1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:09,320 You are impossible to please. Nobody wants that to be said of 2 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:13,280 them, do they? And yet we all know a person who 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:18,560 is impossible to please to them. You could get a 99 on your exam, 4 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,360 but you didn't get 100. You could hit the game-winning 5 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:26,280 home run, but you did drop that catch in the third inning. 6 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,480 You could serve them a Michelin star meal, but you could have 7 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:36,560 used a little more salt. Some people, it doesn't matter 8 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,920 what you do, because whatever you do will never be enough. 9 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:48,800 Some people are unpleasable, quick to critique you, difficult 10 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,680 to read. It's hard to tell if they're 11 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,400 ever happy with you. You wonder if it's even 12 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:57,200 possible. At best, they're neutral, 13 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:04,440 unmoved, indifferent. What is God like? 14 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,120 God is so very different. You don't have to wonder what he 15 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,040 thinks about you. You can know today if you're 16 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:18,760 living a life pleasing to God because in God's Word he's 17 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:23,800 revealed to us what's pleasing to Him, and by God's Spirit He's 18 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,840 enabled us to do what is pleasing to him. 19 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,160 Please turn in your Bible to the book, to the book of First 20 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,520 Thessalonians. We're going to be in chapter 4, 21 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,200 First Thessalonians, chapter 4. If you don't have a Bible, maybe 22 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,280 you left yours at home and maybe you don't even have one. 23 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:42,640 There's some Bibles in the back. Raise your hand. 24 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:44,720 We'd be. We'd love to get a Bible in your 25 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:48,880 hand, one over here. We're in First Thessalonians. 26 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,920 We've been studying Paul's letter to the first ever church 27 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:57,560 in Thessalonica. It was planted by Paul and his 28 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:02,080 missionary team just 20 or so years after Jesus's death and 29 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,400 resurrection. The church was full of fresh 30 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:09,800 converts. It was a church loved by God, a 31 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:14,840 church chosen by God, a church pleasing to God. 32 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,600 The Thessalonian church is the only church in the New Testament 33 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:23,800 that Paul calls an example. You could say the Thessalonian 34 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:29,440 church was a healthy church, a church others could look to for 35 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:34,360 a model. But it was not a perfect church. 36 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,000 Those don't exist this side of glory. 37 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:42,440 In other words, it was a church with room to grow. 38 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:48,960 It was a church like ours. In chapter 3, we saw Paul sent 39 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,120 Timothy to check out on this new church plant. 40 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,560 He planted the church, so naturally he wanted to hear how 41 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,040 they're doing. By God's grace, in chapter 3, 42 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,440 Timothy reported back good news. Paul, they're doing well. 43 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:06,840 Then at the end of chapter 3, we heard Paul's pastoral prayer. 44 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,200 Do you remember what Paul prayed for? 45 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:15,480 Look at chapter 3, especially at verses 12 and 13, Paul prayed 46 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,760 that their love for one another would increase and abound. 47 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:24,520 And verse 13, Paul prayed that their hearts would be holy 48 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:30,720 before God. Today in chapter 4, Paul exhorts 49 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:36,400 them to be holy before God. What he just prayed for and 50 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,840 originally I was supposed to preach verses 9 to 12. 51 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,360 Also, I'm calling an audible. We're going to do that next 52 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,240 week. So next week verses 9 to 12 53 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:51,440 today, verses 1 to 8. Listen as I read verses 1 to 8. 54 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:59,840 Finally then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, 55 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,760 that as you receive from us how you ought to walk and to please 56 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:09,800 God just as you were doing, that you do so more and more. 57 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,440 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord 58 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,560 Jesus. For this is the will of God, 59 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:22,640 your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, 60 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,960 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness 61 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:32,040 and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do 62 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:36,200 not know God. That no one transgressed and 63 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:40,000 wronged his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an 64 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:46,360 avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and 65 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:51,320 solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for 66 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:57,920 impurity, but in holiness. Therefore, whoever disregards 67 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:05,320 this disregards not man, but God, who gives His Holy Spirit 68 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:12,960 to you. How can you please God? 69 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:15,480 Friend, you don't have to wonder. 70 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:22,400 It's so clear in this text. Keep walking in holiness. 71 00:05:23,840 --> 00:05:27,120 Keep walking in holiness. The Thessalonians knew this. 72 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:31,160 Verse 3 Paul says this is the will of God, your 73 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,840 sanctification. Verse four, he tells them to 74 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:37,720 control their own body in holiness. 75 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:42,160 Verse 7 he reminds them God's not called us for impurity, but 76 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:46,280 in holiness. Paul exhorted them to walk in 77 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:50,440 holiness. But look at verse one, they were 78 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:55,520 already walking in holiness. So Paul urges them, just as 79 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:59,120 you're doing, do so more and more. 80 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,800 They were already pleasing God. They were already walking in 81 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,840 holiness. Paul's message to them is keep 82 00:06:06,840 --> 00:06:11,360 doing what you're doing. And brothers and sisters, what a 83 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:16,320 joy that I can say to you, to this church, by God's Spirit, 84 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:21,800 you're walking in holiness. Keep doing what you're doing. 85 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:27,000 Do it more and more. That's the one exhortation I 86 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,240 want to give you. Trinity Baptist Church 1 87 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,320 exhortation. It will not be surprising. 88 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:37,720 Keep walking in holiness, Keep going. 89 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,680 And as we walk through the passage, I'll give 5 90 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:46,040 applications of them. So one exhortation, keep walking 91 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,280 in holiness. Do not forget that five 92 00:06:49,280 --> 00:06:52,160 applications we'll consider as we work through the passage 93 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,040 around 400 AD. The Church. 94 00:06:56,040 --> 00:07:02,520 Father Agustin, pray, Lord, give what you command and command 95 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:07,280 what you will. In verses 1 to 8, we'll see that 96 00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:12,640 God's will is that we're holy. God's command is be holy. 97 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:18,760 God called us in holiness. God enables us to be holy by 98 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:22,080 giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit. 99 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:27,080 God cares about holiness. In other words, as Augustine 100 00:07:27,080 --> 00:07:31,080 prayed, if you're in Christ through the gospel, by the 101 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:37,200 Spirit, God's made you holy and will make you holier until Jesus 102 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,360 Christ returns. He who began a good work in you 103 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:45,200 will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. 104 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:50,120 Let's look at verse one. Paul urges the Thessalonians. 105 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:54,640 He's like their coach cheering them on towards the finish line. 106 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,080 He's like their personal trainer, pushing them on towards 107 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:03,160 their gains. I did CrossFit briefly. 108 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,120 It was only 8 weeks in seminary. I had a group on. 109 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:11,480 My trainer's name was Rose. Rose regularly yelled at me. 110 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:16,800 Come on, you got this. Keep going, friends. 111 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,080 That's Paul. That's Paul right here. 112 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:25,400 He urges them, but he urges them verse one in the Lord Jesus. 113 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,560 The instructions he gave them, verse two, were through the Lord 114 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:33,679 Jesus. In other words, Paul writes by 115 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:38,280 the authority of the Lord Jesus, and these instructions he gives 116 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:40,559 them are not new to the Thessalonians. 117 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,640 Paul reminds them of what he taught them when he planted the 118 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:48,560 church. Verse 3 of God's will. 119 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,200 We can think of God's will when we think of it. 120 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,360 We often think of questions like who should I marry? 121 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,280 What should I do for work? Where should I live? 122 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,280 Where should I go to school? What should I major in in 123 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,320 school? What should I do with my life? 124 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,760 For many of us, these are the most important questions of 125 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,160 life. And they are important 126 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:17,120 questions, aren't they? But they are not the most 127 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,560 important. God's primary concern for you 128 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:27,560 today is not where you'll live, not which job you'll take, not 129 00:09:27,560 --> 00:09:31,800 which spouse you'll find. It is verse 3, your 130 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:37,880 sanctification. As Paul reminds them, this is 131 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:42,520 the will of God. What is sanctification? 132 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,520 We recited our statement on it earlier in the service. 133 00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:52,240 The moment you became a Christian, you were set apart by 134 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:56,520 God for God. You were devoted to God. 135 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,440 The theological term for this is called positional 136 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,320 sanctification. It happens as we read in our 137 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:06,960 statement of faith at the moment of your regeneration. 138 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:12,040 But there's another aspect of sanctification and that that's 139 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:17,440 that it's a process. 2 steps forward, one step backward. 140 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:21,440 If you've been a Christian for a decade, Lord willing, people 141 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:23,960 that didn't know you before you became a Christian, if they met 142 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:27,320 you today, they would say, I mean you look the same but man, 143 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,000 you're different. What is that? 144 00:10:30,680 --> 00:10:33,680 That's called progressive sanctification. 145 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:38,160 It's growth in godliness. It's what Paul describes in 2nd 146 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:42,480 Corinthians 3 verse 18. As we behold the glory of 147 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:48,760 Christ, we are being transformed into Christ's image from 1° of 148 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:56,080 glory to another. Over time the Christian sins 149 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:03,880 less and realizes there is so much more sin left, sins we were 150 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:07,400 completely blind to before we become exposed to. 151 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,680 Over time we grow an understanding God's grace. 152 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:17,400 We grow an understanding that our very life hangs upon the 153 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:23,520 mercy of God, who is the only one who is always aware of every 154 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:27,600 thought and intention and motivation. 155 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:34,160 Sanctification. And this is key happens over a 156 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:38,840 long time. We don't change all at once. 157 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:44,920 God grows us organically. You can see a picture of 158 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:47,320 progressive sanctification in the growth of a child. 159 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,440 As many of you know, I just got back from a month of paternity 160 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:55,520 leave as we celebrated the birth of our little girl Sunday, Don 161 00:11:55,520 --> 00:12:00,280 Abraham, just about a month ago. You know she's already in one 162 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:04,200 month grown out of those first diapers we had that so many of 163 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,840 you so graciously gave us. She's already lifting up her 164 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,080 head. She's smiling. 165 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:11,600 I don't know if it's at us or what. 166 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:18,080 Now, none of that was observable overnight until it was. 167 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:23,160 God does not grow us in godliness overnight. 168 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:29,160 Sanctification is, as one brother said, a long obedience 169 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:34,480 in the same direction. You can see a biblical picture 170 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:36,680 for progressive sanctification in verse one. 171 00:12:36,680 --> 00:12:42,360 Look at verse one. They've been taught to walk and 172 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,040 to please God walking. There it is. 173 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:48,480 Most days after I finish work, my family goes for a walk. 174 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:51,480 Now some of you in this room are fast walkers. 175 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,920 We've got 4 kids under 7. We walk slow. 176 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:00,320 After work, we head to the mailbox and back. 177 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:03,240 It's about 10 minutes round trip. 178 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:08,320 To some of you, that's unspectacular, but it's actually 179 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:10,560 an unpredictable walk. You never know what's going to 180 00:13:10,560 --> 00:13:14,840 happen. We just take one step at a time. 181 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:19,040 Sanctification, though, is a long walk. 182 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:22,800 Not from my house to the mailbox. 183 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,400 It's more like my house to Seattle. 184 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:34,080 You have to cover 3000 miles. It will take you months, but if 185 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:39,360 you just keep walking northwest, eventually you'd get there. 186 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:44,760 Sanctification is a walk that takes a lifetime. 187 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,960 It's a walk. God takes with us every step of 188 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:55,200 the way. He's interested in how we take 189 00:13:55,800 --> 00:14:01,520 every step. He's interested in the direction 190 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:07,120 that we're headed. And God Himself is taking us 191 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:12,520 somewhere. He's taking us from earth right 192 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:18,880 into heaven. But if you're here, you're not 193 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:24,400 there yet. Until heaven, whether if you've 194 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:28,680 been a Christian for 40 days or 40 years in the Christian life, 195 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:32,520 there will never be a day when you can say I've made it. 196 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:39,640 No more valleys, no more forks in the road, no more need for 197 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:45,320 guidance, no more hard decisions, no more killing sin 198 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:52,160 in the Christian life. There is no cruise control. 199 00:14:55,640 --> 00:15:01,040 In verses 3 to 8, Paul specifies that he's not talking about 200 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:05,440 sanctification in general, but specifically about the 201 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:10,800 sanctification of our sexuality. Look again at verse 3. 202 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:20,600 Paul says God's will is that you abstain from sexual immorality. 203 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:25,960 The term sexual immorality, it's one word in the Greek cornea. 204 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,240 It's used throughout the New Testament to describe any sort 205 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:34,800 of sexual sin for our holy God. Nothing in our lives is off 206 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,640 limits. Even the most private and 207 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:43,320 personal aspects of our lives must be lived corum deo, before 208 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:48,400 the face of God. And in kindness, our holy God 209 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,800 has given us limits for our sexuality. 210 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:57,880 He warns us for our good that sexual morality is off limits. 211 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:02,920 Before we consider Paul's exhortations in verses 4 to 6, 212 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,680 it's worth answering one more question about sanctification. 213 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:13,880 That is, how does it work? How do you grow in godliness? 214 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,840 Colossians 3 describes sanctification as a continual 215 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:24,280 putting on and a putting off. Because we've been raised with 216 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,840 Christ, we must put on virtues like compassionate hearts, 217 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:33,040 kindness, humility. Because we've been crucified 218 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:37,960 with Christ, we must put off put to death vices like sexual 219 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:41,360 morality, impurity, and evil desires. 220 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:44,600 Think of sanctification like rowing a boat. 221 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,120 Not many of us do this today, but you'll get the picture. 222 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:53,080 To make progress in a rowboat, you need to use both oars. 223 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:58,840 One or is putting sin to death, the other or is cultivating the 224 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:00,000 fruit of the Spirit in your life? 225 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:05,319 John Calvin, the reformer, he called this mortification and 226 00:17:05,319 --> 00:17:08,920 vivification. When God's holiness enters our 227 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:13,280 lives, it kills whatever is evil in our hearts. 228 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:18,040 Just like the human body was created to rid itself of every 229 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:23,000 disease, when God's holiness enters our lives, it also brings 230 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:27,880 to life what's already been born by the Spirit of God. 231 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:33,680 Our duty in sanctification is continually to die to what's 232 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:38,200 been put to death at Christ's cross and to live out what's 233 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,760 been brought to life by Christ's resurrection. 234 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:47,000 In other words, specifically with sexuality, there are 235 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:51,720 aspects of your sexuality that will need to be starved to 236 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:56,520 death, mortification, but there are other aspects of your 237 00:17:56,520 --> 00:18:02,800 sexuality that need to be fanned into flame vivification. 238 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,280 And friends, look at verses 3 to 6. 239 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,960 Both aspects are at play. Look again, verses 3 to 6. 240 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:11,960 What do they need to fan into flame? 241 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:19,240 Verse 4, self-control. They need to know how to control 242 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,920 their own bodies in holiness and honor. 243 00:18:23,120 --> 00:18:27,040 They need to master their bodies, not be mastered by their 244 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:30,440 bodies. And what do they need to put to 245 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,840 death? Three things. 246 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:37,400 Verse 3 one, they must abstain from sexual morality. 247 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:40,600 They need to stay far away from sexual sin. 248 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:47,000 Don't even go near her house. King Solomon wrote to his son in 249 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:51,240 Proverbs 5. Second verse 5, They can't live 250 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:53,920 in the passion of lust like the Gentiles. 251 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:56,880 You might wonder how did the Gentiles live in the 1st 252 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,080 century? It was not that different than 253 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,280 today. Sexual morality was all too 254 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,960 common. One second century Greek 255 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,800 grammarian said we keep mistresses for pleasure, 256 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:12,320 concubines for daily concubinage, but wives in order 257 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,040 to produce children legitimately. 258 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,880 That was their cultural worldview. 259 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,240 Sexual morality was even a feature of idol worship in 260 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:25,400 Thessalonica. These were those who had turned 261 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:29,280 from their idols to the living God and that needed to include 262 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,600 their idol worship, their sexual immorality. 263 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:37,160 And the third thing he tells him to put to death, verse 6, they 264 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:42,000 can't transgress or wrong their brother. 265 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:45,560 Or you could translate it, brother or sister. 266 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:52,240 Sexual sin steps over boundaries God's given us. 267 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:56,440 It takes advantage of people made in the image of God. 268 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:01,120 It devastates the church. It devastates society. 269 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:05,440 It is deserving of divine judgement. 270 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:12,680 Friends, our sexuality is a gift from God-given with boundaries 271 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:15,320 and limits. It's a gift to be received. 272 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:18,640 And steward it. How do we do this? 273 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:24,680 Here's 5 applications, 5 applications to encourage us to 274 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:29,280 keep walking in holiness. First, calibrate your conscience 275 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:34,120 to Scripture. Calibrate your conscience to 276 00:20:34,120 --> 00:20:36,800 Scripture. In verse 2, Paul says he 277 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,680 instructed the Thessalonians about what God thinks of 278 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:44,280 sexuality. Then Paul reminded them we need 279 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:48,640 to instruct ourselves with Scripture and rewind, remind one 280 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:52,080 another of Scripture's teaching about sexuality. 281 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,960 In other words, we need to take our consciences, which is what 282 00:20:55,960 --> 00:21:00,760 we think of as right or wrong, and we need to bathe them in 283 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:06,480 Scripture to learn what God thinks is right and wrong. 284 00:21:07,120 --> 00:21:11,000 And we need to do all of this while walking through the Vanity 285 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:17,120 Fair that is this world. The world catechises us with 286 00:21:17,120 --> 00:21:19,400 cultural mantras. Friend, if you're not a 287 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:25,760 Christian, what do you think of these Born This Way, My body, my 288 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:29,000 choice? Everything's fine as long as 289 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:36,480 there's consent or the acronym that's ever growing LGBTQ plus. 290 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,680 More importantly, we need to ask, what does God think of 291 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:44,120 this? We need to study the scriptures. 292 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,560 Study Genesis 1 and 2 closely. Before the 7th commandment, you 293 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,720 shall not commit adultery. Before the 10th commandment, you 294 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,440 shall not covet your neighbor's wife. 295 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:58,000 God made Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, where they 296 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,080 walked in perfect fellowship with him and with one another. 297 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:05,560 He gave them the gift of their bodies. 298 00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:08,480 He gave them the gift of one another. 299 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,880 Your body's a good gift from a good God, but your body is a 300 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:17,680 terrible God. God made mankind in his image. 301 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:24,240 He made us male and female. He called us very good Paul 302 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:28,720 Warren, the Corinthian church. Do you not know that your body 303 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:32,320 is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you whom you have from 304 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,640 God? You are not your own, for you 305 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:38,480 were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body, 306 00:22:39,360 --> 00:22:44,080 Christian. Your body is a temple of the 307 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:47,520 Holy Spirit. Even if you're not a Christian, 308 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:51,640 you've been fearfully and wonderfully made. 309 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:56,320 As Brian said in Sunday school this morning, you are not a 310 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:59,600 cosmic accident. God made you. 311 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:04,840 Sex is also a good gift from a good God. 312 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:09,880 But sex is a terrible God. God made sex for marriage. 313 00:23:10,120 --> 00:23:14,240 God ordered his creation so that man and woman are united in the 314 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:17,960 gift of marriage. They become one flesh where they 315 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,960 mutually give themselves to one another. 316 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:28,040 They are naked and unashamed. Sex only thrives in the context 317 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:33,040 of marriage, where there's safety and affection and trust 318 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,560 and respect and mutual generosity. 319 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:42,400 Is this what you believe? Are you calibrating your 320 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,880 conscience according to scripture, or are the lines 321 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:50,520 blurred because your mind is full of things from below? 322 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:54,760 You don't need to binge watch R rated movies for this to happen. 323 00:23:55,280 --> 00:24:01,280 Suggestive content PG13 is enough to stir up your passions. 324 00:24:02,360 --> 00:24:07,760 Netflix is glad to present to you sin as entertainment and 325 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:12,320 lust as love, as long as it pays their bills. 326 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:19,520 Parents, teach your children about God's good design for our 327 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:24,680 bodies and for sexuality. And be aware, be very aware of 328 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:29,000 every contrary voice that whispers for your children's 329 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:33,320 attention. It is through much practice and 330 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:38,240 propaganda and social reinforcement that what God 331 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:41,680 calls evil, the world calls good. 332 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:49,400 God's good design is suppressed, distorted, ignored. 333 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:57,480 God's been placed on mute. But God, not the President, not 334 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:01,960 the Supreme Court, made your body and sex. 335 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:06,640 He defines both. He evaluates both. 336 00:25:08,120 --> 00:25:14,480 Second application, Learn to control your body verses 4 to 5. 337 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:20,600 In verses 4 to 5, Paul contrasts the Christian self-control with 338 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:24,680 the pagan's passion. You need to learn to control 339 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:28,960 your body. Jesus says that the source of 340 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:34,920 your sin is your heart and his half brother James says your 341 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:40,640 sinful conflicts arise from your passions that are at war within 342 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:44,280 you. Every human being created lives 343 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:48,040 as a morally responsible creature before the face of God. 344 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:53,840 Behavior that doesn't conform to God's law comes from the heart 345 00:25:54,360 --> 00:25:57,280 and his sin. Your body, though, can provoke 346 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:00,920 you to sin, but it cannot make you sin. 347 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:05,480 In other words, don't blame your body for your sin. 348 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:12,000 Now, we know this intuitively. For example, you don't sin 349 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:16,160 because you're hangry. The circumstances of hunger 350 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:21,600 provides an opportunity for sin. But sin arises from your heart. 351 00:26:22,120 --> 00:26:26,560 The hunger exposes your sin. So yes, the commercial eat a 352 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:31,840 Snickers that could help you. But sin is a choice. 353 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:38,200 You have moral agency. You don't also sin because 354 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:40,840 you're tired. We've all been there. 355 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:45,440 It's been a long day of work. That could be the reason that 356 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,880 you are having trouble paying attention to your spouse as 357 00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:51,120 they're trying to talk with you. Weakness. 358 00:26:52,120 --> 00:26:55,920 It's not the reason, however, that you blow up and scream at 359 00:26:55,920 --> 00:27:01,120 your spouse after a hard day at work or apply this to sexual 360 00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:03,800 sin. If your friend confesses to you 361 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:07,320 he stayed up too late, it is past 3:00 AM, and then he 362 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:12,520 committed sexual sin. Your advice to just go to bed 363 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:15,400 earlier? It's certainly not bad advice. 364 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:17,480 I mean, not a lot of good happens at 3:00 AM. 365 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:23,520 But it misses the heart, which is the Control Center of our 366 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:28,440 motivations and our desires. Your body cannot make you sin. 367 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:33,000 The world cannot make you sin. The world can tempt you to sin, 368 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:39,680 other people can entice you to sin, but no one can make you 369 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:43,120 sin. To paraphrase Augustine, we 370 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:47,080 always do the thing we most wanted to do. 371 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:52,640 So friends, don't blame your body, but learn to control your 372 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:54,680 body. The Christian life is a self 373 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,480 controlled life. Self-control is a fruit of the 374 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:00,760 Spirit. A holy life is a life of 375 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:04,760 restraint. So much so that in Titus Titus 376 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:08,040 one Paul says self-control is a requirement for an elder. 377 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:12,800 In Titus 2, Paul exhorts older women, older men to 378 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,880 self-control. Then he tells older women to 379 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:18,480 exhort younger women to self-control. 380 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:22,960 Then he tells Titus to exhort younger men to self-control 381 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:29,640 without self-control. Proverbs 2528 says a man is like 382 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:37,040 a city broken into and left without walls open for 383 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:42,240 devastation. Friend, if you're single, this 384 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:45,960 means that even if you feel ripe and ready for love, you must 385 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:50,760 restrain your sexual desires. As Solomon's bride adjures, the 386 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:55,520 daughters of Jerusalem do not stir up or awaken love until it 387 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:59,440 pleases. If you're married, this means 388 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:03,160 that the only context to be naked and unashamed is with your 389 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,240 spouse. You were to give yourself to 390 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:06,720 your spouse and your spouse alone. 391 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:11,160 As our statement of faith says, marriage is the only legitimate 392 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:15,520 God ordained context for sexual union and procreation. 393 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:20,920 Yet even in marriage, Ecclesiastes tells us, there's a 394 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:25,920 time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. 395 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:31,040 Whether you're married or single, how do you need to grow 396 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:36,760 in controlling your own body before you think of what you 397 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:42,240 watch on TV or what you swipe through on your phone, begin 398 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:47,000 with your heart, which guides your eyes, and then your 399 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:51,720 fingers. What desires need to be bridled 400 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:57,520 and controlled? If you feel like controlling 401 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:01,320 your body's hard work, you are absolutely right. 402 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:05,960 Sanctification requires great effort. 403 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:09,520 Sanctification is like learning to ride a bike. 404 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:13,040 Now I've not taught any kids how to drive yet. 405 00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:18,600 I think that'd be illegal, but I have successfully raised 2 bike 406 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:20,640 riders. When you're teaching your kid 407 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:25,440 how to ride a bike, they need to pedal and you parent need to 408 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:29,080 hold on. They ride while you run 409 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:33,920 alongside, but if they don't put in the effort, if they never 410 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:38,360 pedal, you can run them around the neighborhood all day long, 411 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:41,880 but they'll never learn to ride their bike and you will look a 412 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:46,040 little crazy. The New Testament consistently 413 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:52,200 says that growth in godliness requires hard work. 414 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:57,040 We need to peddle. Perhaps most explicitly, Peter 415 00:30:57,320 --> 00:31:05,480 exhorts us. Make every effort Christian fan 416 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:11,040 into flame. The Spirit's gift and fruit of 417 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:17,040 self-control in your life. Third application Confess sexual 418 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:20,240 sin. Confess sexual sin. 419 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:30,840 We strive for self-control. Sometimes we stumble and fall. 420 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:38,760 Some visit the brothel downtown, others visit the brothel in the 421 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:44,360 neighborhood of their minds. Sexual drift begins with a baby 422 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:51,320 step, a second glance, then a wandering eye, a flirtatious 423 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:59,040 text, then a secret thread, an adulterous thought, then a full 424 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:06,160 blown affair with sexual sin. The more deviant dangers always 425 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:11,320 seem so far away until you're knocking at their front door. 426 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:18,720 Friend, has your sexuality been distorted and darkened? 427 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:24,000 Has it become unhinged? What can you do? 428 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:32,960 Confess your sins. If we confess our sins, He is 429 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:40,360 faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from 430 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:48,160 all unrighteousness. Lust thrives in the darkness, in 431 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:52,680 privacy, in isolation, and in the darkness. 432 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:58,120 It grows, it festers, it gets stronger. 433 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:04,240 It is only in the light that lust will wither and even die. 434 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:08,680 Brothers and sisters, take heart if that's you today. 435 00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:13,280 No darkness is too dark that it can't be overcome by light. 436 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:19,880 Bring your sins into the light of our holy God, who is light, 437 00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:23,400 and in Him is no darkness at all. 438 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,760 Confess your sins. When we confess our sins, it's 439 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:34,520 like a little death. It rips down the polished image 440 00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:39,400 that we present of ourselves, and it reveals the true man, the 441 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:45,200 Sinner, the person God already sees and loves. 442 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:50,800 Confess how you've personally wandered off God's holy paths. 443 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:56,480 Don't use vague language like I slipped up or I fell. 444 00:33:57,760 --> 00:34:04,800 Confess specific sins, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, 445 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:09,080 pornography. Speak plainly. 446 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:14,159 Aim for transparency. Risk oversharing. 447 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:19,960 That's what it looks like to take God's side against your 448 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:23,960 sin. Brothers and sisters, who in 449 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:27,040 this congregation is helping you walk in the light? 450 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:31,639 Brothers, confess your sins to a trusted brother in the church. 451 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:35,880 Sisters, confess your sins to a trusted sister in the church. 452 00:34:36,159 --> 00:34:43,639 We are always either confessing our sins or suppressing them and 453 00:34:43,639 --> 00:34:47,600 hiding them. As Ray Ortland says, you can be 454 00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:52,639 impressive or you can be known, but you can't be both. 455 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:56,199 Confess your sins. 4th application. 456 00:34:57,080 --> 00:35:01,760 Be warned of Christ's perfect vengeance, Verse 6. 457 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:07,120 Be warned of Christ's perfect vengeance. 458 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:13,840 Look again at verse 6. Paul already warned the 459 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:16,680 Thessalonians don't transgress and wrong one another in this 460 00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:19,640 matter. But the warning was worth 461 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:24,680 repeating and Paul grounds his warning in Christ's coming 462 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:32,280 vengeance. Sexual sin, when done against 463 00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:37,520 another human being made in God's image is sexual assault. 464 00:35:38,720 --> 00:35:42,720 Sexual assault is a particularly heinous evil. 465 00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:49,040 Justin and Lindsay Holcomb in their book Rid of My Disgrace, 466 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:54,560 they define sexual assault as any type of sexual behavior or 467 00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:59,920 contact where consent is not freely given or obtained and is 468 00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:04,720 accomplished through force, intimidation, violence, 469 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:11,880 coercion, manipulation, threat, deception, or abuse of 470 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:18,800 authority. At least one in four women and 471 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:29,760 one in six men will be victims victims of sexual assault in 472 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:36,280 their lifetime. Savvy. 473 00:36:40,040 --> 00:36:46,480 Sadly, those statistics are likely underreported because the 474 00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:49,280 crime itself is vastly under reported. 475 00:36:54,000 --> 00:37:12,200 Most victims, about 90% are female and most most victims are 476 00:37:12,200 --> 00:37:15,640 assaulted by someone they know and trust. 477 00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:32,280 Friend, if that's happened to you, you need to hear this. 478 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:38,320 You are not responsible for the sins done against you. 479 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:51,000 It's not your fault, and what's been done to you does not have 480 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:58,520 to be the end of your story. If you're in Christ, He is both 481 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:06,000 your refuge and your avenger. He promises vengeance for all 482 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:09,360 who have harmed you and persistent on repentance. 483 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:15,760 The sins done against you are sins done against God himself. 484 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:19,640 He will not forget. He will not brush them aside. 485 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:26,800 He will strike terror and pour out his wrath on that day when 486 00:38:26,880 --> 00:38:35,960 Jesus Christ returns. Friend, this is a day that Paul 487 00:38:35,960 --> 00:38:40,160 warns us of. If you're not a Christian, Paul 488 00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:44,320 warns of this day of coming judgment. 489 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:51,560 God made you to walk with him and to please him. 490 00:38:52,640 --> 00:38:56,200 But you've displeased God. You've been a slave to your 491 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:59,840 sinful desires. You, like all of us in this 492 00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:05,560 room, are a sexual Sinner. Jesus said, You've heard that it 493 00:39:05,560 --> 00:39:07,120 was said you shall not commit adultery. 494 00:39:07,120 --> 00:39:12,040 But I say to you, whoever looks at a woman with lustful intent 495 00:39:12,240 --> 00:39:16,440 has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 496 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:21,920 So you, like all of us, are guilty before this holy God and 497 00:39:21,920 --> 00:39:30,120 deserving of his holy wrath. Friend, is there forgiveness for 498 00:39:30,120 --> 00:39:35,640 sexual sinners only in Jesus Christ? 499 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:42,240 Jesus was like us in every way except without sin. 500 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:45,360 He always did what pleased the Father. 501 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:49,800 If you remember His baptism, the Father's voice boomed from 502 00:39:49,800 --> 00:39:52,960 heaven. This is my beloved Son, with 503 00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:59,280 whom I am well pleased. And this Son went to the cross 504 00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:02,200 and was crucified in the place of sinners. 505 00:40:02,480 --> 00:40:09,640 He, though he was innocent and perfect and spotless, bore God's 506 00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:13,280 just wrath. He took away our shame. 507 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:16,640 Three days later he rose from the grave. 508 00:40:16,640 --> 00:40:21,760 But he will return to judge the living and the dead. 509 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:27,720 Friend, turn from your sinful ways and trust in Him alone for 510 00:40:27,720 --> 00:40:33,400 salvation, and he'll wash you whiter than snow. 511 00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:40,560 And for those of you who have, If you've trusted in Christ, 512 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:44,680 you're united to Christ. You are adopted into God's 513 00:40:44,680 --> 00:40:48,160 family. If you've trusted in Christ, you 514 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:53,280 have God as your heavenly Father and he is pleased with you. 515 00:40:53,800 --> 00:40:57,520 If you've trusted in Christ, you'll find that the blood of 516 00:40:57,640 --> 00:41:02,400 Jesus is sufficient to cover every sin. 517 00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:10,480 If you've trusted in Christ, one day he will wipe every tear 518 00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:15,320 away. He will soothe every fear. 519 00:41:15,680 --> 00:41:21,840 He will remove every scar in the gospel. 520 00:41:22,720 --> 00:41:27,760 By the blood of Christ, sexual sinners are washed clean. 521 00:41:28,080 --> 00:41:31,320 Such were some of you, Paul says. 522 00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:36,240 But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified 523 00:41:36,240 --> 00:41:42,080 in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our 524 00:41:42,080 --> 00:41:47,520 God. As we conclude, look finally at 525 00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:51,080 verses 7 and 8, fifth and final application. 526 00:41:51,560 --> 00:42:00,240 Do not disregard God's call to holiness if you've trusted in 527 00:42:00,240 --> 00:42:03,840 Jesus Christ. God has not called us for 528 00:42:03,840 --> 00:42:11,080 impurity, verse 7. But in holiness you are holy. 529 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:17,080 Be holy, for our God is holy. This is now your identity. 530 00:42:17,280 --> 00:42:21,720 Yes, you're still a Sinner, but you are also now a St. 531 00:42:22,360 --> 00:42:28,160 Holiness is your destiny. Holiness is also your job. 532 00:42:29,640 --> 00:42:31,640 How do you need to fight today for holiness? 533 00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:34,840 Where are you slipping in sanctification? 534 00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:38,640 What are you doing today or thinking today that you're 535 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:41,920 comfortable with that? Years ago you would have been 536 00:42:41,920 --> 00:42:48,080 shocked by Brothers and sisters. God has called you not for 537 00:42:48,080 --> 00:42:52,800 impurity, but for holiness. Your holiness is also the 538 00:42:52,800 --> 00:42:56,520 church's job. We are spiritually responsible 539 00:42:56,520 --> 00:42:58,640 for one another's growth and godliness. 540 00:42:58,960 --> 00:43:03,040 In other words, holiness is a team sport. 541 00:43:03,880 --> 00:43:07,000 If you played sports in high school, you know there's 542 00:43:07,000 --> 00:43:12,120 varsity, there's JV, there's the starters, and there's the bench 543 00:43:12,120 --> 00:43:15,760 warmers in the local church. There is no bench. 544 00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:21,160 Everyone is a starter. Your brothers and sisters need 545 00:43:21,160 --> 00:43:25,480 your holiness. When you pursue holiness, it 546 00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:28,640 rubs off on other people. It ripples throughout the 547 00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:32,240 congregation. When we watch you put your sin 548 00:43:32,240 --> 00:43:36,360 to death, we are strengthened and encouraged to put our own 549 00:43:36,360 --> 00:43:40,000 sin to death. When we watch you fight and 550 00:43:40,000 --> 00:43:44,520 wrestle for self-control, we are encouraged to do the same. 551 00:43:45,000 --> 00:43:48,080 You who are strong, help us who are weak. 552 00:43:48,320 --> 00:43:52,360 You who are mature, help us grow into maturity. 553 00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:59,560 Your holiness is contagious and it's the church's job, not just 554 00:43:59,560 --> 00:44:04,400 the elders, to keep this pulpit preaching what God says about 555 00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:08,560 sin and sexuality. Paul warns us, look at verse 8. 556 00:44:09,960 --> 00:44:16,560 Whoever disregards this disregards not man, but God. 557 00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:21,560 Years ago in Kansas City the biggest mega church in Kansas 558 00:44:21,560 --> 00:44:25,040 City change their stance on biblical sexuality. 559 00:44:25,280 --> 00:44:28,240 They became open and affirming of homosexuality. 560 00:44:28,240 --> 00:44:34,160 Their pastor wrote a blog post where he said I know what Paul 561 00:44:34,160 --> 00:44:42,680 says, I just disagree with Paul. Brothers and sisters, God not 562 00:44:42,680 --> 00:44:45,960 your preacher always gets the last say. 563 00:44:46,520 --> 00:44:50,080 Protect this pulpit. Any man who does not believe 564 00:44:50,080 --> 00:44:54,560 these things or is afraid to preach them preaches a different 565 00:44:54,560 --> 00:44:57,880 gospel. Don't let it happen here. 566 00:44:59,640 --> 00:45:03,920 Your holiness is finally God's job. 567 00:45:05,240 --> 00:45:08,200 It's your job. Sure, it is the job of the 568 00:45:08,200 --> 00:45:11,280 church also. It's God's job too. 569 00:45:11,880 --> 00:45:15,080 And what a relief. Surely you've been in that group 570 00:45:15,080 --> 00:45:18,080 project where you had that one friend who just carried the 571 00:45:18,080 --> 00:45:20,560 whole team. They basically did all the work 572 00:45:20,560 --> 00:45:26,320 and you get some credit. God is absolutely, unrelentingly 573 00:45:26,440 --> 00:45:28,800 committed to your sanctification. 574 00:45:29,440 --> 00:45:34,760 He works you degree after degree more into the image of His Son. 575 00:45:35,520 --> 00:45:40,360 So what happens when you, Christian, fall flat on your 576 00:45:40,360 --> 00:45:45,560 face in descent? God doesn't give up on you. 577 00:45:46,560 --> 00:45:48,360 God does not leave you to yourself. 578 00:45:48,520 --> 00:45:51,360 He's not driven away or repulsed by you. 579 00:45:51,520 --> 00:45:55,160 He has more mercy and grace for you. 580 00:45:55,160 --> 00:45:59,320 Still, He is better at sanctifying than you are at 581 00:45:59,320 --> 00:46:03,400 sinning. He is committed to your 582 00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:07,720 sanctification. So keep walking. 583 00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:13,600 It's a long walk, but we'll get there. 584 00:46:14,640 --> 00:46:21,840 By God's grace, be holy today. And friends, this day will turn 585 00:46:21,840 --> 00:46:28,080 into a month, and this month will turn into a year, and this 586 00:46:28,080 --> 00:46:35,000 year a decade. And soon, by God's grace, we 587 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:38,720 will hear like those Saints who've gone before us. 588 00:46:40,840 --> 00:46:43,960 Well done, good and faithful servant. 589 00:46:45,760 --> 00:46:48,920 On that day our God will be pleased. 590 00:46:50,360 --> 00:47:04,270 Let's pray. Lord, you are our holy God. 591 00:47:05,830 --> 00:47:11,830 You've called us to holiness. Lord, strengthen us for this 592 00:47:11,830 --> 00:47:19,080 work. Help us give an effort, help us 593 00:47:19,080 --> 00:47:23,840 strive. Help us work hard to rid 594 00:47:23,840 --> 00:47:30,760 ourselves of sin and to conform ourselves to your law and to 595 00:47:30,760 --> 00:47:35,360 your Son Jesus Christ. Do this work in us. 596 00:47:36,120 --> 00:47:39,720 We pray in Jesus name, Amen.