WEBVTT 00:00:02.120 --> 00:00:05.040 We come today to the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:08.820 6 verses 9 through 11 as we are going through 00:00:08.820 --> 00:00:12.240 this wonderful book that the Apostle wrote to 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:16.179 the Corinthian church. Our subject today is a 00:00:16.179 --> 00:00:20.800 question. It is who inherits the kingdom of God? 00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:24.640 We're going to look today at verses 9 through 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:29.920 11. So hear the word of God as we read this text. 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:34.700 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:39.179 inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. 00:00:39.479 --> 00:00:44.039 Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:48.159 nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, 00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:53.619 nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor 00:00:53.619 --> 00:00:56.679 extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 00:00:57.200 --> 00:01:01.969 But such were some of you. but you were washed, 00:01:02.149 --> 00:01:05.750 but you were sanctified, but you were justified 00:01:05.750 --> 00:01:09.969 in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit 00:01:09.969 --> 00:01:15.090 of God. Let's pray to ask God's blessing on this 00:01:15.090 --> 00:01:17.930 time in His Word. Father, we thank You for the 00:01:17.930 --> 00:01:21.569 richness of this Word. Lord, herein we find both 00:01:21.569 --> 00:01:24.819 warning and exhortation. We find the great joy, 00:01:25.019 --> 00:01:28.400 Lord, of being washed and cleansed. But we also 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:31.480 see the exceeding sinfulness of sin. And so, 00:01:31.500 --> 00:01:33.819 Lord, as we look at this passage, please open 00:01:33.819 --> 00:01:37.879 our eyes and reveal it to us, Lord. We pray for 00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:40.540 the power of the Spirit of God to illuminate 00:01:40.540 --> 00:01:43.680 this word for us as we go through it. We pray 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:49.599 in the name of Jesus. Amen. This chapter, that 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:52.319 is chapter 6, began with a warning against brethren 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:55.439 taking other brethren to the law before the unrighteous 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:58.780 and unjust. We looked at that last week, and 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:02.140 it ended with a stern warning against the one 00:02:02.140 --> 00:02:05.319 who is going to the unjust, who is doing wrong, 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:09.280 and the one who is cheating, which should never 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:13.819 be done to the brethren. In this passage of God's 00:02:13.819 --> 00:02:16.819 holy and inspired word before us today, Paul 00:02:16.819 --> 00:02:20.360 gives a reminder that the unrighteous and unjust, 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:23.219 that's the same word that's used in verse 1, 00:02:23.419 --> 00:02:27.479 that the unrighteous and unjust will not inherit 00:02:27.479 --> 00:02:31.780 the kingdom of God. And he warns against being 00:02:31.780 --> 00:02:36.719 deceived. He gives a list of those who will not 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:42.129 inherit this kingdom. And he reminds them. While 00:02:42.129 --> 00:02:46.270 some of them had been these people, they are 00:02:46.270 --> 00:02:50.289 now washed, they are sanctified, and they are 00:02:50.289 --> 00:02:53.550 justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by 00:02:53.550 --> 00:02:57.189 the Holy Spirit of God. This is a statement of 00:02:57.189 --> 00:03:01.610 pure gospel. Such were some of you, but now you 00:03:01.610 --> 00:03:05.770 have been changed. Yes, a person can be changed 00:03:05.770 --> 00:03:11.210 and have a new identity in Christ. Now there's 00:03:11.210 --> 00:03:13.590 been some question among biblical scholars and 00:03:13.590 --> 00:03:16.110 teachers and commentators as to whether these 00:03:16.110 --> 00:03:19.610 verses are continuing in the same subject that 00:03:19.610 --> 00:03:23.590 we just looked at, or if Paul is here changing 00:03:23.590 --> 00:03:26.419 the subject. With these verses and then what 00:03:26.419 --> 00:03:29.659 comes after. Which is a focus on union with Christ. 00:03:29.659 --> 00:03:32.500 And on Christian identity. And how that the body 00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:34.860 is not for sexual immorality. But is for the 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:37.060 Lord. And their bodies are a temple of the Holy 00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:40.919 Spirit. In my opinion. These verses do not introduce 00:03:40.919 --> 00:03:44.060 a new subject. But rather flow from the earlier 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:48.139 verses. They show how Paul's rebuke. Of cheating 00:03:48.139 --> 00:03:52.050 among believers in verse 8. And then. he expands 00:03:52.050 --> 00:03:56.169 into a broader catalog of sins whose practitioners 00:03:56.169 --> 00:04:01.870 will not inherit God's kingdom. Paul specifically 00:04:01.870 --> 00:04:05.229 describes sins that go along with the cheating, 00:04:05.370 --> 00:04:10.050 such as revilers, extortioners, and thieves. 00:04:10.389 --> 00:04:13.169 These all relate to the injustice of cheating 00:04:13.169 --> 00:04:16.980 that was happening. But nevertheless, The overarching 00:04:16.980 --> 00:04:20.240 theme of these first few chapters in 1 Corinthians 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:24.180 is that Paul is showing them who they are. That 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:27.420 is, what their identity is in Christ and that 00:04:27.420 --> 00:04:30.100 they are a temple of God both collectively and 00:04:30.100 --> 00:04:32.759 each one of them is a temple of the Holy Spirit 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:36.519 and they need to learn to live it out. They need 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:40.879 to learn how to put this into practice. We saw 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:44.069 this back in chapter 1 verse 2. Paul writes to 00:04:44.069 --> 00:04:48.769 those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and 00:04:48.769 --> 00:04:53.569 called to be saints. This congregation is not 00:04:53.569 --> 00:04:57.670 too far gone. They have not passed the point 00:04:57.670 --> 00:05:02.029 of no return. They are in Christ. They have the 00:05:02.029 --> 00:05:04.870 new identity. The gospel wasn't working them. 00:05:05.029 --> 00:05:08.230 It was sanctifying them and cleansing them and 00:05:08.230 --> 00:05:11.509 making them into a new people, not only in position, 00:05:11.689 --> 00:05:15.990 but also in practice. And this is the glorious 00:05:15.990 --> 00:05:19.029 position of all believers, that when we were 00:05:19.029 --> 00:05:22.589 dead in Christ, that when we were dead in trespasses, 00:05:23.079 --> 00:05:27.339 God in his love and in his great mercy. Made 00:05:27.339 --> 00:05:31.060 us as Paul says in Ephesians 2. Made us alive 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:35.160 together with Christ. And raised us up together. 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:38.420 And made us sit in the heavenly places in Christ. 00:05:39.019 --> 00:05:43.759 But God's people need to learn to live that way. 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:47.240 They must as Paul says in Colossians chapter 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:52.509 1. Continue in the faith. grounded and steadfast 00:05:52.509 --> 00:05:56.629 and not be moved away from the hope of the gospel 00:05:56.629 --> 00:05:59.149 which they had heard. And this is the message 00:05:59.149 --> 00:06:02.170 to the Corinthians. You need to live what your 00:06:02.170 --> 00:06:04.750 calling is, what your position is in Christ. 00:06:04.829 --> 00:06:09.529 You need to live that way. All of this ties in 00:06:09.529 --> 00:06:12.250 with the chapters before showing how the Christians 00:06:12.250 --> 00:06:15.569 must embrace the cross. And be united together 00:06:15.569 --> 00:06:18.990 as one without factions. They must expel those 00:06:18.990 --> 00:06:21.430 who are unfaithful and living in open sin and 00:06:21.430 --> 00:06:24.149 rebellion against God. Saw that in chapter 5. 00:06:24.529 --> 00:06:27.170 And now in chapter 6. They must not act against 00:06:27.170 --> 00:06:30.269 each other by going to law against each other 00:06:30.269 --> 00:06:33.269 before the unjust. And they are not to do wrong 00:06:33.269 --> 00:06:38.490 and cheat the brethren. For the unrighteous will 00:06:38.490 --> 00:06:44.339 not inherit the kingdom of God. Thus, this passage 00:06:44.339 --> 00:06:47.819 today, to which we now turn. We begin in verse 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:53.560 9. Do you not know that the unrighteous will 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:59.040 not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. 00:06:59.989 --> 00:07:03.870 Neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers 00:07:03.870 --> 00:07:07.670 nor homosexuals nor sodomites nor thieves nor 00:07:07.670 --> 00:07:12.209 covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners 00:07:12.209 --> 00:07:17.689 will inherit the kingdom of God. Now by the kingdom 00:07:17.689 --> 00:07:20.629 of God we understand that Paul and Christ is 00:07:20.629 --> 00:07:23.560 referring to God's sovereign rule. reign over 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:27.019 all and it's referring particularly to his kingly 00:07:27.019 --> 00:07:29.660 authority exercise to redeem a people to himself 00:07:29.660 --> 00:07:33.879 and to defeat evil and to renew creation now 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:36.920 the kingdom of god is already with us As Jesus 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:39.339 preached in the beginning of his ministry. It 00:07:39.339 --> 00:07:43.139 says in Mark 1 verse 14. Now after John was put 00:07:43.139 --> 00:07:46.519 in prison. Jesus came to Galilee. Preaching the 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:50.500 gospel of the kingdom of God. And saying the 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:54.220 time is fulfilled. And the kingdom of God is 00:07:54.220 --> 00:07:58.500 at hand. That is it's right here. And so therefore 00:07:58.500 --> 00:08:02.279 repent and believe the gospel. So this kingdom 00:08:02.279 --> 00:08:06.910 is now here. It is now present. As Jesus also 00:08:06.910 --> 00:08:11.490 said in Luke 17, he was asked by the Pharisees 00:08:11.490 --> 00:08:14.569 when the kingdom of God would come. And Jesus 00:08:14.569 --> 00:08:17.290 answered them and said, the kingdom of God does 00:08:17.290 --> 00:08:20.529 not come with observation, nor will they say, 00:08:20.589 --> 00:08:23.870 see here or see there. For indeed, the kingdom 00:08:23.870 --> 00:08:28.519 of God is within you. However, there's also a 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:31.579 future aspect of this kingdom as an inheritance. 00:08:32.019 --> 00:08:35.080 So it is both here and now, but with a greater 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:37.639 manifestation in the future. And that is what 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:40.620 Paul is referring to in this passage. He's referring 00:08:40.620 --> 00:08:43.580 to this future manifestation. That is to the 00:08:43.580 --> 00:08:46.559 eternal state that is reserved for all who are 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:49.899 in Christ, of which Peter says, Blessed be the 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:52.740 God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:55.899 according to his abundant mercy has begotten 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:59.340 us again. to a living hope through the resurrection 00:08:59.340 --> 00:09:04.720 of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:09.960 incorruptible and undefiled and that does not 00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:16.679 fade away reserved in heaven for you. The unrighteous 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:20.190 will not inherit this kingdom. And Paul says 00:09:20.190 --> 00:09:23.350 it twice, both in verses 9 and then he repeats 00:09:23.350 --> 00:09:25.950 it again in verse 10 of our passage. In other 00:09:25.950 --> 00:09:28.909 words, they ought to know this. There is a marked 00:09:28.909 --> 00:09:32.470 difference between unbelievers who are part of 00:09:32.470 --> 00:09:35.669 Satan's dominion and they are ruled by him and 00:09:35.669 --> 00:09:38.350 those who are in Christ's kingdom and belong 00:09:38.350 --> 00:09:41.669 to God. They should know this. And yet, they're 00:09:41.669 --> 00:09:43.789 acting like they don't understand it when they 00:09:43.789 --> 00:09:46.929 take their brothers to the unjust in the court 00:09:46.929 --> 00:09:50.389 of law. So the apostle teaches them again, so 00:09:50.389 --> 00:09:52.730 that they are not deceived and think wrongly. 00:09:52.809 --> 00:09:56.870 He here is reorienting their thinking. He says, 00:09:56.889 --> 00:10:01.850 do not be deceived. Do not be led into error. 00:10:02.149 --> 00:10:05.570 Do not be led away from the truth. Led astray 00:10:05.570 --> 00:10:09.429 by the thinking and the practice of the ungodly 00:10:09.429 --> 00:10:12.370 and of the unjust. Now the temptation for this, 00:10:12.370 --> 00:10:16.720 as we know, is all around us. The magazines, 00:10:16.940 --> 00:10:19.279 the books, the TV shows, and the newcasters, 00:10:19.299 --> 00:10:21.340 the newspapers, and the book publishers, the 00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:24.340 talk of the street, much is filled with the thinking 00:10:24.340 --> 00:10:26.720 and the practices of the kingdom of this world 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:30.820 that militates against righteous thinking and 00:10:30.820 --> 00:10:34.960 living. And so this admonition rings true and 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:40.440 strong to us. Do not be deceived. Furthermore, 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:43.000 as Matthew Henry states, the unrighteous are 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:46.580 not to be considered. As true members of Christ's 00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:50.460 church on earth. Nor admitted as glorious members 00:10:50.460 --> 00:10:54.039 of the church in heaven. Paul makes this strong 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:58.080 statement for two reasons. What is this strong 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:01.120 statement? Do you not know that the unrighteous 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:04.559 will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:09.000 deceived. The first reason why Paul says this. 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:11.620 Is that in realizing how the unrighteous think 00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:14.590 and act. And how they are unjust. The Corinthians 00:11:14.590 --> 00:11:16.929 should not be going to law against each other 00:11:16.929 --> 00:11:20.509 before these kinds of people. The unrighteous 00:11:20.509 --> 00:11:23.049 who will not inherit the kingdom of God. For 00:11:23.049 --> 00:11:26.169 they have no part or share in it. But secondly, 00:11:26.370 --> 00:11:31.110 he is also reproving them for their own unrighteous 00:11:31.110 --> 00:11:34.490 acts of tricking and cheating one another. Defrauding 00:11:34.490 --> 00:11:38.789 the members of the body of Christ, the church. 00:11:38.990 --> 00:11:42.950 This is totally unfitting for those in God's 00:11:42.950 --> 00:11:46.149 kingdom. And in Christ's church. But then he 00:11:46.149 --> 00:11:50.389 goes on to describe. That on how these unrighteous 00:11:50.389 --> 00:11:53.769 live. Or that is. He goes even beyond. Now that 00:11:53.769 --> 00:11:56.289 they occasionally commit these sins. Rather they 00:11:56.289 --> 00:11:59.649 are characterized by these sins. Because they 00:11:59.649 --> 00:12:04.429 live in them. This is what they do. Having eyes 00:12:04.429 --> 00:12:07.190 full of adultery. And coveting after others. 00:12:07.350 --> 00:12:09.929 They live in the state of adultery. And they 00:12:09.929 --> 00:12:15.000 are called adulterers. Those who practice sexual 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:19.019 immorality are called fornicators, or in some 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:22.600 of the older translation, whoremongers, etc. 00:12:23.139 --> 00:12:27.080 So this list is not speaking of a Christian who 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:30.120 is not characterized by these sins, but falls 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:33.840 into a grievous sin and repents. No, it is speaking 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:36.840 of those who are living in a state of being by 00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:40.279 constantly indulging in them, and those who do 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:45.460 so cannot inherit. The kingdom of God. Now, what 00:12:45.460 --> 00:12:48.000 are these sins? We're going to break them down 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:52.000 and consider each one. But before we begin, let 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:55.320 me simply state that one of the elements of gospel 00:12:55.320 --> 00:13:01.220 preaching is the preaching about sin. It is defining. 00:13:02.059 --> 00:13:05.799 what sin is according to the word of God. It's 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:08.779 not real easy to go down through this list of 00:13:08.779 --> 00:13:12.059 10 sins and really look at what these are all 00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:14.980 about and what they mean. But it needs to be 00:13:14.980 --> 00:13:17.639 done because we must understand the seriousness 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:20.440 of sin. We must understand our utter need of 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:23.179 Christ and of his salvation and the exceeding 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:26.299 sinfulness that separates us from God. So as 00:13:26.299 --> 00:13:29.690 I go through this, I do it to sharpen us. to 00:13:29.690 --> 00:13:33.649 enlighten our consciences, and to warn any who 00:13:33.649 --> 00:13:36.710 are indulging in these sins to flee from them 00:13:36.710 --> 00:13:41.110 and to run to the one who forgives sins and cleanses 00:13:41.110 --> 00:13:44.070 from all unrighteousness. With that, we're now 00:13:44.070 --> 00:13:46.730 going to look at this list of sins and their 00:13:46.730 --> 00:13:49.450 definition and some examples. These are in verses 00:13:49.450 --> 00:13:53.840 9 and 10. Ten sins. The word of God lists here. 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:56.259 This is not comprehensive. There are others. 00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:59.100 For example, you won't find in here the sin of 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:03.419 pride or sins associated with that or of a filthy 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:07.000 mouth. Those are mentioned elsewhere. Right here 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:11.820 he is speaking of ten particular sins of which 00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:15.960 he says those who are these, they cannot be. 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:21.779 Part of the kingdom of God. Those who live in 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:24.360 them. The first one is fornicators. We've looked 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:27.340 at that before. The Greek word pornos or porno. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:31.360 The definition is simply very broad. It is people 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:34.620 who practice sexual immorality. That is any sexual 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:37.639 activity outside of the covenant of marriage 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:41.320 between one man and one woman. This is a broad, 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:45.450 a catch -all term. This includes premarital, 00:14:45.470 --> 00:14:47.929 adultery, though that's also listed separately, 00:14:48.169 --> 00:14:52.049 pornography, prostitution, homosexuality, and 00:14:52.049 --> 00:14:56.210 any form of sexual gratification that violates 00:14:56.210 --> 00:15:01.889 God's design for sex. The body is meant to be 00:15:01.889 --> 00:15:05.730 a temple of the Holy Spirit, as we'll see next 00:15:05.730 --> 00:15:10.509 week in greater detail. Sexual sin uniquely defiles 00:15:10.509 --> 00:15:13.750 this temple and it violates the one flesh union 00:15:13.750 --> 00:15:17.450 that God designed. Later in verse 18 of this 00:15:17.450 --> 00:15:21.610 chapter, Paul will say, flee sexual immorality. 00:15:21.610 --> 00:15:25.169 That is, take flight, seek safety, escape out 00:15:25.169 --> 00:15:29.419 of danger. We see this in many modern examples. 00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:32.700 Casual hookups, prostitution, living together 00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:35.940 before marriage, viewing pornography, trafficking 00:15:35.940 --> 00:15:40.600 or abusing the young, or sexting, or any of the 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:43.799 ongoing sexual relationship outside of biblical 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:47.299 marriage between a husband and a wife. Number 00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:50.620 two is that of idolaters. This is simply those 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:54.059 who worship and serve idols. That is anyone or 00:15:54.059 --> 00:15:57.360 anything given the worship, the devotion, the 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:00.320 loyalty and the priority that only belongs to 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:04.139 God. Idolatry also comes through avarice as in 00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:07.620 fraudulence and extortion and greed. It is not 00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:10.740 just limited to statues. It is anything that 00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:15.279 we look to as ultimate. That replaces God as 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:17.960 the center of your life or your affections or 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:20.840 your trust. This breaks the first and the greatest 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:24.559 commandment in Exodus 20 verse 3. It robs God 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:29.450 of his rightful place. We see examples of this 00:16:29.450 --> 00:16:32.110 in neglecting the worship of God and focusing 00:16:32.110 --> 00:16:35.490 on anything else but. And that can be even good 00:16:35.490 --> 00:16:38.870 things. Making money or a career or sports or 00:16:38.870 --> 00:16:42.110 politics or entertainment or romantic relationship. 00:16:42.350 --> 00:16:45.629 All can be viewed as an ultimate priority where 00:16:45.629 --> 00:16:48.789 they replace God. This also includes participating 00:16:48.789 --> 00:16:52.929 in occultic practices, in astrology, or in false 00:16:52.929 --> 00:16:56.110 religions, that is, religions that deny the core 00:16:56.110 --> 00:17:00.110 of Christian doctrine and practice, as well as 00:17:00.110 --> 00:17:03.590 religions that worship physical idols, such as 00:17:03.590 --> 00:17:08.150 Hinduism. Thirdly is adulterers, he mentions. 00:17:08.349 --> 00:17:12.069 This is married people who engage in sexual relations 00:17:12.069 --> 00:17:15.960 with someone other than their spouse. This includes 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:19.640 physical adultery as well as heart level unfaithfulness, 00:17:19.700 --> 00:17:23.619 as Jesus says in Matthew 5 and verse 28, that 00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:27.940 if you look upon a woman to lust after her, you 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:30.680 have committed adultery with her in your heart. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:34.619 Adultery destroys the sacred covenant of marriage, 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:38.220 which is to be a picture of Christ's relationship 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:41.160 with the church. This is explained in Ephesians 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:45.660 5, verse 31 and 32. We see this in cheating on 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:48.740 a spouse, or in emotional affairs that then turn 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:53.200 physical, or secret sexual relationships while 00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:57.099 married, or with what is in vogue today in some 00:17:57.099 --> 00:18:00.400 parts, and that is open marriages. Yeah, we're 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.940 married to each other, but you can have another 00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:03.640 partner, and I can have another partner, and 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:06.420 we're all okay with it, as well as other derivatives 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:12.339 of that. Adulterers. Number four is homosexuals. 00:18:12.670 --> 00:18:16.970 Now this word is the Greek word malakoi. And 00:18:16.970 --> 00:18:21.049 I'm going to say this in a way that, without 00:18:21.049 --> 00:18:25.230 being too explicit, this is actually the only 00:18:25.230 --> 00:18:27.690 place this is used in the New Testament in this 00:18:27.690 --> 00:18:30.730 way and in one other. There's only two places. 00:18:31.069 --> 00:18:35.029 But basically it is also translated in some as 00:18:35.029 --> 00:18:39.170 effeminacy. Basically it is referring to males 00:18:39.170 --> 00:18:44.740 on... As the passive partner in homosexual acts. 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:48.200 In the context of the time. It described men 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:51.500 who took on this role. In male to male sexual 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:55.380 activity. Although it also referred to men. Who 00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:59.660 were effeminate at the king's places. And they 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:04.450 wore soft clothing. This is in Matthew 11, verse 00:19:04.450 --> 00:19:07.390 8, and Luke 7, verse 25. That's how it's described 00:19:07.390 --> 00:19:10.650 there. Same Greek word, but it's only used those 00:19:10.650 --> 00:19:15.430 three times. Matthew 11, Luke 7, and here. This 00:19:15.430 --> 00:19:18.490 goes against God's created design for human sexuality. 00:19:19.869 --> 00:19:24.690 We see this again. all around us men identifying 00:19:24.690 --> 00:19:29.650 or engaging in this type of behavior or acting 00:19:29.650 --> 00:19:35.150 in an effeminate manner which that means this 00:19:35.150 --> 00:19:38.690 also includes those who have adopted the whole 00:19:38.690 --> 00:19:43.990 trans agenda which we see again has been so popularized 00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:48.480 number five sodomites this is the other word 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:51.299 this is simply means one who lies with the male 00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:54.680 as with a female points to men who take the active 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:59.559 role together with malakoi the word before paul 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:04.720 is clearly condemning all male homosexual practice 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:07.940 as incompatible with god's kingdom in this passage 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:12.740 we see this again popularized in much in the 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:17.640 media or much in especially in film and TV. But 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:21.180 this also includes the exploitative and the dominance 00:20:21.180 --> 00:20:23.440 -based nature of some of the ancient homosexual 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:27.779 practices, like some of which are still occurring 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:30.640 in the Islamic countries, like Afghanistan, this 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:33.980 big macho man, but then he also preys on younger 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:38.230 ones. This is a very shameful act. And this act 00:20:38.230 --> 00:20:41.490 was also done in Greece, that of preying upon 00:20:41.490 --> 00:20:46.430 the young. This is clearly condemned as outside 00:20:46.430 --> 00:20:50.269 of the kingdom of God. Then we come to the word 00:20:50.269 --> 00:20:53.930 thieves. Simply those who take what belongs to 00:20:53.930 --> 00:20:57.130 others without permission. It includes both large 00:20:57.130 --> 00:21:00.170 scale and small theft, both pilfering and embezzlement. 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:03.140 It reveals a lack of trust in God's provision 00:21:03.140 --> 00:21:05.859 and love for your neighbor. And it violates the 00:21:05.859 --> 00:21:08.200 eighth commandment, thou should not steal. And 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:12.140 it shows selfishness instead of generosity. We 00:21:12.140 --> 00:21:14.700 see this today in shoplifting or in stealing 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:18.720 from an employer. That can be in time or in actual 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:22.319 items. You're getting paid by the hour and you're 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:25.000 given responsibilities to do. And instead of 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:28.079 doing those responsibilities, you do something 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:32.220 else. You cover up your time. and thus deceive 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:35.720 your employer. This involves identity theft or 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:39.000 burglary, the violation of copyrights, the breaking 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:42.359 of contracts, or withholding from those to whom 00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:45.880 you owe something, keeping back wages, for example, 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:51.680 or payments that are owed. This is thieves. The 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:54.420 next one is that of being covetous. That is those 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:56.799 who are greedy. They have an insatiable desire 00:21:56.799 --> 00:22:00.279 to acquire more, especially at the expense of 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:03.740 others. Greed is idolatry of the self and possessions. 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:07.519 Colossians 3 verse 5. It is the constant craving 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:11.079 for more that leads to discontent and exploitation. 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:15.299 It replaces trust in God with trust in wealth 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:20.160 and it breeds many other sins. 1 Timothy 6 verse 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:24.920 12, For the love of money is a root of all kinds 00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:29.000 of evil, from which some have strayed from the 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:31.140 faith in their greediness and pierced themselves 00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:34.839 through with many sorrows. Now God does richly 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:39.000 give us all things to enjoy, but we are not to 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:42.559 be haughty and not to trust in them. Again, the 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:46.000 same passage in 1 Timothy 6, verse 17. Command 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:49.019 those who are rich in this present age not to 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:51.900 be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, 00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:55.779 but in the living God which gives us richly all 00:22:55.779 --> 00:23:00.880 things to enjoy. We see this in lack of contentment 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:03.960 or in get -rich -quick schemes or bribery or 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:07.319 exploiting workers or hoarding wealth while ignoring 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:10.960 the needy or never being satisfied with what 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:16.109 one has. The next sin is that of drunkards. We 00:23:16.109 --> 00:23:18.750 can understand this fairly well. There's not 00:23:18.750 --> 00:23:21.609 a lot of hidden meaning in this one. This is 00:23:21.609 --> 00:23:24.589 simply people who habitually become intoxicated 00:23:24.589 --> 00:23:29.009 or they're controlled by alcohol or, by extension, 00:23:29.369 --> 00:23:33.000 other substances. this is not someone who occasionally 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:36.279 has a drink but is those whose life is dominated 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:40.599 by drunkenness this destroyed self -control which 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:42.819 is the fruit of the spirit galatians chapter 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:47.359 5 verse 22 and 23 and it opens up the door to 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:50.940 many other sins as proverbs and other passages 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:54.759 show We see this in regular binge drinking, in 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:57.259 alcoholism, in getting drunk at parties as a 00:23:57.259 --> 00:24:01.700 lifestyle, or in substance abuse that impairs 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:07.059 judgment. The next one then is revilers. This 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:10.460 is number nine, revilers. This is speaking of 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:14.319 those who are abusive. They use abusive and disparaging 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:18.019 or insulting or slanderous speech against others. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:24.880 They are contemptible in their person. This includes 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:28.640 verbal abuse or malicious gossip and tearing 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:33.099 down other people's reputations. The tongue has 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:36.319 great power to destroy, so says James in chapter 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:39.380 3, verse 5 through 10, and it reveals a heart 00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:43.109 -locking love and grace. We see this in habitual 00:24:43.109 --> 00:24:47.170 yelling or cursing at family or co -workers or 00:24:47.170 --> 00:24:50.549 online trolling or bullying or slandering and 00:24:50.549 --> 00:24:56.069 spreading damaging rumors or constant criticism 00:24:56.069 --> 00:25:00.910 designed and meant to humiliate the other person. 00:25:00.970 --> 00:25:07.690 This is revilers. And lastly, that is extortioners. 00:25:07.789 --> 00:25:11.549 This is those who swindle. Those who take advantage 00:25:11.549 --> 00:25:15.390 of others through force or through fraud or through 00:25:15.390 --> 00:25:19.650 manipulation. It is robbery but with duress and 00:25:19.650 --> 00:25:24.390 stress added to it. This includes cheating, scamming 00:25:24.390 --> 00:25:28.690 and using power or position to rob others unjustly. 00:25:29.589 --> 00:25:33.470 Extortioners combine greed with injustice and 00:25:33.470 --> 00:25:37.789 they prey on the vulnerable. We see this today 00:25:37.789 --> 00:25:40.869 in financial scams. or corrupt business deals, 00:25:41.089 --> 00:25:44.789 or blackmail, or dishonest lawsuits, loan sharks, 00:25:45.190 --> 00:25:49.329 or politicians abusing power for personal gain. 00:25:50.109 --> 00:25:52.809 But at the end of this list of sins, Paul again 00:25:52.809 --> 00:25:58.390 reiterates, these will not inherit the kingdom 00:25:58.390 --> 00:26:01.549 of God. I've gone through this 10, we've gone 00:26:01.549 --> 00:26:04.710 through it fairly rapidly, but just to show you 00:26:04.710 --> 00:26:07.130 what all is in here, and certainly these could 00:26:07.130 --> 00:26:10.619 be fleshed out in greater detail. These describe 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:14.720 habitual and unrepentant lifestyles, not isolated 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:19.700 instances. For example, David sinned grievously 00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:23.680 in the adulterous affair with Bathsheba and in 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:27.619 the murder of Uriah. And yet David had a heart 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:31.940 after God and he was quick to repent when confronted 00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:36.140 with his sin. And he did so before the Lord. 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:41.759 Peter. In a moment of weakness. Denied Jesus. 00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:47.460 Not once. Not twice. But three times he denied 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:51.539 Christ. Peter went out. And he wept bitterly. 00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:55.500 He repented. And after the resurrection. Christ 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:59.359 restored him to fellowship. And brought him near. 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:04.299 And entrusted him. With continuing to be an apostle. 00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:09.200 And he wrote letters. that are with us today, 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:12.660 that are the inspired word of God. This is Peter. 00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:15.900 Now there's no excuse for this. There's no excuse 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:19.180 for them. But it is a comfort to know that when 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:21.920 a believer sins, we have the blessing of repentance 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:25.259 and the hope and the joy of forgiveness and restoration. 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:29.980 But to those who live this way, to those who 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:34.799 are held fast in these sins, they are outside 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:39.519 the kingdom and they will not. inherit eternal 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:43.680 life this is what the word of God says if you 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:46.400 are held captive by these sins or are living 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:48.980 in them or have indulged in them in the past 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:52.160 without repentance and restitution and reconciliation 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:55.700 then I urge you to repent and to trust in Christ 00:27:55.700 --> 00:28:00.119 to not stay in these sins from which comes damnation 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:03.380 and alienation from the kingdom of God but let 00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:07.099 me now tell you about the transformation of the 00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:10.500 power of the gospel and the grace of God. And 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:13.920 this comes in our very next verse to which we 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:16.960 turn. Number three, the change of mind and heart 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:20.200 through the gospel and grace of God. He says, 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:24.400 and such were some of you, but you were washed, 00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:27.960 you were sanctified, you were justified in the 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:31.240 name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:34.700 God. Paul reminds them of what they once were. 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:37.960 Now all were lost and in need of Christ, but 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:41.279 not all of them were such notorious sinners as 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:44.500 listed here. They were sinners perhaps in other 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:47.460 areas. And this is why he says, after listing 00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:53.240 these ten, such were some of you. He reminds 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:55.680 them of who they used to be so that they will 00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:58.079 not live that way any longer nor be tempted by 00:28:58.079 --> 00:29:01.559 that life. Here then is what has happened. And 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:03.799 he goes on to describe this. Now these three 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:06.920 are not in any particular order, but they all 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:12.259 mean that they have experienced the acts of God. 00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:15.680 Three acts of God that are mentioned here. They 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:19.279 were washed, they were sanctified, and they were 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:23.019 justified in the name of Jesus Christ. Let's 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:27.640 look at these three as we wrap this up. Number 00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:30.589 one. They were washed. Now, what exactly does 00:29:30.589 --> 00:29:33.990 this mean? They were washed. Now, the scripture 00:29:33.990 --> 00:29:37.390 speaks of at least three meanings of being washed. 00:29:37.529 --> 00:29:40.789 And we're going to take them all because they 00:29:40.789 --> 00:29:43.710 are all realities of faithful Christians. I think 00:29:43.710 --> 00:29:46.029 here, as I look at this, I think Paul means all 00:29:46.029 --> 00:29:47.970 three of these because we see them in the word. 00:29:48.549 --> 00:29:51.230 There's the washing in baptism. There's the washing 00:29:51.230 --> 00:29:53.609 of regeneration. And there's the washing in the 00:29:53.609 --> 00:29:56.779 blood of Christ. These three. Are mentioned in 00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:59.920 the word. Now in baptism. Clean water is poured 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:02.359 upon their heads. Or they are immersed into the 00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:05.619 water. And are baptized into Christ. The person 00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:08.799 who is being baptized. Receives the name of the 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:12.440 triune God upon them. Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 00:30:12.700 --> 00:30:15.640 And with this. They receive a new identity in 00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:19.039 Christ. As a baptized Christian. And they are 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:23.140 covenantally bound. To Christ's body. The church. 00:30:23.930 --> 00:30:27.730 Galatians 3, verse 27. For as many of you as 00:30:27.730 --> 00:30:30.829 were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 00:30:31.410 --> 00:30:34.710 Saul, struck down by Christ from his horse on 00:30:34.710 --> 00:30:37.630 the way to Damascus and blinded by the light, 00:30:37.730 --> 00:30:41.250 was brought to Ananias and he heard the will 00:30:41.250 --> 00:30:43.849 of God for his life. And then he is told, this 00:30:43.849 --> 00:30:48.089 is in Acts 22, verse 16. Arise and be baptized 00:30:48.089 --> 00:30:53.670 and wash away. calling on the name of the Lord. 00:30:53.930 --> 00:30:58.970 The word wash here in this Acts 22 is the very 00:30:58.970 --> 00:31:04.289 same word as we have here in 1 Corinthians 6. 00:31:05.529 --> 00:31:09.609 So Hebrews 10 verse 22 infers the washing of 00:31:09.609 --> 00:31:13.309 baptism in which he exhorts us, let us draw near 00:31:13.309 --> 00:31:15.829 with a true heart in full assurance of faith. 00:31:16.190 --> 00:31:19.190 having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience 00:31:19.190 --> 00:31:24.569 and our bodies washed with pure water so we see 00:31:24.569 --> 00:31:27.410 the washing in baptism this identity in christ 00:31:27.410 --> 00:31:30.730 but furthermore we look at the washing of regeneration 00:31:30.730 --> 00:31:35.109 now do we see let's see in titus chapter 3 when 00:31:35.109 --> 00:31:37.549 the kindness and love of god our savior toward 00:31:37.549 --> 00:31:40.869 man appeared not by works of righteousness which 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:44.460 We have done, but according to His mercy, He 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:47.859 saved us. How? Through the washing of regeneration. 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:52.480 And the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Which he 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:56.319 poured out abundantly on us. Through Jesus Christ 00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:59.420 our Savior. That being justified by his grace. 00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:02.559 We should become heirs according to the hope 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:06.019 of eternal life. Now regeneration refers to the 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:09.440 new birth. That is the word of God upon the heart 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:13.500 of a person. And making them new. Radically changing 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:16.680 their heart and their mind. This is the new life. 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:19.480 It is the restoration and regeneration. renewing 00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:23.519 of their heart and mind, radically changing them. 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:26.380 It is the renewing of the mind by the Holy Spirit. 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:30.180 This is what the prophet Ezekiel saw and he described 00:32:30.180 --> 00:32:33.779 in Ezekiel chapter 36 and verse 25. He says, 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:37.140 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you 00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:39.839 shall be clean. I will cleanse you from all your 00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:42.940 filthiness and from all your idols. I will give 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:47.180 you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. 00:32:47.549 --> 00:32:50.809 I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh 00:32:50.809 --> 00:32:55.109 and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my 00:32:55.109 --> 00:32:59.329 spirit within you and cause you to walk in my 00:32:59.329 --> 00:33:02.670 statutes. And you will keep my judgments and 00:33:02.670 --> 00:33:05.710 do them. What an incredible passage this is. 00:33:05.930 --> 00:33:08.410 And Paul builds on this in Ephesians chapter 00:33:08.410 --> 00:33:12.940 2 verse 4. But God who is rich in mercy. Because 00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:15.960 of his great love with which he loved us. Even 00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:20.140 when we were dead in trespasses. Made us alive 00:33:20.140 --> 00:33:23.599 together with Christ. By grace you have been 00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:27.539 saved. And raised us up together. And made us 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:30.440 sit together in the heavenly places in Christ 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:35.400 Jesus. This is the regeneration of the new birth. 00:33:35.460 --> 00:33:43.740 The washing of regeneration. Excuse me. How then 00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:47.000 do we become free from these sins that bar us 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:49.660 from the kingdom of God? It is through the washing 00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:54.079 of regeneration, that miracle that God does in 00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:57.920 us by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. One 00:33:57.920 --> 00:34:01.200 cannot work this out through efforts of his own. 00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:06.259 One must, as Jesus told Nicodemus, be born again, 00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:14.179 born from above. are struggling with your sins 00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:17.780 and you cannot get free of them and you are bound 00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:22.860 in unrighteousness this is what you need a new 00:34:22.860 --> 00:34:25.860 heart i appreciate brother ty and praying for 00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:28.260 some of the lost who are relatives are known 00:34:28.260 --> 00:34:31.920 continually praise that the lord would give them 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:36.039 a new heart would take out the stony one that's 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:39.219 what this is describing right here the third 00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:42.179 washing that we have Is being washed in the blood 00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:46.860 of Christ. John opens up. The apocalypse. The 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:49.179 revelation of Jesus Christ. With these words. 00:34:49.659 --> 00:34:53.539 Grace to you. From Jesus Christ. The faithful 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:56.539 witness. The first born from the dead. And the 00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:59.139 ruler over the kings of the earth. To him who 00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:04.619 loved us. And washed us from our sins. In his 00:35:04.619 --> 00:35:08.420 own blood. And has made us kings and priests. 00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:13.659 To his God and Father. To him be glory and dominion 00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:18.099 forever and ever. Without the shedding of blood, 00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:21.059 the scripture says, there is no forgiveness or 00:35:21.059 --> 00:35:25.440 remission of sins. But indeed. How much more 00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:28.300 shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal 00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:31.719 spirit offered himself without spot to God, cleanse 00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:34.400 your conscience from dead works to serve the 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:38.719 living God? Hebrews 9 and verse 14. We have been 00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:41.559 redeemed out of the judgment and condemnation. 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:45.059 As Peter says, knowing that you were not redeemed 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:48.199 with corruptible things like silver or gold from 00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:50.420 your aimless conduct received by tradition of 00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:54.260 your fathers, but with the precious blood of 00:35:54.260 --> 00:35:58.059 Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without 00:35:58.059 --> 00:36:02.099 spot. All of these, I believe, are in mind as 00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:06.860 Paul says these simple words, you were washed. 00:36:07.619 --> 00:36:12.500 And in this washing, we are set. which is the 00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:15.699 next description. He says, you were sanctified. 00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:21.860 You were sanctified. The sanctification is a 00:36:21.860 --> 00:36:23.820 work of the Holy Spirit that does two things. 00:36:24.139 --> 00:36:28.199 First of all, it separates one from profane and 00:36:28.199 --> 00:36:31.039 evil things, such as the sins listed in this 00:36:31.039 --> 00:36:34.639 passage. And it dedicates that person to God. 00:36:34.760 --> 00:36:38.599 So separating and dedicating to God. That is 00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:42.960 the one action. The second work of the Holy Spirit 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:46.139 and sanctification is that it cleanses and purifies 00:36:46.139 --> 00:36:50.659 from the guilt of sin and renews the soul. So 00:36:50.659 --> 00:36:53.500 as we look back in our lives, we realize, boy, 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:56.659 I did a lot of sin. I really messed up. And we 00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:58.900 can look and we can get bogged down in all the 00:36:58.900 --> 00:37:01.500 evil that we have done. But through the blood 00:37:01.500 --> 00:37:04.440 of Christ. And through the work of the Holy Spirit 00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:07.139 and sanctification, we are cleansed and we are 00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:10.739 purified from the sin, but also from the guilt 00:37:10.739 --> 00:37:13.420 of that sin. So we no longer need to live in 00:37:13.420 --> 00:37:16.320 the guilt of it. With it weighing us down and 00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:18.639 the burden of it. Oh, I just can't believe what 00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:22.519 I did. That can be gone through sanctification. 00:37:23.219 --> 00:37:27.159 Together, this makes one holy and set apart to 00:37:27.159 --> 00:37:31.280 God. This is the work of sanctification. Sanctification 00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:35.460 is both a one -time work at conversion, but it 00:37:35.460 --> 00:37:39.280 is also an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, rooting 00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:42.320 out the ongoing sin in the life of a believer. 00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:45.280 We're going to look at two examples. Here's an 00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:47.780 example of the one -time work, which is what 00:37:47.780 --> 00:37:51.380 Paul is referring to in our passage today. 2 00:37:51.380 --> 00:37:54.980 Thessalonians 2, verse 13. But we are bound to 00:37:54.980 --> 00:37:57.360 give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved 00:37:57.360 --> 00:38:00.860 of God, because God from the beginning chose 00:38:00.860 --> 00:38:04.480 you for salvation through sanctification of the 00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:09.659 Spirit and belief in the truth to which He called 00:38:09.659 --> 00:38:12.119 you by our gospel for the obtaining of the glory 00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:15.139 of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was a one -time 00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:18.539 act of salvation. It was by the Spirit in setting 00:38:18.539 --> 00:38:23.699 you apart your sins and saving you. But then 00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:26.719 Paul also speaks of the ongoing work in 1 Thessalonians 00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:30.300 4. He says, Finally then, brethren, we urge and 00:38:30.300 --> 00:38:32.340 exhort you in the Lord Jesus that you should 00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:36.019 abound more and more, just as you received from 00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:39.800 us how you ought to walk and to please God. For 00:38:39.800 --> 00:38:42.039 you know what commandments we gave you through 00:38:42.039 --> 00:38:44.420 the Lord Jesus. And he says, For this is the 00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:48.980 will of God. Your sanctification. This is something 00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:53.460 that you grow in Christ as you go on with your 00:38:53.460 --> 00:38:56.320 Christian life. As the work of the Spirit continues 00:38:56.320 --> 00:38:58.519 you and you are washed in the Word of God and 00:38:58.519 --> 00:39:00.699 you hear it and you have the fellowship of the 00:39:00.699 --> 00:39:04.159 saints and you walk with God, you become more 00:39:04.159 --> 00:39:07.880 sanctified. You become more holy. God deals with 00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:11.079 things at your life that even were still present 00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:13.920 with you at the time of your conversion. And 00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:16.480 then you were sanctified and set apart, but now 00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:20.659 you are also being sanctified. Just as we have 00:39:20.659 --> 00:39:23.659 been made holy through the blood of Jesus and 00:39:23.659 --> 00:39:26.719 the work of the Holy Spirit at conversion, so 00:39:26.719 --> 00:39:31.440 also we are to be holy in all of our conduct. 00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:36.340 1 Peter 1, verse 15 and 16. But as he who called 00:39:36.340 --> 00:39:43.340 you is holy, you also be holy. In all of your 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:47.719 conduct. Because it is written. Be ye holy. For 00:39:47.719 --> 00:39:54.079 I am holy. We see this. In the life of the Corinthians. 00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:59.699 They were sanctified. But at the same time. They 00:39:59.699 --> 00:40:02.260 had a lot of sins remaining. In their walk of 00:40:02.260 --> 00:40:05.000 life. That needed to be repented of. And they 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:09.159 needed to change it. They were holy. But they 00:40:09.159 --> 00:40:13.409 were also in the process of becoming. where their 00:40:13.409 --> 00:40:17.250 walk of life needed to match their position in 00:40:17.250 --> 00:40:22.650 Christ. So also it is with us. Number three, 00:40:22.730 --> 00:40:27.429 they were justified. They were justified in the 00:40:27.429 --> 00:40:30.070 name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God. 00:40:30.409 --> 00:40:33.489 To be justified is to be rendered righteous. 00:40:34.119 --> 00:40:36.840 brought into a state of favor with God. Your 00:40:36.840 --> 00:40:40.179 sins blotted out through Christ Jesus. The Holy 00:40:40.179 --> 00:40:43.019 Spirit witnesses that you are sons and daughters 00:40:43.019 --> 00:40:45.960 of God and your conscience has been cleansed 00:40:45.960 --> 00:40:49.539 and enlightened. This time, this happens at the 00:40:49.539 --> 00:40:52.960 time of regeneration that is the new birth conversion 00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:57.340 to Christ. We know that all have sinned and fallen 00:40:57.340 --> 00:41:00.510 short of the glory of God. but we are justified 00:41:00.510 --> 00:41:04.570 freely by His grace through the redemption that 00:41:04.570 --> 00:41:08.170 is in Christ. This is a one -time act of God 00:41:08.170 --> 00:41:11.809 wherein a man is justified by faith apart from 00:41:11.809 --> 00:41:15.630 the deeds of the law. Romans 3 verse 28. It is 00:41:15.630 --> 00:41:19.170 the very essence of the gospel where the believer 00:41:19.170 --> 00:41:24.590 is renewed and is treated as if they have kept 00:41:24.590 --> 00:41:27.469 every jot and tittle of God's law perfectly. 00:41:28.280 --> 00:41:31.559 Romans 3 verse 21. But now the righteousness 00:41:31.559 --> 00:41:34.960 of God apart from the law is revealed. Being 00:41:34.960 --> 00:41:38.119 witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even the 00:41:38.119 --> 00:41:41.440 righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. 00:41:41.599 --> 00:41:47.480 To all and upon all who believe. The righteousness 00:41:47.480 --> 00:41:52.400 of the law is fulfilled in us. This takes away 00:41:52.400 --> 00:41:58.760 all. All self -effort to salvation. For so great 00:41:58.760 --> 00:42:02.059 is our sin that in no way could we ever atone 00:42:02.059 --> 00:42:05.000 for them. Let atone be free from the guilt of 00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:08.340 them before a holy God. No, we must have one 00:42:08.340 --> 00:42:11.760 who justifies us. One who will give us peace 00:42:11.760 --> 00:42:16.059 with God and will save us from the wrath of almighty 00:42:16.059 --> 00:42:20.940 God. And this one is none other. And Jesus Christ. 00:42:21.239 --> 00:42:24.639 And therefore Paul says to the Corinthians. You 00:42:24.639 --> 00:42:28.099 were justified. In the name of Jesus Christ. 00:42:28.519 --> 00:42:32.519 And by the spirit of God. You have his name upon 00:42:32.519 --> 00:42:36.369 you. You have a new identity. And you are united 00:42:36.369 --> 00:42:39.469 with Christ. Your body is now a temple of the 00:42:39.469 --> 00:42:42.530 Holy Spirit. Whom you have from God. And you 00:42:42.530 --> 00:42:45.610 are no longer your own. For you were bought with 00:42:45.610 --> 00:42:49.750 a price. The precious blood of Jesus. And Lord 00:42:49.750 --> 00:42:52.349 willing we will consider this further next week. 00:42:52.510 --> 00:42:56.949 If the Lord wills. How glorious a change does 00:42:56.949 --> 00:43:01.030 grace make. It changes the vilest of men into 00:43:01.030 --> 00:43:05.210 saints and children of God. And such were some 00:43:05.210 --> 00:43:09.190 of you, Paul says. But you are not what you once 00:43:09.190 --> 00:43:12.630 were. The wickedness of men and women before 00:43:12.630 --> 00:43:15.849 conversion is no bar to their regeneration and 00:43:15.849 --> 00:43:19.050 reconciliation to God. So brothers and sisters, 00:43:19.309 --> 00:43:23.789 let us rejoice in the work of God. Let us trust 00:43:23.789 --> 00:43:28.510 in Him. Let us be free from our sins and be reconciled 00:43:28.510 --> 00:43:33.409 to God through Jesus Christ. We're going to close 00:43:33.409 --> 00:43:35.909 now in prayer, and I'm going to pray the prayer 00:43:35.909 --> 00:43:39.510 that Paul prayed in Ephesians 1 for this congregation. 00:43:39.510 --> 00:43:43.150 So let us pray. Father in heaven, I pray that 00:43:43.150 --> 00:43:46.829 you, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father 00:43:46.829 --> 00:43:49.889 of glory, might give to this congregation the 00:43:49.889 --> 00:43:52.250 spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge 00:43:52.250 --> 00:43:55.510 of you. I pray that the eyes of their understanding 00:43:55.510 --> 00:43:58.110 would be enlightened, that they would know what 00:43:58.110 --> 00:44:00.539 is the hope of your calling. And what are the 00:44:00.539 --> 00:44:03.199 riches of your glory of your inheritance in the 00:44:03.199 --> 00:44:06.059 saints. And what is the exceeding greatness of 00:44:06.059 --> 00:44:10.719 your power toward us who believe. According to 00:44:10.719 --> 00:44:13.039 the working of your mighty power which you worked 00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:15.619 in Christ. When you raised him from the dead 00:44:15.619 --> 00:44:18.159 and seated him at your right hand in the heavenly 00:44:18.159 --> 00:44:21.760 places. Far above all principality and power 00:44:21.760 --> 00:44:25.239 and might and dominion. And every name that is 00:44:25.239 --> 00:44:28.219 named not only in this age but in that which 00:44:28.219 --> 00:44:32.030 is to come. Lord God, you have put all things 00:44:32.030 --> 00:44:35.570 under his feet, the feet of Jesus. You've given 00:44:35.570 --> 00:44:38.389 him to be the head over all things to the church, 00:44:38.610 --> 00:44:43.389 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills 00:44:43.389 --> 00:44:46.869 all in all. We thank you for these great and 00:44:46.869 --> 00:44:50.070 precious promises. We pray in the name of Jesus. 00:44:50.510 --> 00:44:53.590 And now we'll open it up for prayers in the men 00:44:53.590 --> 00:44:54.090 of the congregation.