The Journey Continues

what I want to do in the time that we
what I want to do in the time that we
have together this
have together this
morning is try to reflect with you a
morning is try to reflect with you a
little bit
little bit
further as to why it was that these
further as to why it was that these
religious Jews were so adamantly opposed
religious Jews were so adamantly opposed
to
Paul and to the gospel of grace that he
Paul and to the gospel of grace that he
preached you would think would you not
preached you would think would you not
that if all your life you had been
that if all your life you had been
steeped in the Old
steeped in the Old
Testament and somebody like the Apostle
Testament and somebody like the Apostle
Paul came along to say that Jesus is the
Paul came along to say that Jesus is the
Fulfillment of everything that you had
Fulfillment of everything that you had
hoped and longed for you would think
hoped and longed for you would think
that people by the multitudes would
that people by the multitudes would
Embrace that good news and joyfully
Embrace that good news and joyfully
become followers of Jesus and as we saw
become followers of Jesus and as we saw
last week
last week
and as we see again this week in the
and as we see again this week in the
passage before us every time Paul and
passage before us every time Paul and
Barnabas Proclaim that good news there
Barnabas Proclaim that good news there
are indeed many who come to Faith both
are indeed many who come to Faith both
Jews and believing Gentiles eventually
Jews and believing Gentiles eventually
raw Gentiles
raw Gentiles
also at the same time every time he
also at the same time every time he
proclaims this good news there is a
proclaims this good news there is a
persistent core of Jewish people
persistent core of Jewish people
particular L Jewish leaders who are
particular L Jewish leaders who are
adamantly opposed not only to Paul but
adamantly opposed not only to Paul but
more especially to the message of Grace
more especially to the message of Grace
that he preaches and we saw last week
that he preaches and we saw last week
how the religious leaders in
how the religious leaders in
Antioch uh talked abusively against Paul
Antioch uh talked abusively against Paul
and the message that he proclaimed they
and the message that he proclaimed they
they not only disagreed with the content
they not only disagreed with the content
but they attacked him
but they attacked him
personally and when that didn't seem to
personally and when that didn't seem to
work very well the next step was to
work very well the next step was to
incite the scripture says the
incite the scripture says the
God-fearing women of high standing and
God-fearing women of high standing and
and the leading men of the city until
and the leading men of the city until
there was such a backlash against Paul
there was such a backlash against Paul
and barnabas' Ministry that they were
and barnabas' Ministry that they were
driven out of that
driven out of that
region which brings us then to where we
region which brings us then to where we
find them today which is in Iconium the
find them today which is in Iconium the
next city down the road but as I said
next city down the road but as I said
earlier it's a story of deja vu
earlier it's a story of deja vu
because the same thing happens again he
because the same thing happens again he
proclaims the
proclaims the
gospel many come to
gospel many come to
Faith but there is a percentage of
Faith but there is a percentage of
hardened
Jews who again turn against Paul this
Jews who again turn against Paul this
time they go a step further together
time they go a step further together
with the Gentiles they create a plot to
with the Gentiles they create a plot to
get rid of Paul and to Stone him Paul
get rid of Paul and to Stone him Paul
and Barnabas he about it they're smart
and Barnabas he about it they're smart
enough to to escape they go down the
enough to to escape they go down the
road to lisra and if you were to read
road to lisra and if you were to read
the next story which Lord willing will
the next story which Lord willing will
get to at some point in the future you
get to at some point in the future you
discover that the Jews from Antioch and
discover that the Jews from Antioch and
the Jews from Iconium follow Paul and
the Jews from Iconium follow Paul and
Barnabas to
Barnabas to
lisra they now manag to incite the
lisra they now manag to incite the
Gentiles in
Gentiles in
lisra to actually physically Stone Paul
lisra to actually physically Stone Paul
and they leave him for dead thank God he
and they leave him for dead thank God he
wasn't but you can imagine what a
wasn't but you can imagine what a
difficult Journey that was for the
difficult Journey that was for the
man so here's that question why this
man so here's that question why this
hatred of Paul and why this hatred or
hatred of Paul and why this hatred or
antipathy towards the gospel of grace
antipathy towards the gospel of grace
that he was preaching well last week we
that he was preaching well last week we
saw jealousy had a lot to do with it uh
saw jealousy had a lot to do with it uh
they were jealous because of the crowds
they were jealous because of the crowds
that were following Paula Barnabas they
that were following Paula Barnabas they
were jealous and Ed L because they saw
were jealous and Ed L because they saw
their influence fade they were
their influence fade they were
accustomed uh to to being the respected
accustomed uh to to being the respected
leaders and their positions were being
leaders and their positions were being
threatened they too saw themselves as
threatened they too saw themselves as
Guardians of the Old Testament and and
Guardians of the Old Testament and and
were concerned about holding on to to
were concerned about holding on to to
all of
all of
that but this morning I want to pursue
that but this morning I want to pursue
that a little bit further because I
that a little bit further because I
think the cause for their anger and the
think the cause for their anger and the
cause for their resistance to the gospel
cause for their resistance to the gospel
of
grace ran deeper than just the jealousy
grace ran deeper than just the jealousy
that we have been talking about in fact
that we have been talking about in fact
I'll go so far as to say their
I'll go so far as to say their
resistance to Paul in the gospel of
resistance to Paul in the gospel of
grace can be summed up this way they
grace can be summed up this way they
misunderstood listen carefully they
misunderstood listen carefully they
misunderstood and
misunderstood and
misapplied the law of Moses they
misapplied the law of Moses they
misunderstood they Misa applied the law
misunderstood they Misa applied the law
of Moses let me sum it up this way and
of Moses let me sum it up this way and
then I'll expand on it a little bit
then I'll expand on it a little bit
further as the morning goes on the Jews
further as the morning goes on the Jews
believed that if they obeyed the law
believed that if they obeyed the law
rigorously this would make them
rigorously this would make them
righteous before God and God would bless
righteous before God and God would bless
them and when Paul comes along and tells
them and when Paul comes along and tells
them That by The Works of the law no man
them That by The Works of the law no man
will be justified before
will be justified before
God he pulls the rug out from underneath
God he pulls the rug out from underneath
the whole religious system which they
the whole religious system which they
have spent a lifetime building up and he
have spent a lifetime building up and he
exposes their true
exposes their true
condition and that brings forth in them
condition and that brings forth in them
the same Spirit of
the same Spirit of
Rejection brings in them the same same
Rejection brings in them the same same
anger that caused Cen to kill Abel many
anger that caused Cen to kill Abel many
years earlier they misunderstood and
years earlier they misunderstood and
they misapplied the law of Moses let me
they misapplied the law of Moses let me
try
to put it this way for
you the dominant question in
you the dominant question in
Scripture that everybody asked asks is
Scripture that everybody asked asks is
this question asked by the Philippian
this question asked by the Philippian
Jailer of Paul and Silas when they were
Jailer of Paul and Silas when they were
in jail at Acts chapter 16 s what was
in jail at Acts chapter 16 s what was
what must we
what must we
do to be
do to be
saved and it's very important to
saved and it's very important to
understand that
understand that
historically there are three different
historically there are three different
paths I talked about this a couple of
paths I talked about this a couple of
weeks ago want to expand on it a bit
weeks ago want to expand on it a bit
this morning that
this morning that
historically there are three different
historically there are three different
Pathways that people try to
Pathways that people try to
follow in order to get Paradise regained
follow in order to get Paradise regained
or how to answer that question most
or how to answer that question most
people will not put it in the context
people will not put it in the context
of what must we do to be saved they'll
of what must we do to be saved they'll
put it in the context of how can I
put it in the context of how can I
return to Paradise law how can I regain
return to Paradise law how can I regain
Paradise
how can I leave my broken life behind
how can I leave my broken life behind
how can I get my life back together how
how can I get my life back together how
can I escape the suffering and the pain
can I escape the suffering and the pain
that is in this world and how can I
that is in this world and how can I
again be happy and be restored to
again be happy and be restored to
happiness that's the way most people put
happiness that's the way most people put
it well there are three answers to that
it well there are three answers to that
that are given by human beings the first
that are given by human beings the first
is the way of the
is the way of the
irreligious an irreligious person is a
irreligious an irreligious person is a
person
who doesn't believe that God exists or
who doesn't believe that God exists or
if God
if God
exists he cannot be trusted to care for
exists he cannot be trusted to care for
me and so I am responsible for caring
me and so I am responsible for caring
for
myself and so throughout the course of
myself and so throughout the course of
history irreligious people draw on human
history irreligious people draw on human
strength wisdom and energy to try to
strength wisdom and energy to try to
solve the problems of life and it can
solve the problems of life and it can
take many different forms it can come
take many different forms it can come
through hard work
through hard work
it can come through the advances of
it can come through the advances of
science or technology music or Arts
science or technology music or Arts
medicine or any number of solutions that
medicine or any number of solutions that
we human beings have to the problems
we human beings have to the problems
that ail
that ail
Humanity I listened this past week to
Humanity I listened this past week to
the better part of President Obama's uh
the better part of President Obama's uh
state of the nation address and I'm
state of the nation address and I'm
always struck particularly in American
always struck particularly in American
politics though it's not limited to them
politics though it's not limited to them
how much emphasis we
how much emphasis we
place on our ability to solve problems
place on our ability to solve problems
through our Ingenuity and through our
through our Ingenuity and through our
cleverness and there is a place for all
cleverness and there is a place for all
of that but you see it doesn't solve the
of that but you see it doesn't solve the
problem of our relationship with God
problem of our relationship with God
which is why the road of the irreligious
which is why the road of the irreligious
eventually always leads needs to
eventually always leads needs to
despair so there is not only the way of
despair so there is not only the way of
the irreligious there is also what we
the irreligious there is also what we
call the way of grace and the way of
call the way of grace and the way of
Grace says that God is Holy we are
Grace says that God is Holy we are
sinful we are separated from
sinful we are separated from
God we cannot earn our way back to him
God we cannot earn our way back to him
but God has sent his son into the world
but God has sent his son into the world
to die for us to be raised on our behalf
to die for us to be raised on our behalf
and when we put our faith in him God
and when we put our faith in him God
justifies us we become righteous through
justifies us we become righteous through
faith in Jesus Christ it's the gospel we
faith in Jesus Christ it's the gospel we
preach you've heard it many times I
preach you've heard it many times I
don't need to elaborate upon it now
don't need to elaborate upon it now
other than to say that Paul's preaching
other than to say that Paul's preaching
demonstrates that Jesus therefore is the
demonstrates that Jesus therefore is the
Fulfillment
of all the laws and all the Old
of all the laws and all the Old
Testament that was pointing the way to
Testament that was pointing the way to
this reality of Jesus now those are the
this reality of Jesus now those are the
two broad ways that we often talk about
two broad ways that we often talk about
but there is a third way which is
but there is a third way which is
closely linked to the other two but
closely linked to the other two but
needs to be carefully distinguished and
needs to be carefully distinguished and
that is what I would
that is what I would
call The Way of the religious but that
call The Way of the religious but that
term confuses us I'll talk more about
term confuses us I'll talk more about
about that in just a moment and
about that in just a moment and
therefore I've chosen to call it the way
therefore I've chosen to call it the way
of the
of the
law and the way of the law says this the
law and the way of the law says this the
way of the law says God is Holy we are
way of the law says God is Holy we are
sinful but because God has entered into
sinful but because God has entered into
Covenant with God's people he has told
Covenant with God's people he has told
us how it is that he wants us to live
us how it is that he wants us to live
and as we do our best to live that
and as we do our best to live that
way God will forgive our sins he will
way God will forgive our sins he will
love us and he will declare us
love us and he will declare us
righteous and so the religious Jews made
righteous and so the religious Jews made
it their business to religiously
it their business to religiously
follow as many of the Old Testament
follow as many of the Old Testament
Commandments as they could hoping that
Commandments as they could hoping that
in that way they would be good enough to
in that way they would be good enough to
earn God's blessing this is what what
earn God's blessing this is what what
the religious leaders of Israel prided
the religious leaders of Israel prided
themselves in they prided themselves in
themselves in they prided themselves in
keeping the laws of Moses observing all
keeping the laws of Moses observing all
the rituals
the rituals
hoping that God would take note of their
hoping that God would take note of their
good efforts and would award them with
good efforts and would award them with
eternal life and in many ways you can't
eternal life and in many ways you can't
blame them
blame them
because even a cursory reading of the
because even a cursory reading of the
Old Testament
Old Testament
Commandments links the blessings of God
Commandments links the blessings of God
with obedience to his law listen for
with obedience to his law listen for
example to this verse in Leviticus
example to this verse in Leviticus
18:5 keep my de decrees and laws for the
18:5 keep my de decrees and laws for the
man who obeys them will live by them I
man who obeys them will live by them I
am the Lord 1 Kings
am the Lord 1 Kings
2:3 observe what the Lord your God
2:3 observe what the Lord your God
requires walk in his ways keep his
requires walk in his ways keep his
decrees and commands his laws and
decrees and commands his laws and
requirements as written in the law of
requirements as written in the law of
Moses so that you may prosper in all you
Moses so that you may prosper in all you
do and
do and
wherever you
wherever you
go and so you can see that the religious
go and so you can see that the religious
leaders took
leaders took
seriously the Commandments of God and
seriously the Commandments of God and
took seriously the need to keep the
took seriously the need to keep the
commandments so what's the problem
commandments so what's the problem
well the problem says
well the problem says
Paul is
Paul is
nobody can keep the
nobody can keep the
law
perfectly even if we manage to keep one
perfectly even if we manage to keep one
law we break another and even if we were
law we break another and even if we were
able to keep the letter of the law we
able to keep the letter of the law we
break the spirit of the
break the spirit of the
law and furthermore he says if we count
law and furthermore he says if we count
on the law
on the law
to make us righteous before
to make us righteous before
God we not only do not succeed in being
God we not only do not succeed in being
righteous we listen to this we place
righteous we listen to this we place
ourselves under the curse of the law
ourselves under the curse of the law
because scripture says if you don't keep
because scripture says if you don't keep
all of the law you're cursed listen to
all of the law you're cursed listen to
how Paul puts it in the book of
how Paul puts it in the book of
Galatians all who rely on observing the
Galatians all who rely on observing the
law are under a curse for it is written
law are under a curse for it is written
cursed is everyone who does not continue
cursed is everyone who does not continue
to do
to do
everything written in the book of the
everything written in the book of the
law clearly no one is Justified before
law clearly no one is Justified before
God by the law because the righteous
God by the law because the righteous
will live by faith the law is not based
will live by faith the law is not based
on faith on the contrary The Man Who
on faith on the contrary The Man Who
does these things will live by them so
does these things will live by them so
here's what Paul is saying if you could
here's what Paul is saying if you could
keep the law of God perfectly all of the
keep the law of God perfectly all of the
time you wouldn't need a savior you
time you wouldn't need a savior you
would be good enough to appear in the
would be good enough to appear in the
presence of
presence of
God but mess up even only
God but mess up even only
once you're in
once you're in
trouble it's like when the policeman
trouble it's like when the policeman
pulls you over for running a red light
pulls you over for running a red light
and you stand before the Jud
and you stand before the Jud
judge it doesn't help that you kept all
judge it doesn't help that you kept all
the other
the other
laws the question is did you run the red
laws the question is did you run the red
light or not and if you did you are held
light or not and if you did you are held
guilty I've told you the story before I
guilty I've told you the story before I
was in a court setting not for my own
was in a court setting not for my own
purposes just for the
purposes just for the
record and there was a man there who had
record and there was a man there who had
run a red light at 4:00 in the morning
run a red light at 4:00 in the morning
poor soul got caught I thought it was
poor soul got caught I thought it was
very
unfair but he was given the judge this
unfair but he was given the judge this
whole
spiel about what a good guy he was what
spiel about what a good guy he was what
a good guy his father had been and how
a good guy his father had been and how
how law abiding a citizen he was and he
how law abiding a citizen he was and he
got absolutely zil with the judge
got absolutely zil with the judge
because none of those was the issue the
because none of those was the issue the
issue was did you run the red light at
issue was did you run the red light at
4:00 in the morning yes or no he did and
4:00 in the morning yes or no he did and
he was found
he was found
guilty see under the
guilty see under the
law you can never make
law you can never make
it and if you lean on your own ability
it and if you lean on your own ability
to please God you put yourself under a
to please God you put yourself under a
curse because cursed are those who do
curse because cursed are those who do
not do all of the things written in the
not do all of the things written in the
law so Paul explains in the book of
law so Paul explains in the book of
Galatians God never never intended for
Galatians God never never intended for
the
law as a tool to make us righteous
law as a tool to make us righteous
before God the law was given to keep sin
before God the law was given to keep sin
in
check and to show us the nature of sin
check and to show us the nature of sin
so that when Jesus would come along we
so that when Jesus would come along we
would Embrace him
would Embrace him
wholeheartedly as the source of our
wholeheartedly as the source of our
righteousness because we are convinced
righteousness because we are convinced
of our own sinfulness listen again to
of our own sinfulness listen again to
how he puts it as he goes on in the book
how he puts it as he goes on in the book
of Galatians now before Faith came we
of Galatians now before Faith came we
were confined under the law kept under
were confined under the law kept under
restraint until Faith should be
restraint until Faith should be
revealed so that the law was our
revealed so that the law was our
custodian until Christ came that we
custodian until Christ came that we
might be
might be
justified by faith let me stop there for
justified by faith let me stop there for
just a moment because that word
just a moment because that word
custodian is a very important
custodian is a very important
word it
word it
hails from the
hails from the
fact that in the Greco Roman
fact that in the Greco Roman
World a son born to a wealthy
World a son born to a wealthy
man was scheduled one day to inherit his
man was scheduled one day to inherit his
father's
property but until he was ready to
property but until he was ready to
inherit his father's property he was
inherit his father's property he was
placed under the
placed under the
custodianship or the tutelage of a
custodianship or the tutelage of a
slave and so while he was the
slave and so while he was the
son and heir of the
son and heir of the
master during those years he was no more
master during those years he was no more
than the slave because the slave had
than the slave because the slave had
authority over him that make sense Paul
authority over him that make sense Paul
says that's the function of the
says that's the function of the
law God gave the law to Old Testament
law God gave the law to Old Testament
Israel to keep you together to keep evil
Israel to keep you together to keep evil
from getting out of hand to show you the
from getting out of hand to show you the
way of God it was never intended as a
way of God it was never intended as a
way to make you righteous because the
way to make you righteous because the
righteousness of God has always been by
righteousness of God has always been by
faith not by works and so that passage
faith not by works and so that passage
then goes on but now that faith has come
then goes on but now that faith has come
we are no longer under a custodian for
we are no longer under a custodian for
in Christ Jesus you are all Sons of
in Christ Jesus you are all Sons of
God in Christ Jesus you are all
God in Christ Jesus you are all
sons of
sons of
God and here's what Paul is saying Paul
God and here's what Paul is saying Paul
is
saying in the book of
saying in the book of
Galatians that his teaching on salvation
Galatians that his teaching on salvation
by grace through faith is not some new
by grace through faith is not some new
fangled teaching that he has come up
fangled teaching that he has come up
with now God's plan of salvation has
with now God's plan of salvation has
always been to save people by grace
always been to save people by grace
through
faith and if you read clearly through
faith and if you read clearly through
the book of Galatians you will discover
the book of Galatians you will discover
here's his argument he takes his
here's his argument he takes his
argument all the way back to
argument all the way back to
Abraham and he says how was Abraham
Abraham and he says how was Abraham
saved was he saved after circumcision
saved was he saved after circumcision
which is a sign of the law or was he
which is a sign of the law or was he
saved before
saved before
circumcision and he says no Abraham by
circumcision and he says no Abraham by
faith was declared righteous he says the
faith was declared righteous he says the
law didn't come until 430 years later so
law didn't come until 430 years later so
he says the religious leaders you've got
he says the religious leaders you've got
it all wrong the law was never intended
it all wrong the law was never intended
to transform you the law could never
to transform you the law could never
give you salvation Salvation from the
give you salvation Salvation from the
very beginning has been by gra or by
very beginning has been by gra or by
grace through faith and so if if you've
grace through faith and so if if you've
ever asked yourself the old the question
ever asked yourself the old the question
How did saints in the Old Testament get
How did saints in the Old Testament get
saved they didn't get saved by keeping
saved they didn't get saved by keeping
the
law they got saved because they
law they got saved because they
intuitively
understood that they were Sinners that
understood that they were Sinners that
God would have to justify them and that
God would have to justify them and that
they would be saved by grace through
they would be saved by grace through
faith does that make sense it's a very
faith does that make sense it's a very
important distinction because the
important distinction because the
religious leaders didn't get it they
religious leaders didn't get it they
thought that were saved because they
thought that were saved because they
were good people keeping the law they
were good people keeping the law they
were able to look down their noses at
were able to look down their noses at
every poor sucker that couldn't be quite
every poor sucker that couldn't be quite
as good as they
as good as they
were and because they had so much
were and because they had so much
invested in this old system of lawke
invested in this old system of lawke
keeping they could not afford to let it
keeping they could not afford to let it
go and put their faith and their hope in
go and put their faith and their hope in
the Lord Jesus
Christ that's why historic Al it is
Christ that's why historic Al it is
Sinners who like the
Sinners who like the
gospel because for Sinners the gospel is
gospel because for Sinners the gospel is
good
news if you're self-righteous the gospel
news if you're self-righteous the gospel
is bad
is bad
news because what you have worked so
news because what you have worked so
hard to establish is no good from God's
hard to establish is no good from God's
point of view and that is incredibly
point of view and that is incredibly
offensive if You' worked at it so hard
offensive if You' worked at it so hard
isn't that true and
isn't that true and
Paul could
Paul could
understand how now these Jewish folks
understand how now these Jewish folks
were thinking because what remember he
were thinking because what remember he
was one of them before he met Jesus on
was one of them before he met Jesus on
the road to Damascus listen again to how
the road to Damascus listen again to how
he puts it he says if anyone thinks he
he puts it he says if anyone thinks he
is reason to put confidence in the flesh
is reason to put confidence in the flesh
I have more he says circumcised on the
I have more he says circumcised on the
eth day I'm part of God's covenant
eth day I'm part of God's covenant
people of the people of Israel of The
people of the people of Israel of The
Tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of the
Tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of the
Hebrews in regard to the law a Pharisee
Hebrews in regard to the law a Pharisee
now remember we always think that
now remember we always think that
Pharisees are bad but Pharisees were the
Pharisees are bad but Pharisees were the
epitome of
epitome of
religiosity in their day they were good
religiosity in their day they were good
people who went out of their way to want
people who went out of their way to want
to obey God at least externally as for
to obey God at least externally as for
Zeal persecuted the church as for
Zeal persecuted the church as for
legalistic righteousness faultless how
legalistic righteousness faultless how
many of us here can
many of us here can
say that we are faultless in terms of
say that we are faultless in terms of
living up to the standards that we know
living up to the standards that we know
we ought to be living by shows you what
we ought to be living by shows you what
kind of a good
kind of a good
dude he
dude he
was
faultless but then whatever was to my
Prophet I now consider
Prophet I now consider
loss for the sake of Christ what is more
loss for the sake of Christ what is more
I consider everything a loss compared to
I consider everything a loss compared to
the surpassing greatness of knowing in
the surpassing greatness of knowing in
Christ Jesus my Lord for whose sake I
Christ Jesus my Lord for whose sake I
have lost all things I consider them
have lost all things I consider them
rubbish that I may gain Christ and be
rubbish that I may gain Christ and be
found in him not having a righteousness
found in him not having a righteousness
of my own that comes from the law but
of my own that comes from the law but
that which is through faith in Christ
that which is through faith in Christ
the righteousness that comes from God
the righteousness that comes from God
and is by faith what is he saying there
and is by faith what is he saying there
was a day he said when I was extremely
was a day he said when I was extremely
proud of my
proud of my
pedigree I was extremely proud of my
pedigree I was extremely proud of my
accomplishments I was extremely proud of
accomplishments I was extremely proud of
my
religiosity I I exceeded most of my
religiosity I I exceeded most of my
peers in the intensity of my religious
peers in the intensity of my religious
devotion and in my Zeal for keeping the
devotion and in my Zeal for keeping the
law on a scale of 1 to 100 compared to
law on a scale of 1 to 100 compared to
the rest of the population I was right
the rest of the population I was right
up
there but then he says I met up with
there but then he says I met up with
Jesus and I discovered that Jesus was so
Jesus and I discovered that Jesus was so
much more than I could ever be and I
much more than I could ever be and I
gave
up my own
up my own
Pride to put my faith and My Hope in him
Pride to put my faith and My Hope in him
and the illustration that I often Ed and
and the illustration that I often Ed and
you've heard me use it
you've heard me use it
before is that of a man who is on a boat
before is that of a man who is on a boat
in the middle of the
in the middle of the
ocean and the boat is
ocean and the boat is
sinking and it's 2,000 miles to the
sinking and it's 2,000 miles to the
nearest
shore it doesn't
shore it doesn't
matter when he's flopping around in the
matter when he's flopping around in the
water if he cannot swim at
water if he cannot swim at
all or if he can
all or if he can
swim
10t or 100 feet
10t or 100 feet
or even 10 miles or 20
or even 10 miles or 20
miles the strongest of the strongest
miles the strongest of the strongest
swimmer is going to
swimmer is going to
drown if he depends on his swimming
drown if he depends on his swimming
ability the only way to make it to
ability the only way to make it to
shore is to be saved by the
shore is to be saved by the
rowboat and to climb into it that's how
rowboat and to climb into it that's how
you're saved you're saved when you
you're saved you're saved when you
acknowledge I cannot do it Jesus has
acknowledge I cannot do it Jesus has
done it and so I put my hope and my
done it and so I put my hope and my
faith and my trust in him so quick
faith and my trust in him so quick
review and we'll see how far we get this
review and we'll see how far we get this
morning but here's what I want want us
morning but here's what I want want us
to understand the dominant question in
to understand the dominant question in
life for
life for
anybody is how can I be saved
anybody is how can I be saved
how can I go
how can I go
from the kingdom of darkness to the
from the kingdom of darkness to the
kingdom of God put it in your own terms
kingdom of God put it in your own terms
how can I be happy how can my marriage
how can I be happy how can my marriage
be saved how can I
be saved how can I
whatever three possible answers that
whatever three possible answers that
people give the way of your
people give the way of your
religion depends on me dig deep down
religion depends on me dig deep down
pull yourself up by your straps and and
pull yourself up by your straps and and
make it happen that's how the world
make it happen that's how the world
operates on the other extreme there is
operates on the other extreme there is
the way of
the way of
Grace the way that says God has done in
Grace the way that says God has done in
Christ what the law weakened by the
Christ what the law weakened by the
flesh could not do and when I put my
flesh could not do and when I put my
faith in him God imparts to me his
faith in him God imparts to me his
righteousness his life comes to live in
righteousness his life comes to live in
me and now will change me from the
me and now will change me from the
inside
out but in between those two
out but in between those two
extremes is the the way of law or the
extremes is the the way of law or the
way of religion I want you to know
way of religion I want you to know
something biblically when God's people
something biblically when God's people
slide
back they don't necessarily slide back
back they don't necessarily slide back
into a life of
into a life of
sin they slide back into a life of
sin they slide back into a life of
law
keeping they slide back into
keeping they slide back into
depending on their own
depending on their own
righteousness and their
righteousness and their
own feelings or
own feelings or
experiences and what is tricky about
experiences and what is tricky about
this is
this is
that salvation based on
law
superficially is very close to both of
superficially is very close to both of
the other
the other
ones it is very close the way of the
ones it is very close the way of the
religious is very close to the way of
religious is very close to the way of
the
irreligious because truth of the matter
irreligious because truth of the matter
is they're both leaning on their own
is they're both leaning on their own
human abilities isn't that
human abilities isn't that
true they're both leaning on what is
true they're both leaning on what is
present in
present in
me so the stronger I am the smarter I am
me so the stronger I am the smarter I am
the bigger I am the more successful I
the bigger I am the more successful I
can be and along with that almost
can be and along with that almost
inevitably comes a looking down on those
inevitably comes a looking down on those
poor suckers who haven't got what it
poor suckers who haven't got what it
takes to do
takes to do
life but here's the further
life but here's the further
problem not only are the religious and
problem not only are the religious and
the irreligious two sides of the same
the irreligious two sides of the same
coin the the the gift of Grace salvation
coin the the the gift of Grace salvation
by grace through faith and lawke keeping
by grace through faith and lawke keeping
are virtually
are virtually
indistinguishable in real
indistinguishable in real
life why because in
life why because in
Christ God requires that our lives be
Christ God requires that our lives be
obedient to him so now the question is
obedient to him so now the question is
why am I
why am I
obedient am I obedient
obedient am I obedient
because it's a way to make myself
because it's a way to make myself
acceptable before God
acceptable before God
or am I obedient because Christ lives in
or am I obedient because Christ lives in
me I have already been accepted and
me I have already been accepted and
therefore my life is
transformed and the difference between
transformed and the difference between
those two ways of
those two ways of
life is as far as East is from
West