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00:08A very warm welcome to today's podcast,
00:12the series on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans.
00:17We extend our greetings in the Lord's name to you,
00:20your loved ones and all your fellowship,
00:23wherever you may be.
00:26May our thoughts, our words and our deeds
00:28be forever acceptable in your sight.
00:32O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer.
00:35Amen.
00:38The Epistle to the Romans, chapter 4, verses 1 to 12.
00:48What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor,
00:52according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter?
00:58For if Abraham was declared righteous by works,
01:02he has something to boast about.
01:04But not before God.
01:07For what does Scripture say?
01:10Abraham believed in God and it was credited to him as righteousness.
01:18Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace,
01:24but due to obligation.
01:27But to the one who does not work,
01:30but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous,
01:34his faith is credited as righteousness.
01:39So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man
01:44to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.
01:50Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven
01:53and whose sins are covered.
01:56Blessed is the one against whom the Lord will never count sin.
02:04Is this blessedness, then, for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision?
02:11For we say faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
02:16How then was it credited to him?
02:19Was he circumcised at the time or not?
02:24No, he was not circumcised, but uncircumcised.
02:29He received the sign of the circumcision as a seal of the righteousness
02:34that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised,
02:39so that he would become the father of all those who believed
02:43but have never been circumcised,
02:45that they too could have righteousness credited to them.
02:51And he also is the father of the circumcised,
02:54who are not only circumcised,
02:56but also walk in the footsteps of the faith
02:59that our father Abraham possessed
03:01while he was still uncircumcised.
03:06This is the word of the Lord.
03:09Thanks be to God.
03:18The Jewish pedant is still present in the Apostle's thought.
03:24It could not be otherwise in this argument,
03:27for no question was no more pressing on the Jewish mind
03:31than that of acceptance.
03:34Thus far, truly, the teaching and discipline
03:37of the Old Testament had not been in vain.
03:42St. Paul had not only in his Christian apostleship
03:45debated that problem countless times
03:48with rabbinic combatants,
03:50but he had himself been a rabbi
03:53and knew by experience alike
03:55the misgivings of the rabbinist's conscience
03:58and the subterfuges of his reasoning.
04:04So now there arises before him
04:07the great name of Abraham,
04:09as familiar a watchword
04:11of the controversy of acceptance.
04:14He has been contending for
04:16an absolutely inclusive verdict
04:19of guilty against man,
04:21against every man.
04:24He has been shutting with all his might
04:26the thaws of thought
04:28against human boasting,
04:30against the least claim of man
04:32to have merited his acceptance.
04:36Can he continue to carry this principle
04:39into quite impartial issues?
04:42Can he, a Jew in the presence of Jews,
04:46apply it without apology,
04:47without reserve,
04:49to the friend of God himself?
04:53What can he say
04:55to that majestic example of man?
04:59His name itself
05:00sounds like a claim
05:02to almost worship.
05:05And as he moves
05:07across the scene of Genesis,
05:08we, even we Gentiles,
05:11rise up, as it were,
05:12in reverent homage,
05:14honouring this figure
05:15at once so real
05:16and so near to the ideal.
05:20Marked by innumerable lines
05:22of individuality,
05:24totally unlike the composed picture
05:26of legend or poem,
05:29yet walking with God himself
05:31in a personal intercourse
05:33so habitual,
05:35so tranquil,
05:36and so congenial.
05:39Is this an aim
05:40to be clouded
05:41with the assertion
05:42that here,
05:43as everywhere,
05:44acceptance was hopeless,
05:46but for the clemency
05:48of God,
05:49gift-wise
05:50and without deeds
05:51of law?
05:54Was not at least
05:55Abraham accepted
05:56because he was morally
05:57worthy of acceptance?
06:00And if Abraham,
06:02then surely
06:02in an abstract possibility,
06:05others also.
06:07There must be
06:08a group of men,
06:09small or large.
06:10There is at least one man
06:12who can boast
06:13of his peace
06:14with God.
06:18But on the other hand,
06:20if with Abraham
06:21it was not so,
06:23then the inference
06:24is easy
06:25to all other men.
06:27Who but he
06:28is called
06:29the friend?
06:30Isaiah 41,
06:32verse 8.
06:33Moses himself,
06:35the almost
06:36deified lawgiver,
06:38is but the servant,
06:41trusted,
06:42intimate,
06:43honoured
06:43in a sublime degree
06:45by his eternal master,
06:46but he is never
06:47called the friend.
06:50That peculiar title
06:51seems to preclude
06:52altogether
06:53the question
06:54of a legal acceptance.
06:57Who thinks
06:58of his friend
06:58as one whose relation
06:59to him
07:00needs to be good
07:01in law at all?
07:04The friend
07:05stands as it were
07:06behind law
07:07or above it,
07:08in respect
07:10of his fellow.
07:12He holds
07:13a relation
07:13implying
07:14personal sympathies,
07:17confluence
07:18of interests,
07:20contract
07:20of thought
07:21and will,
07:22not an anxious
07:23previous settlement
07:24of claims
07:25and a remission
07:26of liabilities.
07:30if then
07:31the friend
07:31of the eternal
07:32judge
07:33proves
07:33nevertheless
07:34to have
07:35needed
07:35justification
07:37and to have
07:38received it
07:38by the channel
07:39not of his
07:40personal worth
07:41but of the
07:42grace of God,
07:44there can be
07:45little hesitation
07:46about other men's
07:47need
07:49and by the way
07:50which alone
07:51other men
07:52shall find it
07:53met.
07:55in abridging
07:56this great
07:57example
07:57for such
07:58it will prove
07:59to be
08:00St. Paul
08:01is about to
08:02illustrate all
08:02the main points
08:03of his
08:04inspired argument
08:06by the way
08:07by implication
08:08he gives us
08:09the all
08:10important fact
08:11that even
08:13an Abraham
08:14even the
08:15friend
08:15did need
08:17some form
08:18of justification.
08:20such is
08:21the eternal
08:22holy one
08:23that no man
08:24can walk
08:24by his
08:25side
08:25and live
08:26no
08:27not in
08:28the path
08:28of inmost
08:29friendship
08:30without an
08:31acceptance
08:32before his
08:33face
08:33as he
08:34is judge
08:36then again
08:37such is he
08:38that even
08:39an Abraham
08:39found this
08:40acceptance
08:41as a matter
08:41of fact
08:43not by
08:43merit
08:44but by
08:45faith
08:45not by
08:46presenting
08:46himself
08:47but by
08:48renouncing
08:48himself
08:50by taking
08:51God for
08:51all
08:51by pleading
08:53not
08:53I am
08:54worthy
08:55but
08:55you are
08:56faithful
08:58it is to
08:59be shown
08:59that Abraham's
09:00justification
09:01was such
09:01that it gave
09:03him not the
09:03least ground
09:04for self
09:05applause
09:06it was not
09:07in the least
09:07degree based
09:08on merit
09:10it was of
09:11grace
09:11and not
09:12of debt
09:13a promise
09:14of sovereign
09:15kindness
09:16connected
09:17with the
09:18redemption
09:18of himself
09:19and of
09:20the world
09:20made to
09:21him
09:23he was
09:24not morally
09:24worthy of
09:25such a
09:25promise
09:26if only
09:27because he
09:28was not
09:28morally
09:29perfect
09:30and he
09:31was
09:31humanly
09:32speaking
09:32physically
09:33incapable
09:33of it
09:35but God
09:36offered himself
09:37freely to
09:38Abraham in
09:38his promise
09:40and Abraham
09:41opened the
09:42empty arms
09:43of personal
09:44reliance
09:45to receive
09:46the unearned
09:47gift
09:49had he
09:50stayed first
09:50to earn it
09:51he would have
09:52shut it out
09:53he would have
09:54closed his arms
09:55rightly renouncing
09:56himself because
09:57seeing and trusting
09:58in his gracious
09:59God
09:59the sight of
10:01whose holy glory
10:02annihilates the
10:03idea of any
10:04man's claims
10:05he opened his
10:07arms and the
10:08God of peace
10:09filled the
10:10void
10:12the man
10:13received his
10:13God's approval
10:14because he
10:16interposed
10:16nothing of his
10:17own to
10:18intercept it
10:22from one
10:23point of view
10:23the all
10:24important
10:25viewpoint
10:25here
10:26it mattered
10:27not what
10:28Abraham's
10:28conduct
10:29had been
10:31as a fact
10:32he was
10:32already
10:32devout
10:33when the
10:33incident
10:34in
10:34Genesis
10:3415
10:35occurred
10:37but he
10:38was actually
10:39a sinner
10:40that is
10:41made quite
10:41plain by
10:42Genesis
10:4212
10:42the very
10:44chapter
10:44of the
10:45call
10:46potentially
10:47according to
10:48scripture
10:48he was a
10:49great sinner
10:50for he was
10:51an instance
10:52of the
10:52human heart
10:54but this
10:55while it
10:56constitutes
10:57Abraham's
10:57urgent need
10:58of acceptance
10:59was not in
11:00the least
11:00any barrier
11:01to that
11:02acceptance
11:04when he
11:05turned from
11:05himself
11:06in the
11:07great crisis
11:07of absolute
11:08faith
11:08and accepted
11:09God
11:11absolutely
11:12and completely
11:13in his
11:13promise
11:16the principle
11:18of the
11:18acceptance
11:19of
11:19friend
11:20was
11:21identically
11:22that which
11:22underlies
11:23the acceptance
11:24of the
11:24most flagrant
11:25transgressor
11:28as
11:28St.
11:29Paul is
11:29about to
11:30remind us
11:30David in
11:31his guilt
11:32in his
11:32murderous
11:33adultery
11:35and Abraham
11:36and Abraham
11:37in the
11:37grave walk
11:37of his
11:38worshipping
11:38obedience
11:40stand upon
11:41the same
11:41level
11:43actually
11:43or potentially
11:44each
11:45is a
11:46great
11:46sinner
11:47each
11:48turns
11:49from
11:49himself
11:49being
11:50unworthy
11:51to God
11:52in his
11:52promise
11:53and the
11:54promise
11:54is his
11:55not because
11:56his hand
11:56is full
11:57of merit
11:57but because
11:58it is
11:59empty
11:59of anything
12:00of himself
12:05it is
12:06true that
12:06Abraham's
12:07justification
12:07unlike
12:08that of
12:09David
12:09is not
12:10explicitly
12:11connected
12:12in the
12:12narrative
12:12with a
12:13moral
12:13crisis
12:14of his
12:14soul
12:16he is
12:17not
12:17depicted
12:17in
12:18Genesis
12:1815
12:19as a
12:19conscious
12:20penitent
12:20flying
12:21from
12:22justice
12:22to the
12:23judge
12:25but is
12:26there not
12:26a suggestion
12:27that something
12:28not
12:28unlikely
12:28did pass
12:29over him
12:30and through
12:30him
12:32that short
12:33assertion
12:33that he
12:34trusted the
12:35Lord
12:35and counted
12:36it to
12:36him for
12:37righteousness
12:38is an
12:39anomaly
12:40in the
12:40story
12:40if it
12:41does not
12:41have some
12:42spiritual
12:42depth
12:43hidden
12:44in it
12:46why
12:47just
12:47then
12:48and there
12:48should
12:49we be
12:49told
12:49about
12:50his
12:50acceptance
12:50with
12:51God
12:53is it
12:54not
12:54because
12:54the
12:54vastness
12:55of
12:55the
12:55promise
12:56he
12:56had
12:56made
12:56the
12:57man
12:57see
12:57in
12:57contrast
12:58the
12:59absolute
12:59failure
13:00of a
13:01corresponding
13:01merit
13:02in
13:02himself
13:05Job
13:0642
13:06was
13:07brought
13:08to
13:08self
13:09despairing
13:09penitence
13:10not
13:11because
13:11of
13:11the
13:11fires
13:12of
13:12the
13:12law
13:12but
13:14by
13:14the
13:14glory
13:14of
13:15creation
13:17was
13:18not
13:18Abraham
13:18brought
13:19to
13:19the
13:19same
13:19level
13:20of
13:20consciousness
13:21whatever
13:22form
13:22it
13:22may
13:23have
13:23taken
13:23in
13:23his
13:24character
13:24and
13:24period
13:25but
13:26the
13:26greater
13:26glories
13:27of
13:27the
13:27promise
13:31surely
13:31it
13:31was
13:32there
13:32and
13:32then
13:32that
13:33he
13:33learnt
13:33the
13:33secret
13:34of
13:35self
13:35rejection
13:35in
13:36favour
13:37of
13:37God
13:38which
13:38is
13:39the
13:39other
13:39side
13:39of
13:40all
13:40true
13:40faith
13:40and
13:41which
13:42came
13:42out
13:42of
13:42long
13:42years
13:43afterwards
13:43in
13:44its
13:44mighty
13:45issues
13:45of
13:45work
13:46and
13:47when
13:47he
13:47laid
13:47Isaac
13:48on
13:48the
13:49altar
13:51it
13:52is
13:52true
13:53again
13:53that
13:53Abraham's
13:54faith
13:54is
13:55justifying
13:56reliances
13:56not
13:57connected
13:57in the
13:58narrative
13:58with
13:59any
13:59articulate
14:00expectation
14:01of an
14:02atoning
14:02sacrifice
14:04but here
14:05first we
14:06might dare
14:06to say
14:07even at
14:07the risk
14:08of that
14:08formidable
14:09charge
14:09an antique
14:11and obsolete
14:12theory of
14:13patriarchal
14:14creed
14:15but
14:16probably
14:16Abraham
14:17knew
14:17much
14:17more
14:18about
14:18the
14:18coming
14:18one
14:19than
14:19a
14:20modern
14:20critique
14:21will
14:21commonly
14:21allow
14:23he
14:24rejoiced
14:25to see
14:25my
14:25day
14:26and he
14:26saw
14:26it
14:27and
14:27was
14:27glad
14:28John
14:298
14:2956
14:31and
14:32further
14:32the
14:33faith
14:33which
14:33justifies
14:34that
14:35what
14:35it
14:35touches
14:35in
14:36fact
14:36is
14:36the
14:37blessed
14:38propitiation
14:40or
14:40rather
14:41God
14:41in
14:41the
14:41propitiation
14:42does not
14:43always imply
14:44an articulate
14:45knowledge
14:45of the
14:46whole
14:46reason
14:47of the
14:47hope
14:50but it
14:51assuredly
14:51implies
14:52a true
14:52submission
14:54to all
14:55that the
14:55believer
14:55knows
14:56of the
14:56revelation
14:57of that
14:58reason
15:00but he
15:01may know
15:01very little
15:02of it
15:02and yet
15:03be a
15:03believer
15:06the
15:07saint
15:07who
15:07prayed
15:08Psalm
15:09143
15:10verse 2
15:11do not
15:12enter
15:12into
15:12judgment
15:13with
15:13your
15:13servant
15:14O
15:14Lord
15:14for
15:15in
15:15your
15:15sight
15:16shall
15:16no
15:16man
15:17living
15:17ever
15:17be
15:18justified
15:19cast
15:20himself
15:20upon
15:21a
15:21God
15:21who
15:21being
15:22absolutely
15:23holy
15:23yet
15:24can
15:25somehow
15:25just
15:26as
15:26he
15:26is
15:26justify
15:27the
15:28sinner
15:31perhaps
15:32he knew
15:32much
15:32of the
15:33reason
15:33of
15:33atonement
15:34as
15:35it
15:35lies
15:35in
15:35God's
15:36mind
15:36and
15:37as
15:37is
15:37explained
15:38as
15:38demonstrated
15:39in
15:39the
15:39cross
15:41but
15:42perhaps
15:42he
15:42did
15:42not
15:43what
15:44he
15:44did
15:44was
15:45cast
15:45himself
15:46up
15:46to
15:46the
15:46full
15:47light
15:47he
15:47had
15:47without
15:49one
15:49plea
15:51upon
15:51his
15:52judge
15:52as
15:53a
15:53man
15:54awfully
15:54aware
15:55of
15:55his
15:55need
15:55and
15:57trusting
15:57only
15:57in
15:58a
15:58sovereign
15:58mercy
15:59which
16:00must
16:00also
16:00be
16:01a
16:01righteous
16:01a
16:03law
16:03honouring
16:04mercy
16:04because
16:05it is
16:05the
16:05mercy
16:06of
16:06the
16:06righteous
16:07law
16:10but
16:10let us
16:11not
16:11be
16:11mistaken
16:11meanwhile
16:12as
16:13if
16:13such
16:13words
16:14meant
16:14that
16:15a
16:15definite
16:15creed
16:16of
16:16an
16:16atoning
16:16work
16:17is
16:17not
16:17possible
16:18or
16:18is
16:18not
16:18precious
16:21our
16:21epistle
16:22will
16:22help
16:22us
16:22to
16:23such
16:23a
16:23creed
16:23and
16:24so
16:24will
16:24that
16:25to
16:25Galatians
16:26and
16:26Hebrews
16:27and
16:28the
16:28books
16:28of
16:28Isaiah
16:29and
16:29Leviticus
16:30and
16:30the
16:30entire
16:30scripture
16:32prophets
16:33and kings
16:34desired
16:34to see
16:35the
16:35things
16:35we
16:35see
16:36and
16:36did
16:36not
16:36see
16:36them
16:37our
16:38Lord
16:38tells
16:38us
16:39in
16:39Luke
16:3910
16:3924
16:42but
16:43that
16:43is
16:43no
16:43reason
16:44why
16:44we
16:44should
16:44not
16:44adore
16:45the
16:45mercy
16:45that
16:46has
16:46unveiled
16:47to
16:47us
16:47the
16:47cross
16:48and
16:48the
16:49blessed
16:49lamb
16:53but
16:54it
16:54is
16:54time
16:54to
16:54come
16:55to
16:55the
16:55apostles
16:55words
16:56as
16:57they
16:57stand
17:01what
17:01then
17:01shall
17:02we
17:02say
17:02that
17:02Abraham
17:03has
17:03found
17:04has
17:06found
17:06the
17:07perfect
17:07tense
17:08of
17:08an
17:08abiding
17:09and
17:09always
17:10significant
17:10fact
17:11has
17:12found
17:13in his
17:13great
17:14discovery
17:14of
17:15divine
17:15peace
17:15our
17:16forefather
17:17according
17:17to the
17:18flesh
17:19that
17:20is
17:20to
17:21say
17:21having
17:22regard
17:22to
17:22the
17:22prevailing
17:23moral
17:23use
17:24of
17:24flesh
17:24in
17:25this
17:25epistle
17:25in
17:26respect
17:26of
17:27the
17:27self
17:27in
17:28the
17:28region
17:29of
17:29his
17:29own
17:29works
17:30and
17:30merits
17:33for
17:33if
17:33Abraham
17:34was
17:34justified
17:34as a
17:35result
17:35of
17:35his
17:36work
17:36he
17:36has
17:37a
17:37right
17:38to
17:39self
17:39applause
17:41yes
17:41this
17:42is
17:42the
17:42principle
17:43indicated
17:43here
17:45if
17:45a
17:45man
17:46has
17:46merit
17:46he
17:47is
17:47entitled
17:47to
17:48self
17:48applause
17:50may
17:51we
17:51not
17:51say
17:52in
17:52passing
17:52that
17:53the
17:53common
17:53instinctive
17:54sense
17:54of
17:54the
17:54moral
17:54discord
17:55of
17:55self
17:55applause
17:57above
17:57all
17:58in
17:58spiritual
17:58things
17:59is
17:59one
18:00amongst
18:00many
18:00witnesses
18:01to
18:02the
18:02truth
18:02of
18:02our
18:03justification
18:03by
18:04faith
18:05alone
18:09but
18:10our
18:10apostle
18:10goes
18:11on
18:12but
18:12not
18:13towards
18:13God
18:13not
18:14even
18:14when
18:15Abraham
18:16looks
18:16him
18:17in
18:17the
18:17face
18:17and
18:17sees
18:18himself
18:19in
18:20that
18:20light
18:20as if
18:20to
18:21say
18:21if
18:22he
18:23had
18:23earned
18:23justification
18:23he
18:24might
18:25have
18:25boasted
18:25rightly
18:27but
18:28this
18:28rightful
18:28boasting
18:29when a
18:29man
18:30sees
18:30his
18:30God
18:30is
18:31a
18:31thing
18:31unthinkable
18:33therefore
18:33his
18:34justification
18:34is
18:35given
18:35and
18:36never
18:36earned
18:39for
18:39what
18:40says
18:40the
18:40scripture
18:41the
18:41passage
18:41the
18:42grid
18:42text
18:42in
18:43Genesis
18:4415
18:446
18:46Abraham
18:46believed
18:47in
18:47God
18:48and
18:49it
18:49was
18:49reckoned
18:49to
18:49him
18:50as
18:50righteousness
18:54now to
18:55the man
18:56who works
18:56his reward
18:57his
18:58earned
18:59requital
18:59is not
19:00reckoned
19:01grace
19:01wise
19:01as a
19:03gift of
19:03generosity
19:04but as
19:05the payment
19:06of a debt
19:08it
19:09is
19:09to
19:09the
19:09man
19:09who
19:10does
19:10not
19:10work
19:10but
19:11believes
19:11who
19:12confides
19:13in
19:13him
19:13who
19:13justifies
19:14the
19:14ungodly
19:15one
19:15that
19:16his
19:16faith
19:17is
19:17reckoned
19:17as
19:18righteousness
19:20the
19:21ungodly
19:21one
19:21as if
19:22to
19:22bring
19:22out
19:22by
19:23an
19:23extreme
19:23case
19:24the
19:25glory
19:25of
19:26the
19:26wonderful
19:26paradox
19:29the
19:29ungodly
19:30is
19:30undoubtedly
19:31a word
19:32intense
19:32and
19:32dark
19:33it
19:34means
19:35not
19:35only
19:35the
19:35sinner
19:36but
19:36the
19:37open
19:37defined
19:38sinner
19:39every
19:40human
19:40heart
19:40is
19:40capable
19:41of
19:41such
19:42sinfulness
19:42for
19:43the
19:44heart
19:44is
19:44deceitful
19:45above
19:45all
19:45things
19:47in
19:48this
19:48respect
19:48as we
19:49have
19:49seen
19:49in
19:50the
19:50potential
19:51respect
19:51even
19:52an
19:52Abraham
19:53is
19:54a
19:54great
19:54sinner
19:56but
19:56there
19:56are
19:57indeed
19:57sinners
19:57and
19:58sinners
19:58in
19:59the
19:59experiences
20:00of
20:00life
20:02and
20:03St
20:03Paul
20:03is
20:04ready
20:04now
20:04with
20:04the
20:04conspicuous
20:05example
20:06of the
20:06justification
20:07of
20:08one
20:08who
20:08was
20:08truly
20:09in
20:10one
20:10miserable
20:10period
20:11by his
20:11own
20:12fault
20:12an
20:13ungodly
20:14one
20:17you
20:18have
20:18given
20:18occasion
20:19to the
20:19enemies
20:19of the
20:20Lord
20:20to
20:21blaspheme
20:21to
20:22Samuel
20:2312
20:2314
20:25and
20:26he
20:26had
20:27indeed
20:27done
20:28so
20:29the
20:30faithful
20:30photography
20:31of the
20:31scriptures
20:31shows us
20:33David
20:33the
20:34chosen
20:34the
20:35faithful
20:35the
20:36man
20:36of
20:36spiritual
20:37experiences
20:39acting
20:40out his
20:40lust
20:41in
20:41adultery
20:42and
20:43covering
20:43his
20:43adultery
20:44with the
20:45most base
20:45of
20:46constructive
20:46murders
20:47and then
20:48for long
20:49months
20:49refusing
20:50to repent
20:53and yet
20:54was David
20:55justified
20:56I have
20:57sinned
20:57against the
20:58Lord
20:59the Lord
21:00has put
21:01away
21:01your sin
21:03he
21:04turned
21:04from his
21:05awfully
21:06ruined
21:06self
21:06to God
21:07and at
21:07once
21:08received
21:08remission
21:10then
21:11and to
21:11the last
21:12he was
21:12chastised
21:14but then
21:15and there
21:15he was
21:16unreservably
21:16justified
21:17and with
21:18a justification
21:19which made
21:19him sing
21:20a loud
21:21beatitude
21:24just as
21:25David too
21:26speaks of
21:26his happiness
21:27of the
21:28man
21:28and it
21:29was himself
21:30to whom
21:30God
21:31reckons
21:31righteousness
21:33irrespective
21:33of works
21:36Psalm 32
21:37Happy they
21:38whose iniquities
21:39have been
21:39remitted
21:41and whose
21:41sins have
21:42been covered
21:42happy the
21:43man to
21:43whom the
21:44Lord will
21:44not reckon
21:45sin
21:47wonderful words
21:48in the
21:49context of
21:50the experience
21:50out of which
21:51they had
21:52sprung
21:54a human
21:55soul
21:55which had
21:56greatly
21:56sinned
21:57and which
21:58knows it
21:58well
21:58and knows
21:59too
21:59to the
22:00end
22:00it will
22:00suffer
22:01a sore
22:01discipline
22:02because
22:02of it
22:04for example
22:05and humiliation
22:06nevertheless
22:07knows its
22:08pardon
22:09and knows
22:10it as a
22:10happiness
22:11indescribable
22:13the iniquity
22:14has been
22:15lifted
22:15the sin
22:16has been
22:16covered
22:17has been
22:17struck out
22:18of the
22:18book of
22:18reckoning
22:19written
22:20by the
22:20judge
22:22the penitent
22:23will never
22:24forgive
22:24himself
22:25in this
22:26very psalm
22:27he tears
22:28from his
22:28sin
22:28all
22:29covering
22:29woven
22:30by his
22:30own
22:30heart
22:33but his
22:33God
22:34has given
22:34him
22:34remission
22:35has
22:36reckoned
22:36him
22:36as the
22:37one
22:37who
22:37has not
22:38sinned
22:39so far
22:40as access
22:40to him
22:41and peace
22:41with him
22:42are in
22:42question
22:44and so
22:45his song
22:46of shame
22:46and penitence
22:47begins
22:48with a
22:49beatitude
22:49and ends
22:51with a
22:51cry of
22:52joy
23:01let us
23:01pause
23:02for a
23:02moment
23:02to note
23:03the
23:03exposition
23:04implied
23:05here
23:05of the
23:05phrase
23:06to reckon
23:07righteousness
23:10it is
23:11to treat
23:11the man
23:12as one
23:12whose
23:12account
23:12is clear
23:14happy
23:15the man
23:15to whom
23:16the Lord
23:16will not
23:17reckon
23:17sin
23:19in the
23:19phrase
23:20itself
23:20to reckon
23:21righteousness
23:22the question
23:23as to
23:24what
23:24clears
23:25the account
23:26is not
23:26answered
23:29suppose
23:29the impossible
23:30case of a
23:31record
23:31kept
23:32absolutely
23:32clear
23:33by the
23:33man's
23:33own
23:34sinless
23:34goodliness
23:36then the
23:36reckoned
23:37the imputed
23:38righteousness
23:38would mean
23:39that the
23:39Lord's
23:40contentment
23:40with him
23:41on his
23:42own
23:42merit
23:44but the
23:45context of
23:45human sin
23:46and failure
23:47fixes the
23:48actual
23:48reference to
23:49an
23:49imputation
23:51which means
23:52that the
23:52awfully
23:53defective
23:53record is
23:54treated
23:54for a
23:55divinely
23:56valid
23:56reason as
23:57if it
23:57were
23:57what it
23:58is not
23:59good
24:02the man
24:03is at
24:03peace
24:03though he
24:05has sinned
24:06because the
24:06judge has
24:07joined him
24:07to himself
24:08taken upon
24:09himself his
24:10liability
24:11and answered
24:12for it to
24:13his own
24:13law
24:15what the
24:16man is
24:17dealt with
24:17as righteous
24:18even though
24:19he is a
24:19sinner for
24:20his glorious
24:21redeemer's
24:22sake
24:23it is a
24:24pardon but
24:24it is infinitely
24:25more than a
24:26pardon
24:27it is no
24:28mere
24:28indulgent
24:29dismissal
24:30it is a
24:31welcome as
24:32of the
24:33worthy to
24:34the embrace
24:35of the
24:35holy
24:38such is
24:39the
24:39justification
24:39of God
24:40and we
24:42will need to
24:42remember this
24:43through the
24:43whole course
24:44of this
24:45epistle
24:46to make
24:47justification
24:48a mere
24:49synonym
24:49for pardon
24:50is always
24:51inadequate
24:53justification
24:54is the
24:55contemplation
24:56and treatment
24:56of the
24:57penitent
24:58sinner
24:58found in
24:59Christ
25:00as
25:00righteous
25:02as
25:03satisfactory
25:04to the
25:04law
25:05not merely
25:06as one
25:07whom the
25:07law
25:07allows
25:08to
25:08go
25:11is this
25:12a fiction
25:12not at
25:14all
25:14it is
25:14vitally
25:15linked
25:15to two
25:16great
25:16spiritual
25:17facts
25:19one is
25:20that the
25:20sinner's
25:21friend
25:21has himself
25:22dealt
25:22in the
25:23sinner's
25:23interests
25:24with the
25:24law
25:25honouring
25:26its
25:26holy
25:27claim
25:27to the
25:27uttermost
25:28under
25:28the
25:28human
25:29conditions
25:29he
25:29freely
25:30undertook
25:32the
25:33other
25:33is that
25:34he has
25:34mysteriously
25:35but in
25:35reality
25:36joined the
25:36sinner
25:37to
25:37himself
25:37by
25:38faith
25:38by
25:39the
25:40spirit
25:41joined
25:42himself
25:43as
25:44limb
25:44as
25:45branch
25:45as
25:45bride
25:47Christ
25:48and his
25:49disciples
25:49are really
25:50one
25:50in the
25:51order
25:51of
25:51spiritual
25:52life
25:52and so
25:54the
25:54community
25:55between
25:55him
25:55and them
25:56is
25:56real
25:56the
25:57community
25:58of their
25:58debt
25:59on the
25:59one
25:59side
26:00of his
26:00merit
26:01on the
26:01other
26:05now
26:05again
26:06comes up
26:06the
26:06question
26:07never
26:07far
26:07distant
26:08in
26:08St.
26:09Paul's
26:09thought
26:09and in
26:10his
26:10life
26:10what
26:11these
26:12facts
26:12of
26:12justification
26:13have
26:13to do
26:14with
26:14the
26:14Gentile
26:15sinner
26:17here
26:17is
26:17David
26:18blessing
26:18God
26:19for
26:19his
26:19unmerited
26:20acceptance
26:21an
26:22acceptance
26:23by the
26:23way
26:24wholly
26:24unconnected
26:25with the
26:25ritual
26:26of the
26:26altar
26:28here
26:28above
26:29all
26:29is
26:29Abraham
26:30justified
26:31in the
26:31consequence
26:32of
26:32faith
26:34but
26:35David
26:35was a
26:36child
26:36of the
26:37covenant
26:37of
26:37circumcision
26:38and
26:40Abraham
26:40was the
26:41father
26:41of that
26:42covenant
26:44do not
26:45their
26:45justifications
26:46speak
26:46only to
26:47those
26:47who
26:47stand
26:48with
26:48them
26:48inside
26:50that
26:50charmed
26:51circle
26:52was not
26:53Abraham
26:54justified
26:54by faith
26:55plus
26:56circumcision
26:56did not
26:58the
26:58faith
26:58act
26:59only
27:00because
27:00he
27:00was
27:00already
27:01one
27:01of
27:01the
27:01privileged
27:04this
27:05cry
27:06therefore
27:06of
27:07happy
27:07are
27:07the
27:07freely
27:08justified
27:08is it
27:10upon
27:10the
27:10circumcision
27:11or
27:11upon
27:12the
27:12uncircumcision
27:14for we
27:14say
27:15that to
27:15Abraham
27:15with an
27:16emphasis
27:16on
27:17Abraham
27:17his
27:19faith
27:19was
27:20reckoned
27:20as
27:20righteous
27:21the
27:21question
27:22he
27:22means
27:23is
27:23legitimate
27:24for
27:25Abraham
27:26is
27:26not
27:26at
27:27first
27:27sight
27:27a
27:28case
27:28in
27:28point
27:29for
27:29the
27:29justification
27:30of
27:30the
27:30outside
27:31world
27:31the
27:32non
27:33privileged
27:33races
27:34of
27:34mankind
27:35but
27:35consider
27:36this
27:36how
27:37then
27:37was
27:38it
27:38reckoned
27:38to
27:40Abraham
27:40in
27:40circumcision
27:41or
27:41uncircumcision
27:44not
27:45in
27:45circumcision
27:46but
27:46in
27:46uncircumcision
27:49at
27:50least
27:50fourteen
27:51years
27:51had to
27:51pass
27:52before
27:52the
27:52covenant
27:53right
27:53would be
27:54introduced
27:56and
27:56he
27:56received
27:57the
27:57sign
27:57of
27:58the
27:58circumcision
27:58with a
27:59stress
28:00upon
28:00the
28:00sign
28:01as if
28:01to
28:02say
28:02the
28:02thing
28:02the
28:03reality
28:03signed
28:04was
28:04his
28:04already
28:06as
28:06a
28:07seal
28:07of
28:08the
28:08righteousness
28:08of
28:09the
28:09faith
28:09that
28:09was
28:09his
28:10in
28:10the
28:10first
28:10place
28:10in
28:11the
28:11uncircumcision
28:14a
28:15seal
28:15on
28:15the
28:15acceptance
28:16which
28:16he
28:16received
28:18previous
28:18to
28:19all
28:19formal
28:19privilege
28:20in
28:20that
28:21bare
28:21hand
28:21of
28:21faith
28:23all
28:24this
28:24was
28:24so
28:24and
28:25was
28:25recorded
28:26as
28:26being
28:27so
28:27with
28:27a
28:27purpose
28:28of
28:28far
28:28reaching
28:28significance
28:30that
28:31he
28:31might
28:31be
28:32father
28:33exemplar
28:34representative
28:35of
28:36all
28:36who
28:36believe
28:37not
28:37withstanding
28:38circumcision
28:39or not
28:39that to
28:41them
28:41righteousness
28:42should be
28:42reckoned
28:44and the
28:45father of
28:45circumcision
28:46exemplar
28:47and representative
28:48within its
28:48circle
28:49also
28:50for
28:51those
28:51who
28:51not
28:51merely
28:52belong
28:52to
28:53the
28:53circumcision
28:54but
28:55to
28:55those
28:55who
28:56step
28:56in
28:56the
28:56track
28:56of
28:57the
28:57uncircumcision
28:59faith
28:59in
29:00our
29:00father
29:00Abraham
29:02so
29:03privilege
29:03had
29:04nothing
29:04to do
29:04with
29:05this
29:05acceptance
29:05except
29:06to
29:07countersign
29:07the
29:07grant
29:08of
29:08a
29:08grace
29:08absolutely
29:09free
29:10the
29:11seal
29:11had
29:12nothing
29:12to
29:12do
29:12with
29:13the
29:13covenant
29:14it
29:15only
29:15verified
29:16the
29:16fact
29:17and
29:18guaranteed
29:18the
29:19bona fide
29:19ease
29:19of
29:20the
29:20giver
29:22as
29:22the
29:23Christian
29:23sacraments
29:24are
29:24so
29:24was
29:25the
29:25patriarchal
29:26sacrament
29:27it
29:28was
29:28a
29:28sure
29:28testimony
29:29and
29:29effectual
29:30sign
29:30of
29:30God's
29:31grace
29:31and
29:32good
29:32will
29:34but
29:34the
29:35grace
29:35and
29:35the
29:36good
29:36will
29:36come
29:36not
29:36through
29:37the
29:37sacrament
29:37as
29:38through
29:38a
29:38medium
29:38but
29:39straight
29:39from
29:40God
29:41to
29:42the
29:42man
29:42who
29:42took
29:43God
29:43at
29:43his
29:43word
29:46the
29:46means
29:47whereby
29:47he
29:47received
29:48the
29:49mouth
29:49which
29:49he
29:49fed
29:50with
29:50the
29:50celestial
29:51food
29:51was
29:52faith
29:54the
29:55right
29:55came
29:55not
29:56between
29:56the
29:56man
29:57and
29:57his
29:57accepting
29:57lord
29:58but
29:59as it
29:59were
30:00was
30:00present
30:01at
30:01the
30:01side
30:01to
30:02assure
30:03him
30:03with a
30:03physical
30:04concurrent
30:04fact
30:05that
30:05all
30:05was
30:06true
30:08nothing
30:09nothing
30:09between
30:09was
30:09the
30:10law
30:10of
30:10the
30:10great
30:10transaction
30:12nothing
30:13not
30:13even
30:13a
30:13god
30:14given
30:14ordinance
30:15nothing
30:15but
30:16the
30:16empty
30:16arms
30:17receiving
30:18the
30:18lord
30:18himself
30:20and
30:21the
30:21empty
30:21arms
30:22put
30:22nothing
30:23between
30:25glory
30:26be to
30:26the
30:26father
30:26to
30:27the
30:27son
30:27and
30:28to
30:28the
30:28holy
30:28spirit
30:30as
30:30it
30:30was
30:31in
30:31the
30:31beginning
30:31is
30:32now
30:32and
30:32ever
30:32shall
30:33be
30:33world
30:34without
30:35end
30:35amen
30:39wherever
30:39you may
30:40be
30:40and
30:40whenever
30:41you
30:42may
30:42chance
30:42to
30:43listen
30:43to
30:43this
30:43message
30:44may
30:45the
30:45lord
30:45almighty
30:45bless
30:46you
30:46and
30:46keep
30:47you
30:47safe
30:47secure
30:48in
30:49faith
30:49and
30:49love
30:50in
30:51the
30:51certainty
30:51of
30:52eternal
30:52life
30:53now
30:54and
30:55forever
30:55more
30:56amen
30:57time