WEBVTT 00:00:08.300 --> 00:00:15.759 Verse 11. We looked at the first ten verses last 00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:20.420 week. We talked about the idea that our earthly 00:00:20.420 --> 00:00:23.339 dwelling is like a tent, Paul says. It's something 00:00:23.339 --> 00:00:27.120 that's falling apart, it's wearing out, but we 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:29.960 look forward to something better. We look forward 00:00:29.960 --> 00:00:32.799 to a day that we put on a... better dwelling, 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:35.020 that we dwell in the presence of the Lord in 00:00:35.020 --> 00:00:37.719 a building, it says. We're moving from a tent 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:40.340 to a building, something that's being destroyed 00:00:40.340 --> 00:00:43.039 to something that's indestructible, so to speak, 00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:46.140 something that's eternal. And so Paul says, look, 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:49.159 this is what keeps me going. This is my focus. 00:00:49.219 --> 00:00:51.600 This is my motivation to know that even though 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:53.929 this old body is being wore out, I'm going to 00:00:53.929 --> 00:00:57.310 keep doing the work of the Lord until I go to 00:00:57.310 --> 00:01:00.590 be with the Lord. And then he closed in the last 00:01:00.590 --> 00:01:04.810 verse that we looked at last week with this idea 00:01:04.810 --> 00:01:08.189 that we would all one day stand before the judgment 00:01:08.189 --> 00:01:12.390 seat of Jesus Christ and to determine whether 00:01:12.390 --> 00:01:14.950 the works we have done and the words we have 00:01:14.950 --> 00:01:17.909 spoken, if they are good or if they are worthless, 00:01:18.049 --> 00:01:22.920 if they are good or if they are bad. Tonight, 00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:26.939 we will continue on with that idea in 2 Corinthians 00:01:26.939 --> 00:01:31.040 5, verse 11. Let's pray, and then we'll start. 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:35.140 God, we thank you for your word. I pray that 00:01:35.140 --> 00:01:37.219 you would help us to grow in your word, dear 00:01:37.219 --> 00:01:40.379 Lord, that we would follow Paul's example, God, 00:01:40.519 --> 00:01:43.599 that we would have a focus that is beyond the 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:46.719 things that we see in this world, but that our 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:49.659 faith would just strengthen us to continue to 00:01:49.659 --> 00:01:53.079 serve you, even if we don't. Don't see things 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:55.099 the way that we want to see them, dear Lord, 00:01:55.219 --> 00:01:57.299 even if they don't always make sense, even if 00:01:57.299 --> 00:02:00.379 life is sometimes difficult, dear Lord. I pray 00:02:00.379 --> 00:02:02.719 that we would trust you in everything that we 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:04.659 do, and I pray that we'd be faithful to you. 00:02:04.700 --> 00:02:06.599 I pray that your Holy Spirit would be among us 00:02:06.599 --> 00:02:09.379 tonight and just guide me in the words to say 00:02:09.379 --> 00:02:12.219 and help us all to hear your words. In Jesus' 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:18.490 name I pray it. Amen. Verse 11. Therefore, now 00:02:18.490 --> 00:02:20.750 keep in mind, therefore he just talked about 00:02:20.750 --> 00:02:23.310 standing before the judgment seat of Christ so 00:02:23.310 --> 00:02:25.389 that each may be repaid for what he has done 00:02:25.389 --> 00:02:29.930 in body, whether good or worthless. Therefore, 00:02:30.009 --> 00:02:34.189 because we know the fear of the Lord, we seek 00:02:34.189 --> 00:02:37.750 to persuade people. We are completely open before 00:02:37.750 --> 00:02:41.229 God, and I hope we are completely open to your 00:02:41.229 --> 00:02:44.659 conscience as well. So with this in mind, the 00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:47.319 fact that one day we will all have to stand before 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:51.939 God, Paul says, this is my motivation. We know 00:02:51.939 --> 00:02:54.060 the fear of the Lord. We know what it's going 00:02:54.060 --> 00:02:56.180 to be like to stand before the Lord in judgment. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:02:59.419 And so we want to make sure that we are serving 00:02:59.419 --> 00:03:02.120 the Lord and living in obedience to him. But 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:04.719 not only ourselves, we want to make sure that 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:07.039 we're doing the work so that others will hear. 00:03:07.389 --> 00:03:09.590 So that they will know that the things that we 00:03:09.590 --> 00:03:11.629 do and the things that we say and the things 00:03:11.629 --> 00:03:14.009 that we think, the things that are in our heart, 00:03:14.090 --> 00:03:16.689 one day will come to light. One day we will have 00:03:16.689 --> 00:03:20.069 to stand before the Lord. And that should strike 00:03:20.069 --> 00:03:24.210 some fear into us. It does Paul here. He says, 00:03:24.229 --> 00:03:28.090 we know the fear of the Lord, and the fear of 00:03:28.090 --> 00:03:31.210 the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the Proverbs 00:03:31.210 --> 00:03:34.469 tells us. And so Paul recognizes that. Hey, this 00:03:34.469 --> 00:03:37.270 is a serious thing that we need to consider, 00:03:37.530 --> 00:03:40.050 that our actions are going to have consequences, 00:03:40.229 --> 00:03:43.050 that one day we'll have to answer to God for 00:03:43.050 --> 00:03:46.569 what we do. And so he says, we seek to persuade 00:03:46.569 --> 00:03:49.289 people. That is to persuade people to follow 00:03:49.289 --> 00:03:53.050 Jesus Christ, to persuade people to repent of 00:03:53.050 --> 00:03:56.629 their sins, to follow God, to live in obedience 00:03:56.629 --> 00:03:59.289 to him. He says we are completely open before 00:03:59.289 --> 00:04:03.150 God, and I hope we are completely open to your 00:04:03.150 --> 00:04:06.050 consciousness as well. I think what he's saying 00:04:06.050 --> 00:04:08.710 there is, look, God sees everything that we're 00:04:08.710 --> 00:04:11.210 doing. He knows that we're doing what is good. 00:04:11.370 --> 00:04:13.770 And we hope that you guys see that what we're 00:04:13.770 --> 00:04:16.029 doing is good. It's the work of God that you 00:04:16.029 --> 00:04:18.769 would listen to us. You may remember. early in 00:04:18.769 --> 00:04:20.949 the book, or throughout the book, really, up 00:04:20.949 --> 00:04:23.649 to these first few chapters. Paul seems like 00:04:23.649 --> 00:04:25.810 he's kind of trying to make a defense for himself, 00:04:25.910 --> 00:04:27.569 that there are some others that are teaching, 00:04:27.790 --> 00:04:29.889 and that some of the other teachings and some 00:04:29.889 --> 00:04:32.509 of the other people may be questioning Paul and 00:04:32.509 --> 00:04:35.350 those who are with him and their teachings. And 00:04:35.350 --> 00:04:38.050 Paul is saying, look, we've done the Lord's work. 00:04:38.230 --> 00:04:40.029 You can look at the way we've been living, the 00:04:40.029 --> 00:04:41.589 way we've been treating you, the things that 00:04:41.589 --> 00:04:44.759 we've been saying. This is from the Lord. The 00:04:44.759 --> 00:04:46.699 Lord sees that what we're saying is good. He 00:04:46.699 --> 00:04:49.579 approves of that. And we hope that in your conscience 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:51.819 that you too, if you just think about it, that 00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:54.480 you'll know, that you'll realize, that you'll 00:04:54.480 --> 00:04:56.740 understand that the words that we are saying 00:04:56.740 --> 00:04:59.800 are of the Lord. And so pay attention to those 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:01.660 who are teaching, I think Paul is saying. Look 00:05:01.660 --> 00:05:03.220 at their life. Look at what they're teaching. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:05.939 And pray to the Lord and let the Lord help you 00:05:05.939 --> 00:05:09.819 to be able to discern what is good and what is 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:11.819 not good. And I think what Paul says here, look, 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:15.699 we're doing the Lord's work. And so let your 00:05:15.699 --> 00:05:18.699 conscience be your guide to decide whether or 00:05:18.699 --> 00:05:21.660 not we are really of the Lord or not. And of 00:05:21.660 --> 00:05:23.860 course, Paul and those who are with him were 00:05:23.860 --> 00:05:26.959 certainly doing the Lord's work. He says in verse 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:30.860 12, we are not commending ourselves to you again. 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:34.300 but giving you an opportunity to be proud of 00:05:34.300 --> 00:05:37.420 us. Now, we have this idea of Paul commending 00:05:37.420 --> 00:05:40.240 himself, talking about a letter of recommendation. 00:05:40.420 --> 00:05:43.300 We saw that earlier in the book, that he shouldn't 00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:45.319 need a letter of recommendation. He shouldn't 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:47.660 have to write a letter of recommendation, that 00:05:47.660 --> 00:05:50.079 the people of Corinth have seen his work. They've 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:52.629 seen his heart. They've seen his love for God. 00:05:52.750 --> 00:05:55.389 They've seen his devotion and the beatings and 00:05:55.389 --> 00:05:57.310 the suffering that he's gone through to do the 00:05:57.310 --> 00:05:59.629 Lord's work. And that should speak for itself. 00:05:59.930 --> 00:06:02.209 He shouldn't have to go back before these people 00:06:02.209 --> 00:06:04.550 and say, oh, y 'all listen to me. What he's saying 00:06:04.550 --> 00:06:06.930 is, look, y 'all have seen the way that I have 00:06:06.930 --> 00:06:10.810 lived my life. And here he's not bragging. He's 00:06:10.810 --> 00:06:13.629 not trying to draw attention to himself. And 00:06:13.629 --> 00:06:16.370 he says that. We are not commending ourselves 00:06:16.370 --> 00:06:20.649 to you again. But he's making a point. He's doing 00:06:20.649 --> 00:06:23.730 this for a purpose, and he says, but giving you 00:06:23.730 --> 00:06:27.129 an opportunity to be proud of us so that you 00:06:27.129 --> 00:06:29.949 may have a reply for those who take pride in 00:06:29.949 --> 00:06:33.930 the outward appearance rather than in the heart. 00:06:34.430 --> 00:06:36.870 And so it appears as though there are some who 00:06:36.870 --> 00:06:41.410 are there, and in whatever ways, they are much 00:06:41.410 --> 00:06:44.689 more appealing to people. Maybe they look better. 00:06:44.730 --> 00:06:47.850 Maybe they speak more eloquently. And maybe Paul 00:06:47.850 --> 00:06:50.370 is kind of looked down upon because maybe he's 00:06:50.370 --> 00:06:53.310 always being imprisoned and he's always being 00:06:53.310 --> 00:06:56.410 beaten and probably not much to look at. And 00:06:56.410 --> 00:06:59.949 some people have written Paul off. But he says, 00:06:59.970 --> 00:07:02.449 look, I'm telling you these things. I'm talking 00:07:02.449 --> 00:07:04.670 in this way so that you can know that you can 00:07:04.670 --> 00:07:07.209 be proud of me, that you can be proud of us, 00:07:07.269 --> 00:07:10.000 that we have done the Lord's work. Because there 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.600 are some among you who are going to try to attack 00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:14.420 us and who are going to come against you and 00:07:14.420 --> 00:07:16.199 going to come against us and say, well, you're 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:18.639 not following Paul, are you? Look at this other 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:21.000 teacher over there. Look at how much better they 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:23.000 speak or look at how much better they look or 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:26.079 how much better they're dressed or whatever the 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:28.620 thing was that was going on. Paul says, look, 00:07:28.740 --> 00:07:31.420 I want you to look at the work we do so you'll 00:07:31.420 --> 00:07:33.100 have something to be proud of so that you'll 00:07:33.100 --> 00:07:35.560 have an opportunity to refute what they say. 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:39.839 And what he says is, is that have a reply for 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:42.899 those who take pride in the outward appearance 00:07:42.899 --> 00:07:47.160 rather than in the heart. And so there are certainly 00:07:47.160 --> 00:07:50.839 people that can look apart. But what really matters 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:53.879 is our heart. The same is true for us, too. Now, 00:07:53.959 --> 00:07:58.240 we can look apart. We can try to look like Christians, 00:07:58.259 --> 00:08:00.860 and we can say all the cool church words, and 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:03.319 we can say all the Christian -y stuff, and we 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:06.040 can go to church, but the outward appearance 00:08:06.040 --> 00:08:08.620 is not what matters. It's what's in the heart 00:08:08.620 --> 00:08:11.240 that matters. Now these other teachers that may 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:13.360 have been around in Corinth, they may have had 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:15.839 a good appearance. They may could have drew a 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:18.819 crowd, and they may could have spoken some good 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:22.660 words, but their heart was not right. We see 00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:25.800 the same idea when we see David being anointed 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:28.160 as king, and Samuel's supposed to go and pick 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:32.059 one of Jesse's sons, and the first one he picks 00:08:32.059 --> 00:08:34.600 is the best looking, the tallest, the strongest, 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:37.080 the best looking, and Samuel says, this has got 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:39.649 to be the guy. But what we see in that scripture 00:08:39.649 --> 00:08:43.429 is God does not look at outward appearance. God 00:08:43.429 --> 00:08:46.190 looks at the heart. And that's what Paul is trying 00:08:46.190 --> 00:08:48.769 to get his audience to see here. Look, don't 00:08:48.769 --> 00:08:53.009 write us off just because we might not be as 00:08:53.009 --> 00:08:55.629 good in some ways as these other teachers. But 00:08:55.629 --> 00:08:57.990 look at the heart of what we've been doing and 00:08:57.990 --> 00:09:01.049 the way that we have been serving God. That's 00:09:01.049 --> 00:09:03.169 what really matters more than anything else. 00:09:04.029 --> 00:09:06.269 more than how we look or any of those kind of 00:09:06.269 --> 00:09:10.330 things, is what does our heart look like? Verse 00:09:10.330 --> 00:09:14.929 13. For if we are out of our mind, it is for 00:09:14.929 --> 00:09:18.590 God. If we have a sound mind, it is for you. 00:09:18.669 --> 00:09:21.960 Now, there's... Certainly lots of discussion 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:24.620 that can be had on that verse. It may be translated 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:26.200 a little different. Some of your translations 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:29.720 may say, if I'm beside myself or something along 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:32.700 those lines. But I think what Paul is saying 00:09:32.700 --> 00:09:35.379 is this. If we are out of our mind, was Paul 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:38.000 out of his mind? Well, certainly not. But there 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:40.080 certainly would have been some that probably 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:42.340 thought Paul was out of his mind. He may have 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:45.299 even got carried away sometimes. Sometimes preachers 00:09:45.299 --> 00:09:47.279 do that. They may get passionate about something 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:49.330 they're talking about. There may even be some 00:09:49.330 --> 00:09:54.710 problems and they really get excited and preach 00:09:54.710 --> 00:09:57.250 in a way that's pretty tough and pretty stern 00:09:57.250 --> 00:10:00.870 sometimes. And to many in the community, perhaps 00:10:00.870 --> 00:10:03.950 it looked like Paul was a madman. Maybe the other 00:10:03.950 --> 00:10:06.769 preachers were a lot more smooth talking and 00:10:06.769 --> 00:10:08.809 a lot more calm. And Paul comes in there and 00:10:08.809 --> 00:10:11.669 he's really preaching hard. And to some, it may 00:10:11.669 --> 00:10:13.889 have appeared that Paul was a madman. They may 00:10:13.889 --> 00:10:17.120 have even said, look, this dude is crazy. And 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:19.860 so Paul says, for if we are out of our mind, 00:10:19.960 --> 00:10:24.120 if I'm crazy, if I'm mad, it's for God. If anybody 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:26.639 says that Paul has gone crazy, then you just 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:29.279 know that whatever I'm doing, I'm doing it for 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:31.759 the Lord. And if they think I'm crazy, then so 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:33.600 be it. I'm going to keep doing it because I'm 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:36.320 not doing it for them. I'm doing it because this 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:39.639 is what God has called me to do. So if some think 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:42.139 he's crazy, if some think he's out of his mind, 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:44.580 he says, so be it. I'm doing it for the Lord. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:51.480 But he says, If we have a sound mind, it is for 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:55.460 you. And so it's in the eye of the beholder. 00:10:55.960 --> 00:10:58.179 There are some people who look at Paul and say, 00:10:58.220 --> 00:11:00.549 this dude is out of his mind. And they go on 00:11:00.549 --> 00:11:02.330 about their business. Paul says, I don't care. 00:11:02.470 --> 00:11:04.649 I'm still doing the Lord's work. But he says, 00:11:04.669 --> 00:11:07.049 if you're listening to what we're saying and 00:11:07.049 --> 00:11:09.669 that you think we have a sound mind, then that's 00:11:09.669 --> 00:11:11.870 good. Because the message that we're preaching, 00:11:12.029 --> 00:11:14.909 it's for you. So if you don't write us off as 00:11:14.909 --> 00:11:17.429 crazy, if you don't think we're crazy like the 00:11:17.429 --> 00:11:20.190 rest of them, then praise the Lord. Because we 00:11:20.190 --> 00:11:23.350 are persuaded to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:11:23.350 --> 00:11:27.470 to you. And so you need to listen to us. And 00:11:27.470 --> 00:11:30.950 perhaps that's the same way. the same thing we 00:11:30.950 --> 00:11:33.889 experience in our world today. Sometimes there 00:11:33.889 --> 00:11:35.710 are Christians that are looked down upon by the 00:11:35.710 --> 00:11:38.129 rest of the world as the message of Christianity 00:11:38.129 --> 00:11:41.009 and the cross and Jesus Christ is craziness. 00:11:41.230 --> 00:11:44.389 Well, so be it. All we can do is preach the gospel 00:11:44.389 --> 00:11:46.769 of Jesus Christ. Some will accept it. Some will 00:11:46.769 --> 00:11:49.070 reject it. Some will write us off as a bunch 00:11:49.070 --> 00:11:52.620 of crazy religious folks. They'll say, oh, there's 00:11:52.620 --> 00:11:54.980 no God. There's no such thing as Jesus. All that 00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:57.779 stuff's a bunch of junk. All of us are crazy 00:11:57.779 --> 00:12:01.360 for coming week after week. So be it. They think 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:04.659 we're crazy. But we keep coming. Why? Because 00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:07.100 we know it's true. Because we trust in the Word 00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:10.500 of God. We know God is the creator of all things. 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:13.279 We know Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We know 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:15.399 that there is no forgiveness of sins apart from 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:18.240 Jesus Christ. And so we continue to serve the 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:21.809 Lord, even if some think we're crazy. But there 00:12:21.809 --> 00:12:23.429 are others who are going to hear that gospel, 00:12:23.570 --> 00:12:26.370 who are going to see the love that we show to 00:12:26.370 --> 00:12:28.570 them in the community, and they're going to see 00:12:28.570 --> 00:12:30.450 that love of Jesus Christ, and it's going to 00:12:30.450 --> 00:12:32.250 be appealing to them. They don't think we're 00:12:32.250 --> 00:12:35.470 crazy. And praise the Lord. The message that 00:12:35.470 --> 00:12:37.710 we're preaching, the things that we do, the things 00:12:37.710 --> 00:12:39.710 that we talk about, all the things that we're 00:12:39.710 --> 00:12:41.889 trying to point them to in Jesus Christ, then 00:12:41.889 --> 00:12:44.230 they're going to draw to those things. And that's 00:12:44.230 --> 00:12:46.830 what Paul said. Some will think we're crazy. 00:12:46.970 --> 00:12:49.429 So be it. We're going to serve God. But for those 00:12:49.429 --> 00:12:52.129 who seek and don't think we're crazy, then that's 00:12:52.129 --> 00:12:54.149 good news because the message that we preach 00:12:54.149 --> 00:13:00.470 is for them. Verse 14. For Christ's love compels 00:13:00.470 --> 00:13:03.269 us. Now that's a good verse right there. For 00:13:03.269 --> 00:13:07.269 Christ's love compels us. compels us. Now some 00:13:07.269 --> 00:13:10.269 of your translations may say controls us or something 00:13:10.269 --> 00:13:14.669 along those lines, but it's the love of Jesus 00:13:14.669 --> 00:13:17.950 Christ that forces them, that pushes them as 00:13:17.950 --> 00:13:21.669 if they don't even have a choice. They've experienced 00:13:21.669 --> 00:13:24.490 the love of Jesus Christ and it's changed their 00:13:24.490 --> 00:13:27.570 life and so much they can't not tell people about 00:13:27.570 --> 00:13:29.590 Jesus. Now that's the kind of transformation 00:13:29.590 --> 00:13:32.210 that we need to have. That's the kind of relationship 00:13:32.210 --> 00:13:35.350 we need to have with God. That's how we need 00:13:35.350 --> 00:13:38.429 to view Jesus Christ. We need to be so in love 00:13:38.429 --> 00:13:43.909 with Jesus that we cannot help but promote that 00:13:43.909 --> 00:13:46.809 love and share that love with other people. And 00:13:46.809 --> 00:13:51.129 so he says, for Christ's love compels us to do 00:13:51.129 --> 00:13:53.190 this work that they're doing. But the question 00:13:53.190 --> 00:13:55.789 we have to answer in our life is what compels 00:13:55.789 --> 00:13:59.419 us? What's compelling us today? What's driving 00:13:59.419 --> 00:14:04.559 us? Is it to follow Jesus Christ? Is it to follow 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:06.740 the Word of God? Is it to tell other people about 00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:09.419 Jesus Christ? Is it to love other people and 00:14:09.419 --> 00:14:13.100 help other people? Is that what drives us? Is 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:14.879 there something else in our life that drives 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:18.440 us? Is there something else that we tend to gravitate 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:20.960 toward? And that kind of steers what we're going 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:23.580 to do in our life. Well, for Paul, he says what 00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:27.860 compels him is the love of Jesus Christ. And 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:30.440 that should be what compels us too. We should 00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:35.179 be compelled by love. Since we have reached this 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:39.679 conclusion, if one died for all, then all died. 00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:43.639 And he died for all so that those who live should 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:47.000 no longer live for themselves, but the one who 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:52.379 died for them and was raised. Okay, so here's 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:55.500 the thought. We are compelled, the Christ love 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:58.580 compels us, and therefore we've reached this 00:14:58.580 --> 00:15:02.000 conclusion. Christ died for all and we have died 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:06.720 in Christ. And so a change occurs once we recognize 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:10.279 that Jesus has died for us and we put our faith 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:13.580 in him and we repent of our sins and he becomes 00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:17.220 the Lord of our life. There should be a change 00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:20.379 in our life. There cannot be two Lords in our 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:24.279 life. There can only be one. Now we have to decide 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:27.740 what that Lord of our life is going to be. Maybe 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:29.779 it's going to be Jesus Christ. Maybe he's going 00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:32.960 to be our Lord. But maybe our Lord's going to 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:35.740 be our wealth. Or maybe our Lord's going to be 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:39.220 our material things. Maybe our Lord's going to 00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:41.980 be our family. Or maybe our Lord's going to be 00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:43.899 our friends. Or maybe our Lord's going to be 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:47.340 our job. I mean, it's a million things. But whoever 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:51.419 our Lord is, or whatever our Lord is, is what's 00:15:51.419 --> 00:15:54.259 going to drive the decisions that we make in 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:59.019 life. And so if money is our Lord, then every 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:01.279 decision we make is going to be how can I get 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:05.259 more money? If material gain is our Lord, then 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:07.240 everything we're going to do is going to be how 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:10.980 can I get more material gain? But if Jesus is 00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:14.080 our Lord, then we're going to say how can I serve 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:17.320 Jesus and love him and tell others about him 00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:20.220 so that they can experience his love? And so 00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:23.419 Paul says here, look. We are compelled by the 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:26.519 love of Jesus Christ. We know that he died for 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:30.019 us and that we died in him when we chose him 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:33.120 and we will be raised to life. And therefore, 00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:36.779 he says, those who live should no longer live 00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:40.600 for themselves, but for the one who died for 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:45.620 them and was raised. So who are we living for? 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:49.700 That's a good question. Who are we living for? 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:53.000 Now, it's hard as human beings because we're 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:57.340 just selfish by birth. We just want for ourself. 00:16:57.419 --> 00:17:00.159 We think about ourself. Everything we do, we 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:03.759 kind of live for ourself. And that's a hard thing 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:07.000 to allow someone else to be the Lord of our life. 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:10.940 But if we are Christians, then that is the decision 00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:14.460 that we have made. We have acknowledged the authority 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:17.920 of Jesus Christ, and we have made him the Lord 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:21.509 of our life. That is to say we are going to follow 00:17:21.509 --> 00:17:25.190 what his commands are, not to live for ourselves. 00:17:26.390 --> 00:17:29.210 And that's a hard thing to do because we want 00:17:29.210 --> 00:17:31.849 to live for ourselves. I suspect there's a lot 00:17:31.849 --> 00:17:34.049 of people who have not followed Jesus Christ 00:17:34.049 --> 00:17:37.670 for that reason because they read the words of 00:17:37.670 --> 00:17:39.829 Jesus and they don't want to follow Jesus. They 00:17:39.829 --> 00:17:41.769 don't want to do the things that Jesus said. 00:17:41.890 --> 00:17:45.470 They like to be the Lord of their own life. But 00:17:45.470 --> 00:17:48.980 Paul says it's not true of the Christian. Of 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:52.240 the Christian, we don't live for ourselves. Once 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:54.619 we put our faith in Jesus Christ, the one who 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:57.740 has died for us that we have died to, then we 00:17:57.740 --> 00:18:02.480 live, we have a new life in Christ, and therefore 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:07.920 we seek to live for him. We no longer live for 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:10.440 ourselves, but for the one who died for them 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:17.240 and was raised. So who are we living for? Maybe 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:20.119 you're living for the Lord well today. Maybe 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:23.099 you know you should be, but you're not. Maybe 00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:26.099 you never have. Maybe we've done a good job of 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:27.980 playing the part. Maybe we've come to church 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:31.180 a lot. Maybe we look like a Christian on the 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:33.619 outside, but maybe we're some of those people 00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:36.220 that Paul is talking about that our heart is 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:39.799 not right. Maybe we fooled other people. Maybe 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:43.579 we fooled ourselves. Maybe we realize tonight 00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:46.890 that we have not been living for the Lord. But 00:18:46.890 --> 00:18:49.430 we've been living for ourselves. Well, there's 00:18:49.430 --> 00:18:53.609 good news. Jesus died for you. He died for every 00:18:53.609 --> 00:18:56.329 one of us so that our sins could be forgiven. 00:18:56.950 --> 00:18:59.269 If we would only repent tonight and trust in 00:18:59.269 --> 00:19:01.890 him, if we would only make him the Lord of our 00:19:01.890 --> 00:19:04.009 life and say, God, I'm not going to live for 00:19:04.009 --> 00:19:06.710 myself. I'm not going to live for these other 00:19:06.710 --> 00:19:08.990 gods that I have put in my life, but I'm going 00:19:08.990 --> 00:19:12.349 to make Jesus Christ my Lord so that I can live 00:19:12.349 --> 00:19:15.619 for him and serve him. That needs to be our goal 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:18.319 and our desire. If you've never trusted Jesus, 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:21.420 you need to trust him. If you are a follower 00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:24.160 of Jesus, then we need to make sure that he is 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:27.339 the Lord of our life. Let's pray. God, we come 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:30.440 to you. We thank you for these words. And I pray 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:32.119 that you'd help us to wrestle with them, dear 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:34.519 Lord, because maybe there are some things in 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:38.619 our life that have taken the spot of where Jesus 00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:41.509 should be. Maybe we have made some other things 00:19:41.509 --> 00:19:45.410 in our life the Lord of our life. Maybe we've 00:19:45.410 --> 00:19:47.630 been trying to be the Lord of our own life. Maybe 00:19:47.630 --> 00:19:50.109 we've been selfish to do things our way. Maybe 00:19:50.109 --> 00:19:53.009 we are reluctant to hand over power, dear Lord, 00:19:53.150 --> 00:19:56.930 but that's what you call us to, to give everything 00:19:56.930 --> 00:20:00.009 to Jesus. God, to give our burdens and our sins 00:20:00.009 --> 00:20:02.910 and everything, dear Lord, and seek to follow 00:20:02.910 --> 00:20:07.539 His command, to follow His example. And so I 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:09.279 pray that you would help us to do that tonight, 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:12.000 that you would help us to know Jesus for those 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:15.259 who may not, and that you would help us to follow 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:18.700 him as the Lord of our life. In Jesus' name I 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.839 pray it. Amen.