WEBVTT

00:00:00.620 --> 00:00:06.100
 Amen. Please take out your copy of God's Word and turn to the Gospel according to Mark chapter 7.

00:00:08.900 --> 00:00:14.419
 The Gospel of Mark chapter 7. Our text for today will be verse 14 through verse 43.

00:00:14.620 --> 00:00:21.980
! But before we get to reading that, let me just remind you that this is the summation of Jesus' Galilean ministry.

00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:28.039
 He's no longer going to journey about the region of Galilee, preaching any longer.

00:00:28.039 --> 00:00:34.539
 He's about to, you'll notice in verse 24, go off to the region of Tyre and Sidon, which is on the coast of the Mediterranean,

00:00:35.100 --> 00:00:39.240
 never to return and preach in Galilee again.

00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:45.299
 And I think, fittingly, he closes up his time with a very important message,

00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:49.179
 and that is a message of proper worship of God.

00:00:49.179 --> 00:00:52.920
 And we addressed last week, if you'll notice in chapter 7, verse 7,

00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:57.940
 he says of the scribes and the Pharisees and all of Israel,

00:00:58.480 --> 00:01:01.040
 in vain do they worship me.

00:01:01.400 --> 00:01:07.439
 This is a prophecy from Isaiah 29, 13, and certainly it was being fulfilled in this day.

00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:09.819
 In vain do they worship me because they were hypocritical,

00:01:09.960 --> 00:01:12.620
 because they had their hearts distant from God,

00:01:12.820 --> 00:01:18.280
 and because they placed the tradition of men above the commandment of God.

00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:24.599
 This vain worship was such a concern in Jesus' time, just as it is in our time,

00:01:25.340 --> 00:01:30.260
 that Jesus then addresses the larger crowd in our text together.

00:01:30.859 --> 00:01:31.840
 So let's read together.

00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:34.319
 Mark chapter 7, beginning in verse 14.

00:01:34.460 --> 00:01:37.859
 And he called the people to him again and said to them,

00:01:38.299 --> 00:01:40.840
 Hear me, all of you, and understand.

00:01:41.659 --> 00:01:45.460
 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him,

00:01:45.459 --> 00:01:49.079
 but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.

00:01:49.919 --> 00:01:51.979
 And when he had entered the house and left the people,

00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:54.139
 his disciples asked him about the parable.

00:01:54.479 --> 00:01:55.579
 And he said to them,

00:01:56.299 --> 00:01:58.979
 Then are you also without understanding?

00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:04.019
 Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,

00:02:04.339 --> 00:02:08.479
 since it enters not his heart, but his stomach, and is expelled?

00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:12.060
 Thus he declared all foods clean.

00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:13.439
 And he said,

00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:15.500
 What comes out of a person is what defiles him.

00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:17.960
 For from within, out of the heart of man,

00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:25.939
 come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness,

00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:32.159
 deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:38.480
 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.

00:02:39.740 --> 00:02:41.280
 This is God's word to us.

00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:43.900
 It's written for his glory and our good.

00:02:44.759 --> 00:02:50.060
 We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.

00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:51.420
 Let's pray together.

00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:58.939
 Father God, it is certainly true that we need you in every hour of every day.

00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:02.500
 Lord, that we ask that you would come close to us now,

00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:06.420
 because we certainly need you in the hearing and understanding,

00:03:06.860 --> 00:03:09.199
 the application of your word to us.

00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:11.919
 We thank you for it,

00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:14.979
 that you passed it down through all the ages,

00:03:15.060 --> 00:03:17.579
 that we might open it and read it in our language,

00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:20.379
 and commune with you in the study of it.

00:03:21.459 --> 00:03:23.399
 Father, have your way with us this morning.

00:03:24.060 --> 00:03:26.939
 Accomplish exactly what you intend to accomplish with us.

00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:30.599
 Tear down barriers to your goodness in us.

00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:32.359
 And we pray this in Christ's name.

00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:33.599
 Amen.

00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:33.739
 Amen.

00:03:36.419 --> 00:03:40.979
 So, we observe here that Jesus continues this discourse on defilement.

00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:46.599
 This was kind of the issue that was surrounding Jesus' accusation of the scribes and the Pharisees

00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:48.400
 at the beginning of chapter 7,

00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:51.199
 that some of the disciples weren't washing their hands.

00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:54.939
 They weren't going through this extra-biblical ceremony

00:03:54.939 --> 00:03:58.000
 that the people of that day thought defiled them,

00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:00.039
 thought set them apart from God.

00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:02.280
 The truth of it is that it didn't at all,

00:04:02.379 --> 00:04:03.800
 but they thought that it did.

00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:06.400
 And Jesus uses this example of Corban,

00:04:06.520 --> 00:04:08.159
 things that were committed to God,

00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:09.759
 was a tradition in the day.

00:04:09.819 --> 00:04:13.000
 And the way that was put on top of the command of God,

00:04:13.079 --> 00:04:15.639
 which was to honor your father and your mother.

00:04:15.800 --> 00:04:16.040
 And so,

00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:18.600
 so he broadens this.

00:04:18.659 --> 00:04:22.319
 He continues this discourse on defilement with the larger crowd.

00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:23.680
 We see this in verse 14,

00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:27.180
 and he called the people to him again and said to them,

00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:30.180
 hear me, all of you, and understand.

00:04:30.719 --> 00:04:30.899
 Right?

00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:34.339
 Such an important issue of the day that he draws everybody back together

00:04:34.339 --> 00:04:37.920
 as he's had this side encounter with the scribes and the Pharisees.

00:04:38.180 --> 00:04:39.579
 He then pulls everyone together

00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:44.759
 and speaks this very simple and short parable to them that we find in verse 15.

00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:48.620
 There's nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him,

00:04:48.620 --> 00:04:52.579
 but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.

00:04:53.280 --> 00:04:56.620
 And then he goes on to give further explanation of this comment to the disciples.

00:04:57.240 --> 00:04:58.079
 Note verse 17,

00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:00.800
 and when he had entered the house and left the people,

00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:04.459
 his disciples asked him about the parable.

00:05:04.540 --> 00:05:06.980
 And we now get this further explanation of that

00:05:06.980 --> 00:05:09.079
 with the parenthetical statement on the part of Mark.

00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:11.879
 Thus he declared all foods clean,

00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:15.600
 that there were no longer things that people ate that set them apart from God,

00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:24.560
 but now people could eat anything and it wasn't necessary for them to divide up what they could and couldn't eat.

00:05:24.840 --> 00:05:26.240
 And for us to kind of wrap our minds around this,

00:05:26.280 --> 00:05:29.720
 I think we need to first understand what was meant by defilement.

00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:31.840
 What does it mean to be defiled?

00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:35.460
 And this word in the Greek means to be dirty,

00:05:35.760 --> 00:05:37.220
 to be unclean,

00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:38.800
 to be impure,

00:05:38.939 --> 00:05:39.760
 to be corrupt.

00:05:40.460 --> 00:05:42.379
 It is a word used often in the New Testament

00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:48.139
 and its Hebrew counterpart is used over 200 times in the Old Testament.

00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:53.060
 But it wasn't merely an exterior purification that was necessary.

00:05:53.180 --> 00:05:59.159
 In fact, the Levitical law was meant to teach us of our need of a deeper purification.

00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:04.600
 The external purification was meant to show us of our need of a deeper purification,

00:06:04.719 --> 00:06:06.579
 the purification of our hearts,

00:06:06.579 --> 00:06:13.099
 because we cannot enter into the presence of God unless we have first been made clean.

00:06:13.719 --> 00:06:19.519
 It was designed to point to a cleansing that would come through faith in Christ.

00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:25.959
 We now, on this side of the Testaments, get to see that and understand that.

00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:30.180
 The writer of Hebrews wrote in chapter 10, verse 19 through 22,

00:06:30.180 --> 00:06:37.340
 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

00:06:37.720 --> 00:06:40.699
 by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain,

00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:42.400
 that is, through His flesh,

00:06:42.960 --> 00:06:45.740
 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:50.379
 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.

00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:54.420
 Let us draw into the presence of God with true hearts and full assurance of faith,

00:06:54.420 --> 00:06:58.620
 with our hearts sprinkled clean from evil conscience,

00:06:58.819 --> 00:07:02.240
 and our bodies washed with pure water.

00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:06.120
 It is this internal cleanliness that we need.

00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:12.400
 It's a changing of who we are that is necessary in order to be in relation with the Lord God.

00:07:13.200 --> 00:07:18.300
 But the scribes, the Pharisees, and the Jewish culture at large

00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:25.280
 had added literally hundreds, hundreds of extra laws to the Levitical law.

00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:27.340
 And in that process, right?

00:07:27.500 --> 00:07:34.060
 And I think in the well-motivated process of trying to stack on laws upon laws upon laws upon laws,

00:07:34.120 --> 00:07:38.560
 they had lost the point altogether of what the Levitical law was meant to accomplish,

00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:41.519
 which was to point us to Christ.

00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:48.100
 You see, they believed that purity was an exterior issue and not an issue of the heart.

00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:50.460
 And Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for this.

00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:52.240
 He does it time and time again.

00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:53.360
 Let me give you one example.

00:07:53.500 --> 00:07:56.780
 Matthew chapter 23, verse 27 and 28.

00:07:57.420 --> 00:08:01.400
 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

00:08:02.220 --> 00:08:05.340
 For you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly appear beautiful,

00:08:05.340 --> 00:08:09.840
 but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanliness.

00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:12.540
 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others,

00:08:12.620 --> 00:08:16.480
 but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:17.180
 Right?

00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:19.840
 They had the appearance of righteousness.

00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:23.439
 As far as anyone could observe, they lived rightly,

00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:25.500
 but they were dead inside.

00:08:25.900 --> 00:08:29.300
 They did not have changed hearts that worshipped God.

00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:32.620
 This is a serious issue in our day as well.

00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:35.919
 And I would venture to say that even amongst us,

00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:39.080
 there are people who come and sit in our audience

00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:42.340
 thinking that it somehow gains them merit with God.

00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:46.360
 Insert joke about finals here, which Wes already took from me.

00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:46.759
 Right?

00:08:48.160 --> 00:08:50.680
 You would be better off studying this morning

00:08:50.680 --> 00:08:54.420
 if you think that coming to church gains you favor with God

00:08:54.420 --> 00:08:56.300
 so that you might do well on your finals.

00:08:56.420 --> 00:08:58.000
 This is not the case.

00:08:58.540 --> 00:08:58.639
 Right?

00:08:58.780 --> 00:09:01.420
 The things that we do are an outflow.

00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:05.420
 They're a response to what God has done already in our hearts.

00:09:05.419 --> 00:09:08.539
 We do things because of who we are.

00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:10.479
 And this is heart worship.

00:09:11.339 --> 00:09:12.919
 This is what it means to worship God from the heart.

00:09:13.019 --> 00:09:16.319
 And God requires of us heart worship.

00:09:17.439 --> 00:09:18.279
 Deuteronomy 6.5.

00:09:18.339 --> 00:09:19.079
 Do you guys all know it now?

00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:22.360
 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

00:09:22.520 --> 00:09:24.460
 with all your soul, and with all your might.

00:09:24.540 --> 00:09:27.980
 With all of our being we are meant to worship God.

00:09:28.900 --> 00:09:32.759
 And how is this possible if we are born into sin,

00:09:33.540 --> 00:09:35.900
 if we are utterly destroyed by sin,

00:09:36.160 --> 00:09:40.320
 our image-bearing possibility has been torn down

00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:41.940
 because of the effects of sin.

00:09:42.020 --> 00:09:45.800
 We cannot bear the image of God apart from Christ because of sin.

00:09:45.799 --> 00:09:49.259
 We are enemies of God apart from Christ.

00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:54.500
 Do you remember the rare scribe, Mark chapter 12, 28 and 34?

00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:55.719
 We spoke of him last week.

00:09:55.799 --> 00:09:58.559
 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another.

00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:00.799
 And seeing that he answered them well,

00:10:00.939 --> 00:10:02.639
 Jesus being answered them well,

00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:03.439
 asked him,

00:10:04.039 --> 00:10:05.479
 Which commandment is the most important of all?

00:10:06.500 --> 00:10:07.240
 Jesus answered,

00:10:07.719 --> 00:10:08.759
 The most important is,

00:10:09.199 --> 00:10:12.299
 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

00:10:12.839 --> 00:10:14.379
 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

00:10:14.379 --> 00:10:15.220
 and with all your soul,

00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:16.139
 and with all your mind,

00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:17.240
 and with all your strength.

00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:20.379
 Jesus expands for us what that looks like, our being.

00:10:21.259 --> 00:10:21.740
 Verse 31,

00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:22.539
 The second is this,

00:10:22.580 --> 00:10:24.340
 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:27.600
 There is no other commandment greater than these.

00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.480
 And the scribe said to him,

00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:31.000
 You are right, teacher.

00:10:31.439 --> 00:10:33.019
 You have truly said that he is one,

00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:34.200
 and there is no other besides him.

00:10:34.340 --> 00:10:35.340
 And to love with all the heart,

00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:36.139
 with all the understanding,

00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:37.019
 with all the strength,

00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:38.720
 and to love one's neighbor as oneself

00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:42.779
 is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:44.059
 It is outward worship.

00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:44.860
 Right?

00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:47.200
 Much more than all of those things.

00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:49.700
 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely,

00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:50.639
 he said to him,

00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:54.419
 You are not far from the kingdom of God.

00:10:55.019 --> 00:10:57.019
 You see, the scribe understood it in his mind.

00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:59.279
 He got the commandment of God in his mind,

00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:02.519
 but it had yet to work into him and change his heart.

00:11:02.580 --> 00:11:04.139
 He possessed the right knowledge,

00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:07.019
 but he didn't possess heart change.

00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:10.799
 I hope that this scribe was part of the kingdom soon after.

00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:14.819
 Jesus teaches us that those who are part of the kingdom of God

00:11:14.819 --> 00:11:17.599
 do not vary in degree,

00:11:17.959 --> 00:11:18.919
 but in type.

00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:21.259
 There's two types.

00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:23.359
 There's not somewhere in between.

00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:25.179
 I'm more holy than you are holy.

00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:26.779
 That we're gaining our holy points,

00:11:26.859 --> 00:11:28.819
 but we vary in types.

00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:30.240
 You are a child of God,

00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:32.019
 or you are an enemy of God.

00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:33.719
 Those are the only two categories.

00:11:33.939 --> 00:11:35.620
 Put different names on them if you wish.

00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:38.580
 Those are the only two categories that you can live in.

00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:40.259
 You are a child of God,

00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:42.480
 or you are an enemy of God.

00:11:42.539 --> 00:11:45.179
 There is no in between.

00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:49.200
 This is something that I'm trying to teach my boys at a very early age.

00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:51.279
 And Sam and I decided early on

00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:52.460
 that we were going to use language

00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:54.139
 when we punished them,

00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:56.940
 and we're reconciling with them after the fact,

00:11:57.019 --> 00:11:59.980
 after they were spanked and sobbed on the bed for a while,

00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:01.720
 and we go into them to bring correction.

00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:05.019
 And I'm confident that they don't understand a word I'm saying

00:12:05.019 --> 00:12:06.060
 at this point in their lives.

00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:08.800
 But I hope they do when I say to Cade,

00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:09.220
 when I say,

00:12:09.300 --> 00:12:11.180
 Cade, you are my son,

00:12:11.540 --> 00:12:12.379
 and I love you.

00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:15.300
 And that is why I want you to obey.

00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:18.240
 If we are children of God,

00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:20.879
 our response to God's love for us

00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:22.860
 should be obedience to Him.

00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:24.960
 Because we know He loves us.

00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:25.899
 Because of our status.

00:12:26.180 --> 00:12:27.519
 He is our Father.

00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:28.759
 And I hope for my kids,

00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:30.300
 I hope that they can get that with me,

00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:31.799
 that there's nothing that they can do

00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:33.479
 that will remove them from that.

00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:36.899
 They will never stop being my sons,

00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:39.219
 that I love them with an unconditional love,

00:12:39.359 --> 00:12:40.799
 that I'm always seeking their good,

00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:42.039
 not perfectly,

00:12:42.179 --> 00:12:43.399
 because I'm fallen as well,

00:12:43.479 --> 00:12:45.519
 but I'm always looking to their best interest,

00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:46.699
 to the best of my ability,

00:12:46.899 --> 00:12:47.439
 and as such,

00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.500
 they should want to be obeyed.

00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:49.879
 It should be the natural response

00:12:49.879 --> 00:12:51.019
 of their status.

00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:53.859
 I am a son of Nathan Rayner.

00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.099
 Therefore, I obey,

00:12:55.439 --> 00:12:58.359
 and I do what Nathan Rayner asks me to do.

00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:00.779
 This is the way we function as believers,

00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:02.620
 those who have regenerate hearts.

00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:07.019
 We get some great metaphorical pictures of this.

00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:08.019
 Luke chapter 6,

00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:09.779
 verse 43 and 45.

00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:11.279
 Jesus says,

00:13:11.419 --> 00:13:14.259
 For no good tree bears bad fruit,

00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:17.680
 nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit.

00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:21.200
 For each tree is known by its own fruit.

00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:22.659
 So see the category here is

00:13:22.659 --> 00:13:25.220
 bad tree and good tree.

00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:28.600
 For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes,

00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:32.480
 nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:36.019
 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart

00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:37.200
 produces good.

00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:40.460
 And the evil person out of his evil treasure

00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:42.379
 produces evil.

00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:45.899
 For out of the abundance of the heart

00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:47.220
 his mouth speaks.

00:13:48.060 --> 00:13:48.560
 So you see,

00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:51.440
 what we do is a result of who we are.

00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:54.860
 What you do does not change who you are,

00:13:54.940 --> 00:13:58.320
 but who you are changes what you do.

00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:01.300
 Jesus used another plant metaphor

00:14:01.300 --> 00:14:04.420
 in the parallel passage to today's

00:14:04.420 --> 00:14:06.700
 in Matthew chapter 15,

00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:08.140
 verses 10 through 14.

00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:09.400
 And he says,

00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:10.600
 And he called the people to him,

00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:11.240
 and he said to him,

00:14:11.540 --> 00:14:12.540
 Hear and understand.

00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:14.400
 It is not what goes into the mouth

00:14:14.400 --> 00:14:15.020
 that defiles a person,

00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:16.240
 but what comes out of the mouth.

00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:17.480
 This defiles a person.

00:14:18.060 --> 00:14:19.700
 Then the disciples came and said to him,

00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:22.800
 Do you know that the Pharisees were offended

00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:24.100
 when they heard this saying?

00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:26.340
 Of course they were.

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.640
 Of course they were offended

00:14:27.640 --> 00:14:30.240
 because they thought all of their careful preparation

00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:32.759
 and all their very, very careful observance

00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:35.280
 of these extra laws that had been created

00:14:35.280 --> 00:14:37.680
 is what made them righteous.

00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:38.920
 It's what set them apart.

00:14:39.020 --> 00:14:40.800
 It's what kept them from being defiled.

00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:42.980
 Of course it was an offense to them.

00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:43.740
 Verse 13,

00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:44.300
 He answered,

00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:47.660
 Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted

00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:49.259
 will be rooted up.

00:14:50.539 --> 00:14:51.519
 Let them alone.

00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:53.059
 There are blind guides.

00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:54.779
 And if the blind lead the blind,

00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:57.459
 both will fall into a pit.

00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:00.699
 Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted

00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:02.199
 will be rooted up.

00:15:03.059 --> 00:15:04.600
 Rooted up plants are destroyed.

00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:07.899
 Listen to what Jeremiah says of our hearts

00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:11.139
 before they are changed by the grace of our Lord.

00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:12.879
 Jeremiah 17, 9,

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:16.139
 And the heart is deceitful above all things

00:15:16.139 --> 00:15:17.860
 and desperately sick.

00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:19.879
 Who can understand it?

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:23.200
 Jesus said in Mark 2, verse 17,

00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:26.539
 Those who are well have no need of a physician.

00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:28.240
 Those who see themselves as well.

00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:29.059
 None of us are well.

00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:31.059
 But those who see themselves as well

00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:32.139
 have no need of a physician.

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:33.899
 But those who are sick,

00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:34.799
 those who are humble,

00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:37.279
 those who recognize their broken state,

00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:38.960
 know that they need fixing.

00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:39.600
 And then he says,

00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:41.220
 I came not to call the righteous,

00:15:41.779 --> 00:15:42.779
 but sinners.

00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:47.060
 Jesus Christ is about the work

00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:49.759
 of fulfilling the prophecy of Ezekiel.

00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:53.040
 Where God spoke saying in Ezekiel 36,

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:55.759
 verse 24-28,

00:15:56.300 --> 00:15:57.820
 I will take you from the nations

00:15:57.820 --> 00:16:00.040
 and gather you from all the countries

00:16:00.040 --> 00:16:01.600
 and bring you into my own land.

00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:04.300
 I will sprinkle clean water on you

00:16:04.300 --> 00:16:05.860
 and you shall be clean

00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:07.340
 from all your uncleanliness

00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:09.019
 and from all your idols.

00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:10.659
 I will cleanse you.

00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:13.059
 And I will give you a new heart

00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:15.220
 and a new spirit I will put within you.

00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:16.879
 And I will remove the heart of stone

00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.460
 from your flesh

00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:19.480
 and give you a heart of flesh.

00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:21.259
 And I will put my spirit within you

00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:23.919
 and cause you to walk in my statutes

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:26.120
 and be careful to obey my rules.

00:16:26.699 --> 00:16:27.819
 You shall dwell in the land

00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:28.779
 that I gave to your fathers

00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:30.559
 and you shall be my people

00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:33.079
 and I will be your God.

00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:34.360
 I will give to you a new heart.

00:16:34.439 --> 00:16:35.899
 I will cause you to walk in my ways.

00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:37.419
 You see that it is our identity

00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:41.199
 that affects how it is that we live.

00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.579
 Proverbs 4.23 says,

00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:45.840
 Keep your heart with all vigilance

00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:49.539
 for from it flow the springs of life.

00:16:51.439 --> 00:16:54.519
 So good fruit comes from good trees.

00:16:55.059 --> 00:16:56.620
 Righteousness comes from people

00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:58.519
 with changed hearts.

00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:01.059
 Righteousness is the response

00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:04.240
 of a heart changed by God.

00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:07.339
 Now the opposite is also true.

00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.799
 Jesus states it here for us

00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:10.720
 in the negative.

00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.940
 I've been saying it in the positive.

00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.159
 Jesus states it for us here

00:17:13.159 --> 00:17:13.700
 in the negative.

00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:18.799
 In verse 15 and then 18-23.

00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:23.159
 It seems a bit tongue-in-cheek even

00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:24.859
 that He says in verse 18,

00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:26.980
 Do you not see what will go into a person

00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.819
 from the house that cannot defile him?

00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:29.000
 Since it doesn't enter into his heart

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:31.200
 but a stomach and it's expelled

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.299
 and the Greek here literally goes

00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:33.519
 into the latrine.

00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:34.819
 It passes through you.

00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:35.339
 Right?

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.539
 It doesn't go into your heart.

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:38.319
 It just passes through you

00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.519
 is what He's saying to us here.

00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:40.259
 And then He gives us

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:42.380
 this list of things

00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:44.160
 that come out of a person

00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:45.359
 and those are the things

00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:46.799
 that are the evidence

00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:49.279
 of what kind of tree the person is.

00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:49.940
 Right?

00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:52.420
 It's an evidence of what their heart loves

00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:53.519
 because they participate

00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:55.380
 in these things.

00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:56.480
 For from within,

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.240
 out of the heart of man,

00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.460
 now just listen to these.

00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.740
 I just want to read them to you slowly

00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.640
 and just let these sink.

00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:03.299
 Come, evil thoughts,

00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.759
 sexual immorality,

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:07.620
 theft,

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.319
 murder,

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.259
 and remember Jesus says

00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:11.000
 if you hate your brother,

00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.440
 you've committed murder in your heart.

00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:13.500
 Adultery,

00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:15.359
 if you look on a woman with lust,

00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.940
 you've committed adultery in your heart.

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:18.799
 Coveting,

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:20.660
 wickedness,

00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.039
 deceit,

00:18:22.920 --> 00:18:23.779
 sensuality,

00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.339
 envy,

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:27.079
 slander,

00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:28.759
 pride,

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:30.759
 and foolishness.

00:18:32.399 --> 00:18:32.879
 Beloved,

00:18:32.939 --> 00:18:34.059
 we are all guilty

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:35.939
 of all of these things.

00:18:36.679 --> 00:18:37.679
 And proper,

00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:38.619
 humble hearts,

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.199
 regenerate hearts,

00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:41.799
 those who understand the gospel

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.559
 get this.

00:18:43.099 --> 00:18:44.919
 I am guilty of these things.

00:18:45.399 --> 00:18:45.899
 Praise God

00:18:45.899 --> 00:18:47.480
 my righteousness comes from Christ.

00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:48.539
 Praise God

00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:49.779
 that He is working in me

00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:51.220
 to make me new.

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.319
 I have a new heart

00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.379
 and that overflows

00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:54.540
 into righteous living.

00:18:54.620 --> 00:18:55.440
 I don't do it perfectly,

00:18:55.540 --> 00:18:56.500
 but that is the trajectory

00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.300
 of my life.

00:18:57.540 --> 00:18:58.860
 I'm headed away from sin

00:18:58.860 --> 00:19:00.140
 and towards holiness.

00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:01.920
 If you look at the graph

00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:02.620
 of my life,

00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.400
 it should be trending

00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:04.840
 toward holiness.

00:19:05.020 --> 00:19:06.300
 If you zoom in on any one moment,

00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:06.960
 I can't guarantee

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:07.520
 that it would be.

00:19:07.580 --> 00:19:08.400
 But if you look at it

00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.200
 in a whole,

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.060
 I should be moving

00:19:10.060 --> 00:19:11.320
 towards holiness,

00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:13.680
 towards Christ-likeness.

00:19:15.560 --> 00:19:16.280
 As with people

00:19:16.280 --> 00:19:17.600
 who don't have changed hearts,

00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:19.700
 we shouldn't be surprised

00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.380
 when they sin.

00:19:21.020 --> 00:19:22.340
 It shouldn't be a shock to us

00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:24.359
 that they have forsaken

00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:25.319
 the ways of God

00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.839
 to follow their own passions

00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:27.859
 and their own desires.

00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.039
 It shouldn't shock us a bit

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.299
 when our co-workers,

00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:31.099
 our classmates,

00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:31.699
 our neighbors,

00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:32.299
 our friends,

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.879
 our family members sin.

00:19:34.459 --> 00:19:35.740
 It shouldn't shock us

00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.659
 if they're not found

00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:37.679
 in Christ.

00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.799
 Because the unregenerate heart

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:41.899
 is a sin factory.

00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:43.859
 That is what it's bent on doing.

00:19:43.939 --> 00:19:46.319
 It's bent on generating sin,

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.579
 on doing things

00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:48.599
 that say to God,

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:50.019
 I hate you.

00:19:50.679 --> 00:19:51.779
 I don't want to submit myself

00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.279
 to your ways.

00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:53.980
 I want to live in my way.

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.579
 My way is better than your way.

00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.879
 I want to be like a God.

00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:00.579
 This is what the unregenerate heart does.

00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:02.920
 And if this is the trajectory

00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.899
 of your life,

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.819
 if it doesn't lead away

00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:06.720
 from these things

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.619
 listed here in verse 22 and 23,

00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.099
 right,

00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:09.720
 our evil thoughts,

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.259
 sexual immorality,

00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:11.079
 theft, murder, adultery,

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.099
 coveting, wickedness,

00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.339
 deceit, sensuality,

00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:15.019
 envy, slander, pride, foolishness,

00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:15.740
 right,

00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:17.879
 then you are defiled.

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.819
 That's your stance.

00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:20.439
 It's where you exist.

00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.819
 That is your unclean.

00:20:22.419 --> 00:20:23.460
 You're not set apart

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.299
 for the worship of God.

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.599
 You can't be in relationship

00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:26.119
 with Him

00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:27.519
 because you are dirty.

00:20:28.679 --> 00:20:29.559
 If your life

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:30.679
 is generally characterized

00:20:30.679 --> 00:20:32.119
 by any of the things

00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:33.659
 our Lord has listed here,

00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:35.619
 then this is the evidence

00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:38.439
 that you are a bad tree.

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.700
 You are a bad tree.

00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.659
 If you're a bad tree

00:20:41.659 --> 00:20:42.539
 which produces evil,

00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:43.720
 then you're not one

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.339
 of God's trees.

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.379
 You're not a child of God,

00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:47.860
 but rather an enemy of God.

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.540
 And how damning it is

00:20:49.540 --> 00:20:50.420
 to be an enemy of God.

00:20:50.860 --> 00:20:52.360
 What a frightful end you have

00:20:52.360 --> 00:20:53.940
 if you are an enemy of God.

00:20:54.580 --> 00:20:56.020
 God is love.

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.700
 He has extended to us grace

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.660
 in Jesus Christ.

00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:01.380
 We can have our image-bearing possibility

00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:03.400
 restored in Jesus.

00:21:03.600 --> 00:21:04.560
 God has done so much

00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:06.420
 to lavish love on this world.

00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:06.960
 In fact,

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.480
 He does it in every way

00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:09.560
 in every day.

00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:10.840
 His sustaining grace,

00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.020
 the fact that any of us

00:21:12.020 --> 00:21:13.280
 woke up this morning,

00:21:13.320 --> 00:21:14.400
 whether we're a child of God

00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:15.620
 or an enemy of God

00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:16.740
 and breathed air

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.560
 and were automatically

00:21:17.560 --> 00:21:18.860
 thrown into a pit of hell,

00:21:19.120 --> 00:21:20.240
 is His extension

00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:22.180
 of His love and grace.

00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:23.900
 I hate when the wrath of God

00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:24.840
 is preached that people say,

00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:26.019
 well, but God is love.

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.500
 Of course He's love.

00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:29.200
 He's done so many things

00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.759
 to show His great love for us.

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.680
 Stop for a moment

00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.500
 and count for blessings.

00:21:32.560 --> 00:21:33.800
 Even if you think there are few,

00:21:34.060 --> 00:21:34.900
 there are so many.

00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:35.960
 They abound to us

00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:37.400
 in every way.

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:40.220
 But God must punish sin.

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.900
 For those of us found in Christ,

00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:44.460
 He punished it in Christ.

00:21:44.780 --> 00:21:46.019
 He didn't just dismiss it.

00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:47.700
 It must be punished.

00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:49.160
 He punished it in Christ

00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:50.100
 on our behalf.

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.519
 If you're not found in Christ

00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:52.759
 at the end of all things,

00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:55.120
 you will bear the wrath of God

00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:55.820
 for your sin.

00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:57.160
 This is a scary thing.

00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:58.259
 I would plead with you

00:21:58.259 --> 00:22:00.440
 to avoid this judgment.

00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:03.120
 In a broadening metaphor,

00:22:03.320 --> 00:22:04.400
 Jesus says that anyone

00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:05.759
 that persists in doing evil

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:07.880
 does not abide in Him.

00:22:08.320 --> 00:22:09.360
 John 15, 6.

00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:11.119
 If anyone does not abide in Me,

00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:12.459
 he is thrown away

00:22:12.459 --> 00:22:13.939
 like a branch and withers.

00:22:14.199 --> 00:22:15.619
 And the branches are gathered,

00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:17.219
 thrown into the fire,

00:22:17.899 --> 00:22:18.579
 and burned.

00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:22.579
 If this is your final resting state,

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:24.059
 you will know in that day,

00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:26.319
 you'll fully comprehend and get

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:27.240
 that the only thing

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:27.939
 that put you there

00:22:27.939 --> 00:22:29.059
 was your unbelief.

00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:31.679
 This will be the damning thing for you,

00:22:31.699 --> 00:22:32.699
 will be your unbelief.

00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:34.379
 You will not blame God for it

00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:35.479
 in that day.

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:38.159
 You will not stand in judgment over Him.

00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:39.500
 You will see Him as a right,

00:22:39.800 --> 00:22:41.220
 a just judge,

00:22:41.800 --> 00:22:44.100
 properly punishing your sin.

00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:47.180
 Repent and believe.

00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:49.220
 Please repent and believe.

00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:50.540
 This is an eternal matter

00:22:50.540 --> 00:22:52.380
 that we have before us.

00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:53.880
 That we might have life

00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:55.500
 and life everlasting.

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.720
 And not judgment everlasting.

00:22:57.980 --> 00:23:00.900
 It's a serious, serious issue.

00:23:02.580 --> 00:23:04.460
 And this is why sin is so serious.

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:06.120
 It's persistent sin

00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:08.400
 that leads to death.

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:12.420
 Persistent sin leads to death.

00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.480
 And now hear what I'm saying here,

00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:15.720
 that if your life has this trajectory of sin,

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.700
 that's an issue,

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.500
 that's an evidence

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:19.500
 of where your heart is

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.400
 which leads to death.

00:23:21.120 --> 00:23:21.140
 Right?

00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:23.140
 If your trajectory is different than this,

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:24.539
 if you are hating sin

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.440
 by the grace of God

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.460
 and turning to Him,

00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:28.920
 then this is not the trajectory of your life.

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:29.700
 Then your heart is,

00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.259
 in fact,

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.140
 regenerate.

00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:33.960
 But persistent sin leads to death.

00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:36.500
 And Jesus has stark words to say about it.

00:23:36.560 --> 00:23:37.480
 Mark chapter 9,

00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:39.660
 verse 43 through 48.

00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:41.720
 And if your hand causes you to sin,

00:23:42.300 --> 00:23:43.120
 cut it off.

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.200
 It is better for you to enter life

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:46.560
 crippled than with two hands

00:23:46.560 --> 00:23:47.340
 to go to hell

00:23:47.340 --> 00:23:49.200
 to the unquenchable fire.

00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:51.140
 And if your foot causes you to sin,

00:23:51.540 --> 00:23:52.580
 cut it off.

00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.380
 It is better for you to enter life

00:23:54.380 --> 00:23:55.500
 lame than with two feet

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.360
 to be thrown into hell.

00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:58.640
 And if your eye causes you to sin,

00:23:59.140 --> 00:23:59.820
 tear it out.

00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:01.159
 It is better for you

00:24:01.159 --> 00:24:01.899
 to enter the kingdom of God

00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:02.539
 with one eye

00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:03.319
 than with two eyes

00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:04.599
 to be thrown into hell

00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:06.299
 where their worm does not die

00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:08.700
 and the fire is not quenched.

00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:11.299
 Cutting off your hand

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.480
 and tearing out your eye

00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:14.379
 does not solve the issue of sin.

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:16.299
 Jesus is not suggesting to us

00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:18.220
 that we mutilate our bodies.

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:20.179
 But what He is suggesting to us

00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:21.439
 is that we put to death

00:24:21.439 --> 00:24:22.439
 sin in our life

00:24:22.439 --> 00:24:23.839
 by the power of Jesus Christ.

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:26.299
 This is what He's teaching us here.

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.299
 Brian Hedges in his book

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:29.099
 License to Kill says,

00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:30.059
 we will not exert

00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:31.779
 holy violence against our sins

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.699
 until we're convinced

00:24:32.699 --> 00:24:35.279
 that they really are dangerous.

00:24:36.939 --> 00:24:38.879
 We're all so comfortable.

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:42.079
 We're all so lulled to sleep

00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:44.699
 by how easy life really is.

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.559
 Sin is serious.

00:24:47.459 --> 00:24:50.279
 And there are serious consequences for it.

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.199
 Please hear that

00:24:52.199 --> 00:24:54.000
 from the Word of God today.

00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:56.799
 There's encouragement

00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.660
 to those of us

00:24:57.660 --> 00:25:00.000
 who find ourselves in Christ

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:01.440
 for the serious nature of sin.

00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.299
 Paul says in Philippians 2,

00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:04.140
 verse 12 and 13,

00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:05.140
 Therefore, my beloved,

00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:07.640
 he's recognizing they are Christians,

00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:09.259
 as you have always obeyed,

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:09.900
 so now,

00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:11.539
 not only as my presence,

00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.819
 but much more as my aspens.

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:15.220
 Work out your own salvation

00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:17.579
 with fear and trembling.

00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:19.500
 Give evidence to the fact

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.819
 that you are regenerate

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:22.539
 by the things that you do.

00:25:22.939 --> 00:25:24.379
 Be about the work of God,

00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:26.199
 proving time and time again

00:25:26.199 --> 00:25:27.879
 that He has given grace to your heart.

00:25:28.179 --> 00:25:29.980
 For it is God who works in you,

00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:32.099
 both to will and to work

00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:34.240
 for His good pleasure.

00:25:35.699 --> 00:25:37.079
 If sin is not being put to death

00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:37.759
 in your life,

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:40.720
 then you are not God's.

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:43.740
 Then you are not God's.

00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.740
 But you can be.

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.779
 So don't hear me just speaking

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:49.299
 condemnation down on you.

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:51.359
 If you're not found in the faith,

00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:52.880
 if you're not a child of God,

00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:55.140
 I need to tell you I love you.

00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.519
 Don't go to hell.

00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:58.240
 You have to leap over my body

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:58.980
 to get there,

00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.740
 as Spurgeon said.

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:03.160
 Repent and believe.

00:26:03.620 --> 00:26:04.400
 Believe in the Gospel.

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.319
 Believe that Christ

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:07.700
 bore your wrath on the cross.

00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:10.960
 Ask that He would change your heart.

00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:12.859
 That He would make you new

00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:13.799
 day by day

00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:15.500
 into His image.

00:26:16.399 --> 00:26:17.879
 Believe that Jesus is

00:26:17.879 --> 00:26:18.579
 who He said He is.

00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:19.519
 He is the Christ,

00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:20.500
 the Anointed One,

00:26:21.139 --> 00:26:22.099
 the Son of God,

00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:23.240
 who came and took away

00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:24.659
 the sins of the world.

00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:27.459
 Examine yourselves.

00:26:28.459 --> 00:26:29.959
 2 Corinthians 13.5

00:26:29.959 --> 00:26:30.459
 Paul says,

00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:31.379
 Examine yourselves

00:26:31.379 --> 00:26:33.099
 to see whether you are in the faith.

00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:34.679
 Test yourselves,

00:26:34.939 --> 00:26:36.159
 or do you not realize

00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:37.119
 this about yourselves,

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:39.639
 that Jesus Christ is in you,

00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:41.040
 unless indeed

00:26:41.040 --> 00:26:43.360
 you fail to meet the test.

00:26:44.300 --> 00:26:45.259
 Examine yourselves.

00:26:46.540 --> 00:26:48.140
 Ask God to search you,

00:26:48.660 --> 00:26:49.980
 to try you,

00:26:50.340 --> 00:26:51.740
 and to lead you.

00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:55.700
 Psalm 139, 23, and 24

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:57.780
 says,

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.800
 Search me, O God,

00:26:58.860 --> 00:27:00.780
 and know my heart.

00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:04.060
 Try me and know my thoughts,

00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:05.200
 and see if there be

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:06.440
 any grievous way in me,

00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:08.960
 and lead me in the way everlasting.

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:10.960
 Ask that God would expose to you

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.779
 those things that you can't see yourself.

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.960
 Ask that God would get inside of you

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:16.960
 and shed light into dark places,

00:27:17.620 --> 00:27:18.660
 to see if there's anything

00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:19.880
 grievous in you

00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:22.440
 that you might repent and believe.

00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:25.960
 We want to find ourselves

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:28.240
 in the state that John encourages

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:32.620
 in 1 John 2, 28-29.

00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:35.299
 And now, little children,

00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:36.980
 abide in Him,

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:38.680
 so that when He appears

00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:39.599
 we may have confidence

00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.960
 and not shrink from Him

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.259
 in shame at His coming.

00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:44.480
 If you know that He is righteous,

00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:45.599
 you may be sure

00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:47.640
 that everyone who practices righteousness

00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:50.259
 has been born of Him.

00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:53.500
 Beloved, we have great charge

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:55.140
 placed out before us.

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:57.900
 A great deal of conformity

00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:59.059
 to bring ourselves in with.

00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:00.440
 There is so much teaching

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.200
 in the Scriptures

00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.799
 about the things that we ought not do,

00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.759
 and the things that we should be doing.

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:06.400
 But so many of us miss the point

00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.539
 that when we're not doing the things

00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:08.379
 we see the Scriptures teaching,

00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:10.039
 we've got to behavior change

00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.460
 or modification.

00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.259
 We've just got to get in there.

00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.140
 We've got to work a little bit.

00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.160
 We've got to do a little better.

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:14.119
 We've got to do a little more.

00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:15.220
 When what needs to happen

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:16.559
 is our hearts need to change.

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.279
 Even those of us

00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.920
 who have regenerate hearts,

00:28:19.980 --> 00:28:21.660
 our hearts can grow cold sometimes

00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:22.539
 to the truth of the Gospel.

00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:24.599
 We can forget the realities of it.

00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:27.740
 We can stop believing it at times.

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:30.400
 Stop understanding what it is

00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.799
 that God has done for us

00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:33.000
 in Christ.

00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:36.279
 Recognize that all sin

00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:38.559
 is an issue of the heart.

00:28:39.139 --> 00:28:41.519
 Who we are at our very core.

00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:43.240
 In our essence.

00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.839
 And the response

00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:46.559
 wherever you find yourself today,

00:28:47.379 --> 00:28:48.659
 wherever you find yourself,

00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:50.440
 is to repent of that sin

00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:51.480
 and to believe.

00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:52.899
 Turn from sin

00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:54.299
 and turn to God.

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:56.339
 This is the call for those of you

00:28:56.339 --> 00:28:57.240
 who don't know

00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.399
 if you're found in Christ.

00:28:58.619 --> 00:28:59.379
 You don't know

00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:00.680
 where your eternal end is.

00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:01.380
 You may find

00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:02.259
 that you're feeling

00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:02.920
 some conviction

00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:04.180
 that it may be destruction.

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.960
 That you have been living life

00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.860
 your way

00:29:06.860 --> 00:29:07.380
 and that your heart

00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:08.100
 has not changed.

00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:08.799
 The answer to you

00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:10.600
 is repent and believe.

00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.480
 Turn from your sin

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:14.140
 and turn to God.

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.799
 And for those of us

00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:15.640
 who find ourselves

00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.640
 in the faith,

00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:19.120
 as you mature in your faith,

00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:19.700
 you will realize

00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.279
 that our lives

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.380
 are this constant cycle

00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:22.799
 of repentance and belief.

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:23.779
 Messing up

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.660
 and being made right.

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.460
 And messing up

00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.840
 and being made right.

00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:28.160
 But at least we know

00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:28.860
 when we fall,

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.080
 we fall in the right direction.

00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:32.100
 We know that our trajectory

00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:33.700
 is set heaven bound.

00:29:33.820 --> 00:29:34.840
 That we are being made

00:29:34.840 --> 00:29:36.779
 into the image of Christ.

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:40.000
 It is a heart issue.

00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:41.580
 It's not what goes into us

00:29:41.580 --> 00:29:42.820
 that defiles us.

00:29:43.060 --> 00:29:45.320
 It's what comes out of us

00:29:45.320 --> 00:29:46.840
 that defiles us.

00:29:47.340 --> 00:29:48.240
 Let's pray together.

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:49.599
 Thank you.

00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.640
 Thank you.

00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640


00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.640