If you have your Bible, turn to the eighth chapter of Romans as we continue with our study of Romans. This is, and I've said this a number of times, the first time I've ever taught Romans, I always said that I was going to wait till a year before I retired before I taught Romans, and then I might know a little bit about it, and then I ran out of material and had to do it ahead of time. And it's turned out to be for me personally, even if you don't like what I've been teaching, it's turned out for me personally to be a wonderful study. And I enjoy, as always, spending this time with you each day, that you would invite me to your home or to ride with you to or from work, or to be with you in your office, I appreciate that more than you know. Listen, but we turned to this new text, Romans 8, 1 through 11, let's go before the throne. It's another week, a week closer to home, and we're glad most of the time. Father, you know every person listening to this broadcast, you know our sin. We can pretend to be good and pure and always obedient to our friends, sometimes even to our family, even though they know the secret, but we can't lie to you and we feel uncomfortable in your presence. Father, you know our sin, you know our thoughts, you know the times when we've turned away from you. And so, Father, we come asking forgiveness and we repent. Father, we come before you also to thank you for the change that's taking place in our life, we're getting better, and we know that that comes from your throne, from grace and from mercy, and we praise you for it. Father, we come with our needs, you know them all. It's hard, Father, to keep on trucking with tears in our eyes, to see properly, sometimes with a broken heart, it's hard to be faithful, sometimes. Sometimes, Father, when we're so lonely we could scream, it's hard. But, Father, with great hesitancy, we say before you that if our tears that blind us to the world and able us to see you better, and if our broken heart and our loneliness drive us to you, may we be lonely, may we be afraid, may we continue to weep. But, Father, you know our needs and we would ask that you would meet us at the point of those needs as you define them, the financial and physical and family needs. We lift them before you, you've always been faithful and you've promised to continue to be so, and we're glad. And then, Father, this week on Kiwai, if we study the Bible, we pray as always for the one who teaches, help him not to Shelley Charlie, help him to be clear, help him to use the right words, and Father, forgive him his sins, for they are many, we would see Jesus in him only, and we pray in Jesus name, I mean. This week we're continuing with our study in the Book of Romans. If you have your Bible turn, if you will, to the eighth chapter of Romans, verses 1 through 11. While you're finding that, let's take just a moment to review what we saw last week in our study of Romans. The text then was Romans 7, 13 through 25. You will remember that we went down one side road, we noted the astounding honesty of the Apostle Paul. You know hardly see that among leaders, Romans 7, 24. Then we saw seven teaching points on the Christian's dichotomy or division that goes on inside. We saw the reality of the dichotomy, 7, 14, the pain of the dichotomy, 7, 24. The confusion of the dichotomy, 7, 15, and 7, 18, the craftiness of the dichotomy, 7, 21, and 7, 23. The nobleness of the dichotomy, 7, 22, the hara of the dichotomy, 7, 23, and the resolution of the dichotomy, 7, 24 through 25. Now we're ready to turn to our text for this week. Romans 8, 1 through 11, where my old and dear friend writes as follows. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh. On account of sin, he condemns sin and the flesh that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not work according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be fleshly or carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God, but you're not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you, now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he's not in. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit of life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Now, most of the time this week we're going to be looking at the wonderful news that if you're a Christian, there will never ever be any condemnation. And I can hardly wait, but first I've got to go down two side roads because this is important. Side road number one, please note, the absolute nature of God's definition of a Christian, Romans 8.9, but you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now, if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not. He is. Now, it's pretty harsh. Let me case something else that's harsh. Jesus said, I am the way and the truth in the life and nobody comes to the Father except by me. You say, that's pretty narrow too. Look, I didn't say Jesus said it. One of the problems of our time is the failure to understand the truth by its very nature is exclusive and sometimes divisive. Let me say it again, truth by its very nature is exclusive and sometimes divisive. We want to say that Jesus is a way, that Jesus is one of the ways, that Jesus is an option. But, dear friend, that isn't what Jesus said. Truth is exclusive. Would you go to a doctor who said it doesn't matter what medicine you take as long as it's medicine or your sincere method? Or would you fly with a pilot? I don't like to fly with a pilot who wouldn't say this, but would you fly with one who said it doesn't matter what altitude at which you fly as long as you're flying and you're sincere about it or how about a bridge builder who says it doesn't matter what kind of steel you put in this bridge as long as it's steel and you're sincere about it? Please note that Paul says that if anyone doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, that person doesn't belong to Christ. You say, well, I'm religious. If anyone doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, that person doesn't belong to Christ. Well, I try to be a good person. If anyone doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, that person doesn't belong to Christ. I'm a good father. I'm a good mother. I'm a good husband. I'm a good wife. If anyone doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, that person doesn't belong to Christ. The city-slicker said to the farmer, how come that cow don't have horns? Doesn't have any horns? Well, said the farmer. Lots of reasons cows don't have horns. Some are born without them, and some of them have them removed. Some grow them later, and some we cut off. But the reason that cow don't have any horns is that it ain't a cow it's a horse. Yeah, a Christian is a supernatural indwelling of the risen Christ. When that hasn't happened to you, then you don't belong to it. No matter how nice you are, no matter how good-looking you are, no matter how hard you try, no matter how religious you are. Well, you say, how do I get the spirit of Christ in me? Ask him, I've never known him to refuse anybody who asks. Say, Jesus, I want to live forever, and I want to be forgiven. I'm part of being guilty, and I want some meaning in my life. Just ask. He'll say, yes. You say, well, how do I know the spirit of Christ isn't me? Because the spirit tells you you can be a better person than you are. Because the spirit of Christ says to you, child, I love you. Because the spirit of Christ will list up the word for you, and you will think you've got a new book when you start reading the Bible. The spirit of Christ will make you a better person, and a better father, and a better son, and a better daughter, and a better wife, and a better husband than you were before. The spirit of Christ inside you will come for you when you're down. And all you've got to do, dear friend, is ask. Don't let it simply so you fool. If Jesus died on a cross for you, ask him, and the spirit of God will reside in you because it's a gift of His grace. And if you do ask, and you haven't before, would you drop me a note and let me know? Got some stuff. I'll send along. Let me give you another side road. Please note that the Bible readers should always ask what the therefore is there for. You say, say, what? Note that the Bible readers should always ask what the therefore is there for. Come and take one. There is, therefore, now note condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Whenever you see a therefore in the Bible, you have to go back and read what went on before. Because whatever's going to follow the therefore is dependent, and logically flows from whatever went on before the therefore. Paul is saying, since all that I've been saying is true, that you're not married to the law. Anymore of the laws died. The law is dead, cold, snowed dead, since you're married to Christ. Since Jesus died on the cross for you. Since this is the gospel, since all are sinners, all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God, since all of that is true. But Christ bore your sin on the cross. If all of that has gone on before that I've taught you, that's the structure upon which I'm going to hang all of this mortar. Since all of that has gone on before, therefore, now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. It is important for Christians to have their fours in their lives. God never starts with the therefore. He builds on the therefore, and you say, say, what, just hang on, I'm going to show you. You believe in the doctrine of immortality because of what Christ did for you on the cross. Big deal. What is the therefore? Therefore, guys, I'm going to live forever. Always look at every doctrine, every text you read, every sermon you hear, and say, is there a therefore? And if there's no therefore, then it's irrelevant. You believe in the doctrine of imputed righteousness that Christ gives or imputes or puts to your account his righteousness, big deal. You can impress your friends that you believe in imputed righteousness. What's the therefore? I'm as clean and as pure in God's eyes as the pure driven snow. And I don't want to have to ever feel guilty again. You believe that Christ saved sinners, big deal. What's the therefore? That you will reach out to all kinds of people in His name. Now listen. And this is another side of this. Liberals want to therefore without a B-4. You say, come on, Steve, I know, but give me a minute. Liberals want to therefore without a B-4, in other words, they want to have eternal life without believing that Jesus came back from the dead and that He was divine. They want to believe that God loves them without understanding the bicarious and substitutionary tone that it's Christ for them on the cross. They want to think that God is everything's hunky-dory with God even though they don't want to look at the B-4 of being a sinner's liberals want a therefore without a B-4. Now can we talk? Conversely, Evangelicals, fundamentalists, Bible believers, Orthodox Christians want a B-4 without a B-4. In other words, we're in danger of getting the doctrine right without looking at the practical implications of that doctrine. We want a B-4 without a B-4, let me give you an example. Recently, there has been a lot of criticism of Evangelical and the conservative preachers who met with President Clinton. I don't understand all that, Chris. Since when did the go therefore stop at the doors of the White House or the doors of a bar or a brothel? The problem is that the people who give the criticism don't have any therefore in their B-4. That almost sounds like cussing, doesn't it? But it's not. I thought that love didn't define the boundary. I thought that faithfulness didn't stop at watching it, and I thought we were to be beggars telling other beggars where we found bread, and that includes President Clinton. Now if you may listen to this broadcast, I've let slip some of my political views. I really didn't mean, well I meant to, at least it was sort of Freudian. I am to the right of being this kind, but I'll tell you something, my political views don't mean dink. If I don't reach out to those who don't share those views, Jesus said that we were to be leaven in the loath. The problem with a lot of us is that we're just a lump of leaven. Yuck! Can you imagine anything as useless? Always watch the therefores in the Bible and in your life. If you have a B-4 without a therefore, you weren't worth anything. If you have a therefore without a B-4, you're probably wrong. Okay. Enough of that nonsense. That is a good point though. Now I'm going to do something I don't often do on these Bible study sessions on key life. If I want to give you a conclusion, and then I want to trace things back from the conclusion to the premises that bring one to that conclusion. For you, logicians, those of you who have taken logic 101, we're going to engage in inductive reasoning as opposed to deductive reasoning. First I'll give you a conclusion. And then I'm going to give you the premises that lead to the conclusion. The conclusion is found in the first verse of the eighth chapter of Romans. Listen. There is therefore now no absolutely no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. How about that, sports fans? That means what it says. Don't you get tired of those Christians who work so hard to prove that the Bible doesn't say what it plainly says? Well, this means what it says. If you're a Christian, there is really no condemnation. And if God doesn't condemn you, you shouldn't let anybody else condemn you either. I have a friend who just moved to a new community. I ask my friend, if he had found a church, and he named a particular church, that's well known for its pure doctrine, its fundamental views. And I ask my friend, I like he said, Steve, I know that pastor is a friend of yours, but we felt condemned during the entire service. Listen, churches in the place where Christians can come together and condemn each other and everybody else. Church is the coming together of Christians who celebrate the fact that they are no longer condemned and never will be again. The Herbert Humphrey's funeral next to his widow was former president Nixon, the late Richard Nixon, who by the way was an acquaintance of mine. And if you're familiar with some of that political history, the Humphrey's and the Nixon's didn't really get along together. I mean, they were on different sides of the political aisle and they thought almost all of their lives. And this was after Watergate and Nixon had fallen. Humphrey was sitting next to Jesse Jackson. Humphrey, just before his death, and Humphrey was a liberal, and as you know, Jesse Jackson is to, Jackson called Herbert Humphrey, and Humphrey asked, told Jackson about his friendship with Nixon. Jackson asked why, and Humphrey replied, Jesse, from this vantage point, when the sun is setting in my life, all of the speeches, the political conventions, the crowds and the great fights are behind me now. At a time like this, you're forced to deal with your irreducible essence, forced to grapple with that which is really important to you. And what I've concluded about life when all is said and done is that we must forgive each other and redeem each other and move on. I find that strangely moving. I really do. And I think we need to hear those kinds of stories. Now, I would go further than Herbert Humphrey, of course. I mean, Christians have more to say than that. We can forgive each other because we've been forgiven. We can love each other because we have been loved. We can redeem each other because we've been redeemed. But that's what happens when you're no longer condemned, you're free. You don't have to be right anymore all the time. You don't have to condemn others because you don't have to make yourself look good. We're all in the same boat. We're beggars who found some bread. Enough of that. Once more of the conclusion is found in Romans 8.1, there is now, therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Now let's look at Paul's premises leading up to that conclusion. Primus number one, there are two walks. One is the walk of the Spirit, the other is the walk of the flesh. Romans 8.1, there is, therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, and here it comes, who do not walk according to the flesh, but a walk according to the Spirit. Some Twitter said, I am a self-made man, and his pastor said to him, I'm glad that relieves the Lord. I'm a great responsibility. What is the walk of the flesh? Well, it's saying you've got to work and work, and then if you work hard enough, God will notice how hard you're working, and he might love you. Now, we're going to see next week, when we talk about, we're not in debt to the flesh, how that works out. But the walk of the flesh says, I'm a self-made person, I work hard, and God knows that I'm a good person, and as long as I'm good, and God will love me, and God will notice me. Now, what is the walk of the Spirit? The walk of the Spirit is just the opposite from that. The walk of the Spirit is the understanding that you don't have the energy, the goodness and all the skills to work long enough are hard enough to get God to love you, and it is looking to His mercy and His grace, period. Did you hear about that preacher who went to the golf course and on the first tea, topped the bowl? I'd do that all the time, that's the reason I don't play golf much anymore. Well, my friends never felt that I played golf, but I did, and anyway, this preacher topped the bowl, and went about three inches from the tea, and an eagle came down and picked up the bowl and flew to the green and dropped it there, then a rabbit pushed the bowl with its nose right into the bowl, and the preacher looked up into the sky and said, please, Father, I would rather do it myself. Well, if you're the kind of golfer I am, if God doesn't do it, it doesn't get done, and if you're the kind of sinner I am, if God doesn't do it, it simply doesn't get done. See, as Lewis said, that hell is getting your way for all of eternity. The ultimate end of the walk of the flesh, what's walking in the Spirit, it's leaning on Christ. It's understanding that if it weren't for His grace, you'd be lost. It's trusting in Him alone for salvation and sanctification. It's the premise from which Paul draws a conclusion there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Guys, for so many years I thought that if I could be a preacher, God would love me. I didn't want to be a preacher, because I didn't think I was good enough to be a preacher. But if I tried to be a preacher, if I became the pastor of a church, then God would love me and notice how hard I was trying, and then maybe He would reveal Himself to me. And I wasn't a half-bed preacher either. I taught good, and I visited the hospitals, and I tried to be nice and kind and good, but at night I would look in the mirror, and I'd take my false face off, and I would notice that underneath all of that smiling, sanctified face was a sinner, a sinner who wasn't good and pure and kind. And then I came to a conclusion. When I found Him there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Then from this number two, there are two laws. One is the law of the Spirit and life, and the other is the law of sin and death. Romans A2 for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. What is the law of sin and death? Well, it's the law that says that if you trust and the law for your goodness, you had better be very, very good. It is the law that says, as we've seen in our study of Romans to this point, the law is the law. And you're going to be measured by the law. Because no one has ever lived up to the law, except one, you're in trouble, and your sin will be revealed, and you're going to die eternally. You're going to be lost eternally. That's the law of sin and death. Okay, what's the law of the Spirit? It's the law that says Jesus Christ abade the law perfectly and became your sacrifice. If you trust in that sacrifice, it will be sufficient. I've told you the story before, but it was good the first time, so I'll do it again. There's a man who went to heaven and Peter told him he had to have a thousand points to get into heaven. He said, I never heard that before. Nevertheless, Peter said, yeah, I have to have a thousand points. What have you done during the thousand points? The man thought about a long time, he was a pretty good man, and he certainly learned a lot of points. Well, he said, I was raised in the church, and my father was a pastor. I never rebelled. I was president of my youth group in church, and I went to Bible College and then to a Christian graduate school. I've been active in the church. I don't just talk religion, or I live it. I give over 30% of my income to the work of the kingdom. I always have my quiet time in the morning. I've never had a drink of whiskey. I've never lied that I can remember, and I've always witnessed for Christ in every situation that I found myself. I've been married to the same woman for over 40 years. I have never cheated. I was always sensitive to her needs. We had three children, two girls and a boy. One girl is married to a preacher. The other is married to a missionary, and my son is now studying for the ministry at a solid seminary. I've always supported my pastor. I've been an elder in the church for over 20 years. I've been regular in my attendance at Sunday school, Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening, worship services. I've supported missionaries, and have often visited them on the field to support them and encourage them. I'm a bank president, and I've tried to be a good citizen in my community supporting the poor. Working with the prison ministry and offering low interest loans to minorities, then he looked at Peter and said, how am I doing? Peter said, well, that's about a half a point. In the midst of good Lord, have mercy, and Peter said, you've got it. Come on in. The law of the Spirit is the law that says, when you trust in Christ, he is sufficient to free you from the law of sin and death. That's the premise. Now, what's the conclusion? There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ, Jesus. Premise number three. There are two possibilities. One is effective, and the other is ineffective, Romans 8, 3 through 4. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own son and the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin. He condemned sin into flesh that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Back in the olden days when I was a pastor, at communion I used to issue an invitation. Now we never fence the table. You say? That's nice. What is fencing the table? Well, it's when you don't allow people who aren't members of your church or your denomination to take communion. We had an open table, and I wasn't so upset even when little children participated, either. I mean, doctrinally, I may have a little bit of problem, but if they wanted to receive communion, I said, Jesus, they're too young. They don't understand. Jesus said, leave them alone. Suffer the little children to come into me. I figured that Jesus wouldn't mind, and if he didn't, I didn't either. Anyway, most of the time I would issue an invitation. I would say the only people we allow to take communion in this church are perfect people. If you aren't perfect, then you can leave now because this communion isn't for you. Then I would pause to let that sink in. Then I would say, there are two ways to be perfect. One never works, and the other always works. If you decide that you're going to be perfect, you're never going to sin, you're never going to be disobedient, and if you have done that, you are welcome at this table. But I know because the Bible tells me so that nobody in this congregation is even close to that, so you're in trouble. You see, nobody ever reaches perfection with his or her own gasoline, however. If you accept the imputed righteousness of Christ in your life, God looks on you as perfect. In other words, if you're a Christian, you aren't perfect, but you are perfect in the eyes of God, and you're welcome to the communion table of this church. Now, I want to spend too much time on it because it's what we've been studying for weeks and our examination of Paul's letter to the Romans, but the law doesn't do anything for you, but make you feel guilty. That's what it's supposed to do. When you feel guilty enough, then you go to a place to resolve the guilt, and the only place that legitimately resolves the guilt is at the throne of grace, at the cross of Christ. If you're trying to be better, the law isn't going to help you. It can tell you what it's like to be better. If you're trying to be perfect, nothing's going to help. You're not good enough. Nothing's going to help except the blood of Christ. That's the premise. Paul says this is the premise that if you depend on Christ, he's going to help you. He's not only going to forgive you when you don't obey the law, he's going to stand with you and his spirit's going to be inside you, and you're going to become more obedient. You're going to become more like Jesus. You're going to become more loving and more caring. You're going to set aside some of those sins that are in your past as you begin to grow in the process of salvation. That's the premise of the conclusion that Paul reaches. The conclusion is this. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ's defense. All right, premise number four. There are two thought processes. One is centered on the flesh and the other is centered on God. Romans 8.5 through 8. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit, they set their minds on the things of the spirit. For to be fleshly or carnaly minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, because the carnal mind is in the day against God. For it's not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be so men, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Proverbs says, as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Jesus said it better, for where your treasure is there your heart will be also. Let me give you a strange comment. I'm not so much concerned with your sin or your actions. I'm concerned with your heart. Do you hear about the man in a mental hospital who had a fixation that he was dead? Every psychiatrist in the hospital had tried using the latest psychological techniques to show him that he was not dead. One psychiatrist came on an idea that he was sure would work. He went to the man who thought he was dead and he said to answer, do dead men bleed and the man said, of course not. He knows that dead people don't bleed. Everybody knows that. Are you sure? In his psychiatrist, the dead men don't bleed. The man allowed that he was certain that dead men didn't bleed. Then the psychiatrist took a pen and practiced finger and he started to bleed. The man looked at his bleeding finger and said, what do you know? Dead men do bleed. Now, what I'm going to tell you isn't silly. In other words, if you think you're a horse, that won't make you one. However, if you focus your thoughts on a reality that is a reality, that reality will become more real to you. Let me send that again. Now listen, I saw you drift off. This is really important. If you think you're something that you're not, that won't make you what you're not. However, if you focus your thoughts on a reality, that reality will become more real to you. Notice what Paul says here. Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit. That is what the Holy Spirit does in the life of the believer. Now, we're going to talk about this in the next point, but get the basic now. The Holy Spirit reminds the believer about Jesus. Therein is the place where God makes us more like Christ. It starts in the mind long before it becomes a reality in the actions. Let me say it again. It starts in the mind long before in the mind and heart, I should say. Long before it becomes a reality in the actions. That's why when somebody comes to me with a confession of sin, I don't ask what they've done. I ask what they think. I ask what's going on in their heart. If your heart is right, if the focus of your mind is right eventually, it'll work its way out in your life. So, even if there is failure in sin now, if the mind is focused on Christ eventually, there will be a working out of that reality in one's life. That's the premise. That would lead Paul to say there is, therefore, now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Premise number five, there are two internal realities. One is his and the other is ours. Romans 8, 9 through 10. But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit if indeed the spirit of God dwells in you. Now, if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he is not his. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. Now, let's you think. I've been talking about a new kind of work whereby one focuses one's mind by effort. I want you to see something that's very important. Notice that Paul is talking to Christians. Makes a statement about reality. Not something to hope for or something to work toward, something that already is a present reality. Look at what he says. But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit of life because of righteousness. Now, that doesn't say that's a possibility. He said, that can happen to you if you really work at it. He doesn't say, you know, this is what you're working toward. He says, this is already a present reality in your life. Now, let me do something from an old pastor. If the spirit of Christ is in Christians bringing forth goodness, I don't have to worry so much about them. Do you know the best thing about them not being a pastor anymore? I'm not anybody's mother. I used to say from the book that, look, I'm not your mother, but the truth was that's exactly how I felt. Someone in the church served, I served, had a broken fingernail, I stayed up all night worrying about it. Now, let me tell you something that helped. Sometimes when I couldn't sleep because of the direction someone was going, even in sin Jesus would come and say, Steve, I see you're still awake and I'd say yes, sir, why can't you sleep? Well, Lord, I would respond. You know so-and-so, I'm kind of worried that they're going to turn from you. Many would laugh and say, child, I love them more than you do. I'm a part of them. I've given them my spirit. Trust me with them and you go on to sleep. Mom and dad, you're worried about your children. You know, they received Christ a long time ago, but they're moving in the wrong direction. He says, child, I love your children more than you do. And I'm a part of them. Why not trust me with them? You go on to sleep. You don't have to force people into your mold. You don't have to make people be good. You don't have to require that people be good and righteous. You just have to trust Jesus with them. His spirit brings forth a lot of righteousness. You don't have to condemn. That's the premise. That's the premise that the Apostle Paul gives here, from which he builds a conclusion. And the conclusion is this, there is, therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Premise number six. There are two destinations. One is eternal life, and the other is eternal death, Romans 8-11. But if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you. Now, know what Paul is saying. If the risen Christ is in you, you're going to live forever. The grave will not be the final destination or the final comment of your life. Jesus came back from the dead and he said we could do. In my devotions early this morning, I was using the liturgy from the book of Worship of the Church of Scotland. There's a prayer in that liturgy. That's quite beautiful. I use it often. Let me give it to you. And rejoicing in the communion of the saints, I remember with thanksgiving before the Lord, all those thy faithful servants and those dear to me who are at rest in thee. And then there's a place where I remember my father and my brother and my mother and friends, Dr. Stanton and Dr. Wynnegett, and so many others I remember because they're home. And in the prayer continues, keep me in unbroken fellowship with my whole church in heaven, and on earth, and give us at last a rejoice together in thy eternal kingdom through Jesus Christ, my Lord, who liveth and reigneth in this worshiped and glorified with thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, world without end, I'm in. I think of home sometimes. My mother is home. My father is home, and my brother is home. I grew up in the mountains of Ashwell, North Carolina, and my whole nuclear family, with whom I grew up, are now home with the Lord. And it just shows that the evil, the bad people, live longer than the good people. But sometimes I used to, you know, when I would be in Boston or New England, I'd sometimes think of the mountains of North Carolina, I'd think about home, and then there would be a warm feeling because my mother and my father and my brother were there, and I loved the mountains of North Carolina, but I loved it also because my family, my mother and dad and brother were there. Now they're all home with the Lord. And I still love the mountains of North Carolina, but I think of another home. I think, Lord, they weren't perfect, and then I remembered that that isn't the point. They all belonged to Christ. My father became a Christian just before he died. He never felt he was good enough to be in the church, and in a dear, seven-day Advent-adventist physician led him to Christ. And my mother, she'd always known Christ as long as I'd known her, my brother, and I came to know him about the same time. People don't get to heaven because of what they've done, but because of Christ who raised him from the dead, and he likes to be with his friends. That's the premise upon which Paul drew the conclusion there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. People tell you death is normal, it's not normal. Death isn't normal at all. Death is the result of sin, 1 Corinthians 15, and since he bore our sin, it means we're going to live forever. Let me give you some words from Michael Kelly Blanchard from a great song. In these days of confused situations in these nights of restless remorse, when the heart and the soul of a nation lay wounded and cold as a corpse, from the grave of the innocent Adam, comes a song bringing joy to the sad, oh, your cry has been heard, and the ransom has been bade, up in full, be ye glad. O be ye glad, be ye glad, every debt you ever had, has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord, be ye glad, be ye glad. Listen to this, I love Blanchard's lyrics. Now from your dungeon, a rumor is stirring, though you've heard it again and again, awe, but this time the cell keys are turning, and outside there are faces of friends, and though your body lay weary from wasting in your eyes, show the sorrow they've had, or the love that your heart is now tasting has opened the gates, be ye glad. Be ye glad, be ye glad, every debt that you ever had has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord, be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad. So be like lights on the rim of the water, getting hope in a stormsy of night, be a refuge amidst the slaughter for those fugitives in their flight. For you are timeless and part of a puzzle. You are whimsome and young as a lad, and there is no disease or no struggle that can pull you from God, be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad, every debt that you ever had has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord, be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad. Let it ring in your ears and in your hearts. It is the conclusion of everything that God has been doing for over four thousand years. There is, therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You think about that? I am in.