WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.900 All right, well, we are continuing our way through the letter that Paul wrote to Titus 00:00:05.900 --> 00:00:07.540 on the island of Crete. 00:00:07.640 --> 00:00:10.820 For those of you who are visiting or haven't been here in a while, 00:00:10.900 --> 00:00:14.439 we started a new series looking at this letter of Paul's. 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:17.760 Paul, of course, was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:23.699 which means that he was a spokesperson sent by Christ to speak Christ's words to the churches 00:00:23.699 --> 00:00:26.539 and to give them the instructions and guidance they needed 00:00:26.539 --> 00:00:30.500 as they began to be established all over the Mediterranean world. 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:38.439 And Paul and Titus have been co-workers and partners in this work of proclaiming the gospel 00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:43.640 to various places all around the Mediterranean Sea. 00:00:44.219 --> 00:00:50.539 And one of those places was an island called Crete, which is just southeast of Greece. 00:00:50.539 --> 00:00:57.439 And last week we heard about how Paul left Titus on that island. 00:00:58.700 --> 00:01:03.379 And the reason was to put in order what was left unfinished. 00:01:04.340 --> 00:01:10.739 And we saw that the main work that Titus was to do in each of the churches was to appoint elders. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:17.819 He was to appoint leaders in the churches, men of good reputation, 00:01:17.819 --> 00:01:23.979 men of godly character, men who had proven themselves at home with their families, 00:01:24.839 --> 00:01:30.419 and men who were holding firmly to the word of God, 00:01:31.119 --> 00:01:36.219 to the gospel, and to all the teaching from God that goes with it. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:40.019 And as we heard last week, there were two reasons that they had to be men 00:01:40.019 --> 00:01:44.859 who hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught. 00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:52.439 First, so that they can encourage, exhort, instruct others by sound doctrine. 00:01:52.939 --> 00:01:58.620 And second, so that they can refute or correct or expose those who oppose it. 00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:01.200 Now, why is this so important? 00:02:02.260 --> 00:02:04.700 Well, Paul is about to tell Titus. 00:02:05.680 --> 00:02:09.099 Let me read it for us, starting in verse 9. 00:02:09.099 --> 00:02:15.180 So an elder must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:21.740 so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. 00:02:22.180 --> 00:02:28.900 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:33.259 especially those of the circumcision group. 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:39.959 They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households 00:02:39.959 --> 00:02:42.819 by teaching things they ought not to teach, 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:46.199 and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:50.199 One of Crete's own prophets has said it. 00:02:50.919 --> 00:02:56.879 Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons. 00:02:56.879 --> 00:02:59.419 This saying is true. 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:05.519 Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith, 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:08.699 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths, 00:03:08.799 --> 00:03:13.060 or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:16.519 To the pure, all things are pure. 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:21.740 But to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. 00:03:21.740 --> 00:03:26.760 In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 00:03:27.740 --> 00:03:33.240 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. 00:03:33.939 --> 00:03:39.500 They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good. 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:46.860 So Paul tells us why it's so important to have qualified elders, 00:03:47.620 --> 00:03:50.140 men who are holding firmly to the trustworthy message, 00:03:50.139 --> 00:03:51.559 the gospel, the word of God. 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:55.339 This is important, he says, because there are many rebellious people. 00:03:55.779 --> 00:03:57.479 The word here means insubordinate. 00:03:58.239 --> 00:04:00.739 People who are not subject to authority, 00:04:00.859 --> 00:04:04.379 but are ignoring it, or are even pushing back against it. 00:04:05.239 --> 00:04:08.199 And these are not just like any of the people on Crete. 00:04:08.699 --> 00:04:10.759 They are people who are amidst the churches, 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:12.899 among the church people on Crete. 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:15.379 People who are stirring up trouble, 00:04:16.339 --> 00:04:19.979 and inciting others to go against the trustworthy teaching, 00:04:20.139 --> 00:04:21.180 of Christ. 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:26.139 Paul says that these people are full of meaningless talk. 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:30.779 He's saying that their words are empty, irrelevant, 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:34.639 that they lack any real substantial value. 00:04:36.139 --> 00:04:39.639 In fact, Paul says they are full of deception. 00:04:40.259 --> 00:04:42.879 They are deceivers, misleading people. 00:04:43.779 --> 00:04:47.459 Now just how aware of this, or intentional of this, 00:04:47.459 --> 00:04:49.139 they are, we don't know. 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:53.859 But Paul gives us a little bit to understand the place that they're coming from. 00:04:54.699 --> 00:04:57.339 He says, especially those of the circumcision group. 00:04:58.299 --> 00:05:03.560 And that's a reference to some of these people being Jewish. 00:05:04.419 --> 00:05:07.479 Some of these people who are insubordinate, 00:05:08.139 --> 00:05:09.779 stirring up trouble, divisive. 00:05:10.219 --> 00:05:11.359 They're Jews. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:15.240 And they're not the sort of believing Jew that Paul is. 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:17.879 They're perhaps more like the Pharisees, 00:05:18.139 --> 00:05:20.040 and the religious leaders in Israel. 00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:25.220 They don't seem to be embracing the trustworthy message about Christ as Messiah. 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:29.000 Perhaps they were similar to the Judaizers, 00:05:29.220 --> 00:05:31.680 who were infiltrating the churches in Galatia, 00:05:32.780 --> 00:05:34.939 advocating that people must keep the law, 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:36.400 and be circumcised, 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:40.279 and live a good enough life to be accepted by God. 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:43.479 We don't know the full extent of their teaching. 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:45.919 But it's anti-Christ. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:47.899 It's anti-Christian enough 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:50.199 that Paul says, in verse 11, 00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:53.219 they must be silenced. 00:05:54.819 --> 00:05:56.759 They're disrupting whole households 00:05:56.759 --> 00:05:59.379 by teaching things they ought not to teach. 00:05:59.379 --> 00:06:02.800 And that, for the sake of dishonest gain. 00:06:04.060 --> 00:06:07.279 So this is a real problem there on the island of Crete. 00:06:08.100 --> 00:06:10.659 There are deceptive, insubordinate, 00:06:11.779 --> 00:06:15.600 some Jewish, some not, teachers, 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:19.959 and they are causing division and trouble in the churches. 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:23.620 And it seems they're even working some kind of scheme 00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:25.459 to make money at this, 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:27.659 to make a profit off of this. 00:06:27.660 --> 00:06:29.760 And Paul says to Titus, 00:06:29.980 --> 00:06:31.620 you must silence them. 00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:35.120 Rebuke them sharply. 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:36.760 Verse 13. 00:06:37.540 --> 00:06:39.820 So if you can imagine yourself as Titus, 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:41.460 I mean, this is not an easy assignment. 00:06:42.140 --> 00:06:43.160 Paul is basically saying, 00:06:43.340 --> 00:06:44.500 you need to go toe-to-toe 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:47.120 with these influencers, 00:06:47.420 --> 00:06:48.160 these teachers. 00:06:48.400 --> 00:06:50.300 You need to silence them. 00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:51.920 You need to call them to repent. 00:06:53.280 --> 00:06:54.540 Down in verse 14, 00:06:54.700 --> 00:06:57.580 Paul implies that they're teaching Jewish myth. 00:06:58.340 --> 00:06:59.700 They're even giving commands. 00:06:59.860 --> 00:07:02.580 They've kind of set themselves up as authorities. 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:05.120 And down in verse 14, 00:07:05.260 --> 00:07:07.800 Paul says that these are merely human commands 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:11.540 of men who reject the truth. 00:07:12.520 --> 00:07:15.300 So tell the people in the churches on the island of Crete 00:07:15.300 --> 00:07:18.620 to pay no attention to those teachings. 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:21.660 And then in the midst of all this, 00:07:22.860 --> 00:07:25.300 Paul quotes one of Crete's, 00:07:25.459 --> 00:07:26.939 the island's own prophets, 00:07:27.220 --> 00:07:28.639 in verse 12. 00:07:29.840 --> 00:07:30.180 He says, 00:07:30.579 --> 00:07:32.740 one of Crete's own prophets has said it. 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:36.060 Cretans are always liars, 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:37.579 evil brutes, 00:07:38.620 --> 00:07:39.879 lazy gluttons. 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:44.219 This saying is true, 00:07:44.899 --> 00:07:45.560 says Paul. 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:47.300 So evidently, 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:48.540 the people on this island, 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:49.759 in general, 00:07:50.459 --> 00:07:52.639 were known for a few things. 00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:55.180 They were known for being liars. 00:07:56.180 --> 00:07:57.379 And not just a little, 00:07:57.879 --> 00:07:58.500 but a lot. 00:07:58.779 --> 00:08:00.319 Always liars. 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:03.399 So they were known for dishonesty, 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:04.759 cheating, 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:06.079 scamming, 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:06.920 swindling, 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:08.319 misleading. 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:09.519 That was the norm. 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:12.759 They were known for being evil brutes. 00:08:13.159 --> 00:08:13.839 Quite literally, 00:08:14.959 --> 00:08:16.360 evil beasts. 00:08:17.100 --> 00:08:18.480 Or wicked animals. 00:08:19.039 --> 00:08:20.920 Probably a nickname that they had earned 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:23.180 from their just deceptive 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:25.300 and downright malicious dealings 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:26.079 with each other 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:27.620 and with outsiders. 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:30.600 So these guys are not known 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:31.240 on this island 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:32.259 for being trustworthy, 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:33.860 for being kind. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:35.240 And finally, 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.460 they were known for being lazy gluttons. 00:08:38.179 --> 00:08:39.700 They were known for their idleness, 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:41.580 for being lazy, 00:08:41.740 --> 00:08:42.740 not wanting to work 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:44.899 or put in any effort for anything. 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:47.299 And they were gluttons. 00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:50.100 The picture we get here 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:52.159 is of people indulging to the max 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:53.680 in whatever cravings 00:08:53.680 --> 00:08:54.460 or pleasures 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:55.600 they can get their hands on. 00:08:56.060 --> 00:08:56.940 So I don't know 00:08:56.940 --> 00:08:57.540 how many of you 00:08:57.540 --> 00:08:58.620 have ever seen the movie 00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:00.040 Pirates of the Caribbean. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:01.600 If you've never seen it, 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:02.780 don't bother watching it. 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:04.580 But if you have seen it, 00:09:04.940 --> 00:09:07.020 this sounds a lot like Tortuga, 00:09:07.260 --> 00:09:09.440 that sort of pirate haven 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:10.260 or pit stop 00:09:10.260 --> 00:09:11.460 where people are constantly, 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:12.100 you know, 00:09:12.220 --> 00:09:13.720 swashbuckling each other 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:15.880 and double-crossing each other 00:09:15.880 --> 00:09:17.480 and eating and drinking themselves 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:18.400 into a stupor, 00:09:18.840 --> 00:09:20.140 spending themselves broke 00:09:20.140 --> 00:09:21.880 and swindling others 00:09:21.880 --> 00:09:23.600 out of their goods and money. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.080 quite the reputation. 00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:28.680 Cretans are always liars, 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:29.899 evil brutes, 00:09:30.680 --> 00:09:31.659 lazy gluttons. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:33.659 And Paul says, 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:35.820 this saying is true. 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:38.139 That basically sums it up. 00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:41.580 Therefore, says Paul, 00:09:42.220 --> 00:09:43.840 rebuke them sharply 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:45.920 so that they will be sound 00:09:45.920 --> 00:09:46.580 in the faith 00:09:46.580 --> 00:09:48.320 and will pay no attention 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:49.240 to Jewish myths 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:51.040 or to the merely human commands 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:52.959 of those who reject the truth. 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:55.120 And it seems that here 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:55.899 Paul has in view 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:57.219 both the false teachers 00:09:57.219 --> 00:09:58.259 that he just mentioned 00:09:58.259 --> 00:10:00.539 as well as those in the churches 00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:02.339 who might listen to these people. 00:10:03.199 --> 00:10:04.740 Rebuke them sharply, 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:06.179 says Paul. 00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:09.419 And notice the goal 00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:11.839 of that rebuke. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:13.199 It isn't just to scold them 00:10:13.199 --> 00:10:14.699 or to make them feel ashamed 00:10:14.699 --> 00:10:17.079 or to get them to shut up 00:10:17.079 --> 00:10:17.939 or smarten up. 00:10:17.940 --> 00:10:19.780 No, it's a sharp rebuke 00:10:19.780 --> 00:10:22.480 so that they will be sound 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:23.280 in the faith. 00:10:24.380 --> 00:10:26.320 We're talking righteous rebuke. 00:10:26.680 --> 00:10:29.160 We're talking restorative rebuke. 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:31.020 A rebuke that aims to see them 00:10:31.020 --> 00:10:32.220 turn away from this 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:34.180 old way of living 00:10:34.180 --> 00:10:35.340 that's so common around them 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:37.180 and turn to the way of Christ 00:10:37.180 --> 00:10:39.280 and to the way that fits 00:10:39.280 --> 00:10:40.780 with a faith in Jesus. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:44.120 Well, as we consider 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:45.360 the culture of Crete, 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:47.919 if you were here last Sunday, 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:49.659 you can see there's quite 00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:50.740 a contrast between 00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:52.700 the requirements of the elders 00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:53.480 and the leaders 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:55.200 up in verses 5 to 9 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.340 and the general conduct 00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:58.600 of the people 00:10:58.600 --> 00:10:59.659 that are all around them 00:10:59.659 --> 00:11:00.360 on this island. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.399 Elders, and as we said last week, 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:05.360 really, all mature believers 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:06.720 are to be trustworthy, 00:11:07.940 --> 00:11:08.960 are to be faithful, 00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:10.800 are to be honest, 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:12.820 are to be disciplined 00:11:12.820 --> 00:11:13.879 and self-controlled 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:15.960 in the midst of a culture 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:19.420 that is not trustworthy, 00:11:19.760 --> 00:11:20.900 that is deceitful, 00:11:21.020 --> 00:11:22.620 that is wicked, lazy, 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:23.720 self-indulgent. 00:11:25.640 --> 00:11:27.540 Let's continue on in verse 15. 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:29.160 Paul says, 00:11:29.660 --> 00:11:30.260 To the pure, 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:32.100 all things are pure. 00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:34.800 But to those who are corrupted 00:11:34.800 --> 00:11:35.840 and do not believe, 00:11:36.260 --> 00:11:37.600 nothing is pure. 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:41.879 This might be specifically pointed 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:43.240 at the circumcision group. 00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:45.080 The Pharisees, 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:47.300 the ones who opposed Christ, 00:11:47.420 --> 00:11:48.080 they were known 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:49.540 for their strict standards 00:11:49.540 --> 00:11:51.680 of ritual cleanliness. 00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:53.019 They were known 00:11:53.019 --> 00:11:54.600 for all these ceremonial washings 00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:56.279 that they did 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:58.500 because everything is unclean. 00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:00.940 They would wash their hands 00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:01.620 ceremonially, 00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:02.620 maybe even sometimes 00:12:02.620 --> 00:12:03.480 take a bath 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.759 to cleanse themselves 00:12:04.759 --> 00:12:05.460 if they went 00:12:05.460 --> 00:12:06.700 into the marketplace 00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:07.800 because maybe some 00:12:07.800 --> 00:12:09.120 of the spiritual filth 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:09.780 on the people 00:12:09.780 --> 00:12:10.960 got onto me. 00:12:11.780 --> 00:12:13.040 And Paul seems 00:12:13.040 --> 00:12:14.040 to be refuting 00:12:14.040 --> 00:12:15.259 that kind of mindset 00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:15.980 with a little bit 00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:17.360 of a gross exaggeration 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:18.180 to make a point. 00:12:18.900 --> 00:12:19.379 He says, 00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:22.180 To those who are corrupted 00:12:22.180 --> 00:12:23.280 and do not believe, 00:12:23.800 --> 00:12:25.220 nothing is pure. 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:27.740 But in reality, 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:28.940 he says, 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:29.980 To those who are pure, 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:31.440 to those who are truly pure, 00:12:32.020 --> 00:12:33.259 washed clean by Christ, 00:12:33.660 --> 00:12:35.120 all things are pure. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:37.480 Now that doesn't mean 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.879 that sinful behaviors 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:39.720 become pure. 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:41.679 Of course not. 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:44.799 It means that all the good things 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:45.840 that God created 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:46.940 and has given to man 00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:47.879 for his benefit 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:49.000 and his enjoyment 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:49.860 and his use, 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:51.480 all of those things are clean. 00:12:51.820 --> 00:12:53.019 All of those things are pure. 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:54.340 All of those things are good. 00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:57.379 By faith in the truth of God, 00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:59.320 we who believe in Christ 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:00.200 and have been washed 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:00.860 and made pure, 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:03.000 we see the beauty 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:03.659 of those things, 00:13:03.659 --> 00:13:04.980 the goodness of those things, 00:13:05.079 --> 00:13:06.419 the benefit of those things. 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:09.659 Many man-made religions 00:13:09.659 --> 00:13:10.939 have treated marriage 00:13:10.939 --> 00:13:12.719 or sex 00:13:12.719 --> 00:13:15.059 or certain kinds of food 00:13:15.059 --> 00:13:16.600 or certain kinds of work 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:18.219 as though they are dirty 00:13:18.219 --> 00:13:20.100 and defiling of a person. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.480 But to those who belong to Christ 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:23.679 and have been made pure 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:24.659 through faith in him, 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:26.360 we see all these things 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:27.839 with a right perspective now. 00:13:28.439 --> 00:13:30.860 All that man-made religiousness 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:32.139 is corrupt. 00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:34.180 It's crooked. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.139 Paul goes on. 00:13:37.220 --> 00:13:37.539 He says, 00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:39.419 They claim to know God, 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:41.139 but by their actions 00:13:41.139 --> 00:13:41.980 they deny him. 00:13:42.680 --> 00:13:43.720 They are detestable, 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:45.000 disobedient, 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:46.240 and unfit 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:47.820 for doing anything good. 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:51.460 This is a pretty scathing rebuke. 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:53.640 And it seems to refer 00:13:53.640 --> 00:13:54.879 not to the true believers 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:55.600 in the church, 00:13:55.760 --> 00:13:57.060 but to the false teachers 00:13:57.060 --> 00:13:57.960 and to anyone else 00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:59.260 who's causing trouble. 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:02.040 And it doesn't speak 00:14:02.040 --> 00:14:02.780 to their future. 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:04.080 It doesn't predict 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.740 how they will respond 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:07.180 to this rebuke from Titus, 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:09.000 but it speaks to how 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:10.420 they are at present. 00:14:11.260 --> 00:14:12.880 They are disobedient. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:16.019 So not just spiritually apathetic, 00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:16.659 but worse. 00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:18.580 They're doing the opposite 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:19.840 of Christ's commands. 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:22.379 Paul says, 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:23.360 They are detestable. 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:25.240 This is a really strong word. 00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:28.899 Abhorrent is basically a synonym. 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:30.539 That's quite a thing 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:31.580 to say about a person. 00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:33.899 But right now, 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:35.840 they are doing abhorrent 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:37.299 and detestable things. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.460 Deceiving families, 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:40.840 swindling them out of their money. 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:43.840 And finally, 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:45.200 Paul says, 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.080 They are unfit 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:47.879 for doing anything good. 00:14:48.280 --> 00:14:48.700 Again, 00:14:48.800 --> 00:14:50.220 another very strong statement. 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:52.100 At the least, 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:54.920 this means that these people 00:14:54.920 --> 00:14:55.820 are disqualified 00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:57.420 from serving in church leadership 00:14:57.420 --> 00:14:59.940 and probably from any other role 00:14:59.940 --> 00:15:00.700 in the church. 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:02.800 In their present state 00:15:02.800 --> 00:15:04.840 of defiance and disbelief, 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:07.340 they're not only no benefit, 00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:07.840 but they're dangerous. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.379 They're damaging. 00:15:09.540 --> 00:15:10.160 They're disruptive. 00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:12.460 Nothing good 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:13.620 can come from them 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.720 unless they have a serious 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:15.720 change of heart 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:17.139 and repent. 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:21.980 But probably the clearest 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:23.280 and most startling statement 00:15:23.280 --> 00:15:24.620 comes before all this 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:25.540 in verse 16. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:27.340 They claim 00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:28.700 to know God, 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:31.560 but by their actions, 00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:33.440 they deny Him. 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:37.560 They claim to know God, 00:15:38.260 --> 00:15:40.820 but by their actions, 00:15:41.380 --> 00:15:43.260 they deny Him. 00:15:44.540 --> 00:15:45.860 So these teachers, 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:46.880 these influencers 00:15:46.880 --> 00:15:48.280 amidst the churches, 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:50.840 they're not the kind of people 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:51.580 who are promoting 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:53.380 other world religions. 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:55.400 They're not promoting 00:15:55.400 --> 00:15:56.180 Greek gods 00:15:56.180 --> 00:15:57.240 or Egyptian gods 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:58.460 or satanic worship 00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:59.639 or atheism. 00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:02.019 They're the kind of people 00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:02.980 who claim 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:04.519 to know God, 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:06.700 the one true God. 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:08.180 They are professing believers 00:16:08.180 --> 00:16:08.860 in God. 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:11.500 They say with their mouths, 00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:14.039 I believe in God, 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:16.440 but, 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.240 says Paul, 00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:19.379 by their actions, 00:16:19.720 --> 00:16:21.259 they deny Him. 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:24.159 So with their mouths, 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:24.600 they're saying, 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.500 I believe in God, 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:26.179 but Paul says, 00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:26.939 with their actions, 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.379 they're saying, 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:29.179 I don't believe in God. 00:16:30.939 --> 00:16:31.960 You've heard the saying, 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:34.340 actions speak louder 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:35.220 than words. 00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:36.639 Well, 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:37.319 this is kind of 00:16:37.319 --> 00:16:38.500 a similar form of that. 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:39.860 There are people there 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:40.240 in Crete 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.000 whose actions 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.980 are speaking louder 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:42.860 than their words. 00:16:43.319 --> 00:16:44.039 They're claiming 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:45.379 to know God, 00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:46.759 and yet the way 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:47.340 they are living 00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:48.319 betrays 00:16:48.319 --> 00:16:49.319 that profession. 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:50.399 It shows it 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.179 to be false. 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:54.980 It's possible 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.620 to be a professing 00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:57.919 believer in God, 00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:59.700 but not be 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:00.740 a Christian. 00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:03.539 Believing in Jesus, 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:05.160 as we often say here, 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.379 is enough. 00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.579 It's all that it takes 00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.460 to be saved. 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.039 That's the good news 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:10.559 of Christ. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.379 He saves us 00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:12.279 as a gift of grace 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:12.680 to us, 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.920 as we just mentioned earlier 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.980 during the prayer time. 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.460 All we do 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.400 to receive that gift 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:19.279 is believe. 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:19.460 believe. 00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:21.519 And there are people 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:22.839 who truly believe 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:24.240 from their hearts. 00:17:24.639 --> 00:17:25.759 And there are people 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:27.000 who say they believe, 00:17:27.720 --> 00:17:29.660 but really do not. 00:17:31.399 --> 00:17:32.799 Sometimes we call this 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:34.279 spurious faith. 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:36.399 Spurious means 00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:37.240 not genuine, 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.500 not authentic. 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.259 It means that 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:40.440 it's a faith 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:42.380 that on the surface 00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:44.799 looks true, 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:46.680 but at its root, 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.599 at its core, 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.759 it just lacks 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.700 the characteristics, 00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:51.299 the qualities 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:52.420 of true faith. 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.500 And if you were here 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:54.819 with us 00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:55.460 when we were working 00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:56.259 through the gospel 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:56.740 of John 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:58.039 and going through that, 00:17:58.099 --> 00:17:59.119 we ran into this kind 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.579 of spurious faith 00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.380 a few times. 00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:03.260 Jesus, 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.540 on more than one occasion, 00:18:05.340 --> 00:18:06.520 exposed the spurious 00:18:06.520 --> 00:18:08.580 faith of people 00:18:08.580 --> 00:18:09.560 in Israel. 00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:10.800 Many of them 00:18:10.800 --> 00:18:11.660 claimed to believe 00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:12.160 in God, 00:18:12.780 --> 00:18:13.520 and yet just like 00:18:13.520 --> 00:18:13.940 the people 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:14.840 in this passage, 00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:16.640 they were denying him 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:17.740 by their actions. 00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:19.620 They were saying, 00:18:20.360 --> 00:18:21.500 we are children of God, 00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.700 we are children 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.320 of Abraham. 00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:25.140 And Jesus 00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:26.260 was saying to them, 00:18:26.380 --> 00:18:26.620 no, 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:29.180 you are of your father, 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.280 the devil. 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:32.120 That's from John 00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:32.820 chapter 8. 00:18:33.800 --> 00:18:34.720 Jesus exposed 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:36.120 their so-called faith 00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:37.060 in God 00:18:37.060 --> 00:18:38.680 for what it really was. 00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:40.820 Empty words. 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:43.200 Some of these people 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.120 at the same time 00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:44.920 were plotting 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:46.080 to murder Jesus. 00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:47.120 They were filled 00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:47.820 with greed 00:18:47.820 --> 00:18:48.940 and pride 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:50.540 and covetousness. 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.820 They were hypocritical. 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:53.980 They were always 00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:55.020 judging others 00:18:55.020 --> 00:18:56.480 but never judging 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:56.960 themselves. 00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.420 They were living 00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.140 for the praise 00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.920 of other people 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:01.259 but not 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:02.060 for the praise 00:19:02.060 --> 00:19:02.539 of God. 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.240 Not only did we see 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:05.980 this in the religious 00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.060 leaders but we saw 00:19:07.060 --> 00:19:08.120 it even in the 00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:09.140 followers of Jesus. 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:11.480 We saw that many 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.380 followed him around 00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:13.660 and were quite 00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:14.340 enamored 00:19:14.340 --> 00:19:15.660 by him. 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:17.279 They liked the miracles 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.240 that he was doing. 00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:20.240 They found the teaching 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:21.700 very interesting. 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.880 It tickled their fancy. 00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:25.480 And yet, 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:26.720 they didn't believe 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.300 his words. 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:29.460 And when Jesus 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.139 started saying 00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:30.599 some things 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.419 that weren't popular 00:19:31.419 --> 00:19:32.859 or doing some things 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:33.379 that were getting 00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:34.059 him into trouble 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:34.740 with the religious 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.099 leaders, 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:35.779 suddenly these 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.319 followers, 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.139 they just melted 00:19:37.139 --> 00:19:37.539 away. 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:39.339 They disappeared. 00:19:40.879 --> 00:19:41.839 Probably many of 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:42.319 them had been 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:42.700 baptized 00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:44.359 and had been 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:44.659 saying, 00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:45.599 I believe in Jesus. 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.480 I believe you're 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.419 the Messiah. 00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.480 But then when 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.559 things grew difficult 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.940 or unpopular, 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:51.879 they quit following 00:19:51.879 --> 00:19:52.359 Jesus. 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:54.240 Their spurious 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:56.440 faith was exposed. 00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.680 These are the people 00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.639 in Jesus' parable 00:19:59.639 --> 00:20:00.259 of the sower, 00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:01.339 if you know the 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:01.960 parable, 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:03.720 who receive the 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.720 word with joy. 00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:05.399 Yes, 00:20:05.899 --> 00:20:06.899 I believe. 00:20:07.399 --> 00:20:08.039 But then in the 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:08.819 time of testing 00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:09.919 or opposition 00:20:09.919 --> 00:20:10.859 or difficulty, 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:11.940 their faith 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:12.680 withers 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:14.039 and they bear 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.599 no fruit. 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:16.980 Jesus says 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.440 it's because 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:17.980 they have 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:19.700 no root. 00:20:20.639 --> 00:20:21.159 Their faith 00:20:21.159 --> 00:20:21.720 is only 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:23.000 on the surface. 00:20:23.419 --> 00:20:24.440 It's shallow. 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:26.820 it's up here 00:20:26.820 --> 00:20:28.100 but it's not 00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:29.340 in here. 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:31.820 Spurious faith 00:20:31.820 --> 00:20:33.420 does not 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:34.480 save a person. 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.160 James makes 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:37.019 this quite clear 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:38.820 in his New Testament 00:20:38.820 --> 00:20:39.259 letter. 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.680 James chapter 2. 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:43.740 James writes, 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.779 What good is it, 00:20:44.820 --> 00:20:45.440 my brothers and 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:45.759 sisters, 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.360 if someone 00:20:46.360 --> 00:20:47.500 claims to have 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.920 faith but has 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.539 no deeds? 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:51.539 Can such faith 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.080 save them? 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:54.579 Suppose a brother 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:55.259 or sister is 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:56.079 without clothes 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:57.039 and daily food. 00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:58.460 If one of you 00:20:58.460 --> 00:20:59.039 says to them, 00:20:59.699 --> 00:21:00.619 Oh, go in peace, 00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.379 keep warm, 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.599 and be well fed, 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:04.199 but does nothing 00:21:04.199 --> 00:21:04.699 about their 00:21:04.699 --> 00:21:05.500 physical needs, 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.259 what good is it? 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:09.500 In the same way, 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.980 faith by itself, 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:12.039 if it is not 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.980 accompanied by 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.539 action, 00:21:13.899 --> 00:21:14.519 is dead. 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.799 But someone 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.240 will say, 00:21:17.699 --> 00:21:18.599 You have faith, 00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.740 I have deeds. 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.519 Show me your 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.140 faith without 00:21:22.140 --> 00:21:22.599 deeds, 00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:23.700 and I will 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.380 show you my 00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:25.599 faith by 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:26.420 my deeds. 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:28.079 You believe 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:28.539 that there is 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.039 one God? 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.240 Good. 00:21:31.120 --> 00:21:32.039 Even the demons 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.839 believe that 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:34.660 and shudder. 00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.799 So a profession 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.900 of faith in God 00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:39.579 or in Jesus, 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:41.160 it must be 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:41.980 weighed, 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.700 it must be 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.640 proved by 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.660 how a person 00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:45.140 lives, 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.720 because how 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.380 we live 00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:48.580 reveals 00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:49.580 what we 00:21:49.580 --> 00:21:51.040 really believe. 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:53.320 In the words 00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:53.840 of Jesus, 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:55.180 you will know 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:56.200 them by 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:56.740 their fruit. 00:21:58.300 --> 00:21:58.780 Jesus 00:21:58.780 --> 00:21:59.760 said it this 00:21:59.760 --> 00:21:59.920 way, 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.240 he said, 00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:00.780 watch out 00:22:00.780 --> 00:22:01.260 for false 00:22:01.260 --> 00:22:01.740 prophets. 00:22:02.560 --> 00:22:03.220 They come 00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:03.700 to you in 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.500 sheep's clothing, 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.360 but inwardly 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:06.720 they are 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:07.260 ferocious 00:22:07.260 --> 00:22:07.960 wolves. 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:09.560 By their 00:22:09.560 --> 00:22:09.940 fruit, 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:10.760 you will 00:22:10.760 --> 00:22:11.160 recognize 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:11.520 them. 00:22:12.520 --> 00:22:12.980 Do people 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:14.140 pick grapes 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:14.740 from thorn 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.060 bushes, 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:16.839 or figs 00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.500 from thistles? 00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:19.159 Likewise, 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:21.059 every good 00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:22.119 tree bears 00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:22.799 good fruit, 00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:24.000 but a bad 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.899 tree bears 00:22:24.899 --> 00:22:25.519 bad fruit. 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:26.980 A good 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.519 tree cannot 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.220 bear bad 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:28.519 fruit, 00:22:28.919 --> 00:22:29.879 and a bad 00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.859 tree cannot 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.919 bear good 00:22:31.919 --> 00:22:32.240 fruit. 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:33.859 Every tree 00:22:33.859 --> 00:22:34.299 that does 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:34.759 not bear 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.379 good fruit 00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:36.119 is cut 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:36.619 down and 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.039 thrown into 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.500 the fire. 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:38.759 Thus, 00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:40.059 by their 00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:40.379 fruit, 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.579 you will 00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:41.980 recognize 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.359 them. 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:44.959 So this 00:22:44.959 --> 00:22:45.199 is the 00:22:45.199 --> 00:22:45.419 way, 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.019 says Paul, 00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.599 to discern 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.000 false 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:47.479 teachers, 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.279 false 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:48.819 prophets. 00:22:49.699 --> 00:22:50.000 Do their 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.599 actions, 00:22:51.159 --> 00:22:51.559 does the 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:51.939 way that 00:22:51.939 --> 00:22:52.399 they live 00:22:52.399 --> 00:22:52.779 say, 00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:53.500 yes, 00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:54.919 Jesus is 00:22:54.919 --> 00:22:55.259 Lord? 00:22:56.679 --> 00:22:57.059 Do they 00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.459 generally 00:22:57.459 --> 00:22:58.159 obey his 00:22:58.159 --> 00:22:58.740 commands and 00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.179 seek to 00:22:59.179 --> 00:23:00.099 do what 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:00.659 is pleasing 00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:01.859 to Christ? 00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:03.899 Or do 00:23:03.899 --> 00:23:04.579 their actions, 00:23:04.919 --> 00:23:05.459 does the 00:23:05.459 --> 00:23:05.819 way they 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.439 live say, 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:07.000 no, 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:08.319 Jesus is 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:08.779 not really 00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.240 the Lord? 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:12.059 does their 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:13.920 living match 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.880 their 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:15.400 profession? 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.000 Now, 00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:17.460 this doesn't 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:17.880 mean that 00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:18.519 true believers 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.240 never sin. 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.240 Of course 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:20.519 not. 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:20.839 When it 00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:21.180 comes to 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:21.740 these things, 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:22.620 we're talking 00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.059 about the 00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:23.900 general pattern 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:24.200 of a 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:24.680 person's 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.000 life. 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:26.200 Is there 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:26.799 good fruit 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.240 growing, 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.039 or is it 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.599 bad fruit? 00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.319 How does 00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:31.740 this apply 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.180 to us? 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:33.720 Well, 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.359 these words 00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:35.539 might be 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:36.240 helpful to 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:36.559 us in 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:37.200 understanding 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.460 that there's 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:38.759 a clear 00:23:38.759 --> 00:23:39.400 contrast 00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:40.360 between a 00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:40.980 true believer 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:42.019 and an 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.580 unbeliever, 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.019 between a 00:23:44.019 --> 00:23:45.340 Christian and 00:23:45.340 --> 00:23:46.380 a person of 00:23:46.380 --> 00:23:46.840 the world. 00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.400 These words 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:49.039 might also be 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.680 helpful as we 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.299 seek to sift 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:50.860 through some 00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:51.920 of the voices 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:52.279 that are 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.059 coming at us 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.319 in our 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:53.680 world, 00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:54.840 especially those 00:23:54.840 --> 00:23:55.440 who claim to 00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.259 have discernment 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.640 and that we're 00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:58.340 all missing out 00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:58.740 on some 00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.340 important 00:23:59.340 --> 00:24:00.940 understanding 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.660 or teaching. 00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:05.019 But before 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.660 we get to 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:06.620 examining others 00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:07.339 and discerning 00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:07.839 others, 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.379 God's word 00:24:09.379 --> 00:24:09.879 is clear 00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:10.919 that we must 00:24:10.919 --> 00:24:12.319 first examine 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:13.139 ourselves. 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.539 Jesus said 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.139 it this way. 00:24:16.679 --> 00:24:17.019 He said, 00:24:17.959 --> 00:24:18.439 Why do you 00:24:18.439 --> 00:24:18.919 look at the 00:24:18.919 --> 00:24:19.539 speck of 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.179 sawdust in 00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:20.719 your brother's 00:24:20.719 --> 00:24:21.779 eye and 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.199 pay no 00:24:22.199 --> 00:24:22.819 attention to 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:23.419 the plank 00:24:23.419 --> 00:24:24.319 in your 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:24.759 own eye? 00:24:25.719 --> 00:24:26.379 How can 00:24:26.379 --> 00:24:26.839 you say to 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:27.239 your brother, 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:27.959 let me take 00:24:27.959 --> 00:24:28.539 the speck out 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:29.079 of your eye 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:30.099 when all the 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:30.599 time there's 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:32.099 a plank in 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.479 your own 00:24:32.479 --> 00:24:32.739 eye? 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.579 You hypocrite. 00:24:35.139 --> 00:24:35.579 First, 00:24:35.739 --> 00:24:36.119 take the 00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:36.599 plank out of 00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.079 your own 00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:37.740 eye and 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.439 then you 00:24:38.439 --> 00:24:38.759 will see 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.839 clearly to 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.399 remove the 00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:41.559 speck from 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:42.099 your brother's 00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:42.319 eye. 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.240 Before we 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:44.599 get to 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:45.459 examining and 00:24:45.459 --> 00:24:46.000 discerning 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.799 others, 00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:47.619 we must 00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:49.159 first examine 00:24:49.159 --> 00:24:50.079 ourselves. 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.379 Paul said 00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:52.839 it this way 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.299 in his letter 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.859 to the church 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:54.240 at Rome. 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:54.559 He said, 00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:54.919 If you're 00:24:54.919 --> 00:24:55.539 convinced that 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:55.959 you are a 00:24:55.959 --> 00:24:56.359 guide for 00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:56.879 the blind, 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.179 a light for 00:24:58.179 --> 00:24:58.659 those who 00:24:58.659 --> 00:24:59.039 are in the 00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.379 dark, 00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:00.519 an instructor 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.000 of the 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.439 foolish, 00:25:01.819 --> 00:25:02.359 a teacher 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:02.799 of little 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.259 children, 00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:04.079 because you 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:04.619 have in the 00:25:04.619 --> 00:25:04.799 law, 00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:05.679 the embodiment 00:25:05.679 --> 00:25:06.379 of knowledge 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:07.159 and truth, 00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:08.719 you then, 00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:09.599 who teach 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.000 others, 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.319 do you not 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.039 teach yourself? 00:25:12.879 --> 00:25:13.359 You who 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.039 preach against 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.500 stealing, 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:15.939 do you 00:25:15.939 --> 00:25:16.519 steal? 00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:18.519 And Paul 00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.079 goes on. 00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:20.099 Again, 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:20.979 before we get 00:25:20.979 --> 00:25:21.679 to examining 00:25:21.679 --> 00:25:22.219 others, 00:25:22.659 --> 00:25:23.399 we need to 00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:24.559 first examine 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.579 ourselves. 00:25:26.479 --> 00:25:27.039 Paul actually 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.519 says it 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.399 point blank 00:25:28.399 --> 00:25:28.939 in his letter 00:25:28.939 --> 00:25:29.319 to the 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:29.679 Corinthians. 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:30.259 He says 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:30.900 examine 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.740 yourselves 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:33.000 to see 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.720 whether you 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.039 are in 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.519 the faith. 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:35.440 Test 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.000 yourselves. 00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:37.420 Do you 00:25:37.420 --> 00:25:38.120 not realize 00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:38.600 that Christ 00:25:38.600 --> 00:25:39.160 Jesus is 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:39.620 in you? 00:25:40.600 --> 00:25:40.980 Unless, 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:41.560 of course, 00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:42.700 you fail 00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.420 the test. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.600 And this 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:46.920 is really 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.400 the invitation 00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:47.980 of this 00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:48.620 passage in 00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:48.940 Titus, 00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:49.380 isn't it? 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:51.860 Here are 00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:52.460 these people 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.320 who are 00:25:53.320 --> 00:25:53.920 claiming to 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.519 know God, 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.640 yet by their 00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:56.320 actions they 00:25:56.320 --> 00:25:56.820 are denying 00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:57.100 him. 00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:59.039 The invitation 00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:00.879 here is 00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:01.920 for each 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.420 of us, 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.480 to each 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:03.859 of us, 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.379 to look 00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:05.000 at ourselves. 00:26:06.399 --> 00:26:07.079 Am I 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:07.639 claiming to 00:26:07.639 --> 00:26:08.180 know God? 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.619 Am I 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:11.200 claiming to 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:11.700 be a follower 00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.220 of Jesus? 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.940 Do my 00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.960 actions claim 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.639 that as 00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:16.920 well? 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.180 If I 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:21.799 believe Christ 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.119 is the 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:22.359 king, 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:23.740 will I 00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.019 not, 00:26:24.180 --> 00:26:24.519 on the 00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:24.859 whole, 00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:25.839 in general, 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:26.759 as my 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.200 pattern, 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.480 obey, 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.299 his 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:29.759 commands? 00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:32.339 Now, 00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:32.879 sometimes I 00:26:32.879 --> 00:26:33.139 know we 00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:33.559 hear these 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:33.960 words, 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:34.960 take the 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.440 log out of 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:35.759 your own 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.240 eye and 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:36.680 examine 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:37.359 yourselves, 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.059 and we 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.480 may wonder, 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:38.639 well, 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:39.059 how do we 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:39.579 do that? 00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:41.180 What does 00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:41.659 it mean to 00:26:41.659 --> 00:26:42.599 examine myself? 00:26:43.659 --> 00:26:44.039 Do we 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.940 just pray and 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.379 ask God 00:26:45.379 --> 00:26:45.779 about it? 00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:46.220 Well, 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:46.619 I think that's 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.339 a good start, 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:49.180 but then what 00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.599 do we do 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:50.259 after that? 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:51.700 Do we 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.319 wait for a 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:52.899 feeling of 00:26:52.899 --> 00:26:53.559 confirmation 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:54.619 that we 00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:55.180 pass the 00:26:55.180 --> 00:26:55.539 test? 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:55.579 Christ? 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.740 The Bible 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.420 tells us that 00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:59.099 God's spirit 00:26:59.099 --> 00:26:59.940 does live 00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.500 within his 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:00.879 people, 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:02.099 and that 00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:03.059 his spirit 00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:03.960 testifies with 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.480 our spirit 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:04.940 that we are 00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:05.460 his children. 00:27:05.639 --> 00:27:06.079 So yes, 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.639 there is an 00:27:06.639 --> 00:27:07.299 inward feeling, 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.480 there is an 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.359 inward convincing 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.139 that's going on 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:10.799 in our hearts 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:13.460 if we belong 00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:14.240 to Christ and 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:14.799 we have his 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.139 spirit in us. 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.619 But here's the 00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:17.899 rub. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.879 For those 00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:21.099 who do not 00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:22.599 really believe 00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:23.220 in Christ, 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:24.640 they too 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.519 seem to have 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.059 some kind 00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:26.360 of an 00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:27.120 inward feeling, 00:27:27.620 --> 00:27:28.519 an inward 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.660 convincing going 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:30.140 on in their 00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:30.660 hearts too. 00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.319 Somehow they 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.480 justify themselves. 00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:34.180 They say, 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:34.440 yeah, 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:34.779 yeah, 00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:35.440 I believe. 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.779 I'm a good 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.259 person. 00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:39.680 I'm okay 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.259 with God. 00:27:42.860 --> 00:27:43.660 Feelings are 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:44.319 maybe not 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:45.500 especially reliable 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.940 in indicating 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.920 what the truth 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:48.700 of the matter 00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.079 is. 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.819 Both the 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:51.180 believer 00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:52.539 and the 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:53.140 unbeliever 00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:53.980 feel they 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.500 pass the 00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:54.880 test. 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.560 But the 00:27:56.560 --> 00:27:57.120 Bible tells 00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:57.520 us that we 00:27:57.520 --> 00:27:57.980 will all 00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:59.200 stand before 00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.740 the judgment 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.220 seat of 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.600 Christ. 00:28:01.560 --> 00:28:02.320 Romans 14 00:28:02.320 --> 00:28:02.720 10, 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:03.500 2 Corinthians 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:03.940 5, 00:28:04.020 --> 00:28:04.520 verse 10. 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:06.759 And what 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.200 will be the 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:07.520 basis? 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.000 What will be 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.520 the standard 00:28:08.520 --> 00:28:09.140 by which we're 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:09.500 judged? 00:28:10.840 --> 00:28:11.880 Is it by how 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:12.480 strong we 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:14.360 felt in our 00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:15.200 relationship to 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.500 Jesus? 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.480 The answer 00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:18.980 is no. 00:28:20.300 --> 00:28:20.920 It will be 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.840 based on what 00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:22.280 we did. 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:24.119 how we 00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:24.460 lived. 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.220 What we 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:26.759 did, how 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.220 we lived, 00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:27.759 that will be 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.399 the evidence 00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:28.819 of whether 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:29.500 our faith 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.399 in Jesus 00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:31.700 was genuine 00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:34.259 or spurious. 00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:36.299 What was 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:36.740 the fruit 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.639 of our 00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:38.019 faith? 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:40.019 Was 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:41.059 ours a 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:41.519 true 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:43.039 living faith 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.859 with deeds, 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:44.960 good deeds 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:45.740 flowing out of 00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.500 it, good fruit 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.180 coming from 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.399 it? 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:49.140 or was it 00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:49.460 a dead 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.840 faith from 00:28:50.840 --> 00:28:51.980 which nothing 00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.600 good came? 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.640 Did we 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.180 receive the 00:28:55.180 --> 00:28:55.740 word of God 00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:57.340 with joy and 00:28:57.340 --> 00:28:58.720 persevere and 00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.440 bear fruit? 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.720 Or did we 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:02.820 receive it with 00:29:02.820 --> 00:29:03.580 joy but then 00:29:03.580 --> 00:29:05.160 fall away from 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:06.680 Christ and go 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:08.080 after the 00:29:08.080 --> 00:29:08.759 chasing of our 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:09.380 own pleasures 00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:10.920 and idols and 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.640 just kind of 00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:12.720 wither spiritually? 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:15.640 This kind of 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.640 self-examination, 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.680 I mean it does 00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:18.480 require prayer 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:20.799 but it also 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.640 requires us to 00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:22.220 take a sober 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:22.779 look at our 00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.559 daily lives 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:25.039 and whether or 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:26.000 not we're 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.819 living in 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:27.960 obedience to 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.440 Jesus. 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.279 Not perfectly 00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.860 of course 00:29:30.860 --> 00:29:32.799 but as the 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:33.500 general pattern. 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:36.299 if that's not 00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:36.819 the case, 00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.920 if you look at 00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.619 your life and 00:29:39.619 --> 00:29:40.559 you look at 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.819 the pages of 00:29:41.819 --> 00:29:42.720 the Bible and 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.220 you see what 00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:43.640 Jesus is 00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.660 commanding and 00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.299 you look at 00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:45.839 your life and 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.880 you see that 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.599 that's out of 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:47.819 sync. 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.700 I'm not living 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.599 in obedience to 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.079 Jesus. 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.259 Maybe you 00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:53.279 realize that 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:53.740 you're just 00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:54.299 doing a 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:54.799 meager, 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:55.819 bare minimum 00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:56.339 kind of 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:57.059 obedience to 00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:58.079 Jesus just 00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:58.579 to appease 00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:59.240 your conscience. 00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.259 If that's 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:02.119 you, let me 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:02.480 bring the 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:02.920 words of 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:03.259 Christ. 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.720 to bear on 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.119 you this 00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:05.460 morning. 00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:07.079 You are in 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.079 great danger. 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.359 You might be 00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:10.920 able to fool 00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:11.539 others around 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:13.779 you but you 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.640 can't fool 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.319 God. 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.220 The final 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.000 resting place 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.660 for those who 00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.660 do not have 00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:24.240 true faith 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:25.259 in Jesus, 00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.480 the Bible 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.059 says is the 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:27.740 lake of fire. 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.220 Hell. 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.839 God's 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.120 God's 00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:32.740 God. 00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.200 And it's 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.660 not just a 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.059 one-time 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:34.400 mention. 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:34.920 These are the 00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.319 words of 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:35.779 God, the 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:36.160 words of 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:36.900 Christ again 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.500 and again 00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.240 to us in 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:38.860 many different 00:30:38.860 --> 00:30:39.559 places and 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.039 passages. 00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.279 Jesus talked 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:41.799 about it. 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:44.059 How eternal 00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:45.539 punishment is 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:46.079 the just 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:46.940 sentence that 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:47.740 we deserve 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:49.700 if we do 00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.279 not from the 00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:51.519 heart receive, 00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.920 believe in 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:53.700 Jesus Christ 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:55.580 because all 00:30:55.580 --> 00:30:56.060 of us have 00:30:56.060 --> 00:30:57.300 sinned and 00:30:57.300 --> 00:30:57.960 fall short of 00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.580 God's glory. 00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:00.580 The good 00:31:00.580 --> 00:31:01.200 news is God 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:01.820 doesn't want 00:31:01.820 --> 00:31:02.860 you to go 00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:03.140 there. 00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:04.900 He loves 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:05.120 you. 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:07.500 He's calling 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.320 you today, if 00:31:08.320 --> 00:31:08.880 you haven't done 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:09.720 this already, to 00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:12.360 repent and to 00:31:12.360 --> 00:31:13.420 fully embrace 00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:14.460 Jesus Christ, 00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:15.779 the Savior, 00:31:16.560 --> 00:31:17.279 that he has 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.740 provided. 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:19.599 God, maybe 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:20.620 you're here and 00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.259 you know that 00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:21.660 you don't 00:31:21.660 --> 00:31:23.620 believe, at 00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:24.240 least not deep 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:24.980 down in here 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.339 anyway, as 00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:26.799 you should. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.940 Maybe you feel 00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:29.359 like you're on 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:29.880 the edge of a 00:31:29.880 --> 00:31:31.660 cliff and 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:33.160 jumping off that 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:34.079 cliff and 00:31:34.079 --> 00:31:35.220 surrendering your 00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:35.859 life and your 00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:36.559 heart to Jesus 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:37.460 almost feels like 00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:38.519 suicide, feels 00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.120 like death. 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:40.500 How could I do 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:40.779 that? 00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:41.339 And maybe you 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:42.740 feel the, you 00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.160 know, I'm just 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:43.599 going to back 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.279 away from the 00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:44.599 edge. 00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:46.220 I'm just going 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.700 to kind of go 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.380 back to the 00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:49.140 safety and the 00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:49.940 comforts of my 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.640 life and how 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:52.120 it's, how, the 00:31:52.120 --> 00:31:52.660 way that I've 00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:53.100 been living. 00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:55.400 But maybe today, 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.799 this morning, you 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:58.019 hear King Jesus 00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:59.500 calling you to 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.480 jump off the 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:01.519 cliff of faith. 00:32:03.380 --> 00:32:04.039 Surrendering your 00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:05.759 life to Jesus, it 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:07.740 does feel like a 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:09.200 kind of death to 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:09.740 yourself. 00:32:10.920 --> 00:32:11.779 Jesus said so. 00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:13.940 He said, 00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:14.740 whoever wants to 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.940 be my disciple must 00:32:16.600 --> 00:32:16.940 deny himself 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:20.080 and take up his 00:32:20.080 --> 00:32:22.440 cross, that's 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:24.039 death, and 00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:24.640 follow me. 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.480 For whoever 00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:27.980 wants to save 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:30.539 their life, that's 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.340 back away from 00:32:31.340 --> 00:32:33.500 the cliff, keep 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.620 doing what I've 00:32:34.620 --> 00:32:35.059 been doing. 00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:35.440 For whoever 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.220 wants to save 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:36.840 their life will 00:32:36.840 --> 00:32:37.600 lose it, said 00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:37.920 Jesus. 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.480 But whoever 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.380 loses their 00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:41.340 life, that's 00:32:41.340 --> 00:32:42.240 jumping off the 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.860 cliff of faith, 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.700 whoever loses 00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:44.759 their life for me 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:46.680 and for the 00:32:46.680 --> 00:32:48.579 gospel will save 00:32:48.579 --> 00:32:48.779 it. 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.759 If you haven't 00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.519 already done this, 00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:53.039 I urge you, jump 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:54.859 off the cliff of 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:56.819 faith into the 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:57.559 loving arms of 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:57.859 Jesus. 00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:00.019 He will catch you. 00:33:01.379 --> 00:33:02.240 True belief in 00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.220 Jesus, at least at 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:04.379 the beginning, at the 00:33:04.379 --> 00:33:05.980 outset, it does feel 00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:06.779 like a suicide. 00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:08.640 It feels like a 00:33:08.640 --> 00:33:08.980 death. 00:33:09.420 --> 00:33:11.160 But it's the way to 00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:12.059 find true life. 00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:14.559 it's the way to 00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:15.639 find that lasting 00:33:15.639 --> 00:33:18.079 joy and peace and 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:19.980 hope and life that 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:20.559 you've been looking 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:20.879 for. 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.679 It's the way to have 00:33:21.679 --> 00:33:22.639 your sins forgiven 00:33:22.639 --> 00:33:24.819 and to enter into 00:33:24.819 --> 00:33:25.539 that restored 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:27.259 relationship with a 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.279 Father in heaven who 00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:28.799 loves you. 00:33:30.639 --> 00:33:31.879 I hope and I pray 00:33:31.879 --> 00:33:32.740 that when that final 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:34.559 day comes, not a 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:35.539 single one of us in 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:37.039 this room will have 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:38.659 this for our life 00:33:38.659 --> 00:33:39.000 verse. 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:41.559 They claimed to 00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:43.599 know God, but by 00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:45.779 their actions, they 00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.359 denied him. 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:49.539 Let's pray. 00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:56.839 Father in heaven, we 00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:57.559 thank you for your 00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:57.839 word. 00:33:58.619 --> 00:34:00.159 And I know that it's 00:34:00.159 --> 00:34:01.419 not sometimes what we 00:34:01.419 --> 00:34:02.740 want to hear, that it's 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:04.519 sometimes hard words, 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:06.319 not the most pleasant 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:07.500 things to think about. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:09.119 But we thank you that 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:10.320 you speak the truth to 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:11.260 us because you love 00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:11.559 us. 00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:13.740 And I pray that these 00:34:13.740 --> 00:34:14.600 words would bear 00:34:14.600 --> 00:34:16.240 great fruit in our 00:34:16.240 --> 00:34:16.620 lives. 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:19.360 I pray that every one 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:20.740 of us would surrender 00:34:20.740 --> 00:34:23.360 completely to you and 00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.660 that our faith in you 00:34:24.660 --> 00:34:26.480 would grow and that you 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:27.320 would turn our lives 00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:28.539 upside down and change 00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:29.680 us for the good that 00:34:29.680 --> 00:34:31.720 you long to do in us 00:34:31.720 --> 00:34:32.500 and for your own 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.080 glory. 00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:35.740 Thank you for sending 00:34:35.740 --> 00:34:36.800 Jesus to save us. 00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:37.480 Thank you for your 00:34:37.480 --> 00:34:38.180 Holy Spirit. 00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.660 We commit ourselves to 00:34:40.660 --> 00:34:41.420 you in his name. 00:34:42.300 --> 00:34:42.600 Amen.