Romans

Well, good morning. My name's, Pete Woodcock. We've been, going through the book of Romans for some time now, and we're hit chapter chapter 10. Did you notice that little sentence in verse 32 of chapter 9? It says they stumbled over the stumbling stone.

It's an intriguing little sentence. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. I looked up just an ordinary dictionary definition of a stumbling stone, a stumbling block. That's pretty obvious what it is. It's it's an obstacle to progress.

That's what a stumbling block is. You're progressing and there's this great stone in the way and you stumble over it. Or it's a lack of willingness to compromise a stumbling stone, a stumbling block. In other words, it's a stumbling block in relationships. Something gets in the way, you won't compromise.

You're gonna stick to your guns. 1 of the biggest obstacles in any kind of progress, in any kind of progress, in any area of life is pride. Pride makes us stumble. We we talk about pride goes before a fall pride makes a stumble. 1 of the biggest reasons for the lack of willingness to compromise in relationships or even say sorry is pride.

It makes us stumble. Pride goes before a fall. We we stumble. Mean, isn't pride 1 of our biggest problems? Isn't it 1 of your biggest problems?

Isn't it? Pride stops us, doesn't it? Seeing, and hearing, and acting on truth. Pride makes us believe in ourselves makes us believe in our position, our ability. And therefore, it makes us blind.

Makes us blind to reality. It makes us blind to the fact that we need help makes us blind or deaf or whatever it is or dumb to even ask for help. It's very hard. When you have pride to say sorry to someone. Why should I?

You know, we can manipulate whole conversations around. They should say sorry to me. And therefore, actually pride brings a curse on relationships. It it destroys them. They they they crumble and fall.

Pride makes a stumble. It really does go before a fall. Now, It's winter Olympics. It's been fantastic watching our own Laura D, actually, win a win a win a bronze medal if you know anything about that. But I was very surprised, to be honest with you, that she's even using her maiden name.

But, I want us to go back a long way to summer Olympics to, Barcelona in 19 92, Barcelona Olympics. And I want us to see this little video. Remember we've been thinking about stumbling and pride. This is the video, that Colin Jackson who was the world number 100 meter hurdleist, and he was in the final of, of the Barcelona Olympics of a hundred meter hurdles, and it all went wrong. Here he is explaining.

Just listen. It's a it's 3 minutes, but it's worth listening to him. Can we show that? So there he is. His heel, in that final, struck 1 hurdle, and then another, if you watch it, then another, and then another, and he came seventh said when he was the world number 1.

But actually, you know, it really is pride goes before a fall, and he's humble enough to explain it now, I think. Pride goes before or 4, because he actually stumbled way before he stumbled on the hurdle. His stumble was pride it really was. Now there are millions and millions of people, and they're straining, and they're striving, and they're struggling to do the right thing. Very religious people, perhaps you're 1 of them, trying to win the gold medal, if you like.

Trying to win god's favor. There are people struggling zealously. They're trying not to do the wrong thing. They're trying to do the right thing. And they're very, very zealous, but they stumble, and they fall.

And it's pride that does it. This is what was happening with Israel. Have a look at chapter 9 verse 31. They're gonna stumble over the message of god, even though they're very zealous. Look at verse 31.

The people of Israel who pursue the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal on the gold medal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith, but as if it were by works, they stumbled over the stumbling stone. Now in Romans chapter 10 where we've got to, Paul is still answering a question, that he's put right at the beginning of, Romans chapter 9. Has god let Israel down?

Why aren't they followers of Christ? Why aren't the Jewish people following in their droves? The lord Jesus Christ. Why haven't they become Christians? Is it god's fault?

And he's been dealing with a number of answers, and you can hear what we've been doing in our series on online. How come he comes to in chapter 10? How come with all their striving, and all their zeal, they fall. They stumble. Has god made salvation knowing him too difficult.

Has he sort of raised the bar so high that it's too hard? Now for Paul, Israel's rejection of of of the lord Jesus Christ, the gospel, is a really massive issue and we've seen that already. It's because he's a member of that family, of that people group. And so Paul is thinking particularly of Israel, of the Jews, in their rejection of god, but the principles that we're gonna see here are wider and therefore us. In other words, how easy is it for you to become a Christian?

How easy is it for you to avoid the judgment on your sin. How easy is it for you to become a friend of god at child of god that god would be your father that you would come into the kingdom of god as a son of god. How easy is it for you to get forgiveness? By god himself. How easy?

If it's difficult, if god has made it so hard, then it's no surprise we're gonna, stumble and fall. But has he made it hard? Look at verse 21 of chapter 10. An amazing little final verse. But concerning Israel, he says all day long I held out my hands.

So here's the picture of god holding out his loving hand to people. All day long, I hold my hand out to a disobedient and obstinate people. Is it hard? Has god made it hard? No.

He holds his hand out. So why are people stumbling and falling? Because of pride. They're disobedient and obstinate. You know, people say I would become a Christian, but you know what?

It's too hard. Is it? Is it that hard? So that leads me to my first point that I want us to see in this chapter. The people of Israel had a foundation, but they stumbled on it.

The people of Israel had a foundation, but they stumbled on it. There's this whole stumbling stone illustration that's going on, but that stone was to be a foundation of salvation. It was where you could be sure you were on a rock and god is smiling at you. You're on his rock. Now, okay.

What is that stone? Well, you'll see what the stone is by what Paul is arguing. He's arguing that there are 2 forms of righteousness 2 ways of trying to get right with god, and that's what he's trying to show. 1 way is right, and the other way is wrong. How do I get right with god?

Well, there's a wrong way to get right with god, which obviously you won't be right with god, and there's a right way to get right with god, which means you will be right with god. Right? Got that? That's what's going on here. And he contrasts, and it's so important that we get it.

He does it 3 times. Now, he's been writing a whole book about this up to this point, but he still wants to whack it into our heads because we're very slow of learning. 3 ways he contrasts these 2 things. You get it in verse 9, chapter 9 verses 32 to 30 to 32. What then shall we say that the gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have obtained it?

A righteousness that is by faith But the people of Israel who pursued the law as the way of righteousness have not obtained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith, but as it as if it were by works, they stumbled over the stumbling stone. So there are 2 ways to try to get right with god. 1 is faith, trust in what god has done, And 1 is we're gonna do it ourselves.

We're gonna live it ourselves. We're gonna run the race ourselves. We don't know you know doctors, we don't need no therapy. We we need nothing. I don't need to warm up.

I'm gonna run it myself. I don't need any help. So 1 is by faith, trust, and 1 is by working it out ourselves, and they stumble over the right way because of pride. Who are you to tell me I can't do it myself? It's that sort of attitude.

There's the 1 contrast. Then you get a second contrast in chapter 10 verse 3. Look at it. Since they did not know the righteousness of god, and sought to establish their own. They did not submit to god's righteousness.

See the contrast? They're seeking to establish their own rightness before god and therefore they're dismissing and not submitting to god's rightness. They would not submit. See the 2? Contrast?

Now in verse 3, when it says they did not know, Really, you could translate that, and it probably would be a better translation to say that they were ignoring the righteousness. There's a willful ignoring a willful not knowing. It's it's like speeding, you know, you're going 50 miles an hour in the 30 mile an hour lee at speed limit and a copper stops you and says, you were going 50 and a 30, and you said, well, I I didn't look. I made sure I didn't look at the signs, 30 miles an hour, So I'm ignorant of that. So let me off.

Try that 1 with a copper. I mean, I've tried all kinds of ones with police, and they usually don't work. Yeah. The only 1 that works is to submit to the policeman. As far as I can see, I say, yeah, you're absolutely right.

I'm rubbish. I'm terrible. I'm awful. I'm so sorry. Do you see the 2 righteousness?

And then you get the third contrast in chapter 10 verses 5 to 7. Bit more complicated, but have a look. Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law. The person who does these things will live by them. In other words, if you're going to try and find a rightness with god by obeying, yourself, you gotta live by them.

In other words, you've gotta perfectly live by them, and don't you fail. You gotta live by them. And if you fail, it's done. It's ruined. Then he goes on verse 6.

But the righteousness that is by faith says, Do not say in your heart who will ascend into heaven. That is to bring Christ down. In other words, it's not you achieving you bringing Christ. It's not you trying to ascend, trying to get right. Then he goes on in verse 7, or who will, descend into the deep that is to bring Christ from the dead.

In other words, it's not you going on this journey, ascending a mountain trying to find rightness yourself going on this big, seeking journey, and you will find it all going down into the depths, whichever way you go. So there are 2 types of ripeness. 1 is based on me trying to do my thing before god and the other is trusting in what god has done for me. And pride is involved here, because when I'm a good religious person, And it looks like I'm ticking the boxes, and I'm better than a lot of people I can point at. I rely on myself.

I listen to myself. I don't listen to god. I know better than god. I know better than god how to get right with god, and I'll do it my way. And not just trust in what god has done.

So that's the contrast going on here. And that's the stone. The stone, this foundation stone, is that God in his kindness and love and grace has done everything you need for a foundation for your life. Will you build on it? Now as you read through the Bible, and I've got lots of verses here.

So I'm gonna put them As you read through the Bible, you'll see that that stone is spelt out even more clearly in all kinds of verses in the bible. But let me just show you how wonderful this foundation stone is with a few quotations. Here's 1 from Jesus himself. Jesus identifies himself as the stone. So in other words, what I'm trying to say here is it's not just a foundation, a sort of lump of righteousness.

It's personal. It's someone. We build on someone. We have faith in someone. And Jesus says this.

Jesus said to them he's talking to his disciples, have you never read in the scriptures the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone. The lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces. But he whom is, but he whom it falls Let me read that again, but he on whom it falls will be crushed. So Jesus is identifying himself as this foundation stone.

Now if you fall on this stone, in other words, if you humble yourself, you'll be broken to pieces. You won't be able to stand and say, look at me. I'm a I'm a intact whole person. Look what I've done. You'll be a broken person.

Your pride will be broken. But that's the foundation of coming to know god. If, however, you stand up against this stone and say, I don't need Jesus. You will stumble and fall, and it will crush you. And then Let's have a look at Peter's preaching.

Peter preaches in the book of acts. He says, he is the stone talking about Jesus, Here's the stone you build has rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no 1 else for there is no other name in heaven given to men by which we must be saved to reject the capstone in your own building is to crumble and fall. That's not in the bible. That's my notes.

That shouldn't be there. To reject the capstone, is to crumble and fall yourself. Do you see that? Jesus is the stone. You will not be saved any other route.

There is salvation found in no other name, no 1, no other name, no other name, including your name. Jesus is the savior, not just no no other name like Mohammed. He can't save you or buddha or confucius. It's you, your name. The only name that can save you The only stone that's the foundation is Jesus.

Here's another 1. This is Paul writing again to, group of, Christians in ephesus He says, consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with god's people and members of god's household. Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone, In him, the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in him. If your foundation is Christ, you are a holy building with all the other Christians. It's a beautiful picture.

Peter again writes this. It's a long 1, this 1, but look at it. As you come to him, that's Jesus, as you come to Jesus, the living stone rejected by men, but chosen by god and precious to him, you also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to god through Christ. For in scripture, it says, see, I lay a stone in Zion chosen and precious cornerstone. And the 1 who trusts in him will never be put to shame.

Now to you who believe this stone is precious. But for those who do not believe, the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, and a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, they stumble because they disobey the message, which is also what they are destined for. Strong words, beautiful stone that you can build your life on to become into the household of god. But if you reject that stone, if you stumble on the stone. It's because you're not believing the message.

What message? The message that Jesus has done it all for you. So you can turn those off. Why do they stumble? Because of the cross of Jesus, it's so offensive to people and religious people.

Have you noticed that? Because the cross of Jesus attacks your human pride, It says you cannot do it. It takes none other than god himself to come into this world in human flesh to die on a cross. It takes none other than that remarkable miracle of god the life giver giving his life. The cross says to you, you are guilty, and there is no hope in you and your name, whoever you think you are, whatever you think you've done is not big enough.

You need the name of Jesus who died on the cross. He's the 1 that bears your sin, your suffering, your condemnation. Do you think Jesus came into this world to die on a cross? As 1 of 2 ways to get right with god. Do you think god is that stupid that his son would suffer, and that was only 1 way.

Now it's our pride that makes us stumble. We think we can run the race, and we can't and our pride is offended when we really understand the cross. Our inability to rescue ourselves is offended Our prides says no to that. So they had a foundation, this foundation stone, but they stumbled on it. And I want to ask you, is is that true of you?

It's it's it's it's incredibly sad. I mean, those versus I read out. I mean, we read them far too quickly. You need to sort of brew them and dwell on them. Here is a foundation All of grace, all of god's grace, a foundation of grace, wouldn't that be lovely to build your life on?

Of grace, and full forgiveness, wouldn't that be something to build your life on? Where everything you ever done said, been has been dealt with the sin and wrongdoing and shame. The things you're so ashamed of that you even close in yourself and repress and causes all kinds of other repression problems in you, forgiven, cleansed out of the grace and the love of god. Here's a firm nation that says, god loves you. God has done everything for you.

It is utter grace. It is the work of the lord Jesus Christ. The creator of the universe has now worked a foundation stone for you to build your life on, the 1 that spoke the stars into place, the 1 that created the whole universe has now created a foundation for your life of love and grace. He's given his life for that stone. He is that stone.

That you may know him, and therefore, no god and no forgiveness. All painful there. The rock fall upon it. Don't try and huddle it. Don't try and jump it.

Don't start making your own foundation, which is no foundation at all, build your house on the rock, knock on some stupid sandy land. That's what's going on, but they wouldn't because of pride. It was pride They didn't like it, so they stumble in a fall. We don't want this righteousness. That's the first thing.

The second thing, not only did they have a foundation, that they didn't build on, they stumbled on. They had a zeal for god, but they directed that zeal to themselves. They had a zeal for god, at least outwardly, but they directed the zeal to themselves. Look at chapter 10 verses 1 to 4. Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to god for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

For I can testify about them, that they are see the words? Zealous for god, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of god, and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to god's righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. They've got a zeal, and it looks like it's a zeal for god.

In fact, they're so committed they think to god that they added to the law to the law of god. They added more and more traditions and rules. So they felt much better than people that didn't have these things. When they looked at themselves and how they were obeying the law and they looked out at others and thought, woah, flipping an egg on much better than him, You find these people always do this. They're always pointing a finger at others.

But the trouble is 3 fingers point back at you when you start doing that. They had a zeal. But it wasn't real. It's a bit like Colin Jackson, saying I'm not only gonna obey the laws of Hurdling, In the final, I'm gonna wear 5 stone backpack on just to show I can do it. Now he might do that in training, but you wouldn't do that in the final.

And that's what these people are doing. Just have a look at Paul, because Paul himself was 1 of these. Remember, Here's some verses from Paul. For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, that's that's following the, you know, Israelite, the the Jewish religion, how in intensely I persecuted the church of god and tried to destroy it? He thought he was doing god's work.

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my father. This bloke was zealous. Have a look at this next thing he says. Circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews in regard to the law of fallacy as for zeal persecuting the church as for legal legalistic righteousness, faultless. Yeah.

I'm number 1 in the world. No 1 else has done 13.1 seconds, except me. In my religion says, Paul. Zealous. Zealous for god.

But in the end, when you read those quotes, who's he talking about? Himself, This so called religious zeal for god is actually missing god. It's very interesting. We went to a debate to Tom and myself at the university, a year or so ago, maybe 2 years ago, and the, rabbi that spoke gave a 20, 25 minute, 30 minute talk all about Judaism, And then when it came to question time, he said, do you know, after his talk, and there was someone else did a talk, and then it came to question time, he stood up and said, you know what? I was just suddenly realized spoke for 35 minutes about Judaism, and I didn't even mention god, because actually god doesn't really pay that much a bigger part.

It's extraordinary, isn't it? He hadn't mentioned god for 30 minutes. And then he suddenly realized in time when people are starting to ask about god. It reminded him. There might be a god.

And this is really what Paul is doing. Zealous forgot extraordinarily religious, but actually missing god. Why? Because they're looking at themselves and their own zeal for god and not god's zeal for them. And that's what happens.

In the end, it's all about self and how I make myself better than the gentiles or these people groups that are outside of my religion. It's all about me. I remember I've told you this story maybe before. Know whether I've embarrassed myself this much, but I've tried a different tact with a Muslim who was a Wuhabe, who was wearing all of the Muslim gear. And I thought I'll try something different.

I'm not saying this is good. I was not wise. I am so bad at evangelism, but at least I was having a go, but it probably very, at least. And I went up with him all dressed up in his finery, and I said, are high. I can see you know nothing about god by the way you dress.

And he was very angry. And said, I dress like this because I am obeying god. I said, that's exactly what I meant. You think that dress gets you right with God. Who do you think you are to wear jeans?

Did Jesus wear jeans? So we can get Jesus genes in the center of Kingston. But that's not the point. It was all about him and how he dresses and how different he is to people like me who wear jeans. You see that?

We compare ourselves. And because of that, we miss what god is all about and what god's laws are all about. Look at verse 4. They missed it. They missed it.

In obeying the law, they missed it. Christ is the end of the law. So that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes that's what the law was about. When you try to obey the law and you fail, it's meant to send you to the 1 who didn't fail. Who what the whole law is about Jesus?

You study the scriptures. You study the holy books and you miss Jesus. Are you mad? It's like reading Harry Potter and not seeing Harry Potter in the book. You could read 7 books of Harry Potter, and someone says, oh, did you like Harry Potter?

Who? I didn't read up who? Like, what are you talking about? You're reading the Bible and you miss Jesus. That's what it's all about.

And when you fail, and when you don't live up to the law, if you're gonna go that route, it's meant to say, I stumble. I fall. I can't do this on my own. I was arrogant and stupid and thought I could do it, but I can't. I'll never get the gold medal.

Has anyone run the race for me? Has anyone done the gold medal for me? Yes, Jesus is the 1. He's the end of the law. And so they turn from god and make their own rightness without submitting to the 1 who's already done it for us.

You get that in verse 3. It's an arrogance of pride. It's not an arrogance of innocence. It's an arrogance of pride. It is possible to look so Christian and to be better than anybody else in all your zeal, but you don't know Jesus.

You don't know your savior. You don't know Jesus, the savior. It's possible. It's possible to do all the religious right wing campaigning. Shouting out about Christ, but that's what you're looking at and not the Savior.

And not the savior. It's very possible. So that's the second thing, the third thing. The third thing They had a simple word, but they complicated it. Do you see that?

They had a zeal for god, but it was directed to themselves in the end. They had a foundation, but they stumbled on it. And thirdly, they had a simple word, but they utterly complicated it is simple. That's what verses 5 to 13 are all about. If you read it slowly, you'll see that.

Let's read it. Moses writes This about the righteousness that is by by the law. The person who does these things will live by them, do them perfectly then. But the righteousness that is by faith says, do not say in your heart who will ascend into heaven That is to bring Christ down, or who will descend into the deep, that is to bring Christ up from the dead. But what does it say?

The word is near you, It's in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message concerning faith that we proclaim. If you declare with your mouth Jesus is lord and believe in your heart that god raised him from the dead. You will be saved. For it is with your hearts that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are safe.

As the scripture says, anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame for there is no difference between Jew and Gentle. The same lord is lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him for everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be safe. It is a simple word. Call on the name of the lord. But they're complicating it.

When you go the route of trying to obey, you have to obey it fully, and that's impossible. He's saying, If you go that route, you live by it. And if you don't live by it, you're a failure. You'll trip up. But the root of faith It's it's not it's not difficult.

You don't have to call down Christ as it were or ascend into heaven. You don't have to do what is already done for you who came down from heaven and died in the depths of the cross. You don't do that. You don't do it. Is he what he's saying?

Don't do that. This don't make it complicated. You you don't have to be some kind of spiritual hero. You you don't have to do some kind of mystical jumps. You don't have to be a super scholar.

You don't have to be a super savior. There is a super savior for you. You don't have to be a priest or go to a load of priests. You don't have to be a religious zealot. It's simple.

Paul, it's very interesting because here, he's quoting the last sermon of Moses in deuteronomy before Moses dies. Can I just read that sermon out to you? Haven't try and listen. It's deuteronomy 30. Here is Moses.

He's at the end of his life and he wants to sum up what all the law of god is about. This is a summary of all the law of god. And, in deuteronomy 30, verse 11 to 14, he says this. Here he is, Moses, gathered all the people of God around him. He says now, what I'm commanding you today is not too difficult.

It's not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. So a summary of all the law is not too difficult and it's not beyond your your reach. It is not up in heaven so that you have to ask who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so that we may obey it? Nor is it beyond the sea so that you have to ask who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so that we can obey it. No, he says.

The word is very near you. It's in your mouth. It's in your heart so that you may obey it. In other words, is all he got is on your lips. You don't have to do what Christ has done for you.

The law is not about you doing. It just simply confess. It's easy. It's a no brainer. You can do it right now.

You. Yeah. But I've broken yeah. You've broken those laws. But Jesus has done everything for you.

Well, but, you know, I've I don't think I could keep it up. Jesus is your savior, not you, So it's very easy, he's saying. To become a Christian couldn't be easier, You don't have to be a spiritual into spiritual heroics. It's easy. If any Israelite, if any Jew is not saved, don't accuse the lord for failing them.

He's made it easy. The whole law is about what Christ has done, and all you have to do is to call on the name of the lord. It's cinch. It's so easy. It's so easy that even gentiles can do it.

Even those hedonistic sinful people that you are so better than. Look what he says in verse 12 for there's no difference How dare you? There's no difference between you and general. What? How dare you?

There's no difference between Jew and Ghentar. The same lord is lord of all, and riches bla Richardly blesses all who call on him. All you gotta do is call on him. Are you telling me all my moral life means nothing? Yep.

The whole meaning of the law is that it's done for you and you just call call and you will be saved. But the stumbling block, the difficulty in the simplicity is your pride. That makes the simple difficult. It's pride. Can I ask Have you called on the name of the lord?

If you haven't, are you gonna keep your pride? And stumble and fall and never be saved, or are you going to call on the name of the lord? I love verse 21. All day long, he held out his hand to a disobedient and obstinate people. I mean, their pride meant they didn't put their hand in the hand of the loving graceful, savior who had his hand impaled on a cross to save you all day long.

Here's god. Look. So easy. Why are you making it so flipping complicated? You'll never do it on your own.

Just just come call. See, it's not enough to believe I guess everyone in this room believes these truths, the question is, have you called? Have you called? Have you called? Have you taken his hand?

Has he pulled you up onto the foundation of his grace? Are you building your life now on that foundation? This precious wonderful stone of Christ. Have you called? Have you called?

It's such a lovely word call and you will be saved. You've got to believe you don't just call. Some people call and they haven't believed in the 1 they're calling. I mean, he died and rose again. But you believe that, don't you?

You believe that god became a man and died on the cross and rose again. If you believe that, have you called? Have you asked So ever been a time where you've said, be my savior, be my rock, be my 1. Have you ever said that? If you haven't what pride is gonna get in your way?

Oh, but someone might think funny of me. I've been coming for years, and they might think I'm odd. No 1 will think that. None of us that have called on the name of the lord will look down on you. We just love it.

Call. Make it personal. We're gonna sing a song at the end of the service. I heard the voice of Jesus say come unto me and rest. It's 1 of my favorite hymns.

It's 1 of the first hymns. In fact, it was the first hym I ever heard after I became a Christian, I heard the voice of Jesus say, come unto me and rest, lay down their weary 1 laid down their head upon my breast. In other words, Jesus is the foundation. Come to the heart of Jesus. They're your head there.

Cool. It's personal. It's not just you're the sinner. Be my savior. Have you ever done that?

Look at verse 13, everyone who calls on the name of the lord, will be saved. Look at verse 12. There is no difference between Jew and Gentle. The same lord is lord of awe, and richly blesses all who call on him. There is utter beautiful blessing for you if you call on him.

So call. Call on him. Don't stumble over the foundation because you think you can make your own rightness Don't have an outward zeal for god, but you'd really don't know him personally. Don't complicate it call on him, ask him. There's a prayer here.

This is a sort of prayer you could pray. If you've never prayed a prayer like this, why not now? Call on him. This is how the prayer goes. Dear heavenly father.

What a staggering sentence that is? Dear heavenly father, I know that I am not worthy to be accepted by you. I don't deserve your gift of eternal life. I am guilty of rebelling against you and ignoring you and trying to build my own foundation. But now I see I need forgiveness.

Thank you for sending your son to die for me that I may be forgiven. To be the cornerstone. Thank you that he rose from the dead to give life, to give me new life. Please forgive me and change me that I may live with Jesus as my ruler. It's very simple, isn't it?

Don't have to get on your knees. Don't have to cross yourself. You don't have to do some kind of weird religious winking. I don't I don't quite know what that is, but stop it if you're doing it. It's a simple calling, heavenly father.

Would you pray that prayer? Pray that prayer. We're gonna take communion in a minute. Tom's gonna leave that. That in itself.

It's so easy, isn't it? It's a physical visible. Here's the bread of life. Here's the bread of life. I'll take it.

I'll take it. Here's the blood of Christ shed for me. I just receive it. I just call. Would you do that?

Have a minute to read through that prayer.