Under Authority

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant curse will leave us UTTERLY HOPELESS.

*The Big Question: Why do we NEED the God of the GOSPEL (part 3)?

*The Central Point: Because WE HAVE NOTHING TO HELP US…

1.) NO ADVANTAGES (vv. 1-8) – (Application: GOD is GOD and you are not, so put down your REBELLION and accept his judgment…)

2.) NO RIGHTEOUSNESS (vv. 9-18) – (Application: GOD is GOD and you are not, so accept his assessment of your EVIL disposition…)

3.) NO ACCOMPLISHMENTS (vv. 19-20) – (Application: GOD is GOD and you are not, so accept that you will NEVER be good enough for him…)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant curse exposes our internal sense of his law which condemns us.

*The Big Question: Why do we NEED the God of the GOSPEL (part 2)?

*The Central Point: Because WE LIKE TO HIDE in…

1.) CONDESCENDING CONDUCT (vv. 1-11) – (Application: We become COMFORTABLY NUMB in our own righteousness…)

2.) CONSCIENCE CONFLICTS (vv. 12-24) – (Application: We become UNCOMFORTABLY NOISY in conscience…)

3.) COMMUNITY CULTURE (vv. 25-29) – (Application: We become COMFORTABLY NESTLED our heritage…)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant curse shows how far he’ll go to show us how far we’ve gone.

*The Big Question: Why do we NEED the God of the GOSPEL?

*The Central Point: Because God GIVES US OVER TO OURSELVES by giving us up to…

1.) DELUSIONAL LUSTS (vv. 24-25) – (Application: We become INCAPABLE of thinking through our choices…)

2.) DISHONORABLE PASSIONS (vv. 26-27) – (Application: We become SEARED in conscience…)

3.) DEBASED MINDS (vv. 28-32) – (Application: We become INSANE but think we’re really sane…)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant curse clarifies why we NEED the GOSPEL.

*The Big Question: Why do we NEED the GOSPEL?

*The Central Point: Because God’s WRATH is REVEALED in…

1.) HIS REVELATORY CREATION (vv. 19-20) – (Application: We have NO EXCUSES…)

2.) OUR UNRIGHTEOUS SUPPRESSION (vv. 18, 21-22) – (Application: We HATE God by NATURE…)

3.) OUR UNGODLY EXCHANGE (v. 23) – (Application: We put our HATRED of God into ACTION…)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant blessing is to give his children clarity with the heart GOSPEL.

*The Big Question: What is the HEART of the GOSPEL?

*The Central Point: The HEART of the GOSPEL is God’s POWER…

1.) IN ME FOR YOU (vv. 8-15) – (Application: The GOSPEL will compel you to LOVE others)

2.) FROM HIM TO YOU (vv. 16-17) – (Application: The GOSPEL will compel you to LOVE God)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant blessing is the GOSPEL of his HEART for his children.

*The Big Question: What is the GOSPEL from God’s Perspective?

1.) IN HIS GRACE TO YOU (v. 7) – (Application: Your salvation is totally in God’s hands)

2.) IN HIS PEACE TO YOU (v. 7) – (Application: Your salvation is totally worked out by God)

3.) IN HIS LOVE TO YOU (v. 7) – (Application: Your salvation is totally God’s idea)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant blessing SETS APART the GOSPEL and its recipients.

*The Big Question: What is the SET-APARTNESS of the GOSPEL?

*The Central Point: The SET-APARTNESS of the GOSPEL is the SPIRIT:

1.) OF GOSPEL PAST (vv. 2-4) – (Application: When troubled, walk the timeline backwards)

2.) OF GOSPEL PRESENT (vv.1, 5a, 6-7) – (Application: When troubled, deep dive into the Book)

3.) OF GOSPEL FUTURE (v. 5b) – (Application: When troubled, bank on the good news for the future)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant blessing means he LEADS his people to LIFE from Death.

*The Big Question: How do we follow God’s path to LIFE from Death?

*The Central Point: We FOLLOW God’s PATH to LIFE from Death by:

1.) CONFESSING & LISTENING (50:15-21) – (Application: Focus on God’ Covenant of Grace and Take Note[s]!)

2.) COUNTING & LOOKING (50:22-26) – (Application: FOCUS on God’s Covenant Fulfillment and Walk Confidently!)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant blessing means he grants his people LIFE from Death.

*The Big Question: How does God’s Covenant blessing bring about LIFE after Death?

*The Central Point: COVENANT BLESSING brings about LIFE after Death by:

1.) MOURNING (40:29-50:3) – (Application: Death makes us FEEL the WEIGHT of Life.)

2.) MAJESTY (50:4-14) – (Application: Death makes us SEE the PURPOSE of life.)

The Main Idea: God Covenant means he claims his people by giving them the blessing of REDEMPTION

*The Big Question: What’s so SPECIAL about COVENANT BLESSING?

*The Central Point: COVENANT BLESSING is SPECIAL because it’s REDEMPTION:

1.) REDEMPTION’S CALL (vv. 1-2; 18; 28) – (Application: THE FAITH is meant to CARRY ON.)

2.) REDEMPTION’S CANDIDATES (vv. 3-7) – (Application: GRACIOUS intervention leads to DIVISION.)

3.) REDEMPTION’S CARRIERS (vv. 8-17; 19-27) – (Application: GROWTH RESULTS in PROSPERING.)