The Dark Side - Part B

That's what the law is. It's a mere for us to look in and go that's that's me, that's what I look like those the things I struggle with bad beers. I get his back to do something about what you do about it refinance or just see the long preparation of the gospel the Gospels the provision once we accept our diagnosis person to receive God's remedy today on connect with Skip Heitzigs and Skip some 800 shares about the freedom and hope you have in Christ alone. Now we want to tell you about a resource that will encourage you to boldly live out your fix or make a difference for Christ is normal basic human instinct which you believe the children as young as three years old already want to follow the crowd and in the group of researchers counted at Duke University study Bible we learn that some of the most impact have done self identifying normal fears. Skip, I think. I think the Bible calls us to a holy defiance of the status quo. Paul the apostle said, do not be conformed to this world but be trans by the renewing of your mind, so to go from transform, find out*it's fun trying normal thanks to you when you get $35 and more to help expand his ministry today. Also include the uniform copies of these old resources copies hundred 98 or give online securely connectwithskip.com/author Romans chapter is named heights starts today start all carries it a step further and he says none seek after God. Not only is there an unrighteous there is none good.

There is no one who even seeks after God. You would think that with all the religious belief systems. This simply could not be true. Paul is not saying that man is not religious because unfortunately we are incurably so. Rather, Paul is saying that religion is man's search for God, well Christianity is God search for man to a lot of us want to have this quest by which we find righteousness by which we find God want to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps pull ourselves out of the muck in the mire and we want to be the ones to find God and in doing so, believe that that will make us righteous. But Christianity is based on the fact that is not until we humble ourselves and give up and say I can't do this journey on my own song to sit here in the muck in the mire until you find me and when you find me I will graciously give my life to you and in doing so. That is where all find righteousness to God was never lost. We are in God is seeking to save that which was lost to the bottom line my many don't want to come to Jesus Christ is simply because they bristle at the thought that they are hopelessly sinful. They just can't take the step to admit that they're wrong to admit that they are marred by the stain of sin. To admit that they don't have it all together.

They don't understand everything they can't come to that place and admit that they need Jesus they're unwilling to accept God's assessment as to the sinful nature of their being.

And so the satellite that diagnosis God I don't like that test that seems unfair so I'm to get a second opinion to go into the world and see what the world has to say about how good I am at a go to self-help books and gurus in Hollywood and the gym and I'm in a do drugs and alcohol in and find women or men who can please me.

I modify my self-worth and satisfaction. There because I don't like your opinion. But understand this, there was no one else that you can go to who will tell you the truth. Besides, he's the only one who will tell you the truth about who you are. Think of it this way. Let's say that your going to the doctor for a routine checkup and in the midst of the checkup and doing all the tests the doctor says that he found something that's concerning on a scan. He thinks that it might be cancer. He tells you that he wants to do a few more tests on you because potentially you could die of this cancer if you don't take it seriously.

If two options at that point, you can either trust the doctor and the medical experience and the knowledge that he has and submit yourself to him and say all right I'm all yours. What you gotta do.

Let's take care of this. Or you can say like your opinion.

I don't like you told me that I'm sick or that I have cancer. So I'm to go get a second opinion. You on the street you find Joe Schmoe when you say I'll give you $100. If you tell me that I'm okay well that's easy is money that guys ever made.

It doesn't mean it's true there's only one person you can go to will tell you the truth, and help you with your predicament.

That's the doctor. The same is true with our spiritual lives.

Some of us don't like the opinion that God is given of our character. We don't want to submit to his knowledge and his guidance and let him change us and transform us and help us grow. It's always say I'm to go to the world Summit to give this book or this doctor this person my money to tell me that I'm okay. But there's no one else will tell you the truth, except for Jesus.

The very fact that men react against this teaching is simply one more proof of it. They love the lie that they are good more than the truth that they are sinners. So now we've seen up to verse 17 that the charges have been leveled against us now is moved to our second point, and that is the judgment is issued. The charges have been leveled and how the judgment is issued to verse 18 through 20. As we see our next point judged by his word. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who work under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God underline that word guilty. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. In verse 18. Just before that Paul says that there is none who fear God, no one has the fear of God in the first chapter of Romans. This was mentioned as the reason for humanity falling into sin in the first place. Romans 128 says, and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things that are not fitting the fear of God is so important within a believer's life, I believe is one of the crucial things that we have to understand and understand really what it is because there's a lot of misconceptions about what the fear of God is the fear of God is not like Bruce Almighty talks about a giant bully with a magnifying glass, burning ants and worthy ants that some of the fear of God is about is not some horror film type of fear only see God.

We shriek and were terrified of him. It's not the fear of discipline is the fear of displeasing Proverbs 16 six says by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil. This is why during the tribulation. Things get so spiritually dark.

Dark because the church's rapture. Demand all restraining orders we talked about a few weeks ago when we address the Holy Spirit when the Holy Spirit is removed and the salt and light you and I are taking away the mystery of lawlessness will be revealed because there is no one on earth that has the fear of the Lord is the knowledge of God as you read all the passages in the Bible concerning the fear of the Lord, you quickly realize it's not about being frightened by God, or what he will do to you. Rather, it's a word that speaks of all in reference it is a wholesome dread of displeasing him because of what he's done for you. This is why the Scripture says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

If you can get to this place within your life.

Everything else will fall into balance.

If you can have a healthy fear of God and if you can combine that with a love for God, you will get to the place of understanding why we serve God. Why we do things for God why we read our Bible we don't read our Bible because it's like a test and if we don't read her Bible were to fail in the principles and a slapper hands with a ruler we don't serve God out of fear that if we fail to do so, working to get in trouble, we do so because we love God, we do so because we have a holy all that we don't want to displease him.

Second Corinthians 59 says so. We make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since then, we know what it is to fear the Lord. We try to persuade men what we are is plain to God and I hope it also is plain for your conscience and then in second Corinthians 514, just five verses later, he says, the love of Christ constrains me the love of Christ constrains me. Let's read verse 19 again Paul says in Romans chapter 3. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

There's an important realization that we come to here in this place and that is this the law was not given to make a person righteous as a matter fact it's impossible for the law to make a person righteous.

Paul says we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God, the law was meant to show us beyond the shadow of a doubt that every single one of us is a sinner. Galatians tells us it was like a schoolmaster driving us to Christ, we look at all the righteous requirements of the law, it should drive us to Christ, you know, we like to think that it's there to make us righteous in an many people do believe that the laws there to make you righteous and I managed just 10 things I do those 10 things that I'm good, that's all I gotta do, but there's so much more than that because these 10 things grow as we talk about things of the heart things of the mind things of the mouth. It's more than just not murdering somebody is not hating somebody is more than just not having sex with somebody is not lusting after them with your eyes is more than just not stealing from somebody is having envy and jealousy about what that person has and wanting what that person has. We that's Instagram 101 right Instagram just be called jealousy grandpas. I just what does that person have I want that I want what they have.

It's hardwired into us is not meant to make us righteous is meant to show us that it's impossible for us to be righteous.

It's meant to show us how unrighteous we are because apart from Christ. We are hopeless. Verse 20 Paul continues on he says by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight want to point this out really come back to this in just a second. It doesn't say that there is no possibility of being justified. Rather says by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified by the law by keeping commandments by trying to be good. There is no possibility of being justified.

See the law is just a moral mere so the law is if you go look in the mirror this afternoon. You don't like what you see, you can't blame the mere centimeters fall and also the mayor can change you.

The mayor is not there to change.

You can't look in the mirror and say like they'll try another one, and that it will change you know the mirror simply there to show you to challenge you to tell you happy you like what you see do something about it.

Go to the gym start eating better go to bed earlier. It's just meant to show you what they are not to change what's there. It condemns it doesn't convert it challenges it doesn't change, it points the finger. It doesn't show mercy. That's what the law is. It's a mirror for us to look in and go who, that's who.

That's me, that's what I look like those of the things I struggle with. Oh that's bad in the mirrors I get is bad, you should do something about it. What can you do about it. Where to find the answer in just a second to the law is a preparation for the gospel. The gospel is the provision the law is just a preparation for the gospel the Gospels the provision of the law. Paul is saying that mankind has no defense and is guilty of all charges but just in case there's a few exceptionally self-righteous religious people in the room that think that they're perfect. Paul kinda closes out by saying there's no salvation through keeping the law even if you want to try even if you want to give it your good college effort. There's no salvation there's no justification through keeping the law because were unable to no one, no matter how holy can obey God perfectly and under the law, there can be only one sentence in that sentence is death.

So if you want to give it a go go for. You want to try and get to heaven by being a good person. Go ahead, but I will you know it's a battle you've already lost before you've even begun. You are already sentenced to death because it's impossible. All are guilty, the ignorant pagan the religious person, the moral list. All are guilty. If you're watching law and order this to be the point in the show were everyone gasps.

This is the moment of the show when Judge Jesus says all right can the accused Stan everyone stands and some people are sitting there thinking man, this guy's definitely guilty but I'm okay and I'm pretty good I go to church twice a week.

I read my Bible.

I sing those songs. You should hear me sing oceans who good were thinking were okay were thinking that the that the judgment is to be set free and all of a sudden Jesus says guilty back. I know everyone you're all guilty, all of humanity are guilty of having a sinful nature and all of us go. Verse 19 says every mouth might be stopped. Absolute silence as the only possible responses. We realize the sin that were guilty of and the punishment of that sin before God or best defense is useless our protests or cease before there even said and here we are without defense because of the one who is leveling the charges.

I know this all sounds pretty hopeless, like man I came to church to be encouraged. Today, native 2020. This message sucks come on give me something that will help me get through Tuesday something.

It all sounds hopeless and I'll be honest in one sense it is. We will send we can't help ourselves. That's the reality might cause us like Job to ask the question how can a man be right before God the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul has revealed these sins in our character or conduct in our conversation to show us some simple truths and that is that we must stop looking within ourselves for the resources and answers that we need and instead in absolute weakness and helplessness.

We need to turn to God. This all sounds hopeless.

This all sounds bleeping. There's some good news. Romans 58 says while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. First John 19 says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. So there's no one righteous, there's no one good to understand or somebody will impart his good and his righteousness to you so that when you stand before Judge Jesus you can you be declared set free because of what he did not because of what you did.

And that leads us to our final point as we close, and that is that we are pardoned by his compassion we are charged by our conduct. We are judged by his word, we are pardoned by his compassion. Let's read verses 21 through 26. As we come to a close, but now the righteousness of God. Apart from the laws revealed being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. There is no difference for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace underline that were justified through the redemption underline that word that is in Christ Jesus, whom set forth as a propitiation by his blood through faith to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance. God has passed over the sins that were previously committed to demonstrate at the present time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Scripture makes it clear there is indeed a way to God but that way is not based on anything we can do to achieve it or to merit it. John MacArthur put it this way as far as the way of salvation is concerned, there are only two religions the world has ever or will ever know the religion of divine accomplishment which is biblical Christianity in the religion of human accomplishment which includes all other kinds of religion by whatever names they might go under Paul. Up to this point in Romans has showed us the hopelessness of our situation.

Up till this point but chapter 3 verse 21, Paul shifts gears seat he's been sharing with you the severity of your situation because you won't accept God's remedy for your sin if you don't first accept his diagnosis again as I been a doctor and then telling you have cancer. Often times there and let you know the worst case scenario there to let you know what that cancer could do to your body what it could ultimately lead to which might be death there and to share with you the severity of the diagnosis so that you're ready and willing to accept the remedy for the diagnosis.

That's what God is done here. He wants you to take the remedy for sin, but he realizes you won't unless you fully understand and accept the diagnosis the first 20 verses for the diagnosis and here is the cure. Scripture makes it clear there is a way to God.

Mark Twain was asked for the two greatest words in the English language were 10. His response was, not guilty are those great words especially when you know you're guilty. Especially, you know you've done something wrong. Hearing those words not guilty. This is what happens in Romans. At this point that judge who is holy, whose righteous requirements.

We can't possibly satisfy.

In essence, takes off his robes puts down his gavel and comes down to us who are guilty and welcomes us in love verse 24 tells us how verse 24. Look at it with me. It says it is by his grace and Allie, were in a close with three often used words in the Christian vocabulary that is justification, redemption, and propitiation verse 24 says that we are justified. We are justified. This means to declare the rightness of something not symbolically or potentially but actually just as if it never happened.

We like to say that we are justified is just as if I'd never sinned. When we come to Jesus Christ through his grace we accept what he has given is just as if we had never sinned and why is it that we are viewed in that way is because of the redemption that Jesus Christ has paid upon our behalf. This is the second word redemption. It carries the idea of delivering something, especially by the means of paying a price was commonly used of paying a ransom to free a prisoner from his captors or paying a price to free a slave from their master.

This is something that we should all readily understand because it's a popular theme in movies and TV shows. It's the hostage situation right.

Hostages are taken by somebody and somebody else has to pay a price for the hostage captor to release those people into freedom. Imagine how amazed you'd be assaying one of those TV shows, the president of the United States offered to trade himself for the hostages being held to be such a great sacrifice right redemption, but God did far more than that when he offered himself in our place to take the wrath that we deserved.

He took it upon himself. We were guilty we were free. We were innocent.

He paid the price of himself. He traded himself so that we guilty sinners could be set free. This is redemption is by that redemption that we are justified in verse 25 or last word that I want to point out is the word propitiation the beautiful word.

It's a word that carries the idea of total complete appeasement or satisfaction 100% paid for his understand this is a matter what you've done in this world as a matter how unrighteous or how not good you are, doesn't matter what your past, looks like you need to understand that God is satisfied with what Jesus did at Calvary.

He might not be satisfied with what we've done. He is satisfied with what Jesus has done at Calvary.

The righteous requirements of the law were met through the person of Jesus Christ. It is completely satisfied and we can be redeemed. The price can be paid for us to experience that same justification that Jesus Christ gives if we freely accepted by the grace which he gives is what Paul is saying there's unrighteous, there's no one good were all charged by our conduct were all judged by his word, but if you'll let him.

He will pardon you based on his compassion right now.

This morning you might be trapped in some kind of a sin right now, your situation might be helpless if I look hopeless to you. But remember this falling into sin doesn't condemn anybody staying in it does.

Edwin Lewis Cole said you don't drown by falling in the water, you drown by staying there every one of us is fallen into the water were all born into sin born with the sin nature.

The dark side you don't have a say in that you can't control that's a decision that Adam made, but also you don't have to face, its penalty or its consequences. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us all in. So there is no one righteous, but there is a God who loves you who is righteous and will report that righteousness to you and forgive you and cleanse you if you ask concludes made hi to Mr. from the series 2020. You Skip with an important message for you. We love sharing how your support is bringing others closer to Jesus than ever before. Listen to this note, the listener sent in your step-listening to your archived messages during my long commute over the last five years. In the process that's stuffing myself with the word that comes so motivated to share all the wonderful promises and truths I've been learning and have been unable to keep them to myself. It had taken me almost 30 years to find your teaching messages. I can actually understand and relate to, you know letters like this are possible because of friends like you who give so we can get God's word out to more people.

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Come back tomorrow. This leaves out God's plan of salvation for the world