WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.419 Good morning. 00:00:04.179 --> 00:00:08.279 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:08.279 --> 00:00:11.419 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:12.120 --> 00:00:15.080 Special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:19.800 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're filling seats, 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:23.420 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:29.320 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good that they don't need God's grace, 00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:36.560 and no one so bad that they can't have it, which means that God has something to say to everyone in his word. 00:00:36.659 --> 00:00:42.679 And so that's why we come back week after week to look at the Bible, God's word, to hear what he has to say. 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:49.359 We've been studying the book of 1 Peter, and you'll remember that 1 Peter is a letter. 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:56.380 It's a letter written by a man named Peter, and he writes it in the 60s A.D. to Christians in Asia Minor, 00:00:56.380 --> 00:01:01.300 what is now modern-day Turkey, and he writes it to both instruct and encourage them. 00:01:02.260 --> 00:01:07.040 He needs to do this because these are folks who are feeling out of place in the world as Christians, 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:10.540 and they're facing opposition from the world as Christians. 00:01:11.379 --> 00:01:14.359 Peter writes to encourage them that Jesus is worth it. 00:01:15.659 --> 00:01:18.240 Jesus is worth living for, and he's worth loving for. 00:01:18.340 --> 00:01:21.120 He's worth suffering for, and he's worth dying for. 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:23.540 And he also writes to instruct them. 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:26.620 He writes to instruct them how to live in the world as Christians 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:30.920 and how to respond when they face opposition from the world. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.820 We're in a larger section about suffering, 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:37.980 and you'll remember that there are three kinds of suffering, 00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:41.340 and it's very important for us to keep these three categories clear, 00:01:41.380 --> 00:01:43.060 even today as we come to this passage. 00:01:43.219 --> 00:01:48.360 There's, first of all, suffering, type 1, suffering for personal sin or foolishness. 00:01:48.359 --> 00:01:53.579 For example, if you're in school and you cheat on an exam and someone catches you, 00:01:54.299 --> 00:01:55.000 you will suffer. 00:01:56.420 --> 00:01:59.060 You will suffer for your own personal sin. 00:01:59.959 --> 00:02:03.640 Second, there's suffering because of the general presence of evil in the world. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:04.840 So we're in Colorado. 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:07.460 There's a hailstorm, and it hits your roof. 00:02:08.099 --> 00:02:08.759 You will suffer. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:11.360 Now, you're not suffering. 00:02:11.579 --> 00:02:12.599 Yeah, I heard some amens. 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:16.120 You're not suffering for your own personal sin. 00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:19.120 You're suffering because of the presence of evil and destruction in this world. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:23.659 And then finally, there's the type of suffering that Peter is talking about 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:27.039 and only talking about, and that is suffering for righteousness' sake, 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:29.680 suffering for the name of Jesus Christ. 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:31.340 This is what happens when we do what's right, 00:02:31.420 --> 00:02:32.879 we do what God has called us to do, 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:35.240 and we suffer because of it. 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:38.879 That's going to continue to be what Peter is discussing in this passage, 00:02:38.980 --> 00:02:42.240 which is 1 Peter 4, verses 1 through 6. 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:47.560 Now, you remember last week, we talked about hope and comfort in suffering. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:50.879 And we saw that God supplies this. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:53.740 He supplies this hope and comfort through Jesus' pattern. 00:02:53.900 --> 00:02:55.300 Jesus suffered and had victory, 00:02:55.860 --> 00:02:58.120 and so our suffering will end in victory as well. 00:02:58.159 --> 00:02:59.219 And then we had some examples. 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:00.580 Jesus was the example. 00:03:01.219 --> 00:03:06.580 His victory was so complete that he declared it over fallen angels and demonic forces. 00:03:06.580 --> 00:03:12.560 And then we had the example of Noah, who suffered for a long time and then experienced victory. 00:03:13.200 --> 00:03:16.560 This week, we are turning away from hope and comfort 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:20.740 towards the relationship between suffering for doing what's right, 00:03:20.880 --> 00:03:24.180 type 3 suffering, and our battle with sin. 00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:29.300 We're looking at the relationship between suffering for doing what's right 00:03:29.300 --> 00:03:32.420 and our battle as Christians with sin. 00:03:32.419 --> 00:03:37.679 And so it's with that we turn to the very beginning of chapter 4, 00:03:37.739 --> 00:03:39.399 and remember that this is God's Word. 00:03:40.779 --> 00:03:44.819 And God tells us that His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 00:03:45.739 --> 00:03:49.359 In other words, God has not left us to stumble alone in the dark, 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:53.139 but instead He's given us His Word to show us the way to go. 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:56.759 And so that's why we read it, starting with verse 1. 00:03:56.759 --> 00:04:15.039 Verse 3. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:36.339 Verse 5. 00:04:36.339 --> 00:04:57.639 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. 00:04:57.639 --> 00:05:06.399 Our Father in heaven, we praise you once again that you instruct us. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:13.699 You don't simply leave us to make foolish decisions or destroy our lives, 00:05:14.060 --> 00:05:16.839 but instead you've given us guidance. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:22.339 We ask for your help this morning as we talk about some difficult topics. 00:05:22.339 --> 00:05:28.699 But we also thank you that you don't avoid hard things in your Word. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:31.979 And so we ask that you'd send your Spirit now, 00:05:32.299 --> 00:05:36.560 that you'd give us the ability to hear from you and to believe. 00:05:37.539 --> 00:05:40.539 We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:46.840 In his book, Black Flags, The Rise of ISIS, 00:05:47.700 --> 00:05:50.720 Toby Warwick tells the story of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, 00:05:50.840 --> 00:05:52.700 who is the founder of the Islamic State. 00:05:53.879 --> 00:05:59.259 And he chronicles his life even before he was this internationally known terrorist. 00:05:59.540 --> 00:06:01.740 There was a point before that when he was in prison. 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:04.360 And while he was a hardened criminal, 00:06:04.960 --> 00:06:07.379 there was also some strange things about his personality, 00:06:07.439 --> 00:06:08.680 or maybe we might say some quirks. 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:13.180 He was known for his compassion on certain people. 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:18.959 And there was one man in particular that he had especially a strong sense of duty to, 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:21.620 and this was another prisoner who had no legs. 00:06:22.819 --> 00:06:26.180 Now, Zarqawi would take responsibility for washing this man 00:06:26.180 --> 00:06:27.780 and making sure he was cared for. 00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:28.860 He would carry him around. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:33.960 And it was an example of sort of this selective heart for humanity that he had. 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:36.660 Now, this raises the question, 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:38.199 why did this man have no legs? 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:41.980 This man had also been a terrorist. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:48.420 And during his time, he'd been part of a group that would go after what they considered to be dens of sin. 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:52.660 So they would go and they would destroy liquor stores or pornographic theaters. 00:06:52.660 --> 00:06:59.620 And this man, at one time, had been assigned to be in charge of a bombing of a pornographic theater, an adult theater. 00:06:59.740 --> 00:07:01.820 So he goes in, he walks in with his bomb. 00:07:03.260 --> 00:07:05.820 He puts it underneath his seat in the theater. 00:07:06.620 --> 00:07:07.840 And then he sits down 00:07:07.840 --> 00:07:11.540 and becomes so engrossed in the film 00:07:11.540 --> 00:07:13.980 that he forgets that there's a bomb under his seat. 00:07:13.980 --> 00:07:18.600 And then it goes off and it blows his legs off. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:21.759 No one else in the theater is harmed. 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:26.139 And I tell you this story, and I love that story, 00:07:26.180 --> 00:07:28.199 not because I have a dark sense of humor, 00:07:28.860 --> 00:07:35.639 but because it highlights the danger and the power of certain sins, 00:07:35.899 --> 00:07:38.860 especially sexual sin. 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:43.819 Here's a man who, on paper, was opposed to this theater, right? 00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:45.520 Finds himself in it, 00:07:46.660 --> 00:07:49.000 cannot resist the power of what's in front of him. 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:50.500 It is so powerful 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:52.860 and so alluring that he forgets, 00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:56.020 literally, that there's a ticking bomb underneath him. 00:07:56.019 --> 00:08:02.419 It is possible to believe something is wrong 00:08:02.419 --> 00:08:06.060 and still face the temptation of it. 00:08:08.299 --> 00:08:12.120 It's possible to disapprove of something so strongly 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:14.939 that you're part of this radical group to eradicate it. 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:18.219 And yet that doesn't remove the temptation or the attraction. 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:22.899 Peter, in this section, is talking to them 00:08:22.899 --> 00:08:25.379 about something that's been hinted at earlier in the letter, 00:08:25.379 --> 00:08:28.399 which is turning away from their former lifestyles, 00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:31.480 which involved these types of sins. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:33.700 And so this has come up before. 00:08:33.820 --> 00:08:35.779 In chapter 1, verse 14, 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:36.360 he told them, 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:39.639 do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:42.340 Then in verse 18, 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:44.559 he tells them that Jesus has ransomed them 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:46.899 specifically from the futile ways 00:08:46.899 --> 00:08:48.220 inherited from their forefathers. 00:08:48.299 --> 00:08:48.779 In other words, 00:08:49.139 --> 00:08:50.960 you had family members, potentially, 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:53.080 who were involved in these kinds of sins. 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:55.600 Now God has brought you out of them. 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:57.639 Before you knew Jesus, 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.720 you were involved in these kinds of sins. 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:02.560 Do not be conformed to those anymore. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:03.540 And that wasn't the last. 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:05.600 In chapter 2, we were told the same thing. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:08.460 He tells us that the passions of the flesh 00:09:08.460 --> 00:09:11.040 wage war against our soul. 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:15.819 And so this has been coming for some time in this letter. 00:09:15.939 --> 00:09:17.659 And finally, in chapter 4, 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:19.959 we receive a full list of these sins, 00:09:20.059 --> 00:09:22.419 sins that he's been commanding them to put off 00:09:22.419 --> 00:09:25.399 and that hold a special type of power, 00:09:26.199 --> 00:09:29.500 a special danger and a special power. 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:32.000 And it's with that that he begins by telling them 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:34.039 the relationship between suffering 00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:36.079 and putting away these sins. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:39.820 And so that's where we find ourselves in verse 1 00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:41.460 with this very confusing statement. 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:44.139 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:46.180 arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.400 for whoever has suffered in the flesh 00:09:48.400 --> 00:09:49.500 has ceased from sin. 00:09:52.060 --> 00:09:54.560 Which sounds like the opposite of what Christians teach. 00:09:57.160 --> 00:09:57.600 Right? 00:09:57.740 --> 00:10:00.140 We would say that you have an ongoing battle with sin. 00:10:00.220 --> 00:10:02.240 We will battle sin for the rest of our lives, 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:02.940 even as Christians. 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:05.160 We don't believe, as some people do, 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:07.019 that there's a point that we can reach as Christians 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:08.240 where we're finished with sin. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:09.799 Now, there are some people, 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:11.379 even in this city, who believe that. 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:13.480 It's called Christian perfectionism. 00:10:13.699 --> 00:10:16.159 And it's the idea that you can become so holy 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:17.899 and so sanctified 00:10:17.899 --> 00:10:20.399 that you no longer have sin in your life. 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.500 Imagine being married to that person. 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:33.159 Imagine having someone who believes 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:35.699 that they are done with sin as your boss. 00:10:38.699 --> 00:10:40.019 Imagine someone who believes 00:10:40.019 --> 00:10:41.399 that they've finished with sin 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:44.179 being one of your elders or your pastor. 00:10:46.319 --> 00:10:48.899 As they say, not a good look. 00:10:50.439 --> 00:10:52.360 So what is Peter saying here? 00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:53.360 In what sense, 00:10:53.939 --> 00:10:55.799 what type of suffering is he talking about? 00:10:55.860 --> 00:10:57.740 In what sense can someone who's suffered 00:10:57.740 --> 00:10:58.740 be done with sin? 00:10:58.740 --> 00:11:00.879 This is where our categories of suffering 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:02.180 are extremely helpful. 00:11:02.960 --> 00:11:05.320 This is suffering category three. 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:07.299 The one who has suffered 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:10.100 specifically for doing what is right 00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:11.379 is done with sin. 00:11:11.560 --> 00:11:13.299 We know that because that's what's come before. 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:14.539 That's the section we're in. 00:11:14.940 --> 00:11:16.639 And also in this passage, 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:17.759 Peter makes it clear 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:19.919 that's the kind of suffering he's talking about. 00:11:20.060 --> 00:11:20.700 Verse four. 00:11:21.940 --> 00:11:22.960 First of all, verse three, 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.399 you're putting off these sins, right? 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:25.560 Verse four, 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:26.299 when you do, 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:27.239 what's going to happen? 00:11:29.599 --> 00:11:30.779 People are going to be surprised 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:32.539 and they're going to malign you. 00:11:33.479 --> 00:11:34.599 You will suffer 00:11:34.599 --> 00:11:36.159 for doing what's right. 00:11:36.959 --> 00:11:39.039 So we're not talking about general suffering. 00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:40.299 It'd be tempting to think 00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:41.419 that this passage teaches 00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.479 in general, 00:11:42.599 --> 00:11:44.479 people who have faced suffering 00:11:44.479 --> 00:11:46.919 have moved on to a point 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:48.179 where they don't struggle with sin as much. 00:11:48.239 --> 00:11:49.579 You know, it's given them this perspective. 00:11:50.319 --> 00:11:51.859 Maybe they had a battle with an illness. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:52.859 But of course, 00:11:52.899 --> 00:11:53.959 as one person has pointed out, 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:56.639 actually sometimes those things create sin, right? 00:11:56.680 --> 00:11:58.040 Sometimes you become more bitter, 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.420 more hateful 00:12:00.420 --> 00:12:01.800 when you go through suffering in life. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.000 There's no guarantee 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:05.560 that those other types of suffering 00:12:05.560 --> 00:12:06.940 are going to protect you from sin. 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:08.920 What is the type of suffering 00:12:08.920 --> 00:12:09.820 that relates to sin? 00:12:09.900 --> 00:12:11.500 It's suffering for doing what's right. 00:12:12.800 --> 00:12:14.060 Think about it this way. 00:12:15.379 --> 00:12:17.259 If there was any time 00:12:17.259 --> 00:12:20.060 where it would be a good idea to sin, 00:12:20.560 --> 00:12:21.379 where it'd be convenient, 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:23.139 it would be when you're faced 00:12:23.139 --> 00:12:24.080 with suffering for it, 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.139 for doing what's right. 00:12:26.740 --> 00:12:27.379 Someone says, 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:28.779 hey, if you don't stop being a Christian, 00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:29.779 you're going to lose your job. 00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:31.039 That would be a great time 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:31.879 to stop being a Christian. 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:35.740 And so, just at a logical level, 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:37.700 when you suffer for doing what's right, 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:39.240 you are proving 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:42.179 that there has been in your life 00:12:42.179 --> 00:12:44.759 a definitive break from sin. 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:49.139 When you suffer for doing what's right, 00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:50.240 you are showing 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:50.960 that there has been 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:52.639 a definitive break from sin. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:54.399 To put it in the words of this passage, 00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:57.419 it's clear that the orientation of your life 00:12:57.419 --> 00:12:58.899 is no longer for human passions, 00:12:59.139 --> 00:12:59.939 this is verse two, 00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:01.360 but for the will of God. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:04.799 There's two orientations of your life. 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:05.879 It can be for human passions, 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:07.080 it can be for the will of God. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.500 When you suffer, 00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:09.899 you are demonstrating 00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:12.539 that there's nothing more important to you 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:13.720 than living for the will of God. 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:16.679 Because that would be the time 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:17.580 to jump ship, right? 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.639 And so, it's clear, 00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:21.759 not that you're done with sin 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:23.379 in a full and final way, 00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:24.340 but you are clear 00:13:24.340 --> 00:13:25.860 that you and sin 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:27.340 are not together anymore. 00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:30.620 You are done with sin 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:32.259 in a Taylor Swift sort of way. 00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:33.759 You are never, ever, ever 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:35.179 getting back together. 00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:38.059 You are not done with sin 00:13:38.059 --> 00:13:39.720 fully and finally. 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:43.000 So, there's a definitive break from sin. 00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:43.919 Now, in what sense? 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:44.679 So, that's the sense 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:45.379 of which suffering 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:46.579 creates a break from sin. 00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:47.659 In what sense 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:48.939 do we no longer struggle with sin? 00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.779 It's helpful to remember 00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:51.639 not just our three categories of suffering, 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:53.079 but our three categories of sin. 00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:54.519 Sin has a penalty, 00:13:55.479 --> 00:13:56.339 it has a power, 00:13:56.479 --> 00:13:57.539 and it has a presence. 00:13:58.699 --> 00:13:59.679 Sin has a penalty, 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:00.620 which is at the center 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.319 of what we believe 00:14:01.319 --> 00:14:02.459 as Christians in the gospel, 00:14:02.579 --> 00:14:03.799 which is that we deserve death 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:04.479 for our sins. 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:06.059 That's why Romans says 00:14:06.059 --> 00:14:06.819 in chapter six 00:14:06.819 --> 00:14:07.959 that the wages of sin 00:14:07.959 --> 00:14:08.679 is death. 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:11.059 That's the penalty of sin. 00:14:11.059 --> 00:14:12.000 We believe that God 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.979 in Jesus' death and resurrection 00:14:13.979 --> 00:14:15.419 removes the penalty from sin. 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:16.039 So, we don't even need 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:16.699 to worry about that. 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.899 We're already done with sin 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:19.019 in that way because of Jesus. 00:14:20.119 --> 00:14:21.799 Then there's the power of sin. 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:23.659 The power of sin means 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:24.979 that if you have not had 00:14:24.979 --> 00:14:26.399 Christ come and regenerate 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:26.759 your heart, 00:14:26.839 --> 00:14:27.899 give you a new heart, 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:30.500 that you are not capable 00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:31.319 of not sinning. 00:14:32.599 --> 00:14:33.399 As Christians, 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:34.279 when Christ gives us 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:34.639 a new heart, 00:14:34.719 --> 00:14:35.479 we believe we actually 00:14:35.479 --> 00:14:36.379 have the capacity 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.079 to do what's good. 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:39.660 But we still have 00:14:39.660 --> 00:14:40.480 the final P, 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:41.940 the presence of sin. 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:46.960 Peter is not telling 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.440 these people 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:48.340 that they no longer 00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:49.440 have the presence of sin. 00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:51.639 He is telling them 00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:52.480 that their suffering 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.600 for doing what's right 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.639 makes it clear 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:56.220 that the power of sin 00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:57.280 has been broken. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.520 It has been proved 00:15:00.520 --> 00:15:02.320 once and for all 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:04.280 that Christ's work 00:15:04.280 --> 00:15:05.940 in their life is real. 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:07.060 They can be confident 00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:08.940 that the power of sin 00:15:08.940 --> 00:15:09.500 is broken. 00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:12.480 Doesn't mean they don't 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.040 still struggle 00:15:13.040 --> 00:15:14.100 with the presence of sin. 00:15:14.900 --> 00:15:16.080 Galatians 5, 17 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:17.080 talks about the battle 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:17.960 between the spirit 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:18.540 and the flesh. 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:19.780 Christians continue 00:15:19.780 --> 00:15:20.620 to struggle with sin. 00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:22.500 1 Timothy 1, 15, 00:15:22.660 --> 00:15:23.580 Paul says near the end 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:24.100 of his life, 00:15:24.180 --> 00:15:24.780 Paul's an apostle, 00:15:24.900 --> 00:15:25.320 by the way, 00:15:25.780 --> 00:15:26.800 says that he's the greatest 00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:27.400 of all sinners, 00:15:27.520 --> 00:15:28.400 so clearly he doesn't 00:15:28.400 --> 00:15:29.020 believe in Christian 00:15:29.020 --> 00:15:29.700 perfectionism. 00:15:30.160 --> 00:15:30.780 If there's anyone 00:15:30.780 --> 00:15:31.900 who could claim that, 00:15:32.020 --> 00:15:32.840 perhaps it would be Paul, 00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:33.760 but he knows that 00:15:33.760 --> 00:15:34.420 the presence of sin 00:15:34.420 --> 00:15:34.960 continues. 00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:37.100 And so that's what's 00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:38.260 going on in this 00:15:38.260 --> 00:15:39.600 confusing verse. 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.640 When you suffer, 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:43.840 specifically for doing 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:44.360 what's right, 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.380 it's clear that you've 00:15:46.380 --> 00:15:47.380 made a definitive break 00:15:47.380 --> 00:15:47.900 from sin, 00:15:48.560 --> 00:15:50.260 which shows that the power 00:15:50.260 --> 00:15:51.220 of sin is broken 00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:51.860 in your life, 00:15:52.420 --> 00:15:53.480 even as the presence 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:54.340 continues. 00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:56.760 In other words, 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:57.500 when you suffer 00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:58.600 for righteousness' sake, 00:15:58.680 --> 00:16:00.000 it is a sign that God 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.480 is at work 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:02.440 in your life 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:02.879 now. 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:04.799 His power 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:06.080 lives in you. 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:07.179 There is a decisive 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:07.919 turning point 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:08.639 in the battle, 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:10.620 and sin will not win. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:11.539 The orientation 00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:12.600 of your life 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.620 is no longer 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.980 towards what Peter 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:15.899 calls human passions. 00:16:16.059 --> 00:16:16.820 The orientation 00:16:16.820 --> 00:16:17.679 of your life 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:19.100 is towards the will 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:19.580 of God, 00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:22.019 even as you struggle 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:22.460 with sin. 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:27.120 Also, 00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:27.860 to highlight, 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.920 there are two ways 00:16:28.920 --> 00:16:29.879 to live. 00:16:30.740 --> 00:16:32.019 As I mentioned before, 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.620 there's living 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:33.540 for human passions 00:16:33.540 --> 00:16:34.600 and living 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.660 for the will 00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:36.160 of God. 00:16:37.160 --> 00:16:37.800 And Peter 00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:38.620 here outlines 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:39.120 for us 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:39.940 in verse 3 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:40.500 a list 00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:41.120 of sins 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:43.320 that are the type 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:43.759 of sins 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:45.580 that these folks 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:46.519 need to put off 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.139 that show 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:48.000 their willingness 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.580 to live 00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:49.039 for the will 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.440 of God. 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:49.980 And he gives us 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.299 a list. 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:50.740 And I'm going to say 00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.240 as we come 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.039 to this discussion, 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.039 we're going to talk 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:53.940 about some hard things. 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:56.340 And as I say, 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:57.100 every time we talk 00:16:57.100 --> 00:16:57.919 about something hard, 00:16:58.059 --> 00:16:59.000 I'm not going to say 00:16:59.000 --> 00:16:59.620 everything, 00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.740 I'm going to say 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:01.100 something. 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:03.639 I'm not going to say 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.099 everything, 00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:04.660 I'm going to say 00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.079 something. 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:06.740 There are a thousand 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.359 different things 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:08.039 we could talk about 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:08.519 with this list 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:08.900 of sins. 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:10.740 And this is not 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:12.039 the end of a conversation, 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:12.920 it's the beginning 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:13.740 of a conversation. 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:15.140 So we're not going 00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:15.819 to say everything, 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:16.279 we're going to say 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:16.640 something. 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:17.759 It's not the end 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.400 of a conversation, 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.000 it's the beginning 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:19.759 of a conversation. 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:20.299 So we're going to 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:20.980 focus on a few 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:21.700 things this morning. 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.339 If you would like 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:23.200 to talk about it more, 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:24.359 I am more than happy 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.160 to talk about it more. 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:27.440 With that being said, 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.559 verse 3 gives us 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:29.579 a list of this 00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:31.079 overlapping complex 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:31.960 of sins. 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:34.079 If we were to 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.920 boil it down, 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:36.879 there is a focus 00:17:36.879 --> 00:17:38.379 here on sexual sins 00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:40.000 and sins related 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.720 to alcohol. 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.579 And he tells us 00:17:42.579 --> 00:17:43.079 the time that's 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:43.819 passed suffices, 00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:44.359 which is, 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:46.359 as some have pointed 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:46.539 out, 00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.740 an ironic understatement. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:49.839 For doing these things. 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:50.579 Sensuality, 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.480 passions, 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:52.279 drunkenness, 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:52.779 orgies, 00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:53.500 drinking parties, 00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:54.599 and lawless idolatry. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:55.039 In other words, 00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.740 he's talking about 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:56.819 people who have 00:17:56.819 --> 00:17:57.759 an unrestrained 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.599 activity when it 00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.359 comes to sex 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:00.700 and alcohol. 00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:01.400 And they're doing 00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:02.079 this not just 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:02.559 by themselves, 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.099 but they're doing 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:03.740 it in these groups. 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.440 There's parties 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:04.980 where they'll get 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:05.859 together and both 00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:06.400 of those things 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.000 will be present. 00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:08.759 There's this unrestrained 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.980 lawless sin that's 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:10.319 occurring. 00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:12.579 And it's focusing 00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:14.039 around two areas 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:15.000 that are especially 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.359 prone to be 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:17.599 causes of addiction. 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.679 These are especially 00:18:20.679 --> 00:18:21.859 powerful sins. 00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:23.939 It's part of what 00:18:23.939 --> 00:18:25.099 that story about 00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:26.240 Zarqawi's friend 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:26.899 illustrates. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.559 No matter how much 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.079 he believed 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:29.899 something was wrong, 00:18:29.979 --> 00:18:31.000 he still came up 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:32.019 against the incredible 00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:33.139 power and attraction 00:18:33.139 --> 00:18:33.859 and temptation 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:34.779 of sexual sin. 00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:37.639 If we were to, 00:18:38.959 --> 00:18:40.099 we could expand this, 00:18:40.179 --> 00:18:40.639 by the way. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:42.680 if this were written 00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.800 to Colorado Springs 00:18:43.800 --> 00:18:45.120 in 2020 rather than 00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:45.660 Asia Minor, 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.259 we could of course 00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:47.040 include all these 00:18:47.040 --> 00:18:48.120 things and we could 00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:48.840 add some other 00:18:48.840 --> 00:18:49.120 things. 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:49.759 We could add 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.759 internet pornography, 00:18:51.560 --> 00:18:53.100 all forms of 00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:53.780 sexual sin, 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:54.600 anything that's a 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.520 sexual relationship 00:18:55.520 --> 00:18:56.600 that is not between 00:18:56.600 --> 00:18:57.480 one man and one 00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.040 woman who are 00:18:58.040 --> 00:18:58.360 married. 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:00.720 We could include 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.860 fornication and 00:19:01.860 --> 00:19:02.320 adultery. 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.020 We could add 00:19:03.020 --> 00:19:03.900 marijuana and 00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:04.980 hallucinogenic drugs. 00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:05.420 By the way, 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.520 Denver, psychedelic 00:19:06.520 --> 00:19:07.340 mushrooms are coming 00:19:07.340 --> 00:19:07.620 in. 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:09.320 We could add those 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:09.879 to the list. 00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.019 These are the 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:12.200 unrestrained passions, 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:12.980 the things that are 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.200 especially oriented 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:15.179 to create addiction 00:19:15.179 --> 00:19:17.000 in the life of the 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:17.279 believer. 00:19:19.919 --> 00:19:20.659 Now, as I said 00:19:20.659 --> 00:19:21.299 earlier, there's a 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:21.960 thousand things we 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:22.359 could say. 00:19:22.439 --> 00:19:23.240 We can't say all of 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:23.960 these and so our 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:25.139 focus this morning 00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:26.359 is going to be the 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.519 focus of the passage 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:29.119 and it's this. 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.139 How do we arm 00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:30.659 ourselves? 00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:32.319 That's what Peter 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.119 tells us in verse 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:33.439 one. 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:33.759 He says, 00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:34.559 arm yourselves 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.619 with the same way 00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:36.559 of thinking. 00:19:38.179 --> 00:19:39.220 How do we fight? 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:41.460 Addictions to 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.000 pornography. 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:44.299 How do we fight 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:45.099 alcoholism? 00:19:46.099 --> 00:19:47.079 How do we fight 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.299 the sins in this 00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:48.919 world that are 00:19:48.919 --> 00:19:50.039 especially strong, 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.819 especially and 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.759 especially addictive? 00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:54.919 We can think about 00:19:54.919 --> 00:19:55.460 this in a broader 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:56.379 category as well. 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.200 How do we fight 00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:58.099 sin in general? 00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.220 You might be 00:19:59.220 --> 00:19:59.779 thinking now, 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.279 these aren't things 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:01.779 that I struggle 00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.919 with, so this 00:20:02.919 --> 00:20:03.559 isn't for me. 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.919 And yet, as I say 00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:06.579 many times, we're 00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:07.200 one community. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:10.019 And so if there's 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:10.700 a member of our 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.400 body who struggles 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.120 with these things, 00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.180 there's a sense in 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.120 which we as a whole 00:20:14.120 --> 00:20:14.940 body struggle with 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.120 them. 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.480 Not that you receive 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.480 their sin, but that 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.360 we are part of the 00:20:18.360 --> 00:20:19.299 process of change. 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.700 And as people walk 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.620 away from addiction, 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.559 as they walk into 00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:24.220 the light, they're 00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:24.819 going to need the 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.480 rest of the church 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:26.279 to walk with them. 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:30.759 And also, never 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.819 underestimate the 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:32.500 power of these 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:32.819 things. 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.579 We need to arm 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:36.639 ourselves whether we 00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:37.720 are actively struggling 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:39.220 with them or not. 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:42.599 And so how do we 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:43.339 arm ourselves? 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:44.859 First of all, verse 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:46.079 one, we know that 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:47.019 it's a battle. 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:49.519 If it weren't a 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.200 battle, we wouldn't 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.160 need to turn to 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:52.000 Jesus' example. 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.680 But there's a 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.500 mindset here. 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:54.980 We're arming 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.759 ourselves with the 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.420 same way of 00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:56.940 thinking. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:57.519 There's a 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.720 determination and a 00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.119 discipline. 00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.200 There's a focus 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:01.160 that comes with 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:01.759 fighting sin. 00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:03.099 Now, Jesus was 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.880 without sin, right? 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:05.359 So it's not a 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.460 one-to-one analogy, 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:08.079 but we know that 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.880 Jesus required 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.880 determination and 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:10.400 focus. 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.640 In the Garden of 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:13.680 Gethsemane, he 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.759 asked God to take 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.599 the cup away from 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:15.819 him. 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:19.119 And yet he set his 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:20.059 face to the cross. 00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:22.319 We're told in the 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.180 book of Hebrews that 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:23.880 Jesus learned 00:21:23.880 --> 00:21:24.359 obedience. 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.200 through suffering. 00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:29.119 Jesus' faithfulness 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:31.000 to us was not 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.460 easy. 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.539 He armed himself 00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:34.039 for it. 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:35.420 He knew that he 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:36.019 was in a battle. 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:37.019 He did not take it 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.319 lightly. 00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:39.680 And so the same is 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.619 true for us as well. 00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:42.000 It is not going to be 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.859 easy for us to 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:44.380 fight sin. 00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:46.559 There are many 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.279 people in the church 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:48.880 who will claim that 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:49.460 if you are a 00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.160 Christian, then the 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.099 next day you're just 00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:51.799 done with sin. 00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.299 sin. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:55.919 That is a lie from 00:21:55.919 --> 00:21:56.559 the pit of hell. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:01.299 Sin is a battle. 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.559 We need to have the 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.539 focus and determination 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.819 of Jesus whether we're 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.639 in one of these 00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:06.960 struggles right now or 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.480 we're not. 00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:08.940 I had a student when I 00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:11.099 was teaching, and he 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:11.879 shared with me at one 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:12.720 time that he had 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:14.539 become aware of where 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.419 some of his friends 00:22:15.419 --> 00:22:17.039 would go in town when 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:17.879 they wanted to smoke 00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.519 weed together. 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.400 He knew where 00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:20.259 their cove was. 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.039 Of course, he assured 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:23.039 me at the end of this 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.839 conversation, but don't 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:24.900 worry, I'm not tempted 00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.759 by this at all, and I'm 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.460 not going to get involved 00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.240 in it in any way. 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.240 And I said, hold on. 00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:33.359 It's that kind of 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:34.599 mindset that's going to 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:36.059 result in you falling 00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:36.839 into that with them. 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:40.059 I'm worried about the 00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:41.220 person who says, I'm not 00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:42.200 tempted by these things. 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.900 I'm much less worried 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:45.660 about the person who 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:47.259 says, I am tempted by 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:49.700 these things, and so I 00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.619 know that I'm in a 00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:50.879 battle. 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:53.160 I know that I need to 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:54.319 be on the guard about 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:54.900 these things. 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:57.160 I know that I need a 00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:58.180 filter on my computer. 00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:59.920 I know that I need to 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.279 stay away from people 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.420 and places that cause me 00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:02.839 to drink. 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:07.420 There is a mindset, and 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.700 we have to arm 00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:09.759 ourselves. 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.940 Second of all, 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:15.460 addiction is real and 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.240 very powerful. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.799 that's why Peter has 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.960 hit this multiple 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.519 times. 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:22.059 Verse 14 of chapter 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:23.359 one, it's passions that 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:24.279 we're up against, passions 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:24.859 of your former 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:25.299 ignorance. 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:26.519 Verse 18, and I'm going 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.279 to keep coming back to 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:28.140 you, back to these. 00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:30.200 They're futile ways that 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:31.420 come through our family. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.420 If you know anything 00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:34.400 about families, you know 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:35.140 that the patterns that 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:35.940 they create are hard to 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.220 break. 00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:39.140 And finally, verse 11 of 00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:40.339 chapter two, these 00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:41.960 passions are waging war 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.640 against our soul. 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:45.160 We are at war with sin. 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:48.220 When we come up against 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.620 these kinds of sins, it 00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:51.440 is not a little arm 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.200 wrestling match. 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.980 It is a battle. 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:59.720 And so going off of that, 00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:02.039 how do we wage war? 00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:03.160 If we've armed ourselves, 00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:05.160 we know that the challenge 00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:07.059 and the struggle is real. 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.680 What are the strategies 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:09.319 that we have? 00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:10.160 Some of this I'm going to 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:10.940 pull from first Peter. 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.920 Some of this I'm just 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:13.339 pulling from our beliefs 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.400 as Christians because 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.460 Peter does not go into 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:17.279 depth about all of the 00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.160 ways that we would fight 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:18.740 these sins. 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.460 First of all, though, we 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.559 can notice what Peter 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.279 doesn't do. 00:24:23.940 --> 00:24:25.259 Peter does not begin by 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.799 pouring a bucket of shame 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:28.659 over the readers of this 00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:28.919 letter. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:33.039 Doesn't begin by posting 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.500 a video on YouTube of him 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:36.119 yelling and losing his 00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:37.359 self-control as he is a 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:38.779 preacher screams at them 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.859 about how in the world 00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.639 could they think about 00:24:40.639 --> 00:24:41.519 doing such things. 00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:46.940 He doesn't tell them that 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.779 they're clearly not 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.240 Christians. 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.319 Christians. 00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.880 And that their struggle 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:52.259 with sin reveals that 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.019 God's not at work in 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:53.500 their lives. 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.359 In fact, he addresses 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.099 these people as 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:56.460 Christians. 00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:59.279 He also doesn't tell 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.779 them the story about 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:02.200 that one guy who never 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.640 struggled with sin the 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.319 day after he was 00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:04.680 converted. 00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:08.299 Now, I believe those 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:08.819 stories, right? 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.799 There are some people, 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:11.079 they face addictions, 00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:12.319 they come to Christ, 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.099 and the next day they're 00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:13.759 done with addiction. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:16.059 That is not the normal 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:17.059 story of everyday 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:17.579 Christians. 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:20.140 And we do tremendous 00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:21.359 damage to people in 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:22.220 this church when we 00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.200 create those stories 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.059 and we present them 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.620 as normative. 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:27.859 Our struggle with sin 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:28.620 is real. 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.019 So Peter doesn't pour 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.720 shame on them, 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.700 doesn't tell them 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.500 they're not Christians, 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:36.380 doesn't tell them 00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:37.400 stories about an 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.859 unrealistic pace of 00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.299 change. 00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:42.019 Instead, he recognizes 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:43.019 some of the factors. 00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.700 First of all, he 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.720 recognizes this is 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:46.099 something that runs in 00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.680 their family. 00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:48.620 Again, chapter 1, 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:49.519 verse 18, the 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.400 futile ways you 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.140 inherited from your 00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:51.700 forefathers. 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:55.180 Some of us struggle 00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:56.180 with the sins that are 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:59.740 in this list, and our 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.620 parents struggled with 00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:01.019 them too. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:05.220 It's no surprise, right, 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:05.920 that they're present in 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.380 our lives. 00:26:09.060 --> 00:26:10.580 He also recognizes not 00:26:10.580 --> 00:26:11.220 just things in their 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.220 family, but things in 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:12.880 their past. 00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:15.160 Remember, 14, the 00:26:15.160 --> 00:26:15.880 passions of your 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:16.660 former ignorance. 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.900 He's reminding them, 00:26:19.040 --> 00:26:19.759 these are things that 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.519 were normal to you 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.320 before you became a 00:26:21.320 --> 00:26:21.620 Christian. 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.860 That's going to make it 00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:25.759 hard to battle them. 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:29.040 Sin patterns are real. 00:26:30.320 --> 00:26:31.000 One thing I was going 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.640 to mention later, but 00:26:31.640 --> 00:26:32.420 I'll mention now, that 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.620 the journey in is often 00:26:33.620 --> 00:26:34.400 the journey out. 00:26:35.340 --> 00:26:36.720 If you hike 10 miles 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:39.600 into a forest, how many 00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:40.400 miles are you going to 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:41.300 have to hike to get 00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:41.940 back out of it? 00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:44.620 10 miles. 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:48.720 There is a journey to 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.840 our war and struggle 00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.740 with sin. 00:26:52.620 --> 00:26:53.740 Peter realizes that. 00:26:53.820 --> 00:26:54.539 He acknowledges the 00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.580 influence, family 00:26:55.580 --> 00:26:56.519 influence, personal 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:56.960 history. 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:58.480 All of those things 00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:58.840 matter. 00:26:59.600 --> 00:27:00.039 And then he 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.880 acknowledges that these 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:02.039 things aren't easy, 00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:02.320 right? 00:27:02.360 --> 00:27:03.440 He calls it suffering. 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:04.480 Jesus suffered in the 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:04.820 flesh. 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.279 Arm yourselves with the 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.080 same way of thinking. 00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:09.320 You're going to suffer 00:27:09.320 --> 00:27:10.100 if you fight against 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:10.359 sin. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:13.000 It is going to be a 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.639 real battle. 00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:17.319 Now, having noted 00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:18.500 what Peter doesn't do 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.539 and what he does do, 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.839 what are the tools that 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:23.079 we have as Christians? 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:27.719 If you have clothes and 00:27:27.719 --> 00:27:28.259 you put them in the 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:31.240 washer, and then you 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:31.919 leave them in the 00:27:31.919 --> 00:27:32.859 washer after the cycles 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:33.879 run, and you keep the 00:27:33.879 --> 00:27:35.779 lid closed, and you 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.579 don't put them in the 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:38.519 dryer, what's going to 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:38.779 happen? 00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:42.719 It's going to mildew. 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:47.500 Sin grows in the 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:50.359 dark, and it dies in 00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:50.740 the light. 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:55.679 Sin grows in the 00:27:55.679 --> 00:27:57.539 dark and dries in the 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:57.859 light. 00:27:59.159 --> 00:28:02.559 Addiction grows in the 00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:04.319 dark and dies in the 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:04.559 light. 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:09.559 Addiction grows in the 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.019 world. 00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:10.619 If you want to wage war 00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:15.079 against these sins, you 00:28:15.079 --> 00:28:17.579 cannot do it by 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.059 yourself. 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:22.440 If you want to wage war 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:24.240 against these sins, you 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:27.119 cannot do it by 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.599 yourself. 00:28:29.159 --> 00:28:30.639 That's not the way God 00:28:30.639 --> 00:28:31.659 has designed the world, 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:34.599 and it's not the way that 00:28:34.599 --> 00:28:35.779 these sins work. 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:37.279 This is how the Bible 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.700 talks. 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:39.059 Ephesians 5 talks about 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.980 walking in the light. 00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:43.019 Psalm 32 says, when I 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:44.359 kept silent, my bones 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:45.500 wasted away. 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.279 It was when the 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:49.420 psalmist confessed his 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:50.420 sins that he was able to 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:50.940 find healing. 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:52.500 And I don't just mean 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:54.579 confessing privately to 00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:56.019 God in prayer, and no one 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:57.059 else knows, although that's 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.359 good. 00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:59.079 Necessary, but not 00:28:59.079 --> 00:28:59.480 sufficient. 00:29:00.920 --> 00:29:02.680 If no one else knows 00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:04.000 about your addiction, you 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:07.019 will not have victory 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.539 over it. 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:11.940 If no one else knows 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:13.420 about your addiction, you 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:15.220 will not experience 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:16.240 victory over it. 00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:19.799 Sin grows in the dark 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:21.720 and dies in the light. 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.759 If you are fighting a 00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:24.180 private battle against sin, 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.519 you are fighting in vain. 00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:28.000 sin begins to die. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:31.879 We need other people. 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:32.940 We need the church to 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:34.359 walk with us. 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:37.079 Sin begins to die. 00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:38.759 The process of sin dying 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:40.639 begins when we confess it, 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.660 not just to God, but other 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:41.980 people. 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:44.279 By the way, this is the 00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:45.720 proof that we believe the 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.059 gospel. 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:50.059 We know when we confess to 00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:51.339 other people that our only 00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:53.440 standing is based on Jesus' 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.299 blood for us. 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:54.419 God is. 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:57.940 And we lay aside all pride 00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.799 and claim to everything 00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:59.200 else. 00:30:01.659 --> 00:30:03.379 If we confess it only alone 00:30:03.379 --> 00:30:07.740 in prayer, but then avoid 00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.819 sharing it with anyone else, 00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:10.419 we have failed to experience 00:30:10.419 --> 00:30:11.480 the gospel, which is the 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:12.480 confession that we are 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:12.819 broken. 00:30:13.659 --> 00:30:15.319 And it's Jesus' approval of 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:16.399 us that matters and no one 00:30:16.399 --> 00:30:16.799 else's. 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.539 And so we're no longer 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:21.279 afraid of the fear of man. 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:22.440 Application would be this. 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.539 If you are struggling with 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:27.619 addiction, the first step, and 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.279 I'm not trying to make 00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:29.440 addiction simple in any way, 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.440 it's very complicated. 00:30:32.039 --> 00:30:34.119 So don't hear me oversimplifying 00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:35.500 anything, but the first step of 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.819 many is sharing it with a 00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:38.019 believer that you trust. 00:30:41.019 --> 00:30:43.299 Until you do that, I cannot 00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:46.639 offer you much hope of victory. 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:54.000 God offers hope to anyone and 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:56.020 everyone who confesses their sin. 00:30:59.020 --> 00:31:00.560 Finally, or not finally, but next, 00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:02.400 I mentioned this last year. 00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:05.120 The opposite of addiction is not 00:31:05.120 --> 00:31:05.780 sobriety. 00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:08.340 The opposite of addiction is 00:31:08.340 --> 00:31:08.840 connection. 00:31:09.840 --> 00:31:11.720 Problems and solutions go together, 00:31:11.800 --> 00:31:12.180 by the way. 00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:12.940 There's a logic. 00:31:14.600 --> 00:31:16.240 If you create a mess, if you 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:18.620 pour out a bunch of water on the 00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:19.779 floor in the church kitchen, 00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:21.620 you're not going to solve that by 00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:22.620 running into the bathroom and 00:31:22.620 --> 00:31:23.420 turning on a faucet. 00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:25.539 That problem and solution have no 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:26.539 connection to each other. 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:31.259 Addiction is a problem. 00:31:31.600 --> 00:31:32.759 It's a dysfunction of our 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:36.440 relationships, especially sexual 00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:36.840 addiction. 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:41.139 sexual addiction relates to how we 00:31:41.139 --> 00:31:42.819 view and relate to other people. 00:31:44.639 --> 00:31:47.279 Good luck solving that, addressing 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.759 that, without changing how you 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:50.779 relate to and interact with other 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.119 people. 00:31:53.379 --> 00:31:54.859 I have a friend, I think I shared 00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:56.220 this last year, who's going through 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:58.259 an addiction recovery program. 00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:01.599 And he was the one who highlighted 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:02.159 this for me. 00:32:02.199 --> 00:32:03.740 And at one point, he was really 00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.119 struggling. 00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:06.719 And so he sent out a text to 00:32:06.719 --> 00:32:07.579 several of us saying, hey, I 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.259 really need to talk. 00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:10.839 I ended up being the one who was 00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:11.799 available and free to talk. 00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:13.539 And so I called him that evening 00:32:13.539 --> 00:32:15.939 and he shared with me that he was 00:32:15.939 --> 00:32:17.119 in the midst of a struggle with 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.579 temptation. 00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:22.000 And he remembered that the 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:22.979 opposite of addiction is 00:32:22.979 --> 00:32:23.359 connection. 00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:25.099 And so he called someone. 00:32:29.399 --> 00:32:31.279 This goes along with point one, 00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:32.699 that things die in the dark. 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:36.180 We conquer these sins together as a 00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:36.519 church. 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.759 And by the way, if you're not 00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:42.220 struggling with this, one of these 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.039 sins right now, 00:32:44.120 --> 00:32:45.960 the application for you would be 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.240 this. 00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:47.559 Think through how you're going to 00:32:47.559 --> 00:32:50.480 respond if someone comes to you 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:51.420 as a trusted friend. 00:32:54.840 --> 00:32:57.380 You want to be a first Peter kind of 00:32:57.380 --> 00:32:59.380 a Christian. 00:32:59.380 --> 00:33:14.380 And to let them know that you'll be 00:33:14.380 --> 00:33:15.520 with them as they do that. 00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:21.440 They can call you when the battle 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:22.539 becomes fierce. 00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:27.639 Again, I'm not going to say 00:33:27.639 --> 00:33:27.980 everything. 00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:29.339 Addictions are always the tip of the 00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:29.660 iceberg. 00:33:29.879 --> 00:33:31.160 So there's all kinds of different 00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:32.240 factors that could play in. 00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:33.579 I can't address all of that. 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:36.099 Problems and solutions go together. 00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:38.619 Relational problems have relational 00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:39.099 solutions. 00:33:39.099 --> 00:33:41.339 Sin grows in the dark. 00:33:41.420 --> 00:33:42.139 It dies in the light. 00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:44.900 Path in is the path out. 00:33:47.160 --> 00:33:49.540 The longer you're involved in a 00:33:49.540 --> 00:33:51.720 type of sin, the more challenging 00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:53.920 and difficult it is to remove it. 00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:58.160 Just simple logic, right? 00:33:58.180 --> 00:33:59.259 This is how the world works. 00:33:59.640 --> 00:34:00.980 The longer a weed grows in your 00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.340 yard, 00:34:03.300 --> 00:34:05.300 especially on some of those zero-scape 00:34:05.300 --> 00:34:05.820 sections, 00:34:06.520 --> 00:34:10.820 the more challenging it is to get rid 00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:11.100 of it. 00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:16.260 And so if I were going to summarize 00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:17.880 our tactics like this, how do we 00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:18.700 address these sins? 00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:20.019 We begin by addressing them. 00:34:20.100 --> 00:34:21.400 And remember, addiction is not easy 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:22.580 and I don't mean to present it that 00:34:22.580 --> 00:34:22.800 way. 00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:25.840 We address it first in relationship 00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:28.840 with other people as we confess our 00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:29.500 sin together. 00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:33.200 We're people who confess our sins. 00:34:34.160 --> 00:34:35.860 We're also people who are able to 00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:37.140 receive those confessions. 00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:39.180 And so we all have a role. 00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:41.819 This church is not what they say, 00:34:41.879 --> 00:34:43.179 a hotel for saints, 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:45.659 but a hospital for sinners. 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:49.559 And so if you find yourself in verse 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:51.719 three, you are in the right place. 00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:56.399 God knows that these are the solutions 00:34:56.399 --> 00:34:58.079 and so he's provided not just a 00:34:58.079 --> 00:35:00.219 relationship with him, but a community. 00:35:01.799 --> 00:35:02.919 Now there's much more that we could 00:35:02.919 --> 00:35:04.099 say, but that's where it begins. 00:35:04.659 --> 00:35:07.219 It begins in confession with other 00:35:07.219 --> 00:35:08.500 people in relationship. 00:35:13.859 --> 00:35:17.759 Finally, Peter ends verses five 00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:19.199 through six with some encouragement. 00:35:21.719 --> 00:35:22.899 By the way, this was all in the 00:35:22.899 --> 00:35:24.359 context of suffering for doing what's 00:35:24.359 --> 00:35:24.599 right. 00:35:27.159 --> 00:35:29.259 The folks who are up against this are 00:35:29.259 --> 00:35:30.879 going to suffer because the friends 00:35:30.879 --> 00:35:32.779 that they used to hang with are going 00:35:32.779 --> 00:35:33.559 to malign them. 00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:36.500 And so Peter ends with the theme that 00:35:36.500 --> 00:35:37.940 he's given us over and over again, 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:39.159 which is that judgment is coming. 00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:43.599 And so even now, as you maybe feel 00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:45.199 like Noah from last week, 00:35:46.199 --> 00:35:51.880 know that there's hope and God is 00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:53.659 coming back to make everything right. 00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:54.380 Verse five. 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:57.099 They will give account to him who is 00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:59.240 ready to judge the living and the 00:35:59.240 --> 00:35:59.519 dead. 00:36:00.640 --> 00:36:03.099 Our obedience, our war against sin is 00:36:03.099 --> 00:36:03.940 not in vain. 00:36:04.660 --> 00:36:06.300 God is coming back. 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:08.660 This is everything we saw in first 00:36:08.660 --> 00:36:10.300 Peter chapter one with obedience. 00:36:11.220 --> 00:36:12.240 We obey the father. 00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:14.720 We walk in the ways of the father 00:36:14.720 --> 00:36:16.559 because we're sons and daughters and 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:18.280 we know that he's coming back for us. 00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:22.019 And finally, there's this strange 00:36:22.019 --> 00:36:23.259 sentence in verse six. 00:36:24.239 --> 00:36:25.420 This is why the gospel was preached 00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:26.659 even to those who are dead, that 00:36:26.659 --> 00:36:27.900 they're judged in the flesh the way 00:36:27.900 --> 00:36:28.500 people are. 00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:30.699 They might live in the spirit the way 00:36:30.699 --> 00:36:31.400 God does. 00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.420 And I'll simply say this. 00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:35.719 So this is not referring back to 00:36:35.719 --> 00:36:36.940 what we talked about earlier, the 00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:37.639 spirits in prison. 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:40.840 This is simply making the point 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:43.940 that even after you die, you have to 00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.619 answer to God. 00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:47.780 And so the gospel was preached to 00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:49.099 people while they were alive. 00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:52.099 There are some people who are dead 00:36:52.099 --> 00:36:53.420 now that when they were alive, the 00:36:53.420 --> 00:36:54.440 gospel was preached to them. 00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:56.880 And that's important because the 00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:58.199 gospel has implications for their 00:36:58.199 --> 00:36:59.199 life after death. 00:37:00.319 --> 00:37:02.000 In other words, all of us will 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:02.699 answer to God. 00:37:04.839 --> 00:37:06.619 And God's judgment and his coming 00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:07.799 and is real. 00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:11.039 But God offers hope and salvation 00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:13.799 from sin in general and these sins 00:37:13.799 --> 00:37:16.380 in particular to anyone and everyone 00:37:16.380 --> 00:37:19.380 who repents and confesses and 00:37:19.960 --> 00:37:21.500 recognizes that they are without 00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:22.940 hope outside of Jesus. 00:37:23.700 --> 00:37:25.460 But that Jesus, through his death, 00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:27.000 through his resurrection, as we saw 00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:28.780 last week, offers the solution. 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:32.900 That he pays the penalty of sin for 00:37:32.900 --> 00:37:35.599 everyone who has faith and hope in 00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:35.880 him. 00:37:40.380 --> 00:37:41.320 I'll end with this. 00:37:41.420 --> 00:37:43.480 God gives us his grace. 00:37:43.480 --> 00:37:45.059 He also gives us his weapons. 00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:49.199 And God changes the way that the 00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.539 battle is fought. 00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:55.420 If you're familiar with the story of 00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:59.559 the Iliad, the siege of Troy, you know 00:37:59.559 --> 00:38:04.139 that the Spartans had no success as 00:38:04.139 --> 00:38:06.139 long as they sieged the city from the 00:38:06.139 --> 00:38:06.599 outside. 00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:11.420 It wasn't until they were able to get 00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:13.400 the Trojan horse inside the city and 00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:15.619 fight from inside that they had any 00:38:15.619 --> 00:38:16.019 victory. 00:38:18.619 --> 00:38:22.279 When we fight sin apart from Jesus 00:38:22.279 --> 00:38:25.699 Christ, we are fighting it from the 00:38:25.699 --> 00:38:26.239 outside. 00:38:28.059 --> 00:38:29.659 And we will not win. 00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:36.839 But God comes and changes our hearts so 00:38:36.839 --> 00:38:39.339 that the battle is now on the inside. 00:38:42.239 --> 00:38:44.179 That's the hope that he offers in the 00:38:44.179 --> 00:38:44.480 gospel. 00:38:44.599 --> 00:38:46.659 That as we fight with sin, as we wage 00:38:46.659 --> 00:38:50.159 war, we know that we will win because 00:38:50.159 --> 00:38:53.039 Jesus is with us and he has changed our 00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:53.420 hearts. 00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:56.440 He has given us the kind of heart that 00:38:56.440 --> 00:38:58.699 can live for the will of God rather than 00:38:58.699 --> 00:38:59.899 the passions of the flesh. 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:02.579 And it is when and only when we embrace 00:39:02.579 --> 00:39:06.419 that hope that we will have victory not 00:39:06.419 --> 00:39:11.139 from outside our hard and cold hearts, but 00:39:11.139 --> 00:39:14.379 from inside with the new hearts that Jesus 00:39:14.379 --> 00:39:17.099 gives to those who believe him and follow 00:39:17.099 --> 00:39:18.679 him and have faith in him. 00:39:20.699 --> 00:39:22.359 We're going to end with a hymn that 00:39:22.359 --> 00:39:26.259 expresses that hope, tells us that Jesus 00:39:26.259 --> 00:39:28.359 stands in victory and so sends curse. 00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:29.919 has lost its grip. 00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:33.619 That's the battle from the inside, not the 00:39:33.619 --> 00:39:34.019 outside. 00:39:35.259 --> 00:39:37.739 And so no matter where we are in our battle 00:39:37.739 --> 00:39:39.960 with sin as we wage war, we have no guilt 00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:42.819 in life and no fear in death because the 00:39:42.819 --> 00:39:44.059 power of Christ is in us. 00:39:45.239 --> 00:39:48.679 Jesus commands my destiny and so no power 00:39:48.679 --> 00:39:52.799 of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me 00:39:52.799 --> 00:39:53.739 from his hand. 00:39:53.739 --> 00:39:56.779 That's the hope of all of us who have faith in 00:39:56.779 --> 00:39:57.699 Christ. 00:39:58.159 --> 00:40:00.339 And so I invite you to pray with me before we sing 00:40:00.339 --> 00:40:01.079 that song together. 00:40:04.339 --> 00:40:07.799 Our Father in heaven, we thank you that like a good 00:40:07.799 --> 00:40:10.479 father, you have hard conversations with us. 00:40:12.199 --> 00:40:16.139 And we thank you that you offer us real hope in our 00:40:16.139 --> 00:40:16.799 battle with sin. 00:40:16.800 --> 00:40:21.039 We ask you for this community, for Cheyenne Mountain 00:40:21.039 --> 00:40:23.700 Presbyterian Church, that we would be a hospital for 00:40:23.700 --> 00:40:25.539 sinners rather than a hotel for saints. 00:40:27.180 --> 00:40:29.840 And that this would be a place more and more where because of 00:40:29.840 --> 00:40:32.980 the war that you are waging, because you are fighting from 00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:38.180 the inside, giving us new hearts, we would confess our sins to 00:40:38.180 --> 00:40:38.600 each other. 00:40:38.599 --> 00:40:43.699 We ask that this would be a place of safety and challenge and 00:40:43.699 --> 00:40:48.719 growth for all of us as we fight our battle with sin. 00:40:49.579 --> 00:40:52.480 And we thank you that we have hope because Jesus has won that 00:40:52.480 --> 00:40:53.259 battle for us. 00:40:53.299 --> 00:40:54.900 And so we ask this in his name. 00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:55.759 Amen.