1 00:00:01,034 --> 00:00:04,270 I'll go ahead and put this up here for you. 2 00:00:07,674 --> 00:00:09,776 So what happens is this, I got this vertical realm, 3 00:00:09,876 --> 00:00:11,077 I got this horizontal realm. 4 00:00:11,711 --> 00:00:14,614 And so in the horizontal realm, God says, 5 00:00:14,981 --> 00:00:17,150 you're a creature, the first relationship, 6 00:00:17,550 --> 00:00:19,552 you have an obligation to those other people 7 00:00:19,552 --> 00:00:20,653 who are living around you. 8 00:00:21,087 --> 00:00:22,989 I want you to love them and care for them 9 00:00:22,989 --> 00:00:24,057 and meet their needs. 10 00:00:24,324 --> 00:00:25,291 That's my obligation. 11 00:00:25,692 --> 00:00:28,194 And so I start paying attention to what they need 12 00:00:28,194 --> 00:00:29,229 and thinking about their needs 13 00:00:29,229 --> 00:00:30,263 and I try to help them. 14 00:00:30,964 --> 00:00:31,731 And I do that. 15 00:00:32,232 --> 00:00:33,533 What gives me direction in that? 16 00:00:34,434 --> 00:00:34,768 The law. 17 00:00:35,902 --> 00:00:36,403 God's will. 18 00:00:36,970 --> 00:00:37,537 The curb. 19 00:00:38,038 --> 00:00:39,406 Helps me figure out what I should be doing. 20 00:00:39,739 --> 00:00:41,307 But I don't do it so well. 21 00:00:41,941 --> 00:00:43,443 I make mistakes, I fail. 22 00:00:43,743 --> 00:00:45,512 So my conscience begins to convict me 23 00:00:45,512 --> 00:00:47,147 because the law always accuses. 24 00:00:48,048 --> 00:00:50,784 And the law bites me and helps me realize, 25 00:00:50,950 --> 00:00:52,452 ah, I didn't do it the way I should. 26 00:00:52,652 --> 00:00:53,186 I failed. 27 00:00:53,486 --> 00:00:56,156 And so then I come in God's presence 28 00:00:56,156 --> 00:00:57,757 and when I'm in God's presence, 29 00:00:57,757 --> 00:00:58,925 He says, I'm in sin. 30 00:01:00,427 --> 00:01:02,195 How are you doing with this keeping of the law? 31 00:01:02,996 --> 00:01:03,797 Not very well. 32 00:01:04,964 --> 00:01:07,400 In fact, I don't have much to offer here at all. 33 00:01:07,867 --> 00:01:08,601 No good things. 34 00:01:09,135 --> 00:01:10,270 I'm in bad shape. 35 00:01:11,171 --> 00:01:14,307 And God says, you're in worse shape than you realize. 36 00:01:14,507 --> 00:01:16,810 You haven't even come close and I'm dead. 37 00:01:17,143 --> 00:01:18,578 The law kills me. 38 00:01:18,945 --> 00:01:23,983 And then the gospel of Christ makes me alive 39 00:01:23,983 --> 00:01:26,653 and gives me forgiveness, raises me up, 40 00:01:26,653 --> 00:01:27,987 makes me alive again. 41 00:01:28,588 --> 00:01:29,689 Having been made alive 42 00:01:29,689 --> 00:01:32,559 and having this wonderful gospel message from God, 43 00:01:33,226 --> 00:01:33,793 now what? 44 00:01:34,294 --> 00:01:36,930 Well, God turns around and sends me right back out 45 00:01:36,930 --> 00:01:39,099 into the world, into my relationships 46 00:01:39,099 --> 00:01:41,034 where I was there working before. 47 00:01:41,634 --> 00:01:44,070 I'm not set free from those responsibilities, 48 00:01:44,070 --> 00:01:47,207 but I am turned loose back into those relationships 49 00:01:47,207 --> 00:01:48,908 that tells me what I need to be doing 50 00:01:48,908 --> 00:01:50,076 and I go do them. 51 00:01:50,410 --> 00:01:54,747 I do them not thinking that somehow my performance 52 00:01:55,415 --> 00:01:56,883 solidifies my standing before God. 53 00:01:56,983 --> 00:01:58,618 That's a different issue altogether. 54 00:01:59,018 --> 00:02:02,222 I do them simply because that's what Christians do, 55 00:02:02,622 --> 00:02:03,389 the indicative. 56 00:02:03,590 --> 00:02:05,191 It simply describes what I do 57 00:02:05,191 --> 00:02:08,027 and the imperative because my neighbor needs them 58 00:02:08,795 --> 00:02:10,663 and God wants me to do them. 59 00:02:10,964 --> 00:02:12,899 Do I earn brownie points with God by doing them? 60 00:02:12,999 --> 00:02:13,333 No. 61 00:02:13,933 --> 00:02:15,068 I get more saved? 62 00:02:15,368 --> 00:02:15,835 No. 63 00:02:16,703 --> 00:02:18,338 I'm simply doing what God has called me to do. 64 00:02:18,571 --> 00:02:21,007 That's why you live in this continual pattern. 65 00:02:21,207 --> 00:02:22,575 And so I'm out here doing my thing. 66 00:02:22,709 --> 00:02:23,510 How do I perform? 67 00:02:23,510 --> 00:02:24,911 Well, not always very well. 68 00:02:25,011 --> 00:02:26,813 And so I'm driven back to God again 69 00:02:26,813 --> 00:02:28,548 to hear the word of forgiveness one more time 70 00:02:28,548 --> 00:02:30,150 and it's an ongoing thing. 71 00:02:31,151 --> 00:02:34,254 And so the second use of the law as mirror, 72 00:02:34,287 --> 00:02:35,688 is that a one-time thing? 73 00:02:36,256 --> 00:02:36,656 No. 74 00:02:37,190 --> 00:02:39,459 Daily, hourly, minute by minute, 75 00:02:39,926 --> 00:02:41,528 I realize my need for God's forgiveness 76 00:02:41,528 --> 00:02:42,595 again and again and again. 77 00:02:42,795 --> 00:02:44,597 And the law is one of these things 78 00:02:44,597 --> 00:02:47,133 that just when you think you got it under control, 79 00:02:47,767 --> 00:02:49,569 that's when it's gonna get you and it bites you. 80 00:02:49,569 --> 00:02:53,373 And that's why Kolb likes to call it a domesticated wolf. 81 00:02:53,740 --> 00:02:55,408 You know, you think you got it under control 82 00:02:55,408 --> 00:02:57,277 and just when you're getting a little comfortable with it, 83 00:02:57,443 --> 00:02:59,379 it turns and snaps and takes off your hand. 84 00:03:00,180 --> 00:03:01,714 And you're in trouble again. 85 00:03:02,348 --> 00:03:04,350 So you just, you think you're getting it figured out, 86 00:03:04,551 --> 00:03:06,152 you're really doing well in your life 87 00:03:06,152 --> 00:03:07,654 and then that's when it happens. 88 00:03:07,820 --> 00:03:10,390 You stumble, you fall flat and man, what a mess. 89 00:03:10,623 --> 00:03:12,559 And there you are, back before God, 90 00:03:12,992 --> 00:03:14,861 empty pockets, begging for forgiveness. 91 00:03:16,029 --> 00:03:17,564 And see, the other thing is this. 92 00:03:19,165 --> 00:03:23,670 In the realm before God, it's all about the gospel. 93 00:03:24,771 --> 00:03:27,974 But out here in the world, in this civil realm, 94 00:03:28,508 --> 00:03:30,210 in the realm where I live day to day, 95 00:03:30,743 --> 00:03:33,713 it's all about the law. 96 00:03:35,515 --> 00:03:37,917 And the gospel really doesn't apply out here. 97 00:03:39,152 --> 00:03:40,620 The law calls the shots. 98 00:03:41,187 --> 00:03:43,556 The law tells me what's expected and what I need to do, 99 00:03:43,990 --> 00:03:44,891 the good will of God. 100 00:03:44,891 --> 00:03:47,327 And I pay attention to it. 101 00:03:47,527 --> 00:03:50,430 And I take seriously what I'm called to do 102 00:03:50,430 --> 00:03:52,365 and work hard at these things. 103 00:03:53,099 --> 00:03:55,368 The other thing you realize is that 104 00:03:55,368 --> 00:03:58,037 when you go before God then, 105 00:03:59,005 --> 00:04:02,909 you could have a tremendous amount of righteousness 106 00:04:03,576 --> 00:04:05,612 out here in the civil realm, 107 00:04:07,113 --> 00:04:09,382 have a great level of righteousness 108 00:04:09,382 --> 00:04:11,451 and good works to your credit 109 00:04:11,451 --> 00:04:13,586 and all kinds of things that are right on track, 110 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:14,587 lots of good works. 111 00:04:14,587 --> 00:04:18,191 But what standing do those have before God? 112 00:04:20,460 --> 00:04:22,495 None. None. 113 00:04:23,129 --> 00:04:24,631 Worse, they're actually detrimental. 114 00:04:27,667 --> 00:04:30,970 Because in the civil realm, so I'm a good husband. 115 00:04:31,404 --> 00:04:33,406 Great. I'm a good dad. Wonderful. 116 00:04:33,506 --> 00:04:34,274 My kids love me. 117 00:04:34,540 --> 00:04:36,342 I'm a good neighbor. I mow my neighbor's lawn. 118 00:04:36,476 --> 00:04:37,377 I rake her gumballs. 119 00:04:37,510 --> 00:04:38,278 And if you're not from St. Louis, 120 00:04:38,378 --> 00:04:39,812 you haven't learned about gumballs yet, 121 00:04:40,013 --> 00:04:41,381 you can look forward to that. 122 00:04:41,881 --> 00:04:44,417 And so you take care of the things you need to do 123 00:04:44,417 --> 00:04:45,652 and you're a great guy. 124 00:04:46,085 --> 00:04:48,388 And everybody says, he's the greatest guy. 125 00:04:48,388 --> 00:04:49,155 He's wonderful. 126 00:04:49,689 --> 00:04:51,891 And so now I go waltzing into God's presence and say, 127 00:04:52,125 --> 00:04:53,893 God, here comes the great guy. 128 00:04:54,694 --> 00:04:57,330 Man, have I got the good deeds racked up. 129 00:04:58,197 --> 00:05:00,533 And what kind of reception do I get from God? 130 00:05:02,368 --> 00:05:03,870 Yeah, not a happy one. 131 00:05:04,203 --> 00:05:05,104 In fact, he says, 132 00:05:05,438 --> 00:05:08,374 what is this stinking pile of junk I smell in here? 133 00:05:08,574 --> 00:05:09,942 Oh, those are your good works. 134 00:05:11,077 --> 00:05:11,878 Pretty foul. 135 00:05:11,878 --> 00:05:14,414 Because you see, everything I consider a good work, 136 00:05:14,647 --> 00:05:16,115 what even other people might consider a good work, 137 00:05:16,316 --> 00:05:18,685 in God's presence, never measures up 138 00:05:18,685 --> 00:05:20,353 because it's polluted with sin. 139 00:05:21,154 --> 00:05:22,889 This is the secret of Isaiah when he says, 140 00:05:23,389 --> 00:05:25,792 all of our righteous acts are as filthy rags. 141 00:05:26,993 --> 00:05:28,127 See, Isaiah's not talking about 142 00:05:28,127 --> 00:05:29,629 fake attempts at good works. 143 00:05:29,696 --> 00:05:31,331 He's talking about real genuine good works 144 00:05:31,331 --> 00:05:32,665 that people in the world would say, 145 00:05:32,765 --> 00:05:33,499 oh, that's great. 146 00:05:34,334 --> 00:05:34,867 Good job. 147 00:05:35,635 --> 00:05:37,370 And he says, those are filthy rags 148 00:05:37,370 --> 00:05:39,238 because you bring those before me 149 00:05:39,238 --> 00:05:40,873 and you try to earn credit with God 150 00:05:41,074 --> 00:05:43,710 with those things and that's offensive. 151 00:05:44,711 --> 00:05:45,912 God is not pleased. 152 00:05:46,346 --> 00:05:47,046 He rejects them. 153 00:05:48,047 --> 00:05:48,848 No use for them. 154 00:05:49,349 --> 00:05:49,949 I'm kind of confused. 155 00:05:50,483 --> 00:05:51,617 It's one thing. 156 00:05:51,984 --> 00:05:52,352 I don't know. 157 00:05:52,752 --> 00:05:55,555 This is like very strict concordance with himself. 158 00:05:56,189 --> 00:05:59,892 That the marriage to a new day is a work 159 00:05:59,892 --> 00:06:01,928 as a guide, as responsible as well. 160 00:06:02,362 --> 00:06:04,063 But that it brings glory to God. 161 00:06:04,831 --> 00:06:06,432 That's the, how do you fit that in 162 00:06:06,432 --> 00:06:07,233 with what you're saying here, 163 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:08,234 and not fit it in. 164 00:06:08,301 --> 00:06:10,236 I say it brings glory to God 165 00:06:10,236 --> 00:06:12,538 because I'm doing what God is giving me to do. 166 00:06:13,473 --> 00:06:15,308 Just like the duck brings glory to God 167 00:06:15,308 --> 00:06:16,776 when he flies south for the summer, 168 00:06:16,943 --> 00:06:18,544 or for the winter, okay? 169 00:06:19,112 --> 00:06:21,781 And just like the rock brings glory to God 170 00:06:21,781 --> 00:06:23,616 when it lies in the sun and gets warm, 171 00:06:23,916 --> 00:06:25,952 when it's sunny, and gets cold when it's cold. 172 00:06:26,786 --> 00:06:27,920 He's honoring God. 173 00:06:29,222 --> 00:06:29,989 Good rock. 174 00:06:29,989 --> 00:06:32,425 So our world still brings glory to God 175 00:06:32,425 --> 00:06:35,962 and celebrates in that. 176 00:06:36,396 --> 00:06:40,133 But, you see, now this is interesting here. 177 00:06:40,133 --> 00:06:42,769 So, I'm doing all these good things, 178 00:06:42,769 --> 00:06:43,603 and I'm a great guy. 179 00:06:44,070 --> 00:06:46,105 Living right next to me is a good Mormon. 180 00:06:47,573 --> 00:06:48,708 And Mormons are good. 181 00:06:49,275 --> 00:06:50,743 They've gotta be, because they're trying to go to heaven. 182 00:06:51,511 --> 00:06:53,713 And so, he's a good guy. 183 00:06:54,881 --> 00:06:57,250 In fact, would you like to have a Mormon for a neighbor? 184 00:06:57,550 --> 00:06:58,284 I'll take him. 185 00:06:59,385 --> 00:07:00,787 He's gonna mow his lawn when he should. 186 00:07:00,887 --> 00:07:03,256 He'll probably be happy to take care of my garbage can 187 00:07:03,256 --> 00:07:04,223 for me when I'm on vacation. 188 00:07:04,490 --> 00:07:06,125 He'll probably look after things for me. 189 00:07:06,426 --> 00:07:07,660 I mean, do I have to worry about him 190 00:07:07,660 --> 00:07:09,128 breaking into my house and stealing stuff? 191 00:07:09,128 --> 00:07:09,629 No. 192 00:07:10,329 --> 00:07:11,964 I mean, he's gonna be a great neighbor. 193 00:07:12,632 --> 00:07:13,065 Good guy. 194 00:07:13,366 --> 00:07:14,467 Not gonna have wild parties. 195 00:07:15,034 --> 00:07:16,335 You know, I don't have to worry about him getting drunk 196 00:07:16,335 --> 00:07:17,203 and messing up things. 197 00:07:17,270 --> 00:07:18,204 He's gonna be a good guy. 198 00:07:18,638 --> 00:07:19,505 I'll take it. 199 00:07:20,139 --> 00:07:22,375 So he's got all kinds of righteousness 200 00:07:23,109 --> 00:07:24,010 in the eyes of the world. 201 00:07:24,644 --> 00:07:25,278 Lots of it. 202 00:07:25,812 --> 00:07:28,381 Is he leading a God-pleasing life? 203 00:07:31,284 --> 00:07:32,752 In one sense, yes. 204 00:07:33,486 --> 00:07:34,320 In one sense. 205 00:07:34,787 --> 00:07:35,922 Because what's he doing? 206 00:07:36,255 --> 00:07:37,123 He's obeying the law. 207 00:07:37,623 --> 00:07:37,924 Right? 208 00:07:37,924 --> 00:07:40,460 He's conforming himself to the will of God. 209 00:07:40,827 --> 00:07:41,828 This is a good thing. 210 00:07:41,928 --> 00:07:42,829 God-pleasing. 211 00:07:43,529 --> 00:07:44,831 Is it salvific? 212 00:07:46,032 --> 00:07:46,966 Not at all. 213 00:07:47,767 --> 00:07:50,169 In other words, does he earn salvation by what he's doing? 214 00:07:50,837 --> 00:07:51,471 No way. 215 00:07:52,138 --> 00:07:55,508 In fact, the more he piles up his good works, 216 00:07:55,875 --> 00:07:57,643 probably the more deluded he becomes 217 00:07:57,643 --> 00:08:00,112 into thinking he's right on track and really doing great 218 00:08:00,112 --> 00:08:01,914 and then the bigger problem he's got. 219 00:08:02,148 --> 00:08:03,850 Because now when he walks into God's presence 220 00:08:03,850 --> 00:08:06,452 with his pockets bulging with all of his good works 221 00:08:06,452 --> 00:08:08,754 and his backpack overflowing with all of his good works 222 00:08:08,754 --> 00:08:10,256 and he dumps them in front of God 223 00:08:10,256 --> 00:08:13,259 and watches them all turn into, you know, pick your noun. 224 00:08:14,093 --> 00:08:16,362 And then he's in serious trouble 225 00:08:16,362 --> 00:08:18,965 because God is offended by that. 226 00:08:19,732 --> 00:08:22,969 Who's brought this pile of junk in before me? 227 00:08:24,604 --> 00:08:25,872 And the curse comes. 228 00:08:26,672 --> 00:08:27,473 You see, that's the thing. 229 00:08:27,573 --> 00:08:29,108 It's two different worlds. 230 00:08:29,775 --> 00:08:33,312 Civil, in a civil realm, righteousness out the ears. 231 00:08:33,412 --> 00:08:35,715 Is it God-pleasing to be civilly righteous? 232 00:08:35,715 --> 00:08:36,515 Sure. 233 00:08:38,684 --> 00:08:40,853 So, multimillionaire gives a few million dollars 234 00:08:40,853 --> 00:08:41,654 to build a hospital. 235 00:08:41,787 --> 00:08:42,488 Is that a good thing? 236 00:08:43,523 --> 00:08:44,023 God-pleasing? 237 00:08:45,625 --> 00:08:46,592 Yeah, it makes sense. 238 00:08:46,859 --> 00:08:48,227 God wants his world cared for. 239 00:08:48,327 --> 00:08:49,829 He wants hospitals built. 240 00:08:50,096 --> 00:08:51,063 This is a good thing. 241 00:08:51,330 --> 00:08:54,066 But is God going to give him salvation because of this? 242 00:08:54,233 --> 00:08:55,167 Absolutely not. 243 00:08:55,701 --> 00:08:57,904 Because salvation is always the same thing. 244 00:08:58,271 --> 00:08:59,171 It's always about grace. 245 00:08:59,772 --> 00:09:01,807 Always, always, always about grace. 246 00:09:02,008 --> 00:09:02,775 Never performance. 247 00:09:04,710 --> 00:09:05,077 Okay? 248 00:09:05,311 --> 00:09:05,645 Brad? 249 00:09:08,681 --> 00:09:10,950 Before you said the guiding part, only Christians. 250 00:09:11,417 --> 00:09:11,551 Yeah. 251 00:09:11,784 --> 00:09:12,285 Can do that. 252 00:09:12,385 --> 00:09:12,685 Right. 253 00:09:12,985 --> 00:09:18,391 But, in some sense, there's kind of like an overlap. 254 00:09:18,691 --> 00:09:19,292 There's a lot of overlap. 255 00:09:19,892 --> 00:09:22,628 What you stumbled on is part of my, yeah, okay? 256 00:09:22,895 --> 00:09:24,797 What you stumbled on is what I was going to give you today. 257 00:09:24,964 --> 00:09:26,232 I'm going to wait until you put a book in your mind. 258 00:09:26,465 --> 00:09:28,067 But you didn't force me. 259 00:09:28,701 --> 00:09:28,868 Alright? 260 00:09:29,535 --> 00:09:30,069 Force my hand. 261 00:09:30,369 --> 00:09:32,672 In fact, what we have going here is in a sense 262 00:09:32,672 --> 00:09:34,106 almost three kinds of righteousness. 263 00:09:34,907 --> 00:09:39,345 Because we have a righteousness before God, which is all about God killing me and making 264 00:09:39,345 --> 00:09:40,479 me alive and about the Gospel. 265 00:09:41,147 --> 00:09:46,485 And we have a righteousness before the world, which is simply conforming to the law. 266 00:09:46,619 --> 00:09:47,653 Whether I know it or not. 267 00:09:48,454 --> 00:09:52,625 So, the philanthropist who gives millions of dollars and the Mormon who's being nice. 268 00:09:53,426 --> 00:09:53,859 Righteousness? 269 00:09:54,060 --> 00:09:54,393 You bet. 270 00:09:54,694 --> 00:09:55,194 Lots of it. 271 00:09:55,728 --> 00:09:56,929 Then we have another kind of righteousness. 272 00:09:57,163 --> 00:09:59,899 Well, I would call it a third kind of righteousness, which is the Christian. 273 00:10:00,232 --> 00:10:02,268 Simply doing the things that God has given him to do. 274 00:10:02,268 --> 00:10:06,872 The difference between this righteousness of the Christian and the righteousness of 275 00:10:06,872 --> 00:10:09,809 the Mormon on the outside, what's the difference? 276 00:10:11,110 --> 00:10:11,510 Negligible. 277 00:10:12,144 --> 00:10:15,181 The guy living down the street looking at my Mormon neighbor and me, probably tell a 278 00:10:15,181 --> 00:10:15,615 little difference. 279 00:10:15,715 --> 00:10:17,049 Except probably the Mormon's a little better. 280 00:10:18,384 --> 00:10:18,784 Alright? 281 00:10:19,251 --> 00:10:20,252 He can't see any difference. 282 00:10:21,187 --> 00:10:22,154 The Mormon smiles more. 283 00:10:22,188 --> 00:10:22,788 I get crabby. 284 00:10:24,056 --> 00:10:26,225 And so, he can't tell any difference at all. 285 00:10:26,626 --> 00:10:27,493 He doesn't see any difference. 286 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:29,095 But in fact, there's a real difference. 287 00:10:29,428 --> 00:10:31,631 The real difference is I'm justified. 288 00:10:31,631 --> 00:10:33,532 So, I know where I stand before Christ. 289 00:10:34,467 --> 00:10:36,636 And I have something the Mormon doesn't. 290 00:10:37,203 --> 00:10:40,973 I have the freedom of going to bed at night knowing where I stand with God. 291 00:10:41,607 --> 00:10:42,608 Never having to wonder. 292 00:10:43,209 --> 00:10:43,876 Never having to doubt. 293 00:10:44,243 --> 00:10:48,047 Because no matter how hard I knock myself out in any given day and no matter how bad 294 00:10:48,047 --> 00:10:52,685 I fail in any given day, still God's forgiven child never changes. 295 00:10:52,952 --> 00:10:54,887 And the Mormon never has that assurance. 296 00:10:55,054 --> 00:10:59,825 Because what he has done is he has confused this righteousness with this righteousness. 297 00:10:59,825 --> 00:11:04,730 And he thinks that somehow his good job will earn him good standing before God. 298 00:11:04,764 --> 00:11:06,232 He's in big trouble. 299 00:11:06,465 --> 00:11:10,736 But, in reality, these are both righteousnesses out there in the world. 300 00:11:11,103 --> 00:11:11,971 And they look a lot the same. 301 00:11:12,371 --> 00:11:17,076 And don't we sometimes do the lowest, the lower of those lines? 302 00:11:17,076 --> 00:11:17,510 That's it! 303 00:11:18,811 --> 00:11:21,013 Sometimes the curb motivates me. 304 00:11:21,414 --> 00:11:22,648 And really that's the bottom line. 305 00:11:22,715 --> 00:11:23,549 That's the bottom line. 306 00:11:23,749 --> 00:11:23,916 Sure. 307 00:11:24,250 --> 00:11:28,721 I'm doing stuff sometimes simply because I need to, I have to, it looks good, I like 308 00:11:28,721 --> 00:11:32,324 the praise and I'm always doing everything out of my pure love for Jesus. 309 00:11:33,192 --> 00:11:34,160 But see here's the other thing. 310 00:11:34,593 --> 00:11:35,828 What makes a good work a good work? 311 00:11:35,995 --> 00:11:38,364 Some of you guys remember this from your Concordia System classes. 312 00:11:38,731 --> 00:11:39,365 Who can do a good work? 313 00:11:39,565 --> 00:11:40,266 Only a Christian. 314 00:11:40,966 --> 00:11:43,836 Now Christians can't do good works because we're defining good work very narrowly. 315 00:11:44,003 --> 00:11:46,372 It's only what's being done in Christ is acceptable to God. 316 00:11:46,572 --> 00:11:47,139 That's true. 317 00:11:47,573 --> 00:11:52,712 But you see, what makes the good work acceptable to God is not the fact that you're doing it 318 00:11:52,712 --> 00:11:54,814 so right or you have the right attitude. 319 00:11:54,814 --> 00:11:55,815 You're doing it so right or you have the right attitude. 320 00:11:56,148 --> 00:11:56,515 You're doing it so right or you have the right attitude. 321 00:11:56,515 --> 00:11:59,285 Your motivation has nothing to do with whether or not it's a good work. 322 00:12:00,653 --> 00:12:02,588 It becomes a good work for only one reason. 323 00:12:03,255 --> 00:12:05,024 Simply because it's forgiven. 324 00:12:06,892 --> 00:12:09,195 Because even that good work gets the grace of Christ. 325 00:12:10,396 --> 00:12:13,032 And so God says, you've done it in Christ. 326 00:12:13,466 --> 00:12:14,467 I'll forgive this sin. 327 00:12:15,034 --> 00:12:15,367 Acceptable. 328 00:12:15,701 --> 00:12:15,835 Now. 329 00:12:16,869 --> 00:12:18,804 See, we have made a big mistake as Christians. 330 00:12:18,971 --> 00:12:20,206 We get so hung up on motivation. 331 00:12:20,406 --> 00:12:21,207 Why am I doing this? 332 00:12:21,273 --> 00:12:22,041 Is it for the right reason? 333 00:12:22,141 --> 00:12:23,075 Am I doing it out of love for God? 334 00:12:23,309 --> 00:12:24,543 Am I doing it because of the Gospel? 335 00:12:24,543 --> 00:12:25,711 Am I doing it because of the law? 336 00:12:26,145 --> 00:12:27,246 Who cares? 337 00:12:28,180 --> 00:12:28,948 Who cares? 338 00:12:29,615 --> 00:12:31,183 Let's get all hung up on motivation. 339 00:12:31,684 --> 00:12:33,486 Just do what God's called you to do. 340 00:12:33,786 --> 00:12:39,258 Rejoice in the forgiveness that you have and be grateful that He receives all of your works 341 00:12:39,258 --> 00:12:42,094 as good works because they're done in Christ. 342 00:12:43,429 --> 00:12:45,064 That's the beauty of the Christian life. 343 00:12:45,898 --> 00:12:49,835 You see, this is also then where we can stick in, even though I think Kolb might save it 344 00:12:49,835 --> 00:12:53,506 for later, this is also where we can stick in the simiul Iustus et Peccator.