1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,960 Welcome to the Liberty Baptist Sermon Archives. 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,040 The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty Baptist 3 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:13,040 Church in Easton, MA. You can find out more about us 4 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:17,280 or contact us at my libertybaptist.org or just look 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,760 us up on Facebook. And now we hope that this 6 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,080 message from God's Word will be a blessing to you. 7 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:26,840 If you turn your Bibles, please, the First Corinthians chapter #6 8 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,640 we are back in our series. We've been out of the series 9 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,600 here for a little bit in First Corinthians, and we will, by 10 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,480 God's grace, finish First Corinthians chapter 6 next week. 11 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:39,800 And then really we're going to pick up some speed over the next 12 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,840 few weeks, covering almost a chapter a week because there's a 13 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,640 lot of. Commonality in some of those 14 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,800 chapters that we're going to kind of put together, but I 15 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,040 really want us to be able to get to a place where in chapter 12, 16 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:57,240 particularly chapter 13, chapter 15, all of these are what I 17 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,880 would call mountaintop chapters. Chapter 12 about the church. 18 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,959 Chapter 13 about charity, Christian love, the highest form 19 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,040 of love. Chapter 15 the proof of the 20 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,520 resurrection of Jesus Christ and an expounding of the gospel. 21 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,720 These are places we want to be, not that we're trying to speed 22 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:15,960 over some of these other. Places. 23 00:01:15,960 --> 00:01:18,360 But I do think there's some place where we can make up some 24 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:19,640 time. Instead of going, as we are 25 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,160 tonight, only three verses, we go 3 verses at a time through 26 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,440 First Corinthians. Jesus will come back before we 27 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,120 get through First Corinthians. So we've got to make some 28 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,280 decisions about exactly how we're going to do that. 29 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:30,840 But I hope we'll be helped to you tonight looking at three 30 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,840 different verses in First Corinthians chapter #6 you know, 31 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,440 the term Christian liberty is 1. You might have heard before. 32 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,160 You may be familiar with it, you may not. 33 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,240 I'm not sure. But Christian liberty is one of 34 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:46,160 the most contentious and controversial issues you'll hear 35 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,680 today in Christian circles. And when I say Christian 36 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,120 circles, I'm talking about the broader sense of all which calls 37 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,080 itself Christianity. I would even say outside of what 38 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:59,200 I would call Bible believing Christianity, but any circle 39 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,080 that would call themselves Christian. 40 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,400 This issue of Christian liberty is one that you'll hear of a 41 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:06,200 lot. And really Christian liberty 42 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,919 comes down to this. If I am free in Christ, then 43 00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:12,840 what am I allowed to do? Think about that for a second. 44 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,120 If I am free in Christ and when we are free in Christ, we are 45 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,240 free indeed. The Bible says the day you got 46 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,680 saved, you were freed from the old life. 47 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,320 You were freed from the old ways. 48 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,760 You were freed from being under the penalty of sin and bondage 49 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:29,720 and judgment because of sin. Yes, you were free. 50 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,720 And by the way, you are free today if you know Jesus Christ 51 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:34,320 as Savior. But maybe we can put it this 52 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:35,480 way. So how free are you? 53 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,200 Free to do what exactly? And that's what Christian 54 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,000 liberty, this debate about what Christian liberty is about. 55 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,040 Now people will ask themselves, if I'm free in Christ, what does 56 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,040 this mean? And maybe they would even say 57 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:49,800 this. Does that mean I can do whatever 58 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:51,480 I want because I'm not going to hell? 59 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:54,000 Now, a lot of people wouldn't say that. 60 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:56,600 A lot of people wouldn't articulate that. 61 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,600 They wouldn't be bold enough to perhaps say those words. 62 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,040 But listen, it goes through the minds of many and maybe even 63 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,560 those who aren't as familiar with the scriptures would ask 64 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,640 themselves this question, Does it really matter what I do in 65 00:03:08,640 --> 00:03:11,600 this life if I already know that I'm going to heaven, if I've 66 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,920 already erased the penalty of sin for all eternity? 67 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:18,840 Not that I have erased it, but that accepted the gift. 68 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,560 You got that so that I have accepted the gift. 69 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:26,080 So where I will not receive the penalty of hell in my life, the 70 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,840 lake of fire. So can I just go ahead and do 71 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,480 whatever I want? You know, there's a lot of 72 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,040 people that would maybe, again, not articulate but say, well, 73 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,520 what does it really matter? What's the big deal? 74 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:42,000 And maybe some would look at me or others who are Bible 75 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,320 believing Christians have a much more biblical view on this 76 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,200 issue. And they would look at us and 77 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,040 call it legalists for saying, well, you should live wholly and 78 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,720 righteously and justly in this present world. 79 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:56,680 It would look at us and immediately throw out that label 80 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,680 of legalists just because we would suggest that it's 81 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,480 important to live a holy life after you get saved because God 82 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,000 is holy, as we just talked about this last Sunday as well. 83 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,400 So tonight we ask ourselves this question. 84 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:15,480 If I'm free, am I free to send? If I am free to, does that make 85 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:17,880 me free to sin? So let's go ahead and read First 86 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:20,800 Corinthians chapter 6 verse #12 where it says this. 87 00:04:21,079 --> 00:04:23,440 All things are lawful unto me, but not all things. 88 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:25,840 Or rather, let's try that again. I'm going too fast. 89 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,000 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not 90 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,520 expedient. All things are lawful for me, 91 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,280 but I will not be brought under the power of any meats for the 92 00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:38,920 belly and belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and 93 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:40,840 them. Now the body is not for 94 00:04:40,840 --> 00:04:44,080 fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 95 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:49,360 And God hath both raised up the Lord and will also raise up us 96 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,560 by his own power. You know, it's been a little 97 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,120 while since we've been in our series, and so probably a little 98 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,400 bit of review is necessary. Remember, Paul had been 99 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,360 addressing the many spiritual issues that the church at 100 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,040 Corinth had. He had talked at length about 101 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:07,080 the division between the different groups, the cliques 102 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,160 and the fractions of which they have. 103 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,760 He talked about their pride, their arrogance, about how they 104 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,800 felt they could do whatever they wanted to to do, and he had to 105 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,680 talk to them about that. He talked about sexual 106 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,200 immorality that was taking place in the church. 107 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,960 And it wasn't just taking place within the membership of the 108 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,080 church, but it was also being boasted of within the church 109 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,320 about how open minded they were. And then at the beginning of 110 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,320 First Corinthians chapter 6, we saw that things had also gotten 111 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,840 bad enough that they were taking one another to court and suing 112 00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:40,440 one another in open court instead of handling things like 113 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:43,640 believers ought to within the confines of the church. 114 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,800 And all of these, these issues really LED us to verse #9 which 115 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,400 says this. Know ye not that the unrighteous 116 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,280 shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? 117 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,120 Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor 118 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,480 adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves, of 119 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:03,400 mankind, nor thieves nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor 120 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,960 revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of 121 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:08,680 God. A rogues gallery, their 122 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:12,680 attention in verses #9 and 10, and where it's #11 remember 123 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,400 this. And such were some of you 124 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,240 meaning this, that rogue gallery. 125 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:20,720 You were a part of it that your sin may have been named there, 126 00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:22,960 it may not have been named there, but you were a Sinner 127 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,360 nonetheless. And the Bible says that was who 128 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,800 you were meaning past tense. This was the old life. 129 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,720 This should not be the mark of your life now. 130 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:35,360 Such were some of you. But ye are meaning the present 131 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:37,880 washed. Ye are sanctified. 132 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,000 Ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. 133 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,440 Wonderful biblical words, washed in the blood of Christ, 134 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,800 sanctified, set apart for a service, justified. 135 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:52,200 You are made legally right before the Lord Almighty in the 136 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,320 name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 137 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,560 And so he says all of those things. 138 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,480 But then he addresses Paul does in the verses we just read 2 139 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,440 common thought processes of the people of Corinth. 140 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:08,600 And I would suggest to you that they are also prevalent today as 141 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,040 well in modern Christianity. It really comes down to this 142 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,760 issue of well sure you said this is who we were, but doesn't 143 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:18,160 really matter how we Live Today. Remember, these Corinthians 144 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,400 lived in in one of the most wicked cultures you could find 145 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,560 in the known world at that time. To live like a Corinthian, as it 146 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:28,200 was often said, meant that you lived in a sexually impure way. 147 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,760 Their own city was used as a way to talk about being immoral. 148 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:35,240 That was the way it was known in the known world at that time. 149 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,600 And they brought this thought process with them into the 150 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,200 church. And so they're asking 151 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:41,960 themselves, well, yeah, I'm saved. 152 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:43,840 Does it really matter how I live my life? 153 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,840 And so Paul is going to look at this in a couple different ways 154 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:50,760 in our text here tonight. Now G Campbell Morgan said this 155 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:54,080 the whole trouble can be summarized by saying that the 156 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,440 spirit of the city had infected the church. 157 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:00,360 This is always a peril. The church's business is not to 158 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:04,560 catch the spirit of the age listen, but to correct it when 159 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,800 the Church of God knows its own business and is living in 160 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,400 accordance with its own mighty laws of life. 161 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:15,040 She is a perpetual rebuke to the things that are merely of the 162 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:19,000 passing and worldly age, meaning this, when we live the way we 163 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:22,760 ought to be and we let the church house affect the world 164 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,640 instead of the world affecting the church house, there can be 165 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,840 real change within the world. And so there's a couple 166 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,960 questions I want us to address tonight when it comes this issue 167 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,600 of Christian liberty. And the first is this, What is 168 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:39,960 the body allowed to do? So what is this body that I 169 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,000 have? What is the body that you have? 170 00:08:42,159 --> 00:08:46,680 What is it allowed to do? And he starts by saying all 171 00:08:46,680 --> 00:08:50,040 things are lawful unto me. And it's almost as if Paul is 172 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:53,760 quoting the people of Corinth. It's almost as if he is stating 173 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,480 something that they have been talking about themselves. 174 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:58,880 Well, Paul, don't you know that we're saved? 175 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,280 All things are lawful unto us now. 176 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:05,120 We're not under the law anymore. And by the way, it is true, 177 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,320 biblically speaking, when you are saved, you are not under the 178 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:09,560 law anymore. That is true. 179 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:12,160 The Bible says the law was our schoolmaster. 180 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:15,200 To do what? To bring us to Jesus Christ, to 181 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,000 show us that we were lost and that we needed saving. 182 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:21,720 That's absolutely true. There is an element of truth in 183 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,600 what they are saying. All things are lawful unto me. 184 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:28,200 Basically, they're saying since I'm saved and I'm free from the 185 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,800 penalty of sin, that I'm really allowed to do whatever I want. 186 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:35,680 This is what Paul is bringing up in verse #12 when they say all 187 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:39,040 things are lawful unto me. And again, this is the 188 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,440 prevailing idea of all that falls under the umbrella of 189 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:46,160 Christianity Today. To preach against sin or listen 190 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,840 to even preach against specific sin is something that most 191 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,640 churches won't do. They might lose members, they 192 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,240 might lose ties, they might lose followers on social media. 193 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,280 They don't want to talk about sin, particularly when they know 194 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,240 that those in the pews, well, they may not even have pews. 195 00:10:02,560 --> 00:10:03,840 They might have whatever they are. 196 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:05,120 We have these nice church chairs. 197 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,040 I have a feeling a lot of those churches don't have pews, but 198 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:12,560 they are engaged in activity that they want to preach about 199 00:10:12,560 --> 00:10:14,360 because they know they're going to start stepping on toes. 200 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:17,560 Now, listen, I don't want to step on anybody's toes on 201 00:10:17,560 --> 00:10:19,000 purpose. I'm not looking to stomp on your 202 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,040 foot, but I'm not going to avoid your foot if the Word is right 203 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:23,280 there and that's what's going on. 204 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,760 I'm not looking for anybody when I'm hearing the Word of God. 205 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:28,720 But I will tell you this, there's oftentimes the Holy 206 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,920 Spirit's looking for you and you say, well, I don't think the 207 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:33,480 Holy Spirit's really looking for me when I preach. 208 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:37,120 It could be you're not listening because I imagine when you're in 209 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:40,000 church, as the Word of God has given the Holy Spirit ought to 210 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,520 work on all of our hearts just as I work on messages. 211 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,240 I mentioned just on Sunday that I have to work through those 212 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,400 issues on my own as I'm in the study before I even get into the 213 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,000 pulpit. The Holy Spirit speaks, but 214 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,520 there's a lot of churches that won't speak against sin or 215 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:56,520 specific sin. Many churches today look and act 216 00:10:56,560 --> 00:10:59,040 no different from the world. In fact, the calling card of the 217 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,400 church is this. We want to look as much like the 218 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,360 world as possible. We want the church to look more 219 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:08,840 like an arena where an NBA game is played than the House of God. 220 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,680 No, that's not an accident. That's a specific choice. 221 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:13,960 They what are they trying to do? They're trying to make people 222 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,640 comfortable with the things of the world, thinking that they 223 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,720 will bring them to Jesus Christ once they made them comfortable 224 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,200 with the things of the world. But The thing is, is that Jesus 225 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:27,080 Christ oftentimes made people uncomfortable, not because he 226 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,520 didn't love them, but because he would confront them with their 227 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:32,560 sin. In a loving manner. 228 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:36,160 Listen, the woman at the well was made very uncomfortable when 229 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:40,200 he started talking about her husband's and the man he was 230 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,880 living with, she was living with now was not her husband. 231 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,000 But he also did it in a very loving way in which he still was 232 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,920 able to bring her to him. The woman that was caught in 233 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:55,200 adultery, he didn't say hey lady, no big deal right? 234 00:11:55,880 --> 00:12:00,000 He said to her, go and sin no more, but he still showed her 235 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,000 love and compassion. And this is what's often lost 236 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:07,520 today and churches like this that would preach from the word 237 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,360 of God and say that sin is sin and righteousness is 238 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:12,960 righteousness and name specific sins from the word of God. 239 00:12:13,680 --> 00:12:17,600 But often have those types of churches lob the title legalist 240 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:19,880 at us. You are just a legalist by the 241 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:20,960 way. Those people don't even 242 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:22,720 understand what the term legalist means. 243 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:26,680 They use that term as a slur. They use it as a way to mock or 244 00:12:26,680 --> 00:12:28,720 make fun of us. The term legalism means to 245 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:32,520 follow the law to achieve salvation and having standards 246 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:35,800 isn't legalism. Trying to live a holy life is 247 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,880 not legalism. To try to acknowledge the 248 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,400 holiness of God within your day-to-day life it isn't 249 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:43,560 legalism. It's the life that God has 250 00:12:43,560 --> 00:12:47,760 called us to live, but we are free in Christ. 251 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:51,240 I just told you a few moments ago, John 836 If the Son 252 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,200 therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 253 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:58,560 Galatians 51 stand fast therefore in the liberty where 254 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:01,840 with Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with 255 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:04,120 the yoke of bondage. And Paul is saying that as he's 256 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:08,040 talking to real legalists, that the Galatian folks in those 257 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:11,400 churches of Galatia we're dealing with Romans 8, verse 2. 258 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:15,320 For the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ hath made 259 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:20,600 me free from the law of sin and death. 2nd Corinthians 317 Now 260 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,120 the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is. 261 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:25,480 I love this one. There is liberty. 262 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,520 Amen. It's right there on the sign. 263 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:29,280 If you don't see it, my name's out on the sign. 264 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,240 That's on purpose. But that verse is on the sign. 265 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:32,920 You know why? Because when people go by, 266 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:35,800 nobody drives in because they say Adam, Adam Rivero's. 267 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,600 I can't even say my own name, Adam Rivero's name on the sign. 268 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,400 But I hope someone will see that the Bible says where the Spirit 269 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,000 of the Lord is, there is liberty, and that will draw them 270 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:45,680 to the House of God. I pray that's the case. 271 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,000 But listen, we are free in Christ. 272 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,880 I agree with those who would say, well, you're free in 273 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:52,960 Christ. We're not arguing that. 274 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,840 But we're free in Christ, and freedom in Christ does not mean 275 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:02,400 freedom from living for Christ. Did you catch the difference 276 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:06,360 there? Freedom of Christ in Christ does 277 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,680 not mean freedom from living for Christ. 278 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:12,720 Here's another example or several examples. 279 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,480 And it's interesting that all of these are always around the same 280 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,520 places where it talks about the freedom we have, and then it 281 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:21,480 reminds us the other side of that. 282 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:26,680 Romans 618 Being then made free from sin, you became the 283 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:31,240 servants of righteousness. Galatians 513 For, brethren, 284 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:35,000 you've been called unto liberty. There it is again, only use not 285 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:39,480 liberty as an occasion for the flesh, but by love serve one 286 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,800 another. Jude verse 4. 287 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,200 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of 288 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,320 old ordained to this condemnation. 289 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:51,120 Ungodly men listen, turning the grace of our God into 290 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,520 lasciviousness. Meaning this they took the grace 291 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:56,280 of God and they turn into something ugly because of their 292 00:14:56,280 --> 00:15:01,440 sin and their unrepentant sin. Galatians 219 through 21. 293 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,600 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto 294 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,760 God. I am crucified with Christ. 295 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,360 Nevertheless I nevertheless I live yet not I, but Christ 296 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:14,480 liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh. 297 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:18,240 I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave 298 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,680 himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of 299 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:24,320 God, for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead 300 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,200 in. Vain Romans 6 one and two may be 301 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,600 my favorites. For what shall we say then? 302 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,720 Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 303 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:37,120 First two says, God forbid. It's repeated again later in 304 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:40,560 Romans chapter 6. The idea that some that were 305 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,840 being dealt with by Paul of the Roman Church would say something 306 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:45,640 like this. Well, if we receive grace when 307 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,720 we sin, the more we sin, the more grace we get. 308 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:53,320 And Romans 6-7 and eight basically lays bare the idea. 309 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:56,200 If that's your philosophy, then you truly and fundamentally 310 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,400 don't understand who Jesus Christ is or the war between 311 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:01,840 your flesh and your spirit. You don't understand it. 312 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,360 And I would say to everyone who struggles with sin. 313 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:09,200 So I would say to everybody that you ought to go to Romans 6-7 314 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,160 and eight. And if you read those chapters 315 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:14,280 every day, listen. You do yourself well because it 316 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:17,560 deals with this issue. Yes, you are free, but listen. 317 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:20,280 You're not free from serving Christ. 318 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,760 You actually free to serve Christ because you have been 319 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:27,840 made free to achieve freedom means that both a negative and a 320 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,040 positive thing has happened. Listen. 321 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:32,760 To achieve real freedom, something negative has happened 322 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,880 and something has positive has happened at the same time. 323 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,760 For instance, freedom from Great Britain meant that colonists 324 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:41,560 needed to willingly serve a new nation. 325 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,480 The call is, you know, 250 years ago, you know, right around this 326 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,560 neck of the woods where all of this was taking place, they 327 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:50,960 decided they were going to be free from British rule. 328 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,400 Did that mean that there was no more rules anymore? 329 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,200 Does that mean that it was like Outback Steakhouse? 330 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:58,080 No rules, just right. I don't think George Washington 331 00:16:58,080 --> 00:16:59,520 ever had a blooming onion, but I don't know. 332 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,120 Maybe he did. Was that what it was? 333 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:08,160 No, no, they were free now to serve a new nation, that freedom 334 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,800 from one, the negative brought a positive. 335 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,800 Now we are free. We are no longer subject under 336 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,560 the heavy thumb of the British Empire. 337 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:20,119 Now we are free to be able to become the Republic that we are. 338 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,400 It reminds me of the story of the man who came up to Benjamin 339 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:29,520 Franklin on July 4th, 1776 and said this, Mr. Franklin, what 340 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,360 kind of government have you given us? 341 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,320 And he answered a Republic if you can keep it. 342 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,600 The idea was not that it was going to be chaos or 343 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,280 pandemonium. There had to be a new government 344 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:45,400 in place, but everyone willingly gave themselves to be under that 345 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,720 new government. The negative and the positive, 346 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:49,840 that's what it is. You think of those who were 347 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:56,760 released from slavery in 1865, the awful, awful curse of 348 00:17:56,760 --> 00:18:00,320 slavery upon this nation, and the slaves that were freed in 349 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,880 1865. But then they also had to have 350 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:06,240 freedom in their new life as well. 351 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:08,760 And unfortunately, there were many who were tricked and there 352 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:10,680 were many who were or were told different things. 353 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:16,240 And some of them became in different types of organizations 354 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:19,600 or groups or thought processes because they were tricked by 355 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,840 other people that maybe they weren't slaves anymore, but they 356 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:25,920 were pretty close to it, that they went from the negative and 357 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,800 not into the positive. And so, yes, you are free from 358 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:34,320 Christ, you're free from sin. That's the negative, that old 359 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,120 way, that's the negative. You're done with that. 360 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,240 But that doesn't mean we're just free to do whatever we want. 361 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:44,240 The old life, we couldn't serve Christ, but now we get to serve 362 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:46,440 Christ. You say, well, that's just being 363 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:49,560 enslaved to 1:00 and then a slave to another. 364 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:51,360 Well, I mean, if you want to look at it that way, the Bible 365 00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:54,960 calls it being a bond servant. What is a bond servant? 366 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,240 It means this. I'm going to willingly give 367 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:02,040 myself to you because of your great affection for me and 368 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:03,960 because of my great affection for you. 369 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:08,560 I don't have to do this, but I want to do it because I love 370 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:09,800 you. You know what Christian liberty 371 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:11,320 is. Nobody's forcing you to do 372 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:13,880 nothing. But you want to serve him 373 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:16,200 because you love Him. Well. 374 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:18,560 Who says I? Who says I've got to live 375 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,080 righteously? You know all things are lawful 376 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:24,080 unto me. Well, all things are lawful unto 377 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:28,120 me, but Paul says there's a couple issues and he mentions 378 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:32,320 them at the end of the verse. He asked a couple questions or 379 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,920 he poses a couple questions for us to look at tonight. 380 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:38,880 And the first is this. When you're looking at these 381 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,080 issues of life, we have to ask ourselves this, will it help 382 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,400 you? Because he says this, All things 383 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,480 are lawful unto me, but not but all things are not expedient. 384 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:50,120 So what does that word expedient mean? 385 00:19:50,120 --> 00:19:53,000 Well, according to the 1828 dictionary, it means this, that 386 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:56,680 which serves to promote or advance any means which may be 387 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,640 employed to accomplish an end. Are you free to do anything you 388 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:03,080 want? Technically yes, but you have to 389 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,840 ask yourself this question. Will it actually help you in 390 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,000 your Christian life? That's a good way to know 391 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:09,880 whether you should be doing something or not. 392 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:13,520 Is it actually helpful to you? All things are lawful, but not 393 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,720 everything will be helpful to my spiritual life. 394 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:18,360 For instance, consider sex outside of marriage as it's 395 00:20:18,360 --> 00:20:21,000 going to be mentioned in verse #13 when it talks about 396 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:25,120 fornication, sexual sins. Sex outside of marriage is like 397 00:20:25,120 --> 00:20:28,200 a man robbing a bank. He gets the money, but it's not 398 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,960 his, and he will eventually have to pay the consequences for 399 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:33,800 robbing the bank. Consequences that are anything 400 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:36,960 but gratifying. And that's the way that sin is. 401 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:40,760 And certainly you can do it. And it might seem like it's OK 402 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,680 for a while, but listen, it's not going to help you. 403 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,160 It's not going to help you in your spiritual life. 404 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:50,480 And this issue is true for inherently sinful actions. 405 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,720 Anger. What's righteous anger, Pastor? 406 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:59,000 Probably not. Most of our righteous anger is 407 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:00,520 good old fashioned unrighteous anger. 408 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,520 I think there are very few times in my life that I've had real, 409 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:08,160 true righteous anger in my life over something that is sinful. 410 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,720 Now we know Christ did. We know that Christ turned over 411 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,680 the tables of the money changers, my Father's house, the 412 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:16,960 House of prayer. But I know this. 413 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:20,520 I'm not Jesus. And for my anger to be righteous 414 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:24,480 boy is going to hit a very high threshold for me to get there. 415 00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:27,560 And so is this anger going to help me? 416 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:29,960 I'll tell you this. When I look at my life, anger 417 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:31,440 has hurt me a whole lot more, has helped me. 418 00:21:32,360 --> 00:21:36,760 Bitterness, will it help me? Is it expedient? 419 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,560 I've said before that bitterness is the poison you drink 420 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:44,320 expecting someone else to die. And I don't know if there's ever 421 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:46,600 a truer saying outside of the word of God that's ever been 422 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,280 said than that that bitterness is the poison you drink 423 00:21:49,280 --> 00:21:52,880 expecting someone else to die. Well, what does that mean? 424 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:57,000 It's not going to help you. You can be bitter at somebody 425 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:01,560 and you could be messed up on the inside and they don't even 426 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:08,120 know anything is wrong. It's not expedient foul 427 00:22:08,120 --> 00:22:09,960 language. Nothing. 428 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,440 Will it help you? Will it help your Christian 429 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:14,360 testimony? Foul language? 430 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,720 Is it something that's going to draw more people to Christ? 431 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,760 Is it expedient lust? Well, it's just something that 432 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:25,000 you know, I'm looking, but really it's no one else's 433 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,000 business. Well, one, the Lord knows you're 434 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:31,680 looking and it will affect your heart and it will affect your 435 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,120 actions. Well, you know, I can look, but 436 00:22:34,120 --> 00:22:36,080 as long as you don't touch, it's not a big deal. 437 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:38,440 Where do you find that in the Bible? 438 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:43,760 But Jesus says the opposite. He says if you've looked with 439 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:47,760 lust in your heart, it's as if you have committed adultery 440 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,560 because the issues of life don't come down to the actions really 441 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:55,760 start with the heart. And so he says don't go down 442 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:57,200 that route. By the way, he mentioned that 443 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,600 with anger too and connecting it with murder. 444 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:03,600 But I will tell you this will also help you with actions that 445 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:07,200 may not be inherently sinful, that aren't necessarily named in 446 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:11,080 the word of God by precept. But in principle, you know, we 447 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:13,680 would do ourselves well to ask ourselves about our actions. 448 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:15,960 Is this helping me draw closer to God or not? 449 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,920 Is this TV show I'm watching draw me closer to God or not? 450 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:24,080 Is this movie drawing me closer to God or not? 451 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:28,440 Is this book that I'm reading drawing me closer to God or not? 452 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,400 I was listening to an audio book a few months ago. 453 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:34,680 I had downloaded it and I was listening to it and I had no 454 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,920 idea that the language in itself was so foul and the things that 455 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,760 were discussed were so bad. And it was a subject that I 456 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,320 don't even think it should have even brought itself to be like 457 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:44,920 that. Then I got to the place where I 458 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,520 said I can't listen to this, I won't listen to it. 459 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:52,000 I don't want to hear those words being put into my head over and 460 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:56,680 over again for the equivalent of 15 hours, about how long it 461 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:00,480 would have been. So it was easy. 462 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:02,240 Is this helping me draw closer to the Lord? 463 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:07,120 No Sports. I enjoy sports as much as 464 00:24:07,120 --> 00:24:08,960 anybody, but there are people who bow at the altar. 465 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:12,160 Sports, professional sports, youth sports. 466 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:14,360 Is it helping you draw closer to the Lord? 467 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,320 Social media. Does it help you draw close to 468 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:18,000 the Lord? Oh, sure. 469 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,480 It can be used to be able to win people to Christ and talk to 470 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:22,280 people about Jesus. Praise the Lord for that. 471 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:25,000 We try to use it that way here at Liberty Baptist Church, and 472 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:26,560 it's wonderful when it works that way. 473 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:28,960 But is it drawing people closer to you or away from you? 474 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:34,040 The news, We can get so caught up in the news, it messes with 475 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:35,920 our spirit. You say you're saying the news 476 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:37,560 is sinful. No, I'm not saying that. 477 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:41,400 I'm saying this. If you take in the news so much 478 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,800 that you find yourself so riled up, maybe you need to watch less 479 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:49,640 of the news and find another hobby or be in your Bible a 480 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:52,960 little more. Is it helping you draw closer to 481 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,080 the Lord? People have phones they can 482 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:59,280 scroll through social media, video games on the phone, 483 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:05,840 mindless minutes turning to hours, YouTube videos, 1 cat 484 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,560 video after another after another. 485 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:09,280 They just keep coming. They just keep sending them to 486 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:11,240 you. When the first one's done, they 487 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,800 send you another one. What I'm saying is this, we can 488 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,240 look at a lot of things in our life and say, well, my pastor, 489 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:22,360 is that really sin? Well, listen, I'm just saying it 490 00:25:22,360 --> 00:25:24,000 may be lawful, but is it expedient? 491 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:26,640 Is it helpful? Everything in our life should 492 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,160 bear that scrutiny. Is it helpful? 493 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:31,440 But also letter B, we ask ourselves this question, will it 494 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:34,720 hold you? Will it hold you? 495 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:39,320 Because he says this, I will not be brought under the power of 496 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:41,520 any. Paul says that we shouldn't be 497 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:45,520 under the control of any other entity than God. 498 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:50,080 Romans 616 Know ye not that whom you yield yourselves servants to 499 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:53,400 obey His servants? Ye are to whom you obey, whether 500 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,520 of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness. 501 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:59,600 Listen, you might say, Listen, I just do what I want to do. 502 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:02,160 Listen. Throw that out the door tonight. 503 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:05,960 Throw that completely out. Either you obey God or you obey 504 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:08,600 Satan. Why do what I want to do? 505 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,720 Well, then, you're obeying Satan because you're obeying the 506 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,040 flesh. Yeah, it's not that simple. 507 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:15,680 No, you're making it more complicated. 508 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:20,080 It's exceedingly simple. Romans 622 a few verses later. 509 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:24,280 But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, you 510 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:28,000 have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life. 511 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:31,200 You're free from sin. You're servants to God. 512 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:35,200 Galatians 110 For do I now persuade men or God? 513 00:26:35,360 --> 00:26:38,480 Do I seek to please men? For if yet I please men, I 514 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:40,600 should not be the servant of God. 515 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,920 You know what should hold us? Do you know what you should be 516 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:48,800 under the power of Jesus Christ? Anything other than Jesus Christ 517 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:52,120 that we are under the power of, then we've got a problem. 518 00:26:53,120 --> 00:26:56,080 No podcast should have the power to keep me from my Bible. 519 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,240 No ball team should have the power to keep me from church. 520 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:02,400 No family member should have the power to keep me from living a 521 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:04,760 holy life. No friendship should have the 522 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:08,040 power to lull me from sin. No entertainment should have the 523 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:11,560 power to draw me into watching things that I wouldn't do 524 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:14,880 personally myself. Do you catch what I'm saying? 525 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:17,560 That it's not? If it's not OK to do it, you 526 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:22,520 probably shouldn't be watching it and allow that, in particular 527 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,000 with the issues of fornication and sexual issues. 528 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,800 I know social media platforms should have the power to govern 529 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,440 my thoughts. And a lot of people have just 530 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:36,160 letting their minds go to the next swipe, to the next video, 531 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:41,520 to the next like, but the Bible says, listen, don't let anything 532 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:42,880 hold you. If something's going to hold 533 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:44,840 you, it's got to be Jesus Christ. 534 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:48,840 You're his servant. Again, this is not legalism. 535 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:53,360 Freedom in Christ does not mean freedom from living for Christ. 536 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,440 That we are now free to live for him. 537 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:58,680 So we ask ourselves, will it help you? 538 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,400 Will it hold you? These are some things we can ask 539 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,080 ourselves about those things that are specifically sin. 540 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:07,320 We know the answer about those things that maybe we're not so 541 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:10,400 sure whether it's sin or not. Put it through the filter of 542 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,440 these two things and it will help you understand if it will 543 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,400 draw you into Christ likeness. Don't just say, well listen, I 544 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,280 can do whatever I want, I have freedom. 545 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,960 Listen, I could do whatever. My church doesn't care. 546 00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:23,520 I can do whatever I want. I know I'm going to heaven 547 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:26,320 someday. Say that's not the attitude of 548 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,280 Paul in First Corinthians chapter 6. 549 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:32,200 That's not the attitude of the New Testament or certainly the 550 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:35,360 attitude of the old. So that brings us to the second 551 00:28:35,360 --> 00:28:37,280 question. The first was, what is the body 552 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:40,280 allowed to do? And #2 what's the body even for? 553 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:45,360 What's the body for? Remember, their first argument 554 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:47,360 was this. All things are lawful unto me. 555 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:52,600 In verse 13 they say this, that they give this very Corinthian 556 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:57,080 phrase meats for the belly and the belly for meats. 557 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:01,520 Now they were basically just saying that physical urges were 558 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:06,080 just that, physical urges. Just keep reading for God shall 559 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:08,720 destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for 560 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:13,080 fornication, but for the Lord and the Lord for the body in 561 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:14,520 many ways. The people of course, were 562 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:20,080 saying the urge to eat was as natural has the urge to have sex 563 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:21,600 with whatever your body long for. 564 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:25,840 Look, if it's natural for you to hunger for sexual intercourse, 565 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:29,080 then certainly it would be or rather, if it's normal for your 566 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:33,240 body to be hunger for food, then if if your body hungers for the 567 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:35,360 other, then it's just it's listen, it's just a natural 568 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:37,000 craving that that's all that it is. 569 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:40,080 And if you give in to the one to be able to eat, then you ought 570 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:41,520 to be able to give in to the other. 571 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:43,760 Look, the meats are for the belly and the belly are for 572 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:46,240 meats. The Greeks of Paul's day thought 573 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:49,400 the soul to be of some value, but consider the body to be a 574 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:52,920 necessary evil. They had a saying one the body 575 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:57,000 is a tomb. One Greek philosopher said this. 576 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,960 I'm a poor soul shackled to a corpse basically saying this. 577 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:02,240 I don't even know what to do with his body. 578 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:04,520 So if it wants food, it wants food. 579 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:06,880 If it wants to look at something, then I'll look at it. 580 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:10,120 If it wants to do something, then I'll just do it. 581 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:13,560 I mean, after all, it's just the body, the meat for the belly and 582 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:16,000 the belly for meats. So how does Paul answer this? 583 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:18,160 Well, he answers it in two different ways. 584 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:22,120 The first he highlights the temporary nature of the body, 585 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:25,000 the temporary nature of the body. 586 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,720 Again, they said the body is for sex just like it is for food. 587 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:32,480 But here's the real issue. The body is not for sex just 588 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:35,880 like it is for food. The body is for the Lord. 589 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:40,480 I'm going to say that again, the body is not just for sex as it 590 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:44,000 is for food. The body is for the Lord. 591 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:47,920 The body is to be the instrument of the Lord for His use and His 592 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:51,040 glory. Look at again at verse #13 meets 593 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:52,640 for the belly, and the belly for meets. 594 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:54,880 But God shall destroy both it and them. 595 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:59,520 Now the body is not for fornication, but for who? 596 00:30:59,960 --> 00:31:01,880 The Lord and the Lord for the body. 597 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,320 It's not the meat. For the belly and the belly for 598 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:08,440 meat, he says it's the body for the Lord, and the Lord for the 599 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:09,400 body. He says you've. 600 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:13,200 Got it mixed up because you think it's all about you and 601 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:16,960 really it's all about him. See, this is what all of this 602 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:21,160 comes down to, the fundamental selfishness of our human nature. 603 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:25,520 That we want what we want. We argue ourselves into what we 604 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:27,480 want. And by the way, if you want to 605 00:31:27,480 --> 00:31:30,040 do something immoral, you can find a Bible verse for it. 606 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:33,120 I'm going to say that again because some of you might not 607 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:35,080 even know what I'm talking. About here tonight. 608 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:39,600 If you want to do something immoral, you can find a Bible 609 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:41,200 verse for it. You say how is that possible? 610 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:44,440 Because there are churches that call themselves churches that do 611 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:46,280 that very thing. You. 612 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:48,960 Can take a Bible. Verse and twist it out of 613 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,880 context. You can take a Bible verse and 614 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:55,840 give a little snippet of it and try to present Jesus as saying 615 00:31:55,840 --> 00:32:00,680 something that He never said. I'll give you an example. 616 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:03,120 I wrote about this online a few days ago. 617 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,320 This isn't political, this is just what it is. 618 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:07,600 You know that there was a Southern Baptist church on 619 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:12,960 Sunday of which there was a riotous group that came in and 620 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:16,720 they were chanting vulgar things, not even going to the 621 00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:19,240 politics of what it, which I disagree with their politics, 622 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:21,400 but they were shouting vulgar things. 623 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:26,040 They were disrupting worship. They, they were, were violating 624 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:28,720 the law. All of these things were taking 625 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:30,880 place. And there was a pastor who was 626 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,640 having to stand in front of him, tried to answer and try to 627 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:35,480 protect his people. There were children who were 628 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:39,520 crying that were there that just listen, from what we've seen has 629 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:42,400 happened in church buildings and people start marching in. 630 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:45,920 Listen. Can't even imagine what was 631 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:47,040 going through their heads at that time. 632 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:51,760 But there was a gentleman who was a reporter whose name is Don 633 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:56,920 Lemon, who got in front of the group and he said this, I'm a 634 00:32:56,920 --> 00:32:58,880 Christian too. He says this to the pastor. 635 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:01,680 He's trying to explain why these other people are doing what 636 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:03,640 they're doing. He's trying to cover for those 637 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:06,560 people who are acting wickedly. And he says to the pastor, but 638 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:09,240 I'm, I'm, he said I'm wicked too. 639 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:15,000 He said, I, I'm a Christian too. He's a Christian man, he's a 640 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:20,520 homosexual, and he believes that his lifestyle and his decisions 641 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:22,960 are all found in the Word of God. 642 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:27,200 Here's what I'm trying to say. You can find any Bible verse 643 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:31,080 anywhere to try to twist into what you want it to say. 644 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:34,960 Why? Because mankind is fundamentally 645 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:39,360 selfish and we want what we want, and if we want to tag a 646 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:41,640 little Bible verse to it, then we'll do it. 647 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:47,360 This is why we take listen, the whole council of God, the whole 648 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:51,640 council of God from end to end. I heard a preacher just a few 649 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,200 days ago shouldn't even be called a preacher who said well, 650 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:57,720 I just, I just, I just base what I believe by what Jesus said 651 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:01,320 because whatever Jesus said is the most important says who? 652 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:05,440 I'm not saying what Jesus said wasn't important. 653 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:09,440 I'm just saying Jesus is the living word, which means all 654 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:11,560 scripture is given by inspiration of God and it's 655 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:13,120 profitable for doctrine. For reproof for. 656 00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:14,639 Correction for instruction of rights. 657 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:16,600 We just saw this in second Timothy. 658 00:34:17,199 --> 00:34:19,679 You can't just say well, because Jesus never talked about this 659 00:34:19,679 --> 00:34:21,440 issue, it's not important because he never talked about 660 00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:23,080 this issue, it's not important because he didn't talk about 661 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:25,040 this issue, it's not important. Well, but it was mentioned in 662 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:27,760 Genesis. It was mentioned in the Numbers, 663 00:34:28,239 --> 00:34:30,760 but it's Deuteronomy. It's mentioned in five other 664 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:34,040 biblical books. Then you say, pastor, you're 665 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:35,040 getting on a hobby horse. You're. 666 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:38,800 Right I am. But really, this all comes down 667 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:41,560 to this. We are fundamentally selfish 668 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:46,400 people in our flesh. And we will try to make excuses 669 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:48,600 for whatever we want. We'll make excuses why 670 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:51,800 gambling's OK even though people are losing money at a rapid, 671 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:54,480 rapid rate. It's an epidemic. 672 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:58,960 And by the way, Massachusetts is #1 which makes us #50 but number 673 00:34:58,960 --> 00:35:02,120 one in gambling money in the United States. 674 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:04,600 Which again, to me puts it dead last. 675 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:07,280 But as far as numbers per capita, we spend more on 676 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:08,640 gambling in this state than anyone else. 677 00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:17,440 Alcohol, tobacco, substances, lewd images. 678 00:35:18,320 --> 00:35:21,880 We can keep going over and over and over again and mankind will 679 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:27,400 find excuse why it's OK. Christians will find excuses why 680 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:31,720 it's OK. But this body is temporary. 681 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:35,200 It's not meat for the belly and belly for meat. 682 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:40,440 It's the body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body. 683 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:42,840 Well, I'll tell you what I want to do. 684 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:47,800 You already messed up. It doesn't matter what you want 685 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:50,360 to do. And this is the pastor thing, 686 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:51,440 because it doesn't matter what I want. 687 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:53,400 To. Do What does God tell us to do? 688 00:35:55,040 --> 00:35:57,680 We're on this earth for such a short time. 689 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:00,680 We have to live for Him because it's not just the temporary 690 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:02,360 nature of the body. But listen, we got to finish. 691 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:04,200 It's the eternal nature of the soul. 692 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:06,000 It's the eternal nature of the soul. 693 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:10,560 Verse #14 And God has both raised up the Lord and will also 694 00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:16,240 raise us up by His own power. Meaning this, whatever we do in 695 00:36:16,240 --> 00:36:19,080 this life has ramifications for the next. 696 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:22,480 And whatever we do in this life is so short term. 697 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:25,680 I've just started. We've just started in the world 698 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:30,720 of investing, Beautiful, weird world of investments. 699 00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:34,480 And you know what I found? I can do a whole lot more with 700 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:37,880 $50 now than I can in an investment account. 701 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:42,960 We'd go out to a nice meal. We could, we could go to the 702 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:45,640 Olive Garden and get, no, never mind, but we could, we go out 703 00:36:45,640 --> 00:36:48,080 for a nice meal, we could do something like that. 704 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:51,480 That'd be great. But I found that if I'm patient 705 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:56,280 and put that in an account, 30 years from now I could buy an 706 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:58,080 Olive Garden. OK, that's a little bit of 707 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:03,920 exaggeration. The idea is when you realize the 708 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:08,240 nature of now compared to the nature of that which is to come, 709 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:11,240 it changes the way you make decisions. 710 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:15,960 I'll run that by one more time. When you realize the nature of 711 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:19,320 now compared to the nature of that which is to come, it 712 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:21,360 changes the way you make decisions. 713 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:26,000 The problem was the Corinthians were thinking of the now they 714 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:28,760 were thinking of the temporary the meats or the belly and the 715 00:37:28,760 --> 00:37:30,680 belly of the meats. And that's why he says God will 716 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:34,000 destroy both it and them, meaning this the meats going to 717 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:35,960 be a gone and we're going to be gone someday. 718 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:42,000 What's going to be left? Your soul and for all. 719 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:43,920 Eternity. I can't imagine that we would 720 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:44,600 say. I. 721 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:46,760 Wished I had lived it up a little bit more while I was on 722 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:49,040 earth. But I think a lot of us will 723 00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:51,000 echo the him where we say bye and bye. 724 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:55,360 When I look on his face, His beautiful face, by and by, When 725 00:37:55,360 --> 00:37:58,920 I look on his face, I will wish I had given him more. 726 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:02,080 And we sing that song and it's sweet and it's beautiful. 727 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:06,320 Now it will be a reality for us all before we know it. 728 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:08,920 Well. Christian liberty. 729 00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:10,520 I just, I can do whatever I want, right? 730 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:14,360 Well, you are free to serve Christ, not free from Christ. 731 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:16,320 I'll give you this example and I'm done. 732 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:19,360 How free do you think the Israelites were at the end of 733 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:23,080 the book of Judges? Twice it mentions. 734 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:25,240 Particularly the last verse of the book. 735 00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:28,680 In those days there was no king in Israel, and every man did 736 00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:30,840 that which was right in their own eyes. 737 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:38,520 They're free. No judge, no king, no burdensome 738 00:38:38,520 --> 00:38:42,720 theocracy over them. They could do whatever they 739 00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:48,840 want, and they acted in some of the most disgusting and wicked 740 00:38:48,840 --> 00:38:51,720 ways at the end of the book of Judges. 741 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:55,560 So much so when you read it, you're thinking, are these 742 00:38:55,680 --> 00:39:01,640 really God's children when they are slaughtering each other, 743 00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:08,760 when they are stealing women and forcibly marrying them to 744 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:16,040 another tribe so that that tribe doesn't disappear to see rape, 745 00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:21,720 to see murder, to see one thing after another. 746 00:39:21,720 --> 00:39:24,720 And you say, are these the people of God? 747 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:27,720 Oh, yeah. And they're free. 748 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:32,720 But they got the wrong kind of freedom where they realizes when 749 00:39:32,720 --> 00:39:37,560 they were under God's control, they were more free than they 750 00:39:37,560 --> 00:39:40,520 ever wanted to be. Me tell you, when you're under 751 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:42,160 the power of alcohol, are you really free? 752 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:45,120 Well, I could do what I want. You really free. 753 00:39:46,720 --> 00:39:48,400 When you're under the power of pornography, are you really 754 00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:51,000 free? No. 755 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:54,800 When you're in the power of anger, when every day you're 756 00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:57,240 just ready to fight, are you really free? 757 00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:03,000 When you're under the power of bitterness, I mean, it roils 758 00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:06,520 your soul from morning to night, are you really free? 759 00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:09,960 The answer is pretty clear. The answer is no. 760 00:40:11,080 --> 00:40:14,400 So we look at ourselves tonight. What is the body allowed to do? 761 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:17,240 Well, we should ask ourselves this question. 762 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:22,680 We're allowed to do whatever we want technically, but will it 763 00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:24,640 help you? Will it hold you? 764 00:40:26,120 --> 00:40:29,000 Because these are the things that help us serve Christ and 765 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:31,600 not our own flesh. Then we ask ourselves, what's 766 00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:34,080 the body for? Is it meat for the belly and 767 00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:36,600 belly for the meat? No, it's the body for the Lord 768 00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:40,280 and the Lord for the body. And there's a life that we live 769 00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:43,800 now, but there is a life to come and we ought to live for that 770 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:46,080 life and not the temporary nature of this. 771 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:49,880 Listen, don't be defined by what you are against. 772 00:40:50,920 --> 00:40:53,920 I'm leave the studio, I'm done. I don't want to be just the one 773 00:40:53,920 --> 00:40:56,080 that you go to that church and they're just against everything. 774 00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:57,600 You go to Liberty Baptist Church, they're against 775 00:40:57,600 --> 00:40:58,680 everything. They don't even get chocolate 776 00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:01,640 milk. OK, I'm not against chocolate 777 00:41:01,640 --> 00:41:04,600 milk, but you don't understand. Don't be defined about what you 778 00:41:04,600 --> 00:41:08,200 are against as a believer. Be defined in who you are for. 779 00:41:09,360 --> 00:41:11,920 The things that I avoid is not because I'm against all those 780 00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:14,880 things, although I know the word of God is against them. 781 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:17,840 But it's really I'm not just against them to say them against 782 00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:19,720 them because that's where pride and arrogance can come in. 783 00:41:20,280 --> 00:41:22,240 Well, I'm against them. I'm better at being against them 784 00:41:22,240 --> 00:41:25,040 than you. No, I want to be defined by what 785 00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:26,400 I'm for. What's that? 786 00:41:26,920 --> 00:41:29,680 I want to live for Christ. And as I do, it will be so much 787 00:41:29,680 --> 00:41:33,560 easier to be against those things because I know they will 788 00:41:33,560 --> 00:41:36,360 not help me in my walk with Jesus. 789 00:41:37,080 --> 00:41:39,760 Thank you for listening to the sermon from the pulpit of 790 00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:42,640 Liberty Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing 791 00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:46,120 to you, or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us 792 00:41:46,120 --> 00:41:50,720 know by contacting us at info@mylibertybaptist.org. 793 00:41:51,000 --> 00:41:55,520 Or you can visit us this Sunday at 800 Washington St. in Easton, 794 00:41:55,520 --> 00:41:58,360 MA. May the Lord bless you as you 795 00:41:58,360 --> 00:41:59,560 grow in His Word.