1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:03,480 That was good singing. Praise the Lord. 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:09,400 Let's turn our Bibles to 1st Thessalonians chapter 4. 3 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:21,640 We're going to read the first 8 verses, reading, of course, from 4 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,320 the King James Bible. The words will come up and 5 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:31,040 scream for all who are on line. And could I just mention as 6 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:35,960 you're turning to the place and maybe show some of these at some 7 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,760 stage. But we have some lovely Bibles 8 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:43,200 that some I found in a box and put them away and forgot all 9 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:45,680 about them. But we have them available and 10 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:51,880 if anybody would like a Bible, then we can supply you with 11 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:54,200 that. I I'll, I'll show them some time 12 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:59,000 on camera and then you can at least pick or you can decide 13 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,560 what 1 you want. First Thessalonians chapter 4, 14 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,720 we're reading from verse one. Let's hear the word of God. 15 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:13,200 Furthermore, then, we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by 16 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:17,960 the Lord Jesus, that as you have received of us how you ought to 17 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:22,720 walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more. 18 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,520 For ye know what commandments we give you by the Lord Jesus. 19 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:34,560 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that 20 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:38,880 ye should abstain from fornication, that everyone of 21 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:42,880 you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and 22 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:49,280 honour, not in the lust of concopients, Even as the 23 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:54,120 Gentiles, which know not God, that no man go beyond and 24 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:59,120 defraud his brother in any matter, because that the Lord is 25 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:03,520 the adventure of all. Such as we also have forewarned 26 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:08,320 you and testified. For God have not called us unto 27 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:15,320 uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, 28 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:24,760 despiseth not man, but God, who have also given unto us His Holy 29 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:26,400 Spirit. Amen. 30 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,200 We know the God and stamp of His own approval and blessing, this 31 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,480 reading of His own precious and infallible word. 32 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:39,240 In now this morning we are continuing with our series of 33 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:44,400 expository sermons in the book of First Thessalonians, and my 34 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:50,920 text today is taken from First Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 3 35 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:56,360 right through to the verse 8, and I've entitled the message 36 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:03,600 today called unto holiness. First Thessalonians four and 37 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:07,000 three says, For this is the will of God, even your 38 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,560 sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication. 39 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:17,160 Verse 7 For God have not called us unto uncleanness, but unto 40 00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:20,600 holiness. Now notice how the chapter 41 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,600 opens. It opens with the first word 42 00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:30,920 furthermore than we beseech you. The word furthermore means the 43 00:03:30,920 --> 00:03:37,080 next or next in lane or the next thing. 44 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:46,040 It indicates a change of subject at the end of chapter 3. 45 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,280 The apostle Paul had been praying that these new converts 46 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,680 at Theftnananka would stand fast in the Lord. 47 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,960 Chapter 3, verse 8. He prayed that their faith would 48 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:02,040 be strengthened and that their hearts would be established 49 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,280 unblameable in holiness before God. 50 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:11,120 Verses 11 and 12, the word stablish, remember, means to be 51 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:20,480 fixed, to set fast, unmovable. And Paul was desirous and 52 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:25,600 praying that these new converts would be fixed, would be set 53 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:31,360 fast, would be unmovable in regard to holiness of life 54 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:35,600 before God. And having stated that, he then 55 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:41,600 moves on to the next thing from that affirmation about holiness, 56 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:49,160 he now is desiring to set before them practical instructions for 57 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:53,520 holy living, because in chapter 4 he develops the theme of 58 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:58,360 holiness in more detail. Notice in the passage first 59 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:02,120 Thessalonians 4, verse 3. For this is the will of God, 60 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,920 even your sanctification, that you should abstain from 61 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:11,240 fornication. Notice the mention of 62 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:15,560 sanctification and then in verse four that everyone of you should 63 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:20,480 know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour. 64 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:25,000 And then in chapter 4, verse seven, I've already read to you. 65 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,680 I'd read it again. For God hath not called us unto 66 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:31,160 uncleanness, but unto holiness. And the word holiness is the 67 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:35,360 same Greek word that's translated sanctification. 68 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:46,120 So three times this word in the Greek sanctification and 69 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:52,280 holiness has been mentioned, a threefold usage. 3 is the number 70 00:05:52,280 --> 00:05:55,760 of witnesses, and what we're seeing here in this whole 71 00:05:55,760 --> 00:06:00,240 section is the vital subject of holiness of life. 72 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:05,480 You see the Church of Jesus Christ, and I use that in a 73 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:09,840 collective sense, the Church of Jesus Christ, every born again 74 00:06:09,840 --> 00:06:16,000 believer is called unto holiness, called to a life of 75 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,960 sanctification unto the Lord. Now this is a vital subject, 76 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:25,880 This is a valuable subject, this is a victorious subject. 77 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:31,400 If I was to ask the question, what is God's will for the 78 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,320 Christian? You see, you would interpret 79 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:40,800 that more personally. What is God's will for me as a 80 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,560 Christian? Now I'm conscious that that is a 81 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:49,400 personal, that's also a powerful, it is also a practical 82 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:53,960 subject, the will of God. But it also can be a problematic 83 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:58,400 subject because often times we relate it to the narrow topic. 84 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,760 Like, you know, as a young man, I'm a Christian. 85 00:07:02,840 --> 00:07:06,960 Whom should I marry? I don't have a girlfriend, Lord, 86 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:11,680 but whom should I marry? Or we could ask the question, 87 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,760 Lord, what career should I pursue? 88 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:18,160 Do you want me to be a joiner or a bricklayer? 89 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:21,000 Do you want me to be a plumber? Do you want me to be a 90 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,800 barrister? You see, another question comes 91 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:30,240 to mind. Where should I serve the Lord? 92 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,800 Another question is what are my spiritual gifts? 93 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,400 Another question is in what way can I serve the Lord? 94 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:45,320 You see the the asking of these questions in our mind and 95 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:48,720 verbally before the Lord show us that we're in a personal 96 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:55,200 relationship with the Lord, that we we know God, that we that we 97 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:59,040 love him, that that we want to honour and serve him. 98 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:05,200 And yet for many people, despite this being a personal practical 99 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,360 thing, it can also be problematic. 100 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:13,720 And it's problematic in this way because so often the very clear, 101 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:18,680 plain, precise knowledge of God's will that we made clear 102 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,280 and plain in the Scriptures is overlooked and set to the one 103 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,080 side. And we can be focused on whom 104 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,400 we're going to marry and what career we're going to do and 105 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,480 what way the Lord wants me to serve him and exercise his 106 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:31,760 gifts. And yet the very plea and thing 107 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:35,480 that jumps out of the page of Holy Scripture can so often be 108 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,760 ignored by us or so often we could be indifferent to that. 109 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:45,440 So Paul makes it clear, plea precise. 110 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,240 There's no controversy here. Look at verse 3 again. 111 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:55,400 For this is the will of God. What even your sanctification 112 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:02,040 that you should abstain from fornication? 113 00:09:02,560 --> 00:09:09,200 There's no one contention here. Every born again believer all 114 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,960 this morning who belong to Jesus Christ in this house and in 115 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,720 every congregation where the Lord's people gather, those 116 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:21,480 found in saving union with Jesus Christ, who have received him as 117 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,480 Lord and Saviour, who have a testimony to a saving and 118 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:29,720 keeping power, Every one of them, including us, are called 119 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:35,600 to obey this call. And this call is to holiness. 120 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:44,360 All true Christians experience to some degree or not, this 121 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:50,480 concept of sanctification. You see, we live in a land for 122 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,800 its goodly heritage in Northern Ireland, but 10s of thousands of 123 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,440 our people profess the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 124 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:04,200 They profess to be Christians, but yet the reality is that in 125 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,800 their life they have no thought of holiness. 126 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:11,280 They have no heart, desire for holiness. 127 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,600 There's no holiness in their life to any degree. 128 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,240 Their life has never been changed or impacted. 129 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,240 Even though they have the name of Christ on their lips, even 130 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:24,680 though they say, well, they know God and worship him because 131 00:10:24,680 --> 00:10:28,600 their life has been never changed or never transformed. 132 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:33,040 We have to say to those people, you don't know God, and if you 133 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:36,720 profess to know God, you just have an empty outward shell of 134 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:38,840 profession. You're not in a state of grace 135 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,680 because the Bible says in the book of Hebrews, in Hebrews 136 00:10:42,680 --> 00:10:48,760 chapter 12 and in the verse 14, listen to the word of God, it 137 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:59,120 says follow peace with all men and holiness without which no 138 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:05,000 man shall see the Lord. So my theme today based on this 139 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:09,280 passage of Scripture is called unto holiness. 140 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:15,880 Now three things and I I'll try to be brief. 1 The essence of 141 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:20,240 the call to holiness. I've already told you three 142 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:24,480 times in this passage you've got the subject of holiness, verse 143 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,800 3, the word sanctification, the verse 4, the word 144 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,040 sanctification, the word 7 unto holiness. 145 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:35,280 It's the same Greek word 3 * 3 is the number of witness. 146 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:39,040 And we're understanding here from a scriptural and 147 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:44,440 theological point of view that there's 3 phases of what we call 148 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,800 sanctification, or three aspects to sanctification. 149 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:51,960 And each member of the Triune Godhead is involved in these 150 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:57,720 three phases or three aspects of sanctification in unique ways. 151 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,480 There's such a thing as positional sanctification. 152 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:06,080 Positional sanctification occurs the moment you receive Jesus 153 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:10,280 Christ as Lord and Saviour, the moment you're born again of the 154 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:15,840 Holy Spirit, the moment you come to Jesus Christ and rest in him 155 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:19,440 alone and receive him by faith for salvation. 156 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:23,680 At that precise moment you are positioned in Christ. 157 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:27,680 That is, you're put into Christ, you're put in a saving union 158 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,000 with Christ, you're placed in him. 159 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:36,960 And God views us and sees us as holy because of that saving 160 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:38,840 union with Christ. And that's what we call 161 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:42,520 theologically positional sanctification. 162 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:48,080 Then the second thing is what we call progressive sanctification. 163 00:12:48,680 --> 00:12:52,480 This is where the Holy Spirit, and if you look at verse 8, it 164 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:55,920 mentions the Holy Spirit. He therefore the despiseth, 165 00:12:55,920 --> 00:13:00,880 despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy 166 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,520 Spirit. And you see, the Holy Spirit not 167 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:08,760 only regenerates the dead centre in the newness of life, but the 168 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:12,280 Holy Spirit also indwells every true believer. 169 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,800 And the Holy Spirit who resides in your human body seeks to 170 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:22,840 conform that body, seeks to conform your character into the 171 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:28,280 likeness of Christ. Yes, the true believer in Christ 172 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:32,200 is legally declared righteous in the sight of God because he's 173 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:36,240 found in union with Christ. But remember, he lives out his 174 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:42,520 life on earth. He lives his life in a sinful 175 00:13:42,560 --> 00:13:47,520 fallen body which still trends towards sin. 176 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,040 Remember we all sin in thought and word and deed. 177 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:55,320 Remember what John says. He says if we say we have not 178 00:13:55,320 --> 00:14:00,120 sinned, we make him a liar. And his word if not in us he 179 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:05,040 tells us, My little children, these things write I unto you, 180 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:07,320 that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we've an 181 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,640 advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 182 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,320 We're called to holiness, and yet in that call to holiness, we 183 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,880 discover corruption of our hearts and our minds. 184 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:23,120 And it's only by our advocate in heaven that were declared 185 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:25,880 legally righteous in the sight of God. 186 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:29,480 But we not only have an advocate in heaven, we have an advocate 187 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:34,440 in our hearts because the Holy Spirit enables and empowers 188 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,840 every true believer and brings them into your life of power and 189 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,040 victory. Helps us to choose the right 190 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,840 pathway. Helps us to say no to sin. 191 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,600 Helps us to choose this life of holiness. 192 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,120 Puts that desire and thought in our mind. 193 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:52,920 The motto for our life is holding us unto the Lord despite 194 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:57,440 being tempted to sin, despite being sinful creatures and 195 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:59,200 sinning against the Lord and thought word. 196 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:03,640 Indeed, we're on a progressive pathway, and the pathway is 197 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:09,000 towards dying unto sin and living unto righteousness. 198 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:14,160 And then third aspect is perfected sanctification that 199 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:19,080 happens upon death. Person dies in Christ, their 200 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:22,680 soul and spirit enters into the presence of the Lord, and 201 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:27,600 they're numbered even as a disembodied soul among the 202 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:32,400 justified made perfect. And their soul and spirit is 203 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,520 with Christ, and they await the physical resurrection from the 204 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,880 dead. But in that disembodied state, 205 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:42,400 the moment they enter into the presence of the Lord, they're 206 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:51,520 free finally from sin's power and from sin's presence once for 207 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,640 all. Now in First Thessalonians 208 00:15:54,640 --> 00:16:00,400 chapter 4, verses 3 through to 8, the apostle Paul is dealing 209 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,560 with this second aspect of sanctification. 210 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,880 He's not dealing with positional sanctification. 211 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:11,760 He's not dealing at this stage with perfect sanctification. 212 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:15,240 He is dealing with progressive sanctification. 213 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:21,160 And here's the point, brothers and sisters, if you profess to 214 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:27,040 know and love Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God dwells in you and 215 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:29,320 His ministry, in your heart and life. 216 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:37,560 His work, His aim, His purpose is to enable you to conform unto 217 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:44,120 the image of Christ. He's our great helper, and He's 218 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:49,240 a guest helper to transform us into the likeness of Jesus. 219 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,800 Remember our catechism, What is sanctification? 220 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:59,000 Sanctification is the work of God's free grace by which we are 221 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:05,599 renewed in the whole man, in the image of God, and are enabled 222 00:17:05,599 --> 00:17:09,599 more and more to die on the sin and to live on the 223 00:17:09,599 --> 00:17:13,240 righteousness. Now that's the essence of this 224 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:17,680 called the sanctification. That's what sanctification is. 225 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,560 The second thing I want to say this morning is this, the 226 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:26,040 exhortation of this call to holiness. 227 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,680 Let's go back to our passage of Scripture. 228 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:31,600 First Thessalonians 4, verse three. 229 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:36,000 Look at the book for this is the will of God, even your 230 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:39,120 sanctification. Now let me make this clear. 231 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:45,600 Sanctification, holiness of life is the will of God. 232 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,920 Look at verse 7. For God has not called us unto 233 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:56,000 uncleanness, but unto holiness. The call here has to do with the 234 00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:00,800 effectual call. There's a calling in view here. 235 00:18:02,360 --> 00:18:06,560 It's the Lord's will. For this is the will of God. 236 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,800 Even your sanctification God has revealed as well. 237 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,800 The will of God is clear and plain. 238 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:16,960 It's a statement of fact. It cannot be misunderstood. 239 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:21,960 It can't be argued over. I'm sorry to tell you, but there 240 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,760 shouldn't be any controversy here. 241 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:29,600 Sadly, many make it a controversy. 242 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:36,440 It is God's will to make us in Christ. 243 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:42,240 It's God's will to make his people in Christ a holy people 244 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,920 unto himself. God's will is not determined by 245 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:53,200 the standards of unholy men. It's not determined by the words 246 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:58,640 and the counsels of unholy men. God's will is not to live 247 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,000 according to the lust of the flesh. 248 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:06,080 God's will is not for us to do the works of the flesh. 249 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:12,240 God's will is not to be following the temptations and 250 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:17,960 the counsel of the devil. God's will is that we in Christ, 251 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,640 that's the key, positionally in him. 252 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:28,640 But God's will is in Christ. We passionately strive, we 253 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:32,480 purposefully strive to live a life of holiness under God. 254 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,320 They will never be perfect. You'll never perfectly strive. 255 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,680 There's many areas in thought where indeed where we will feel 256 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:44,200 day and daily, but in Christ there will be this mindset. 257 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:50,000 I must purposely and passionately strive to live a 258 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:54,040 holy life unto God, not in order to be saved. 259 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:57,520 Let me make that clear because see some people listening to me 260 00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:59,600 and say, but you're preaching salvation by works. 261 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:04,640 I'm not. Called on the holiness is not 262 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:11,160 the ground of salvation, but it's the evidence that being 263 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:15,480 possessioned in Christ, we're called on the holiness and we 264 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:19,200 progress in this pathway. The motto is Holiness unto the 265 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:22,880 Lord and we're living for that day when we'll be perfected in 266 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:30,600 holiness and free from sins presence and it's power in our 267 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:35,160 lives. I want to tell this morning it's 268 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:40,200 the Christian's duty, it's the Christian's responsibility to 269 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:48,560 strive after a holy life. In the Christian life your aim 270 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:52,200 and goal and purpose is to walk to please Him. 271 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:57,080 We talked about walking with God last week and in that walk you 272 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:02,040 will die more and more unto sin. You'll say no to sin, and you'll 273 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:07,640 live more and more unto righteousness, holiness of heart 274 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:09,320 and mind. Over there in the book of 275 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,280 Ephesians, Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 4, it says this 276 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,880 according as you have chosen us and Him before the foundation of 277 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:21,000 the world, that we should be holy and without blame before 278 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:25,640 Him in love. What is God's ultimate purpose 279 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,720 for you as a Christian? You, you're consumed. 280 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,960 And sometimes I was a young Christian with you know, who 281 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,800 will I marry and what, what job will it do? 282 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:36,960 And what way does God want me to serve him? 283 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:39,200 And what what gifts has God-given to me? 284 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:41,160 But that's not the ultimate purpose. 285 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:46,520 Our ultimate purpose as a Christian should be holiness 286 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,640 unto the Lord. Remember what we read there in 287 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:54,520 the book of Ephesians and I was taken up with this this week in 288 00:21:54,520 --> 00:22:00,120 my study, Ephesians 5 and it says there in verse 25, 289 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:03,040 husbands, love your wives. That's our duty and 290 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,720 responsibility. Husbands, how do we do it even 291 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:09,880 as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. 292 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,560 Again, the church is used collectively here. 293 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,080 Notice gave himself for it. Well, that's His sinless life 294 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:19,120 and atoning death in the cross. To what purpose? 295 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:22,000 Look at verse 26, or listen to the words, that he might 296 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:26,320 sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word. 297 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:29,640 You see, that's progressional sanctification. 298 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,680 And then verse 27, here's the perfection of sanctification, 299 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:36,960 that He might present it to Himself, a glorious church, not 300 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:40,000 having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should 301 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:47,320 be holy and without blemish. The entire company of all of 302 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:51,840 true believers are in view. Christ loved the church and gave 303 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,360 Himself for it. And here's the consequence of 304 00:22:54,360 --> 00:22:57,840 that, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of 305 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:03,080 water by the Word. And the ultimate purpose that He 306 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,000 might present it to himself. A glorious church, not only spot 307 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:08,600 or wrinkle or any such thing, but that should be holy and 308 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:13,800 without blame does not tie in the 1st Thessalonians 5 and 23 309 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:16,840 and the very God of peace sanctify you holy, and I pray 310 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:20,400 God your Holy Spirit and soul and body, we preserve blameless 311 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:28,680 unto the coming of our Lord Jesus. 3 aspects all connected 312 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,320 to this call. A call to positional, 313 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:35,280 progressive and perfect sanctification. 314 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:43,040 We could say loads in this, could write a book in this, but 315 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:48,280 sanctification is God's clear, precise, plain, revealed will 316 00:23:48,360 --> 00:23:55,840 for every child of God. Now this one text, this passage 317 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:01,880 calls and deals a death blow to those who say that the Christian 318 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:05,680 doesn't need to pursue and live out a life of holiness unto the 319 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,680 Lord. He or she can live as they like. 320 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:11,800 We live in a day like the judges. 321 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:14,240 Every man did that which is right in his own eyes. 322 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:17,400 But the Bible says if any man be in Christ as a new creature, old 323 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:20,120 things have passed away and all things have become new and all 324 00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:22,080 things are of God. And how many today in Northern 325 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:23,720 Ireland say, But I believe in Jesus. 326 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:27,440 I've asked Jesus into my heart. I've asked him into my life. 327 00:24:28,360 --> 00:24:30,600 Well, has your life changed and transformed? 328 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:34,840 You see, many are gambling, many are drunkers, many are 329 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:36,680 adulterers, many are fornicators. 330 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:39,640 There's many wife beaters and drug addicts and liars and 331 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:41,640 cheats. And there's many of their heart 332 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,240 filled with rage and violence and, and there's a lot of 333 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:46,920 domestic violence at this time of the year. 334 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,560 And at other times others can become full of jealousy and 335 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:53,200 pride and envy. I may have to say to them, but 336 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:56,440 if you profess the name of Christ, if any man be in Christ, 337 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:57,880 he's what? He's a new creature. 338 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,200 All things have passed away, all things have become you, all 339 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,680 things are of God. I remember Paul wrote to Timothy 340 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,760 and said the Lord knoweth them that are his, but let him that 341 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:12,800 names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 342 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:14,880 Is the life changed and transformed? 343 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,800 Is there evidence that there's a name and purpose in that life to 344 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:24,120 persevere and make progress in a life of holiness, a life of 345 00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:27,840 godliness before the Lord? Again, it's not the ground it's 346 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:30,400 but the evidence. It's but the fruit. 347 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:35,280 Remember Paul says there in first Peter and in first Peter 348 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:38,520 chapter 1. I read this in verse 15. 349 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:41,280 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all 350 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:45,040 manner of conversation, because it is written, Be ye holy, for I 351 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,320 am holy. This is the will of God. 352 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:53,400 And I asked you to ask yourself, what's God's will for me? 353 00:25:55,280 --> 00:26:02,040 It's clear, it's plain. And what's the one reason the 354 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:06,240 God you profess to love and serve is a holy God. 355 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:11,840 And because God is holy, he wants his children to be holy. 356 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:15,120 He wants his church to be a holy church. 357 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,920 And this is important, not just for me as the minister, not just 358 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:23,080 for the elders, not just for the deacons, not just for those who 359 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:26,360 are in positions of leadership and, and, and the most prominent 360 00:26:26,360 --> 00:26:30,920 person, Well, he better be holy. No, it's for all in Christ. 361 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:34,000 We're all in the same level, we're all in the same boat. 362 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:37,920 It's not being selective. The entire company of God's 363 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:41,920 people is in view. You see the tendency among 364 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:43,160 someone? I'm labouring the point. 365 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:48,480 Well, it doesn't apply to me. It does. 366 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:54,320 Everyone in Christ, from those who are children upwards, are 367 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:57,400 called to live out a sanctified life before the Lord. 368 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:02,760 Sal invasion, sanctification is an ongoing matter in the 369 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:05,440 Christian life. And if you take the illustration 370 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:07,960 of the children of Israel, remember they crossed the 371 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:10,640 Jordan, they come into the land of promised inheritance. 372 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:15,120 And in that land, well, they had to engage in battles. 373 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:20,800 There was territory to take and the new defeats and the new 374 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:22,720 setbacks. In fact, they didn't even take 375 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:24,320 it all. And that's a picture of the 376 00:27:24,320 --> 00:27:29,440 Christian life, though the, the, the, the battles in the promised 377 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:32,600 land is a picture here of the battles and struggles of the 378 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:36,560 Christian against sin and Satan and against wickedness. 379 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:43,920 Now that's the first two points. The second point is this not 380 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:49,040 just the essence of what it is, not just the exhortation, but I 381 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:53,320 want you to think of this, the experience of this call to 382 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:56,640 holiness. Now ask yourself this question, 383 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:00,800 what's the reason? Why did Paul put this into the 384 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:04,120 Bible at this stage and writing this letter to this church in 385 00:28:04,120 --> 00:28:11,200 Thessalonica? Notice the words here in verse 3 386 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:15,360 that you should abstain from fornication. 387 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:22,800 Here's a specific sin that's mentioned, and it's mentioned in 388 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:27,400 the context of sanctification and the will of God for the 389 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:32,880 Christian is to abstain from fornication, to say no. 390 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:38,600 He says in verse 7, for God has not called us unto uncleanness. 391 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:42,320 What's that got to do with it? You see, sometimes we think of 392 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:43,880 uncleanness. We think of being physically 393 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:45,600 dirty. Well, I need to get a bath. 394 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:48,600 I need to have a shower. Well, it's young people. 395 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:51,600 It's not a reference to physical uncleanness. 396 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:56,000 OK, so let's put that away. It's a reference to moral 397 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:58,960 uncleanness. It's a reference to living a 398 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:02,200 life of iniquity and a life of immorality. 399 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:05,520 Look at verse four, that everyone of you should know how 400 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:09,800 to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour. 401 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,280 I believe that's a reference to the body. 402 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,080 His vessel is really a reference to his body. 403 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,920 Some take it to be the man's wife, but it could be, it could 404 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:24,520 be both. I, I don't know that, but I, I, 405 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:29,600 I, I, I take it to be that the man's body in view, because 406 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:35,720 remember, it's with our bodies, and then that body we can live 407 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:40,240 out a life where we manifest only the works of the flesh. 408 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:45,880 But all kinds of sensual impurity and all kinds of 409 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:52,320 immorality. Many live with a moral 410 00:29:52,320 --> 00:30:00,280 looseness, no sense of decency, no sense of morality, no sense 411 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:05,840 of integrity, a life of beers, sensual pleasure. 412 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:13,280 And the apostle Paul is saying that life of sensual pleasure, 413 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:16,840 the child of God is to abstain from. 414 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:19,960 Why? Because the will of God is a 415 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:24,960 sanctification. I have to be very careful here, 416 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:30,200 and you understand why. Notice this word fornication. 417 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:36,800 Here's the elephant in the room. What is fornication? 418 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:43,960 The Greek word is purnia. It's used 25 times in the New 419 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:48,840 Testament, and I don't want to get descriptive, and I'm not, 420 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:53,240 but it refers to a young man or woman not married, living 421 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:55,480 together in an intimate relationship. 422 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:02,520 It's used of intimate encounters outside of marriage. 423 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:07,800 It's used of adultery. Married man leaves his wife, 424 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:12,400 goes off with another man's wife. 425 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:20,680 Used of incest, used of rape, used of homosexuality, it's used 426 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:24,360 of pornography. We could include lesbianism and 427 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:28,960 transgenderism. It's used of every kind of 428 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:35,600 sensual sexual impurity. It's used of a sensual, immoral 429 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:38,560 lifestyle. It's depicting all that's vile 430 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:41,440 and unclean. Now, why mention this? 431 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:45,040 Why the emphasis on this sin, Paul? 432 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:47,640 We're, we're scratching our heads here, Paul. 433 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:54,880 Here's the reason. It's one of the marks of the 434 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:59,720 Pagan world, the Roman Empire, the 1st century world. 435 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,200 These Thessalonians, before they converted, they lived a life not 436 00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:07,760 only of gross idolatry, chapter one, verse 9, but along with 437 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:13,800 that life of idolatry, they lived a life that was described 438 00:32:14,040 --> 00:32:18,680 by gross immorality. They were pagans. 439 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:22,480 They did not know God, they didn't love Him, they didn't 440 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:25,840 serve Him. They were in spiritual darkness. 441 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:30,200 Look what he says here. Not in the lust of Concupians, 442 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:33,120 even as the Gentiles which know not God. 443 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:38,440 The Gentiles which knew not God in the 1st century world lived a 444 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:41,560 life of gross idolatry. Go to Athens and see the 445 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:45,800 idolatry there. It was only a specimen example 446 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:49,000 of major towns and cities all throughout the Roman Empire. 447 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:52,720 But not only with a life of gross idolatry. 448 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:56,360 It was a life of gross immorality because along with 449 00:32:56,360 --> 00:33:01,800 that idolatry was all kinds of sensual impurity under the 450 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:07,320 umbrella term of pernia, or as we put it in the English 451 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:13,200 fornication. And Paul is saying, now you're 452 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:19,160 saved, now you're in Christ. That old life has to be 453 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,720 abandoned. And maybe there were some having 454 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:25,600 trouble in this area, and maybe they were questioning in their 455 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:28,840 mind about the will of God. Well, he makes it abundantly 456 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:31,560 clear as he talked about holiness and his prayer for 457 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:37,160 them, He made it clear in the his detailed description, The 458 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:40,920 will of God is you're called unto holiness. 459 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:44,240 Can you think of that Pagan society? 460 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:48,400 Think for example of the city of Ephesus, the great goddess 461 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,440 Diana. They had Pagan worship in that 462 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:53,920 temple. They practised idolatry. 463 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:58,320 They worshipped her statue. But in that Pagan practise, as 464 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:01,600 part of their worship, they practise immorality. 465 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:05,240 And then that temple, there were certain women, we'd call them 466 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:09,080 temple prostitutes and they were there for the pleasure of men 467 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:11,199 and men used them for their pleasure. 468 00:34:11,480 --> 00:34:14,400 At that time. This was the pre Christian world 469 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:20,440 and that was allowed in that day wasn't the mind and well of God, 470 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:25,760 but because men knew not God. These men that would have been 471 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:29,560 involved with these women, they also would have had probably a 472 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:33,719 few other mistresses, few girlfriends, they maybe even had 473 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:39,320 a wife or two at home. Looked upon the wife as there to 474 00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:44,080 bring children into the world and look after the family home. 475 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:48,719 She in the Pagan world. This was their mindset in the 476 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:50,520 Pagan world. They knew not God. 477 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:54,040 They didn't know that God was holy. 478 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:56,000 They didn't know that God hated sin. 479 00:34:56,080 --> 00:34:59,160 And Paul is saying to these Thessalonians, the God whom you 480 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:04,040 now serve, the God whom you now know, that God is holy, not God 481 00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:08,760 hates sin, and that God calls you to abstain from fornication. 482 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:12,000 He has called us in Christ. Here's the reason to a life of 483 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:15,160 holiness. Can I go back to Peter again, 484 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:17,560 just for a minute? Bear with me in first Peter 485 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:20,400 chapter one we read again. But as he which had called you 486 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:22,880 is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. 487 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:26,400 The word conversation means lifestyle because it it is 488 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:29,720 written, be ye holy, for I am holy. 489 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:37,680 A holy life, a holy people unto God is a demonstration and a 490 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:41,920 witness that the God we worship and serve and love, that that 491 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:44,760 God is holy. Now, let me tell you this, and 492 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:47,600 my time has really gone, but I just want to emphasise this 493 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:52,320 point. We live in a day of gross 494 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:56,120 wickedness and immorality. Again, what's happened in 495 00:35:56,120 --> 00:35:58,520 Britain, our United Kingdom has changed. 496 00:35:58,520 --> 00:36:03,000 Up to the 1950s, we could say it was Christianized. 497 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:09,800 In a sense, the impact of Christian influence was felt in 498 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:14,080 the throne room, felt in government, felt in the 499 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:17,120 workplace, felt in home, felt in school. 500 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:20,840 But then something happened in the 1960s. 501 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:26,640 There was a sea change. It was an explosion of what I'm 502 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:30,640 calling immoral destruction. I know some people call it the 503 00:36:30,640 --> 00:36:35,280 sexual revolution, but it's not. It's the explosion of immoral 504 00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:39,160 destruction. And you come on from the 1960s 505 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:45,120 to 2025 and think of the impact on our TV screens, films 506 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:51,440 produced by Hollywood, TV shows, Internet sites, a lot of it even 507 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:54,640 adverts in the television. It's very graphic. 508 00:36:55,200 --> 00:37:00,120 It's a lot of sensual, open, immoral stuff that's poured into 509 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:04,760 our eyes and into our minds. You take the fashion industry, 510 00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:08,600 the books and the magazines. We're living in a day of open 511 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:13,440 iniquity, open immorality. Every kind of sensual pleasure 512 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:15,320 is being promoted. You don't know what has 513 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:17,160 happened. The dam has burst. 514 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:20,480 You see, in the 1950s it was beginning to crack and beginning 515 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:23,960 to leak. What was holding back that wall 516 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:28,320 of iniquity and immorality? I'll tell you two things, the 517 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:34,640 sacredness of Christian marriage that God instituted in Eden and 518 00:37:34,640 --> 00:37:38,560 the sacredness of Christian morality based in the Bible, 519 00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:42,800 based in the Lord's Prayer, the 10 commandments, the Beatitudes 520 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:47,080 were well known, taught in every home, society was ordered, 521 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:52,200 relationships were respectful, there was decent Christianized 522 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:53,720 values. I'm not saying that everyone was 523 00:37:53,720 --> 00:37:55,560 born again. I'm not saying everyone was 524 00:37:55,560 --> 00:37:58,760 professing Christ. But even amongst those born 525 00:37:58,760 --> 00:38:02,680 again, they knew there was a call to holiness and amongst 526 00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:05,680 those who were not born again, they knew that that there was a 527 00:38:05,680 --> 00:38:14,280 God and God was to be feared. Now the time is burst and we're 528 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:18,320 living in a day when every kind of sensual pleasure is being 529 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:20,920 promoted. I, I want to read 1 passage 530 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:23,880 before I wrap up. I, I, I must read this here to 531 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:27,120 you. In Romans chapter 118 we read, 532 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:30,120 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all 533 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:33,600 ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth and 534 00:38:33,600 --> 00:38:37,000 unrighteousness, because that which may be known of God has 535 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:40,280 manifest in them, for God have showed it unto them. 536 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:42,800 For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world 537 00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:44,760 are clearly seen, being understood by the things that 538 00:38:44,760 --> 00:38:48,400 are made, even His eternal power in Godhead, so that they are 539 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:52,200 without excuse and listen. Because not when they knew God, 540 00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:56,000 they glorified Him not as God. Neither were thankful, but 541 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,480 became vain in their imagination, and their foolish 542 00:38:58,480 --> 00:39:00,880 heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be 543 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:04,400 wise, they became fools, Change the glory of the uncorruptible 544 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:07,960 God into an image made like the corruptible man, and to birds 545 00:39:07,960 --> 00:39:09,840 and four footed beasts and creeping things. 546 00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:12,880 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lust 547 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:15,560 of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies 548 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:21,520 between themselves. Society had changed because the 549 00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:25,520 dam had burst. They attacked Christian marriage 550 00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:30,040 and they have attacked Christian morality. 551 00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:37,120 And we today are headed back to the 1st century. 552 00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:40,600 We're headed back to a Pagan world. 553 00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:44,240 We're headed back to a pre Christian era. 554 00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:50,200 We now have an age of gross, sensual immorality. 555 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:57,640 And I finish with this, God's will for us is sanctification. 556 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:00,640 And God works in US sanctification. 557 00:40:00,720 --> 00:40:03,480 We can't do it ourselves. He works in us by His Spirit and 558 00:40:03,480 --> 00:40:05,080 by His word. The Spirit, remember, 559 00:40:05,080 --> 00:40:06,760 regenerates the Spirit and dwells us. 560 00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:09,200 The Spirit sanctifies us. Without the Spirit, remember, 561 00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:12,120 we're none of his. He resides in our bodies. 562 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:15,000 He quickens and He motivates. He convicts us remember, He's 563 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:19,880 the Holy Spirit, verse 8, And the Holy Spirit is holy, and the 564 00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:23,880 Holy Spirit lives in me. And if you have no holiness, you 565 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:25,640 have no Holy Spirit living within you. 566 00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:33,400 The Holy Spirit, see, it's impossible to be dwelt by the 567 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:35,680 Spirit and not no one experiences sanctifying 568 00:40:35,680 --> 00:40:38,080 influence in your heart and in your life. 569 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:41,200 And the moment you trust Christ and the more you receive in him 570 00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:43,280 as Lord and Saviour, your life has changed. 571 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:44,680 And then you begin to have a purpose. 572 00:40:44,680 --> 00:40:47,640 You begin to have a new life and a new love and, and, and the 573 00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:50,120 Spirit brings the fruit of the Spirit into your heart. 574 00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:52,800 And you have a desire to pray and you have a desire to read 575 00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:55,640 and study the scriptures and you want to live a life to please 576 00:40:55,640 --> 00:40:57,560 Him. And, and you realise God is at 577 00:40:57,560 --> 00:41:00,000 work in my heart. Remember, Jesus prayed. 578 00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:03,000 Sanctify them through thy word. Thy word is truth. 579 00:41:05,080 --> 00:41:07,440 Paul was taken up, the Son of God who loved me and gave 580 00:41:07,440 --> 00:41:10,640 himself for me. It's Christ and me, the hope of 581 00:41:10,640 --> 00:41:15,680 glory, the word of Christ, a life of pleasing him. 582 00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:20,560 It's all founded upon Christ, His cross work, the victory of 583 00:41:20,560 --> 00:41:24,640 his cross, growing intimate relationship with him, reading 584 00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:28,160 the Bible and the word of God, meditating upon it, offering 585 00:41:28,160 --> 00:41:31,520 prayer, having fellowship, and you take action when you do sin 586 00:41:31,640 --> 00:41:35,040 and, and, and we can even fall into LAX sin and we can fall 587 00:41:35,040 --> 00:41:38,320 into the gross sin again, but we've got to confess it. 588 00:41:38,720 --> 00:41:43,120 Ask the Lord for forgiveness, Say no by the power of the 589 00:41:43,120 --> 00:41:45,440 Spirit. May the Lord take these few 590 00:41:45,440 --> 00:41:48,520 thoughts this morning that's been on my heart. 591 00:41:48,720 --> 00:41:52,440 I've ate and slept this for a week of almost didn't want to 592 00:41:52,440 --> 00:41:56,800 preach it but I felt that I had to be faithful to the text of 593 00:41:56,800 --> 00:41:59,320 scripture and I trust and pray that will be received in the 594 00:41:59,320 --> 00:42:03,360 spirit in which I have tried to preach it this morning.