Verse 13.
Let's hear God's word.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature,
rather serve one another in love.
The entire law is summed up in a single command.
Love your neighbour as yourself.
If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out,
or you will be destroyed by each other.
So I say, live by the Spirit,
and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit,
and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
They are in conflict with each other,
so that you do not do what you want.
But if you are led by the Spirit,
you are not under law.
The acts of sinful nature are obvious.
Sexual immorality,
impurity and debauchery,
idolatry and witchcraft,
hatred,
discord,
jealousy,
fits of rage,
selfish ambition,
dissensions,
functions,
and envy,
drunkenness,
orgies,
and the like.
I warn you, as I did before,
that those who live like this
will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness,
and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the sinful nature
with its passions and desires.
Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Let us not become conceited,
provoking and envying each other.
Ralph, thank you.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
Thank you, Johnny.
Thanks for reading this morning
from Galatians for us.
Back in April,
the science magazine called
New Scientist
asked this question.
It was their lead article.
It was on their front page.
Who are you?
They looked at all kinds of ideas
about what makes you,
you,
what makes you uniquely you.
And the conclusion of the articles
is it's not actually your temperament
or your personality
or your memories,
all the things that you've experienced
that make you truly you.
Actually,
when it comes down to it,
our perception of others
that we see
is that of the moral self
as being the true self,
which is kind of interesting.
So when we're asked
of when someone
has been true to themselves,
it's when they're being true
to their moral selves.
And this is what the article
was concluding.
That's who we truly are,
apart from all of the other things.
So what it's really saying
is that moral behavior matters.
The things we do
and the things we say
are like a window
onto a person's real self.
You see,
in an age of social media,
of self-promotion,
of building your own identity
and different identity issues
that we struggle with,
we still continue to value
people who act
in line with their moral sense.
Hypocrisy is frowned upon
and freedom to be our true selves
is cherished.
And this recent scientific article
that focused on the moral self
as being that kind of a window
onto the true self,
it's actually coming
from a much,
much older source.
You see,
the Bible,
the Bible has always been
the great book
on the human condition.
It's always told us
all that we need to know
about who we are.
And it tells us
the same thing,
that the moral self
is a window
on the soul.
Look at these words
from Jesus,
from Luke chapter 6.
Each tree is recognized
by its own fruit.
People do not pick figs
from thorn bushes
or grapes from briars.
A good man brings good things
out of the good
stored up in his heart.
And an evil man
brings evil things
out of the evil
stored up in his heart.
For the mouth speaks
what the heart is full of.
And in some ways
you can say,
so far,
so good.
But for you
and for I
and for many
attending churches
this morning,
there is a deep,
deep conflict
in our moral center.
On the one hand,
we know the good
that we should do
and that we want to do.
Yet there is a struggle,
a struggle as a Christian,
as a believer,
as a follower of Jesus,
when we do not obey Jesus
and when we do not
honor him.
Put very simply,
Christians,
this is not going to be
a shock to anyone,
Christians continue to sin.
The core of the New Scientist
magazine article
focused in actually
on this very conflict,
very interesting,
even as it relates
to professing Christians,
this struggle of identity
of who the true self is.
And this is a quote
from the article.
I've just clarified
a few things towards the end
and that's the bit in brackets.
In the 1980s,
evangelical Christian
Mark Pierpont,
he traveled the world
preaching that homosexuality
was a sin
and promoting ways
to resist gay urges.
For him,
it was a deeply
personal quest.
He himself was wracked
by the very yearnings
he sought to excise
from others.
And it was a contradiction
he openly acknowledged.
So here's the question.
Which of Pierpont's attitudes
reflected his true self?
Was his message
about the sinfulness
of homosexuality
a betrayal
of his essential gay self?
Or did that message
reflect what he was
deep down?
That is,
a Christian freed
from distorting
sinful urges.
It's a good question,
isn't it?
Which one reflects
the true self?
As we come to Galatians,
Paul is writing
to churches
in the area of Galatia,
local churches,
in many ways
just like the church here,
and to Christians
in those churches
to free them
to be their true self.
And they need to be freed
from two forms of slavery.
Two forms of slavery.
Slavery to sin
and slavery to legalism.
Look back at chapter 3
and verse 22.
Which will help
to give some context
as we dive into chapter 5.
Chapter 3
and verse 22
and 23.
Page 1170.
But the scripture declares
that the whole world
is a prisoner of sin.
So that what was promised,
being given through faith
in Jesus Christ,
might be given
to those who believe.
Before this faith came,
the promise of faith,
we were held prisoners
by the law,
locked up,
until faith should be revealed.
So the whole world
is imprisoned
by the law.
Now the law was given
to highlight sin,
to keep society in order,
and to keep sinful practice
at bay.
But apart from faith in Jesus,
both the law and sin
are enslaving people,
keeping them prisoners.
And then we come to
Galatians chapter 5
and verse 1
as Paul begins the section
about freedom in Christ.
He writes right at the beginning
of chapter 5,
It is for freedom
that Christ
has set us free.
Echoing those words
that Johnny read earlier
from the Gospels,
Jesus,
the call of Jesus
to be free.
Paul says,
Stand firm then
and do not let yourselves
be burdened again
by a yoke of slavery.
Paul is saying that
Christ came
to give us freedom.
Stand in that freedom
and do not be imprisoned
all over again.
It's a call to live
truly free lives.
And leads us up to
our key verse this morning,
which is verse 13.
You, my brothers and sisters,
were called to be free.
But do not use your freedom
to indulge the sinful nature.
Rather, serve one another
in love.
In verse 13,
I think there's three things
that we see clearly
and we want to look
at each one of them
this morning
a little bit more
from the Scriptures.
The first is a statement
of freedom,
the call to be
our true selves.
The second is a warning
about sin.
And finally,
a call to serve others
in love.
Statement of freedom,
a warning about sin,
a call to serve others
in love.
Firstly,
the statement of freedom
is a call
and it's a call
to liberating
Christian freedom.
That's not a term
often associated
with Christianity.
Christianity is often seen
by the world
as a straitjacket,
but it is full
of this call
to freedom
and a freedom
that is based
foundationally
on our identity,
who we are,
our true selves,
our authentic selves.
Paul reminds the church
in Galatia
that their identity
has been aligned
with that of Jesus Christ,
what he has done,
who he is.
As they say,
the clue is in the name.
Christian,
Christ's ones,
those who are in Christ.
That's what Christian means,
a follower of Jesus,
to be in Christ.
The basis for identity
as a Christian,
as a Christ follower
is in Christ.
And I think we see that
quite clearly actually
a few verses earlier
in verse 6,
chapter 5 and verse 6,
for in Christ Jesus,
neither circumcision
nor uncircumcision
has any value.
The only thing
that counts
is faith
expressing itself
through love.
You see the language
there in verse 6,
in Christ Jesus,
identity language,
identifying with Jesus.
And we read then
that to be in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision
nor uncircumcision
counts.
And what circumcision,
you can kind of think
of circumcision
as law keeping,
as rule keeping,
as keeping the regulations,
keeping the rituals,
keeping the traditions.
And then we can think
of uncircumcision
as casting aside
the moral law,
casting aside
those regulations
and living as if
there was no law.
What Paul is saying
neither circumcision,
law keeping on one hand,
nor uncircumcision,
which is licentiousness
or living for self
or ignoring the law,
neither of those
have any value.
No, the only thing
that matters
is faith,
verse 6.
And Jesus says
that's a faith
that expresses itself
through love.
A love for God
and a love for others.
So to be in Christ,
that great language
in verse 6,
and you see it all
through the New Testament,
is to be united
to Him in faith
and that,
my brothers and sisters,
has changed forever.
how we are to identify
and how we are to live.
You are a new you.
The old has gone
and the new has come.
The authentic you
has been wholly
and radically changed.
And this change
has come about
through Jesus' death
which rescues us
from sin.
Again,
we're just going to go
just one more time
back to the beginning
of Galatians chapter 1.
Galatians chapter 1
verses 3 to 5.
I think these are
great verses
to show that
this change
has been brought about
by Jesus' death.
Paul writing
right at the beginning
is setting the scene
for the book
and he says,
grace and peace
to you
from God
our Father
and the Lord
Jesus Christ
and this Jesus
who gave himself
for our sins
to rescue us
from the present
evil age
according to the will
of our God
and Father
to whom be glory
forever and ever.
Amen.
We are rescued
from this age
rescued
from sin
we're rescued
from lawlessness
and we've been brought
into the kingdom
of God
and that's
because we've been
united through faith
by the Holy Spirit.
Our identity
our true selves
is now bound up
in who Jesus is
and what Jesus has done.
That's our new identity.
It's linked
inextricably linked
who we are
with who Jesus is
and a spirit changed
identity
is now the basis
for our true identity.
Back to Galatians 5
and this is where
we will spend
the rest of our time
this morning.
Galatians chapter 5
and verse 25
Since we live
by the Spirit
let us keep
in step
with the Spirit
since we've been
made alive
since we have
this new birth
since we live
because of the Spirit
that's the basis
for our life
keep in step
with the Spirit
and we see
similar language
in verse 16
right at the beginning
so I say
live
by the Spirit
and just glance down
to verse 18
you are led
by
the Spirit
Paul says
that the true believer
is led
by the Spirit
where
the Spirit
goes
we go
as we walk
and keep
in step
with Him
this is the Spirit
led life
our new identity
so the call
to liberating
Christian freedom
is based
on your identity
your true self
the authentic self
which is a person
who has been united
to Christ
by faith
through the Holy Spirit
and so we have
this Spirit
led life
secondly
from verse 13
there is
there is a warning
do not use
your freedom
for sin
our new identity
in Christ
means that we
follow the Spirit
and as a result
we begin to know
the desires
of the Spirit
we too
keep in step
with the Spirit
and begin to know
and desire
the same things
that the Spirit
of God
desires
verse 17
for the sinful nature
desires what is
contrary to the Spirit
and the Spirit
what is contrary
to the sinful nature
they are in conflict
with each other
so that you do not do
what you want
we know the desire
of the Spirit
a desire which is
contrary
to desires
of sin
you see
the desire
of the Spirit
is always
away from sin
it's always
away from sin
and towards
obedience
in Jesus
the desire
of the Spirit
is away
from sin
and towards
Jesus
a Spirit
filled life
if you want to know
what a Spirit
filled life is
it's this
it's daily
turning from our sin
turning in repentance
from our sin
and turning towards
Jesus
in faith
that's what a Spirit
filled life
we turn from the sin
that we read about
in verses
19 to 21
that long list
and instead
we begin to desire
the fruit
of the Spirit
verses 22 to 23
the great
contrast
against that list
of sins
and we can be free
we can be free
to turn from our sin
and turn to Christ
because of verse
24
verse 24 says
those who belong
to Christ Jesus
have crucified
the sinful nature
with its passions
and desires
you see
we belong to Christ
we now live by the Spirit
verse 25
and because we belong
to Christ
and we live by the Spirit
we can use this
new found freedom
from the law
and from sin
to walk
with
the Spirit
but we're not free
we're not free
I want to stand
as my authentic self
under this banner
of freedom
but I don't always
feel free
some days
I actually feel
trapped in my life
with its
competing demands
on one hand
I wish to love
Jesus
but on the other hand
I just want to focus
on me
and I want
and I need others
to look after me
and my needs
our freedom
means that we can look
out from ourselves
that's what this freedom
in Christ means
we can look out
from the true authentic self
and we can look outwards
but sin is still there
taking my love
and this is something
that Martin Luther
would say
or Augustine
they would say
and put it this way
it's taking that love
and it's in a sense
curving
that love
that we express
back in
on ourselves
and that love
that we want to express
is just curving
being bent
back into ourselves
as fundamentally
a self
love
it's as if
the true self
which is identified
now with the
spirit of God
is being
misdirected
as we want to live out
our new identity
in Christ
that love
is being misdirected
and turned back
in
on itself
which really
is what sin
is in many ways
it's a turning
of our love
back into ourselves
and so for all
the talk of
freedom in the
Christian life
and I know
if you've experienced
this you hear people
and they're
they express that
in some ways
and they're
overcoming sin
and they're
growing in their
faith
for all the talk
of freedom
in the Christian
life
I just feel
that that tension
and that
that that
that burden
in my heart
it doesn't always
feel free
it almost feels
like because I'm
a Christian
it's it's more
tense
I almost feel
more encased
in at times
verse 17
isn't it
is a description
of that
heart
prison
for the sinful
nature desires
what is contrary
to the spirit
and the spirit
what is contrary
to sinful nature
they're in conflict
with each other
so that you do
not do
what you
want
and so the spirit
and the sinful
nature are in
conflict
both desiring
different things
for Mark Pierpont
his struggle
was with his
Christian identity
and his deep
desire to live
a gay life
now other
struggles
may be more
subtle
I don't know
what they are
for you
maybe it's
you're an office
worker
who pours
your soul
into your job
and you put
all the emphasis
in that
and you want
to do well
in your job
but it's
becoming all
consuming
and begins
to rule us
and cause
anxiety
and stress
yet our
love
for our own
identity
in that
keeps turning
our efforts
and our energy
and our time
back into itself
so that I can
achieve my
ambitions
and my goals
in my job
so in our
hearts
we feel
divided
like there
are two
opposing
forces
battling
for control
at the very
centre
and so
I think
it's very
difficult
as a Christian
it's something
I've
wrestled with
a lot
recently
to understand
what is it
within us
that continues
to sin
or to desire
to sin
because the
Bible has
such strong
language
about moving
from
you move
from death
to life
you move
out of this
kingdom of
darkness
and you move
into this
kingdom of
light
it says
it speaks
of dying
and being
born again
of our
baptism
our Christian
baptism
as a
demonstration
that we
have died
to the old
life
it's gone
and buried
and now
we've been
raised
in the waters
of baptism
and raised
with Christ
into a new
life
seated with
Christ
in the
heavenly realms
Paul writes
that we are
a new creation
the old
has gone
and the new
has come
again
writing in
Galatians
he says
I have been
crucified
with Christ
and I no longer
live but Christ
lives in me
if all of this
is true truth
how is sin
still there
and how is it
that I can
continue
to sin
why do I
still feel
that tension
because the
truth is
I do
continue
to sin
my desires
are being
misdirected
and my love
is being
misdirected
by my
sinful nature
so I
continue
to use
my freedom
to curve
my love
back to
myself
constantly
as if I
am a
slave
to sin
and without
freedom
those opposing
verses
of
those opposing
forces of
verse 17
are at war
leading to
the kind
of acts
that we
read about
in verses
19 to
21
the battle
with sin
to battle
with it
we need
the light
of God's
word
to lead
the way
to lead
our thinking
to lead
our hearts
the truth
is still
this
it is still
true
verse 24
those who
belong to
Christ Jesus
have crucified
the sinful
nature
with its
passions
and desires
we
have
died
to sin
we
are set
free
from sin
this is
truth
when you
came to
faith
in Jesus
you moved
from the
kingdom of
sin
to the
kingdom
of
obedience
and you
made a
decisive
break
with
sin
you see
we are
no longer
slaves
to that
sin
to that
way
of
living
instead
we are
a son
of God
indwelt
by the
Holy Spirit
sin
is not
yet fully
done
in our
lives
we know
that
it's
dead
sin
is
defeated
but
its
lingering
effects
are
still
present
you see
repurposing
a whole
life
repurposing
a soul
repurposing
a person
in a
body
for life
and a
spirit
it's
like
trying
to
reuse
a deep
sea
oil
drilling
platform
and you're
going
what
do you know
if you ever see
pictures
you know
in the
north sea
those big
massive
oil
platforms
well a
deep sea
oil
platform
it drills
deep
down
into the
sea
to bring
up
oil
stored
within
the
seabed
and in
a sense
our
lives
have
drilled
deep
down
into
the
depths
of
our
heart
into
our
true
selves
apart
from
Christ
and in
those
depths
it is
hit
layer
upon
layer
upon
layer
of
sin
and
it is
from
these
sinful
oil
seams
and
deposits
that
are
in
our
hearts
that
the
sinful
acts
have
spilled
up
and
out
acts
as we
read
about
of
sexual
morality
idolatry
hatred
selfish
ambition
envy
and
like
but
through
faith
in
Jesus
that
poisonous
and
destructive
well
of sin
has been
capped
and the
drilling
platform
has been
relocated
we've
been
cut
from
those
depths
of
sin
and
we
have
been
replanted
now
we
are
tapped
into
a
well
of
living
water
that
now
flows
up
through
our
lives
by
the
spirit
living
water
producing
fruit
of
love
of
joy
of
peace
of
patience
of
self
control
but
here's
the
thing
that
drilling
platform
of
our
lives
it's
still
coated
in
the
oily
residue
and
gunk
as we
walk
with
the
spirit
we
sometimes
falter
and we
begin
drilling
again
into
those
seams
and
pockets
of
sin
that
still
seem
to
linger
but
for
the
believer
and
this
is
crucial
for
the
believer
the
drilling
rig
of
our
lives
is
being
renewed
day
by
day
all
the
machinery
all
the
working
parts
every
corner
of
our
lives
is
being
reclaimed
and
washed
out
by
living
water
it's
a long
process
and
it's
a hard
process
and
it's
a process
sometimes we
feel like
it'll never
end
but it
will
ultimately
when the
Lord
returns
or we
go to
be
with
him
and
that
process
is
called
sanctification
that's
the word
we use
to
describe
it
becoming
more
like
Jesus
over
time
we
see
sanctification
in
verse
16
and
this
is
the
heart
of
it
so
I
say
live
by
the
spirit
and
you
will
not
gratify
the
desires
of
the
sinful
nature
that's
what
sanctification
is
living
by
the
spirit
not
gratifying
the
desires
of
the
sinful
nature
repenting
from
our
sin
turning
in
faith
to
Jesus
there
is
a
warning
however
there
is
a
very
stark
warning
in
this
passage
for
some
that
drilling
platform
has
never
been
moved
you
are
still
continuing
to
drill
down
into
a
deep
well
of
your
own
identity
apart
from
Christ
and
into
your
own
self
love
and
you
drill
and
you
drill
and
your
life
is
continually
being
re-coated
by the
practice
and
the
enjoyment
of
sin
so
instead
of
there
being
clean
up
operations
taking
place
in
your
life
there
are
new
layers
of
oily
sin
being
pumped
around
your
life
each
day
that
is
why
the
warning
at
the
end
of
verse
21
is
so
strong
do
you
see
it
verse
21
just
the
second
half
of
it
I
warn
you
as
I
did
before
that
those
who
live
like
this
will
not
inherit
the
kingdom
of
God
you
see
these
verses
19
to
21
are
characterizing
the
life
of
an
unbeliever
those
who
haven't
been
born
again
and
haven't
been
united
to
Christ
in
faith
this
is
one
whose
life
is
marked
out
by
an
unrepentant
practice
of
sin
the
warning
is
for
those
whose
heart
has
never
truly
changed
those
who
from
the
depths
of
that
heart
bring
forth
a
life
that
is
just
marked
by
unrepentant
sin
they
will
not
the
scriptures
say
inherit
the
kingdom
of
God
for
their
kingdom
is
still
a
kingdom
of
sin
final
part
of
verse
13
you
are
free
that's
how it
begins
stay away
from sin
and
finally
serve
one
another
serve
one
another
the
good
news
through
all
of
this
is
that
the
believer
is
indeed
free
and
in
all
that
talk
of
sin
don't
lose
sight
of
this
you
are
free
you're
free
to
have
that
battle
with
sin
others
are
not
they
are
slaves
to
sin
and
slaves
to
the
law
but
we
are
free
from
sin
and
we're
free
to
serve
we
can
now
read
through
some
of
these
verses
again
and
see
how
they
shift
our
focus
away
from
ourselves
into
serving
one
another
verse
13
do
not
use
your
freedom
to
indulge
the
sinful
nature
do
not
wallow
in
that
oily
mess
but
rather
continue
to
clean
it
up
in
your
life
by
serving
one
another
that
inward
bend
that
inward
bend
that's
curving
in
on
yourself
should
each
and
every
day
just
become
a
little
less
as
you
grow
in
your
relationship
with
Jesus
it
should
start
to
curve
less
and
less
inward
you
do
not
need
to
give
in
to
sin
you're
free
so
you're
free
you're
free
this
Thursday
to
forget
about
that
me
time
that
you're
planning
because
you just
want to
focus
on
yourself
you're
free
instead
to
call
over
and
spend
that
time
with
your
sister
in
the
Lord
who
needs
your
encouragement
you're
free
to
serve
it
doesn't
all
have
to
be
about
you
the
blessedness
of the
Christian
life
is that
our
freedom
means
that
we are
free
to
serve
others
rather
than
being
a
slave
to
our
own
selfish
sin
verse
14
we are
no longer
turned
inwards
by the
force
of
legalism
for
the
whole
list
of
regulations
and
rules
and
rituals
come
back
to
this
single
command
you see
in
verse
14
love
your
neighbor
as
yourself
love
one
another
in
verse
15
Paul's
concern
is
deeply
practical
at
this
point
if
you
keep
drilling
down
into
hearts
that
bring
up
oily
sin
watch
out
watch
out
you
who
complain
and
you
demand
respect
and
honor
from
others
how
is
that
going
to
work
for
you
if
everyone
else
is
doing
the
same
complaining
and
the
same
demanding
and
wanting
the
same
respect
all
at
the
same
time
if
everyone
else
is
insisting
that
they're
the
most
important
I
tell
you
watch
out
Paul
is
saying
watch
out
the
measure
that
you
use
will
be
the
measure
that
destroys
you
who
are
gossiping
about
others
parenting
imagine
if
everyone
else
is
talking
about
your
parenting
choices
and
condemning
you
in
similar
ways
don't
bite
and
don't
devour
one
another
watch
out
or
we'll
all
be
consumed
you're
free
but
be
wise
put
to
death
the
old
ways
be
ruthless
with
the
sin
in
your
life
instead
verse
16
live
by
the
spirit
and
you
won't
live
like
that
you
see
if
you
live
by
the
spirit
you
won't
be
doing
that
the
polluted
areas
of
the
flesh
are
going
to
want
things
that
are
contrary
to
the
new
heart
and
the
new
heart
is
going
to
want
things
that
are
contrary
to
the
flesh
but
the
new
heart
is
going
to
clean
up
those
polluted
areas
of
your
life
that's
what
the
new
heart
will
want
to
do
and
there's
a
conflict
going
on
but
verse
18
thankfully
if you
are
walking
by
the
spirit
you're
not
under
the
old
law
because
the
new
law
has
been
written
on
your
hearts
down
to
verse
22
the
good
news
is
this
because
you
have
made
the
decisive
break
through
faith
in
Jesus
your
life
is
now
marked
by
the
fruit
of
the
spirit
and
there's
a
long
list
of
ways
here
in
verses
22
and
23
as
to
how
you
can
serve
others
how
you
are
free
now
to
serve
others
no
longer
just
serving
yourself
in
sinful
acts
that
bend
inwards
but
rather
generous
kind
loving
peaceful
faithful
self
controlled
ways
that
serve
others
and
actually
make
you
truly
free
so
free
in
fact
that
you
know
there's
no
law
to
regulate
such
good
living
there's
no
law
there's
no
limit
there's
no
cap
on
this
kind
of
limit
there's
no
restrictions
on
doing
the
right
thing
and
that
is
true
freedom
isn't
it
to
be
free
without
limits
to
do
the
right
thing
not
enslaved
to
our
sin
the
new
scientist
article
I read
on the
nature
of the
true
self
it was
an
interesting
article
it could
only
scratch
the
surface
of the
truth
that
we've
seen
explained
here
this
morning
in
Galatians
because
the
moral
self
how we
live
is
indeed
an
indication
it is
that
window
on our
true
identity
isn't
it
it is
our
true
selves
so
as we
reflect
on our
authentic
selves
the
question
is
this
as
each
one
of
us
asks
that
question
is
my
heart
being
directed
back
to
itself
is
that
what
characterizes
my
love
or
has
it
been
freed
to
flow
outwards
in
love
to
God
and
service
to
others
is
my
heart
being
directed
back
to
itself
always
or
has
it
been
free
to
begin
over
time
to
more
and
more
flow
outwards
to
love
God
and
to
love
others
the
article
finished
up
with
an
epilogue
on
the
story
of
Mark
Pierpont
the
man
torn
between
his
Christian
identity
and
his
gay
desires
and
this
is
what
the
article
said
whether
you
believe
that
Mark
Pierpont's
gay
self
was
his
true
self
or
not
might
depend
on
your
own
existing
moral
perspective
but
ultimately
Pierpont
made up
his
own
mind
he
renounced
his
life
of
proselytizing
against
homosexuality
and
decided
that
he
was
gay
after
all
you
see
Mark
sought
to end
his
double
life
by
becoming
what
he
believed
was
his
true
identity
now
I
do
not
know
the
man's
heart
I
do
not
know
anyone's
heart
but
the
call
to
freedom
in
verse
13
still
stands
turn
in
repentance
from
your
sin
and
know
the
spirit
given
power
to
be
free
in
Jesus
avoid
sin
and
draw
from
that
well
of
living
water
to
serve
one
another
let's
pray
our
father
we
thank
you
and
bless
you
for
the
wisdom
contained
in
the
pages
of
scripture