WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.679 Thanks very much, Stuart. Good morning, everyone. 00:00:02.220 --> 00:00:04.440 Graeme and Stuart, both say, great to have you with us, 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:06.719 ! whether you're in the building, watching on YouTube, 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:09.220 or listening to the audio recording. 00:00:11.140 --> 00:00:13.759 Didn't Jesus say some strange things? 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:18.199 You might have listened to the reading this morning and thought, 00:00:18.679 --> 00:00:19.780 that can't be right. 00:00:21.019 --> 00:00:26.960 Can Jesus really mean that a lustful thought is equivalent to going the whole way physically? 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:31.420 Does he really mean that we're liable to go to hell 00:00:31.420 --> 00:00:35.039 unless we mutilate our bodies to get rid of sin? 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:40.060 Well, the answer, I'm sure, to both questions is no. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:45.140 But we need to think what Jesus is trying to say to us. 00:00:45.980 --> 00:00:51.579 We mustn't let the fact that we're not necessarily taking him literally all the time 00:00:51.579 --> 00:00:56.760 blind us to the fact that he is trying to really challenge us this morning, 00:00:56.759 --> 00:01:00.439 to shock us out of smugness or complacency. 00:01:01.179 --> 00:01:03.239 These verses are difficult to understand. 00:01:03.939 --> 00:01:06.819 They're also very difficult to apply. 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:10.319 And I think if they don't make us feel uncomfortable, 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:15.140 then we're really not understanding what Jesus is saying. 00:01:15.539 --> 00:01:16.819 We're missing the point. 00:01:16.819 --> 00:01:21.739 I want to use four statements that are very simply, 00:01:21.859 --> 00:01:26.619 I hope, will get us to the root of what Jesus is saying to us. 00:01:28.039 --> 00:01:31.879 The first of these is sin is always wrong. 00:01:34.060 --> 00:01:37.819 Secondly, sin includes wrong thoughts. 00:01:37.819 --> 00:01:41.479 Thirdly, sin leads to judgment. 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:47.599 And fourthly, sin requires drastic action. 00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:53.259 Our passage is specifically about sexual sin, so we will cover that. 00:01:53.719 --> 00:01:57.000 But it also applies, I believe, to sin in general. 00:01:57.099 --> 00:02:01.139 And these four statements should come to us with real force this morning 00:02:01.139 --> 00:02:04.199 as we think of the words of Jesus. 00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:07.320 Let's begin with a little bit of background. 00:02:07.520 --> 00:02:09.599 If you've been here previous weeks, you will know this, 00:02:09.699 --> 00:02:10.800 but it's worth a reminder. 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:13.939 We're in the Sermon on the Mount, 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:16.520 Jesus' teaching between Matthews 5 and 7, 00:02:16.699 --> 00:02:18.120 principally to his disciples. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:22.560 And this little section that we're looking at over these few weeks 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:26.599 starts with Jesus' words about the Pharisees. 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:27.219 He says, 00:02:27.219 --> 00:02:41.060 Now, the Pharisees were sticklers for rules. 00:02:41.579 --> 00:02:43.699 They looked at all the laws in the Old Testament, 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:45.240 added a few things themselves, 00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:48.539 and they judged you by, could you keep the rules? 00:02:49.060 --> 00:02:52.219 If you stuck to the letter of their rules, you were okay. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:56.319 Teachers of law would tell you what the letter of the rules was, 00:02:56.319 --> 00:02:58.739 but Jesus says to his disciples, 00:02:59.419 --> 00:03:00.639 you need more than that. 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:03.879 It's not enough just to have a list of rules, 00:03:04.139 --> 00:03:06.759 and you say, yes, I'm okay on that one, I'm okay on that one, 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:09.299 then you don't need to worry. 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:13.159 What really matters is not our external appearances 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:15.500 and the rules that we keep. 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:17.620 It's what our hearts are like. 00:03:17.620 --> 00:03:19.960 And if our hearts are right, 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:24.659 then we can go beyond the righteousness of the Pharisees 00:03:24.659 --> 00:03:27.120 and the teachers of the law. 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:32.920 This section in Matthew has been described as Christian countercounter, 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:34.000 and that's what it is. 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:37.560 It's challenging people's assumptions about what is right 00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:41.099 and what is wrong and what they can get away with. 00:03:41.099 --> 00:03:45.379 Now, below that verse, there are six examples, 00:03:45.519 --> 00:03:47.419 as JT pointed out to us last week, 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:49.180 that Jesus gives to us. 00:03:49.219 --> 00:03:50.759 I've just put up the headings in the NIV, 00:03:50.979 --> 00:03:52.180 but I think they're quite descriptive. 00:03:52.799 --> 00:03:57.019 He talks about murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, 00:03:57.099 --> 00:03:58.579 eye for eye as revenge, 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:01.219 and love for enemies. 00:04:02.379 --> 00:04:05.500 And in each of them, he begins a bit like this, 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:09.120 you've heard it said, but I tell you. 00:04:10.020 --> 00:04:14.280 You've heard it said is looking back mainly to the Old Testament, 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:16.160 to what's written there, 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:17.779 particularly in the early books, 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:19.379 in the books of the law. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.639 And Jesus says, you can read this, 00:04:21.819 --> 00:04:23.319 and he's not contradicting it, 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:25.259 but he says, I'm telling you, 00:04:25.459 --> 00:04:28.160 it means a bit more than you're interpreting it as. 00:04:28.939 --> 00:04:31.720 You're not just to stick by the letter of what's there, 00:04:31.720 --> 00:04:35.860 you need to be obedient to the Spirit as well. 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:38.140 And that, I think, is the background, 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:41.660 particularly to what we're going to be looking at this morning. 00:04:42.100 --> 00:04:45.400 So let's get into our four statements. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:48.660 First thing Jesus says is, 00:04:49.060 --> 00:04:51.380 sin is always wrong. 00:04:52.360 --> 00:04:55.180 It's very easy to get into a habit of thinking 00:04:55.180 --> 00:04:58.540 that little sins don't really matter. 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:01.420 Big sins, yes, we all would say, 00:05:01.420 --> 00:05:02.120 yes, they're wrong. 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:04.140 There are lots of things we say that's really wrong. 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:06.939 But small things, well, it's understandable. 00:05:07.520 --> 00:05:08.580 It's excusable. 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:10.620 So someone might say, 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:12.759 I'm a very truthful person, 00:05:13.280 --> 00:05:14.240 but like everyone else, 00:05:14.280 --> 00:05:15.980 I tell an occasional white lie. 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:17.700 And that means actually, 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:19.500 they're not really that truthful, 00:05:19.980 --> 00:05:21.420 like they would say. 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:23.280 And Jesus says, 00:05:23.420 --> 00:05:25.120 we can't have grades of sin 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:27.240 and say some are unacceptable 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:29.780 and some are acceptable. 00:05:29.779 --> 00:05:33.119 Sin is always wrong. 00:05:34.119 --> 00:05:36.299 So a particular context here is adultery, 00:05:36.779 --> 00:05:38.539 marital and faithfulness. 00:05:39.479 --> 00:05:41.059 It comes from the Ten Commandments, 00:05:41.119 --> 00:05:41.859 what's said here. 00:05:41.979 --> 00:05:43.159 It's the seventh of the commandments. 00:05:43.919 --> 00:05:46.419 You do not commit adultery. 00:05:46.420 --> 00:05:48.920 But what do we mean by that? 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:52.020 The Pharisees and religious leaders said, 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:53.660 well, that's the physical act. 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:55.460 That is the sexual act 00:05:55.460 --> 00:05:57.500 with someone you're not married to. 00:05:57.960 --> 00:05:58.960 And they probably thought 00:05:58.960 --> 00:05:59.840 as they were looking through 00:05:59.840 --> 00:06:02.100 and assessing their obedience to the law, 00:06:02.420 --> 00:06:03.340 well, that's an easy one. 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:04.439 I can just take it off. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:06.480 I've never done that. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:10.500 Jesus' teaching here 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:12.700 is that it's important 00:06:12.700 --> 00:06:14.680 not just to stick to the letter. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:17.480 We need to think of the principle. 00:06:17.700 --> 00:06:18.480 So he says that 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:20.560 anyone who looks at a woman lustfully 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:22.819 has already committed adultery 00:06:22.819 --> 00:06:24.740 with her in his heart. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:27.860 Now, Jesus isn't being a killjoy here. 00:06:28.740 --> 00:06:31.000 Sexual desire is a gift from God 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:32.800 and in the right context 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:35.120 is intended to bring us pleasure. 00:06:35.860 --> 00:06:37.079 We can see that, for example, 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:38.439 if we look at the Song of Songs 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:39.920 in the Old Testament. 00:06:40.939 --> 00:06:42.980 But the right context for sex 00:06:42.980 --> 00:06:44.120 is within marriage, 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:46.779 between a husband and a wife. 00:06:47.620 --> 00:06:48.720 Outside of that, 00:06:49.139 --> 00:06:51.500 sexual activity is sinful. 00:06:52.819 --> 00:06:55.139 Now, I think we may use degrees of sin 00:06:55.139 --> 00:06:57.600 more as an excuse when it comes to sex 00:06:57.600 --> 00:06:59.439 than to most other things. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:01.279 At one end, 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:03.079 there are sins that we should all find 00:07:03.079 --> 00:07:04.800 really abhorrent, 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:07.000 such as sexual abuse of children. 00:07:07.339 --> 00:07:09.360 And we are horrified by them. 00:07:10.360 --> 00:07:11.560 At the other end, 00:07:11.620 --> 00:07:12.939 there are things which we may not 00:07:12.939 --> 00:07:15.839 even think about or recognise as sinful. 00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:18.740 We read a slightly racy story 00:07:18.740 --> 00:07:21.579 in a magazine or on social media, 00:07:22.019 --> 00:07:23.360 and we maybe don't think twice 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:25.100 about the fact that we're taking pleasure 00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:27.879 from something that maybe we shouldn't be. 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:29.980 And in between that, 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:32.339 there's a multitude of different actions 00:07:32.339 --> 00:07:33.100 and thoughts, 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:35.459 which are all sinful. 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:37.560 Now, that being said, 00:07:37.639 --> 00:07:38.540 there are some clear lines. 00:07:38.620 --> 00:07:39.819 There's a clear line drawn here. 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:41.879 In the law, it says, 00:07:42.219 --> 00:07:43.800 do not commit adultery, 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:44.860 physical adultery. 00:07:45.100 --> 00:07:47.439 Jesus' hearers would all recognise 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:48.959 as being wrong. 00:07:49.939 --> 00:07:51.560 Now, actually, most people today 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:52.639 would agree with that. 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:54.719 Most people would say, 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:56.919 if you're unfaithful to your partner, 00:07:57.439 --> 00:07:58.519 that is a betrayal, 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:00.339 that is wrong, 00:08:00.419 --> 00:08:01.659 with likely consequences 00:08:01.659 --> 00:08:03.919 for the couples involved 00:08:03.919 --> 00:08:06.620 and potentially for their families. 00:08:07.479 --> 00:08:09.360 Sadly, although it's recognised as wrong, 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:11.240 it's still very common. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:13.699 Christians would go further. 00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:15.659 We would look at the Bible 00:08:15.659 --> 00:08:17.319 and recognise that it forbids 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:20.180 all sexual contexts outside marriage, 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:22.060 even where those involved 00:08:22.060 --> 00:08:23.659 are both single. 00:08:23.779 --> 00:08:24.480 And that's going further 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:27.099 than most people around about us would go. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:29.199 But there's a clear line there, 00:08:29.740 --> 00:08:30.659 and it's quite likely 00:08:30.659 --> 00:08:31.819 that many of us can say, 00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:34.319 I haven't crossed that line. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:37.019 Jesus draws another line here. 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:39.299 It's not enough, he says, 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:41.679 to avoid committing adultery physically. 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:44.339 We mustn't fantasise about it. 00:08:45.339 --> 00:08:46.939 I don't believe he's saying 00:08:46.939 --> 00:08:49.239 the fantasy has the same consequences 00:08:49.239 --> 00:08:50.199 as the act. 00:08:51.079 --> 00:08:52.159 The act of adultery 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:54.359 could directly affect somebody else 00:08:54.359 --> 00:08:56.039 and leads them into sin. 00:08:56.599 --> 00:08:58.279 It affects two couples 00:08:58.279 --> 00:09:00.199 and possibly also, as I said, 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:01.279 could lead to the breakup 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:03.419 of two families. 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:06.539 Fantasising doesn't do that, 00:09:06.699 --> 00:09:07.819 at least not directly. 00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:10.939 But Jesus still makes it clear 00:09:10.940 --> 00:09:13.060 that adultery in the heart 00:09:13.060 --> 00:09:13.920 is sinful 00:09:13.920 --> 00:09:16.460 and is within the spirit 00:09:16.460 --> 00:09:17.840 of the command 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:20.080 not to commit adultery. 00:09:20.900 --> 00:09:22.600 It's also not without consequences 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:24.540 because it will affect 00:09:24.540 --> 00:09:25.920 how you relate to one woman 00:09:25.920 --> 00:09:26.680 or one man 00:09:26.680 --> 00:09:28.680 and reflects how you view 00:09:28.680 --> 00:09:30.940 the other gender in general. 00:09:32.300 --> 00:09:33.620 But there's a bigger picture here, 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:34.020 I think. 00:09:34.660 --> 00:09:36.480 It's not that we've got three lines 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:38.660 and below them we're okay. 00:09:38.659 --> 00:09:41.079 The big picture is that 00:09:41.079 --> 00:09:42.939 we should never excuse one sin 00:09:42.939 --> 00:09:45.279 on the basis that it's not as bad 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:46.779 as another sin. 00:09:47.719 --> 00:09:50.120 We can't think that as long as we don't 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:51.439 cross a particular line, 00:09:51.879 --> 00:09:52.699 we're all right. 00:09:53.659 --> 00:09:55.100 You may think your sin 00:09:55.100 --> 00:09:57.339 is less serious than someone else's. 00:09:57.399 --> 00:09:58.079 You might be right. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:09:59.699 But it's still sin. 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:02.759 Too often, even as Christians, 00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:05.379 we accept the norms of our society 00:10:05.379 --> 00:10:06.960 in what we do, 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:08.299 what we say, 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:09.600 what we watch, 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:10.700 what we read, 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:12.019 what we think. 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:14.059 And that's to the detriment 00:10:14.059 --> 00:10:16.600 of our spiritual health. 00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:19.580 We fail to recognise things as sin 00:10:19.580 --> 00:10:21.220 that if we really thought about it, 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:23.220 we would realise where. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:25.899 They become blind spots to us 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:28.799 and we need to act on that. 00:10:30.860 --> 00:10:33.539 Thomas Brooks was a 17th century 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:35.419 Puritan preacher and writer. 00:10:36.439 --> 00:10:37.779 And here's something that he wrote 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:39.000 which I think is very telling. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:40.439 He says, 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:42.280 many times small sins 00:10:42.280 --> 00:10:44.060 are more dangerous. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:46.760 Great sins startle the soul 00:10:46.760 --> 00:10:48.640 and awaken it to repentance. 00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:51.560 But little sins breed 00:10:51.560 --> 00:10:53.640 and work secretly 00:10:53.640 --> 00:10:57.040 until they trample the soul. 00:10:57.820 --> 00:10:58.820 So never think, 00:10:58.880 --> 00:10:59.560 what I'm doing, 00:10:59.640 --> 00:11:00.900 it may not be quite right, 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.460 but it doesn't matter. 00:11:03.280 --> 00:11:06.020 All sin is wrong. 00:11:07.140 --> 00:11:07.840 I think at this point 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:09.000 I need to say something else. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:10.720 You may be feeling 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:12.000 that what I've talked about 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.620 doesn't really reflect 00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:14.659 your position. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:17.580 Far from being complacent 00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:18.759 about sin, 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:20.620 whether sexual or otherwise, 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:23.419 you feel overwhelmed by it. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:25.440 You're filled with guilt 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:26.379 and with shame 00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:27.899 about a habit 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:29.279 or about something 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:30.899 you did in the past. 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:32.700 Well, first of all, 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:34.220 it's good that you feel 00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:35.039 the weight of sin. 00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:36.639 That's the Holy Spirit 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.860 bringing conviction 00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:39.560 into your heart. 00:11:40.659 --> 00:11:42.519 But you also need to know 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:44.340 that just as all sin 00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:45.080 is wrong, 00:11:45.740 --> 00:11:47.419 if your trust is in Jesus, 00:11:48.060 --> 00:11:49.740 his blood purifies you 00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:51.560 from all sin. 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:53.419 You need to confess 00:11:53.419 --> 00:11:54.480 your sins to God 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:56.100 and receive assurance 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:57.519 of his forgiveness. 00:11:58.700 --> 00:11:59.519 You might feel 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:00.279 that if other people 00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:01.580 knew about your sin, 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:03.399 they'd be shocked by it. 00:12:03.800 --> 00:12:04.899 That may be true, 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:05.740 it's probably true 00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:07.600 of many of us. 00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:09.360 But God knows 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.379 the full extent 00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:11.600 of your sin 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:13.180 and he's willing 00:12:13.180 --> 00:12:14.560 to forgive and forget 00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:16.100 so that your shame 00:12:16.100 --> 00:12:17.519 can be removed. 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:19.460 Psalm 32 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:20.600 is a great example 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:20.899 of this. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:22.360 David is weighed down 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:23.279 by the weight 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:23.899 of his sin. 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.539 He feels his bones 00:12:25.539 --> 00:12:26.519 wasting away. 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:27.919 His strength 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:29.480 is being sapped. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:30.919 But he says, 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:32.419 Then I acknowledged 00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:33.599 my sin to you 00:12:33.599 --> 00:12:35.979 and did not cover up 00:12:35.979 --> 00:12:37.120 my iniquity. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:38.579 I said, 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:39.459 I will confess 00:12:39.459 --> 00:12:40.519 my transgressions 00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:41.219 to the Lord 00:12:41.219 --> 00:12:43.099 and you forgave 00:12:43.099 --> 00:12:43.979 the guilt 00:12:43.979 --> 00:12:45.419 of my sin. 00:12:45.959 --> 00:12:47.039 If you're feeling 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:47.919 overburdened 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:48.599 with guilt 00:12:48.599 --> 00:12:49.879 and with shame 00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:50.360 this morning, 00:12:50.439 --> 00:12:51.000 that can be 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:52.240 your experience too 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.819 as you accept 00:12:53.819 --> 00:12:54.759 what Jesus has done 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:55.419 for you 00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:57.139 and put your trust 00:12:57.139 --> 00:12:58.159 in him. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.860 Let's move on though 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:01.679 and we'll look at 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:03.480 the second statement 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:04.000 I've made. 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:05.159 Sin includes 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:06.799 wrong thoughts. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.399 So we're still 00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:09.079 in verses 27 and 28 00:13:09.079 --> 00:13:09.980 if you're following 00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:11.759 through in your Bible. 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:13.659 And Jesus is making 00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:15.319 some very important 00:13:15.319 --> 00:13:16.199 points about 00:13:16.199 --> 00:13:17.279 our minds. 00:13:18.199 --> 00:13:19.079 Our thoughts 00:13:19.079 --> 00:13:19.879 matter 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:22.000 and they're often 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:22.899 sinful. 00:13:23.839 --> 00:13:24.439 If you think 00:13:24.439 --> 00:13:25.220 lustful thoughts 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:25.779 he said, 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:27.000 that is a form 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:27.860 of idolatry 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:29.200 in itself. 00:13:30.419 --> 00:13:30.919 Thoughts matter 00:13:30.919 --> 00:13:31.980 first because 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:32.860 of what they can 00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:33.419 lead to 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.600 in our actions 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:36.000 and our words. 00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:37.779 Last week 00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:38.139 when we were 00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:38.700 thinking about 00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:39.180 murder, 00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:40.899 JT pointed out 00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:42.580 that unjustified 00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.080 anger 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:44.340 is the seed 00:13:44.340 --> 00:13:45.460 of murder. 00:13:46.300 --> 00:13:46.500 Well, 00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:46.919 we could say 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:47.879 similarly today 00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:49.779 that lustful 00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:50.320 thoughts 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:51.519 are the seed 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:53.320 of adultery. 00:13:54.180 --> 00:13:55.080 One thing 00:13:55.080 --> 00:13:56.039 can easily 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:57.019 lead to another 00:13:57.019 --> 00:13:58.199 and before 00:13:58.199 --> 00:13:58.860 we know it 00:13:58.860 --> 00:13:59.500 we're too 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:00.179 far down 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:01.159 the line. 00:14:02.319 --> 00:14:02.980 Lustful thoughts 00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:03.939 also affect 00:14:03.939 --> 00:14:05.039 our relationships 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:06.559 because they 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:07.259 make us 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:07.879 view those 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:08.460 who we find 00:14:08.460 --> 00:14:09.039 physically 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:09.620 attractive 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:11.059 as objects 00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:11.720 rather than 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.559 as real 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:13.480 people. 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:15.139 But wrong 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:15.840 thoughts matter 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:16.620 for their own 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:18.059 sake as well 00:14:18.059 --> 00:14:19.279 because they 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:20.159 draw our attention 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:21.100 away from what 00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:21.740 is wholesome 00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:23.000 and right. 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.399 They affect 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:25.120 our relationship 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:25.879 with Jesus 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:27.019 and our 00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:27.720 prayer life. 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.299 When we 00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:30.299 don't control 00:14:30.299 --> 00:14:31.000 our thoughts 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:32.360 we're depriving 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.100 ourselves of 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:33.639 the peace 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:35.060 and the joy 00:14:35.060 --> 00:14:35.879 that should 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:36.360 come from 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:37.100 our relationship 00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:38.360 with Jesus. 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:40.200 In our 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:40.840 Sunday evening 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:41.860 studies upstairs 00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:42.799 we've been 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:43.279 looking at 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:43.919 Paul's letter 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:44.960 to the church 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:46.019 in Colossae. 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.580 And chapter 3 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:48.180 has a lot 00:14:48.179 --> 00:14:48.879 of echoes 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:49.839 of Jesus 00:14:49.839 --> 00:14:50.500 teaching 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:51.339 in the 00:14:51.339 --> 00:14:52.379 Sermon on 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:52.739 the Mount. 00:14:52.859 --> 00:14:53.359 Verse 5 00:14:53.359 --> 00:14:53.879 I think is 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:54.379 particularly 00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:55.439 relevant to 00:14:55.439 --> 00:14:55.859 what we're 00:14:55.859 --> 00:14:56.539 thinking of 00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:57.279 today. 00:14:58.079 --> 00:14:58.539 Paul writes 00:14:58.539 --> 00:14:59.299 put to death 00:14:59.299 --> 00:14:59.839 therefore 00:14:59.839 --> 00:15:00.479 whatever 00:15:00.479 --> 00:15:01.219 belongs to 00:15:01.219 --> 00:15:01.819 your earthly 00:15:01.819 --> 00:15:02.359 nature 00:15:02.359 --> 00:15:03.419 sexual 00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:04.120 immorality 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:04.799 impurity 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:05.439 lust 00:15:05.439 --> 00:15:06.120 evil 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:06.759 desires 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:07.919 and greed 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:09.000 which is 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:10.259 idolatry. 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:11.859 When Aaron 00:15:11.859 --> 00:15:12.219 Lockhart 00:15:12.219 --> 00:15:13.120 spoke to us 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:13.439 on this 00:15:13.439 --> 00:15:13.919 passage 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:14.740 he points 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.179 out that 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:15.679 in this 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:16.120 verse 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:16.839 there's 00:15:16.839 --> 00:15:17.240 one 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.399 sin 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:18.680 of 00:15:18.680 --> 00:15:19.180 doing 00:15:19.180 --> 00:15:19.960 and 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:20.320 lots 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:20.539 of 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:20.940 things 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:21.600 of 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.460 thinking. 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:23.460 Paul 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:23.919 covers 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:24.379 the 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:24.720 whole 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.279 range 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.100 of 00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:27.100 illicit 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:27.659 sexual 00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:28.039 acts 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:28.480 with 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:28.759 one 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:29.320 description 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:30.419 sexual 00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:31.580 immorality. 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:32.960 But then 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:33.320 he has 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:34.379 four vices 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.419 which are 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:36.240 mental 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:36.919 impurity 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:37.960 lust 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:38.840 evil 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:39.580 desires 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:40.740 and greed 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.860 which is 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:43.080 idolatry. 00:15:44.299 --> 00:15:44.580 Now it 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:45.019 looks as if 00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:45.399 the list 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:45.759 is kind 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.399 of widening 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:46.840 there as 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.240 Paul goes 00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:47.559 on to 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:47.819 some 00:15:47.819 --> 00:15:48.199 extent 00:15:48.199 --> 00:15:48.779 it is 00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:49.500 but if 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:49.879 we think 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:50.480 of greed 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:50.959 as being 00:15:50.959 --> 00:15:51.539 the belief 00:15:51.539 --> 00:15:52.340 that everything 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:53.159 and everyone 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:53.879 exists for 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.579 our pleasure 00:15:54.579 --> 00:15:55.679 that could 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:56.159 describe 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.039 sexual sin 00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:58.319 as well. 00:15:59.480 --> 00:15:59.840 And Paul 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:01.199 says the 00:16:01.199 --> 00:16:02.039 initial battles 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:02.639 in the mind 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:03.220 might lead 00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:03.879 to sexual 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.519 immorality 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.819 but it's the 00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:06.519 thoughts that 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.100 matter that 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:07.720 we need to 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:08.740 get under 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:09.919 control to 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:10.620 begin with. 00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:12.120 Our spiritual 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:12.960 battle is 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:14.039 won or lost 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:14.819 in our 00:16:14.819 --> 00:16:15.259 minds 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:16.339 and we 00:16:16.339 --> 00:16:17.139 can only 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:18.399 be triumphant 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.019 in it 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:19.959 if we 00:16:19.959 --> 00:16:20.480 ruthlessly 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:21.839 focus on 00:16:21.839 --> 00:16:22.319 our thought 00:16:22.319 --> 00:16:22.759 life. 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:24.059 It's not 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:24.599 just lust 00:16:24.599 --> 00:16:25.419 that trips 00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:25.759 us up 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.259 of course. 00:16:26.819 --> 00:16:27.259 Pride, 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.099 anger, 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:29.099 hatred, 00:16:29.699 --> 00:16:30.039 a multitude 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:30.659 of other 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.659 things that 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:32.099 are in our 00:16:32.099 --> 00:16:32.539 minds 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:33.379 that are 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:33.819 sinful 00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:34.759 and that 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.159 we need 00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:35.659 to get 00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:36.599 rid of. 00:16:36.599 --> 00:16:37.519 Paul says 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.120 in Philippians 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:38.560 four, 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:39.779 whatever is 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:40.259 true, 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:41.659 whatever is 00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:42.200 noble, 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.620 whatever is 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:43.960 right, 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:44.560 whatever is 00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:44.860 pure, 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.440 whatever is 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:45.860 lovely, 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:46.980 whatever is 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.639 admirable, 00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:49.080 if anything 00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:49.960 is excellent 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:51.000 or praiseworthy, 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:52.519 think about 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:54.399 such things. 00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:56.879 I think I 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.360 need another 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.639 short diversion 00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.679 here as well. 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.679 Occasionally 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:02.100 and maybe 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:02.879 quite often 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:04.019 an impure 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.940 thought will 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.359 come into 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:06.000 your head 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.880 or you'll 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.299 wake up 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:07.660 from a 00:17:07.660 --> 00:17:07.960 dream 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:08.920 and feel 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:09.420 shocked 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:10.559 about it. 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:12.119 These things 00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:12.940 are a reflection 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.640 of the fact 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:14.400 that we have 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.279 a sinful 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:15.859 nature. 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:17.279 They may 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.140 well diminish 00:17:18.140 --> 00:17:19.180 if we grow 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:19.799 closer and 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.359 closer to 00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:20.920 the Lord 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:22.079 and if we 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:22.640 focus on 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:23.299 our thoughts 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:24.200 but they 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:24.839 probably won't 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:25.440 disappear 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.599 completely. 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.400 Now sin 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:28.779 in these 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.920 things doesn't 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:31.180 lie in the 00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:31.980 thoughts arising, 00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:32.539 that's the 00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:33.259 devil tempting 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:33.740 us. 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:35.200 Where the 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:35.779 sin comes 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:36.660 in isn't 00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.039 what we 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:37.500 do with 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:37.740 them. 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:39.140 If we 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:39.840 harbour them 00:17:39.840 --> 00:17:40.740 and develop 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.299 them in 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:41.920 our mind 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:42.720 then we 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.120 are being 00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:43.660 led by 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.180 the devil 00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:45.580 into a 00:17:45.580 --> 00:17:45.980 sinful 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:46.740 habit. 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:47.960 We need 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:48.319 to get 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:48.880 away from 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:49.620 them when 00:17:49.620 --> 00:17:50.200 these things 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:50.580 come. 00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:51.779 Perhaps go 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.100 and do 00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:52.580 something 00:17:52.580 --> 00:17:53.360 constructive 00:17:53.360 --> 00:17:53.680 or go 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:54.019 and talk 00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:54.600 to someone 00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:55.299 about 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:55.740 something 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:56.900 else or 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:57.259 get out 00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:57.819 your Bible 00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.860 and think 00:17:58.860 --> 00:17:59.480 about Jesus 00:17:59.480 --> 00:17:59.900 and let 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:00.759 him give 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.120 you the 00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:02.039 strength to 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.460 take your 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.519 mind off 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:03.779 it. 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:05.079 Our 00:18:05.079 --> 00:18:05.539 reaction 00:18:05.539 --> 00:18:06.000 should be 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.240 like 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:06.619 Joseph 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:07.039 when 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:08.119 Potiphar's 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:08.660 wife tried 00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:09.279 to seduce 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.019 him and 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.680 he fled 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:11.799 and not 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.379 like David 00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:12.940 who saw 00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:13.700 Bathsheba 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:15.279 bathing and 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:15.740 let the 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.299 sight lead 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.920 to a 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:17.420 doubtery 00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:18.839 and ultimately 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:20.160 to murder. 00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:21.799 Paul said 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.319 to Timothy 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.519 flee the 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.419 evil desires 00:18:24.419 --> 00:18:25.000 of youth 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.339 and pursue 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.980 righteousness 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:28.079 faith 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.899 love 00:18:28.899 --> 00:18:29.919 and peace 00:18:29.919 --> 00:18:31.279 along with 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:31.779 those who 00:18:31.779 --> 00:18:32.319 call on 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:32.839 the Lord 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:33.899 out of a 00:18:33.899 --> 00:18:34.579 pure heart. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:35.839 And if he 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:36.259 was bold 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:36.539 enough 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:36.960 Timothy 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:37.460 could quite 00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:37.960 legitimately 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:39.299 have responded 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:40.159 flee the 00:18:40.159 --> 00:18:41.159 evil temptations 00:18:41.159 --> 00:18:41.799 of age 00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.839 as well. 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.480 Temptation 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.159 doesn't go 00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:45.299 away as 00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:45.859 we get 00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.599 older. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:47.639 We need 00:18:47.639 --> 00:18:47.919 to have 00:18:47.919 --> 00:18:48.439 our minds 00:18:48.439 --> 00:18:49.179 under control 00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:49.880 as much 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.160 as we 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:50.580 possibly 00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:51.000 can 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.480 to 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.100 fulfill 00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:52.299 them 00:18:52.299 --> 00:18:52.720 what is 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.080 right 00:18:53.080 --> 00:18:54.140 and what 00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:54.360 is 00:18:54.360 --> 00:18:54.759 helpful 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:55.840 to us. 00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:57.660 Right, 00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:57.960 so these 00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.200 are the 00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:58.580 first two 00:18:58.580 --> 00:18:58.820 things. 00:18:58.900 --> 00:18:59.220 Let's move 00:18:59.220 --> 00:18:59.560 on now. 00:18:59.640 --> 00:18:59.840 We're going 00:18:59.840 --> 00:19:00.080 to look 00:19:00.080 --> 00:19:00.420 at verses 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.240 29 and 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.700 30. 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:02.900 And the 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.320 third thing 00:19:03.320 --> 00:19:03.640 we want 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.000 to think 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.060 about is 00:19:05.060 --> 00:19:05.720 that sin 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:07.019 leads to 00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:07.500 judgment. 00:19:08.580 --> 00:19:08.980 Twice 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.400 in these 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:09.840 verses 00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:11.220 Jesus says 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:11.620 that our 00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:12.220 bodies could 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:12.860 end up in 00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:14.039 hell unless 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:14.700 we take 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.820 drastic action 00:19:15.820 --> 00:19:16.820 to avoid 00:19:16.820 --> 00:19:17.259 sin. 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:18.720 The word 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.059 used for 00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:19.559 hell here 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.279 is Gehenna. 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.220 Gehenna was 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:21.660 a location 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:22.100 outside 00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:22.579 Jerusalem 00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:22.920 but at 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:23.400 one point 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:23.799 was used 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.240 for human 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:24.980 sacrifices 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:26.039 but in 00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:26.279 Jesus' 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:26.779 day was 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:27.240 a rubbish 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:27.640 dump 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:28.640 which was 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:29.180 constantly 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:29.880 on fire 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.480 to kind 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.019 of purify 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.680 the rubbish 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.480 that came 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:32.960 to it. 00:19:33.600 --> 00:19:34.019 But it's 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.720 used commonly 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.400 by Jesus 00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:36.460 and by 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:36.900 others at 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:37.420 the time 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:38.360 to describe 00:19:38.360 --> 00:19:38.940 the place 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.799 of ultimate 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:41.039 eternal 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:41.600 judgment 00:19:41.600 --> 00:19:42.339 for sin 00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:43.319 for those 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:43.960 who don't 00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.120 accept him. 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:46.980 Jesus is 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:47.480 making it 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:48.259 very clear 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.140 that there 00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:49.660 is a 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:50.019 judgment 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.700 for sin. 00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:51.359 No sin 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:51.920 is 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:53.039 inconsequential 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:54.440 and unless 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:54.960 our sins 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:55.339 have been 00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:55.819 forgiven 00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:56.819 we will 00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:57.319 face the 00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:57.839 fires of 00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:58.039 hell, 00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:58.400 we will 00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:58.740 face 00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.539 God's 00:19:59.539 --> 00:19:59.940 judgment 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:01.259 on us. 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:02.640 But there 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:02.859 is a 00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:03.279 difficulty 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:03.740 here. 00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:05.240 Graham and 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:05.700 others have 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.180 pointed out 00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:06.700 in previous 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:07.599 weeks that 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.119 the Sermon 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:08.379 on the 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:08.640 Mount 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:09.700 is delivered 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.579 principally 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.420 to Jesus' 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.480 disciples. 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:14.039 is not 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.680 about how 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.160 we win 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:15.559 God's 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:15.880 favour, 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:16.960 it's how 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.400 we should 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.279 live when 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:18.900 our trust 00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.799 is in 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:20.120 Jesus. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:21.799 But that's 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:22.299 quite hard 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:22.819 to reconcile 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.480 with Jesus 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.880 suggesting that 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:25.779 his disciples 00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:26.599 might end up 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.120 in hell 00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:27.880 if they 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:28.559 don't take 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.360 appropriate 00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:29.940 action. 00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:31.180 So what is 00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:32.079 he actually 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.860 saying here? 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:34.640 One possibility 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:35.299 might be that 00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:35.839 Jesus is 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:36.579 exaggerating 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.319 for effect. 00:20:37.860 --> 00:20:38.440 That is 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.059 certainly the 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.799 case as 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:40.119 we come 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:40.519 on to 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.240 the actions 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:41.839 he expects 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:42.480 from us. 00:20:43.179 --> 00:20:43.659 But that 00:20:43.659 --> 00:20:44.419 seems very 00:20:44.419 --> 00:20:45.419 unlikely to 00:20:45.419 --> 00:20:45.700 me. 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.099 Jesus isn't 00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:47.500 going to 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:47.960 talk in 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:48.599 that way 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.720 about something 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:50.740 so devastating 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:51.819 and so 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.359 eternal 00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:53.599 as hell. 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.659 A second 00:20:55.659 --> 00:20:56.220 interpretation 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:56.980 might be 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.299 Jesus' 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:57.940 disciples, 00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:58.539 Christians 00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.139 today, 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.279 can lose 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:01.099 their salvation 00:21:01.099 --> 00:21:02.359 because of 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:03.279 sin that 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.319 comes into 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:05.039 their lives. 00:21:05.419 --> 00:21:05.919 Once they 00:21:05.919 --> 00:21:06.559 were saved, 00:21:06.899 --> 00:21:07.899 now they're 00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.299 not. 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.359 But that 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:10.019 goes against 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.519 the clear 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.879 teaching of 00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:12.379 Scripture. 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:13.779 That salvation 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.579 is based on 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.139 faith in 00:21:15.139 --> 00:21:15.460 Jesus, 00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:16.639 it's not 00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:17.299 based on 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:17.960 any good 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:19.159 works of 00:21:19.159 --> 00:21:19.599 ours. 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.799 John says 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:21.059 in his 00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:21.480 Gospels, 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.099 everyone who 00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:22.799 believes in 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.779 Jesus has 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:24.700 eternal life 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.099 and in the 00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:25.740 same Gospels 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.419 Jesus says, 00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.279 I give them 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:28.220 eternal life 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:29.119 and they 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:29.680 shall never 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.319 perish, 00:21:30.919 --> 00:21:31.419 no one 00:21:31.419 --> 00:21:32.019 will snatch 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.039 them out 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.940 of my 00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:34.480 hand. 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:35.539 So if our 00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.259 trust is in 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.599 Jesus, 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:37.899 our eternal 00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:39.360 future is 00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:39.900 secure. 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.160 Perhaps what 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:42.780 Jesus means 00:21:42.780 --> 00:21:43.100 here, 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:43.780 I'm not 00:21:43.780 --> 00:21:44.080 certain, 00:21:44.280 --> 00:21:44.519 but I'll 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:44.800 throw it 00:21:44.800 --> 00:21:45.019 out as 00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.560 a suggestion, 00:21:46.040 --> 00:21:46.580 perhaps what 00:21:46.580 --> 00:21:47.220 Jesus means 00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:48.340 here is 00:21:48.340 --> 00:21:48.820 that if we 00:21:48.820 --> 00:21:49.720 persistently 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.620 don't take 00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:51.740 sin seriously, 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.019 it could 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.860 suggest our 00:21:53.860 --> 00:21:54.420 faith was 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.220 never truly 00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.340 in Jesus. 00:21:56.540 --> 00:21:56.759 There were 00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:57.460 people following 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.340 him, looking 00:21:58.340 --> 00:21:58.800 like his 00:21:58.800 --> 00:22:00.019 disciples, who 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.440 would later 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.980 fall away, 00:22:01.060 --> 00:22:01.500 who weren't 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.820 really disciples 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:04.039 of Jesus. 00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:05.500 If we 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.079 can see 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:06.740 all that 00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:07.399 Jesus has 00:22:07.399 --> 00:22:08.399 suffered to 00:22:08.399 --> 00:22:08.819 bring us 00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.379 forgiveness 00:22:09.379 --> 00:22:10.559 for sin, 00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:11.939 all that 00:22:11.939 --> 00:22:12.419 came on 00:22:12.419 --> 00:22:12.720 him as 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.119 he went 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:13.480 to the 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.079 cross, the 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.439 physical 00:22:14.439 --> 00:22:15.099 suffering, 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.279 the separation 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.240 from God, 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.399 and if that 00:22:18.399 --> 00:22:19.579 doesn't affect 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.439 the way we 00:22:20.439 --> 00:22:21.939 live, it 00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:22.539 probably means 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.159 at least that 00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:23.599 we haven't 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.859 understood the 00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:25.579 cost of our 00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:27.079 salvation to 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:27.480 Jesus. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.220 Jesus says 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:29.859 his disciples 00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.579 must have a 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.059 righteousness 00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:32.359 that exceeds 00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:32.960 that to the 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:34.179 Pharisees and 00:22:34.179 --> 00:22:34.759 teachers of 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.199 the law. 00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:36.519 And people 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:36.799 who are 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:38.960 careless about 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.559 their sin 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:41.339 simply don't 00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:41.939 have that. 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:43.839 Now I'm not 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.679 talking here 00:22:44.679 --> 00:22:46.039 about situations 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:46.639 where we 00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:47.259 struggle with 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:48.439 sin, even 00:22:48.439 --> 00:22:49.079 if we feel 00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:49.699 we fall 00:22:49.699 --> 00:22:51.019 time and 00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:51.759 time again. 00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:53.039 Paul says 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.439 in Romans 00:22:53.439 --> 00:22:54.240 7, Paul 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:54.899 the great 00:22:54.899 --> 00:22:55.279 apostle, 00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.819 what I want 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:58.000 to do, I 00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:58.819 do not do, 00:22:58.899 --> 00:22:59.419 but what I 00:22:59.419 --> 00:23:00.399 hate, I 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:00.700 do. 00:23:00.780 --> 00:23:01.280 That's many 00:23:01.280 --> 00:23:01.660 of our 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:02.720 experiences. 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:03.880 And he 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:04.600 exclaims, 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:05.320 what a 00:23:05.320 --> 00:23:06.160 wretched man 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:07.360 I am. 00:23:07.780 --> 00:23:08.240 Now no one's 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:08.500 going to 00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.140 suggest that 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:09.960 Paul was 00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.840 not a 00:23:10.840 --> 00:23:11.259 Christian. 00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.360 Struggling 00:23:12.360 --> 00:23:12.920 with sin 00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:13.720 doesn't mean 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.420 that you're 00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:14.860 not a 00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:15.120 Christian, 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:15.460 that you've 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:15.880 not been 00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:17.019 saved by 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:17.460 Jesus. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.080 But if we 00:23:19.080 --> 00:23:19.680 don't feel 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.180 the need 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:20.880 to struggle, 00:23:21.820 --> 00:23:22.060 then I 00:23:22.060 --> 00:23:22.380 think we 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:22.700 need to 00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.259 take Paul's 00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:23.740 advice, 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:24.940 examine 00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:26.019 yourself to 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.560 see whether 00:23:26.560 --> 00:23:27.500 you are in 00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.120 the faith, 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.620 test yourself. 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.679 Remember 00:23:30.679 --> 00:23:31.519 that Christians, 00:23:31.979 --> 00:23:32.879 as well as 00:23:32.879 --> 00:23:33.179 those who 00:23:33.179 --> 00:23:33.379 haven't 00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:33.899 trusted in 00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:34.079 Jesus, 00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:34.379 will have 00:23:34.379 --> 00:23:34.559 to give 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:35.179 account of 00:23:35.179 --> 00:23:35.779 their actions 00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.759 to Christ. 00:23:37.219 --> 00:23:37.639 For Christians 00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:38.319 won't lose 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.039 their salvation, 00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.039 but they will 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.439 be held 00:23:40.439 --> 00:23:41.219 accountable for 00:23:41.219 --> 00:23:41.579 what they 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:42.119 have done 00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:43.599 for the 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:44.219 Lord Jesus. 00:23:46.919 --> 00:23:47.159 Will 00:23:47.159 --> 00:23:47.699 Graham is 00:23:47.699 --> 00:23:48.199 the grandson 00:23:48.199 --> 00:23:48.879 of Billy 00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:50.119 Graham and 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:50.759 is a quite 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.179 well-known 00:23:51.179 --> 00:23:51.939 evangelist 00:23:51.939 --> 00:23:52.539 himself. 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:53.920 I read a 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:54.759 very perceptive 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.339 article he 00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.319 wrote where 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:56.879 he suggested 00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:57.980 in the past 00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:58.819 when people 00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:59.519 chose a way 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.079 of life that 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.740 went against 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.379 the Bible's 00:24:01.379 --> 00:24:01.759 teaching, 00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:02.980 they normally 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:03.599 left their 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.460 faith behind. 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:05.759 But now 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.279 they're more 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:07.180 likely to stay 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.859 in the church 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:08.920 and attempt 00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.639 to justify 00:24:09.639 --> 00:24:10.480 their actions, 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.920 possibly by 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:13.079 distorting 00:24:13.079 --> 00:24:13.759 scripture. 00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:15.000 Now we can 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.420 see that's 00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:15.740 true of 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:16.379 sexuality, 00:24:16.899 --> 00:24:18.200 among other 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:18.720 things. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:20.000 and Will 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.700 Graham says, 00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:22.860 it's a grave 00:24:22.860 --> 00:24:23.640 mistake to 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:24.279 take sin 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:26.120 lightly or 00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:26.660 to believe 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:27.360 the lie that 00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:28.019 since Christ 00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.740 died for our 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.740 sins, there 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:30.140 are no 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:30.940 consequences 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.839 to our 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.400 actions. 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:33.900 There are 00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:34.759 spiritual and 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.240 eternal, 00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:35.880 not to mention 00:24:35.880 --> 00:24:36.920 physical costs 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.640 to be paid 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:38.480 when we 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:39.339 ignore God's 00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:40.620 guidance through 00:24:40.620 --> 00:24:41.360 his word. 00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:42.120 And he 00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.579 continues, 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.480 rather I would 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.400 encourage you to 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.339 cling to Christ 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.920 and dig so 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:48.000 deeply into 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:48.620 the Bible. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:50.059 that you can 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:51.660 spot a lie 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:53.259 from the 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:53.680 truth. 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.360 We need to 00:24:55.360 --> 00:24:56.240 recognize that 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.620 sin leads to 00:24:57.620 --> 00:24:58.880 judgment and 00:24:58.880 --> 00:24:59.480 we need to 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.100 take it 00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:01.200 seriously. 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.240 And taking it 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.839 seriously, our 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.559 last point, 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:05.819 means that sin 00:25:05.819 --> 00:25:07.579 requires drastic 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.680 actions. 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.200 Jesus says, 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:11.079 to avoid hell 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:11.620 we need to be 00:25:11.620 --> 00:25:12.100 willing to 00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:12.779 gouge out our 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:14.079 right eye or 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:15.339 cut off our 00:25:15.339 --> 00:25:16.120 right hand. 00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:17.620 Our eye would 00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:18.500 represent what we 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.279 see clearly, 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.539 the inputs into 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.039 our body, 00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:21.680 if you like. 00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.819 Our hand would 00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:23.559 represent what 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:24.259 we do, 00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.579 the sins that 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.259 we commit. 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.759 And in both 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:28.180 cases, the 00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:28.880 right one is 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.380 seen as being 00:25:29.380 --> 00:25:30.059 stronger than 00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:30.500 the left, 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.099 and that's why 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:31.759 he specifies 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:33.160 right eye and 00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:33.980 right hand. 00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.480 Now, it's 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.519 almost universally 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.740 agreed that we're 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.440 not to take 00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:39.619 Jesus literally 00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:40.059 here. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.480 He's using 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.400 hyperbole, 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:44.119 exaggeration for 00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:45.420 effect, and he 00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:46.380 isn't suggesting 00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:47.640 that we should 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:49.100 mutilate our 00:25:49.100 --> 00:25:49.620 bodies. 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:51.220 If we took him 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.039 literally just in 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.580 the matter of 00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:53.500 sexual thing and 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.320 our thought life, 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.160 there would be 00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:56.080 few of any men 00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:57.120 here who weren't 00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:57.460 maimed. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.240 I can't speak for 00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:59.080 the woman, but 00:25:59.080 --> 00:25:59.800 maybe similar 00:25:59.800 --> 00:26:00.480 too. 00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:02.039 In any event, 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.120 mutilating our 00:26:03.120 --> 00:26:03.920 bodies wouldn't 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:04.880 keep us from sin 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.100 if there was no 00:26:06.100 --> 00:26:07.420 change in our 00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:07.900 heart. 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.700 But if we don't 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.740 take this literally, 00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:12.300 it doesn't give us 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.379 an excuse not to 00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:14.419 take Jesus' words 00:26:14.419 --> 00:26:15.279 seriously. 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:16.519 We can't say, 00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:17.099 well, obviously 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:17.960 that's not what 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.119 he's meaning, and 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:20.399 just go away and 00:26:20.399 --> 00:26:21.099 forget it. 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:23.180 Jesus is aiming to 00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:24.539 shock us into 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:25.039 action. 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:26.500 So what would 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.639 that mean for 00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:27.819 us? 00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:28.740 Just a few 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:29.079 suggestions. 00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:29.919 It will vary 00:26:29.919 --> 00:26:31.079 depending on where 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.859 our weak spots 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:33.139 are and the 00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:33.799 things that we 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:34.639 can recognise 00:26:34.639 --> 00:26:36.019 that trigger us 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.940 to sin. 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:39.000 It could affect 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:40.259 the books that 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.899 we choose to 00:26:40.899 --> 00:26:41.180 read. 00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:42.100 Are they 00:26:42.100 --> 00:26:43.420 wholesome and 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:43.840 helpful? 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:45.360 It could affect 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:46.259 the websites we 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.519 visit, the 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.480 social media we 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.640 view, the 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:50.500 programmes that we 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.200 watch on our 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:51.759 screens, the 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.880 films we go 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.200 to. 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:54.840 If any of 00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:55.740 these lead us 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.720 into sin 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:57.560 through our 00:26:57.560 --> 00:26:58.820 eyes, then 00:26:58.820 --> 00:26:59.779 Jesus says we 00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:01.060 need to cut 00:27:01.060 --> 00:27:02.060 them out, remove 00:27:02.060 --> 00:27:03.340 the thing that 00:27:03.340 --> 00:27:03.920 brings the 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:05.320 temptation that 00:27:05.320 --> 00:27:06.519 leads you to 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:06.900 sin. 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:08.920 And we need 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.340 to go further 00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:09.840 than that. 00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:11.439 it could also 00:27:11.439 --> 00:27:12.419 affect where 00:27:12.419 --> 00:27:13.339 and with 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.179 whom we 00:27:14.179 --> 00:27:15.319 spend our 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.759 time. 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.119 If a 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:18.339 friendship or 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:19.480 relationship is 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.259 unhelpful 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:21.779 spiritually, you 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.639 may need to 00:27:22.639 --> 00:27:23.579 give it up. 00:27:24.419 --> 00:27:25.720 It might even 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.899 affect the job 00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:28.279 you do if that 00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:28.959 is leading you 00:27:28.959 --> 00:27:29.679 in some way 00:27:29.679 --> 00:27:31.639 into temptation. 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.059 Now it's not 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.819 for me to tell 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:34.740 you what you 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.220 should do, I 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.959 need to examine 00:27:35.959 --> 00:27:37.159 my own heart. 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:38.220 but I'm 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:38.640 trying to 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:39.240 prompt all 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.180 of us to 00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:40.840 consider what 00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:41.640 we may need 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:42.920 to change to 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.519 reduce the 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.019 danger of 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:44.540 falling into 00:27:44.540 --> 00:27:45.920 temptation and 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:46.580 maybe get out 00:27:46.580 --> 00:27:47.120 of a bad 00:27:47.120 --> 00:27:48.240 habit we've 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:48.800 been unable 00:27:48.800 --> 00:27:50.279 to shake so 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:50.680 far. 00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:53.400 This has been 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.220 a pretty heavy 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:55.480 study and I 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:55.880 think that 00:27:55.880 --> 00:27:56.500 reflects the 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.700 seriousness of 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.240 the passage. 00:27:58.380 --> 00:27:58.900 Let me finish 00:27:58.900 --> 00:27:59.320 with some 00:27:59.320 --> 00:28:00.680 encouragement and 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.360 that also will 00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:02.320 hopefully help 00:28:02.320 --> 00:28:03.300 us as those in 00:28:03.300 --> 00:28:04.259 the church head 00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:04.980 towards taking 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:06.279 communion together. 00:28:06.279 --> 00:28:08.220 If we do 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.200 take our sins 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:11.019 seriously, if we 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.899 do feel the 00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.619 weight of them, 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.160 we may also 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.940 doubt our 00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.680 ability to 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.200 change. 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.619 It's one thing 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:18.339 to recognise 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:19.139 that we're 00:28:19.139 --> 00:28:19.899 going wrong, 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:21.359 it's another 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.599 to be able to 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.379 do something 00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:24.480 about it. 00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.460 And in our 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:26.039 own strength 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.539 that is 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.039 undoubtedly 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.980 true. 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.339 But we're 00:28:29.339 --> 00:28:30.000 not left 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.660 alone, we 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:31.399 don't have to 00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:32.379 do it by 00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:33.019 ourselves. 00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:34.519 When we 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.339 receive Jesus 00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:35.819 as our 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.200 saviour 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:36.700 and Lord, 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:37.559 we also 00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.600 receive the 00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:39.220 Holy Spirit. 00:28:40.120 --> 00:28:40.620 The Holy 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.319 Spirit is our 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:42.000 counsellor, 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:42.779 leading us 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.240 into all 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.700 truth, 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:44.580 helping us 00:28:44.580 --> 00:28:45.120 to see 00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:45.940 how we 00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:46.539 should live. 00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:47.819 He also 00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.519 provides us 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:48.900 with the 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.400 weapon we 00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:50.319 need when 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:50.799 the evil 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:51.860 one attacks 00:28:51.860 --> 00:28:52.860 us, the 00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.319 sword of 00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:53.880 the Spirit, 00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:54.860 which is 00:28:54.860 --> 00:28:55.559 the Word 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:56.180 of God. 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:56.940 And the 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.519 Spirit's work 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:57.860 in our 00:28:57.860 --> 00:28:58.740 lives give 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.160 us the 00:28:59.160 --> 00:28:59.700 strength to 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.819 obey and 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.420 to grow 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:02.279 spiritual 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.160 fruit. 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.340 That's why 00:29:04.340 --> 00:29:04.840 he's here, 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:05.240 that's why 00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:05.980 Jesus sent 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.640 his Spirit 00:29:06.640 --> 00:29:07.700 to draw us 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:08.180 to him 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:08.940 and to 00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:09.460 help us 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:09.940 to live 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:11.000 before him. 00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:12.620 And we 00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:13.120 also see 00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:13.640 Jesus. 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.259 Jesus who 00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:15.839 is tempted 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:16.400 in every 00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:17.359 way as 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:17.900 we are, 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:18.759 but who 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:18.980 never 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:19.539 sinned. 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.200 Jesus who 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.660 took our 00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.220 sins on 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:23.480 himself when 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:23.779 he was 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.220 nailed to 00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:24.819 the cross 00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:25.819 and took 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.500 the punishment 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.539 that should 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:27.779 have been 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.200 ours. 00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:29.779 Jesus who 00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.640 triumphed over 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.800 evil and 00:29:31.800 --> 00:29:33.020 death and 00:29:33.020 --> 00:29:34.100 today is 00:29:34.100 --> 00:29:34.580 a living 00:29:34.580 --> 00:29:36.100 saviour and 00:29:36.100 --> 00:29:36.500 lord. 00:29:37.420 --> 00:29:37.880 What would 00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.560 be impossible 00:29:38.560 --> 00:29:39.040 in our 00:29:39.040 --> 00:29:40.160 strength is 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:41.420 possible in 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.600 his, through 00:29:42.600 --> 00:29:43.280 following his 00:29:43.280 --> 00:29:44.759 example, through 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.460 seeking his 00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:47.180 help as we 00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:47.880 pray. 00:29:48.820 --> 00:29:50.280 So today, if 00:29:50.280 --> 00:29:50.860 you're struggling 00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:51.700 with your sin, 00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:52.820 take heart. 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.680 It can be 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:56.540 overcome in 00:29:56.540 --> 00:29:57.700 the strength of 00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:58.759 Jesus and 00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.100 the Holy 00:29:59.100 --> 00:29:59.519 Spirit. 00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:01.319 If you've 00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.039 been challenged 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:02.559 on your 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.500 complacency 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.720 about sin, 00:30:05.360 --> 00:30:06.080 then do go 00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:06.460 away and 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.200 consider what 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:07.819 you need to 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:09.039 do to take 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.160 it more 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:10.779 seriously. 00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:12.640 And if you've 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:13.200 never put your 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:13.960 faith in Jesus, 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.559 then know that 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.259 he offers you 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:17.080 forgiveness for 00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:18.519 sin and hope 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.319 for the future 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:20.380 through his 00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:21.620 death on the 00:30:21.620 --> 00:30:22.039 cross. 00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:23.360 You need to 00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:24.000 trust him 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.920 today. 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:26.559 I'm going to 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.039 pray now. 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:28.059 And I'm 00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:28.740 going to use 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.339 the words of 00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.180 Catherine Scott 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:31.000 as our 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.399 prayer. 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.359 They'll be 00:30:32.359 --> 00:30:32.940 familiar to 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:33.500 many of us 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:33.819 and I think 00:30:33.819 --> 00:30:34.399 very relevant. 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.119 So let's 00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:35.879 pray together. 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:37.500 And our 00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.079 prayer is, 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.899 search me, 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.379 know me, 00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:43.180 try me and 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:43.879 see every 00:30:43.879 --> 00:30:44.359 worthless 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:46.119 affection hidden 00:30:46.119 --> 00:30:46.680 in me. 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.440 All I'm 00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:49.420 asking for is 00:30:49.420 --> 00:30:49.980 that you'd 00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:50.779 cleanse me, 00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:51.139 Lord. 00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:53.079 Create in me 00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.839 a heart that's 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:54.279 clean. 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:55.980 Conquer the 00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:56.639 power of 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.640 secret shame. 00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:58.920 Come, 00:30:59.040 --> 00:30:59.840 wash away the 00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:01.480 guilty stain of 00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.400 all my sin. 00:31:03.780 --> 00:31:04.480 Clothe me in 00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:05.080 robes of 00:31:05.080 --> 00:31:05.600 righteousness. 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:07.680 Cover my 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.540 nakedness with 00:31:08.540 --> 00:31:09.040 grace. 00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:10.780 All of my 00:31:10.780 --> 00:31:11.720 life before you 00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:13.440 now I 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.200 humbly bring. 00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:15.740 Amen. 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:15.840 Amen. 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:45.819 Thank you.