It's really great to be with you this evening.
Thank you so much, Paul.
!
May our hearts be humble and gracious.
May we glorify you.
May your name be glorified through all of this.
May you be exalted.
And may we turn to you as king.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
So, Paul very helpfully read for us from Deuteronomy 7 and Judges 1.
And this opening chapter of the book of Judges sets a little bit of an ominous tone for the rest of the book.
One commentator describes the overarching theme of Judges as the Canaanization of Israel.
We heard from Deuteronomy 7 the charge that God gave to Israel regarding the inhabitants of the land that God had given them.
Do not show mercy.
Destroy them.
Devote them to destruction.
And yet, we jump to Judges chapter 1.
And this is not happening.
The previous book, Joshua, recounts the general invasion and conquest.
And what's happening now is what one describes as an extended mopping up operation to clear the land completely of the Canaanites.
And now there's initial faithfulness and obedience in verses 3 to 17.
We didn't hear those.
We heard verse 17.
Judah went with Simeon, his brother, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and devoted it to destruction.
So the name of the city was Horma, which means utter destruction.
But this soon changes.
So three things that I want us to consider this evening is we must drive out sin.
We must not tolerate sin.
Secondly, sin will grow if we don't.
And the way we do this is through Christ.
There's a common refrain in this first chapter of Judges.
I'm not sure if you heard it.
It emphasizes the disobedience and faithlessness of Israel.
God commanded them to destroy the Canaanites.
But what do we see?
They did not drive them out.
This refrain is repeated eight times in the passage.
Seven times in verses 27 to 33 alone.
They did not drive them out.
They showed mercy.
In verse 28, we read,
So we might think that forced labor is hardly showing mercy.
It's hardly endorsing the Canaanites.
No, it was disobedience.
God had said destroy them, and they did not.
God had said, and we heard this in Deuteronomy,
Do not make a covenant with them and show no mercy to them.
And what Israel's doing there,
subjecting them to forced labor, slavery,
is entering into a covenant with the Canaanites.
You will be our slaves,
and we will not drive you out completely.
It's an act of mercy on the part of Israel to the Canaanites.
This is disobedience.
And the angel of the Lord in Judges 2 explicitly says so.
You have not obeyed my voice.
What is this you have done?
They did not drive them out.
Now, I guess there's various reasons why they might have done this,
and why we sometimes do this in our lives.
Why do we tolerate sin?
There's three reasons, I think,
or there's many reasons we could say.
We love sin.
We love doing, and we enjoy doing,
that which is wrong.
I know I should not do this,
but I'm going to do it anyway.
I'll let this sinful thought,
whatever it is,
linger in my mind
just for a few moments longer than I should.
I'll indulge myself today.
Or unlike the psalmist in Psalm 37,
I will envy those who do wrong.
Maybe it's a fear of man.
We tolerate sin because we don't want to be legalists.
We don't want to be judgmental.
We, you know,
taking the Lord's name in vain,
you know, it's not that big a problem, is it?
In churches, in society.
But I think the main reason here,
with Israel,
is they underestimate sin.
They did not drive out the Canaanites completely,
and they were okay with that.
Presumably, if you can subject the Canaanites to forced labor,
they could have driven them out completely.
But they did not know the gravity
of what they were doing.
By tolerating the Canaanites.
And maybe that's,
they forgot what God thinks about sin.
We know the cross was necessary
because of our sin.
God's pouring out of his wrath on the cross
shows us what God thinks of sin.
And Israel should have known.
And Israel should have known what God thinks of sin.
So when we ponder those glorious truths of God's grace and mercy
and forgiveness of our sins,
it's because of the cross,
our sins,
nailing Jesus to the cross.
And I know you know this.
You know,
you've been going through Romans in the morning.
You know,
those early chapters.
It's on and on about our sin
because we should not forget it.
There is none who does good.
No,
not one.
We are sinners.
But God does not condone sin.
But we do,
don't we?
We find acceptable what God finds unacceptable.
We find pleasing what displeases God.
Evil that we call good.
Good that we call evil.
And yet,
we're to drive it up completely.
Psalm 9710,
let those who love the Lord hate evil.
We're to put to death
the deeds of the body.
Put them to death.
But we underestimate this.
We underestimate sin in our lives.
We let it linger and fester and grow
because they're not major.
But they do grow and destroy
and lead to destruction.
White lie here and there is not too big a problem.
I don't need to disclose all my income.
I'll, you know,
flattery.
A bit of gossip doesn't hurt anyone.
It's okay to be rude and mock someone
if it's behind their back.
I have every right to be bitter.
They wronged me.
Thank you, Lord.
I'm not like those other sinners.
We all have this tendency,
don't we,
to overlook.
But this also applies to the church.
It's great
and wonderful
that there are many wings of the church.
I know the IPC have been very
firm on this,
defending
marriage
when it's been coming under attack
in our culture.
But sometimes,
it can feel
like we haven't really
valued marriage.
maybe in the way we've tolerated
cohabitation
or
fornication
or
the marrying of unbelievers.
We've seen this in many different churches.
And so that's why we're given instructions
in the New Testament
about
the requirements for leadership,
about church discipline.
They're there for a reason.
when we tolerate members openly
and willfully in sin
serving in churches,
the next thing we see
is they are leading churches.
Church discipline is a godly tool
to drive people to repentance
and restoration.
So that kind of signals,
doesn't it,
what are the consequences
of what happens
when we
tolerate
sin.
Well, God tells
Israel
in
chapter 2,
Judges 2,
verses 2 and 3,
I will not
drive them out.
Verse 3,
I will not
drive them out
before you,
but they shall become
thorns in your sides
and their gods
shall be a snare
for you,
to you.
And this is what
Israel saw
in the rest of Judges
and really the Old Testament,
this cycle
of faithfulness,
compromise,
idolatry,
judgment,
restoration.
But ultimately
spiraling downwards.
We see these cycles
of the Judges.
So there is repentance here
as soon as the Lord
spoke these words
to all the people
of Israel.
The people lifted up
their voices
and wept.
But the apostasy
comes soon after.
And by the end,
Israel's wickedness
is deep
and endemic.
By the end of Judges,
we've seen apostasy,
adultery,
rape,
murder,
intermarrying,
a descent
into depravity.
The book
literally ends
with the tribe
of the Benjaminites
nearly being wiped out
for their wickedness.
And in a sense,
we see this
in chapter one,
in Judges already,
this signal
that things are going
to get worse.
Notice the change.
Verse 29,
Ephraim did not drive out
the Canaanites
who lived in Gaza,
so the Canaanites
lived in Gaza
among them.
Verse 29,
but then in verse 33,
Naphtali did not
drive out the inhabitants
of Beth Shemesh
or the inhabitants
of Beth Anath,
so they lived
among the Canaanites.
You see that change there.
The land that God
had given them,
they tolerated
the Canaanites
living amongst them.
And next thing you know,
you're living
amongst the Canaanites.
is there the striking
parallels to the apostasy
we're seeing in our culture
where sin is paraded
and celebrated
by our institutions
which once openly
proclaimed Christ.
The queen at her
coronation, 1953,
was given a Bible
saying,
these are the lively
oracle gods.
Here is wisdom.
She vowed to uphold
the Protestant religion.
And so what was
the taboo then
is celebrated,
taught in our schools.
What was unthinkable then
now being celebrated.
But what else
does God warn Israel about?
Well, we see this
in the earlier passage,
Deuteronomy 7,
verses 3 and 4,
The world
has a close
to a 100%
success rate
at passing on
their faith.
They estimate
in the church
it's about 50%.
Some put it even lower.
And this warning
that God gives them
comes true.
Judges 2, 10.
And all that generation
were gathered
to their fathers.
They died
and there arose
another generation
after them
who did not know
the Lord
or the work
he had done
for Israel.
So God
rescues Israel,
enters them
into the promised land.
and a generation
raises up
who does not know
the Lord
and does not know
what he's done.
So I do want
to encourage you here.
Generally,
it's such a joy
for me
to be here
and to be worshipping
with the full church,
young and old.
It's a real blessing
for me to be here
and to be with them.
So I do want
to encourage you
in that.
And so we see
this exchange
happening.
Not just in society,
we've seen it
in our churches
as well.
We saw the Methodist
church earlier
this year
embracing
gay marriage,
cohabitation,
denying the uniqueness
of Christ.
Evangelicals
are aliens
in their own church.
but the roots
of that
probably go back
a few generations.
It doesn't happen
overnight.
It starts
with tolerating
sin.
I'm sure Paul
maybe knows
much more about this.
The United Reformed Church
are
the roots
of why they are
the way they are
probably goes back
generations.
It's a former
Presbyterian Church
of England.
But it probably
goes back
to lots of
long,
a long way back
to lots of
subtle
yet significant
tolerances
and decisions.
So we see this
in society,
we see this in churches
and we see it
in our own lives.
Deep,
grievous
sin
almost
always
starts
far earlier.
Tolerating
sin in our lives,
it will grow
and fester
and destroy.
That's why
Christ says
those words,
if your eye
causes you to sin,
gouge it out.
Throw it
away.
Adultery,
deception,
abuse,
abusive behaviors
almost always,
whatever it is,
starts
far earlier
with something
small being
tolerated.
The consequences
of tolerating
sin
in society,
the church
and in our lives
are serious.
So how,
what do we do?
How do we
do this?
So we have
this call
to drive
out sin
without mercy,
to not tolerate it.
but what's that
in the positive?
Well,
Jesus tells us
in Matthew 5
that we are
the salt
of the earth
and that we
are the light
of the blood.
Driving out sin
is being salt
and light.
We cannot
lose our
saltiness.
Salt
preserves taste
and prevents decay
and we
as Christians
should
impact
the world
around us.
Wherever it is
that God
has placed us
and the world
will see our light
through our good works
and obedience
to Christ.
So in fact,
Paul writes
in Ephesians 5,
walk as children
of light,
take no part
in the unfruitful
works of darkness
but instead
expose them
for it is shameful
even to speak
of the things
that they do
in secret.
But
when anything
is exposed
by the light
and we're
children of light,
when anything
is exposed
by the light
it becomes
visible.
For anything
that becomes
visible is light.
So we let
our light
shine
and it makes
the darkness
visible.
It makes
the darkness
light.
So that
looks very
different
in different
contexts.
We've been
looking in
our own lives,
we're looking
in our churches,
we're looking
in society.
That would look
different
wherever we
are.
It's what
we're
trying to do
at Christian
Concern
is trying
to expose
darkness
through
exposing
bad
legislation
on LGBT
or abortion
by
contending
and speaking
with trying
to shine
that light.
it would
look different
in our
own
contexts
for us
as individuals
in our
workplaces
wherever it
is.
But it
can come
at a cost.
So a close
pastor,
it was a church
that I used
to be in,
a close
pastor friend
of mine,
I think this
is an example
of tolerating
sin
and it
having
consequences.
A close
friend of mine,
one of his
small group
leaders
came out
as a
lesbian,
one who
wasn't
going to
abstain.
And
he said,
he agreed
to allow
her to remain
to be a
small group
leader.
So I know
alarm bells,
I know.
He agreed
to let her
remain as a
small group
leader but
asked,
can we meet
for coffee
and I'll
share with
you from
the scriptures
why I
believe marriage
is one
man,
one woman.
And she
refused because
that would
have been an
abusive situation.
And months
go by,
she becomes
a bit of
an activist
in church.
Anyway,
the vicar's
associate
takes on
the responsibilities
of leading
the small
groups and
they're a
bit more
hardline.
and removes
the small
group leader.
A small
group leader
goes to
the press
about the
trauma and
the abuse
that she's
experienced in
the church
for asking
her not to
lead a small
group.
And she
was refusing
to meet with
the pastor
to hear the
orthodox
real marriage.
Goes to the
local press,
goes to
the
denomination,
investigation,
all these
kinds of
things.
No support
from the
denomination,
from the
diocese,
I guess.
Tolerating
sin and
seeing what
happens.
So the
cost is
great in
our culture
today.
In our
lives,
in our
workplaces,
you know,
Christian
concern,
we defend
a lot of
people who
articulate
Christian
positions on
things and
lose their
jobs.
Whatever it
is,
complaining
about sex
education in
schools,
being
insulted by
teachers and
headmasters.
Whatever it
is, it'll
be a cost.
But in
one sense,
yeah, the
cost is
great, but
the other
sense, the
cost is
small.
Light
momentary
affliction
compared to
the eternal
weight of
glory that
God is
preparing.
But where
does this
come from?
Where do we
have this
strength?
Where does
this light
shine?
How do we
remain salty?
How do we
remain light?
How do I
keep snuffing
out that
sin in my
life?
It keeps
coming,
keeps popping
up.
Some
commentators
have interpreted
judges as
an apologetic
for Israel's
need for a
king.
The last
verse of
the book,
it says,
in those
days there
was no
king.
Everyone
did what
was right
in their
own eyes.
But I'm
not convinced
by that.
Later in
1 Samuel 8,
the elders
of Israel
gather and
they say to
the prophet
Samuel,
appoint for
us a king
to judge
us like
all the
nations.
And Samuel
seeks the
Lord and
God says
to him,
obey the
voice of
the people
in all
that they
say to
you.
For they
have not
rejected
you,
but they
have rejected
me from
being king
over them.
Judges
is about
rejecting
God as
king.
Their
descent
into
depravity
is because
they reject
God as
Lord.
That's
what we're
seeing now.
As a
nation
that has
rejected
God.
In
Romans 1,
we've
exchanged
the truth
about God
for a
lie.
We're
worshipping
and serving
the creation,
not the
creator.
We're doing
what is right
in our own
eyes.
Claiming to
be wise,
we've
become
fools.
In fact,
what's
happening
now is
God
answering
the
prayer
of the
nation
that we
want to
be
without
God.
He's
handing
over.
We see
that
repeatedly
in Romans
1,
don't we?
God
hands
them
over.
But
Christ
is
king
and
lord.
God
of
us
here
individually
as a
church,
in our
families
and in
society.
Society
is not
a neutral
space
with no
king.
Christ
is king.
So we
have to
submit
to him
as king.
And so
it's easy
to become
depressed
and discouraged.
But that's
the reality
of sin.
Well,
the reality
of the
bad news
that we
are
fallen,
that we
do sin,
that we
do
rebel.
But
we do
not
stand
in our
own
strength.
We stand
in Christ's
strength.
It's
his power,
his strength,
his
righteousness.
And so
our engagement
with the
world
our
being salt
and light,
our
driving out
sin in
our lives,
our
church
discipline
in our
churches,
it's all
an overflow
of following
Christ,
of being
his disciple.
So yes,
the Christian
life is a
life of
repentance,
but it's
one of
joy as
we delight
in God's
goodness
and mercy
and grace.
So when I'm
saying we
should not
tolerate sin,
it's so that
we can
actually
experience
God's
grace
evermore
in that
repentance,
in that
turning to
him.
Amen.
In
Judges 1,
in verse 19,
it says about
they could not
drive out the
inhabitants
because they
had chariots
of iron.
You know,
the world's so
powerful,
the chariots
of iron,
surely that's
not disobedience.
But God
said to them,
Joshua 17,
18,
you shall
drive out
the Canaanites
though they
have chariots
of iron
and though
they are
strong.
And so we
know God
was with
them in
their battles.
But they
chose,
anyway,
they chose
disobedience,
they didn't.
Submit
to him
as king.
We trust
God in
all that
we do.
However
difficult
it looks,
and so
that's not
me saying
that,
oh,
okay,
so all we
need to do
now is
trust God
and every
battle in
life is
won.
Not at
all.
But it's
saying that
we submit
to God,
trusting him,
knowing that
he is in
control.
we know
and hold
fast to
the fact
that he
does work
all things
together for
good for
those who
love him,
according to
his purpose,
that he
does.
His promises
are true,
his covenant
is true
for our
children and
our children's
children.
will
have
will
!
nation on our backs as though it's our responsibility to fix everything. It's our
responsibility to drive out sin where we are. In fact, as Matthew Roberts writes, we are salt and
light by faithfully serving God in the callings he has given us, not in trying to be more than God
has called us to be. If we imagine that unless we're making massive changes to society, we're
not doing what we should, we have forgotten that God is God and Christ is Christ and we are neither.
Faithful, humble godliness in ordinary things is how God uses us. So at Christian Concern, I can often
fall into despair. People ask me, how's work going? I'm like, well, the nation seems to be getting worse,
so I don't think it's going well.
You know, but you can't fall into despair. God's in control.
It was, you know, all the issues that we're seeing in society, if I keep my eyes fixed on them,
then I'll fall into despair. It's the 54th anniversary of the Passing of the Abortion Act,
a week and a half ago. 9.7 million abortions since then.
So how can I, how are we going to possibly fix that? How can I possibly end that?
That's just the wrong question to ask. It's about God ruling and reigning.
In fact, he's making a footstool out of his enemies as we speak. He's sitting.
And so it's not talking about making lots of progress and seeing huge changes in society,
necessarily seeing huge changes in society, it's about being faithful.
As an overflow of God's love for us.
Patient, faithful gospel ministry and the power and strength of Christ through the Holy Spirit.
So we don't need to lose hope.
Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, knowing that he who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.
We take heart. Christ has overcome the world.
He's in control. He's sovereign.
God's plans will not fail.
The government, the lobbyists, the Marie Stopes, they can't thwart God's plans.
You know, and even through the midst of judges and the Old Testament, through all the depravity,
God was working to make sure everything was working out for his son to come.
His plans never fail.
We read the call in Deuteronomy 7.
It's important that we just read those verses afterwards.
What God says in verses 6 to 11.
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.
The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession.
Out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth, it was not because you were more in number than any other people
that the Lord set his love on you and chose you.
But it is because the Lord loves you.
Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is God.
The faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him
and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.
God chose us because he loved us.
He set his love on us.
So much so that he sent his son to die to pay the penalty that was due us.
Everything in Judges in the Old Testament is cyclical.
Never true restoration because it needed the perfect Savior.
The perfect sacrifice who came in the person of Jesus Christ.
Who bore the penalty that was due us.
He took our place.
Saved by grace.
Through faith.
Not by our own works.
So that none may boast.
We're utterly dependent on Christ.
So please don't confuse anything I've said about a kind of legalistic, rules-based salvation.
Not at all.
Note the way, you know, God talks to David as a man after God's own heart.
And he sinned, he majorly sinned.
About faithfulness.
In response to Christ's love for us.
A people that he chose to set his love on.
A call to holiness and obedience in light of Christ's work.
He is faithful.
And whoever comes to him, he will never cast out.
So he has to be holy for God is holy.
But no, we're made holy by God's love and grace and mercy.
We do not need to despair.
For if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just.
To forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
That is glorious good news.
That we all once were lost but now found.
Blind but now see.
To keep our eyes fixed on the King.
Jesus.
To carry out the tasks that he set before us faithfully.
Wherever we are.
To be salt and light.
To drive out sin.
But in response to his love for us.
Amen.