[0:00] I greet you in the name of Jesus this morning. It is very good to be here. The Lord has been faithful.
[0:16] The Lord has been working. And we want to praise Him for that. And we want to praise Him for that. But this morning, you know, we've heard the last couple Sundays' messages, various messages on faith.
[0:45] This morning, at least part of the message will be somewhat looking at that. But what I want to look at is, at least for part of the message, is what is the foundation of our faith?
[1:04] How can we have faith? What do we have faith in? You know, it seems like, you know, how often have you asked the question or had someone ask you, do you have enough faith for that?
[1:28] Well, do we have faith in our faith? How is it?
[1:40] How is our life? What is our faith based on? And truly, I believe our faith needs to be based upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
[1:54] And we'll be looking at that this morning. He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords. He is the Son of God. He is the Son of the living God.
[2:10] Let's turn to Hebrews. I think we'll start here in Hebrews. We'll start in chapter 10. You know, earlier in this chapter, I want to read the last couple of verses, but earlier in this chapter, say in verse 7, we have a quote out of the Old Testament Scriptures.
[2:37] Then said I, Lo, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God. A prophecy of the Lord Jesus.
[2:52] And he says, well, let's read verse 9. Then said he, well, let's just read verse 8 and 9. And above, when he said, sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin, thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein, which are offered by the law.
[3:14] Then said he, lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
[3:25] Jesus came to do the will of the Father. It was, Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth.
[3:37] How was that? Because God knew that Adam would sin. He knew that Adam and Eve would fall. And so he made provisions for humanity before even the foundation of the earth.
[3:52] But Jesus came to do the will of the Father. And then we have, we also have a quote in verse 16.
[4:15] And I will make them after those days, saith the Lord. I will put my laws into their hearts. And in their minds will I write them.
[4:27] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. And this is, I believe that's in Ezekiel. But it's a prophecy of the new covenant.
[4:38] And of Jesus bringing in the new covenant. And verse 19, having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
[4:55] And what I'm doing here is pointing to Jesus and what Jesus has done for us. It is by the blood of Jesus that we can come and that we can be born again and have eternal life.
[5:13] Jesus was sent to this earth. The only begotten Son of the Father. The Almighty God.
[5:24] Jesus is God. And it is important that we can, that we understand that and that we believe it.
[5:35] That Jesus was God when he came to earth. Yes, he lived in the body of a man. But Jesus was God.
[5:45] He came to earth to give his life for humanity. Now I want to go on and let's take a look here.
[6:02] Let's start reading in verse 35. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
[6:16] For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
[6:32] Now he's talking about the second coming of our Lord Jesus. Coming back to take his church home. But he says, as we go through this life, and as we go through trials and temptations, he says, don't cast away your confidence.
[6:51] Because our confidence, our faith, there's a great reward waiting for those who are faithful. There's a great reward for us if we will be faithful.
[7:06] So he admonishes us not to cast it away, but he says, we have need of patience. We have need of patience. How many times? You know, and we might look at it here, but actually, why don't I just...
[7:23] We read this here the other Sunday, in 2 Peter, where he says, We are partakers of the divine nature.
[7:38] And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge temperance, temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity.
[7:54] And these are things that our life must show them. And here in Hebrews, he says, we have need of patience.
[8:11] You know, how many times have we complained about a situation we find ourselves in? How many times have we gotten into some hardship or some trial, and we hear ourselves complaining?
[8:28] The Bible tells us we have need of patience. We have need of patience. That we endure patiently the trials that we are going through.
[8:47] You have need of patience that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come.
[9:02] You know, we are waiting. We are still waiting. On the coming of our Lord Jesus. But we don't just sit here and wait. We are active in the work of the Lord and whatever he would have for us.
[9:18] You know, we were challenged in our singing. Are we a tool for the master? Can he use us? Can he, you know, if we're complaining about our situation, he can't use us.
[9:33] But if we are patiently enduring faithfully and hearing his voice, he can use us. The just shall live by faith.
[9:46] But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. You know, many times I have to think of what we see in this nation.
[9:59] And, you know, it just seems that there's a softness. There's a compromise. There's, you know, people are not hardened soldiers like Timothy talks about.
[10:12] But when we're hit by trials, we're hit by those things that try us in our walk with the Lord.
[10:23] We just want to give in and we want to go with the flow. And we just want to take the easy route. But he says that just shall live by faith.
[10:35] If we, if we will be faithful. You know, a man of faith is a faithful man. If you're going to be a man of faith, you're going to be faithful in the situations and trials of life.
[10:51] You're going to be faithful in what God asks you. God asks you. You will walk a life of faithfulness. And he says, if any man draw back, he will not have pleasure in us.
[11:04] No, but he will give us strength to endure and to continue on. You know, we, in the last couple Sundays, I believe we've, we've looked partially at Hebrews 11 a couple times.
[11:31] But, and this chapter is known as, as the chapter of faith and, and the heroes of faith are listed. Not all of them, but some of them are listed here.
[11:44] And, you know, as, as I look at this chapter, there's something that stands out to me. Enoch says he was translated.
[12:04] And before his translation, he had this testimony that he pleased God. Noah. He was warned of God and he moved with fear.
[12:17] He prepared an ark. Abraham. Abraham. Abraham. He followed the commandment of God and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
[12:28] Sarah. Conceived seed when she was too old to, to bear a child because she judged him faithful who had promised.
[12:42] You know, there's, there's one thought that comes to me all through this chapter. And that is that these people, they knew God. They had a relationship with God.
[12:56] They knew God. And when the going got tough, they just kept on going. They kept on believing. Abraham, when he was promised a son, he kept on going.
[13:10] And for many years, it went many years till he finally saw the promise being fulfilled. But he knew the one that had promised.
[13:24] I asked you the question. Are we like Sarah? It says here, she judged him faithful who had promised.
[13:39] Do you judge God to be faithful in what he has promised? That he is able to keep that which I have committed under him against that day.
[13:53] He is able to complete and to finish the work that he has begun in our heart. He is able to take us on. He is able to carry us through faithfully and to the end.
[14:05] Hebrews 11 verse 1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for.
[14:16] The evidence of things not seen. Faith is the title deed of the things that we cannot see. Hallelujah.
[14:26] You know, if we see something, if we have it, I don't have to have faith that I have a Bible in my hand. No, because I can see it.
[14:39] Do we have faith that God is faithful in the things that we cannot see? Yes. Without faith, it is impossible to please him.
[14:51] So this faith, we must have this faith. But who is this faith in? It is in our Lord Jesus. And he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
[15:19] Our faith is based in the Almighty God. But now let's turn to Matthew chapter 16. You know, many people will say, yes, I believe in God.
[15:37] Yes, I believe that. Yes, yes. But their life does not show a true life of faith. So on a look here at Matthew 16.
[15:50] We'll start in verse 13. When Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?
[16:09] And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, and other Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
[16:25] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
[16:47] And I say unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. You know, so here we have other people.
[17:01] They were saying, Well, I think John the Baptist rose from the dead. Or I think one of the prophets has come back. Or on and on they went with their surmisings.
[17:20] But then Jesus asked a very important question. He said, You know, we hear what all those people are saying, But who do you say that I am?
[17:37] We would all answer with Peter, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. But is this a reality in our lives?
[17:53] Is this a reality in our heart and life today? Jesus said, Look at Jesus' response. He said, You are blessed.
[18:07] Flesh and blood hath not revealed this to you, but my Father which is in heaven. In other words, if we, if we have this revelation, the revelation of who Jesus is, that is what it takes to live a life of faith.
[18:31] is a revelation from the Spirit of God. Of the power of God and that Jesus is the Son of the living God.
[18:49] And Jesus, now He is risen from the dead and He lives forevermore. You know, this was a personal confrontation for Peter.
[19:04] It was a personal question. Who am I? Who do you say I am? Who do you say that I am?
[19:18] And who do you, us here today, who do we say that Jesus is? Peter knew Jesus.
[19:29] He knew who He was. He knew He was the carpenter. He knew He was the teacher from Galilee. He knew all of that.
[19:41] But it was a divine revelation for Peter to know that Jesus was the Son of the living God. God, this was a personal encounter, a personal experience.
[19:59] And that is what each one of us need today. A personal experience with Jesus, the Son of God, by the Spirit of God, revealed, Jesus revealed, Jesus acknowledged, and Jesus confessed.
[20:22] That is the true meaning of this account. He goes on, and He says, Upon this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
[20:50] Jesus is building His church upon the rock, Christ Jesus. And as we have this revelation of who Jesus is, we can walk in faith, and we can be strong in the time of trial, in the time of temptation, in the time of testing.
[21:13] We can be faithful because we know the One that is with us. We know the One that is with us is the Almighty God, the One that dwells within us.
[21:27] He is the Almighty God, and we can be faithful in the time of trial, in the time of testing. Let's go to Peter.
[21:44] Peter. Peter. Jesus told Peter, He said, Upon this rock, I will build My church.
[22:01] Now here in Peter, in 1 Peter chapter 2, I think we'll just start in verse 1.
[22:14] Wherefore laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.
[22:31] If so be, ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious.
[22:46] Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, to God, Jesus Christ.
[23:01] Wherefore also, it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
[23:20] Here's a quote directly out of Isaiah 28, 16 about this cornerstone, the stone that, it says, it also says that the stone that the builders reject that has become the head of the corner.
[23:42] It's a direct prophecy of Jesus. And now Jesus, he told Peter, upon this rock, so Jesus is the rock, the foundation of the church.
[23:55] He is the chief cornerstone, elect, and precious. And he tells us, if we believe on him, we will not be confounded, we will not be put to confusion.
[24:07] He will not, he will not let us down. He will not betray us. If we put our trust in him, if we trust him with our life, if we trust him with, with every circumstance of our life, if we trust him, he will not let us down.
[24:31] But he is the chief cornerstone. You know, what, what is a chief cornerstone?
[24:44] You know, whenever a building is built, there's this one corner, everything is measured off of that corner. Everything, the whole building, is laid out according to this one corner.
[24:58] And Jesus is that chief cornerstone. Everything in this building of the church is measured off of him. Everything, anything that does not fit, is outside.
[25:15] He says in verse 4, here in Peter, ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house. We are built, the church of Jesus Christ, is people like us, built on top of this cornerstone.
[25:31] We are built into this, into this building. Ephesians says, a habitation of God through the spirit. That is who we are.
[25:43] That is the church of Jesus Christ. We are, we are built, a temple of the Holy Ghost. And we are, upon this rock, the Lord Jesus Christ.
[26:02] He is the chief cornerstone. Everything is measured off of him. In chapter 1 and verse 13, you know, it's, we should read more here, but this one phrase that I want, talking about grace.
[26:26] Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind, and be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you, at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
[26:39] As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves, according to the former lusts, in your ignorance, but as he which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy.
[26:59] This chief cornerstone, it is Jesus, and he is holy. He is God. He is God. And we, if he will use us in his building, we will be holy.
[27:13] But how do we become holy? We will be looking at some of that, in a little bit. But, our God, has made all provisions for us.
[27:27] And if we will rest in him, if we will trust in him, he will take us on, and he will take us through. I think we'll turn to Colossians.
[27:45] Colossians chapter 1. You know, this is such a wonderful picture of our Lord Jesus here, here in Colossians.
[28:05] We'll start in verse 9. verse 10. Amen. For this cause, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that ye might walk worthy of the Lord, and all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, and all patience, and longsuffering with joyfulness.
[28:47] Notice what he's saying here. That we would walk worthy. The apostle is praying for the people here that he's writing to.
[28:58] And I believe he wrote this for us also. But his prayer is that we would walk worthy. That we would walk worthy of the Lord.
[29:10] That the almighty God that we serve, the one who gave his life for us, the one who loved us before we were, you know, while we were yet sinners, he loved us.
[29:24] He loved us. He didn't love us because we came to him. No. He loved us first. He loved us because he wanted to redeem us.
[29:43] He wanted fellowship. He wanted fellowship with humanity. Strengthened with all might.
[29:54] Where do we get all might? How are we strengthened? Strengthened with all might. We are so weak in ourselves, but as we acknowledge that we are weak in ourselves, then his strength can work in us and through us.
[30:09] He can fill us with his spirit and give us this strength. giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.
[30:46] Notice here he says, Ephesians, that he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
[31:08] You know, but now, he has quickened us and he has brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. But what I see here is that, you know, there's no middle ground.
[31:23] Either we are under the influence of the prince and the power of the air, the spirit of disobedience, or we are under the influence and the power of the Holy Ghost.
[31:34] It's not in between. We're never our own man. We're either under the influence of the evil one or under the influence of the Lord Jesus and the Holy Ghost.
[31:51] Now let's continue on here in Colossians. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
[32:18] Notice, he's talking about Jesus here, the firstborn. He is the image of the invisible God. He is God here on this earth.
[32:30] Yes, he's not here physically anymore, but he is here in the form of the Holy Ghost. And we'll continue. We'll see more of that as we go on.
[32:43] For by him were all things created that are in heaven, that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
[32:58] All things were created by him and for him. You were created for one purpose, and that was to bring honor and glory to our God.
[33:13] We were created by him and for him. He is before all things. By him all things consist. You know, how many times are we tempted to be rebellious?
[33:28] Or do we see someone who is rebellious against the will of God? But it is by him that we exist. Remember, what was it?
[33:39] The king, well, the king Belshazzar, Daniel told him, the God in whose hand thy breath is. You have defied him, you've blasphemed him, you've whatever.
[33:58] The king's breath was in the hand of God and ours is also. It is by him that we have our breath and that we live.
[34:10] our life is a gift from God. By him all things consist.
[34:21] Verse 18, And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence, for it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.
[34:38] notice this, that Jesus would have the preeminence in all things. Why? Because it pleased the Father that it should be that way.
[34:50] and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself.
[35:06] By him I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven, and you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.
[35:21] Hallelujah. He has reconciled us by his blood, by the blood shed on the cross. How did that work? Because God said that blood is sufficient.
[35:36] That blood will pay the penalty for sin. Why? Because Jesus was the sinless, spotless Lamb of God sent to earth.
[35:49] to live here and to die and to give his life a ransom for many. You that were sometime alienated and enemies, that's who we were.
[36:05] We were enemies of our Lord Jesus. But now, if we're born again, we are reconciled unto him in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight.
[36:25] Hallelujah. This is what he will do if we will walk in faith, if we will walk faithfully until the day he calls us home. He will present us faultless unto the Father to present you holy.
[36:42] holy. You know, we read those verses that we need to be holy, that we serve a holy God and we need to be holy. You know, none of us is holy in our own self.
[36:56] But because of Jesus, he will present us holy. He will present us unblameable and unreprovable in the sight of God.
[37:09] Hallelujah. If we will walk this walk of humility and holiness, if we will walk humbly with our God in obedience, notice what he says there, if ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.
[37:36] That's what he was talking about in Hebrews where he talked about drawing back. He said, but we are not of those that draw back unto perdition, but of those that continue on unto the saving of the soul.
[37:53] Here he brings it out again. If we continue in the faith, grounded and settled, how can we be grounded and settled?
[38:03] It is as we have this revelation of Jesus Christ, as we know who Jesus is and he becomes a reality in our heart.
[38:17] It's not just something that we hear about. It's not just someone we talk about, but it is someone that is real to me.
[38:29] in my heart, in my life. If we continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel.
[38:46] Oh, hallelujah. in this gospel, verse 26, even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints, to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
[39:19] Hallelujah. Christ in us, the hope of glory, whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
[39:45] You know, these verses are so full, they're so loaded, but he says, he preaches this, and he warns every man, teaching every man in all wisdom, wisdom, the comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God.
[40:07] You know, are you, are you dedicating your life to learning to know this Jesus? Are you dedicating your life to walking with him and gaining comprehensive insight into the ways and the purposes of God Almighty?
[40:30] He says here, that is wisdom. that we may present every man perfect.
[40:41] Amen. Hallelujah. Now, we'll just cut in here in verse 3 in chapter 2.
[40:55] He says in verse 2, that their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love to acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ.
[41:08] In whom, verse 3, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge? In Jesus. You know, if you want to be wise, learn to know Jesus.
[41:23] If you want to be wise, learn to know him more. if you want to know the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, learn to know our God.
[41:37] Yes. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
[41:59] As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. How have we received Christ? It was by faith, was it not?
[42:12] We came to him and we believed, we had faith, that his blood is sufficient to pay for my sin and to cleanse me and to birth me a new man.
[42:25] So as we have begun in him, we need to continue on. And there's a reason he says this, let's just keep on.
[42:42] Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
[42:52] beware, lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ.
[43:06] For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and ye are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power.
[43:19] he warns them and I believe that we need this warning as much or more than they did. Beware, lest any man spoil you.
[43:33] Spoil you through what? Spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit. What's he talking about? He's talking about men teaching an easier way.
[43:48] He's talking about men preaching a deluded gospel. He's talking about men preaching salvation without the cross. Philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men, rudiments of the world.
[44:12] you know, you know, it's endless. If we would want to list what's all included in this verse, it would be endless.
[44:26] And so it is of utmost importance that we know this word and that we live by this word and that we know our Lord Jesus.
[44:38] so when false doctrine comes we identify it. Notice verse 9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and ye are complete in him.
[45:06] we are complete in Christ. We don't need to go after other things.
[45:19] We don't need to run hither and yon to experience other things. But we find everything we need in our Lord Jesus.
[45:31] We find everything we need in him. Jesus is the living word. The Bible is the written word.
[45:42] And we find everything that we need in him. He has sent the comforter. He is the spirit of Christ and he lives within us.
[45:54] Do you know him? Do you know him personally? Do you know who he is? Have you been born again of the spirit of God?
[46:11] Yes. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ buried with him in baptism wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the den.
[46:44] You know he brings in circumcision and and the Jews knew very well what what physical circumcision was but that was just a sign of the circumcision that we are partakers of he says the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh that old man is crucified and it is cut it is cut off death to that old man that is what he is saying here we are buried with Jesus in baptism we die with Christ in baptism when we're baptized and we go under that water it shows it it's a it's a type of our death that old man dying and then being risen again with him through the faith of the operation of
[47:57] God who has raised him from the dead so as Jesus has risen from the dead as we again come out of that water we are showing that we are risen with him we are a new creation in Christ Jesus are we risen with him are we alive today in the spirit risen with our Lord Jesus other foundation can no man lay no but that which is laid and that is our Lord Jesus in Ephesians 2 and we looked at the first part of this chapter and he says he talks about our old life but then in verse 4 but
[49:08] God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us but God those words are so wonderful and they change everything God did not wait till we loved him God did not wait till we till we came and repented no but he loved us while we were yet sinners he sent Jesus to die for us that's what this but God means but God who is rich in mercy he had great love for us even when we were dead in sins he has quickened us together with Christ by grace ye are saved and has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in
[50:09] Christ Jesus remember that diagram Ed put on the board a couple weeks ago we are seated with him in heavenly places that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus what's he saying here the ages to come in our age today he wants to show the riches of his grace to us and through us to a lost and a dying world he wants to show the awesome greatness and grace of our God that they too might come and be saved verse eight for by grace are you saved through faith that not of yourselves it is the gift of
[51:15] God not of works lest any man should boast for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them so there we have again the the good works and and you know what the Jews got confused with and what many people today get confused with is they want to do good works so they're pleasing to God but we can never please God until we are that new we are born again and we are a new creation in Christ and then because that we are born again then we will have those good works you know I want to look at Romans he talks about that here in
[52:16] Romans chapter 9 9 and 10 I want to start in verse 30 in chapter 9 what shall we say then that the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness have attained to righteousness even the righteousness which is of faith but Israel which followed after the law of righteousness hath not attained to the law of righteousness you know he was he was talking there you know the Jews on one side the Gentiles on the other but I believe that today we have the same thing people that are not necessarily
[53:16] Jews but religious and trying to earn their own righteousness by living a good life people you know and this word righteousness what does that mean you know a quick definition for that is right standing with God he says here that the Gentiles they weren't trying to live a life in right standing with God but they found it through faith they came into this the Jews the people that were trying to live a righteous life the people that were trying to live a life that is pleasing to God they didn't attain why not because they were doing it in their own strength they were doing it in their flesh in the power of the old man and that old man will never never be pleasing to
[54:27] God verse 32 he says how come because they sought it not by faith but as it were by works for they stumbled at that stumbling stone that stumbling stone you know Jesus is a stumbling stone he is the one that the religious people stumble over as it is written behold I lay in Zion a stumbling stone a rock of offense whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed brethren my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved for I bear them record they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge these people had a zeal for
[55:34] God and because of that zeal for God they lived a life that was separate it was different from the lives of those around about them but they could not attain to the righteousness that they were seeking says here they had a zeal of God but not according to knowledge for they being ignorant of God's righteousness they were ignorant of God's righteousness they were ignorant of what it took to bring a man into right standing with God and because they were ignorant of that they went about to establish their own righteousness they were trying to be righteous by their good works they were trying to be righteous by their lifestyle which could never save them but notice what he says here they have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of
[56:58] God because they were over here trying to live a life pleasing to God they missed the reality of righteousness in Jesus Christ verse four for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth Christ is the end of righteousness by good works when Jesus came and brought in the new covenant it was the end of righteousness it was the end of working for your righteousness the only way to be in right standing with God is through the blood of
[57:59] Jesus Christ for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth now let's go down well for Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law that the man which doeth those things shall live by them but the law proved that no man could live a life pleasing to God in their own strength but the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise say not in thine heart who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ again from the dead but what saith it the word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach the word of faith the word that believes in
[59:10] Jesus Christ that if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead thou!
[59:22] shalt be saved for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation for the scripture saith whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed so coming into the righteousness that God requires can only be experienced by the blood of Jesus Christ and he tells us how here he says when we hear this word this word of faith we hear this word and it it arises in our heart we he says for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness we believe this word but when we believe it we must speak it forth with the mouth confession is made hallelujah if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
[60:39] Lord Jesus shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved so if we believe in Jesus if we believe in the one who is the chief cornerstone the one that God sent to live here to shed his blood and to rise again we believe in him hallelujah if we believe in him that is the foundation of our faith our foundation is rooted and grounded in the fact that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life that is the foundation of our faith is in the almighty
[61:50] God and his love for humanity do you know him personally do you know him do you know do you know him as the answer to every need in your life that's who he would like to be not only your savior but your lord and your master if he's not your lord he won't be your savior is he your lord and your master then he is also your savior he came to redeem us he came to fill us with his spirit the very life of christ you know peter says we are partakers of the divine nature the very nature of god is that new creation within us do you have that personal walk with him to the point that you trust him to the point that you know his voice do we know the voice of the shepherd do we know his voice do we obey when he speaks to us amen let's pray lord we thank you for your great love for us lord we thank you for making all provisions for us lord i thank you that we are complete in you we never need anything else we just need more of you lord might we humbly walk with you lord that you can work in us and through us for your good pleasure lord help us lord that we will grow in this walk with you that we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our lord jesus christ we pray in jesus name amen for