1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:27,520 In verse 5, the apostle says, Through Christ we have received grace and apostleship to 2 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:33,040 bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, among 3 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:38,800 whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ. 4 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,120 And the name that I'm particularly interested in is that one in the last part of verse 6, 5 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:47,120 the called of Jesus Christ. 6 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:54,600 That of course aligns well with the study we've been having in Romans 8, 28 through 7 00:00:54,600 --> 00:01:01,560 30, where one of the actions God has taken on our behalf to guarantee His purpose is 8 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:03,680 that He called us. 9 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:08,680 And here that noun is used that we are the called of Jesus Christ. 10 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:15,560 I'd like for us to probe that thought a little bit by looking in the New Testament at some 11 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,480 ways in which that thought is elaborated upon. 12 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,440 Modifying phrases can be important. 13 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:30,040 For example, if you were to say, fire, your attention would immediately be gotten. 14 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:38,040 But if I said, fire over there, that would mean something else than fire here. 15 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:43,320 I modified the phrase to give it some further meaning and direction. 16 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:49,880 Likewise, if I said, go, your question would be, go where? 17 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:56,120 We need to modify it to say, go here, or go back, go fast, go slow. 18 00:01:56,120 --> 00:02:02,640 Likewise, this term, the called of Jesus Christ, is modified in the New Testament to give us 19 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:10,280 an understanding of what it means when it says that we are His called out ones. 20 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:16,360 I'd like for you to turn to the book of 1 Peter, first of all, to chapter 2 and verse 21 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,400 9. 22 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:29,320 Here we learn that we are called out, called out as the called ones of Jesus Christ. 23 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:38,960 Peter warns about rejecting Jesus Christ, who is called here a precious cornerstone. 24 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:46,300 He says that those who reject Him and who are disobedient to the Word stumble over Him, 25 00:02:46,300 --> 00:02:55,000 so that this chosen stone actually then becomes a stumbling stone and a rock of offense. 26 00:02:55,000 --> 00:03:00,380 But he says that is not our case. 27 00:03:00,380 --> 00:03:09,320 In verse 9 he says, but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people 28 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:16,040 for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you 29 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:22,920 out of darkness into His marvelous light. 30 00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:30,560 And so we are called out from one place or one position to another, as he says it here, 31 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:36,660 out of darkness into His marvelous light. 32 00:03:36,660 --> 00:03:44,740 There are two great realms or spiritual realities in existence. 33 00:03:44,740 --> 00:03:52,840 They are described in the Bible in various terms, among them darkness and light. 34 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:59,840 Darkness does not refer to physical darkness, such as just came over you, but rather to 35 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:07,280 moral, spiritual, or ethical darkness. 36 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:11,100 It is evil, the realm of evil. 37 00:04:11,100 --> 00:04:17,340 It is that kind of darkness which engulfs lost mankind. 38 00:04:17,340 --> 00:04:27,040 John, in particular, in writing his gospel and his epistles, uses the phrase darkness 39 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,380 and often contrasts it with the light. 40 00:04:30,380 --> 00:04:36,960 An example of that is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 1, as he describes what happens 41 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:44,000 when the Word, Jesus Christ, comes into the world. 42 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:55,860 In John 1, 3, he says, All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came 43 00:04:55,860 --> 00:04:59,000 into being that has come into being. 44 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:09,080 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shines in darkness, 45 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:15,000 and the darkness did not comprehend it. 46 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:21,720 John speaks about Jesus Christ coming as the life, which was the light of men. 47 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:30,600 He says that light shines in the darkness of the world, and the darkness does not overcome 48 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:38,520 it, but in fact the darkness has been overcome by the light. 49 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:47,920 John again uses this metaphor in chapter 3, and in verse 19, he says, And this is the 50 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:57,000 judgment that light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the 51 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:02,160 light, for their deeds were evil. 52 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:09,080 And so this spiritual darkness, John describes, is that which has engulfed and dominates the 53 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,380 world. 54 00:06:12,380 --> 00:06:23,280 And every person outside of Jesus Christ is a part of that system or that reality of darkness. 55 00:06:23,280 --> 00:06:30,160 We further learn in the Word of God that this realm of darkness is ruled by the powers of 56 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,920 Satan. 57 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:41,380 In Ephesians chapter 6, the Apostle Paul tells us of the battle that we face as believers. 58 00:06:41,380 --> 00:06:52,120 That battle is not with some impersonal force, but he tells us that the battle we have is 59 00:06:52,120 --> 00:07:06,640 with a hierarchy of personal beings, described elsewhere as demons. 60 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:15,120 But here Paul puts it this way in verse 12, Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, 61 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:27,240 but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, 62 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:34,140 against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 63 00:07:34,140 --> 00:07:41,760 The heavenly places refers to the spiritual realm, as much a reality actually as the physical 64 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:47,860 realm in which we live and to which we relate. 65 00:07:47,860 --> 00:07:54,800 Being Christians, we also now relate to that heavenly or spiritual realm because we are 66 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,040 seated with Christ there. 67 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:07,600 And here he tells us likewise that our primary opposition, our enemy, comes from that realm 68 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:15,000 which he describes here as spiritual forces of wickedness or the world forces of this 69 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:20,040 darkness. 70 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:31,040 Evil is present in the world and that evil is a well-defined, well-organized system. 71 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:36,280 And as we see, it is called here darkness. 72 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,680 And Satan is the prince of that realm. 73 00:08:39,680 --> 00:08:44,760 He is the prince of darkness. 74 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:52,720 In contrast to the darkness which engulfs all of lost men is the realm or the spiritual 75 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,800 reality of the light. 76 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:06,040 Again this refers not to physical light, but rather to moral and spiritual light. 77 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:16,360 That word light has with it the connotation of revelation, of understanding, of knowledge, 78 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:19,000 of awareness. 79 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:24,440 John calls Jesus Christ the light in verse 1. 80 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:30,080 He quotes the Lord Jesus as saying, I am the light of the world. 81 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:38,320 And as he pins that first epistle, he says in him is no darkness at all. 82 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:43,460 He says God is light. 83 00:09:43,460 --> 00:09:47,840 That is an ethical way of saying that God is holy. 84 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:52,760 God is absolutely pure. 85 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:59,920 And the word of God makes it clear that through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, he overcame 86 00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:05,000 the world darkness. 87 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:11,440 Actually the powers of darkness thought they had the victory when that stone was sealed 88 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,560 against the tomb. 89 00:10:14,560 --> 00:10:21,240 They thought that they had finally conquered, that theirs was the victory in this great 90 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:24,320 battle against God. 91 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:29,840 And yet there is no way whatsoever that Jesus Christ could have been contained in that tomb. 92 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:35,720 And he came forth alive, light having conquered the darkness. 93 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,400 And that is significant. 94 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:44,880 Because if Jesus Christ had not gotten that victory, then it would be impossible for you 95 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:51,840 and for me to be delivered from the darkness into which we were born. 96 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:59,160 But because of his resurrection and his victory over darkness, you and I now can be called 97 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:08,080 out of darkness into his marvelous light. 98 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:19,440 Paul joins this theme in the book of Colossians chapter 1. 99 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:26,040 He gives thanks to the Father in verse 12 who has qualified us to share in the inheritance 100 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,880 of the saints in light. 101 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:30,040 Do you notice that? 102 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:32,440 The saints in light. 103 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:41,680 And then he says, for he delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us 104 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:46,840 into the kingdom of his beloved Son. 105 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:54,360 When you and I placed our faith in Jesus Christ and were saved, at that instant of time, among 106 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:58,800 many other things, this miracle occurred. 107 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,580 We were translated or transferred. 108 00:12:02,580 --> 00:12:12,180 We were changed in our standing from one realm of reality to another. 109 00:12:12,180 --> 00:12:19,640 In that instant of time, we were plucked out of the domain of darkness which engulfs the 110 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:25,640 world and over which Satan and the demons rule. 111 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:33,480 And we were delivered into, placed into, transferred into a new realm, a new kingdom, the kingdom 112 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:39,520 of God's own Son, the kingdom of light. 113 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:44,440 Back up a page or two into Ephesians chapter 5 and notice furthermore what the apostle 114 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:47,280 says. 115 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:53,280 Verse 8, for you, believers, were formerly darkness. 116 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,120 Interestingly here he puts it strongly. 117 00:12:55,120 --> 00:13:01,320 He says not that we were just in darkness, but he says you were formerly darkness. 118 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:02,520 That was your identity. 119 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:05,860 You were united with that. 120 00:13:05,860 --> 00:13:11,800 You were formerly darkness, but now you are light. 121 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:16,520 And here he doesn't say you are in light, but he says you are light. 122 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,940 Because now we have a new union, a new identity. 123 00:13:19,940 --> 00:13:23,560 You are light in the Lord. 124 00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:27,040 So that change was made. 125 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:32,920 Bless God that in his mercy and his grace, not because of something that he found worthy 126 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:45,480 in us, but according to his own eternal purposes, he called us out of darkness into his marvelous 127 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:46,480 light. 128 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:52,120 Thus we are the called of Jesus Christ. 129 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:59,040 And now he exhorts us, walk as children of light. 130 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:09,480 That is not easy to do in a world of darkness, but it is a privilege to live that way. 131 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:17,180 Have you ever been in a very dark place with even a small light? 132 00:14:17,180 --> 00:14:23,440 I think some of those who went on the canoe trip had a lesson along that line I heard. 133 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:30,400 The most graphic illustration of it came to me in a cave in Missouri. 134 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:35,160 Down deep in the heart of that cave, they shut off all of the lights. 135 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:39,620 And some of you have been in caves like that. 136 00:14:39,620 --> 00:14:43,880 And then the guide turned on a single flashlight. 137 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:54,600 It was absolutely amazing how much light was produced by that little flashlight. 138 00:14:54,600 --> 00:15:01,760 The reason was because of the contrast. 139 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:09,120 My friend, as you go out and work in that office tomorrow, you are light as a Christian. 140 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:18,080 There is a contrast between you and the average person in that office who is lost. 141 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:23,880 Because they belong to one spiritual realm and you to another. 142 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:28,600 Therefore do not think as strange that you stand out and you are different from them 143 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:34,120 and that even occasionally they will note that difference. 144 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:41,920 Perhaps even by mocking or making other comments that let you know that they recognize the 145 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:43,920 difference. 146 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:49,060 These two realms of light and darkness have nothing to do with each other. 147 00:15:49,060 --> 00:15:54,160 They are opposites and not only that, they are mutually exclusive. 148 00:15:54,160 --> 00:16:00,520 Because by nature, where there is light, there cannot be true darkness. 149 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:06,480 Light exposes darkness for what it is, and that is really the context in Ephesians chapter 150 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,200 5. 151 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:12,320 We are called out of the one to be a part of the other. 152 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,400 We are called out. 153 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:23,920 Would you think with me, secondly, about this idea that we are called to as well as out. 154 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:27,060 We are called to some things. 155 00:16:27,060 --> 00:16:29,040 We began in Romans chapter 1. 156 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:34,240 Turn back there with me and notice a thought that comes in the next verse. 157 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:46,600 In verse 7, Paul addresses this letter to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called 158 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,800 saints. 159 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:56,920 The word as is italicized, you may notice, which means that it is put there by the translators 160 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:04,080 to give a fluid progression of thought. 161 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,440 But really it is a blessed thing to see here. 162 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:11,840 He says that we are called saints. 163 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:13,320 Called saints. 164 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:24,760 Turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 2. 165 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:31,380 To these believers, he says, to the church of God, which is at Corinth, to those who 166 00:17:31,380 --> 00:17:43,640 have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling. 167 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:48,800 A person who is saved is a saint, period. 168 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:53,840 I am sure that most of you recognize that saints are not those who have been promoted 169 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:58,280 or declared to be saints by some religious hierarchy. 170 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:02,440 But in the New Testament sense, every believer is a saint. 171 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:05,720 And one who is a saint is one who is set apart. 172 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,360 That's the meaning of the term. 173 00:18:08,360 --> 00:18:12,040 One who is set apart to a special purpose. 174 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:17,560 The meaning here is that we are called to holiness. 175 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:23,000 For the word holy or holiness is related to the word saint in the original language. 176 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,640 And that's the meaning. 177 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:34,560 We are not only called out, but we are called to, and we are called to holiness. 178 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:36,760 What is holiness? 179 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:41,160 Is that a life of perfection? 180 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,120 In the ultimate sense, yes. 181 00:18:43,120 --> 00:18:47,200 It is a life that is sinless. 182 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:48,960 And that is our destiny. 183 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:52,920 But that's not our experience right now, is it? 184 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:59,600 So that is our desire, I believe, as children of God, that we might live holy lives because 185 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:00,600 that's our calling. 186 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,440 We are called to holiness. 187 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:11,920 How then is it possible for us to be holy, to be set apart, to be saints? 188 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:14,360 Turn back to 1 Peter chapter 1. 189 00:19:14,360 --> 00:19:17,480 We'll get an idea here. 190 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:28,060 1 Peter 1, we must start with verse 13 where he says, 191 00:19:28,060 --> 00:19:32,160 Therefore gird your minds for action. 192 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:37,720 I think the King James says, gird up the loins of your mind, which is a great oriental expression, 193 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,880 but kind of tough for us to understand. 194 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:45,800 The idea is to get your robes tucked up into your belt. 195 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:52,120 When an oriental person in that day wanted to move quickly or to be ready to move in 196 00:19:52,120 --> 00:19:59,000 a hurry, he would take the tunic that he wore and the skirts would be tucked into the belt 197 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:00,480 around his waist. 198 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:04,600 Thus his legs were free for action. 199 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:05,800 And that is Peter's thought. 200 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,880 He's saying here, get ready for action. 201 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,860 Gird yourself for action in your mind. 202 00:20:11,860 --> 00:20:14,200 Keep sober in spirit. 203 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:20,040 Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus 204 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:21,520 Christ. 205 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:34,680 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your 206 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,400 ignorance. 207 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:47,000 But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior. 208 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:52,760 Because it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy. 209 00:20:52,760 --> 00:21:00,480 Peter gives us the idea here that holiness on the one hand means that we do not allow 210 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:09,920 ourselves to be conformed to our behavior when we were ignorant. 211 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:20,100 That is the kinds of desires and cravings and motivations that we had when we were unsaved. 212 00:21:20,100 --> 00:21:21,800 This word conformed is used here. 213 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:28,560 It's used in Romans 12, verses 1 and 2. 214 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:35,080 It has the idea of pressure from the outside conforming you to something. 215 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:39,760 I think the Phillips translation puts the Romans text this way. 216 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:46,520 Don't allow the world to squeeze you into its mold. 217 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:56,040 And Peter is saying here, don't allow yourself to be molded and pressured into a lifestyle 218 00:21:56,040 --> 00:22:01,280 like that you had before you were saved. 219 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:06,000 Is there pressure like that in our world today? 220 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:15,080 Does the darkness out there attempt to get you to change your ideas, to compromise your 221 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:24,640 standards, to accept a lot of gray area where God says things are right and wrong? 222 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,520 Of course it does. 223 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:34,840 And Peter tells us that part of being holy is not allowing that to happen, not allowing 224 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:45,720 ourselves to be molded to the pattern set by the world system, by the dark reality out 225 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:46,720 there. 226 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:56,520 But he says, be obedient children and imitate the Holy One who has called you. 227 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:00,800 Paul puts it this way in Romans, be transformed. 228 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,320 And that word is the opposite of being conformed. 229 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:15,880 It has to do with inward pressure, not outward pressure coming in at you, but inward change. 230 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:21,400 That's what it means to be holy, allowing God to do that inner work in us. 231 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:25,040 We are the called of Jesus Christ, dear people. 232 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:35,640 We are called to holiness, that He might effect within us dynamic change, moral light, so 233 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:43,780 that as we walk in the world we will make a difference by exposing and rebuking the 234 00:23:43,780 --> 00:23:47,820 darkness around us. 235 00:23:47,820 --> 00:23:52,800 This ties together with the thought of separation. 236 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:59,320 When God said, let there be light, separation came into existence. 237 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:04,700 Light and darkness were differentiated. 238 00:24:04,700 --> 00:24:09,480 Some people don't like the idea of separation. 239 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:15,600 There are some Christians who seem to have the idea that we, in our liberty in Jesus 240 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:23,640 Christ, may live as much like the world as is possible. 241 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:28,640 My friend, that is not God's plan for us. 242 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:40,560 We have been called out of that darkness that we might manifest the excellencies of Jesus 243 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:44,160 Christ to the darkness. 244 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:53,600 Turn over to 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 14. 245 00:24:53,600 --> 00:25:01,040 And with this passage we will close. 246 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:07,680 He says, do not be bound together with unbelievers. 247 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,320 That's strong language. 248 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:16,160 It does not mean we cannot have unsaved friends and relations because of course we do. 249 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:21,920 How can we build bridges into the lives of people unless we establish friendship and 250 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:26,440 trust and communication with unbelievers? 251 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:35,240 But the point is that we are not to be brought into bonds with unbelievers. 252 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:43,520 Like one ox is brought into the yoke with another ox. 253 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:53,080 It has the idea here of a business partnership where there is equality or a marriage relationship. 254 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:57,600 He says do not be bound together that way with unbelievers. 255 00:25:57,600 --> 00:25:58,600 Why? 256 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:04,880 Well, he says what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? 257 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:11,400 Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 258 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:13,560 Skip on down to chapter 7 verse 1. 259 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:19,480 Therefore having these promises, those just given that we had to skip, beloved let us 260 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:29,720 cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the 261 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:30,720 fear of God. 262 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:34,920 We are called to holiness. 263 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:44,880 And we are expected by God to work out that holiness, to bring it to maturity so that 264 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:51,840 it ripens in our lives and it affects the way that we live. 265 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:58,520 It means that there are some places that we cannot go where we maybe used to go in the 266 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:01,620 times of our ignorance. 267 00:27:01,620 --> 00:27:07,680 It means that there are some activities that we cannot now be involved in, do not want 268 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:19,640 to be involved in because God has called us out of that to holiness, a separated lifestyle. 269 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:25,160 Now it would be easy for me to stand up here and give a list of things that Christians 270 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,880 ought to do and ought not to do. 271 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:32,960 And of course there are some things clearly delineated in the Word of God that Christians 272 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:38,200 ought to have nothing to do with, nothing whatsoever. 273 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:46,680 And yet we recognize that there are some areas where the Bible does not speak specifically. 274 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:52,840 And we have to allow others to have different convictions as the Spirit of God may lead 275 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:57,040 them in those areas. 276 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:02,600 But however God may lead you in making your decision in those areas, for the Word of God 277 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:08,600 is not specific but gives principles that are to be applied. 278 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:15,160 Remember this underlying principle that God has called you to be different. 279 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:19,320 God has called you to be holy. 280 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:26,720 God has called you out of your ignorance and out of your lusts so that now you might be 281 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:34,120 His obedient children, children of light. 282 00:28:34,120 --> 00:28:41,840 Now that we have followed the Lord Jesus Christ by trusting Him, may we keep this principle, 283 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,240 this truth in mind. 284 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:52,080 And this week let us ask God what it is that may be in our lives from which we need to 285 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:54,040 cleanse ourselves. 286 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:57,720 He talks about defilement of flesh and of spirit. 287 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:04,120 There are some things that defile the flesh and there are other things more subtle but 288 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:12,640 equally dangerous to our spiritual walk which defile the spirit, the inner man, which is 289 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:13,960 invisible. 290 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:21,040 We are to cleanse ourselves in both areas from all defilement and perfect holiness in 291 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:24,160 the fear of God. 292 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:33,080 As He who has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of life. 293 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:36,680 Let's bow together in prayer. 294 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:38,680 Would you sing with me? 295 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:52,600 I have decided to follow Jesus. 296 00:29:52,600 --> 00:30:08,640 I have decided to follow Jesus.