside of him burns. [28:35] My hope for Village Church, my hope for you, if you are a follower of Jesus and this is [28:41] your first Sunday, is that you would feel that type of desire, that you would feel that [28:47] type of urge in you to get the gospel to other people. [28:53] Paul is telling the nation of Israel, you were not the point.

[29:00] Jesus is. [29:02] And I look to you and I say, please do not be so deceived that your faith only goes [29:08] as far as you. [29:10] You are not the point. [29:14] Jesus is. [29:15] And when Jesus is the point, that changes your life.

[29:23] Because you then live to take every thought captive to the gospel, every action captive [29:29] to the gospel, every motivation captive to the gospel. [29:33] And you begin to think, how can I set my life up so that more people can be reached [29:38] through my life? [29:39] That’s what Paul is doing here.

[29:43] He’s rearranging his life to live for the gospel. [29:47] Then in verse number six.

[29:55] He looks forward and he says, but it is not as though the word of God has failed.

[30:04] See, there’s a temptation when things don’t go your way. [30:08] So Paul looks and he says, Israel missed it. [30:12] They don’t believe there’s no revival happening among those people. [30:16] So has the word of God failed? [30:19] Because it could appear from an external perspective. [30:21] Yes, the word of God has failed.

[30:24] Israel did not repent. [30:25] They are not coming to faith in Jesus. [30:27] The Messiah has come and they don’t know. [30:30] And Paul is very quick to point out and he says, no, the word of God has not failed. [30:36] I was privileged often times to have opportunities to go on some weekends and train pastors [30:44] and church planters in gospel communication and communicating in different contexts.

[30:50] And this Friday and Saturday, I was privileged to spend a lot of time with a lot of [30:54] different groups of people seeking to start new churches. [30:57] And it was a very interesting weekend because it was a weekend that was completely [31:02] ethnic in nature. [31:04] I stuck out like a sore thumb. [31:06] I had a church planting team that was seeking to plant a Filipino church in northern

[31:12] Virginia. There was a church planting team of mostly East Asians that were seeking to [31:17] plant a church among people in Fairfax County, where that specific area is 30 percent [31:22] Asian. There’s a team of Japanese and Korean Christians trying to seek Asians coming to [31:27] faith. There was a team from Africa of complete African immigrants seeking to reach [31:31] Africans in Petersburg and in the Richmond area. [31:34] And there was another team of Hispanics seeking to reach the Hispanic population in

[31:38] northern Virginia. And so I’m teaching all these different contexts. [31:41] And it was a great time just communicating about the differences in culture and the way [31:47] that they can reach different cultures. [31:48] And I had this amazing conversation with this one guy who’s part of the African church [31:53] planting team. And I was talking to him. [31:55] He told me, he said, you got to understand, I’m not going to stay.

[31:59] He’s like, I’m going home. [32:01] He was from Nigeria. And he said, I need to tell you about my life. [32:05] And so I was like, tell me about your testimony. [32:07] Tell me about where you came from. [32:08] He was born in Nigeria, born in an Islamic home, and he was raised as a Muslim. [32:13] And he was actually sent by his parents in his late teenage years to Africa, excuse

[32:17] me, to Kuwait from Africa. [32:19] And in Kuwait, he was studying to be an imam. [32:22] And while he was in what basically would be like an Islamic seminary studying to be an [32:27] imam, he befriended a guy that was it was in Kuwait. [32:31] He was a Kuwaiti, but he happened to be a Christian. [32:34] And he lived his life basically undercover, trying to convert Muslims to faith in Jesus

[32:39] Christ. And he said, it went against everything that I believe, but I couldn’t help. [32:44] I wanted to know more about what this guy had to say. [32:46] And I said, I said, what would draw you to do that if you’re studying to be an imam? [32:50] It’s kind of weird. And he said, you don’t understand. [32:52] I had never met anybody like that. [32:54] He said, when you’re a Muslim, you grow up saying, you know what, I’ll die for this and

[32:59] I’ll kill for this. But he said, that’s the first time I’ve met anybody that just told me [33:02] he would die for it.

[33:05] And this guy was living with a cognizant reality that anybody found out the fact that he [33:09] was evangelizing his life would be in danger. [33:11] And he said, that was weird. [33:13] And I just wanted to know about it. [33:15] And through his relationship with that guy, he came to faith in Jesus Christ. [33:20] And as soon as he came to faith in Jesus Christ, he left Kuwait, he didn’t tell anybody

[33:24] what was happening. He just knew he couldn’t be an imam at that point. [33:27] So he went home to Nigeria, where his family rejected him because he tried to evangelize [33:32] to them. And he found a church in Africa and they took him in and became his family. [33:37] And they began to disciple him. [33:39] And through that church, they knew this immigrant in Virginia. [33:44] They sent him over here and we’ll call him Fred, because he’s going to a closed place

[33:47] where his life’s actually going to be in danger. [33:50] And he’s here now and he’s learning about the Bible and how to study it and how to [33:54] start a church. And he looked at me and he said, I want you to understand, I’m going [33:58] back to Nigeria and I’m going to start a church and I’m going to reach my family.

[34:05] This is a guy and I don’t know what this is like because I’ve never had fear like [34:10] this. His life would be in danger because of what he’s going to do. [34:14] Let me tell you something, friends, the word of God has not failed.

[34:19] The word of God is marching forward. [34:22] The gospel of Jesus Christ is reaching people of all nations, of all times. [34:27] The prophecy in Psalm 86 is being fulfilled. [34:30] What God said to Abraham in Genesis, Chapter 15, that his descendants would outnumber [34:36] the stars in heaven. [34:37] There’s an African going to Kuwait, hearing about the gospel, coming to Virginia to be

[34:42] taught in the gospel, to go back to Nigeria, to plant the gospel. [34:45] The word of God is moving forward.

[34:52] And Paul’s saying, if you think that because people in Israel are not believing in the [34:57] Messiah, that the word of God has failed, think again.

[35:02] He writes here in verse six, he says, for not all who are descended from Israel [35:09] belong to Israel and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring. [35:14] But through Isaac shall your offspring be named. [35:18] This means that it is not the children of the flesh or the children of God, but the [35:22] children of the promise are counted as offspring.

[35:27] Friends, understand that God’s promises are only received through faith in Jesus. [35:33] God’s promises are only received through faith in Jesus. [35:37] You see, the gospel is this extremely inclusive work that God did through a specific [35:43] people so that he could open up to the entire world what faith in Jesus is to the [35:50] people of all nations, all tribes, all races, all ethnicities can come to faith in [35:56] Jesus and be a part of God’s family.

[35:58] But it is also extremely exclusive in the fact that God has said and he has defined [36:05] what that salvation is, what it looks like, what your faith must be in. [36:10] And he has described it. [36:11] He has defined it. [36:12] He has lived it and he has done it. [36:16] And he came and showed who he is.

[36:20] God’s promises are not ethnic. [36:23] They are spiritual. [36:26] Faith is greater than lineage. [36:29] The struggle of Israel was their belief that because God chose them as a people for a [36:34] specific purpose, their family tree is what would save them. [36:38] But Jesus came and he showed that that was never the point.

[36:44] Why? [36:45] Because the purpose for which Israel was chosen was fulfilled in Jesus. [36:50] If not all who are of Israel are Israel, then who is?

[36:56] And to do that, we go to Genesis 15. [37:00] We say, why was Abraham counted righteous? [37:05] Was it because of who his parents were? [37:08] Was it because of where his tent was? [37:11] No, in Genesis 15, it says Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. [37:20] Paul is calling to his people and telling them that it is only through faith that they

[37:25] will truly be in God’s family. [37:28] Everything for all time is fulfilled and revealed in Jesus. [37:32] He’s the revelation of every mystery. [37:37] Salvation through faith is the fulfillment of those promises. [37:41] Look in Romans chapter three, where Paul explained what this really looks like. [37:47] Starting in verse 21, he says, but now the righteousness of God has been manifested

[37:52] apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it. [37:57] So the point of the law and the prophets, Jesus, the righteousness of God through faith [38:02] in Jesus Christ for all who believe, for there is no distinction in the gospel. [38:09] There is no Jew. [38:10] There is no Greek. [38:11] There’s the gospel.

[38:12] There is Jesus. [38:15] Why? [38:16] Because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and are justified by his [38:22] grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as [38:28] a gift through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. [38:33] That term perpetuation simply means to be moved from God’s wrath to God’s favor.

[38:39] This was to show God’s righteousness because in his divine forbearance, he had passed [38:43] over former sins. [38:44] It was to show his righteousness at the present time so that he might be just and the [38:50] justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. [38:55] Friends, humanity failed in revealing the righteousness of God. [38:59] So Jesus came and did it himself.

[39:03] He was perfect in every way. [39:06] The law and the prophets serve to point to him, though all have sinned. [39:11] Jesus takes the penalty for that sin so that we may become righteous. [39:18] How do we take it? [39:20] How do we get it? [39:21] How can we receive that righteousness?

[39:24] How can we receive such a salvation? [39:26] He tells us in verse eight when he says this means that it is not the children of the [39:30] flesh or the children of God, but the children of promise who are counted as his offspring. [39:37] And all of the promises of God find their yes in Jesus.

[39:46] The answer is faith. [39:49] The answer is trusting. [39:50] The answer is believing. [39:52] God forgives and redeems all who have faith in Jesus.

[39:59] For I want you to understand that your family tree doesn’t save you.

[40:04] What your brother, sister, mother, father, what they believe will not save you. [40:11] Your works, it won’t save you.

[40:16] Your fame doesn’t save you. [40:19] Power, money, your job, your kids, your spouse, your intellect, your education. [40:28] None of that will save you. [40:30] Nothing that you can do or accomplish under the sun will save you. [40:35] It is faith in Jesus and faith in Jesus alone that saves. [40:40] This is how you can be a child of promise.

[40:43] Through trusting in Jesus and receiving his salvation.

[40:50] As the band comes forward.

[40:54] You know, every Sunday when we walk away from this place, my hope is, is that if you [40:58] only remember one thing, if you only know one thing that’s of importance.

[41:05] It’s that I want you to know that you can be saved. [41:08] You can be saved right now. [41:10] You can be saved by God and you can be saved for eternity.

[41:15] A faith in Jesus. [41:16] Some of you may be waiting and you’re saying, well, I’m going to address all the [41:21] problems that I’ve got going on in my life first. [41:24] I got to fix a couple of these issues in my life first. [41:27] I’ve got to reach this life milestone first.

[41:32] It’s not going to happen. [41:33] You know, when I found in my life that as soon as I address one issue in my life, I [41:37] spring a leak somewhere else.

[41:41] That faith in Jesus is not where you get to. [41:45] Faith in Jesus is where you need to start. [41:49] There’s no greater truth in this world that there is a God and not just he’s [41:56] there, but he saves.

[42:01] And Jesus came to save you. [42:04] He wants you to be his people. [42:06] And through faith, he wants you to be a child of his promises. [42:10] He wants to save you forever.

[42:13] If you’re in here this morning and you don’t know Jesus, you’ve never placed your [42:18] trust in him or you’re struggling with what you believe. [42:22] I want you to know this morning that if you turn from your sins, you ask God for [42:26] forgiveness through the work of Jesus and you place your faith in Jesus Christ, [42:29] he’ll save you. [42:31] He’ll save you forever.

[42:34] But if you’re in here this morning and you are a follower of Jesus, I want you to [42:38] respond in a specific way. [42:40] Every week, we drink the cup that represents the shed blood of Jesus and we [42:46] eat the bread that represents the broken body of Jesus. [42:50] And that’s significant in two ways. [42:53] Jesus told us to do this until he comes so that we would remember his death.

[42:58] When we drink the cup, we eat the bread. [43:01] We remember what Jesus went through to save us. [43:08] But then it also reminds us when you drink and when you eat and you take it in, [43:13] it represents that promise that Jesus gave where he said, I will never leave you [43:18] and I will never forsake you. [43:20] He is in your life and he is there to stay.

[43:24] Jesus is the only one who could ever promise you, I will never leave you or [43:28] forsake you and absolutely guarantee that no one will take you away from him. [43:35] That’s what he promises.

[43:38] So when you come up front or when you go to the tables in the back, rejoice that [43:45] Jesus saves. [43:47] When you’re ready, come.