Faith Alone

Most my life growing up I lived close to the sea as was.

I spent countless hours looking at the sea. I love walking on the beach, swimming in the ocean, sitting on the was powerful swimmer, but I love swimming in the ocean. I love sailing on the ocean.

I love listening to the ponding of the sea, as many of you do ever get tired of the sea, but this CD pales in its beauty.

And in this mystery compared with what Paul would say on the unsearchable riches of Christ. Sometimes people ask me never get tired of the scene answer is no, I don't know why some of you do some of you prefer the mountains to the sea. I prefer the sea, but I trust that I never tire hearing about the gospel. I've heard about the gospel.

All of my life I preach the gospel countless times and I think I can honestly say I love the gospel I never tire of hearing about the gospel of others talking about the gospel of preaching the gospel and the gospel is so simple that a young child can understand it can grasp the centrality of this message, but the gospel is also so profound in his mystery. As Paul says the brilliant intellectual Paul describes the gospel is the unsearchable riches of Christ. He talks about the inscrutable purposes of God. So the gospel is so deep so profound that the greatest intellectual, the most spiritual person can plumb the depths of the gospel. So I love the purity of the gospel. I love the simplicity of the gospel and the trust you, dude. That's really why we bring studying week after week and forgot many weeks, Lord willing to go.

That's why we been studying the book of Romans because the Romans is Paul's exposition of the gospel is telling us about the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ and why is this so important because we live in a society, particularly here in the United States where there are many false gospels and many distorted gospel. Be yourself, love yourself. Except yourself. Believe in yourself. There are many roads to God were told Jesus one share in some Christian circles were told to be healthy to be wealthy and successful but interesting that in Paul's other exposition of the gospel in the book of Galatians, he warns us because in Galatia 2000 years ago there were people who were distorting the gospel and Paul says that I'm reading from Galatians 1, verse eight, even though we are an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preach to you, let him be accursed is very serious, isn't it because we believe that the gospel is not my idea of your idea of the idea of Calvary church, but it is the gospel of God concerning his son, Jesus Christ, and we have been learning in our study of Romans that central to this gospel.

Central to the good news is this wonderful truth that we are on packaging and continuing to do so. Following a posttreatment this great truth of justification by faith. Justification by faith were singing about faith my Faith looks up to you and so on. Martin Luther said that the church stands or falls on this doctrine of justification by faith in this morning and the Scripture were going be focusing on the aspect of faith of faith alone. Why is it so important that we need to hear the gospel to understand the gospel to respond to the gospel is good news that comes from God's truth of justification by faith alone. By simple policyholders is taken three chapters that tell us because all of us need justification. All of us. As Paul as he summarizes his case towards the end of chapter 3 all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I hope you don't dispute the fact that all of us have sinned. Shortly not all that long ago, historically speaking, Hitler's gas chambers and arguably the most advanced and civilized country at that time Germany demonstrated that civilization has not eliminated evil or sin. Last week we saw that the gospel was a demonstration of the justice of God. We thought of this truth called propitiation some of Jim can actually remember that message propitiation over, we learned that God is not only jaws these holy of course is just when begot if it wasn't just God is not only just.

But as Paul so brilliantly says he is the justifier of the center. As I was there that God can retain his justice and at the same time, forgive, we who are very unholy and we who are very unworldly well. Paul says it is, of course, as you punch the Christ. It is through the sacrifice of Christ is great truth we thought of last week of propitiation, the punishment that we desire falls on Christ not be looking at the last part of Romans chapter 3 from verses 27 through 31 and Paul is going to add some important words of explanation and emphasis about justification by faith.

What does it mean that the just shall live by faith were thinking of faith described in verse 31 in the Russian when reading the English standard version. He talks about this faith. Why, what is this faith. What is this faith that justifies or subject this morning's faith alone might stand and read Romans three verses 27 through 13 one.

When you read it with me this morning. Please then what becomes of our boasting. It is excluded. By what kind of law by law works, no blood by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law or is God the God of Jews only is he not the God of Gentiles also, yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith do we then overthrow the law by this faith by no means on the contrary, we uphold the law. Thank you.

Please be seated. Paul is saying.

First of all, in verses 27 and 28 and if you have your Bible there.

I invite you to turn there to Romans three verses 27 through 31 polishing.

First of all, that this justification by faith directly understood excludes boasting verse 27 restart � 26 is universe of the sacrifice of Christ and what God has done and cries verse 26 for connection.

It was to show his righteousness at the present time so that he, God might be just and the justifier of the one who is faith in Jesus, then what becomes of our boasting processes excluded by what kind of law by love works know, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith. Evidence were justified by faith apart from works of the law only think of is this is really an obvious point, if our justification.

If our salvation.

What is justification is a declaration by God on us that we are righteous, to be justified as God is a legal term God declaring that the person who is a sinner is not righteous though if that process. If our salvation whereby our own achievements, we could post is not right. We like to talk as Americans of self-made people. This plan is self made this woman a self-made entrepreneur and athlete, someone who has achieved great accomplishments in life and they do that through their own self effort, and we may well and I think rightly so admire self-reliance in some aspects of life. But when it comes to our justification when it comes to our salvation when it comes to attaining a right relationship with God. Paul is saying that there is absolutely no boasting a tall, no congratulations given to ourselves. No patting ourselves on the back. No, says Paul over and over again that this salvation is based on the grace of God, and it is received from God by faith alone, not by what we do all of the religions of the world, apart from authentic Christianity are based on human achievements do this don't do that here are the five pillars of Islam were told here are the sacraments of the church follow them. Here is the gospel of self effort, self actualization, self accomplishments, that kind of salvation, of course, flatters us, I have achieved it. You haven't, I'm back. I think then you are. I'm holier than you are more religious than you and I go to church more than you do right. I follow the tenants of my faith more religiously than you do that flatters as it caters to our pride and it leads to self gloryball when it comes to God's way of salvation out accomplishments and this is hard for us but their accomplishments are totally excluded for this by grace you are saved through faith and that not of your own doing. It's a gift of God not as a result of work so that anyone should boast. Paul says elsewhere in Ephesians 2 that is we in terms of our salvation want you to grasp this, we bring nothing to the table other than arson, which makes our salvation necessary and Martin Luther were thinking last year of his of the 500th anniversary of of the other Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther emphasized a truth that had become my date had become forgotten in the medieval church that salvation is outside of ourselves think of that to grasp the concept of think will help you salvation doesn't come from, what with within doesn't come from the church, even it comes from outside of ourselves and so Luther is emphasizing no snow when you do it is by faith alone. If you boasting of something. In any field you're looking to sell business what I did here is my achievements academically, athletically businesswise and my family look at this magnificent family that I have look at this wonderful business that I've created.

I will look to ourselves but faith through faith saving faith which not to do what you do, not what someone else can do for your but it looks alone.

Christ, it is faith in Jesus.

Christ. So this faith. Verse 31 by this faith. This faith than is incompatible with all human pride in all human boasting pulsates here in verse 27 this justification is by the law of faith. Verse 28 were justified by faith apart from the works of the law. That is, we must be saved by faith alone. This is a total abandonment of our words. What we do know the basis of our salvation is grace, and it is received. Personally, by faith alone. Paul couldn't be clearer. Look again at verse 28 for we hold that know that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law of the salvation which is by received by faith alone is contrary to all boasting this is very consistent with the teaching of Jesus. Some of you may recall in the Gospels. He took out a child the children to himself and he blessed them his hands on them and bless them and you just picture the Lord his disciples than like that's he's busy trying to deal with children. Also, Jesus, let let the children come to me and as he received these children.

He taught his disciples and teaches us a crucial lesson. He says no unless you receive the kingdom of God like a child you will not enter. Notice the words of Jesus. You are to receive the kingdom of God. Not good to build your kingdom not going to accomplish something know the kingdom of God already exists.

The king has come in Jesus.

And so if I'm going to be part of the kingdom. Another to work my way to it, but rather it is to be received as a child that simple childlike faith received by faith.

This means that an that humility is absolutely essential if you're a private person you think you go through life alone. You think you can face God one day in the future and take a chance that this pride was no salvation for your because Paul is saying for true salvation. Boasting is excluded. Your private person.

You months ago I read the book gatekeepers is a book about the Chief of Staff of Pres.'s fascinating book by Chris Whipple and he tells the story when Ronald Reagan present was president Ronald Reagan and that he had the Chief of Staff. Some of you remember him called on the region so Don Regan is the Chief of Staff. Ronald Reagan is the president and that you and Chris Whipple tells the story. He says one of his first trips with the presidents Don Regan added the new protocol before entering a room before he entered the room he wanted his arrival to be announced. Ladies and gentlemen, the Chief of Staff to the president of the United States and former chief of staff the president Ronald Reagan Jim Baker. He was appalled when the heart of this and the great desire of the news Chief of Staff Don Regan to be in as many photographs as he could. Jim Baker said when he was Chief of Staff he had been in frantic. The most important word said Jim Baker in the title Chief of Staff. What was it staff not chief. It was that, but Donald Regan that the other ideas. What was he doing he was exalting himself. He was using his position on who hasn't done this. He was using his position a very important position to promote himself.

His agenda, his ego, his pride, you can say all that was Donald Regan.

That was the Republicans but as part of human nature member. Jesus told the story of the fire is see and the tax collector who went into the temple to pray.

I don't say you know like the Pharisees and say that you probably are.

The pharmacy with the Prague pharmacy do in the temple when he was praying he was telling God what he didn't do and what he didn't do so very, very impressive. He was looking if we can borrow from Paul's expression was looking to a law of works of the tax collector.

On the other hand didn't focus on what he did or what he didn't do know he realized and hope all of us realize that he was totally dependent on the mercy of God and Jesus said you can read in Luke 18. I tell you, this man tax collector went down to his house justified rather than the other man and is really in a sense Bibles is because the fire is see whether the religious man. He knew the law and I'm sure much of what he said was true. He talked about how much money he gave in by the didn't do and didn't do and highly was obeying the commandments, but the point of the story is told by Jesus was. It wasn't that the tax collector in and of himself was a better man automotive religious man than the fighters they know was the point he realized his sinfulness. He realized that his salvation was totally dependent on the mercy of God and the grace of God, get some insight into his own sinfulness and have it messed up his life and this one says Jesus is justified is justified by faith alone. He called out for God's mercy now in the passage.

Just take a minute with me to give Jeff your body will bear to know the occurrences of faith and belief in the section of Scripture by faith and believe in English are two different words, but in either the original Greek calling a Greek the word faith in the word believe the same roots faith. This process believe is pursue I believe is the same root word.

The same concept so biblically speaking, and I think we understand the stuff faith is to believe the believers of faith.

So when you're reading your Bible, the word believe think of faith.

When you think when you read the word faith think of believing. I notice all of the occurrences of faith and believing. First of all, invest 22 messages faith alone. Verse 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. Verse 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. Verse 26 the end of the verse so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Verse 27 then what becomes of our boasting is excluded or what kind of Lala what you know but by the law of faith.

Verse 28 for we hold that no one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Verse 30 since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Verse 31 do we then overthrow the law by this faith, get a point. Faith is important not just important, it is absolutely essential because without faith it is impossible to please God is a faith relies totally on what Christ has done for us in his dad in his burial and his resurrection on the cross, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lived a life of perfect righteousness takes all of our sins as of my sins are going to be forgiven and if I'm going to be in the right relationship with God is not what I do know is we sign my Faith looks up to you. Luther got it right. We look away from ourselves.

Our salvation is outside either of our selves were justified by faith alone. So the gospel please grasp this is not just faith in faith. We hear all the time people saying, particularly politicians wanting your vote.

I'm a person of faith. Okay, but it begs the question, isn't it faith" faith in whom no Paul is not just talking about faith and faith, but faith in Jesus. Christ, you may have heard of the so-called Word of Faith movement have you and want to offend anyone, but this is not terribly deceptive movement.

Many TV preachers, many contemporary preachers have bought into this Word of Faith movement when were encouraged to write your own ticket with God. Your ever had anything so practices that stop saying write your own ticket with God by they say this is what God wants to call his positive confession.

You say the right words and you create your own reality so if you want to be rich. Say you're going to be rich.

I'm going to be rich. If you want to get married to a beautiful multimillionaire woman tell God that got some health problem, speak it out loud can certainly gone. I believe I'm going to be cured really speak the word in faith they're saying and you will create your on reality with you in word of faith. When you analyze whether saying this positive confession you will you have the ability to create if you say the words you're going to create reality is why sometimes called name it and claim it. I believe God is going God wants me to have the largest and the most expensive Cadillac. I'm claiming that I'm naming it and being probably this week one of you who are much wealthier than I am going to give me this big Cadillac. I'm naming it and claiming it wish it were that easy right name it and claim it or someone said rather reverently grab it and grab it. So if you just say the words can soon be gone. I don't believe I'm sick.

Name it, you're creating your own reality by supposedly what is called this word of faith, but as you listen to them. There's the catch is in third with the catch me one please don't be so, what do they say, well of course you're saying the words your believing this God want you to have that huge house. God wants the very best for you, doesn't it, name it. I want this biggest house in my streetcar and I'm naming it.

But of course you got to plant the seed of faith with the seed of faith that these con artists want is a con artist. That's a bit tough. John notes was not tough enough in actual fact the New Testament is much tougher.

Peter calls them in their greed they will exploit you with false words.

You know what they say. Send your thousand dollars into us plant the seed of faith and just wait for that house. Just wait for the cure for your disease. Just wait for the Cadillac. You believe that know they get richer and you get polluted if you buy into that nonsense word of faith reminds me of this when I was a boy.

I went a few times on my grandfather's fishing boat. It was a heading fisherman in the North Sea, and many of the fishermen of that generation and that may be true today in the Scottish fishermen.

The fisherman generally I can't say, but certainly not generation.

Many of the fishermen believe that my grandfather who was a strong believer in Christ, but many of the fishermen believed that you must not say certain words on the boats because if you said certain words you want to get much fish they also didn't like any Minnesota clergyman on the boat. They believe that was by black soap are pretty smart people were giving of it, but but this was totally wrong and I remember my grandfather explaining it to me and said you know you probably don't want to see start working on that.

We believe that, of course, but they deny some of the men don't be thrown off into the into the into the North Sea, and one of the words was pink on the boats.

You couldn't say the word pink eye when you think about what was he saying they believed by stating certain words they were creating a certain reality. If you said this forbidden word. They were going to have a poor catch of having what is that as pagan superstition is in the word of faith has taken that superstition and believe that if you stay a certain word in this positive confession and name it and claim it. God must deliver absolutely not, is not what Paul is talking about. He's talking about faith alone in Christ alone.

You think of the word of faith. That means that I'm manipulating God. God is there for me to use, and God is going to get me in my life. What I John Monroe wants is really the opposite of the Christian faith isn't that when we bow to the wail of a sovereign God as our Savior said not my will but you are being done to think that we can go through some magical incantation to get what we want from God is total nonsense. No faith, trust God. Someone was going through a serious illness. Can God heal that person. Yes he can. And we as a church pray fervently with prayer and anointing, and I've seen God answered prayer, miraculous prayer. I've also known many cases when we pray and God for his own purposes didn't heal that person. After all, all of us are going to die. But just because I want something and I name it doesn't mean that God is going to grant that to me know is not what Paul is talking about. Paul is saying that there is a faith in God which submits to the purposes of God and with a vote on the mountaintop or the Valley or whether, in fact, even through the valley of the shadow of that we will continue to trust God because God is sovereign and that we are his children, so the focus on faith is not the amount of my faith is not on the strength of my faith, but is on Christ. It is always the object of faith that is faith isn't the cause of my justification, but rather it is the means by which I received this salvation no of faith doesn't save us. We are saved through faith because of that, Paul is saying all of our pride is totally excluded. Read with me further in verses 29 and 30 we see first of all, than the justification by faith alone excludes boasting. Secondly, justification by faith alone, and all human distinctions, the side Paul develops this verse 29 or is God the God of Jews only is he not the God of Gentiles also gas of Gentiles also, since God is one. He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Literacy says that God is one verse 13 God is one God, one yes he is only one true God. That was a basic confession of faith of Judaism in Deuteronomy chapter 6 said by her Jewish friends to this day, the great Shema after the Hebrew word here here all Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is what 11 I was only one true God. Central to Judaism central to Christianity. God is one and therefore here's Paul's argument. If God is one. He must be the God of Jews and of Gentiles. No one has a monopoly on God. Abraham is told in Genesis 12. All the families of the art shall be blessed. Some hundred verse one make a joyful noise to the Lord all the and this is Paul's argument so he says that there's only one true God New Englanders and there's one true God has only one way of saving us back to chapter 3 verse nine.

Remember what he says that what then are we Jews in the event that often.

Paul was a Jew, no Nortel.

He says for we have already charge that all, both Jews and Greeks Gentiles are under sin. All of us and send the good news is that this salvation which is received by faith alone is for the circumcised, Paul is saying in verse 34. The circumcised did you, but please God is also for the uncircumcised Gentiles mother then of your heritage seminar matter whether you're Jewish or Gentile mother what country you're born in the regular rate.

No says Paul, absolutely not the message is for everyone. Everyone is justified by faith alone and so he begins. As you will recall in Romans one verse 16 by telling us that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. He said in verse 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. So there's only one God only one way of salvation. Only one mediator, our Lord Jesus Christ's number. Paul said there is one God and one mediator between God and man. The man Christ Jesus was only one way of attaining the righteousness of God through trusting in Jesus Christ.

I think that's wonderful. Our society makes all kinds of distinctions reliving the world here in the United States where politicians if there are public and you can hardly speak to a Democrat. And if you're a Democrat you hardly think the Republican thing of all of the human distinctions all of the categories all the way we look dying on other people all the way we are sacked out on superiority withers by a raise or lower background or education and that our financial status and all of this know the gospel is we all stand equal before God wherever you are. You are made in the image of God.

Every single one of us. And furthermore, Paul has concluded, I think very powerfully that all of us have savings will read chapters 1 to 3. If you die without whoever you are really just a religious whatever you want. All of us of sin.

We all myself. I think we understand that that the cross of Christ. All of the ground is equal the same price to bore mice the Christ to bore my sins is the same Christ aboard your sins.

The blood that was shed for my justification is the same blood that was shed for you. Justification all of us stand on level ground, so they are not different ways of salvation for different people and one of the exciting things about cover charges that we have so many different nationalities. Why do we rejoice in that because our Savior is the Savior of the world was Samaritans who said that to Jesus.

We believe not because this woman told us, but we ourselves, know that you are the Savior of the world.

Therefore, boasting pride absolutely no place in authentic Christianity Weber probably little Diane others. I'm smarter than this person.

I'm prettier than they are and I'm richer than them. I'm better educated that I haven't different. I come from a different ethnicity and we like to show our superiority don't way with Paul is saying no justification by faith alone abolishes all the shipment distinctions were all sinners and will require the grace of God I finally in verse 13 that the one Paul is saying justification by faith upholds the law, do we then overthrow the law by this faith.

You can imagine some of the Jewish people saying all is being derogatory by the faith, faith, and other derogatory Robert about the law supposes that we overthrow the law by this faith is the message I'm saying about salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and at the design get rid of the law does not overthrow the law by no means is Paul on the contrary, we uphold the law and is going to develop this further in this marvelous epistle, I would. There's a lot to do well. The law reveals sin before the law. People send.

Of course they did. Adam and Eve didn't have the 10 Commandments were they sins know the sin reveals the law reveals our sin. The law shows us our need for salvation, and it prepares us for the good news of salvation when we think of the law we rise we come short and therefore it drives us to Christ. Chapter 3 verse 20 Paul says through the law comes knowledge of sin does not mean the law is bad. Chapter 7 verse seven what then shall we say that the law is sent by no means yet. If it not been for the law. I would not have known sin. That is, the law reveals arson. The law exposes our sin is nothing wrong with the law. It comes from God, but the law is powerless to save you the law acts like a warning light in your car you're driving on I 77 you're going 70 miles an hour and the light comes on in your car. It tells you there's something wrong with your car, you may need more guys you may need more oil breaks may not be working. You may have a flat tire or something. The warning light comes on. That warning lights has got no power to repair the problem. It reveals that there is a problem and if you're smart, you pay attention to the warning light and get your car fixed so the law was never ever given to save us.

The law is not a ladder by which we reach God. No think of another method for the law is a matter. As we look into the law. It reveals how we are that we become sharks that we've broken demonstrates that we are sinful. It demonstrates that I can save myself and it shows me that, try as I might, I can never by myself.

Please God, because I'm a sinful person and it points me then to the mercy of God, and in this way the law is upheld the law said that the soul so that sins shall die.

We've broken the law and we deserve to die was the gospel. Jesus comes and he fulfills all righteousness. He says in Matthew five that he fulfilled the law. He made it on the boat and on the cross than our Savior are suddenly Savior takes our sin as we are broken the law. He pays the price for our salvation.

He is as Paula said earlier, he's our Redeemer and as a result last week.

He is the propitiation for sins and this is why Old Testament and New Testament faith has always been required. Paul is going to explain this in chapter 4 with Abraham who lived before the law is going to deal with David who existed after the law. Both of them.

He says were justified not by what they did but by faith alone. So the law can save you. What does it do it reveals the character of a holy God reveals the standards of a holy God. I got last week from whenever children thank you kids for filling in the worship brochures week by week. I read them every Monday and here was one picture thought. First of all, it was me, but it's not too much here for me so that it is and on the back. This little boy a little girl. I don't know.

There's no name on it, but writes this obey God. This was from the message on propitiation and some are your parents think you know what to expect our children to understand that we don't understand that while your children may be understated better than you did. Because the kingdom of God is to be received, like a child but this child wrote wrote this and they wanted me to read it obey God. He has the right to tell you what is good and bad that's pretty profound as in the who is it that the fine sin, who is a big debate and I was assigned is not here in the United States is going to define marriage as it is going to say this is wrong or that is wrong is in the Supreme Court is that the president is in the Congress as it did me decide what is right and wrong by referendum and define righteousness based on what people think is a pretty dangerous way when you think of human history, don't you and dictators and all the rest of it. No child doesn't right God comes and gives us as law and he says this is right and this is wrong, and these are Commandments by God, they're not suggestions of the problem is with the law.

The law is the warning lights. The problem lies with us, we disobey the law so the law is not the means of salvation. It reveals arson and that prepares us to receive Christ and once we are justified by faith. God is a wonderful thing. Not only does he forgive our sins, but he gives us in his indwelling spirit and so Paul writes in Romans eight verse three will get there one day. Believe it or not. Romans eight verse three for God has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not do what was that by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh is in the lives is marvelous in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in our house who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit that is God himself.

This righteousness of Christ comes to us in the righteous Christ lives in us, giving us a supernatural power now to live for the glory of God with pulsating of justification is by faith alone.

It excludes boasting it ends all human distinctions and is the only way of salvation and upholds the law.

I asked is your faith in Christ. I think most of us here would claim to be people of faith but have to ask you one answer to quickly is your faith in Jesus Christ. John Stott writes God has mercy on the undeserving, and there's nothing left for us to do it even contribute face only function is to receive what grace offers together face only function is to receive what grace offers. And so Jesus says in John five verse 24 truly, truly, I say to your I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him as faith and believes Castille, the Greek word, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.

He doesn't come into judgment, but is passed from death to life. You must believe in Christ. I came here to Calvary. We have the bulletin is: looking up everyone the right skull looking up and I asked our Dir. of communication Donna peters.

Why do we call it, looking up, and that she gave me this following story and the years ago when giving a speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Elizabeth, though one of our senators here from North Carolina on the roof until quite recently, as she said, you know, one of the things that will really be an inspiration to me, this is Sen. Bill speaking about those wife. One of the things that really been an inspiration to me. The rest of my life is a conversation I had with the president Reagan when the two of us were alone. We were waiting in the holding room for him to give a speech and you don't find yourself along with the president of the United States.

But on this particular day we were waiting for speech and I said Mr. Pres., I just can't resist Itasca in the world. When you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Are you able to be so gracious so thoughtful so kind.

I never see you flustered or frustrated. How do you do it with such a weight on your shoulders kind of leaned back and he loved to tell a story and to reminisce and he said well Elizabeth when I was governor of California.

It seemed like every day yet another disaster would be placed on my desk and I had an urge to hand it to someone behind me and help me is that one day I realize I was looking in the wrong direction. I looked up instead of back and he said I'm still looking up and I couldn't go one more day in this office if I didn't know I could ask God's help and it would be given pretty good stories in the and we call our bulletin when you come in every Sunday and you guided and skull looking up the cup as a literacy not self not to admit he is a pastor but look up to God you're going through. Unbelievable. Difficult circumstances and situations and we want to help you, and pray with you and encourage her, but there's only so much we can do human beings want you to do your to look up Paul is saying the just shall live by faith. Yes, you want to exercise that initial saving faith in Christ for salvation, but this is to characterize our life, isn't it is you live your life as I live my life in every circumstance and to live by faith, by faith alone. In this way are our faith grows our love for Christ. Gross stubs as being overwhelmed that the substance being better than angry with situations with God and with one another when things don't go according to plan today were missing. I think Paul is saying to you trust God put your faith in Christ and Christ alone. Just shall live by faith, by faith alone up his father because her face is often like a man in the Gospels was said to Jesus, I believe, help my unbelief and faith is wavering, and so help us to keep looking up to Christ and to Christ along with thank you for this passage of Scripture to pray for every person here. You know their heart to know where they are before you as some have not yet come to Christ me to look to him for salvation for those who have strengthened our faith. We do ask and help us to put our trust in you and in you alone and we ask it in Christ's name. Amen