WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.620 Our text this morning is going to be one verse, verse 9 of chapter 12, which reads, let love be genuine, abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good. 00:00:16.620 --> 00:00:16.620 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:44.460 Truth. It feels sometimes that Paul has what I'll call doctrinal Tourette's. He just starts popping truth out there to us. What do we do when he presents information to us in this way? 00:00:44.460 --> 00:00:56.960 Certainly, we ought to meditate carefully on each of these phrases. And so let me encourage you with that this morning, that beyond today, take this home. 00:00:57.359 --> 00:01:11.500 Think about the phrase, let love be genuine, abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good, work to find all of the activity of your life filtered through this reality. 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:26.140 I definitely believe that God has ordained the grace of preaching to unwrap it for you, to unpack it a bit, so to speak, to show you how it fits in the greater context of the book of Romans. 00:01:26.140 --> 00:01:37.740 And I hope to drive it a little more deeply into your heart so that you will, in fact, take the time to really see how these truths affect your living. 00:01:37.739 --> 00:01:41.799 But let's back up a bit, right, to the beginning of chapter 12. 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:51.560 So Paul has given us in the first 11 chapters this beautiful presentation systematically of the gospel of grace to us in Christ. 00:01:52.339 --> 00:01:54.799 That salvation is by faith alone. 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:57.399 All men condemned by their sin. 00:01:57.819 --> 00:02:02.739 And yet, Christ came and was the propitiation, the replacement for us. 00:02:02.739 --> 00:02:08.299 He bore our wrath that if we'll believe, we will be justified in God's sight. 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:11.439 He goes on to talk about how nothing can change that. 00:02:11.519 --> 00:02:14.960 Because our salvation is secure, because it's holy of God, we are secure. 00:02:15.139 --> 00:02:18.079 Nothing can separate us from the love of God. 00:02:19.099 --> 00:02:22.299 And the eternal purposes of God will stand. 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:25.359 And we can take great comfort in that. 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:35.640 And then in chapter 12, verse 1, is the turning point, the practical application now of everything that Paul has been saying. 00:02:35.760 --> 00:02:42.440 And he says, I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, which is how he summarizes the last 11 chapters. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:51.540 Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, which is your spiritual or your reasonable worship. 00:02:51.539 --> 00:03:03.819 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 00:03:04.819 --> 00:03:06.719 So we're given this command now. 00:03:06.799 --> 00:03:13.319 In light of these great truths, we are to take ourselves, all of us, which is what he means when he talks about presenting our bodies. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:20.000 As priests, we're to lay our very being on the altar in service to him. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:23.460 And he begins to show us how we do that. 00:03:23.539 --> 00:03:30.939 We do that by not being conformed to the world, but being transformed instead by the renewal of our mind so that we can know what God's perfect will is. 00:03:31.020 --> 00:03:40.039 And when we talked about this a couple of weeks ago, I said to you, I think generally we can apply this truth to our everyday living, the will of God. 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:41.680 What is the will of God for my life? 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:51.520 I think we can say certainly by renewing our minds, understanding the truth of the scriptures, we can discern what I'll call the hidden will, the details. 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:52.819 What job should I take? 00:03:52.860 --> 00:03:53.520 Where should I live? 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:54.240 Who should I marry? 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:55.260 Those types of things. 00:03:55.560 --> 00:04:01.040 But more specifically, what Paul is referring to, I believe, is the rest of the book. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:13.079 If your mind is being transformed by the truth, you will be able to discern these good and acceptable things, the will of God, which I'm about to tell you about. 00:04:14.399 --> 00:04:23.159 So we begin to talk about the gifts to the church, the graces, the way it is that we're working together as a body of believers to exalt him to the world. 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:27.280 And then we get this list of exhortations, right? 00:04:27.320 --> 00:04:29.020 They get rattled off at us. 00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:36.640 And what they are is an exhortation to godliness, the will of God that we will look like Christ. 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:40.600 And he fires them off at us pretty quickly, right? 00:04:40.700 --> 00:04:44.680 These are the marks of the life offered to God. 00:04:46.260 --> 00:04:52.100 First Timothy 4, 7 through 9, Paul wrote, train yourself for godliness. 00:04:52.100 --> 00:05:02.500 For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:07.060 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 00:05:07.860 --> 00:05:17.379 So these things that he's going to begin telling us about have great value for us, both now as the right way to live and forever. 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:21.400 For the hope of eternal glory being stored up for us. 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:30.039 These things are of supreme value and we ought to strive, we ought to strain to live in these ways. 00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:34.939 And so he gives to us a first exhortation. 00:05:35.159 --> 00:05:38.679 And I'll say it's a primary exhortation. 00:05:38.839 --> 00:05:41.919 He says, let love be genuine. 00:05:43.039 --> 00:05:44.859 And then he expounds upon it. 00:05:45.459 --> 00:05:47.319 Seems like a random interjection there. 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:49.540 Abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good. 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:50.139 Right? 00:05:50.779 --> 00:05:51.879 Precious truth there. 00:05:52.339 --> 00:05:54.319 We're to hate the evil, we're to love the good. 00:05:54.639 --> 00:06:00.879 But doesn't it seem a little bit strange interjected between let love be genuine and then love one another with brotherly affection? 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:03.079 How do the two connect? 00:06:03.159 --> 00:06:05.779 I hope to show you that here momentarily. 00:06:05.779 --> 00:06:18.179 I believe that when he talks about abhorring what is evil and holding fast to what is good, he's greater expressing what genuine or non-hypocritical love actually looks like. 00:06:19.219 --> 00:06:21.779 So it's a first, it's a primary exhortation. 00:06:22.479 --> 00:06:24.779 It's a overarching exhortation. 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:31.959 And he's going to go on to tell us how loving genuinely works out. 00:06:32.619 --> 00:06:42.199 And you can see starting in verse 10, if you kind of scan that with me through verse 13, he's exhorting us to love genuinely the saints. 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:50.719 And beyond that, beginning in verse 14 through the end of 16, that we should be loving genuinely all peoples. 00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:57.899 Beginning in 17 through the end of the chapter, we should be loving genuinely our enemies. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:05.120 You begin to see he's expanding the idea of what loving genuinely actually looks like. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:16.459 In Matthew chapter 22, beginning in verse 36, a lawyer seeking to test Jesus said, teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? 00:07:17.259 --> 00:07:22.939 And Jesus said to him, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. 00:07:23.340 --> 00:07:25.600 This is the great and first commandment. 00:07:25.959 --> 00:07:27.160 And a second is like it. 00:07:27.160 --> 00:07:29.199 You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:33.879 On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:40.579 So, godliness then can be summarized in one word. 00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:42.000 Love. 00:07:42.840 --> 00:07:44.780 It can all be pulled together. 00:07:44.860 --> 00:07:45.540 Is it that simple? 00:07:45.639 --> 00:07:45.840 No. 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:46.959 And I fully recognize that. 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:50.240 Paul wrote us a couple chapters on what that looks like. 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:56.240 But if you had to pull it together, what is the one word that defines God? 00:07:57.759 --> 00:07:58.240 Love. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:01.199 But not as our culture understands it. 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:04.800 Love in our culture has been vastly distorted. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:05.560 Right? 00:08:05.819 --> 00:08:11.180 You can ask the average person how many people they've loved in their life and they'll rattle off some family members. 00:08:11.579 --> 00:08:16.040 They'll also give you a long line of boyfriends or girlfriends that they've said, I love you too. 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:16.600 Right? 00:08:16.660 --> 00:08:18.500 Which really what they're saying is, I lost you. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:19.319 Right? 00:08:19.379 --> 00:08:21.660 Not the reality of the situation. 00:08:22.579 --> 00:08:22.759 Right? 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:27.180 The word used here for love is agape. 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:28.240 Right? 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:29.459 It's a merciful. 00:08:29.740 --> 00:08:31.839 It's a self-sacrificial love. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:35.200 It's not a love that seeks what it can gain, but what it can give. 00:08:35.439 --> 00:08:37.179 It's a subservient love. 00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:42.199 In Greek literature, this word was very rarely used. 00:08:42.739 --> 00:08:45.779 Because culturally at this time, it was seen as weakness. 00:08:46.579 --> 00:08:51.699 To love somebody or something in this way, you were viewed as weak. 00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:56.460 And this is the love that we're being called to. 00:08:57.400 --> 00:09:00.180 To do so genuinely. 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:01.460 Right? 00:09:01.660 --> 00:09:03.640 It's stated in the positive in the ESV. 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:06.200 To let love be genuine. 00:09:07.040 --> 00:09:15.340 In the negative, which some of your translations may say would be without hypocrisy, which is a more literal translation of the word. 00:09:15.660 --> 00:09:19.100 Let love be without hypocrisy. 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:19.159 Let's see. 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:24.940 We can't trust many things these days, can we? 00:09:25.300 --> 00:09:28.600 On the way in, I listen to talk radio a lot. 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:34.420 And I heard a little assessment of Obama's first term. 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:39.000 He made 503 promises in his campaign. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:41.860 Things he intended to accomplish in his first term. 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:45.620 And he kept 39% of those promises so far. 00:09:47.300 --> 00:09:48.639 Obama's not alone in that. 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:51.539 We really can't trust politicians, can we? 00:09:51.939 --> 00:09:53.480 I think we've all learned that. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:55.279 Especially as we get a little bit older. 00:09:55.779 --> 00:09:55.919 Right? 00:09:56.799 --> 00:10:00.960 This time of year, it becomes very hard to trust culture. 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:02.759 Doesn't it? 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:10.559 Culture says that Christmas is all about something different than it really is. 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:11.279 Doesn't it? 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:14.019 It says it's all about consumerism. 00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:17.699 It's all about a jolly fat guy in a red suit. 00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:24.600 Also on talk radio, I heard them talk about the way children's faces light up. 00:10:24.699 --> 00:10:28.120 They interviewed a group of mall Santas. 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:37.000 And they said, as they introduced the bit, they said, Santa is so exciting to children because he personifies Christmas. 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:41.919 To children, Santa is everything. 00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:45.039 The literal words that they said on the radio. 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:46.539 And then they interviewed him. 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:47.259 And it was really funny. 00:10:47.459 --> 00:10:48.360 Things the kids ask for. 00:10:48.439 --> 00:10:49.139 Time machines. 00:10:49.339 --> 00:10:51.120 And a four-year-old asked for a grappling hook. 00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:53.959 That's all she wanted for Christmas. 00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:55.419 Quite funny. 00:10:55.759 --> 00:11:06.799 They went on to talk about how many people spill all kinds of details of their life to Santa as they wait in line for him. 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:17.500 And that to a lot of people, and the person talking at this time said, to a lot of people, Santa is a, and his words caught in his throat. 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:22.699 And I think what his mind was saying was, Santa is a god. 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:24.620 I think that's what went through his head. 00:11:25.439 --> 00:11:30.039 But instead he said, Santa is a catharsis. 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:32.279 That's about the pause that he gave. 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:37.980 He couldn't think of the word that he ought to use instead of calling Santa God. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:39.500 Right? 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:42.959 Parents, I will speak more to this at another time. 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:47.959 But please, let your yes be yes and your no be no. 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:58.339 Your children should believe you when you tell them a fantastic story of God taking the form of man, 00:11:58.340 --> 00:12:01.879 being born in a manger to serve the world in death. 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:06.580 You want your children to believe such a nutty story, right? 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:09.379 Let your yes be yes and your no be no. 00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:12.200 Let your children say, my parents wouldn't lie to me. 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:16.040 And have that be a reality in your life. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:19.620 It's hard to trust our culture. 00:12:19.620 --> 00:12:25.460 It's hard to trust that Wes is going to have the right lyrics up on the screen sometimes, isn't it? 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:27.399 I love you, buddy. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:39.600 But what we're being exhorted to here is that our love be trustworthy, be genuine, be without hypocrisy. 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:43.139 That's a high call in Christ, isn't it? 00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:47.299 Now, hypocrisy is manifested in two ways. 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:49.319 And I'm not just making this up. 00:12:49.359 --> 00:12:52.259 I'm going to show you scripturally where I'm getting this from. 00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:54.159 But hypocrisy is manifested in two ways. 00:12:54.299 --> 00:13:02.120 Number one, it seeks to make a person, one, look better on the outside than they actually are. 00:13:03.439 --> 00:13:05.240 We're familiar with that, right? 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:11.019 Hypocrisy seeks to make you look better on the outside than you actually are. 00:13:11.019 --> 00:13:15.379 In Matthew chapter 23, Jesus says, 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:42.759 Our love should be genuine in the sense that it is the reality. 00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:45.700 It is actually the way we feel. 00:13:45.819 --> 00:13:47.620 We don't put on airs. 00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:50.960 Psychologists talk about our front stage and our backstage. 00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:54.919 And in many degrees, that can be a healthy thing. 00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:58.319 That's good that I comb my hair and brush my teeth. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:01.580 You would not want to see my waking up in the morning backstage. 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:07.879 There's some things that are appropriate to do when we come together in public. 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:15.860 But we ought not put on the air of love and have the reality be something entirely different. 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:19.820 You may have seen that with some of the children this morning as they handed out candy canes. 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:22.860 I'm not really sure they wanted to give you the candy cane. 00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:26.480 They were kind of being coerced into doing so. 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:28.559 And we often do this as Christians. 00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:33.580 We believe we should be doing something, so we go through the dutiful act of doing it. 00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:37.040 We really don't mean it. 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:39.200 You ever ask somebody how they're doing? 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:40.460 Hey, good morning. 00:14:40.660 --> 00:14:41.320 How are you doing? 00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:43.940 And they actually unload the real answer on you. 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:46.259 And the first thought that goes through your mind is, 00:14:46.400 --> 00:14:48.080 I'm really sorry I asked. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:51.160 I really want to know how you were doing this morning. 00:14:51.520 --> 00:14:51.740 Right? 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:53.440 That's hypocritical love. 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:57.940 If you love somebody and you ask them how they're doing, 00:14:58.420 --> 00:15:04.520 the love you have for them should compel you to listen to the answer and minister to their need. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:06.500 Not the opposite. 00:15:06.680 --> 00:15:08.240 That's a front stage. 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:10.780 That's hypocritical love. 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:22.680 Secondly, hypocrisy is manifested as it seeks to maximize the faults of others to minimize your own faults. 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:25.400 Another form of hypocrisy. 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:30.760 It points at the faults of others so that people don't look at your own. 00:15:31.140 --> 00:15:32.940 They're all guilty of this as well. 00:15:34.060 --> 00:15:36.060 Luke chapter 6, Jesus says, 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:41.260 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 00:15:41.880 --> 00:15:43.220 How can you say to your brother, 00:15:43.380 --> 00:15:45.780 Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye, 00:15:46.060 --> 00:15:49.320 when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:51.080 You hypocrite. 00:15:51.080 --> 00:15:54.379 First, take the log out of your own eye, 00:15:54.520 --> 00:15:59.360 and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. 00:16:01.540 --> 00:16:05.420 That's the picture of proper encouragement, 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:07.080 proper exhortation, 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:09.080 the proper rebuke, 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:10.080 rebuke. 00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:13.600 It's that we are pressing ourselves into holiness, 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.840 and as we're doing that, 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:17.879 we're calling others into it along with us. 00:16:17.900 --> 00:16:23.600 And we are far too quick to notice the faults of others and ignore our very own. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:26.940 You will find that more than likely, 00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:28.600 the things about other people, 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:30.720 their sin that bothers you the most, 00:16:30.820 --> 00:16:33.899 is probably the most glaring sin in your own life. 00:16:36.040 --> 00:16:38.440 The condemnation is being heaped upon you, 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:43.460 because it drives you crazy when people talk behind other people's backs. 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:45.860 And what do you do in response to that? 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:51.019 You go do the very same about them talking behind other people's backs. 00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:55.100 That is not genuine love. 00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:57.700 Genuine love, 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:59.279 agape love, 00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:03.779 is seeking the best for the other person. 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:07.879 It's ignoring your own needs. 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:10.740 Soon in verse 10, 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:11.740 Paul says, 00:17:11.859 --> 00:17:14.519 Outdo one another in showing honor. 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:18.440 Compete to honor people, 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:21.440 to bestow favor on other people, 00:17:21.579 --> 00:17:24.139 over and above yourself. 00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:27.200 1 John 3.18, 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.759 John says to us, 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.740 Little children, 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:33.119 let us not love in word or talk, 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:35.739 but in deed and in truth. 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:38.000 Now John is not saying, 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:40.659 we ought not love people with our words. 00:17:41.179 --> 00:17:42.279 That's not at all what he's saying. 00:17:42.439 --> 00:17:43.419 But what he is saying is that, 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:45.879 it ought not just be something we say. 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:47.679 It ought to be something that we do. 00:17:48.739 --> 00:17:53.599 The deeds of our vocalization should match. 00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:57.939 1 John, again, 4, 00:17:58.519 --> 00:17:59.859 chapter 7 and 8. 00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:01.139 Beloved, 00:18:01.399 --> 00:18:02.979 let us love one another, 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:04.979 for love is from God. 00:18:05.419 --> 00:18:07.839 And whoever loves has been born of God 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:09.239 and knows God. 00:18:09.699 --> 00:18:12.859 Anyone who does not love does not know God, 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:15.219 because God is love. 00:18:16.239 --> 00:18:20.000 And that's the great test of the book of 1 John. 00:18:21.439 --> 00:18:22.039 To ask, 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:22.959 am I a Christian? 00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:25.559 Do I have true, genuine faith? 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:27.819 Have I been born again? 00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:30.419 Am I actually a new creation in Christ? 00:18:30.919 --> 00:18:32.359 May I ask you a simple question? 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:34.039 Do you love? 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:35.099 Do you love? 00:18:36.879 --> 00:18:38.519 Do you seek the good of others? 00:18:39.159 --> 00:18:42.479 Or are you entirely self-serving? 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:46.120 Which brings us to the next little phrase. 00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:47.640 When Paul says, 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:49.640 seemingly randomly, 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.279 abhor what is evil. 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:54.200 Hold fast to what is good. 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:58.380 All that he's about to say in the book, 00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:59.400 beginning in verse 10, 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:04.200 is the further explanation of the evil and the good. 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.559 But let me stop first to say, 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:09.580 isn't it a blessing that there is such a thing 00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:13.440 as objective evil and objective good? 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:15.380 There is, 00:19:15.380 --> 00:19:16.160 in fact, 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:21.400 clearly defined categories of evil and good. 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.860 In this world that we live in, 00:19:23.320 --> 00:19:24.940 might makes right. 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:25.920 But praise God, 00:19:26.320 --> 00:19:27.380 he is the almighty. 00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:28.460 And therefore, 00:19:28.580 --> 00:19:32.279 his right is the standard by which we can live. 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:37.359 It's what empowered Christians in Nazi Germany 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.779 to say of Hitler, 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:41.359 what you're doing is wrong. 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:45.660 You cannot systematically exterminate a race. 00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:49.259 It's not the standard that's set for us, 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.900 the objective good for us. 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:55.560 It's what allows American Christians to say, 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:57.880 abortion is evil. 00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:00.100 Clearly. 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:03.320 Because the standard is not the standard of our government. 00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:07.300 The standard is the standard of God Almighty. 00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:12.080 Praise him that there is an objective good and evil. 00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:14.660 How do we define those things? 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:16.519 We start to think about good and evil. 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:20.540 What is it in my life that fits into these varying categories? 00:20:20.800 --> 00:20:21.940 And I think simply, 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:25.640 without exhaustively explaining all things good 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:26.580 and all things evil, 00:20:26.840 --> 00:20:28.740 we can see in chapter 12, verse 2, 00:20:29.340 --> 00:20:30.820 the will of God. 00:20:31.600 --> 00:20:34.200 And Paul has set us upon the task of renewing our minds 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:35.480 so that we can test, 00:20:35.560 --> 00:20:38.040 we can discern all the things he's about to say, 00:20:38.100 --> 00:20:40.620 which are the will of God. 00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:44.659 So if we live then by the will of God, 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:46.199 we are doing good. 00:20:46.419 --> 00:20:47.500 And if we don't, 00:20:47.719 --> 00:20:48.939 we've set ourselves against him 00:20:48.939 --> 00:20:51.299 and we are doing evil. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:55.619 American Christians get really caught up, 00:20:55.679 --> 00:20:58.379 get really wrapped up in this idea of the will of God, 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:00.159 particularly college students. 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:02.619 As you're in a transitionary time in your life 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:04.079 and you're looking to what's ahead, 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.199 kind of constantly, 00:21:05.679 --> 00:21:07.379 your major task right now 00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:10.259 is preparing yourself for the next step. 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:11.079 And you always want to know, 00:21:11.199 --> 00:21:12.460 what is the will of God for my life? 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.480 What is the will of God for my life? 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.119 What is the will of God? 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:15.539 And the sad thing is, 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:18.480 is that you ignore all of his revealed will. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:21.799 You want to live however you want to live, 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:23.379 do whatever you want to do, 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:25.559 and you want God to point you in a direction 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:27.599 and send you off on his errands. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:29.699 He's already given you tasks. 00:21:30.219 --> 00:21:32.719 He's given you good things 00:21:32.719 --> 00:21:34.439 to be involved with and do. 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.419 Set yourself to these things. 00:21:37.199 --> 00:21:39.419 The stuff that's been pinned down for you already 00:21:39.419 --> 00:21:40.980 and that hidden will, 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:43.059 those things that are particular to your life, 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:44.939 will reveal themselves in due time. 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:47.439 You will know what job to take 00:21:47.439 --> 00:21:49.519 and who to marry and where to live. 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:51.759 It will be evident to you 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:54.299 as you tarry with him. 00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:57.219 So the good and the evil 00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.940 is the will, 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:00.079 the very will of God. 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:03.160 And we're to recognize this 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:04.620 by the renewing of our minds. 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:06.200 That's why the study of the scriptures 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:07.720 and the hearing of the preaching of it, 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.980 the sitting in Sunday school classes, 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:10.059 the meeting for Bible study 00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:13.200 is all so incredibly valuable to us. 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:15.740 Paul said in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, 00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:17.120 test everything. 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:19.759 Hold fast what is good. 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:22.620 Abstain from every form of evil. 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.740 By our testing, 00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.799 how do we test? 00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:26.200 Right? 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:28.059 What is the chemistry set 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:28.860 we've been given 00:22:28.860 --> 00:22:30.240 by which to test everything? 00:22:31.840 --> 00:22:34.200 The Almighty's written word to us. 00:22:34.600 --> 00:22:38.299 The standard for good and for evil. 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:44.400 So we're told to hate what is evil. 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:47.180 To abhor it is the word that he uses here. 00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:49.519 Psalm 97.10 says, 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.440 Oh you who love the Lord, 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.759 hate evil. 00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:57.119 We have been set apart. 00:22:57.240 --> 00:23:00.160 That's what the term sanctified means. 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.920 Good little example of this. 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:03.660 Sam and I have a plate 00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:05.119 that she bought at some point. 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.420 Red. 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.139 It's kind of cool. 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:08.300 And it says around it, 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:09.240 you are very special. 00:23:10.040 --> 00:23:10.160 Right? 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:13.360 And we have decided this is going to be our special birthday plate. 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:14.900 Many of you may do that same type of thing. 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:15.700 So somebody in the family, 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.900 something great happens. 00:23:17.280 --> 00:23:17.940 Maybe Cade, 00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:20.440 when he scores the perfect score on the SAT, 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:22.940 you are very special plate 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:24.960 is going to come out for him. 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:25.420 Right? 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:27.600 And that plate has been set aside 00:23:27.600 --> 00:23:29.779 for a very specific purpose. 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:31.700 The celebration of special events. 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:32.539 Right? 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.240 It's been sanctified. 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:35.259 Right? 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:37.420 If I just pulled it out one day 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:39.160 and made nachos on it, 00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:39.860 the microwave, 00:23:41.080 --> 00:23:42.220 Sam would not be happy with me. 00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:42.640 Right? 00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:44.720 That is not what that plate is designed for. 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:45.640 Right? 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:47.500 In the same way we've been sanctified. 00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:49.120 We've been set apart 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:50.500 that we will be holy 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:52.079 as God is holy. 00:23:52.899 --> 00:23:54.059 I recognize fully. 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.459 That's a process in our lives. 00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:56.399 Right? 00:23:56.399 --> 00:23:58.739 I am as feeble as you are. 00:23:59.419 --> 00:23:59.500 Right? 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:02.559 I struggle to do all these things 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.599 he's about to tell us. 00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:06.359 To truly have my love be genuine. 00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.000 But yet, 00:24:07.139 --> 00:24:09.679 that is the high calling we have in Christ. 00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:10.979 Just the same. 00:24:11.459 --> 00:24:14.500 And so we're to hate sin. 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:17.799 As we fail 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:19.660 in walking out this Christian life, 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.900 do you find yourself 00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:22.700 hating the sin 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.819 that you do? 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.839 And people come to me 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:27.059 fairly often 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:29.240 and confess to me 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.019 things that are going on 00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.519 in their lives 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:32.059 and their own failings. 00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.299 And I always say to these people, 00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:34.539 it's an encouragement to me 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:36.279 to see you hating your sins. 00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.839 Because I know 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:39.400 that you are a Christian. 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.480 As you absolutely 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.600 are broken 00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:43.759 over the things that you do 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:45.060 that offend God, 00:24:45.060 --> 00:24:46.160 it encourages me 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:47.380 because it means you're His. 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.060 Right? 00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:49.720 Do we sin 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.759 that grace may abound? 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:52.560 May it never be. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:54.100 But when we do, 00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:55.080 right, 00:24:55.320 --> 00:24:57.060 and we have that inward feeling, 00:24:57.160 --> 00:24:58.519 have you ever just felt sick 00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.620 over your own sinfulness? 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:03.060 You hate evil so much 00:25:03.060 --> 00:25:05.320 because you've been set apart 00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:06.740 for something else. 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:07.960 Evidence 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:10.420 that you are God's. 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.220 If you don't, 00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:14.579 there's a very good chance 00:25:14.579 --> 00:25:15.539 that you're not. 00:25:16.360 --> 00:25:16.840 Repent 00:25:16.840 --> 00:25:17.759 and believe. 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.019 Right? 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:20.600 If you go about sinning 00:25:20.600 --> 00:25:21.059 and that's just 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:22.480 the habit of your life, 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:23.720 right, 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:25.380 there's no brokenness over it, 00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.779 you don't care at all, 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:29.100 rather than abhorring it, 00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:30.980 you're actually holding to it, 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:33.840 there's a good chance 00:25:33.840 --> 00:25:35.579 that you're not regenerate. 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:36.960 God has not put in you 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.600 a new heart. 00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.900 The Spirit of God 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:41.700 doesn't abide in you. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.299 Repent and believe. 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.160 Right? 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:47.900 We're called to hate sin. 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:50.220 How does that then shape 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:50.960 how we interact 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:52.140 with the world around us? 00:25:52.819 --> 00:25:52.920 Right? 00:25:53.340 --> 00:25:54.340 We have to be in it, 00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:54.559 right? 00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:55.500 We have to be out there. 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.400 We have to be involved. 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.279 We need to be light 00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:58.840 in dark places. 00:25:59.579 --> 00:25:59.720 Right? 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.360 We can't avoid 00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:01.180 all the dark places. 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:02.100 We can't just go 00:26:02.100 --> 00:26:03.319 where light already is. 00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.600 If we're to be on 00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:05.920 the purpose of God, 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.299 we see Jesus eating 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:08.779 with the tax collectors. 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.420 Right? 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.200 Which in their mind 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:11.360 was the highest form 00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:12.740 of possible sinner. 00:26:12.860 --> 00:26:14.180 The oppressive forces 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:14.700 of Rome 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.960 carried out financially. 00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.059 Right? 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.360 We're called to be doing 00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:19.660 the very same things. 00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:21.259 Let me read to you 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.640 from the book of Jude, 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:24.240 beginning in verse 20. 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:26.299 Beloved, 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.519 building yourselves up 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.960 in your most holy faith 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.980 and praying in the Holy Spirit, 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:31.940 keep yourselves 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:33.240 in the love of God, 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:34.779 waiting for the mercy 00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.839 of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:37.220 that leads to eternal life. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.539 And have mercy 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.819 on those who doubt. 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.220 Save others 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.220 by snatching them 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:42.880 out of the fire. 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:43.579 To others, 00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.920 show mercy with fear, 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.799 hating even the garment 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:48.920 stained by the flesh. 00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:52.980 What is the exhortation here? 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.920 It's to hate the activity. 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:56.900 Right? 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.220 But to see that 00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.140 these people 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:00.460 are enslaved 00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:02.380 by their very nature 00:27:02.380 --> 00:27:03.140 to their sin. 00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:06.319 And to bring to them 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.960 the light of the gospel. 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:10.500 We certainly are not called 00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.579 to love what they do. 00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:12.779 But we are called 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.900 to love them. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:15.480 Right? 00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:16.359 Abhor, 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:17.700 hate, 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.700 loathe, 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:22.099 be disgusted with evil 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:23.740 because it is not the standard 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:25.579 that God has called us to. 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.220 Secondly, 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:30.180 he says to hold fast 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:31.000 to what is good. 00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:32.559 To cling, 00:27:33.099 --> 00:27:34.180 to fasten, 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:35.180 to glue. 00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:37.519 It's the same word, 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:38.099 Greek word, 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:39.240 used often in Greek literature 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.420 to speak of the 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:42.000 marriage bed 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.920 and the union 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:45.660 that a couple experiences. 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.099 Right? 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:50.900 We're to wrap our arms around 00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:51.940 those things 00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:53.740 that are good. 00:27:54.840 --> 00:27:55.640 Which certainly 00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:56.380 is going to take 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:57.120 some transforming 00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:57.780 of the mind. 00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:58.519 Right? 00:27:58.580 --> 00:27:59.120 We're going to have 00:27:59.120 --> 00:27:59.860 to be about that. 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.200 We're going to have 00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:01.380 to know what is good. 00:28:01.840 --> 00:28:02.920 The standards that God 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:04.340 has laid out for us. 00:28:04.780 --> 00:28:06.620 Paul wrote in Philippians 4.8, 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:08.000 whatever is true, 00:28:08.439 --> 00:28:09.539 whatever is honorable, 00:28:09.939 --> 00:28:10.919 whatever is just, 00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:12.019 whatever is pure, 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.699 whatever is lovely, 00:28:14.099 --> 00:28:15.199 whatever is commendable, 00:28:15.719 --> 00:28:17.000 if there's any excellence, 00:28:17.119 --> 00:28:17.979 if there's anything 00:28:17.979 --> 00:28:19.159 worthy of praise, 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.399 think about 00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:21.639 these things. 00:28:22.959 --> 00:28:24.299 Paul's not talking about 00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.599 random things 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:27.139 like puppies. 00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:27.959 Right? 00:28:28.219 --> 00:28:28.679 He's saying, 00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:29.799 that's lovely. 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.459 The flowers are lovely. 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.299 It's not what he's saying at all. 00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:32.839 He's talking about 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:34.000 the very things of God. 00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.759 His revelation 00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.539 to man. 00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:36.960 Think about 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:38.000 these things. 00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:39.200 And if we're doing that 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:40.039 properly, 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:40.859 necessarily, 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:41.879 we're going to act. 00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:42.680 Right? 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:44.619 If we're clinging to 00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:46.059 good thoughts, 00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:48.079 good things in our mind, 00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.339 it's going to cause 00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:50.660 good things 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.359 to happen 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:53.200 in our actions. 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:57.000 1 Peter 2.11 and 12. 00:28:58.099 --> 00:28:58.720 Peter wrote, 00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.680 Beloved, I urge you 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:01.279 as sojourners and exiles 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.240 to abstain 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:02.940 from the passions 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:03.500 of the flesh 00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.400 which wage war 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:05.420 against your soul. 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:07.160 Keep your conduct 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:07.980 among the Gentiles 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.440 honorable 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:09.759 so that when they 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.860 speak against you 00:29:10.860 --> 00:29:11.580 as evildoers, 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.580 they may see 00:29:12.580 --> 00:29:13.320 your good deeds 00:29:13.320 --> 00:29:14.420 and glorify God 00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:15.240 on the day 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.200 of visitation. 00:29:17.300 --> 00:29:18.500 If we cling 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.360 to what is good, 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.500 the picture he's 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.340 painting for us here 00:29:21.340 --> 00:29:22.000 is the world 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.519 is not going to 00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:23.160 love us. 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.440 We carry with us 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:25.500 the truth of God. 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.620 They hated Christ 00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:26.980 for it. 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:27.560 They're going to 00:29:27.560 --> 00:29:28.280 hate us for it. 00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:29.880 But even in that, 00:29:30.780 --> 00:29:31.580 they're going to say, 00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:33.819 I'm glad these people 00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.879 are in our town. 00:29:35.679 --> 00:29:36.960 I'm glad they live 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.639 in our community 00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:38.779 because they're doing 00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:40.500 good things 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.759 for us. 00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:43.579 I don't know 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.439 that the Christian church 00:29:44.439 --> 00:29:44.939 in America 00:29:44.939 --> 00:29:46.399 has that kind of 00:29:46.399 --> 00:29:47.059 accolade 00:29:47.059 --> 00:29:48.480 given to them. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.879 Even as they say, 00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:51.679 those people 00:29:51.679 --> 00:29:53.079 are insane. 00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:54.679 You believe they believe 00:29:54.679 --> 00:29:55.579 that God created 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.179 this world, 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:57.000 man rebelled 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.799 against him, 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:58.960 now he's in the process 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:00.220 of redeeming souls 00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:00.779 for himself. 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.720 He's calling people 00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:02.079 apart. 00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:03.460 He has eternal glory 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.180 stored up for them. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.779 The rest of us 00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:05.480 are going to be 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:06.880 condemned forever. 00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:08.380 That's nuts. 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.640 Even those who say 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:11.759 there is no God 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:12.480 have to say, 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.740 but praise God 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.480 there's Christians. 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:18.000 They hold fast 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.759 to the things 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.840 that are good 00:30:19.840 --> 00:30:20.980 and they're about 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.960 his work 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:23.519 in the world. 00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.720 The result of that 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.640 is that they're going 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.480 to glorify God 00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.819 on the day of visitation. 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.759 They're going to see 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.579 that God 00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:32.779 is good. 00:30:35.100 --> 00:30:36.079 So there's our 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.900 setup 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:38.880 for the rest 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:39.460 of what's about 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:39.940 to happen. 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:42.079 Our genuine love 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:43.940 must hate evil 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:45.340 and hold fast 00:30:45.340 --> 00:30:46.019 to what is good. 00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:47.059 He's going to be 00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:48.100 laying out for us 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:49.440 all these 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:50.759 other exhortations, 00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.519 loving one another 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.180 for other affection, 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.340 doing another 00:30:53.340 --> 00:30:54.019 and showing honor, 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.340 blessing those 00:30:55.340 --> 00:30:56.840 who persecute us, 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:58.180 repaying no one 00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:59.240 evil for evil. 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.580 So far as it depends 00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:02.880 on us, 00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:03.799 living peaceably 00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:04.779 with everyone. 00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:06.920 Lay that out 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:08.019 before us. 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.299 And what is the 00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:11.799 empowering factor 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.860 to be able 00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:13.480 to do this? 00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:14.640 As I said before, 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:15.640 this is a high call 00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:16.180 in Christ. 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:16.980 Let love be 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.880 genuine 00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:19.500 without hypocrisy. 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.700 What a great 00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:22.359 massive challenge 00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:22.920 that is. 00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:23.539 But we've been 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.720 given a helper. 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.460 The spirit. 00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.579 We've been given 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:29.579 the scriptures. 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:32.519 These great truths 00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:33.099 which are this 00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:35.559 incredible motivation. 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:38.099 You dwell on these things. 00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:38.940 You preach the gospel 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.619 to yourself. 00:31:40.119 --> 00:31:41.039 Have others preach it 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.779 to you as well. 00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:42.559 You're constantly 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.700 thinking about what 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.339 Christ has done 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:44.880 for you. 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.559 You're always aware 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.299 of what your 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.019 eternal state 00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:49.000 would have been 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:50.099 apart from him. 00:31:50.339 --> 00:31:51.099 Meaning you actually 00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:51.960 feel the weight 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:52.599 of your sin. 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.599 You know 00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:54.259 that you were 00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:55.019 an enemy of his. 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:55.980 That you hated him. 00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:57.480 And yet he loved you 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.000 anyway. 00:31:58.419 --> 00:31:59.240 Those truths 00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:00.419 running through your mind 00:32:00.419 --> 00:32:02.299 will work in you 00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.599 genuine love. 00:32:04.899 --> 00:32:05.859 Thinking about 00:32:05.859 --> 00:32:06.720 Christ. 00:32:07.119 --> 00:32:08.220 Our supreme 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:09.179 example. 00:32:10.419 --> 00:32:11.919 1 John chapter 4 00:32:11.919 --> 00:32:13.319 verses 9 through 12. 00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:14.980 John said 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:15.960 in this 00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:16.779 the love of God 00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.799 was made manifest 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.579 among us 00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:19.919 that God sent 00:32:19.919 --> 00:32:20.879 his only son 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:21.879 into the world 00:32:21.879 --> 00:32:23.220 so that we might 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.839 live through him. 00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:25.639 That's what we're 00:32:25.639 --> 00:32:26.519 celebrating 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.379 this time of year. 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:27.879 I hope 00:32:27.879 --> 00:32:28.679 in the hubbub 00:32:28.679 --> 00:32:30.099 of everything going on 00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:30.939 and the craziness 00:32:30.939 --> 00:32:31.899 of running to every 00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:32.599 event 00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:33.720 and wrapping 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.200 everything 00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:35.639 and pulling out 00:32:35.639 --> 00:32:36.339 old sweaters 00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:36.939 that you have to wear 00:32:36.939 --> 00:32:37.619 to these things 00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:39.299 and all of that stuff. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.339 Right? 00:32:40.639 --> 00:32:41.399 I hope that we're 00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:41.879 stopping 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:43.320 to recognize 00:32:43.320 --> 00:32:45.720 that in this 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:47.560 the love of God 00:32:47.560 --> 00:32:48.940 was made manifest 00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:50.040 among us. 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:50.700 It came 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.400 and it dwelt 00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:53.080 in our very presence. 00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:55.820 Jesus Christ 00:32:55.820 --> 00:32:57.680 came to the world 00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.380 so that we might 00:32:58.380 --> 00:32:59.120 live through him. 00:32:59.520 --> 00:32:59.980 Verse 10. 00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:01.480 In this is love 00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:02.500 not that we have 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:03.200 loved God 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:04.540 but that he loved us 00:33:04.540 --> 00:33:05.860 and sent his son 00:33:05.860 --> 00:33:07.380 to be the propitiation 00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:08.740 for our sins. 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.540 It's that big word 00:33:09.539 --> 00:33:10.819 that means replacement 00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:12.680 in its simplest idea. 00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:14.839 Beloved, 00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:16.500 if God so loved us 00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.579 we also 00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:18.420 ought to love 00:33:18.420 --> 00:33:19.079 one another. 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:20.619 No one has ever 00:33:20.619 --> 00:33:21.299 seen God. 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:22.259 If we love one another 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:23.759 God abides in us 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.700 and his love 00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:26.500 is perfected in us. 00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:28.299 We are now 00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:29.740 the very essence 00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.680 of Christ 00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:31.480 love 00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:32.480 to the world. 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:35.759 How are you 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:37.519 sanctified 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:39.200 this Christmas season? 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:41.259 Have you set yourself 00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:41.880 apart 00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:43.900 to purvey 00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:44.799 the love of God 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:45.799 to the world? 00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:48.400 Or are you being 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:49.400 conformed to it? 00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.819 Are you doing 00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:53.120 all the other things 00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:54.599 that everyone else does? 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:56.220 Is your love 00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.380 a lie? 00:33:57.380 --> 00:33:59.860 I pray 00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:00.940 that it's not. 00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:00.940 00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:00.940