Suppressed Truth.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Welcome to Village Church. [0:01] If this is your first time here, my name’s Steve. [0:03] I’m one of the pastors here at Village Church. [0:06] And as always, I’m glad you are here. [0:09] If you have your Bibles, go ahead and open them [0:11] to Romans chapter one.

[0:12] We’re gonna be there again. [0:13] But before we get into that, I have a few announcements [0:17] to make. [0:18] First and foremost, I just wanna welcome [0:20] all the visitors here. [0:21] If you’ve never been here before, it’s our privilege

[0:24] to have you here this morning. [0:26] We set out to make a very comfortable environment [0:29] for what at times can be a very uncomfortable message [0:32] to hear as those of us who are followers of Jesus [0:35] come to hear His word proclaimed and come to worship Him. [0:39] But if this is your first time here, I want you to do

[0:41] me a favor. [0:41] In your handout, there should be a connect card. [0:44] And I would love to be able to get to contact you [0:47] or have one of our staff contact you. [0:49] And I would love the opportunity just to know who you are, [0:52] maybe give you a little information about the church

[0:55] and who we are and what we do. [0:56] If you’d fill that out, slip it in the offering basket [0:59] as it comes by later, that would be fantastic. [1:02] There’s also another way that you could meet one of the [1:04] leaders here at the church, and that is for about five minutes [1:06] after the service, right over here in this corner to my left.

[1:09] We have what’s called Intro to the Village. [1:11] And it’s just a few minutes for you to ask any questions [1:14] that may come up during the service or may come up [1:16] in the parking lot. [1:17] I don’t know. [1:18] But anything that you want to know, we’re gonna tell you

[1:20] a little bit about the history of the church. [1:21] We’re gonna tell you a little bit about why we’re here [1:23] as a church, what we do as a church and what our mission [1:26] really is, is we seek to glorify God in absolutely [1:30] everything that we do. [1:32] And there’s two announcements because we have two events

[1:34] coming up. [1:35] The first is on October the 26th. [1:37] We’re gonna have what we’re calling the All Serve Team [1:39] rally. [1:40] And what this is gonna be is this is gonna be a night [1:42] where we as pastors cast a vision for what it is that

[1:46] people do here as volunteers and why we’re here to serve [1:50] Jesus by living his mission each and every week. [1:54] And then hopefully that branches out into each and every [1:56] day of our lives. [1:57] And so we’re asking all of the volunteers from our church [2:00] to gather here that Sunday evening for about an hour,

[2:03] maybe a little bit more than that. [2:05] Who knows what could happen if we get crazy. [2:07] But what that’s gonna be is that’s just gonna be a night [2:10] first for our volunteers. [2:12] But second, if you’re looking for a place to plug in [2:14] and serve that would be a fantastic opportunity for you

[2:18] to come and find a serve team to connect with. [2:22] That’s gonna be a night where you can have your orientation [2:25] as a volunteer here where you can begin to fill out the [2:29] paperwork if you want to serve in our kids ministry so [2:32] we can do a background check on you just you know, [2:34] because we got to do that and we do do a background check

[2:37] by the way. [2:38] So don’t think you’re gonna skate by if you’ve got that [2:40] secret pass. [2:40] You don’t want me to know about if you do not want me to [2:43] know about it. [2:44] Don’t do the background check because then I won’t know.

[2:48] But please come that night. [2:50] Now, if you’re a volunteer here or if you’re a member, [2:52] and if you’re a member, that means you’re a volunteer. [2:54] This is going to be a required evening for you, [2:56] but we’re going to make it worth your while. [2:57] There’s going to be a few surprises here that night.

[3:00] They’re going to make it really well worth your while [3:02] to come out. [3:03] So please come out to that. [3:04] And secondly, something that everybody looks forward to [3:07] every year, November 1st is a Saturday afternoon. [3:09] We’re having our yearly Halloween chili cook-off and

[3:13] this serves as a great time for us to come together and [3:15] eat food that we’re going to regret later that evening.

[3:19] We have a contest every year. [3:21] So if you’ve got a secret recipe or want to pretend that [3:24] what you get out of a can is a secret recipe, you bring [3:27] that we’re going to have some judges to judge the chili. [3:29] But we want everybody that can make some chili to make [3:32] it so that we’ll have plenty to go around because this

[3:34] is a great opportunity to serve the neighborhoods [3:36] right around our churches. [3:37] We’re going to have lots of people coming out for [3:39] bounce houses for our trunk or treat that we do every [3:42] year where we’re going to ask you to decorate your trunk [3:44] or the back of your SUV or minivan or whatever it is

[3:47] that you have for a time when kids are going to come [3:49] in costumes and ask you for candy and you’re going to [3:51] give them candy, the good stuff. [3:54] Don’t come up here with the stuff that’s the off brand. [3:57] All right. [3:58] Nobody wants it.

[4:00] All right. [4:01] So spend that extra dollar that I know most of you have [4:05] by the good stuff to bring out and serve our community [4:09] on November the 1st. [4:11] But seriously, it’s going to be a fun time. [4:12] We have a great time every year with this.

[4:15] There’s sign up. [4:16] There’s a sign up list on the city and I think it’s on [4:18] our website as well where you can volunteer to man a [4:21] couple of our bounce houses for a while or even sign [4:24] up to be part of our trunk retreat. [4:26] So go on the website for that show up November 1st.

[4:29] It’s going to be a great time that afternoon from 2 30 [4:32] to 5 that afternoon. [4:34] But now this coming week, we’re going to send out a [4:38] mission team to East Asia and I’m going to ask that [4:41] everybody that’s on that team to come up here on stage [4:44] because what I want to do right now is I want us as

[4:46] a church to pray over these individuals and commission [4:50] them out as they’re about to go for 10 days to live [4:53] the mission of Jesus in all the way on the other side [4:56] of the world with missionaries that are already [4:59] on the ground and what their goal is going to be over [5:02] this these next few days is first to encourage the

[5:04] missionaries that are already there. [5:06] But secondly, it’s also to build relationships and [5:09] give people the gospel so that they can connect them [5:12] to the missionaries that are already on the ground [5:14] so that discipleship relationships can be built for [5:18] years to come in that region of the world that that

[5:21] doesn’t have the gospel as readily available as we [5:24] do and oftentimes we take it for granted. [5:26] But these folks behind me, I know how pretty they are. [5:29] They have been commissioned to go out for the next [5:33] 10 days to East Asia. [5:34] They’ve sacrificed time.

[5:36] They’ve sacrificed money and they’re going to sacrifice [5:38] some time away from their families to go do this great [5:41] work of God. [5:42] And so what I want to ask you to do with me right now [5:44] is I want to ask you to as I’m praying out loud, I’m [5:47] going to ask you to pray in your seat for these people

[5:50] and over the next few days, give yourself some [5:53] reminders to continue to pray. [5:55] I’ve been on a few of these trips. [5:57] I know that while we while you’re overseas while [5:59] you’re working on God’s mission field, there’s nerves [6:02] there’s stress.

[6:03] There’s spiritual warfare that comes into your life. [6:05] And so this is going to be a team effort by Village [6:10] to lift these folks up to pray for them that God [6:13] would number one work mightily in their lives over [6:16] the next few days. [6:17] Secondly, that God would work mightily through their

[6:20] lives over the next few days. [6:22] And thirdly, that God would endure them over this trip [6:25] to live the mission that he has for them. [6:29] So join me in just a few moments of prayer right now. [6:32] Our father, we come before you as a church. [6:37] To pray for this team that will represent Village

[6:41] Church in East Asia for 10 days.

[6:47] First and foremost, my prayer right now is that your [6:51] gospel would come alive so much in their lives that [6:57] they will not help but overflow into the lives of others. [7:03] God, I’m asking that you would just well up inside [7:06] of their hearts worship for you and a desire to bring [7:09] you glory that everything else would just kind of

[7:13] go out of view.

[7:15] That their primary focus would be on your mission [7:20] will be on bringing you glory. [7:24] By spreading the message of faith in your son, Jesus [7:27] Christ.

[7:29] And Father, secondly, this morning, I want to pray [7:32] for their safety.

[7:35] Lord, you are always raining over us. [7:40] There’s nothing that happens outside of your control [7:43] because you’re our sovereign King. [7:46] Our sovereign God.

[7:49] And Lord, I pray that that would comfort any nerves [7:51] that they may have any stress that they may be [7:53] going through any worries and anxieties that are [7:55] welling up in their hearts and in their minds. [7:58] And I pray that the comfort that you have for all [8:02] of us as you are the God of all comfort would just

[8:04] be so secure in their lives that the only concern [8:07] that they will have is you and your gospel.

[8:12] Lord, I am praying that you would take them overseas [8:14] safely and you’ll bring them home safely so that [8:16] they can report to us the work that you are doing [8:21] in all of the world.

[8:24] Lord, may lives be changed. [8:28] I pray that you would take the gospel to people [8:30] that have never even heard it before God, [8:32] and that you would reap your harvest through these [8:35] servants.

[8:38] Lord, use them.

[8:41] Change their lives in any way that need to be changed [8:44] and do it all. [8:46] Bring yourself glory and honor. [8:49] In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. [8:51] Amen. [8:53] Thanks guys.

[8:56] Well, if you have your Bibles, open them to Romans [8:59] chapter one. [9:00] We’re going to be covering a little more ground than [9:02] we’ve covered in the last few weeks as we go over [9:05] about six or seven verses. [9:06] But then a couple of these verses are also going to

[9:08] be included in next week. [9:10] So don’t get ahead of yourself. [9:11] There’s just too much information and all of it for [9:13] me to get to all of it this week. [9:15] But we’re going to start in verse 18 this morning. [9:19] And if you haven’t been with us, we’re going through

[9:21] the entire book of Romans over about the next year [9:24] in the life of our church looking at what God has [9:27] laid out through the Apostle Paul, which is the [9:30] story of Christianity. [9:33] Now, verse 18 really marks the beginning point of [9:36] Paul laying out this message to the people at

[9:39] Rome. [9:40] Verse 18 starts the story that Paul desires to tell [9:44] to this church as he’s discipling them, as he’s [9:47] praying for them, and as he’s hoping to get to them [9:50] to give them more of this message. [9:53] But as you see in verse 18, he begins to spell out

[9:56] what he talked about and what we saw in the last two [9:58] weeks in verses 16 and 17, which were his mission [10:01] statement. [10:02] And what he’s really doing in this text is he’s [10:05] beginning the story of why do we need redemption [10:10] from God?

[10:11] Why do we need this salvation? [10:13] He’s already told us that the gospel is the message [10:16] that God has the power to save and he reveals it [10:20] through Jesus Christ. [10:22] But if you do not know why you need to be saved, it [10:26] won’t be that precious that you can be saved.

[10:30] If someone doesn’t know that he’s drowning, then [10:32] the life preserver that you throw to him may [10:34] actually become an insult to him.

[10:38] And so salvation really works its way into our [10:40] lives. [10:41] The only time that we really look to God’s salvation, [10:43] the only way that we can actually be thankful to [10:45] him for throwing us the life preserver of salvation [10:48] is if we really know that we’re in desperate need

[10:51] to be saved. [10:52] And over the next few weeks, what we’re going to [10:54] see is really the most uncomfortable part of the [10:57] message. [10:57] And that is why we need to be saved and what we [11:00] need to be saved from.

[11:03] Often times when you deal with what sin is and the [11:07] reality of why we need to be redeemed from our [11:10] sin, it’s like being in a dark room and being asleep [11:13] for a long time and someone tries to wake you up by [11:16] turning the lights on very brightly. [11:19] It’s shocking.

[11:21] It’s offensive. [11:22] You wince at it and you want the light turned back [11:26] off at first.

[11:30] But as your eyes adjust and as your focus becomes [11:34] renewed and you begin to see everything in that [11:37] light, you become very thankful that you weren’t [11:39] left in the dark any longer. [11:42] That’s what the gospel is to those who believe. [11:46] It’s the light that reveals our sin, but it doesn’t

[11:49] leave us in our sin. [11:50] It’s the light that reveals the darkest places of [11:53] our life, but then we’re thankful for knowing it [11:56] because we can know something far greater than [11:58] those places. [11:59] We can know what real salvation is.

[12:01] We can know what real redemption is.

[12:06] Oftentimes there’s a temptation that you may [12:08] think that everything feels okay in your life. [12:12] You know, you’re living, you’re breathing, maybe [12:14] you’re even enjoying life. [12:17] But the implication with salvation is that everything [12:20] is not okay.

[12:24] If you’re living a lie, even the one that you are [12:28] enjoying, the only loving thing to do is to give [12:31] you a reality check. [12:33] And this is especially true if that lie will end [12:36] in your destruction. [12:37] And the work that the Apostle Paul is going to do

[12:40] over the next two chapters is really kind of lay [12:42] out for us the path of destruction that we’re on, [12:45] not to mock, not to just gaze at our condemnation, [12:50] but rather to look and show us a way that we can [12:54] be redeemed out of that path, a way in which we [12:56] can be put onto a new path, a way that we can

[12:59] quite literally be saved.

[13:04] And he begins to lay this out in verse 18. [13:07] So join me in there.

[13:11] Paul writes,

[13:16] And righteousness of men who by their unrighteousness [13:21] suppress the truth for what can be known about God [13:24] is plain to them because God has shown it to them [13:28] for his invisible attributes, namely his eternal [13:31] power and divine nature have been clearly [13:34] perceived ever since the creation of the world

[13:36] and the things that have been made. [13:39] So they are without excuse for although they knew [13:42] God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks [13:45] to him, but they became feudal in their thinking [13:47] and their foolish hearts were darkened, claiming [13:49] to become wise.

[13:50] They became fools and exchanged the glory of [13:53] the immortal God for images resembling mortal man [13:56] and birds and animals and creeping things. [13:59] Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their [14:02] hearts to impurity to the dishonoring of their bodies [14:05] among themselves because they exchanged the truth

[14:08] about God for a lie and worshiped and served the [14:11] creature rather than the creator who’s blessed [14:14] forever. [14:16] Amen. [14:18] Paul transitions from the hope of faith that we saw [14:22] last week to really what is the reason behind why

[14:26] you need faith. [14:29] And he begins to unravel how everything went wrong. [14:34] How very slowly things in our lives and things in [14:38] our world began to go from really what is the [14:41] righteousness of God to what has become the clear [14:44] and present unrighteousness of man.

[14:48] And ultimately what he’s going to lay out is that [14:50] we have exchanged the glory of the immortal God.

[14:58] For what can really be reduced to nothing more [15:01] than mortal navel gazing of men.

[15:06] We’re so alone in our trespasses and in our [15:08] rebellion against God that we cannot see past our [15:11] own selves to see what is the righteousness of God [15:15] to see what is the path of God. [15:19] He says, but you’re going to be tempted even in [15:23] light of the obvious nature that you have

[15:25] exchanged what is eternal for what is temporary to [15:28] believe the lie that everything’s OK to believe [15:31] the lie that it’s not as bad as Paul’s making it [15:35] sound and what he’s doing in verse 18 is uncovering [15:39] that reality when he gives us number one this [15:41] morning the fact that sin suppresses the truth of

[15:46] God sin suppresses the truth of God last week and [15:52] the week before that we took a look at how the [15:54] gospel of Jesus Christ reveals the righteousness [15:57] of God. [15:58] It brings justice for sin. [16:00] It brings grace and forgiveness for sinners.

[16:03] But then in verse 18 he makes this amazing [16:05] transition where he isn’t taking a look at what [16:08] is any longer but rather he wants to show what [16:11] unrighteousness is and the fact that God has great [16:15] wrath for unrighteousness. [16:17] He says that the wrath of God has been revealed

[16:20] and he uses the exact same terminology for the [16:22] wrath of God being revealed as he said that the [16:24] gospel has revealed the righteousness of God is [16:27] an uncovering. [16:28] It’s this constant things that you’re going to [16:30] see more and more as you see truth.

[16:33] He says that the gospel of Jesus Christ has [16:36] revealed that God has great wrath for sin and as [16:39] you follow Jesus more you’re going to see a [16:41] little bit more of that uncovered a little bit [16:42] more of that uncovered a little bit more of that [16:44] seen but if you’re not following Jesus.

[16:50] Then you’re not going to see it as much because [16:52] the sin in your life has literally suppressed [16:55] the truth of God in your life.

[17:01] Righteousness reveals unrighteousness. [17:05] And ultimately what he says here is that God’s [17:07] present wrath anticipates his final withdrawal [17:12] from those who do not respond to his love.

[17:17] This is fascinating thing about the gospel. [17:20] If you believe it is that it sounds like a total [17:24] win for you because it is you’ve sinned against [17:28] God the eternal God who made you for one purpose [17:32] you’ve not lived up to that purpose and instead [17:35] of condemning you he comes down himself takes

[17:39] the punishment for your sin gives his [17:42] righteousness to you makes you completely [17:44] right with him and then you are allowed and [17:47] privileged to be in a relationship with him [17:49] that will never end and when you die you’re [17:52] going to go into his presence forever and

[17:54] you’re like that is great news. [17:56] How could someone not want to believe that?

[18:02] Paul tells us how someone doesn’t want to [18:05] believe that.

[18:07] So if you hear this morning. [18:10] And you say I just this don’t Jesus thing this [18:13] whole following God this whole repenting of my [18:15] sin doesn’t make any sense. [18:16] I’m not that bad. [18:17] I’ve not done anything that terrible nor do I

[18:19] want to go away from some of the things that [18:21] Christianity would say I should go away from the [18:24] reason that you feel that way is shown in verse [18:28] 18 Paul says that your sin your rebellion [18:33] against God has literally suppressed truth to [18:38] the point where you believe a lie as if it is

[18:43] the truth. [18:45] You do not see the world clearly.

[18:52] Don’t spin your sin.

[18:56] See in politics they have these guys and they’ve [18:58] been called spin doctors. [19:00] We didn’t know about them until the present age [19:02] of media but now everybody knows what they are [19:04] and the most popular guy on news now he says [19:07] you’re about to enter a no spin zone as he spends

[19:09] an hour spinning things and and then what what [19:13] you’re going to see is you sometimes are [19:15] tempted to take what’s a terrible thing and [19:18] begin to make excuses for that terrible thing [19:20] and then begin to spin and say well how can I [19:21] make this terrible thing not look so bad or

[19:24] maybe how can I take this terrible thing and [19:25] make it look pretty good.

[19:29] It’s not just in politics.

[19:32] Paul wants you to understand that that’s [19:34] what’s going on in your life most every day.

[19:39] That when you come face to face with the [19:41] righteousness of God when you come face to face [19:43] with the perfection that is Jesus we have this [19:47] great temptation.

[19:51] To look to our life and make ourselves our own [19:53] authority and say well it’s not that big of a deal.

[19:57] It’s not that big of a problem. [20:00] I mean clearly it’s not so bad that the wrath [20:03] of the eternal all-knowing God is actually [20:06] boiling hot against little old me. [20:10] Well I’m not as bad as that guy. [20:13] Well I saw the story on the news and that’s

[20:15] something that I would never be a part of. [20:19] So I’ve got a little bit more righteousness [20:21] in me than that person has in them.

[20:27] The reality this morning is that when you [20:29] begin to do that what you’re saying is that [20:31] you don’t want to understand fully God’s wrath for sin. [20:38] And when you don’t want to understand fully [20:40] God’s wrath for sin you don’t want to treasure [20:44] the work of Jesus as much as you would if you

[20:47] did understand the wrath of sin. [20:50] So you’re beginning to dismantle the work of [20:53] God in your life as you make excuse after [20:55] excuse or as you devalue upon devalue what [20:59] Jesus has done for you personally. [21:04] It’s what we’ll do is we’ll begin to spin

[21:06] our own self-righteousness so that we can [21:09] point to someone else and say man that guy [21:11] really needs Jesus and you will say that [21:15] before you will ever look in the mirror and [21:18] say that guy really needs Jesus. [21:22] Because when you personalize the reality

[21:25] of sin in your life it does not feel good.

[21:33] It’s like you’re taking a hot shower and [21:34] suddenly the hot water heater breaks and [21:37] you’re inundated with nothing but cold water. [21:40] It’s a shock to you. [21:40] It doesn’t feel good.

[21:44] And you would rather just live a life in [21:46] and never know the true beauty of what [21:49] real salvation is. [21:51] You may even claim to have it. [21:53] But so long as you devalue God’s offense [21:55] at who you are and what you do how can

[21:57] you ever truly know the beauty of his [22:00] righteousness for you.

[22:03] Because for some of us the righteousness [22:04] of God isn’t really that much better than [22:06] what we feel is the righteousness of us.

[22:11] Walk around the world saying what we deserve [22:14] we walk around the world saying how good [22:16] we are we walk around the world elevating [22:19] ourselves up above other people and saying [22:21] like the Pharisees would say I’m so thankful [22:23] that I’m not like those unrighteous people.

[22:28] The most unrighteous person in your life is you.

[22:35] The sooner you believe that the sooner [22:37] you live like that the sooner you will [22:40] be in awe of the work that Jesus has done [22:43] on the cross for you to redeem you to [22:47] understand the responsibility that you [22:50] have for your own sin.

[22:52] You must stop spinning and start owning [22:55] up to your sin and how deep down at your [22:59] core you deserve God’s wrath.

[23:04] As you’ve not obeyed him fully none of us have.

[23:09] So what I want to look at this week. [23:12] Is how our identity and our purpose as people [23:17] have been affected by the sin that we have [23:21] in our lives personally and the next week [23:24] I want to see how it’s affected our function [23:26] as people because too quickly we move on

[23:30] to function before we get to our identity [23:32] too soon we move to our actions before we [23:35] get to the thought process behind our actions. [23:39] So today we’ve got to deal with the thought [23:41] process and next week we’re going to deal [23:42] with the actions.

[23:46] But I want you just for a moment to understand [23:49] that if you work backwards.

[23:54] From the gospel of Jesus to the creation [23:56] of man where you’re going to begin to see [24:00] is a really dark history of people rebelling [24:03] against God over and over and over again [24:05] and deserving to get what God gives them [24:09] and that is his wrath that is judgment.

[24:13] We may even say well only God can judge me [24:15] and then be quite angry when God does judge [24:18] you through his word. [24:20] But then I want you to take a look at that [24:22] history and then I want you to make it a little [24:23] more personal I want to work backwards

[24:25] from the gospel of Jesus Christ into your [24:28] personal life. [24:30] I want you to begin to think through the [24:32] excuses that you make for why you do the things [24:34] you do why you say the things you say why [24:37] you hurt the people you hurt why you can’t

[24:40] commit to following God the way that you know [24:42] you should commit to following God why even [24:45] on your best day your greatest obedience [24:49] is always tempered with a motivation for [24:52] yourself above motivation for worshiping God.

[24:57] Is when truth is suppressed the design [25:00] and the function for everything gets messed up. [25:04] The more the truth is suppressed the more [25:08] everything in your life will get messed up [25:12] begins with your relationship with God [25:14] and our purpose and identity then it goes

[25:16] right down to our relationship with others [25:18] and then the way that we function in this [25:20] world. [25:21] Have you ever wondered why you struggle [25:23] in this world why you struggle with the [25:26] thoughts that you struggle with why you

[25:27] struggle with not feeling successful why [25:30] you struggle with not feeling satisfied [25:32] why you struggle you struggle you struggle [25:35] good news we’re going to find an answer [25:36] today it’s because you’re a sinner. [25:39] That’s why you struggle.

[25:42] But the fact of the matter is is that you [25:44] no longer have to live under that rubric. [25:49] You no longer have to live under the [25:52] measuring stick you no longer have to live [25:55] in a life in which satisfaction always seems [25:58] far off the life in which you’re always

[26:00] measuring yourself by someone else’s [26:02] success and failure a life in which [26:04] you’re no longer set to compare yourself [26:07] with others and that is the life of [26:09] understanding the wrath of God. [26:10] You know that doesn’t sound very good.

[26:12] Well it sounds really good when you know [26:13] on the other side of wrath is a sweet [26:15] redemption.

[26:17] That’s what Jesus has for every one of us [26:19] look at Ephesians chapter 5 verse 6 [26:21] here’s how the Apostle Paul puts it for [26:24] us to understand that we’re going to try [26:26] to suppress this truth in our lives. [26:28] He says no one deceive you with empty

[26:29] words for because of these things the [26:31] wrath of God comes up upon the sons of [26:34] disobedience. [26:35] So you’re going to have one of two [26:36] chances choices. [26:37] You can either deal with who you are

[26:39] in the reality of at your core you’re a [26:41] sinner or you can suppress it and just [26:44] face the wrath of God as a son of [26:46] disobedience with no hope. [26:48] So I think the better idea if I’m making [26:50] a decision if I’m counseling you at all

[26:52] I think the better idea this morning is [26:54] that we come together that we reason [26:56] together and we start to deal with this [26:58] because the opposite of that is we’re [27:00] just going to feel the wrath of God as a [27:02] son of disobedience.

[27:03] We’re going to believe the lie and the [27:05] empty talk that not only are other people [27:08] going to give it to you which they are [27:11] but you’re going to give it to yourself. [27:14] The most empty talker that you have in [27:16] your life is your own brain.

[27:20] So you need to find redemption from your [27:23] own self and that’s what Jesus is going [27:26] to offer but we’ve got to look at the [27:27] truth of who we are before we look at [27:30] the truth of who we can be. [27:33] Number two this morning.

[27:36] The way that he’s going to explain this [27:37] is the fact that God should be known by [27:40] the world he created God should be known [27:44] by the world he created. [27:46] I say well how does that work out look [27:47] in verse 19.

[27:48] He says for what can be known about God [27:50] is plain to them because God has shown [27:53] it to them for his invisible attributes [27:55] namely his eternal power and divine [27:57] nature have been clearly perceived ever [28:00] since the creation of the world and the

[28:02] things that have been made.

[28:07] So they’re without excuse.

[28:11] Paul says we’ve suppressed truth. [28:14] We’ve suppressed this deserved wrath [28:18] that we should get if we just are sinful [28:20] against God if we don’t live the way [28:23] that he’s designed us to live we don’t [28:24] give him the worship that he’s designed

[28:26] us to give him then we deserve wrath [28:29] and then he transitions into what seems [28:31] to be this apologetic for the fact that [28:33] God created everything that is and that [28:36] everything that God created stands as a [28:39] testament to us that there is a creator

[28:42] behind it. [28:45] It’s a very simple statement but in it [28:48] is the indictment of all of the world. [28:51] He actually says that when we disobey God [28:57] when we believe lies rather than truth [29:00] and then we look outside of our windows

[29:03] at a world that was not made by us [29:08] then the obvious correlation is [29:10] then it was made by someone else.

[29:16] If it was made by someone else. [29:20] Well then that someone else is more [29:22] powerful than I am.

[29:25] If he’s more powerful than I am [29:28] then I’m probably responsible to him. [29:33] That’s why Paul says you’re without excuse.

[29:38] He says when you look at a creation [29:40] as intricate as ours and when you look [29:42] at biology that’s so intricate as ours [29:44] when you look at a cosmos that’s as [29:46] intricate as our cosmos where as great [29:48] as we study and as smart of a people

[29:50] as we put behind it they constantly [29:52] find things that they don’t have [29:53] answers to.

[29:57] He says well then the only logical [30:00] conclusion is there’s someone smarter [30:02] than us that does have the answers [30:03] and we should figure out who he is.

[30:07] That’s why Paul makes this amazing [30:11] abrasive statement when he says [30:13] so they are without excuse.

[30:20] Because what is our chief response [30:24] when we find out that there’s an [30:27] authority over us. [30:29] We’ve disobeyed that authority.

[30:33] We’ve done things that that authority [30:35] doesn’t want us to do.

[30:39] Just go back to middle school. [30:41] You come up with excuses. [30:44] He said well he made me. [30:47] Well no it wasn’t me. [30:49] I don’t know what you’re talking about. [30:51] Well but it’s because of this thing

[30:53] that happened the other time. [30:55] Well I’m not responsible for all [30:57] of my actions. [30:58] You try to weasel your way out.

[31:02] And even if you cop to it oftentimes [31:04] you cop two things and hope that [31:06] they’ll go a little more lenient on [31:07] you because you cop to it.

[31:11] So Paul says no. [31:14] Don’t even try. [31:16] You are without excuse. [31:21] Truth is often suppressed as many [31:22] cannot see past the world to the [31:25] God that made the world and we

[31:27] see this as its end because [31:29] honestly that’s the easiest thing [31:31] to do when you’re found in sin.

[31:35] So one thing that I find out is [31:36] that when people are found making [31:38] bad decisions or making wrong [31:41] choices or doing wrong actions [31:43] most people’s immediate response [31:46] is not you’re right.

[31:48] I was wrong. [31:49] I’m going to change.

[31:53] Most people’s response even if [31:54] they say yeah I did it is to [31:57] begin to spin a web of deceit [32:01] in such a way that they will [32:03] begin to to excuse their wrong [32:05] because of a set of circumstances

[32:07] or more so they will attempt to [32:09] define right and wrong differently [32:11] so that their wrong will become [32:13] a right in their own mind. [32:15] And it’s not that they don’t [32:16] believe it.

[32:16] They actually believe that so [32:19] much so to the extent that I’ve [32:21] seen people who claim to believe [32:23] in Jesus claim to follow Jesus [32:25] do some terrible things and in [32:27] the end say well then there is

[32:29] no God because it was easier [32:32] to deny God himself than to [32:35] actually own up that they were [32:38] wrong.

[32:40] How often do you find yourself [32:43] clearly in the wrong yet you [32:45] make excuse after excuse to [32:48] prove that you’re not wrong [32:50] because you would rather sit in [32:53] your wrongdoing than to feel

[32:56] redemption because it questions [32:59] your authority over yourself

[33:05] and it places someone else up [33:06] above you and ultimately what [33:07] Paul says here is that it [33:09] places God himself up above you [33:11] but the reality that the world [33:13] tells us is that there’s a God

[33:17] up above this world. [33:19] Here’s how it’s put in Acts [33:20] chapter 14 verse 17 says that [33:23] God did not leave himself [33:25] without witnesses for he did [33:27] good by giving you rains from

[33:29] heaven and fruitful seasons [33:30] satisfying your hearts with [33:32] food and gladness.

[33:35] She said even the rain when it [33:38] falls even the seasons as they [33:40] change and we’re in a changing [33:41] of the seasons right now is [33:43] when you see the leaves change [33:45] when you see life go in the

[33:47] circle that it goes where the [33:49] trees will drop their leaves [33:50] they’ll look dead all winter [33:52] and then in the spring will [33:53] look they’re vivified again [33:55] they’ve got leaves again.

[33:56] He’s saying that all of the [33:57] functions of this world serve [33:59] as a beautiful sound and light [34:01] and picture that there is a [34:03] God behind it is when you [34:05] taste good food maybe you

[34:07] went to the fair and you [34:08] had fried everything and you [34:10] tasted that goodness in your [34:12] mouth and you said I just [34:13] want more and more by the [34:15] way that’s a sin called

[34:16] gluttony and when you were [34:18] tasting that and you said [34:19] man it means saying here he’s [34:21] saying even that food that [34:23] you eat it serves as a [34:24] reminder that there’s

[34:25] something past that food [34:27] that made a world in which [34:28] that food could exist. [34:29] It’s like that beautiful [34:30] steak. [34:33] He’s saying that steak might

[34:34] be enjoyable but it’ll be [34:35] even more enjoyable when you [34:37] realize that there is a God [34:38] that made that for you.

[34:42] It’ll be even better when you [34:43] look to the laughter that you [34:45] share with those that you [34:47] love and you say there’s a [34:49] God behind all of this that’s [34:50] given me this beautiful

[34:51] moment.

[34:55] The world takes on meaning [34:59] that’s real, that’s objective, [35:03] that’s beautiful. [35:05] When you live in life there’s [35:07] something beyond this world [35:08] in his name is God.

[35:11] But when you take God out of [35:13] it every little delight that [35:14] you have in this world every [35:15] picture that you see every [35:17] moment that you have all the [35:19] food that you eat all the

[35:20] beauty that you’re going to [35:21] have to see. [35:23] It’s all just going to [35:25] terminate on itself. [35:27] When it does that it’s nowhere [35:29] near as beautiful as it is

[35:32] when you see the God behind [35:34] it. [35:35] Because this world is nowhere [35:37] near as beautiful as God.

[35:42] We tend to believe lies to [35:46] cover our sin.

[35:51] Jeremiah chapter 10 verse 14 [35:53] puts it this way.

[35:56] Every man is stupid.

[35:59] Yeah, let’s just stop. [36:02] We’re done.

[36:05] A lot of times gotta caution [36:07] the ladies. [36:09] The word man is there. [36:10] It’s an all-inclusive thing.

[36:14] So you don’t get an out. [36:16] It includes you. [36:18] I know a lot of you are [36:19] sitting there. [36:19] That’s right. [36:21] They’re idiots.

[36:27] We’ve taught my son that the [36:28] word stupid is a bad word. [36:30] I don’t know what we’re going [36:30] to do when our family [36:31] devotions get to Jeremiah 10. [36:34] God says a bad word.

[36:38] Every man is stupid and [36:40] without knowledge. [36:41] Every goldsmith is put to [36:43] shame by his idols for his [36:45] images are false. [36:47] There’s no breath in them.

[36:49] So Paul’s example [36:51] is so general [36:54] in Romans 1 19 through 20 [36:56] that we can’t wiggle our way [36:59] out of it because when we [37:00] see some of the examples in

[37:02] scripture, we see some of the [37:03] examples that people will use [37:05] to show us sin, show us the [37:07] wrath of God. [37:08] Well, that’s not like me. [37:09] Well, that’s not really my

[37:10] experience. [37:11] That’s not really what I’m [37:12] going through. [37:13] So it’s like I can tune this [37:14] out for a minute. [37:15] And so Paul uses the most

[37:17] general and most all [37:19] inclusive example that he [37:21] can find so that none of us [37:23] can escape the reality that [37:25] there’s a God and we must [37:27] deal with who he is and

[37:28] what he wants what he wants [37:29] from us when he says here [37:31] I’ll give you an example for [37:32] why you’re all sinful all of [37:34] creation. [37:35] That’s why.

[37:38] Because when you look at all [37:41] of creation and you’re [37:43] tempted to believe that it [37:45] exists just to fill you. [37:50] Then you’re attempting to [37:51] unseat God and put yourself

[37:53] where only he belongs. [37:56] I must look in the world and [37:58] see God so that I can look at [37:59] my life and see a God that [38:01] I’m responsible to because [38:03] otherwise everything is up

[38:05] for negotiation.

[38:09] Weasel my way out of every [38:11] responsibility weasel my way [38:13] out of every commitment that [38:14] God calls me to. [38:18] Paul says that all that you’ve [38:19] done is shown that you’re

[38:20] staring down the barrel of a [38:22] God that you’ve created by [38:24] your own hands and how [38:25] foolish are you to follow a [38:27] God with your life that can’t [38:29] breathe and doesn’t even have

[38:31] life.

[38:35] Paul’s question here is how [38:36] many of us who has done this [38:37] type of thing.

[38:41] Everyone.

[38:45] We’re without excuse.

[38:48] If I look to the world and [38:49] only see myself then I’ve [38:51] suppressed the most important [38:52] truth of my life.

[38:55] I look to the world and I see [38:57] my own unrighteousness so [38:59] that I can look to the cross [39:00] and long for righteousness.

[39:04] God deserves my glory.

[39:08] Just by the fact that he’s God.

[39:11] He doesn’t owe me an [39:12] explanation. [39:14] He doesn’t owe me a reason. [39:16] He owes me nothing because [39:18] he’s God and I’m not and if [39:21] he’s God and I’m not then he

[39:24] created me and I’m [39:26] responsible to him just by the [39:28] nature of my own existence and [39:31] even if I have a God I’m [39:32] going to have the audacity to [39:33] look at him and say give me a

[39:35] good reason to follow you all [39:37] that I’ve uncovered is my own [39:40] stupidity.

[39:44] Because if he’s God and he can [39:46] just kill me where I stand.

[39:51] I struggled to kill a fly. [39:54] Those things are fast.

[39:57] How foolish am I to stand in [39:59] front of God and say give me a [40:00] reason.

[40:04] Thirdly this morning. [40:07] What’s our problem.

[40:09] Our problem is that sin is [40:11] rooted in giving what God [40:13] deserves to other things.

[40:17] And Paul begins to spell this [40:18] out in verse 21.

[40:22] Here’s what he says. [40:24] This is for although they knew [40:25] God.

[40:28] They did not honor him as God [40:29] or give thanks to him. [40:32] [40:32] They became feudal in their [40:33] thinking their foolish hearts [40:34] were darkened the claim to be

[40:36] wise but by that they became [40:37] fools and exchanged the glory [40:40] of the immortal God for images [40:41] resembling mortal man and birds [40:44] and animals and creeping [40:46] things.

[40:48] Ultimately what Paul says is [40:50] that the world has shown us [40:52] there’s this amazing God.

[40:56] And we have attempted to steal [40:58] that God’s glory by denying [41:00] that he deserves everything. [41:02] Even my own life.

[41:05] Because it’s one thing to say [41:06] hey there’s a God. [41:08] It’s another thing to say hey [41:09] God deserves everything that I [41:11] have.

[41:12] And until you get to that point [41:15] Paul is saying you are [41:17] committing treason as a glory [41:20] thief. [41:20] That’s what R.C. [41:21] Sproul calls it.

[41:22] He calls our sin cosmic [41:24] treason. [41:26] The creator of the universe [41:27] that is declared that the [41:28] world exists for one purpose [41:31] to show his glory.

[41:34] He created beings that are [41:35] meant to show his image to the [41:37] world around us. [41:38] That’s what Genesis tells us. [41:40] But instead we’ve declared [41:41] that it exists for different

[41:43] purposes. [41:45] Exists to satisfy me. [41:48] That is treason because you’re [41:51] giving to you what God alone [41:53] deserves. [41:55] And when you build false gods

[41:58] you’re ultimately building a [42:00] God to the hope that you want [42:02] by pointing the purpose of the [42:04] world at you. [42:07] And then when you do that [42:08] everyone else exists to make

[42:10] you happy. [42:12] And when people aren’t making [42:13] you happy they’re in the wrong.

[42:18] Everything in the world exists [42:19] to fulfill my mission. [42:21] And when anybody gets in the [42:22] way of my mission I’m going to [42:24] get them out of the way of my [42:25] mission because they’re wrong.

[42:30] Paul’s question is who do you [42:32] think you are? [42:34] And when you’re really honest [42:35] in light of the gospel of [42:36] Jesus what you have to say is [42:38] I think I’m God.

[42:42] Paul says look out the front [42:44] door. [42:46] Did you make that tree?

[42:49] Go stand at the Grand Canyon [42:51] and think highly of yourself.

[42:56] This is you’re stealing [42:58] something that doesn’t belong [42:59] to you. [43:00] You’re trying to steal [43:01] something that only belongs to [43:03] God.

[43:04] Instead of seeing God in the [43:06] world.

[43:09] You see yourself as God in the [43:11] world. [43:12] But it all begins with your [43:14] mind. [43:16] Verse 21 and following declares [43:18] that the world makes us

[43:19] responsible for realizing that [43:21] there is a God even those who [43:23] deny God grapple with his [43:25] existence as they have to [43:27] exert effort to try to prove [43:29] he isn’t there.

[43:34] Greatest example of their [43:36] mission is to prove that God [43:38] doesn’t exist and I hate him [43:39] very much. [43:42] How can you hate someone that [43:42] isn’t even there?

[43:47] The reality of the world [43:48] around us is that it’s not God [43:51] that went wrong. [43:52] It’s us.

[43:57] It all begins in the [43:59] mind. [44:00] Where your core desires and [44:02] longings come from because [44:04] what we often do and what [44:06] we’re even sometimes trained

[44:07] to do from birth is to build [44:09] a kingdom of comfort and [44:11] leisure for ourselves where [44:13] we attempt to gratify all of [44:15] our needs and build heaven [44:17] for ourselves here.

[44:22] When heaven is something that [44:23] was never meant to be here. [44:26] And Paul says you did this [44:29] claiming to be wise.

[44:32] But in it you did nothing [44:34] more than become a fool [44:37] because you didn’t start out [44:39] with the chief question. [44:41] Not how can I make my life [44:42] here the best.

[44:44] The question is how does God [44:46] want me to make my life here? [44:48] What does he want me to do? [44:50] God says we exist for [44:52] something different. [44:55] Then what we’re living for

[44:56] then we are fools not him. [44:59] Because of God’s towering [45:00] authority is why we know [45:02] that this is true. [45:04] How can we the created [45:05] beings tell the creator of

[45:07] all that exists why we [45:09] exist. [45:10] How can we argue with God. [45:13] When in reality we are [45:15] bankrupt but that’s what [45:16] verse twenty three tells

[45:18] us it reveals that we’ve [45:19] exchanged the glory of the [45:21] immortal God for nothing [45:22] more than mortal navel [45:24] gazing trying to figure out [45:25] why we exist by staring at

[45:27] a mirror of ourselves.

[45:30] When I’ll be frank with you [45:32] I don’t think that someone [45:33] like me who screws it up [45:35] over and over and over again [45:37] can be trusted with answering [45:38] the question why do I exist.

[45:41] Because I’ll come up with [45:42] something foolish I’ll come [45:43] up with something that [45:44] will ultimately kill me I’ll [45:45] come up with something that [45:46] will ultimately not satisfy

[45:47] me I should look to the one [45:48] that has never failed the [45:49] one that is perfect the one [45:50] who is righteous and that [45:51] is God. [45:53] Listen to the words of

[45:54] Ecclesiastes chapter one. [45:57] As Solomon tells us all the [46:00] satisfaction that you’ll [46:00] find in this world when you [46:02] define it by your own [46:02] standards is vanity of

[46:04] vanities says the preacher [46:06] vanity of vanities all is [46:08] vanity what does man gain [46:10] by all the toil at which [46:11] he toils under the sun a [46:13] generation goes and a

[46:15] generation comes but the [46:16] earth remains forever the [46:17] sun rises the sun goes down [46:19] and hastens to the place [46:21] where it rises again the [46:23] wind blows to the south and

[46:24] goes around to the north [46:25] around and around goes the [46:27] wind and on its circuits [46:28] the wind returns all [46:30] streams run to the sea but [46:33] the sea is not full to the

[46:35] place where the streams [46:36] flow there they flow again.

[46:42] Matt Chandler explains this [46:44] and he says what Solomon’s [46:45] laying out for us here is [46:47] the treadmill of the world.

[46:51] You are going to be tempted [46:52] every one of you. [46:54] To define your purpose in [46:56] the world’s purpose by [46:57] looking at the world itself.

[47:01] So the wind goes this way [47:02] within it goes this way and [47:04] the sun goes up and then [47:05] the sun goes down with the [47:06] oceans they’ve got so much [47:07] water but then they empty

[47:08] into the stream so I’ve [47:09] got to follow the stream [47:10] and I’ve got to follow this [47:11] and he says it’s nothing [47:12] more than dangling a carrot [47:13] in front of yourself

[47:14] thinking you’re going to [47:15] find it you’re not going to [47:15] get it.

[47:17] The world does not reveal [47:20] its own purpose.

[47:24] A created thing cannot [47:27] reveal why it was created. [47:30] Only the creator can answer [47:32] that question for us. [47:34] Only the creator can satisfy. [47:37] But over and over again you

[47:39] jump back on the treadmill.

[47:43] So I’m going to get [47:44] somewhere today at a [47:46] hamster in college.

[47:50] It slept all day. [47:53] And ran all night. [47:56] I learned to hate that [48:00] hamster.

[48:02] But that hamster.

[48:06] Was no less wise than most [48:08] of us.

[48:11] So I got into his mind. [48:13] I think it would have [48:14] believed it was getting [48:15] somewhere on that wheel.

[48:19] And you’re going to chase [48:21] dreams you’re going to [48:22] chase money you’re going [48:23] to chase men or women [48:25] you’re going to chase [48:26] sex you’re going to

[48:27] chase so much in this [48:28] life. [48:30] To try to find your [48:31] purpose. [48:32] And you’re going to get [48:33] angry you’re going to

[48:35] get resentful and you’re [48:36] going to get bitter at [48:38] God. [48:40] Because you can’t find it [48:41] and God’s going to say [48:42] well why didn’t you just

[48:43] look at me.

[48:48] C.S. Lewis puts it this [48:49] way he says we’re [48:50] half-hearted creatures [48:51] fooling about with drink [48:52] and sex and ambition [48:54] for money when infinite

[48:55] joy is offered to us. [48:57] Like an ignorant child [48:59] who wants to go on [49:00] making mud pies in a [49:01] slum because he cannot [49:02] imagine what is meant

[49:04] by the offer of a cruise [49:06] at the sea. [49:08] We are far too easily [49:11] pleased.

[49:14] Verse twenty five. [49:16] Puts it plain.

[49:21] This is because they’ve [49:22] exchanged the truth about [49:24] God for a lie. [49:26] And worshiped and served [49:27] the creature. [49:29] Rather than the creator

[49:30] is blessed forever. [49:33] Amen.

[49:35] Often even in light of [49:37] truth we try to convince [49:38] ourselves that we’re [49:39] okay.

[49:41] Friends. [49:42] Stop trying to convince [49:44] yourself that you’re [49:44] okay.

[49:47] You say well it’ll make [49:48] me look weak. [49:49] You are.

[49:52] You’re weaker than you [49:54] realize.

[49:57] So it’ll show my sin [49:58] that I don’t want to see. [50:01] You gotta see it friend. [50:03] You gotta see it for [50:04] what it is.

[50:06] We were made to worship [50:08] God with our lives. [50:10] And instead we sacrifice [50:12] our lives at the altar [50:13] of gaining creation [50:14] rather than the creator.

[50:18] You could gain. [50:21] Everything. [50:23] The creation has to [50:24] offer.

[50:26] And it will be meaningless. [50:29] If you miss out. [50:30] On the creator.

[50:35] Uses the word exchange. [50:37] We’re going to talk more [50:38] about that word next week. [50:41] But his point is is [50:42] that we have exchanged. [50:44] What we were created

[50:45] to live for and how [50:46] we were created to live.

[50:51] For something that’s [50:52] only going to be temporary [50:53] something that isn’t [50:54] going to satisfy for [50:56] something that isn’t [50:57] eternal.

[50:59] To our detriment to [51:00] our condemnation to [51:02] our destruction we’ve [51:03] done that.

[51:05] Then the hope is found [51:06] in the fact that Jesus [51:07] has also made an [51:08] exchange for us.

[51:11] Is that the ultimate [51:13] power in all of the [51:14] world and all of history [51:15] God himself made an [51:17] exchange he exchanged [51:18] his righteousness to

[51:20] us and took our sin [51:22] onto himself. [51:25] That’s what the cross [51:26] means.

[51:29] I’m often asked how [51:30] does faith. [51:32] Make me righteous.

[51:35] You see faith in Jesus [51:37] gives us righteousness. [51:39] Because it returns us [51:41] to the trust that [51:42] we were created to [51:44] have in God.

[51:48] See your actions will [51:49] never heal you your [51:50] deeds no matter how [51:51] moral they are will [51:52] never save you because [51:53] you weren’t created to

[51:55] ever save yourself. [51:56] Adam and Eve were never [51:57] meant to save themselves. [51:59] They were meant to be [52:00] saved by trusting God [52:02] forever and you can

[52:03] only be saved by [52:05] trusting God forever.

[52:09] Humanity has always [52:10] dependent on [52:11] righteousness by faith. [52:13] We simply gave our [52:15] faith away to false [52:17] hopes and false gods

[52:19] that we tried to make [52:20] ourselves. [52:21] Jesus came to show [52:23] what real hope.

[52:26] And the true God looks [52:28] like.

[52:31] Friends if I can tell [52:32] you to do one thing [52:32] today.

[52:35] Exchange your sin. [52:37] For God’s righteousness.

[52:40] And then pursue a life [52:41] of real joy in God.

[52:45] Faith. [52:47] Is the only thing that [52:48] will save us from the [52:50] wrath of God.

[52:53] As a band comes up.

[52:58] Communion.

[53:00] The. [53:02] Broken bread the the [53:03] cup of juice.

[53:06] It stands to represent.

[53:10] The two exchanges that [53:12] happen.

[53:14] It represents the pain [53:16] and the unrighteousness [53:17] of the exchange that I [53:18] made as the cup [53:20] represents the shed blood [53:21] of Jesus and the bread

[53:23] represents the broken [53:24] body of Jesus. [53:26] Represents the pain it [53:28] represents the wrath [53:29] that Jesus felt on [53:30] himself on that cross.

[53:33] But it also represents [53:34] the other exchange. [53:36] And that is the exchange [53:37] that Jesus desires to [53:39] make with all those who [53:40] believe in him.

[53:43] That’s when you drink [53:44] that cup when you eat [53:45] that bread it represents [53:47] a faith that you have [53:48] in Jesus and it [53:49] represents the life

[53:50] and righteousness of [53:51] Jesus entering into your [53:53] own life.

[53:57] Jesus told his followers [53:58] he said until I come [53:59] back I want you to share [54:01] this meal this communion [54:02] meal.

[54:04] It’s not because you got [54:05] to do it every time so [54:06] that it will save you [54:07] but so that when you [54:08] take it you’ll constantly [54:09] remember the truth of

[54:12] what you exist for. [54:15] That you exist for God.

[54:18] And you are saved by the [54:22] love of God.

[54:25] The father instead of [54:27] pouring his wrath on you [54:29] he poured it on his own [54:31] son.

[54:33] If you believe that this [54:34] morning there are six [54:36] tables around this room.

[54:40] Go reflect on that [54:41] salvation.

[54:43] If you’ve not believed. [54:46] And today. [54:48] I’m going to ask you to [54:48] make the greatest exchange [54:49] that you’ll ever make in [54:50] your life.

[54:53] By faith exchange your [54:54] sin. [54:56] For Jesus is righteousness.

[54:58] When you’re ready.