1 00:00:00,049 --> 00:00:03,019 Speaker: We'll be looking at these three verses that may not 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,149 initially seem related to Christmas. 3 00:00:05,810 --> 00:00:10,219 It may not initially seem like Christmas eve verses, but I am confident that 4 00:00:10,309 --> 00:00:14,780 they will clearly help you understand why we celebrate Christmas, and 5 00:00:14,780 --> 00:00:20,615 specifically why we celebrate Jesus this Christmas next Christmas. 6 00:00:21,695 --> 00:00:23,555 All year round why we ought to do that. 7 00:00:23,555 --> 00:00:27,695 So read with me and we're actually gonna begin in verse 20. 8 00:00:27,695 --> 00:00:31,415 So I want your eyes on these verses as I read them aloud. 9 00:00:31,415 --> 00:00:34,504 We're actually begin in verse 20, just to give you some context that I think 10 00:00:34,504 --> 00:00:37,745 is necessary and helpful for the verses that we'll be looking at tonight. 11 00:00:37,925 --> 00:00:44,110 So verse 20 says this, know unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God. 12 00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:44,670 Who's him? 13 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:45,709 Shout it out. 14 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:46,190 Jesus. 15 00:00:48,275 --> 00:00:51,545 Abraham Abraham, this whole chapter has been about Abraham. 16 00:00:52,085 --> 00:00:54,875 You got, you guys got the Jesus, the Jesus Duke. 17 00:00:54,875 --> 00:00:56,135 You know, the Sunday School Answer. 18 00:00:56,375 --> 00:00:57,515 What's the answer to everything? 19 00:00:57,515 --> 00:00:58,144 Jesus. 20 00:00:58,685 --> 00:01:00,455 You guys got that, but you got the wrong answer. 21 00:01:01,325 --> 00:01:01,535 Okay. 22 00:01:01,535 --> 00:01:02,045 Who is it? 23 00:01:02,135 --> 00:01:06,785 No unbelief made him Abraham waver concerning the promise of God. 24 00:01:06,785 --> 00:01:09,244 What's the promise of God specifically in this context? 25 00:01:09,425 --> 00:01:10,175 You guys learned about it. 26 00:01:10,205 --> 00:01:12,815 What's the promise to Abraham in this passage? 27 00:01:15,815 --> 00:01:16,235 Close. 28 00:01:16,235 --> 00:01:16,565 Yeah. 29 00:01:16,745 --> 00:01:19,085 That he would be the father of a nation. 30 00:01:19,295 --> 00:01:20,285 Of a nation, right? 31 00:01:21,695 --> 00:01:22,895 But he grew strong. 32 00:01:22,955 --> 00:01:28,055 Abraham grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that 33 00:01:28,055 --> 00:01:30,035 God was able to do what he had promised. 34 00:01:30,755 --> 00:01:34,895 That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. 35 00:01:35,045 --> 00:01:36,995 Okay, verse 23 is where we're gonna be tonight. 36 00:01:37,985 --> 00:01:38,555 Listen carefully. 37 00:01:38,615 --> 00:01:43,745 But the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone. 38 00:01:44,509 --> 00:01:50,840 For ours also, it will be counted to us who believe in him, who raised 39 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:55,910 from the dead, Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses 40 00:01:56,390 --> 00:01:59,120 and raised for our justification. 41 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,040 Christmas is worth celebrating. 42 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:07,340 It's worth celebrating because Jesus was delivered up for your trespasses and 43 00:02:07,340 --> 00:02:09,949 he was raised for your justification. 44 00:02:10,130 --> 00:02:11,149 What is Christmas? 45 00:02:11,180 --> 00:02:13,370 It's a celebration of Jesus. 46 00:02:13,894 --> 00:02:19,804 His birth that would result in this stunning possibility that 47 00:02:19,804 --> 00:02:26,614 your faith here in 2025 could be counted to you as righteousness. 48 00:02:28,114 --> 00:02:30,815 If that doesn't amaze you, it should. 49 00:02:32,015 --> 00:02:37,084 If you don't celebrate that, you should. 50 00:02:37,535 --> 00:02:41,495 If, if you don't marvel at that, you, you should. 51 00:02:41,885 --> 00:02:45,304 That is an amazing truth, but it's okay if you don't quite get it. 52 00:02:45,364 --> 00:02:48,304 It's okay if you don't quite get it because God is very kind to you to 53 00:02:48,304 --> 00:02:52,654 bring you here tonight, to hear his promise, to hear of his promise. 54 00:02:52,654 --> 00:02:54,844 And there's some big words that we need to make sure we understand 55 00:02:55,114 --> 00:02:58,744 and there's some important ideas that we're gonna unpack tonight. 56 00:02:58,744 --> 00:03:01,624 So God has been kind to you to give you his word and we're 57 00:03:01,624 --> 00:03:03,214 gonna examine it together. 58 00:03:03,214 --> 00:03:03,664 Sound good? 59 00:03:03,664 --> 00:03:06,124 Alright, let's look at verse 23. 60 00:03:06,695 --> 00:03:07,714 Verse 23 says. 61 00:03:09,184 --> 00:03:13,774 The words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone. 62 00:03:14,314 --> 00:03:14,614 Okay? 63 00:03:14,614 --> 00:03:17,464 If we were just looking at this verse, it would make no sense, right? 64 00:03:17,464 --> 00:03:18,424 What is the it? 65 00:03:19,385 --> 00:03:21,484 Normally, when you're reading your Bible, sometimes these things are a 66 00:03:21,484 --> 00:03:24,094 little bit harder to discover, but thankfully in this passage, all you 67 00:03:24,094 --> 00:03:25,864 gotta do is look at the verse above it. 68 00:03:26,524 --> 00:03:27,394 What is the it? 69 00:03:27,934 --> 00:03:29,164 Verse 22 says. 70 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:34,400 That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness. 71 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,000 So when we read verse 23 and it says it was counted to him, 72 00:03:38,060 --> 00:03:40,760 it's referring to verse 22. 73 00:03:41,690 --> 00:03:46,160 There's two important words that I know Lewis has already taught you on, 74 00:03:46,730 --> 00:03:50,810 but are so critical to understanding everything else that I wanna make sure 75 00:03:51,109 --> 00:03:55,010 we're all on the same page and that we have clarity about these two words. 76 00:03:55,430 --> 00:03:56,480 Look at verse 22. 77 00:03:57,049 --> 00:03:59,060 That is why his faith. 78 00:03:59,959 --> 00:04:01,010 What is faith? 79 00:04:02,029 --> 00:04:03,739 What exactly is faith? 80 00:04:03,739 --> 00:04:05,899 Well, we're talking about Abraham's faith. 81 00:04:07,519 --> 00:04:09,529 Paul has been talking about Abraham Abraham's faith 82 00:04:09,709 --> 00:04:10,670 through all of chapter four. 83 00:04:10,670 --> 00:04:13,429 Well, largely throughout of chapter four. 84 00:04:13,789 --> 00:04:16,099 God promised something radical to Abraham. 85 00:04:17,060 --> 00:04:17,928 What did he promise him? 86 00:04:17,988 --> 00:04:20,690 That he would be the father of a great nation. 87 00:04:21,079 --> 00:04:22,969 What was the problem with that promise? 88 00:04:24,289 --> 00:04:26,359 At least what appeared to be the problem with that promise? 89 00:04:26,780 --> 00:04:27,799 Abraham was. 90 00:04:29,195 --> 00:04:30,125 He was old. 91 00:04:30,455 --> 00:04:32,825 He was old, he was too old to have kids. 92 00:04:32,825 --> 00:04:41,495 His wife was also too old, but, but he had faith in the promise of God that he would 93 00:04:41,495 --> 00:04:43,865 indeed be the father of a great nation. 94 00:04:44,405 --> 00:04:46,895 And in his old age he would, he would be able to do that. 95 00:04:47,315 --> 00:04:48,815 This promise didn't really make sense. 96 00:04:48,815 --> 00:04:51,605 In fact, even somebody laughed at this promise. 97 00:04:51,605 --> 00:04:52,175 Who was that? 98 00:04:52,445 --> 00:04:54,125 Who laughed at this promise, right? 99 00:04:54,245 --> 00:04:54,845 Sarah? 100 00:04:55,414 --> 00:04:57,065 She hears this promise and goes, what? 101 00:04:57,244 --> 00:04:58,955 This is crazy, right? 102 00:04:59,854 --> 00:05:00,544 Abraham? 103 00:05:00,664 --> 00:05:01,385 Does he laugh? 104 00:05:02,554 --> 00:05:02,765 No. 105 00:05:02,765 --> 00:05:04,265 Abraham has faith. 106 00:05:04,445 --> 00:05:05,645 And look at verse 20. 107 00:05:06,034 --> 00:05:08,825 It says, no unbelief made him waver. 108 00:05:08,825 --> 00:05:09,635 What does waver mean? 109 00:05:09,635 --> 00:05:10,655 He's not shakeable. 110 00:05:10,655 --> 00:05:12,364 He's not shaken. 111 00:05:13,234 --> 00:05:14,674 Concerning this promise of God. 112 00:05:14,674 --> 00:05:18,695 And verse 21, it says he was fully convinced that God was 113 00:05:18,724 --> 00:05:20,974 able to do what he had promised. 114 00:05:21,724 --> 00:05:22,385 So what is faith? 115 00:05:22,390 --> 00:05:22,429 Well. 116 00:05:22,999 --> 00:05:26,599 When I was maybe six, I dunno, maybe six, maybe seven. 117 00:05:27,349 --> 00:05:31,429 I was just absolutely dead set on. 118 00:05:33,739 --> 00:05:37,549 I was absolutely dead set on a gift. 119 00:05:39,919 --> 00:05:42,319 This gift, I bet nobody will. 120 00:05:43,129 --> 00:05:43,549 Nobody will. 121 00:05:43,549 --> 00:05:46,969 Guess it was a toy cash register. 122 00:05:48,020 --> 00:05:50,929 I don't know if you, I don't know if when you were a kid, when you 123 00:05:50,929 --> 00:05:52,520 were, when you were six or seven. 124 00:05:53,060 --> 00:05:56,419 If you would just like hyperfocus on a gift and it was like all you could 125 00:05:56,419 --> 00:05:59,390 think about for the weeks leading up to Christmas, maybe you still do that. 126 00:05:59,390 --> 00:06:00,200 Maybe, you know, maybe. 127 00:06:00,260 --> 00:06:00,500 Maybe. 128 00:06:00,650 --> 00:06:03,500 But it was just all I could think about was this toy cash register. 129 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,560 My parents were very generous, giving us gifts. 130 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,300 We didn't always have a ton of money, but they were always 131 00:06:08,300 --> 00:06:09,799 very generous giving us gifts. 132 00:06:10,820 --> 00:06:11,659 And I asked for it. 133 00:06:11,810 --> 00:06:12,469 I asked for it. 134 00:06:14,030 --> 00:06:14,990 Did I see them buy it? 135 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:15,409 Nope. 136 00:06:16,294 --> 00:06:17,974 Did I happen to see it in the closet? 137 00:06:18,215 --> 00:06:18,575 Nope. 138 00:06:18,575 --> 00:06:20,015 And, and I didn't that year. 139 00:06:20,104 --> 00:06:21,215 Look for it in the closet. 140 00:06:23,104 --> 00:06:24,124 Did I see them wrap it? 141 00:06:24,484 --> 00:06:24,844 No. 142 00:06:26,194 --> 00:06:29,224 And in fact, in our family, our tradition, at least when I was a kid, was that our 143 00:06:29,224 --> 00:06:33,124 parents would put those big gifts under the tree only on Christmas morning. 144 00:06:33,395 --> 00:06:35,254 That way we couldn't sleuth around too much. 145 00:06:35,254 --> 00:06:39,724 So I didn't even see it until Christmas morning, but I was convinced 146 00:06:39,724 --> 00:06:40,683 that they were gonna give it to me. 147 00:06:40,984 --> 00:06:41,433 Why? 148 00:06:42,694 --> 00:06:43,085 Why? 149 00:06:43,205 --> 00:06:44,075 I was convinced. 150 00:06:44,974 --> 00:06:48,575 No evidence of the actual present that they were going to give it to me. 151 00:06:49,114 --> 00:06:49,924 In fact, they did. 152 00:06:50,433 --> 00:06:51,064 In fact, they did. 153 00:06:51,064 --> 00:06:54,933 The only indications that they were gonna give it to me was the fact 154 00:06:54,933 --> 00:06:58,564 that Christmas was a couple weeks away and that my parents loved 155 00:06:58,564 --> 00:07:00,814 me and that I had asked for it. 156 00:07:01,564 --> 00:07:07,835 I didn't have anything else, but I was convinced that I would get that present. 157 00:07:07,955 --> 00:07:10,655 And I did Abraham in a similar way. 158 00:07:10,929 --> 00:07:13,340 I mean, I believe in my parents, but Abraham believes in God. 159 00:07:14,315 --> 00:07:18,484 Abraham is fully convinced that God is going to deliver his promise to him. 160 00:07:19,025 --> 00:07:25,984 He's fully convinced that God is able to and will even in fact, when 161 00:07:25,984 --> 00:07:29,765 he had evidence to the contrary, all the evidence I had when I was a kid 162 00:07:30,125 --> 00:07:31,655 was that they would get it to me. 163 00:07:32,433 --> 00:07:33,784 Abraham doesn't even have that. 164 00:07:34,205 --> 00:07:38,705 He has evidence suggesting that it's not possible that he's too old, that it's 165 00:07:38,705 --> 00:07:40,590 not gonna be something that will happen. 166 00:07:42,170 --> 00:07:46,670 Okay, so Abraham's faith is counted to him as righteousness. 167 00:07:46,670 --> 00:07:50,030 So his faith is counted to him as righteousness. 168 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:52,220 What is, what does that mean? 169 00:07:52,460 --> 00:07:55,310 So his faith is counted to him as righteous. 170 00:07:55,310 --> 00:07:55,610 Well, what? 171 00:07:55,670 --> 00:07:57,020 What is righteousness? 172 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:58,130 What is righteousness? 173 00:07:58,730 --> 00:07:59,570 Maybe you already know. 174 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:00,110 Maybe you already know. 175 00:08:00,140 --> 00:08:02,450 Maybe this is simplistic, but just to make sure we're on the same page, 176 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:06,860 I think I want you to think when you hear the word righteousness, to hear 177 00:08:06,860 --> 00:08:10,190 right in that word and specifically. 178 00:08:10,895 --> 00:08:12,005 Right with God. 179 00:08:12,185 --> 00:08:16,865 Righteousness is being right with God as opposed to being wrong with God. 180 00:08:18,664 --> 00:08:19,445 So what is this? 181 00:08:19,505 --> 00:08:24,724 It's faith that is counted to Abraham as righteousness. 182 00:08:25,385 --> 00:08:27,965 This is also not the first time you've heard this in this room, 183 00:08:28,505 --> 00:08:29,885 but you have a big problem. 184 00:08:31,385 --> 00:08:34,655 Many of you are believers and. 185 00:08:35,284 --> 00:08:38,705 This problem is not a problem at this point, but you were all born 186 00:08:38,705 --> 00:08:42,095 with the problem and that problem is that you were not righteous. 187 00:08:43,355 --> 00:08:44,675 That you were not right with God. 188 00:08:44,675 --> 00:08:45,695 You were wrong with God. 189 00:08:45,695 --> 00:08:49,355 Your sin made you the bad guy, made you the person who was the enemy 190 00:08:49,655 --> 00:08:57,335 who made you, the person who was at odds with God, not righteous. 191 00:08:59,165 --> 00:09:03,335 And so what is happening here is that the faith of Abraham. 192 00:09:04,055 --> 00:09:08,675 Is being counted to him to solve that problem, to solve that problem. 193 00:09:10,565 --> 00:09:12,035 So we've been talking about Abraham, right? 194 00:09:12,515 --> 00:09:14,585 This whole passage seemingly is about Abraham. 195 00:09:14,585 --> 00:09:15,845 What does it have to do with you? 196 00:09:16,625 --> 00:09:17,615 What does it have to do with you? 197 00:09:18,665 --> 00:09:22,265 Well, Paul is actually extremely clear about what it has to do with you. 198 00:09:22,385 --> 00:09:28,145 Let's look at verse 23, specifically at the, uh, as it 199 00:09:28,145 --> 00:09:31,835 goes into verse 24, it says, but the words, it was counted to him. 200 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:34,730 Were not written for his sake alone. 201 00:09:35,150 --> 00:09:36,800 They were not just written for Abraham. 202 00:09:37,970 --> 00:09:45,590 Who were they written for, but for ours also, this promise is for you. 203 00:09:46,939 --> 00:09:50,360 This promise is for you. 204 00:09:50,540 --> 00:09:56,000 The idea that your faith can be counted to you as righteousness is 205 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:00,145 a promise for you this very evening. 206 00:10:02,915 --> 00:10:06,814 God has included this amazing truth in the Bible so that you 207 00:10:06,814 --> 00:10:08,465 can hear it this very evening. 208 00:10:08,705 --> 00:10:11,375 I, I wish I could use all your names in that statement, 209 00:10:11,824 --> 00:10:13,805 that this promise is for you. 210 00:10:13,805 --> 00:10:17,855 Hear your name as I say that and begin to wonder, begin to maybe 211 00:10:17,855 --> 00:10:20,885 even for the first time, be amazed at what an incredible thing that 212 00:10:20,885 --> 00:10:22,955 is, that this promise is for you. 213 00:10:23,165 --> 00:10:25,444 Think about everything that it took for you to get here tonight. 214 00:10:26,285 --> 00:10:29,590 I know all your paths here to True North are a little bit different. 215 00:10:31,025 --> 00:10:33,785 But you know, you maybe you're in your last class, your teacher 216 00:10:33,785 --> 00:10:34,925 has to actually let you leave. 217 00:10:35,675 --> 00:10:40,474 You might rebel if, if they didn't let you leave, but they have to finish up class. 218 00:10:41,015 --> 00:10:42,995 You have to walk to your car. 219 00:10:43,295 --> 00:10:46,324 Your car has to actually still be in the parking lot or the 220 00:10:46,324 --> 00:10:47,765 bus has to actually be there. 221 00:10:48,185 --> 00:10:51,305 You have to get in your car, you have to get on the bus, you have to ride home, you 222 00:10:51,305 --> 00:10:56,824 have to get there safely, not get in any sort of car accident to go in the house. 223 00:10:57,230 --> 00:11:00,350 There has to be food in the fridge, or maybe your mom has food on the table 224 00:11:00,350 --> 00:11:01,580 so that you don't starve to death. 225 00:11:02,300 --> 00:11:03,890 I know what it's like to be a high school boy. 226 00:11:03,950 --> 00:11:08,810 It's possible that you would starve to death, then you have to get ready to go. 227 00:11:08,810 --> 00:11:09,830 You have to get back in the car. 228 00:11:09,830 --> 00:11:11,240 You have to not get in an accident. 229 00:11:11,420 --> 00:11:13,340 The doors to this building have to be unlocked. 230 00:11:13,340 --> 00:11:15,230 The building itself has to be standing. 231 00:11:15,950 --> 00:11:20,690 There's a million things that you did not think about that God cared about 232 00:11:21,290 --> 00:11:25,700 to make it possible for you to be here tonight so that you could hear. 233 00:11:26,195 --> 00:11:29,765 These incredible words and his promise to you. 234 00:11:30,695 --> 00:11:36,035 Let me go even further to suggest, to actually confidently say that 235 00:11:36,035 --> 00:11:42,035 God has worked all of human history so that you could be here today in 236 00:11:42,035 --> 00:11:45,155 this music room to hear his promise. 237 00:11:46,145 --> 00:11:51,005 Every king that's ever sat on a throne, every law that's been passed, every 238 00:11:51,005 --> 00:11:55,385 war, every famine, every victory of the good guys, all of that. 239 00:11:56,885 --> 00:12:00,995 Was cared for by God, was directed by God, so that your parents would 240 00:12:00,995 --> 00:12:06,365 meet so that they would have you, so that you'd eventually make it here. 241 00:12:07,115 --> 00:12:08,944 Don't think that that was a coincidence. 242 00:12:08,944 --> 00:12:11,375 Don't think that that was just by chance. 243 00:12:12,275 --> 00:12:14,225 That was God's love for you. 244 00:12:14,525 --> 00:12:15,395 He loves you. 245 00:12:15,395 --> 00:12:20,015 He cares for you, and he wants you to hear his promise to you. 246 00:12:21,725 --> 00:12:22,685 What is his promise? 247 00:12:22,714 --> 00:12:23,795 What is his promise? 248 00:12:25,115 --> 00:12:28,145 And we've already said it, but we can't miss it. 249 00:12:28,865 --> 00:12:29,584 We can't miss it. 250 00:12:29,584 --> 00:12:33,425 Look, again, we're gonna read 23, but we're gonna read a 251 00:12:33,425 --> 00:12:36,155 little bit further in verse 24. 252 00:12:39,155 --> 00:12:40,685 Before I do that, lemme give you the first point. 253 00:12:41,225 --> 00:12:43,475 Um, I realize I, I missed that. 254 00:12:43,714 --> 00:12:46,084 Lemme give you the first point, uh, this Christmas. 255 00:12:47,435 --> 00:12:51,275 You are to be, you should believe in God to be right with God. 256 00:12:52,535 --> 00:12:58,835 Believe in God to be good, believe in God, to be righteous, to be a righteous person. 257 00:13:00,425 --> 00:13:01,475 And that's the promise. 258 00:13:01,865 --> 00:13:05,885 That is the promise that God has given to you, that if you believe 259 00:13:05,885 --> 00:13:09,365 in him, there is a hope for you. 260 00:13:09,365 --> 00:13:11,675 So, okay, now let's look at verse 23. 261 00:13:12,515 --> 00:13:13,085 Verse 23. 262 00:13:13,085 --> 00:13:16,595 It says, but the words it was counted to him were not written for his sake alone, 263 00:13:16,595 --> 00:13:18,965 not just for Abraham, but for ours also. 264 00:13:20,060 --> 00:13:25,730 It will be counted to us who believe in him, who raised from the dead. 265 00:13:26,660 --> 00:13:33,949 Jesus, our Lord God has protected his word so that you can hear 266 00:13:34,340 --> 00:13:37,370 these, these words this very night. 267 00:13:39,215 --> 00:13:39,575 Okay. 268 00:13:39,575 --> 00:13:42,215 Again, we need to make sure we understand exactly what's going on here. 269 00:13:42,245 --> 00:13:45,065 There's a word in here that maybe you think you understand, but we 270 00:13:45,065 --> 00:13:48,785 need to make sure we understand it properly, and it's the word believe. 271 00:13:48,815 --> 00:13:51,485 It will be counted to us who believe in him. 272 00:13:52,265 --> 00:13:55,055 What does it mean to believe in somebody? 273 00:13:55,625 --> 00:13:55,925 Well. 274 00:13:56,735 --> 00:13:58,865 I don't want you to turn there, but I want you to listen carefully. 275 00:13:58,925 --> 00:14:04,175 I'm gonna read a passage from the book of Numbers, and this is an account 276 00:14:04,625 --> 00:14:08,255 from the time of the people of Israel when they were in the wilderness. 277 00:14:08,285 --> 00:14:10,325 So they're under Moses as their leader. 278 00:14:11,435 --> 00:14:14,945 They're in the wilderness and listen to what happens. 279 00:14:15,275 --> 00:14:19,775 Numbers 21 verse four says, from Mount whore, they set out by the way to the 280 00:14:19,775 --> 00:14:22,505 Red Sea to go around the land of Edem. 281 00:14:23,930 --> 00:14:27,710 The people became impatient on the way they became impatient. 282 00:14:27,710 --> 00:14:29,420 So they sinned in their hearts. 283 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:33,950 Their hearts were rotten, their hearts were not righteous. 284 00:14:34,730 --> 00:14:36,080 And then they sin outwardly. 285 00:14:36,140 --> 00:14:40,250 It says, and the people then spoke against God and against Moses. 286 00:14:40,250 --> 00:14:44,240 So they're impatient and then they speak against God and they say, why have you 287 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:48,980 brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness for there is no food and no 288 00:14:48,980 --> 00:14:51,470 water, and we loathe this worthless food. 289 00:14:51,995 --> 00:14:52,625 Which is it? 290 00:14:52,715 --> 00:14:54,365 Is there no food or is it worthless food? 291 00:14:54,365 --> 00:14:59,345 I, you can see their heart attitudes are not good. 292 00:14:59,765 --> 00:15:00,335 Are not good. 293 00:15:00,875 --> 00:15:04,625 Well, God is gonna judge them and you're gonna be surprised unless 294 00:15:04,625 --> 00:15:06,935 you know this how he judges them. 295 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:13,655 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, 296 00:15:14,585 --> 00:15:16,355 and so many people of Israel died. 297 00:15:17,255 --> 00:15:20,375 And the people came to Moses and said, we have sinned for we have spoken 298 00:15:20,375 --> 00:15:22,115 against the Lord and against you. 299 00:15:22,594 --> 00:15:25,564 Pray to the Lord that he take away the serpents from us. 300 00:15:26,224 --> 00:15:29,105 So Moses prayed for the people. 301 00:15:31,775 --> 00:15:34,925 They don't quite get the answer to the prayer that they want. 302 00:15:35,704 --> 00:15:39,305 Listen, and the Lord said to Moses, make a fiery serpent. 303 00:15:39,635 --> 00:15:40,265 We're gonna find out. 304 00:15:40,265 --> 00:15:41,344 It's made outta bronze. 305 00:15:41,584 --> 00:15:46,084 Make a fire serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten. 306 00:15:46,730 --> 00:15:51,590 When he sees it shall live, so he doesn't get rid of the serpents. 307 00:15:52,189 --> 00:15:54,500 Instead, he provides this solution. 308 00:15:55,160 --> 00:16:00,920 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole, and if a serpent bit anyone, he 309 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,230 would look at the bronze serpent and live. 310 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:05,570 Imagine that. 311 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:10,970 Imagine you're one of the people of Israel and this happens and 312 00:16:10,970 --> 00:16:15,410 there's all of a sudden snakes that are on fire all around you. 313 00:16:16,415 --> 00:16:20,045 You're trying to get away from them, but then one bites you on the arm. 314 00:16:20,645 --> 00:16:21,095 What are you gonna do? 315 00:16:22,145 --> 00:16:22,835 Get a bandaid? 316 00:16:24,485 --> 00:16:25,655 No, you're not gonna get a bandaid. 317 00:16:26,555 --> 00:16:29,015 What if, if you watch those shows, those survival shows, are 318 00:16:29,015 --> 00:16:30,125 you gonna suck out the venom? 319 00:16:31,145 --> 00:16:32,105 That's what Sean's gonna do. 320 00:16:33,545 --> 00:16:36,155 You gonna go find mom, see if mom can help. 321 00:16:37,505 --> 00:16:38,165 What are you gonna do? 322 00:16:38,405 --> 00:16:43,325 They're also fiery serpents, so you're probably also on fire, so 323 00:16:43,325 --> 00:16:44,945 you're padding out maybe your clothes. 324 00:16:48,170 --> 00:16:48,710 What are you gonna do? 325 00:16:48,740 --> 00:16:53,449 Well, Moses provides a solution, but it's a counterintuitive solution. 326 00:16:53,449 --> 00:16:55,250 It's a solution that doesn't make any sense. 327 00:16:55,490 --> 00:16:58,790 If you think the solution to the bite from the snake is to get a 328 00:16:58,790 --> 00:17:04,790 bandaid or to find mom or to do anything else, it's not gonna work. 329 00:17:05,780 --> 00:17:08,089 You're gonna be looking down at your arm, you're gonna be looking for 330 00:17:08,089 --> 00:17:10,160 more snakes to that might bite you. 331 00:17:10,579 --> 00:17:11,960 It doesn't make sense to look up. 332 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,300 Why would you look up when the problems are down here? 333 00:17:15,530 --> 00:17:22,400 You wouldn't look up unless you believed that salvation would 334 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:25,280 come by looking up at the serpent. 335 00:17:26,390 --> 00:17:30,560 The only way you would do that is if you believed in God's promise 336 00:17:30,620 --> 00:17:35,420 that that serpent on the pole was the way that you were saved. 337 00:17:36,260 --> 00:17:37,520 You believe in something. 338 00:17:38,570 --> 00:17:41,390 I'm, I'm encouraged that many of you have professed faith. 339 00:17:43,010 --> 00:17:46,850 But if you haven't professed faith in Jesus, you still believe in things. 340 00:17:47,300 --> 00:17:50,660 And for those of you who are Christians in the room, there's 341 00:17:50,660 --> 00:17:56,600 temptations to believe in solutions to problems that aren't godly. 342 00:17:57,500 --> 00:17:58,730 Maybe some of you are lonely. 343 00:18:00,260 --> 00:18:04,040 Maybe it's really hard to go to lunch 'cause you don't 344 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:05,930 know who's gonna talk to you. 345 00:18:06,740 --> 00:18:09,650 You don't know how awkward those conversations are gonna be. 346 00:18:11,375 --> 00:18:13,475 You don't know if your friends are gonna abandon you. 347 00:18:14,765 --> 00:18:15,455 Maybe you're lonely. 348 00:18:15,755 --> 00:18:18,545 Maybe you think to yourself, the solution to that is, if only I 349 00:18:18,545 --> 00:18:20,015 had a boyfriend or girlfriend. 350 00:18:20,165 --> 00:18:25,115 If I had a boyfriend or a girlfriend, then problem solved, right? 351 00:18:25,115 --> 00:18:28,955 If my friends abandoned me, I have somebody to talk to. 352 00:18:28,955 --> 00:18:30,155 I have somebody to text. 353 00:18:33,725 --> 00:18:34,055 Right? 354 00:18:34,445 --> 00:18:38,945 That thinking is a belief that. 355 00:18:39,485 --> 00:18:41,495 A boyfriend or a girlfriend will solve your problems. 356 00:18:42,995 --> 00:18:45,755 Maybe that's not exactly something that you face, but I think you 357 00:18:45,755 --> 00:18:47,045 could probably relate to that. 358 00:18:47,735 --> 00:18:49,355 Maybe you feel a lot of anxiety. 359 00:18:49,445 --> 00:18:52,475 Maybe getting outta bed in the morning is really difficult. 360 00:18:52,985 --> 00:18:57,065 Maybe every time you leave your house you feel just completely exhausted. 361 00:18:57,785 --> 00:19:02,225 Maybe when you walk onto school campus or you begin some sort of 362 00:19:02,225 --> 00:19:06,485 project related to school, you feel your tight, your chest tightening up. 363 00:19:07,055 --> 00:19:08,465 You feel that anxiety in you. 364 00:19:09,350 --> 00:19:12,500 And the only time you feel relief from that is a couple times when 365 00:19:12,500 --> 00:19:16,460 you've done really well in tests and you feel, oh, it's finally over, and 366 00:19:16,460 --> 00:19:18,140 I feel the relief from that anxiety. 367 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:22,790 And so you begin to work harder and harder at your school so that you can 368 00:19:22,940 --> 00:19:27,740 experience that relief that comes when you've passed a test and done really well. 369 00:19:28,580 --> 00:19:33,380 You put more and more faith into your education, which is a good thing. 370 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:39,170 But that way of thinking is believing that good grades are gonna solve your problems. 371 00:19:39,770 --> 00:19:41,300 That is a belief. 372 00:19:42,620 --> 00:19:45,170 I know you guys face real problems. 373 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:50,900 I know you face real problems, whether that's anxiety or, or loneliness or, or 374 00:19:50,900 --> 00:19:54,650 fears or depression or troubles at home. 375 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:55,975 I know those are real things. 376 00:19:57,125 --> 00:20:00,365 Each of you faces different facets of life. 377 00:20:00,725 --> 00:20:04,145 There's different things that you each struggle with, but there's one thing 378 00:20:04,205 --> 00:20:08,225 that you were all born with and in fact the Bible makes it very clear and Lewis 379 00:20:08,225 --> 00:20:09,845 has preached very clearly on this. 380 00:20:10,055 --> 00:20:15,425 You all were born with a sin problem, and that problem is, is huge. 381 00:20:16,565 --> 00:20:18,245 It's a huge problem. 382 00:20:19,085 --> 00:20:22,235 We've already talked about how that problem means that you are not 383 00:20:22,265 --> 00:20:24,455 righteous, you are not right with God. 384 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,760 You need a solution to that? 385 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:31,850 What is the solution to that righteousness? 386 00:20:32,570 --> 00:20:37,310 What do we see here in Romans four? 387 00:20:38,270 --> 00:20:39,530 It'll be counted to us. 388 00:20:39,530 --> 00:20:40,700 Who believe in him? 389 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:42,770 Who raised from the dead? 390 00:20:43,130 --> 00:20:44,120 Jesus our Lord. 391 00:20:44,450 --> 00:20:45,320 What is the it? 392 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:48,470 It's the righteousness that you need. 393 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:52,790 A Christian doesn't have anxiety disappear overnight. 394 00:20:54,170 --> 00:20:57,470 When they profess faith and they are saved, depression 395 00:20:57,470 --> 00:20:58,970 doesn't just suddenly disappear. 396 00:21:00,530 --> 00:21:06,080 God may relieve that may work through your life to help you, but those 397 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:08,300 things don't just vanish overnight. 398 00:21:08,660 --> 00:21:11,660 The problems that you have don't just disappear when you become a 399 00:21:11,660 --> 00:21:15,470 Christian, but there is something that disappears when you become a Christian. 400 00:21:15,530 --> 00:21:16,580 It disappears instantly. 401 00:21:16,580 --> 00:21:21,740 It disappears immediately, and that is the problem of righteousness. 402 00:21:22,385 --> 00:21:25,085 That you have and have had since birth. 403 00:21:26,135 --> 00:21:30,365 When you are saved, God makes you righteous. 404 00:21:30,365 --> 00:21:33,935 Does that mean that you continue to sin or don't continue to sin? 405 00:21:34,775 --> 00:21:40,475 We still sin as Christians in this life, but we are made righteous 406 00:21:40,775 --> 00:21:43,325 before God, once and for all. 407 00:21:45,155 --> 00:21:49,715 Once a righteous Christian, always a righteous Christian. 408 00:21:49,895 --> 00:21:50,400 We do grow. 409 00:21:51,110 --> 00:21:52,160 Christians do grow. 410 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:53,210 There's a big word. 411 00:21:53,210 --> 00:21:56,030 We're not gonna dive into it, but imagine many of you have heard 412 00:21:56,030 --> 00:21:57,620 it, progressive sanctification. 413 00:21:58,010 --> 00:22:00,260 That's something that happens over the life of a Christian. 414 00:22:00,890 --> 00:22:06,170 But when you become a Christian, your biggest problem is dealt with. 415 00:22:06,710 --> 00:22:09,590 Your biggest problem of sin is dealt with. 416 00:22:13,175 --> 00:22:15,140 One Corinthians 1517. 417 00:22:16,295 --> 00:22:19,415 A place where Paul helps us to understand another important 418 00:22:19,415 --> 00:22:21,365 element to the passage here. 419 00:22:22,835 --> 00:22:26,105 One of the things that is clearly articulated in this passage is 420 00:22:26,105 --> 00:22:28,985 that Jesus is raised from the dead. 421 00:22:29,825 --> 00:22:30,665 Raised from the dead. 422 00:22:30,815 --> 00:22:32,975 We don't celebrate the resurrection at Christmas. 423 00:22:33,155 --> 00:22:36,185 We celebrate it at Easter, right? 424 00:22:37,565 --> 00:22:41,315 The resurrection is critical to understanding. 425 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:42,770 This reality. 426 00:22:42,770 --> 00:22:44,270 So listen to, just don't turn there. 427 00:22:44,540 --> 00:22:47,570 One Corinthians 15, verse 17 says, says this. 428 00:22:47,570 --> 00:22:51,830 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. 429 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:54,740 So your faith is worthless. 430 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:56,150 Why is that? 431 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,990 Because you are still in your sins. 432 00:23:00,590 --> 00:23:04,970 So we're dependent on the resurrection of Christ because without that 433 00:23:04,970 --> 00:23:06,860 resurrection, we are still in our sins. 434 00:23:07,835 --> 00:23:10,985 Paul continues on and he says, then those also who have fallen 435 00:23:10,985 --> 00:23:12,515 asleep in Christ have perished. 436 00:23:12,515 --> 00:23:16,145 So even if it was possible that you could be a Christian in this life, but Jesus 437 00:23:16,145 --> 00:23:22,235 wasn't resurrected himself, what hope would you have of life after this life? 438 00:23:23,255 --> 00:23:26,435 What hope would you have of resurrection for yourself? 439 00:23:26,885 --> 00:23:28,955 But no, Jesus has been resurrected. 440 00:23:29,405 --> 00:23:33,245 He has overcome the grave, and so we do have hope. 441 00:23:33,785 --> 00:23:35,645 Just to make sure we're not missing anything. 442 00:23:35,645 --> 00:23:36,395 Paul continues. 443 00:23:36,395 --> 00:23:42,575 He says, if in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are 444 00:23:42,965 --> 00:23:45,275 of all people most to be pitied. 445 00:23:45,815 --> 00:23:48,605 We're very much dependent on the resurrection. 446 00:23:48,695 --> 00:23:50,735 For any of this to be possible, 447 00:23:54,005 --> 00:23:58,775 you have a, a, a problem if you are not a Christian, which is that 448 00:23:59,405 --> 00:24:02,405 sin, reigns and rules in your life. 449 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,790 If you are a Christian, you need to remember these truths. 450 00:24:07,970 --> 00:24:13,520 You need to remember that God is kind to you and you need to remember the gospel. 451 00:24:13,820 --> 00:24:19,820 So this Christmas, believe in God to be right with God this Christmas. 452 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:24,170 Look to the cross for the hope that you can have. 453 00:24:25,100 --> 00:24:28,520 There's nothing you can do, but look to the cross. 454 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,180 Alright, does anybody know what a warrant is? 455 00:24:32,510 --> 00:24:37,070 If Mark Cogan has a warrant for his arrest, who knows what that is? 456 00:24:37,070 --> 00:24:37,820 Only two people. 457 00:24:38,030 --> 00:24:39,260 Everybody else has no clue. 458 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:43,520 Who knows what a warrant for arrest is if I have a warrant for 459 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:45,920 my arrest, what does that mean? 460 00:24:46,220 --> 00:24:50,000 It means that some judge has sat in a courtroom and looked at evidence and 461 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,460 said, that guy is guilty of a crime. 462 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:54,620 He needs to come in and see me. 463 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:58,790 He needs to be judged for his crimes that he has committed. 464 00:24:59,660 --> 00:25:00,885 Does that mean I'm in the courtroom yet? 465 00:25:01,235 --> 00:25:03,875 It does not mean I'm in a courtroom before yet. 466 00:25:05,045 --> 00:25:09,815 When we're born, we all have kind of a warrant for our arrest. 467 00:25:10,055 --> 00:25:17,345 We have a sin nature, a sin problem that God has issued a warrant of sorts for. 468 00:25:18,725 --> 00:25:22,985 Does God issue a warrant because he needs time for a police officer to bring you in? 469 00:25:23,225 --> 00:25:24,425 No, he certainly does not. 470 00:25:25,175 --> 00:25:25,655 He does not. 471 00:25:26,150 --> 00:25:29,060 God has issued a warrant for your arrest and he has not called you into 472 00:25:29,060 --> 00:25:32,900 your judgment yet because he's kind to you, because he loves you, because 473 00:25:32,900 --> 00:25:36,740 he wants all to reach repentance. 474 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:41,450 As Peter says, God wants all to reach repentance. 475 00:25:41,900 --> 00:25:45,050 A judge in a courtroom needs a police officer to go out and 476 00:25:45,050 --> 00:25:49,910 arrest whoever it is who has the warrant, but God is kind to you. 477 00:25:50,990 --> 00:25:52,310 Let's look at verse 25. 478 00:25:52,580 --> 00:25:54,830 Let's lurk at verse 25 to better understand. 479 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:59,540 This Verse 25 says, who was delivered up? 480 00:25:59,570 --> 00:26:00,470 So who is the who? 481 00:26:00,740 --> 00:26:01,790 That's Jesus. 482 00:26:02,090 --> 00:26:08,690 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. 483 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:16,015 So we have a warrant when we're born for our arrest, but if we believe and 484 00:26:16,190 --> 00:26:23,210 we have faith and the righteousness is counted to us, what happens? 485 00:26:24,005 --> 00:26:27,155 Does God call us in for that warrant? 486 00:26:28,145 --> 00:26:28,685 No. 487 00:26:28,745 --> 00:26:29,735 Who is delivered up? 488 00:26:29,735 --> 00:26:33,575 Instead, Jesus is delivered up instead. 489 00:26:33,875 --> 00:26:37,175 Instead, Jesus is the one who pays the price. 490 00:26:37,175 --> 00:26:37,745 What is that word? 491 00:26:37,745 --> 00:26:38,525 Trespasses. 492 00:26:39,185 --> 00:26:40,235 That word trespasses. 493 00:26:40,235 --> 00:26:42,815 I suspect many of you kind of like intuitively know what it means. 494 00:26:43,050 --> 00:26:46,055 I, I think the easiest way to understand it is that it's sin. 495 00:26:46,355 --> 00:26:51,425 Trespasses is Paul's way, of course, in the English of saying sin. 496 00:26:52,085 --> 00:26:54,125 That word trespasses, I think is really helpful. 497 00:26:54,815 --> 00:26:55,925 What is a trespass? 498 00:26:56,015 --> 00:26:59,555 Normally, if I get trespassed from a place, what does that mean? 499 00:26:59,555 --> 00:27:02,825 It means I went onto the property of somebody else and 500 00:27:02,825 --> 00:27:04,145 I broke their rules, right? 501 00:27:04,355 --> 00:27:07,715 I made a scene, made a mess, broke something, stole something. 502 00:27:07,895 --> 00:27:09,485 And so what does the property owner say? 503 00:27:09,665 --> 00:27:10,925 You broke the rules of the property. 504 00:27:10,925 --> 00:27:13,055 You are no longer welcome on the property. 505 00:27:15,905 --> 00:27:18,635 Trespasses for God work in a similar way. 506 00:27:18,905 --> 00:27:20,765 God is the creator of everything. 507 00:27:21,590 --> 00:27:22,700 This is his world. 508 00:27:23,270 --> 00:27:25,340 Every inch of this world is his. 509 00:27:25,670 --> 00:27:26,870 You are his. 510 00:27:27,950 --> 00:27:29,660 And he has set up rules. 511 00:27:30,830 --> 00:27:35,210 And when we break them, we deserve punishment. 512 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:39,620 We deserve to be kicked off the property, as it were. 513 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:44,690 But we have hope. 514 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:50,360 And we have hope because Jesus is the one who is. 515 00:27:51,020 --> 00:27:54,980 As Paul says, delivered up for our trespasses. 516 00:27:56,629 --> 00:27:59,450 Alright, there's another important word here. 517 00:28:00,530 --> 00:28:02,780 He doesn't just say delivered up for our trespasses, right? 518 00:28:02,780 --> 00:28:05,810 Jesus didn't just die, but here's that word again, raised. 519 00:28:05,810 --> 00:28:07,760 We already talked about that, but an important word. 520 00:28:07,970 --> 00:28:11,960 He wasn't just delivered up for our trespasses put to death for our sin, 521 00:28:12,379 --> 00:28:15,770 but he was raised for our justification. 522 00:28:16,879 --> 00:28:17,750 Another big word. 523 00:28:18,665 --> 00:28:22,775 Again, I think you probably intuitively know what it means, but justification. 524 00:28:22,775 --> 00:28:23,975 What word do you hear in there? 525 00:28:23,975 --> 00:28:24,965 Think justice. 526 00:28:25,445 --> 00:28:27,185 Justice, right? 527 00:28:27,215 --> 00:28:30,095 The phrase justice is served, probably comes to your mind. 528 00:28:30,545 --> 00:28:36,035 Justification means what is good and right, and just is done. 529 00:28:36,725 --> 00:28:40,595 I know you guys probably been exposed to many of the headlines recently about 530 00:28:40,595 --> 00:28:44,705 some of the terrible things that have happened in our world and in your heart. 531 00:28:46,565 --> 00:28:49,325 I'm sure you desire justice to be done. 532 00:28:49,925 --> 00:28:55,205 I'm sure you are alarmed at it, but I also know that you 533 00:28:55,235 --> 00:28:57,815 desire justice to be done well. 534 00:28:57,815 --> 00:28:59,375 What is the justice that we deserve? 535 00:28:59,375 --> 00:29:05,345 The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, but, but there 536 00:29:05,345 --> 00:29:07,265 was a baby born in a major. 537 00:29:08,765 --> 00:29:10,535 There was a baby born in a major. 538 00:29:10,865 --> 00:29:12,995 There was good news of great joy. 539 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:17,360 That will be for all people that today in the city of David, a 540 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:21,590 savior is born, Christ is born. 541 00:29:22,310 --> 00:29:24,950 And so you can be justified. 542 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:31,010 You can be made righteous before God because of what Christ has done. 543 00:29:31,490 --> 00:29:36,320 Notice here, what does Paul not say, or another way of asking that 544 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,110 is, what role do you play in this? 545 00:29:41,825 --> 00:29:43,145 Our final point for tonight, 546 00:29:45,275 --> 00:29:46,115 0.2 547 00:29:46,115 --> 00:29:50,345 of two is be amazed that God saves anyone. 548 00:29:50,765 --> 00:29:53,795 Be amazed that God saves anyone this Christmas. 549 00:29:53,945 --> 00:29:58,065 Be amazed that God, who lived a perfect life, who was born in a 550 00:29:58,065 --> 00:30:03,365 manger, lived and died for you. 551 00:30:03,995 --> 00:30:05,015 That's an incredible thing. 552 00:30:06,140 --> 00:30:09,350 There's no law of nature that says that that's something God had to do. 553 00:30:09,590 --> 00:30:14,420 There's no, there's no law of physics that says God had to save you, but he did. 554 00:30:15,530 --> 00:30:20,120 There's nothing that mandates that God loves you, but he does love you. 555 00:30:22,190 --> 00:30:26,180 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. 556 00:30:26,180 --> 00:30:27,860 What part do you play in that? 557 00:30:29,870 --> 00:30:31,460 It's your trespasses, right? 558 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:33,740 Where you delivered up for them. 559 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:34,675 Were not. 560 00:30:36,770 --> 00:30:41,960 You are justified or you raised up for that justification. 561 00:30:42,410 --> 00:30:42,830 You are not. 562 00:30:42,830 --> 00:30:43,940 What an incredible thing. 563 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,430 What an incredible promise from God. 564 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:52,760 What an incredible display of love for you that he would do such a thing. 565 00:30:53,330 --> 00:30:54,230 It's complete. 566 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:55,250 It's sufficient. 567 00:30:55,730 --> 00:30:56,390 It's done. 568 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:01,070 Again, a Christian grows a Christian sanctification that 569 00:31:01,070 --> 00:31:03,200 happens day by day in their life. 570 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:08,720 But once a justified Christian, always a justified Christian. 571 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:10,820 I'm not much of a football fan. 572 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:12,620 I'm a little bit better now. 573 00:31:13,550 --> 00:31:18,530 I'm not too proud of this story, but in high school, I started watching football. 574 00:31:20,780 --> 00:31:25,550 I was really confused because at the end of games, the clock was 575 00:31:25,550 --> 00:31:31,440 still ticking down, but everybody's cheering the like stadium is. 576 00:31:32,075 --> 00:31:32,675 Cheering. 577 00:31:32,675 --> 00:31:33,515 Everybody's happy. 578 00:31:33,515 --> 00:31:34,325 Everybody's excited. 579 00:31:34,325 --> 00:31:35,075 I'm like, well, wait a minute. 580 00:31:35,225 --> 00:31:38,195 The clock is still ticking down. 581 00:31:38,195 --> 00:31:39,065 What has happened? 582 00:31:40,895 --> 00:31:44,435 Well, the reality is a team had won, right? 583 00:31:44,435 --> 00:31:49,295 The scorebook don't, didn't reflect, and wouldn't reflect that a team had won 584 00:31:49,685 --> 00:31:52,925 until that clock clicked down to zero. 585 00:31:53,645 --> 00:31:54,935 But there was a final play. 586 00:31:54,935 --> 00:31:58,385 There was a final touchdown that sealed the deal. 587 00:32:00,455 --> 00:32:01,025 It was done. 588 00:32:02,150 --> 00:32:06,140 It would've actually been weird for the stadium to wait until the clock ticked 589 00:32:06,140 --> 00:32:07,430 all the way down to start cheering. 590 00:32:07,790 --> 00:32:10,790 It would've been odd to to wait for that to happen. 591 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:14,000 Jesus has sealed the deal. 592 00:32:14,180 --> 00:32:15,290 He has done it. 593 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:16,730 He has completed it. 594 00:32:17,060 --> 00:32:22,490 There is a time coming when Jesus will return and the the score books, 595 00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:24,650 the record books will be finalized. 596 00:32:25,925 --> 00:32:29,165 For this moment here in 2025, Jesus has done it. 597 00:32:29,195 --> 00:32:30,335 He has been victorious. 598 00:32:30,335 --> 00:32:36,125 There's nothing the enemy can do to undo his work. 599 00:32:36,635 --> 00:32:41,315 There's nothing that can be un, there's nothing that can undo his promise. 600 00:32:42,605 --> 00:32:48,580 And so this Christmas, this Christmas, you should celebrate what God has done. 601 00:32:49,580 --> 00:32:53,270 You should be amazed that God sent his son to die. 602 00:32:53,690 --> 00:32:57,200 You should be amazed that a baby was born in the manger. 603 00:32:57,530 --> 00:33:02,180 You should be amazed that he has given you this promise that if you believe in 604 00:33:02,180 --> 00:33:07,250 him, righteousness will be counted to you. 605 00:33:07,285 --> 00:33:11,060 Alright, let me pray for us and we'll go to small groups. 606 00:33:12,230 --> 00:33:13,640 Lord, thank you for Drew North. 607 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:14,810 Thank you for these students. 608 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:15,530 Thankful for those. 609 00:33:16,355 --> 00:33:17,285 Who have professed faith. 610 00:33:17,285 --> 00:33:20,675 I pray that they will be encouraged, that they will be, um, excited 611 00:33:20,675 --> 00:33:22,985 about what you've done, that they will be reminded of the gospel. 612 00:33:22,985 --> 00:33:25,775 For those here who are not saved, I pray that tonight will be the 613 00:33:25,775 --> 00:33:26,975 first night that they believe. 614 00:33:27,335 --> 00:33:29,615 I pray that they will believe in you. 615 00:33:30,605 --> 00:33:34,145 I, I pray that they will understand the problem they have, but they 616 00:33:34,145 --> 00:33:38,945 will understand how great a God you are, how much you love them. 617 00:33:40,385 --> 00:33:43,085 I pray that they will believe, um, that they will be. 618 00:33:43,985 --> 00:33:47,885 And their faith will be counted to them as righteousness as you promise. 619 00:33:48,455 --> 00:33:54,185 This is a good word for them and I pray that, uh, it will work in their hearts 620 00:33:54,185 --> 00:33:57,695 and their minds by the power of the Spirit this evening as you see fit. 621 00:33:58,115 --> 00:33:59,555 In Jesus name I pray, amen. 622 00:34:00,095 --> 00:34:00,965 Alright, thank you guys.