WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.019 You know, the overwhelming majority of us in this room have some knowledge of the Bible. 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:10.519 Think about it. 00:00:11.220 --> 00:00:19.559 Most of us had parents, grandparents, or someone who took us to church and probably either 00:00:19.559 --> 00:00:24.080 read us the Bible or Bible stories. 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:35.500 Most of us in this room have had several pastors and teachers in probably several different 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:43.340 churches over our lifetimes who taught us the Bible, who went to great lengths to try 00:00:43.340 --> 00:00:47.200 to help us to understand and apply the teaching of God's Word. 00:00:48.579 --> 00:00:52.539 Now, I know that there are some in this room, you didn't grow up in church. 00:00:52.539 --> 00:01:02.619 No one ever took you or taught you, but God worked through your circumstances or certain 00:01:02.619 --> 00:01:08.799 people outside your family to bring you under the influence of God's Word. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:16.939 I say that because most likely you wouldn't be here right now if you didn't have some interest 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:19.819 in learning from the Bible. 00:01:19.819 --> 00:01:29.019 Now, given that we've all been exposed to at least some biblical teaching, would you describe 00:01:29.019 --> 00:01:32.959 yourself as someone who thinks biblically? 00:01:34.699 --> 00:01:36.119 I want to make a clarification. 00:01:36.459 --> 00:01:42.479 The last two weeks, I asked a similar question, but the emphasis was on thinking. 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:50.260 Do you think about what's true and right and lovely and these kind of things that we looked 00:01:50.260 --> 00:01:51.920 at from Philippians 4.8? 00:01:53.600 --> 00:01:55.900 I even asked, do you think? 00:01:56.859 --> 00:01:58.640 Because everybody doesn't think. 00:02:00.060 --> 00:02:03.000 But the focus today is on the second word. 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:06.980 Do you think biblically? 00:02:06.980 --> 00:02:13.500 Do you look at life, put it this way, through the lens of Scripture? 00:02:15.180 --> 00:02:17.400 Do you look at what's going on around you? 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:19.020 What's happening in your life? 00:02:19.180 --> 00:02:20.520 What's happening in our country? 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:24.620 Do you think about the issues of today? 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:27.300 Things about what's right and wrong? 00:02:28.020 --> 00:02:29.240 What's true and false? 00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:31.000 What's helpful or hurtful? 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:36.800 Do you think about it in light of what you know the Bible teaches? 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:45.419 Now, if we are Christians, we should answer that question with a very strong yes. 00:02:47.479 --> 00:02:48.819 But do we? 00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:51.560 Let's be honest. 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:57.000 We don't always think, period. 00:02:58.060 --> 00:03:01.960 But we don't always think biblically, do we? 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:11.240 We don't always look at the situations, the people in our lives, the circumstances, 00:03:12.379 --> 00:03:14.840 in light of what we know the Bible teaches. 00:03:15.060 --> 00:03:18.759 A lot of times we look at things according to how it affects me, 00:03:18.759 --> 00:03:24.799 according to how I feel, or according to how it affects my children or my grandchildren, 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:27.359 or somebody we care about. 00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:35.319 I want you to think, when you don't think biblically, 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:41.379 is it because you don't understand what the Bible is, 00:03:42.379 --> 00:03:45.239 the actual Word of God? 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:56.120 Or, would you say that there are times you don't think biblically because you don't care? 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:03.300 Even if it is the Word of God, you're going to do what you want to do. 00:04:03.300 --> 00:04:08.700 You're going to do what will most help you, 00:04:09.600 --> 00:04:12.719 regardless if it's right or wrong, true or false, 00:04:13.140 --> 00:04:15.160 helpful or hurtful to other people. 00:04:16.540 --> 00:04:18.879 Well, today's message is designed to teach us 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:23.280 why we need to think biblically 00:04:23.280 --> 00:04:27.340 by showing us that the Bible is the most unique, powerful, 00:04:27.339 --> 00:04:31.179 and life-changing book that has ever been written. 00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:36.739 And I think Paul clearly and concisely explains that 00:04:36.739 --> 00:04:41.319 in 2 Timothy 3, verse 16, 00:04:41.699 --> 00:04:45.899 a scripture that I hope is familiar to most people in this room. 00:04:46.479 --> 00:04:47.479 Look at it on the screen. 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:53.660 All scripture is breathed out by God 00:04:53.660 --> 00:04:57.560 and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, 00:04:57.939 --> 00:04:59.300 and for training in righteousness. 00:04:59.980 --> 00:05:03.180 This verse is going to help us understand 00:05:03.180 --> 00:05:06.540 why we need to think biblically, 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:09.160 why we need to look at the Bible 00:05:09.160 --> 00:05:13.680 as the filter through which we look at everything 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:17.000 and help us make all our decisions. 00:05:17.660 --> 00:05:18.459 Let's look first. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:21.340 The Bible is God's authoritative word. 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:23.340 And here's why we should think that. 00:05:23.660 --> 00:05:28.900 Paul explains clearly what the Bible is. 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:30.040 It's authority. 00:05:30.280 --> 00:05:31.060 It's source. 00:05:31.180 --> 00:05:31.720 It's origin. 00:05:31.819 --> 00:05:32.220 Look at this. 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:35.160 All scripture is breathed out by God. 00:05:35.160 --> 00:05:36.720 That's the English Standard Version. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:39.720 All scripture is God-breathed, NIV. 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:42.259 All scripture is inspired by God. 00:05:42.620 --> 00:05:43.360 New American Standard. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:46.879 The word inspired literally means God-breathed. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:53.160 Paul is telling us that all scripture originates with God. 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:54.639 Every book. 00:05:55.020 --> 00:05:55.920 When we talk about the Bible, 00:05:56.020 --> 00:06:00.360 we're talking about 66 different books. 00:06:01.580 --> 00:06:03.879 All kinds of books. 00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:08.660 And Paul says all scripture originated with God. 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:11.600 He's talking about every book, every chapter, 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:16.420 every verse, every word of scripture. 00:06:17.620 --> 00:06:20.360 Now what this means is every time you open the Bible 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:23.280 and read whatever passage, 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:26.840 whether it's poetry in the Psalms, 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:31.820 whether it's a long story about the life of Abraham 00:06:31.820 --> 00:06:34.120 or Joseph or David in the Old Testament, 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:39.319 or whether it's Paul's specific teaching about how we should think 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:40.899 that we looked at the last two weeks. 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:42.980 Every time you open the Bible, 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:45.300 whatever the passage, 00:06:46.899 --> 00:06:51.899 you are reading the word of God. 00:06:51.899 --> 00:06:55.539 The God-breathed word. 00:06:55.539 --> 00:07:01.060 Now Paul's not alone in this very high view of the authority of scripture. 00:07:01.579 --> 00:07:05.879 Peter fully understood that scripture was the authoritative word of God, 00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:07.579 and he explains it like this. 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:07.959 He says, 00:07:07.959 --> 00:07:24.199 Peter is actually being more precise in telling us 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:26.439 that the writers of scripture wrote 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:29.479 as they were directed by, 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:31.459 influenced by, 00:07:32.459 --> 00:07:33.899 the Holy Spirit. 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:35.879 Jerry Bridges, I think, 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:37.439 does a good job of explaining 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:39.099 what that means, 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:40.500 how that came about. 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:41.740 Bridges says, 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:43.620 what Peter is telling us is that the Holy Spirit 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:47.219 so moved upon and influenced the minds of these men 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:50.380 as to render them the instruments of God 00:07:50.380 --> 00:07:55.440 for the infallible communication of his mind and will to us. 00:07:55.700 --> 00:07:58.600 This means that within the framework of each man's vocabulary 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:00.440 and writing style, 00:08:00.840 --> 00:08:02.420 the Holy Spirit guided them 00:08:02.420 --> 00:08:05.640 that they chose exactly the words, 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:06.800 not just the thoughts, 00:08:07.200 --> 00:08:08.460 that he intended them to use. 00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:11.980 We need to understand that God didn't dictate 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:14.040 his word to these people. 00:08:14.040 --> 00:08:20.520 They were not in some kind of spiritually ecstatic state, 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:21.860 in some kind of fog. 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:22.740 They didn't know what they were doing. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:27.040 God providentially, throughout their lives, 00:08:27.300 --> 00:08:28.720 prepared each Bible writer 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:31.560 with the life experience, 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:34.360 the vocabulary, 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:38.539 the ability to speak or write 00:08:38.539 --> 00:08:41.819 what he wanted, 00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:44.559 spoken and written down. 00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:49.860 Each man that God used to write the scripture, 00:08:51.059 --> 00:08:53.819 they were writing fully aware 00:08:53.819 --> 00:08:56.439 that God was working in them, 00:08:56.699 --> 00:08:58.319 but they didn't write about things 00:08:58.319 --> 00:08:59.579 they didn't know about. 00:09:00.219 --> 00:09:02.019 They didn't use words 00:09:02.019 --> 00:09:03.980 that were not a part of their vocabulary. 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:06.679 It was not something artificial. 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:09.259 God worked in them 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:10.659 in a supernatural way 00:09:10.659 --> 00:09:13.039 to cause them to think 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:15.599 what he wanted written 00:09:15.599 --> 00:09:17.419 the way he wanted it written. 00:09:18.739 --> 00:09:20.059 And so what we have 00:09:20.059 --> 00:09:22.799 is actually his word, 00:09:22.879 --> 00:09:24.159 his written word. 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:26.719 Now when Paul and Peter penned these words, 00:09:27.079 --> 00:09:28.719 they were referring to the Old Testament. 00:09:29.839 --> 00:09:30.779 The New Testament, 00:09:31.339 --> 00:09:33.699 when Paul and Peter were writing, 00:09:34.699 --> 00:09:35.719 it was still in the process 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:36.519 of being written. 00:09:37.180 --> 00:09:38.580 Some of their letters, 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:39.820 some of the gospels 00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:41.620 were already written. 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:43.860 Some of them were bound together 00:09:43.860 --> 00:09:45.899 and were circulating among churches. 00:09:47.660 --> 00:09:49.139 But the New Testament writers, 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:51.240 they knew what they were doing. 00:09:51.300 --> 00:09:52.540 They knew what they were writing. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:54.700 They understood that they were writing 00:09:54.700 --> 00:09:57.420 the authoritative word of God. 00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:58.980 I'm going to give you some examples. 00:09:59.779 --> 00:10:01.740 Peter referred to Paul's writings 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:03.220 as scripture, 00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:05.100 which would be Paul's letters. 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:05.899 Look at this. 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:08.399 And count the patience 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:09.659 of our Lord as salvation, 00:10:10.060 --> 00:10:11.540 just as our beloved brother Paul 00:10:11.540 --> 00:10:12.759 also wrote to you 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:14.139 according to the wisdom given him, 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:15.860 as he does in all his letters 00:10:15.860 --> 00:10:17.220 when he speaks in them 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:17.940 of these matters. 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:19.899 There are some things in them 00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:21.060 that are hard to understand, 00:10:21.580 --> 00:10:23.100 which the ignorant and unstable 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:26.180 twist to their own destruction 00:10:26.180 --> 00:10:29.180 as they do the other scriptures. 00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:34.519 Peter considered the writings of Paul. 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:38.179 These letters like Philippians. 00:10:38.739 --> 00:10:40.179 This letter to Timothy, 00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:41.259 this second letter to Timothy. 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:44.319 Peter considered what Paul was writing 00:10:44.319 --> 00:10:45.620 to be scripture. 00:10:46.479 --> 00:10:47.739 And what he's pointing out here, 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:49.599 there are false teachers 00:10:49.599 --> 00:10:52.379 that just as they twisted 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:53.859 the real meaning 00:10:53.859 --> 00:10:55.219 of the Old Testament scriptures 00:10:55.219 --> 00:10:57.759 to make it say what they wanted to say, 00:10:57.759 --> 00:10:59.379 they did the same thing 00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:00.059 in the New Testament, 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:03.200 such as Paul's scriptures. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:07.220 Now, Paul quoted the words of Jesus 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:09.299 that are actually recorded 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:11.460 in Luke chapter 10 and verse 7, 00:11:12.220 --> 00:11:13.759 and he calls them scripture. 00:11:14.919 --> 00:11:15.720 I want you to look at this. 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:17.360 Paul writes, 00:11:17.439 --> 00:11:18.500 this is in 1 Timothy 5, 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:20.860 for the scripture says, 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:23.220 you shall not muzzle an ox 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:25.500 when it treads out the grain. 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:27.460 He's quoting from Deuteronomy 24. 00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:32.700 And the laborer deserves his wages. 00:11:33.179 --> 00:11:36.860 That comes from Luke chapter 10 and verse 7. 00:11:37.980 --> 00:11:41.080 So as Paul was writing that, 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:43.460 he quoted scripture 00:11:43.460 --> 00:11:44.740 from what we would say, 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:47.419 the Old Testament and the New, 00:11:48.460 --> 00:11:50.100 both the Word of God. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:53.080 Paul understood that he was writing 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:54.960 under the influence of the Holy Spirit, 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:57.300 that he was writing the Word of God as well. 00:11:57.620 --> 00:11:58.700 Look at two examples 00:11:58.700 --> 00:11:59.980 from 1 Corinthians. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:02.320 The things I am writing to you 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:04.240 are a command of the Lord. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:07.120 And then in 1 Thessalonians 2. 00:12:07.660 --> 00:12:10.400 And we also thank God constantly for this, 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:12.300 that when you receive the Word of God, 00:12:12.400 --> 00:12:13.700 which you heard from us, 00:12:14.060 --> 00:12:17.120 you accepted it not as the Word of men, 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.300 but as what it really is, 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:21.340 the Word of God. 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:27.100 Paul understood that God was working in him, 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:31.960 inspiring him to speak His Word 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:34.500 as he taught the various churches 00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:38.420 where he went and preached and started churches. 00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:40.620 And as it was written down, 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:43.320 it became the written Word of God. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:45.940 One other thought along this line. 00:12:45.940 --> 00:12:49.160 Jesus prepared His apostles 00:12:49.160 --> 00:12:52.140 for the task of writing Scripture 00:12:52.140 --> 00:12:55.480 by telling them that the Holy Spirit 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:58.220 would enable them to accurately remember 00:12:58.220 --> 00:13:00.680 and record what He taught. 00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:04.480 It's in John chapter 14 and then chapter 16. 00:13:04.780 --> 00:13:07.140 The night that Jesus was arrested, 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:08.960 the next day He was going to be crucified. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:13.580 John 13, 14, 15, 16, 00:13:14.820 --> 00:13:19.060 what some people refer to as His farewell discourse. 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:22.400 He covered a lot of subjects. 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:24.860 But one of the things He covered was 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:29.139 He told those guys later on, 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:32.160 the Holy Spirit is going to enable you 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:34.500 to remember, to recall, 00:13:34.939 --> 00:13:36.019 and then to record 00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:39.000 what needs to be written. 00:13:39.100 --> 00:13:39.600 Look at it. 00:13:40.319 --> 00:13:41.439 John 14, 26, 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:43.019 but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:44.799 whom the Father will send in my name, 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:46.860 He will teach you all things 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:49.199 and bring to your remembrance 00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:51.000 all that I have said to you. 00:13:51.579 --> 00:13:52.519 And then John 16, 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.240 when the Spirit of truth comes, 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:57.720 He will guide you into all the truth. 00:13:57.720 --> 00:14:00.919 Now, all of these Scriptures you've seen, 00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:02.419 all of this to this point, 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:05.979 we have every reason to conclude 00:14:05.979 --> 00:14:08.719 that when the Bible speaks, 00:14:09.819 --> 00:14:11.199 God speaks. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:14.559 We in this room, 00:14:15.319 --> 00:14:17.000 the overwhelming majority of us 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.079 are professing Christians. 00:14:18.339 --> 00:14:20.299 We call ourselves children of God. 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.639 I say all this to say, 00:14:22.959 --> 00:14:24.120 we as God's children 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:25.919 need to have confidence, 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:27.919 absolute confidence 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:28.559 confidence 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:31.860 that when we open the Bible, 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.000 wherever, 00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:35.919 this is God's authoritative, 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:39.199 binding word. 00:14:40.339 --> 00:14:42.399 This is God's truth. 00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:44.319 It is what's right and wrong, 00:14:44.839 --> 00:14:46.299 what is true and false. 00:14:47.199 --> 00:14:48.219 He's telling us 00:14:48.219 --> 00:14:49.919 how we should believe, 00:14:50.339 --> 00:14:51.879 how we should live. 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:53.539 Now, 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:56.139 do you have that kind of confidence? 00:14:57.939 --> 00:14:58.860 You open the Bible, 00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.379 this is God speaking. 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:04.720 This is God's guidance. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.480 That's what we need to have 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:09.460 if we're going to ever be able 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:11.200 to truly think biblically, 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:12.100 look at life 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:13.259 through the lens of Scripture. 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:14.860 But let's look at the second reason 00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:15.940 why we've got to think biblically. 00:15:16.299 --> 00:15:18.419 The Bible is God's profitable word. 00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:21.139 God's profitable word. 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:22.639 That's how Paul describes the Bible. 00:15:22.939 --> 00:15:24.860 All Scripture is breathed out by God 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:26.120 and profitable. 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:29.199 Some translations use the word useful. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:31.279 Profitable for teaching, 00:15:31.439 --> 00:15:32.059 for reproof, 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:32.840 for correction, 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:35.080 and for training in righteousness. 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:38.919 Because the Bible is the word of God, 00:15:40.059 --> 00:15:42.139 because the Bible is God breathed, 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.639 it is profitable. 00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:46.240 It is useful. 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:48.059 We can use this word. 00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:51.219 It is practical for us 00:15:51.219 --> 00:15:53.279 as Christians. 00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:55.399 You know, 00:15:55.619 --> 00:15:57.679 every true child of God 00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:59.299 loves their Heavenly Father 00:15:59.299 --> 00:16:01.819 and wants to please Him. 00:16:02.819 --> 00:16:04.759 That's something the Holy Spirit does 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:06.159 in you and in me 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.939 when He comes to live within us. 00:16:08.619 --> 00:16:09.699 When God saves us, 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:12.919 I mention this frequently. 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:15.240 When God saves us, 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.519 He puts His Spirit in us. 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:18.299 It's the Holy Spirit 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.919 who gives us new desires, 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:21.659 a new outlook, 00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.259 new loves. 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:24.919 And one of the things 00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:25.599 the Holy Spirit does, 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:28.219 He gives us a real love 00:16:28.219 --> 00:16:29.419 for God, 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.399 our Heavenly Father. 00:16:31.839 --> 00:16:33.399 He makes our relationship 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.879 with the Father real. 00:16:36.219 --> 00:16:37.360 Paul describes this 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.719 in Romans chapter 8 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:41.040 and in Galatians chapter 4, 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:43.420 He describes how the Holy Spirit 00:16:43.420 --> 00:16:44.940 so works in us 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:47.100 to cause us to have 00:16:47.100 --> 00:16:49.500 a certain kind of affection 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:51.540 for God 00:16:51.540 --> 00:16:52.920 as our Heavenly Father. 00:16:53.160 --> 00:16:54.220 And He uses this phrase, 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:55.440 the Holy Spirit causes us 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:56.940 to think or to say, 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.700 Abba, Father. 00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:01.040 A term of affection. 00:17:02.180 --> 00:17:03.820 Papa, Dad. 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:05.900 That's how we should think of God. 00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:08.019 And what I'm saying here is, 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.780 if we are Christians, 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:13.880 God is not abstract to us. 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:17.019 He's not some supreme being 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:18.259 out there somewhere. 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:20.019 If we are Christians, 00:17:20.800 --> 00:17:22.780 we are indwelled by the Spirit of God 00:17:22.780 --> 00:17:26.540 and God the Father is real to us. 00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.680 We love Him. 00:17:29.860 --> 00:17:31.880 We have a relationship with Him. 00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:33.800 We don't know everything about Him. 00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:34.940 There's a lot of things 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:37.359 we do not understand for sure. 00:17:37.659 --> 00:17:38.659 We don't always feel 00:17:38.659 --> 00:17:41.039 as close to God every day 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:42.240 as we do some days. 00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:44.099 But if we're Christians, 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.659 the Spirit of God lives within us 00:17:45.659 --> 00:17:50.099 and we care about pleasing God. 00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.919 And if what I've just said 00:17:52.919 --> 00:17:54.599 is foreign to you, 00:17:55.779 --> 00:17:57.180 you don't have a clue 00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:58.700 what I'm talking about. 00:17:58.700 --> 00:18:03.340 Take that as the Lord speaking 00:18:03.340 --> 00:18:04.039 through His Word, 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:05.779 Romans 8, Galatians 4. 00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:07.620 Take that as God saying, 00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:08.600 you're not a Christian. 00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.860 I don't know you. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:13.500 If you don't love me, 00:18:14.620 --> 00:18:15.500 if you don't have this desire 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.299 to please me, 00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:18.860 something is terribly wrong. 00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:21.539 And it's probably that 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:23.679 what you know about me 00:18:23.679 --> 00:18:27.359 is just theory, 00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:29.240 just thoughts. 00:18:29.699 --> 00:18:30.759 It's not a relationship. 00:18:32.199 --> 00:18:33.759 Paul identifies four ways 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.859 here in 2 Timothy 3 00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:37.059 that the Bible is profitable 00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:39.179 or useful to us. 00:18:39.399 --> 00:18:40.859 First, the Bible is profitable 00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:41.740 for teaching. 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:44.119 This refers to positive teaching. 00:18:44.959 --> 00:18:46.459 God makes His ways, 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:48.079 His will known to us 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:49.019 through the pages of Scripture. 00:18:50.899 --> 00:18:52.019 So if we're serious 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:54.839 about wanting to do God's will, 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:56.579 please God by doing His will, 00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.699 we'll want to read the Bible. 00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:02.579 Discover His ways, 00:19:02.939 --> 00:19:03.679 His will. 00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:05.439 Discover what pleases Him 00:19:05.439 --> 00:19:07.000 and what does not please Him. 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.039 Such teaching 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:11.219 that Paul's talking about 00:19:11.219 --> 00:19:13.519 is essential for us 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:15.799 to be involved in 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:19.059 if we want to please God. 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:20.440 If we don't know 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:20.940 what God's will, 00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.539 we can't do it. 00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:23.420 If you don't know what some, 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.200 if you want to please somebody 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:25.859 in your life, 00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:26.400 think about it. 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.460 There's somebody 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.359 that you know, 00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.019 that you love, 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.579 maybe you're sitting 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.279 with them right now, 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:33.339 and it brings great joy to you, 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:34.559 brings a smile to your face 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.279 to do something 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:36.480 that pleases them, 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:37.400 that brings a smile 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.000 to their face. 00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.420 Well, when you really 00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:41.180 want to do that 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:42.859 because you know them, 00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:44.219 you know what 00:19:44.219 --> 00:19:46.659 will please them. 00:19:47.979 --> 00:19:48.699 What will please me 00:19:48.699 --> 00:19:49.479 may not please 00:19:49.479 --> 00:19:52.279 your son or husband. 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.279 What would please 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.399 my wife, Lisa, 00:19:55.479 --> 00:19:56.619 may not please you. 00:19:58.619 --> 00:19:59.779 But we know 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.899 what will please 00:20:00.899 --> 00:20:01.699 the person we 00:20:01.699 --> 00:20:03.399 want to please. 00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:05.479 And so that's 00:20:05.479 --> 00:20:06.339 the kind of things 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.139 that we do. 00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:10.039 To know how to please God, 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:11.639 we've got to know 00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:12.079 his word. 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:13.980 Paul, 00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:15.599 next one he says, 00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:15.960 number two, 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:16.980 the Bible is profitable 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:18.139 for reproof 00:20:18.139 --> 00:20:19.599 or some translations 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:20.819 say rebuking. 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:22.079 This is the negative 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:23.240 aspect of teaching. 00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:24.159 It describes 00:20:24.159 --> 00:20:25.500 correcting error. 00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:27.019 Somebody said, 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:28.299 the Bible is like 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:30.200 a basketball referee 00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.680 that lets the player 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.700 know when he commits 00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.420 a foul 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:34.980 or he steps out of bounds. 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.599 The referee upholds 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.859 the rules of the game. 00:20:39.139 --> 00:20:40.359 Well, the Spirit of God 00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:42.759 uses the Word of God 00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:45.899 to convict us of sin. 00:20:46.939 --> 00:20:47.899 Sin can be thought 00:20:47.899 --> 00:20:49.099 as breaking God's rules, 00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:51.359 stepping out of bounds. 00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.639 So the Spirit of God 00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:54.819 uses the Word of God 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:58.199 to correct us. 00:20:58.859 --> 00:20:59.559 Let us know 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:00.719 when we've done 00:21:00.719 --> 00:21:02.299 what does not please God. 00:21:02.959 --> 00:21:03.199 Now, 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:04.500 let's apply this. 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.880 Here's an example 00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:06.500 of how the Bible 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.880 is profitable 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:09.119 or useful 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:09.960 for teaching 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:11.960 and rebuking 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.559 in terms of 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:14.400 what we actually believe. 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.319 One of the most 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:17.779 popular errors 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.720 being taught 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.619 in the world today 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.960 is that all religions 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:22.539 are basically the same. 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:27.559 The mindset 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:29.200 of our culture today 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:29.680 is 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:32.579 all religions 00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:34.299 are equally valid. 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.559 including 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:35.579 including 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:36.599 no religion. 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:39.079 And to be 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:40.140 politically correct 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:40.599 today, 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:42.440 if you're a Christian, 00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:44.079 good for you. 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:46.500 But you also 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.140 need to say 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:47.900 to the Jew, 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:50.519 good for you. 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.559 To the Muslim, 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.619 good for you. 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:55.400 To the Buddhist, 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:56.480 good for you. 00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.599 The mindset 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.339 of the world, 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:01.960 all religions 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.859 are basically the same. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.299 They're all 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.220 equally valid. 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:06.220 And so, 00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:08.680 whatever path 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.700 you choose, 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.119 you're going to 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:11.480 wind up 00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.180 in the same place. 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:12.779 Ultimately, 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:13.779 the paths 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.640 to heaven 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:16.299 through Christianity, 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.079 Judaism, 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.539 Islam, 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.119 whatever, 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.599 they all reach 00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.339 the top 00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:23.019 where God is. 00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:24.420 Well, 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.259 the Bible 00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:27.400 is very useful 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:28.940 in helping us 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:29.680 to understand 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:31.400 that's wrong. 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.920 That's 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:34.299 heretical teaching. 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:36.799 On one hand, 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.720 it's foolish teaching. 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.259 Because the Bible 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.060 teaches something 00:22:41.060 --> 00:22:41.900 that's totally different 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:42.600 from what Judaism 00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:43.039 teaches. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.820 Judaism teaches 00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:44.240 something that's 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.680 totally different 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.640 from what Buddhists 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:46.000 believe. 00:22:46.060 --> 00:22:46.840 You can't believe 00:22:46.840 --> 00:22:47.759 they all can't be 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:49.080 right logically. 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:49.720 Even if you're 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.140 an atheist, 00:22:50.340 --> 00:22:51.100 you cannot accept 00:22:51.100 --> 00:22:51.779 that they're all 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.519 equally true. 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.119 But, 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:53.740 let's go back 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.119 to the Bible. 00:22:55.139 --> 00:22:56.019 The Bible teaches 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.680 there is only 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:58.339 one way 00:22:58.339 --> 00:23:00.019 for any human 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.619 being to be 00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:01.759 right with God 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.660 and that is 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:03.180 through faith 00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:04.059 in Jesus Christ. 00:23:04.859 --> 00:23:05.539 Jesus said it 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.000 this way, 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:06.859 I am the way 00:23:06.859 --> 00:23:07.379 and the truth 00:23:07.379 --> 00:23:08.019 and the life. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.379 No one 00:23:09.379 --> 00:23:10.859 comes to the Father 00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:12.539 except through me. 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:13.960 The apostles 00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:15.279 heard Jesus say that. 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:17.000 They embraced 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:18.160 that as the truth 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:19.299 and they said it 00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.339 in Acts 4.12. 00:23:20.339 --> 00:23:21.639 And there is salvation 00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.899 in no one else 00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:24.199 for there is 00:23:24.199 --> 00:23:25.639 no other name 00:23:25.639 --> 00:23:27.259 under heaven 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:29.500 given among men 00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:31.740 by which we must 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.980 be saved. 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.699 The world says 00:23:35.699 --> 00:23:36.379 there's many ways 00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:36.839 to God. 00:23:37.659 --> 00:23:38.599 The Bible teaches 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:40.240 there's only one way. 00:23:40.679 --> 00:23:41.139 That's not all 00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:41.579 the Bible does. 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:43.740 The Bible rebukes, 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:45.559 reproves, 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:46.740 corrects, 00:23:47.679 --> 00:23:48.480 straightens out 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:50.039 anyone who teaches 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.500 otherwise. 00:23:50.899 --> 00:23:51.519 A good example 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.019 of this is 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.899 Galatians 1 00:23:52.899 --> 00:23:53.819 verses 8 and 9. 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:55.639 Paul said, 00:23:55.639 --> 00:23:57.659 but even if we 00:23:57.659 --> 00:23:58.500 or an angel 00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:59.180 from heaven 00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:00.059 should preach 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.619 to you 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.460 a gospel 00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:03.319 contrary to the one 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:04.220 that we preach 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:04.720 to you, 00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:06.779 let him be accursed. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.000 Some translations 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.299 say eternally 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:10.319 condemned. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.460 As we have said 00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:12.819 before, 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.119 so now I say 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:14.440 again, 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:15.299 if anyone is 00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:16.099 preaching to you 00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:17.500 a gospel contrary 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.720 to the one you received, 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:21.120 let him be accursed. 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.779 Paul would not 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:25.140 accept this 00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:26.839 universal belief 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:28.579 that everybody's 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.660 okay as long as 00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:30.480 you believe something, 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:31.519 as long as you're 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:31.980 sincere, 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:32.940 it's okay. 00:24:36.500 --> 00:24:37.500 Years ago, 00:24:38.100 --> 00:24:39.519 not in this church, 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.839 I spoke with a man, 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.160 in fact, 00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:43.279 I was not his pastor, 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:44.579 but I spoke with a man 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:46.480 who was a deacon, 00:24:46.699 --> 00:24:47.799 long-term deacon 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.919 in a Baptist church, 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.399 and I don't know 00:24:49.399 --> 00:24:50.079 how the subject 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.679 came up, 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.839 but he told me 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.559 very clearly 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.759 he did not think 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.759 that there's only 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.460 one way 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.099 for a person 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:56.639 to be right 00:24:56.639 --> 00:24:57.339 with God. 00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:59.359 It can't be 00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:00.139 that you have 00:25:00.139 --> 00:25:00.879 to believe in Jesus 00:25:00.879 --> 00:25:01.639 to be saved. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.439 He made this statement 00:25:03.439 --> 00:25:04.839 that he believed 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:06.379 that many people 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:08.019 who sincerely 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:09.339 held to their 00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:10.740 belief system, 00:25:10.879 --> 00:25:11.819 whatever it was, 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.419 that they'd be 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:14.340 in heaven one day. 00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:18.279 Paul would be 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:19.360 irate 00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:22.640 at someone 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:23.940 who would say that. 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.160 Paul would say 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:26.860 that's a different 00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:27.460 gospel, 00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:28.680 and anybody 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:29.600 who would preach 00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.240 a different gospel 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.700 like that, 00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:32.140 anybody who would 00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:33.019 lead somebody 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:34.420 astray like that, 00:25:34.560 --> 00:25:35.360 let them be 00:25:35.360 --> 00:25:36.920 eternally damned 00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:38.080 is what he is 00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:38.980 literally saying. 00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:40.360 That's how strongly 00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:41.580 he believed 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:44.000 that you got 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.779 to correct 00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.299 or you got 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:46.500 to rebuke 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.519 error, 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.279 and Paul 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:48.919 made no, 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:50.139 mince no words, 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.500 did he? 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.220 The Bible 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.079 is profitable 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:54.720 or useful 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.980 in that it 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.819 teaches us 00:25:56.819 --> 00:25:57.599 the truth 00:25:57.599 --> 00:26:00.319 and it rebukes 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:00.960 us 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:02.319 when we are 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:02.919 in error. 00:26:02.919 --> 00:26:04.519 Number three, 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.199 the Bible 00:26:05.199 --> 00:26:05.939 is profitable 00:26:05.939 --> 00:26:07.539 for correction. 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:08.359 Correction 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:09.119 means to confront 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:09.819 what's wrong 00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:11.039 and straighten 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:11.519 it out. 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:12.579 Teach the 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.679 correct way. 00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:14.559 The Bible 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.200 gives us 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:17.139 practical instruction 00:26:17.139 --> 00:26:18.740 on how we 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.179 should live 00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:19.779 our lives 00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:20.179 in this world. 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:20.639 The Bible 00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.019 gives us 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:22.059 practical instruction 00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:24.339 on how we 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:24.779 need to 00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:26.319 love our wives 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:27.319 as husbands, 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:29.639 how we 00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:30.460 need to 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:32.439 discipline 00:26:32.439 --> 00:26:33.399 our children 00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:34.439 the right 00:26:34.439 --> 00:26:35.099 kind of way 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.759 as fathers. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.099 The Bible 00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:37.899 talks about 00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:39.140 how we 00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.320 need to 00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:39.580 try to 00:26:39.580 --> 00:26:40.019 get along 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.160 with 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:40.640 everybody, 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:42.120 Romans 12, 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.360 as far as 00:26:43.360 --> 00:26:43.800 it depends 00:26:43.800 --> 00:26:44.480 on us. 00:26:45.220 --> 00:26:45.519 The Bible 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:45.960 talks about 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.259 how we 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:46.540 need to 00:26:46.540 --> 00:26:46.920 learn to 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:47.240 forgive 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.860 people, 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.640 let things 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.160 go, 00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.580 don't hold 00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.440 grudges. 00:26:52.900 --> 00:26:53.560 The Bible 00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:53.920 is very 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.560 practical 00:26:54.560 --> 00:26:55.500 in talking 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:55.880 about how 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.259 we need 00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:58.040 to be 00:26:58.040 --> 00:26:58.680 honest in 00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.460 our business 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.380 dealings, 00:27:00.780 --> 00:27:01.860 not cheat 00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:02.340 people. 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.200 Do what's 00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:04.519 right, 00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:04.980 do what's 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.460 fair. 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:07.799 Number 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.059 four, 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:08.460 the Bible 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:09.059 is profitable 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:10.100 for training 00:27:10.100 --> 00:27:11.299 us in 00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.880 righteousness. 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.500 God doesn't 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.220 just correct 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:14.880 us when we 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:15.380 do wrong. 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:17.519 God gives 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:18.819 us positive 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.480 instruction 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:21.279 on how we 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.640 can please 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:23.480 Him in the 00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:23.840 kind of things 00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:24.220 I was just 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.579 mentioning. 00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:25.840 The Bible 00:27:25.840 --> 00:27:26.600 trains or 00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:27.860 disciplines us 00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:29.380 to live in a 00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:29.940 right relationship 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.500 with God and 00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.000 other people. 00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.000 You can say 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.420 it this way, 00:27:33.840 --> 00:27:34.279 the Bible 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:36.160 trains us 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.720 or disciplines 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:38.259 us to 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:38.700 live a 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:39.379 holy 00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:40.960 life. 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:41.940 Now, 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:42.899 let's apply 00:27:42.899 --> 00:27:43.299 this. 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.879 Let's think 00:27:44.879 --> 00:27:45.079 of an 00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:46.559 example of 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.680 correction and 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:48.440 training and 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:49.220 righteousness that 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:49.819 we find in the 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.059 Bible. 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.500 What I'm 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:51.839 doing, 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:54.799 I didn't 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.160 intend for 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.599 this to be a 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.839 real full-blown 00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.359 series, 00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:58.399 but it is 00:27:58.399 --> 00:27:58.899 thinking 00:27:58.899 --> 00:27:59.519 biblically. 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.180 What I'm 00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.599 trying to do 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:02.819 is apply the 00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:03.399 scripture to 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:04.180 some practical 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:05.600 things that are 00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:06.180 going on today 00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:07.140 in our country 00:28:07.140 --> 00:28:07.720 or just things 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.519 in this world. 00:28:09.220 --> 00:28:09.800 I started off 00:28:09.800 --> 00:28:10.280 by talking 00:28:10.280 --> 00:28:11.960 about we 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:12.400 need to think 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.200 biblically about 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.740 governmental 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.640 authority that 00:28:14.640 --> 00:28:15.340 first week at 00:28:15.340 --> 00:28:15.700 the end of 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.060 June. 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:17.420 And what I was 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.019 talking about 00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:20.700 how today law 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.900 enforcement officers, 00:28:22.320 --> 00:28:23.240 they've been 00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:25.400 demonized as a 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:27.340 whole profession, 00:28:28.080 --> 00:28:29.300 but the Bible 00:28:29.300 --> 00:28:30.000 does not do 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.340 that. 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.780 The Bible talks 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.220 about law 00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.539 enforcement 00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:35.019 officers having 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:35.639 the God-given 00:28:35.639 --> 00:28:37.680 responsibility to 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.539 enforce the 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.379 laws, to 00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:41.079 administer justice. 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:41.799 They have a 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.660 good and 00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.899 honorable place in 00:28:43.899 --> 00:28:44.759 this world and 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.259 they should be 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:45.740 respected. 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.639 The bad ones 00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.299 should be weeded 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:48.039 out for sure, 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:50.420 but the law 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.359 enforcement profession 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:52.279 is an honorable 00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:54.879 profession with a 00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:55.359 God-given 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:55.980 responsibility. 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.599 The next week I 00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.779 preached on the 00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.379 thinking biblically 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:02.300 about racism and 00:29:02.300 --> 00:29:03.180 it seems in this 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:06.220 culture today that 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:07.380 the real focus is 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:11.260 on not that both 00:29:11.260 --> 00:29:12.320 black and white 00:29:12.320 --> 00:29:13.000 people can be 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:13.600 prejudiced, but 00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:14.220 only that white 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.840 people can be 00:29:14.840 --> 00:29:15.320 prejudiced. 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.520 And there's a 00:29:16.520 --> 00:29:17.960 great emphasis on 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:19.080 that racism is just 00:29:19.080 --> 00:29:20.000 embedded in our 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.600 culture, it's 00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:21.540 systemic, it's 00:29:21.540 --> 00:29:23.440 upheld by law and 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.620 in institutions and 00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:27.260 it is not, as I 00:29:27.260 --> 00:29:27.920 pointed out in that 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:30.440 sermon, we need to 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:31.279 look at what's going 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.900 on in our world 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:33.160 today in light of 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:33.519 what the Bible 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:33.940 teaches. 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:36.000 One of the great 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:39.900 errors of today that 00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:40.720 I've not brought up 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:42.019 in quite some time, 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.100 and I'm going to 00:29:43.100 --> 00:29:43.759 bring it up today 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.759 because it needs to 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.600 be brought up, 00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.820 same-sex marriage 00:29:48.820 --> 00:29:51.960 has become legal in 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.460 this country. 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:54.759 The Supreme Court 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:58.759 basically, in effect, 00:29:59.799 --> 00:30:02.279 legalized through law 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:04.100 same-sex marriage. 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.279 It is not the 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:07.140 Supreme Court's place 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:08.480 in our Constitution, 00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:09.259 in our government, 00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:12.039 to make laws, but to 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:12.920 interpret them. 00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:14.700 But they sometimes 00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.539 get that twisted. 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.539 Same-sex marriage has 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:19.660 become legalized by the 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.460 ruling of the Supreme 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:22.019 Court in this country. 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:24.420 today's culture 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.819 willingly accepts 00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:27.240 homosexual behavior 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:29.039 as normal. 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:31.379 It's just another way 00:30:31.379 --> 00:30:31.980 to live. 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.160 And today's culture 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:35.539 condemns anyone 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:39.579 like me, like you 00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:41.420 if you do, condemns 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.200 anyone who calls it 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:43.559 sinful behavior. 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.599 There are many 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:47.779 liberal churches and 00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.500 their entire 00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:50.400 denomination that 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:52.700 will ordain a 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.640 gay man or a 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:55.600 gay woman as a 00:30:55.600 --> 00:30:56.180 pastor in the 00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:56.620 church. 00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:57.540 There are many 00:30:57.540 --> 00:30:58.300 liberal churches 00:30:58.300 --> 00:31:00.120 that will affirm 00:31:00.120 --> 00:31:03.080 same-sex marriages. 00:31:04.460 --> 00:31:06.080 This is our world 00:31:06.080 --> 00:31:06.380 today. 00:31:06.800 --> 00:31:07.600 This is today's 00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:08.120 culture. 00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:09.759 Well, the Bible 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:11.580 corrects this 00:31:11.580 --> 00:31:12.780 erroneous and 00:31:12.780 --> 00:31:14.340 sinful behavior and 00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:16.460 teaching by pointing 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.460 out how God 00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:19.860 condemns such 00:31:19.860 --> 00:31:21.880 relationships and 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:23.259 such behaviors. 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:25.000 I'll give you two 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:25.460 examples. 00:31:25.600 --> 00:31:26.319 One from Romans 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.039 chapter 1. 00:31:27.100 --> 00:31:27.640 Look at this. 00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:30.660 For this reason, God 00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:31.519 gave them up to 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:33.059 dishonorable passions. 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:34.759 For their women 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:36.519 exchanged natural 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:38.279 relations for those 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.519 that are contrary to 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.019 nature. 00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:41.099 And the men 00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:42.160 likewise gave up 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:43.299 natural relations 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:44.740 with women and 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:45.799 were consumed with 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:47.220 passion for one 00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:47.559 another. 00:31:48.139 --> 00:31:48.900 Men committing 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:50.480 shameless acts 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.759 with men and 00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.460 receiving in 00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:54.000 themselves the due 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.940 penalty for their 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:56.319 error. 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:58.539 Now, the next 00:31:58.539 --> 00:32:00.299 one comes from 00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:00.859 1 Corinthians 00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:01.879 chapter 6. 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.599 And I want you 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:04.819 to note, I 00:32:04.819 --> 00:32:05.740 want to stress 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.339 this. 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:09.079 Paul mentions 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.799 people who 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.279 practice 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:12.740 homosexuality as 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:14.019 being condemned 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:15.659 by God, but it 00:32:15.659 --> 00:32:17.519 is in a list of 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:19.419 many things that 00:32:19.419 --> 00:32:20.259 are condemned by 00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.639 God. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.480 So let's look at 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:21.699 it. 00:32:22.879 --> 00:32:23.659 He's writing to a 00:32:23.659 --> 00:32:24.319 church, remember, 00:32:25.439 --> 00:32:26.139 the Corinthian 00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:26.539 church. 00:32:26.939 --> 00:32:27.519 Or do you not 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:28.839 know that the 00:32:28.839 --> 00:32:30.000 unrighteous will 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:31.919 not inherit the 00:32:31.919 --> 00:32:32.619 kingdom of God? 00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:33.379 Do not be 00:32:33.379 --> 00:32:33.939 deceived. 00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.240 Neither the 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:36.839 sexually immoral, 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.359 that includes people 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:39.179 involved in 00:32:39.179 --> 00:32:40.359 premarital sex, 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:42.599 people involved in 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.719 any kind of sexual 00:32:43.719 --> 00:32:44.899 relationship with 00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:46.159 someone other than 00:32:46.159 --> 00:32:48.519 your husband, if 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.979 you're a woman, or 00:32:49.979 --> 00:32:51.879 a wife, if you're a 00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:52.119 man. 00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:53.899 Do not be deceived. 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:55.159 Neither the sexually 00:32:55.159 --> 00:32:56.719 immoral, nor 00:32:56.719 --> 00:32:58.779 idolaters, nor 00:32:58.779 --> 00:33:01.099 adulterers, nor men 00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:01.699 who practice 00:33:01.699 --> 00:33:04.139 homosexuality, nor 00:33:04.139 --> 00:33:07.179 thieves, nor the 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:10.279 greedy, nor drunkards, 00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:12.980 nor revilers, nor 00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:14.620 swindlers will 00:33:14.620 --> 00:33:15.400 inherit the kingdom 00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:15.920 of God. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.700 It's Paul's there. 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:19.299 Paul is really just 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:22.420 saying here, no one 00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:24.480 who lives, no one 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:26.440 who willingly lives 00:33:26.440 --> 00:33:29.480 engages in such a 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:31.160 sinful lifestyle is a 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:31.480 Christian. 00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:36.620 Therefore, no one who 00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:38.440 lives this way openly, 00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:41.480 unashamedly, they're not 00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.279 a part of the kingdom of 00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:42.559 God. 00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:45.940 Let's move on. 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:49.019 Writing to these same 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:49.839 church, the very next 00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:51.920 phrase, and such were 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:54.420 some of you, but you've 00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:55.140 been washed. 00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:56.860 You were sanctified. 00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:58.559 You were justified in the 00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.500 name of the Lord Jesus 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:01.740 Christ and by the 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.660 Spirit of our God. 00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:08.400 Paul is condemning 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:10.340 sinful behavior of any 00:34:10.340 --> 00:34:13.039 stripe that a person 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:14.460 willfully, intentionally 00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:16.199 engages in with no 00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:16.699 remorse. 00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:18.380 That's just who they are. 00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:19.980 They're not a Christian 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:21.400 if that's who they are. 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.539 They're not going to be in 00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:22.760 heaven. 00:34:22.760 --> 00:34:28.700 But, these very kinds of 00:34:28.700 --> 00:34:29.480 people engage in these 00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:32.080 kinds of behaviors, some 00:34:32.080 --> 00:34:32.600 of these people were 00:34:32.600 --> 00:34:33.140 saved. 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:34.740 They repented of their 00:34:34.740 --> 00:34:35.080 sin. 00:34:35.600 --> 00:34:36.680 They were forgiven. 00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:39.560 God changed them and 00:34:39.560 --> 00:34:41.020 enabled them to overcome 00:34:41.020 --> 00:34:43.580 that sinful lifestyle. 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:50.239 God's word condemns sin, but 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:51.860 God's word is filled with 00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:54.860 grace and the offer of 00:34:54.860 --> 00:34:56.440 salvation and forgiveness to 00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:59.159 all sinners who will repent 00:34:59.159 --> 00:35:01.219 of their sin and turn to 00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:03.360 Jesus Christ in faith and 00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:03.799 commitment. 00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:06.219 I want to pause here and 00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:09.239 point out, everybody who came 00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:12.279 out of that lifestyle, those 00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:13.120 different lifestyle. 00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:15.200 Let's look at a person who 00:35:15.200 --> 00:35:17.040 was a drunkard as the 00:35:17.040 --> 00:35:17.760 scripture says here. 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:22.680 There are men and women who 00:35:22.680 --> 00:35:27.700 are alcoholics who truly are 00:35:27.700 --> 00:35:28.300 born again. 00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:29.920 They repent of their sin. 00:35:30.040 --> 00:35:30.880 They trust Jesus. 00:35:31.080 --> 00:35:31.620 They're forgiven. 00:35:31.740 --> 00:35:32.380 They're cleansed and made 00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:33.200 right with God. 00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:38.280 But some of these people fall 00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:40.680 back into alcohol for a 00:35:40.680 --> 00:35:40.980 while. 00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:45.220 God is such a demon that they 00:35:45.220 --> 00:35:46.420 give in to the temptation 00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:49.040 and they sin again. 00:35:50.040 --> 00:35:51.300 That does not disqualify them 00:35:51.300 --> 00:35:52.100 from the kingdom of heaven. 00:35:52.640 --> 00:35:55.400 If they're truly saved, when 00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:57.680 they sin like this, sooner or 00:35:57.680 --> 00:35:58.940 later they're convicted, they're 00:35:58.940 --> 00:36:00.540 broken, they repent of it, and 00:36:00.540 --> 00:36:01.740 they come back to the Lord. 00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:03.920 That would be true about 00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:05.100 somebody who is engaging 00:36:05.100 --> 00:36:06.200 homosexual behavior. 00:36:06.200 --> 00:36:09.200 Such a person may be saved, 00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:11.300 forgiven, made right with God, 00:36:11.300 --> 00:36:13.300 but fall back into that for a 00:36:13.300 --> 00:36:13.700 time. 00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:14.420 But if they're truly 00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:15.539 Christians, they'll know it's 00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:16.539 sin, it's wrong, and they'll 00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:18.580 come back to the Lord in 00:36:18.580 --> 00:36:20.200 confession and repentance. 00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:23.980 The Bible corrects wrongness 00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.420 behavior. 00:36:24.680 --> 00:36:25.220 And then look at this. 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:27.680 The Bible also trains us in 00:36:27.680 --> 00:36:28.300 righteousness. 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:30.500 And so we're on the subject here 00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:31.820 of homosexuality, same-sex 00:36:31.820 --> 00:36:32.220 marriage. 00:36:32.580 --> 00:36:33.620 The Bible trains us in 00:36:33.620 --> 00:36:35.460 righteousness concerning the 00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:37.460 subject of, let's just say, 00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:38.500 marriage. 00:36:39.699 --> 00:36:41.220 Heterosexual relationships. 00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:43.460 Male-female relationships. 00:36:44.199 --> 00:36:45.480 The Bible teaches us how God 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:48.300 created and designed men and 00:36:48.300 --> 00:36:50.440 women to live together in a 00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:51.800 proper marriage relationship. 00:36:51.800 --> 00:36:53.720 The beginning, Genesis 2. 00:36:54.179 --> 00:36:55.720 Therefore a man shall leave his 00:36:55.720 --> 00:36:57.320 father and mother and hold fast 00:36:57.320 --> 00:36:58.300 to his wife, and they shall 00:36:58.300 --> 00:36:59.179 become one flesh. 00:36:59.300 --> 00:37:00.579 That's the foundation for 00:37:00.579 --> 00:37:00.960 marriage. 00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:03.519 That's God's plan for most 00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:03.960 people. 00:37:04.039 --> 00:37:04.960 Some people will be single. 00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:06.800 If you're not going to live 00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:08.820 single, this is God's plan to 00:37:08.820 --> 00:37:10.500 live, if you're a man with a 00:37:10.500 --> 00:37:12.720 woman in a one flesh, permanent 00:37:12.720 --> 00:37:13.260 relationship. 00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:17.139 Jesus emphasized that God 00:37:17.139 --> 00:37:19.460 intended marriage, Jesus 00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:20.940 emphasized now, that God 00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:21.960 intended marriage to be a 00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:23.920 permanent relationship between 00:37:23.920 --> 00:37:24.400 a man and woman. 00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:25.000 Look at this. 00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:26.599 And the Pharisees came up to 00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:27.740 him and tested him by asking, 00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:30.199 is it lawful to divorce one's 00:37:30.199 --> 00:37:31.820 wife for any cause? 00:37:31.920 --> 00:37:33.619 He answered, have you not read 00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:34.880 that he who created them from 00:37:34.880 --> 00:37:36.360 the beginning, made them male 00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:38.240 and female, and said, therefore 00:37:38.240 --> 00:37:40.079 a man shall leave his father 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:42.119 and his mother and hold fast to 00:37:42.119 --> 00:37:43.840 his wife, and the two shall 00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:44.820 become one flesh? 00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:47.340 So they're no longer two, but 00:37:47.340 --> 00:37:47.980 one flesh. 00:37:48.720 --> 00:37:49.440 What therefore? 00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:50.480 God is joined together. 00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:53.280 Let not man separate. 00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:56.280 In the context of Matthew 19 00:37:56.280 --> 00:38:00.599 here, Jesus is talking about it 00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:02.640 is not God's will that a marriage 00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:03.819 end and divorce. 00:38:03.819 --> 00:38:09.000 If you're married and you're 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:12.420 having problems, don't give up on 00:38:12.420 --> 00:38:13.139 your marriage. 00:38:13.739 --> 00:38:15.519 Don't give up on your spouse. 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:19.159 No matter what anybody else tells 00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:21.219 you, pray. 00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:24.219 Work with your spouse. 00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:27.079 Work with a Christian counselor. 00:38:27.079 --> 00:38:31.380 Father, fight for your marriage. 00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:35.159 Do everything that you can to save it, 00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:37.420 but not just to save it, to make it 00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:38.920 what it should be. 00:38:40.199 --> 00:38:43.579 A mutual, meeting one another's needs, 00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:46.239 loving, intimate relationship. 00:38:46.239 --> 00:38:52.199 But, while divorce is never God's 00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:56.199 ideal, God does allow divorce under 00:38:56.199 --> 00:38:57.559 certain conditions. 00:38:58.799 --> 00:39:00.679 Jesus went on in this chapter, 00:39:00.799 --> 00:39:03.279 chapter 19, to point out one, 00:39:04.399 --> 00:39:05.419 sexual immorality. 00:39:06.519 --> 00:39:08.639 Paul points out another one in 1 00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:12.419 Corinthians chapter 7, desertion by an 00:39:12.419 --> 00:39:13.379 unbelieving spouse. 00:39:13.380 --> 00:39:16.300 There are grounds for divorce. 00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:20.619 And when that happens, it was not 00:39:20.619 --> 00:39:25.640 God's ideal, but God forgives. 00:39:26.240 --> 00:39:27.800 God wipes the slate clean. 00:39:28.900 --> 00:39:30.660 God can give you a fresh start. 00:39:31.700 --> 00:39:33.079 And I want you to hear that word of 00:39:33.079 --> 00:39:35.019 hope and grace as well. 00:39:36.140 --> 00:39:37.660 But my point here is the Bible is 00:39:37.660 --> 00:39:38.780 very useful. 00:39:39.740 --> 00:39:40.380 It's very practical. 00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:41.059 Very practical. 00:39:42.119 --> 00:39:43.800 The Spirit of God uses the Word of God 00:39:43.800 --> 00:39:44.780 to correct us. 00:39:44.860 --> 00:39:46.180 We make sinful choices. 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:48.640 And it doesn't matter what the world 00:39:48.640 --> 00:39:49.099 says. 00:39:51.260 --> 00:39:53.059 And the Word of God, the Spirit of God 00:39:53.059 --> 00:39:54.360 uses the Word of God to train us to 00:39:54.360 --> 00:39:57.360 make the right choices that please God 00:39:57.360 --> 00:39:58.180 and make our lives better. 00:39:58.599 --> 00:40:00.240 I want to throw this out real quickly 00:40:00.240 --> 00:40:00.500 here. 00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:04.119 One of the great disappointments to me 00:40:04.119 --> 00:40:06.240 and many Christians over the years, 00:40:06.239 --> 00:40:09.619 there have been Bible-believing, 00:40:10.139 --> 00:40:13.179 evangelical seminary professors, 00:40:13.759 --> 00:40:16.119 pastors, other church leaders 00:40:16.119 --> 00:40:19.239 who have taught the truth about 00:40:19.239 --> 00:40:22.059 same-sex marriage, homosexuality, 00:40:22.139 --> 00:40:23.419 that it was sinful behavior. 00:40:24.579 --> 00:40:27.939 Until their son or their daughter 00:40:27.939 --> 00:40:32.000 or someone close to them came out as gay. 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:37.780 And then they changed their beliefs. 00:40:39.460 --> 00:40:42.139 What that means is such a person 00:40:42.139 --> 00:40:45.659 made what their son or daughter or friend 00:40:45.659 --> 00:40:49.480 did as the standard for their behavior 00:40:49.480 --> 00:40:51.460 or their standard for what's right and wrong. 00:40:52.460 --> 00:40:55.219 They abandoned the truth of God's Word 00:40:55.219 --> 00:40:58.820 in favor of how it affected someone 00:40:58.820 --> 00:40:59.780 that they loved. 00:40:59.780 --> 00:41:02.740 We don't have that option as a Christian. 00:41:03.880 --> 00:41:05.280 Love your children. 00:41:05.760 --> 00:41:06.780 Love people. 00:41:07.300 --> 00:41:09.700 Bend over backwards to meet their needs, 00:41:09.760 --> 00:41:11.519 to be a friend, to help them. 00:41:12.320 --> 00:41:14.140 But never let someone else 00:41:14.140 --> 00:41:16.180 and their beliefs or their lifestyle 00:41:16.180 --> 00:41:17.720 be the standard 00:41:17.720 --> 00:41:20.260 for your beliefs 00:41:20.260 --> 00:41:22.019 and your lifestyle. 00:41:23.700 --> 00:41:25.240 You know, the only way we can think biblically 00:41:25.240 --> 00:41:26.680 is know what the Bible teaches. 00:41:26.680 --> 00:41:27.680 Number three, 00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:30.319 the Bible must be read and studied. 00:41:31.579 --> 00:41:32.960 And that's going to be something 00:41:32.960 --> 00:41:33.859 we're going to probably just, 00:41:34.059 --> 00:41:35.419 I'm going to conclude in the newsletter. 00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:37.579 I didn't realize it till 00:41:37.579 --> 00:41:39.699 the first service this morning, 00:41:39.759 --> 00:41:41.059 but I didn't talk fast enough 00:41:41.059 --> 00:41:42.519 to get through point three. 00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:44.539 So I'm going to go straight 00:41:44.539 --> 00:41:45.460 to the conclusion here. 00:41:46.279 --> 00:41:48.339 Can you honestly describe yourself 00:41:48.339 --> 00:41:52.579 as someone who thinks biblically 00:41:52.579 --> 00:41:57.199 and therefore you live biblically? 00:41:58.360 --> 00:41:59.960 You've developed your beliefs 00:41:59.960 --> 00:42:01.659 and your lifestyle 00:42:01.659 --> 00:42:03.500 based on what you know 00:42:03.500 --> 00:42:04.759 the Bible teaches. 00:42:05.539 --> 00:42:06.400 Is that true? 00:42:08.400 --> 00:42:09.480 Let me ask it another way. 00:42:10.299 --> 00:42:12.079 Is that how you want to live? 00:42:12.599 --> 00:42:13.900 Do you want it to be true? 00:42:13.900 --> 00:42:13.920 Do you want it to be true? 00:42:16.259 --> 00:42:19.179 Hear me real carefully here. 00:42:19.179 --> 00:42:22.139 If you've listened to this sermon 00:42:22.139 --> 00:42:25.359 and you're just basically indifferent 00:42:25.359 --> 00:42:28.500 or you don't care 00:42:28.500 --> 00:42:31.980 or you reject it, 00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:36.739 you need to do some very serious soul searching 00:42:36.739 --> 00:42:39.899 because the Apostle John says 00:42:39.899 --> 00:42:42.779 that living according to the truth of God's word 00:42:42.779 --> 00:42:45.619 is one of the indications 00:42:45.619 --> 00:42:47.319 of whether or not you are a Christian. 00:42:47.320 --> 00:42:48.800 Look at this. 00:42:49.519 --> 00:42:51.300 John writes in 1 John chapter 2, 00:42:51.740 --> 00:42:52.920 and by this we know 00:42:52.920 --> 00:42:54.260 that we've come to know Him 00:42:54.260 --> 00:42:56.760 if we keep His commandments. 00:42:57.460 --> 00:42:58.640 Whoever says I know Him 00:42:58.640 --> 00:43:00.500 but does not keep His commandments 00:43:00.500 --> 00:43:01.640 is a liar 00:43:01.640 --> 00:43:03.400 and the truth is not in him. 00:43:03.559 --> 00:43:06.080 But whoever keeps His word in Him truly, 00:43:06.260 --> 00:43:08.460 the love of God is perfected. 00:43:09.200 --> 00:43:11.680 By this we may know 00:43:11.680 --> 00:43:13.180 that we are in Him. 00:43:14.360 --> 00:43:15.340 John's real clear. 00:43:15.340 --> 00:43:18.039 If we're Christians, 00:43:18.480 --> 00:43:20.539 we'll not just believe the Bible 00:43:20.539 --> 00:43:21.559 to be God's word. 00:43:22.280 --> 00:43:25.539 We'll seek to live according to it. 00:43:26.539 --> 00:43:28.039 If you're a child of God, 00:43:28.460 --> 00:43:30.100 living in fellowship with God, 00:43:31.340 --> 00:43:33.340 there's no doubt you desire 00:43:33.920 --> 00:43:34.880 to think and live 00:43:34.880 --> 00:43:36.140 according to the truth of God's word. 00:43:37.539 --> 00:43:40.400 And if that is how you would respond this morning, 00:43:40.740 --> 00:43:41.740 then you need to thank God 00:43:41.740 --> 00:43:42.660 for the work He's done 00:43:42.660 --> 00:43:43.820 in bringing you to this point. 00:43:43.820 --> 00:43:46.620 You're a trophy of God's grace 00:43:46.620 --> 00:43:47.380 if that's how you think. 00:43:48.200 --> 00:43:49.120 And ask God to help you 00:43:49.120 --> 00:43:49.800 to continue 00:43:49.800 --> 00:43:52.539 to believe and behave 00:43:52.539 --> 00:43:54.180 according to the truth of His word. 00:43:55.019 --> 00:43:56.240 But if you really and truly 00:43:56.240 --> 00:43:57.580 don't care, 00:43:58.039 --> 00:43:59.059 get this over with, 00:43:59.120 --> 00:44:00.080 I'm going to do what I want to do, 00:44:00.160 --> 00:44:01.019 live the way I want to live, 00:44:01.260 --> 00:44:02.640 don't call yourself a Christian. 00:44:02.639 --> 00:44:07.440 And if that bothers you, 00:44:08.119 --> 00:44:09.519 if what John says, 00:44:09.940 --> 00:44:11.500 who does not keep His commandments 00:44:11.500 --> 00:44:12.000 is a liar, 00:44:12.079 --> 00:44:12.819 if that bothers you, 00:44:13.019 --> 00:44:13.339 good. 00:44:14.599 --> 00:44:16.420 Let it drive you to your knees 00:44:16.420 --> 00:44:17.980 in humility and brokenness, 00:44:18.279 --> 00:44:19.039 repent of your sin 00:44:19.039 --> 00:44:20.440 and trust Jesus now 00:44:20.440 --> 00:44:23.339 and truly commit your life to Him. 00:44:25.119 --> 00:44:26.379 The final thought here, 00:44:26.380 --> 00:44:31.760 if you have fully 00:44:31.760 --> 00:44:33.800 known what it means 00:44:33.800 --> 00:44:35.119 to think and live biblically 00:44:35.119 --> 00:44:37.320 and deep down, 00:44:37.400 --> 00:44:38.559 that's what you want right now. 00:44:39.519 --> 00:44:41.300 The truth is you are not, 00:44:42.500 --> 00:44:44.059 maybe because you just drifted away 00:44:44.059 --> 00:44:44.579 from the Lord. 00:44:45.860 --> 00:44:47.400 You just let your life get too busy. 00:44:47.519 --> 00:44:49.260 You just drifted away unintentionally. 00:44:49.260 --> 00:44:52.100 Or maybe you've rebelled 00:44:52.100 --> 00:44:54.260 for whatever reason. 00:44:55.720 --> 00:44:57.080 I want to encourage you 00:44:57.080 --> 00:44:58.920 to confess your sin, 00:44:59.840 --> 00:45:00.860 your drift, 00:45:01.040 --> 00:45:01.540 your rebellion, 00:45:01.660 --> 00:45:02.380 whatever it is, 00:45:02.900 --> 00:45:04.820 and come back to the Lord now 00:45:04.820 --> 00:45:06.660 in a new, 00:45:06.860 --> 00:45:08.100 wholehearted commitment 00:45:08.100 --> 00:45:10.280 to Jesus as the Lord of your life 00:45:10.280 --> 00:45:12.240 and to the Word of God 00:45:12.240 --> 00:45:15.940 as your ultimate authority 00:45:15.940 --> 00:45:18.360 for what you're going to believe 00:45:18.360 --> 00:45:20.280 and how you're going to live.