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Colossians 2:20-3:4 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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It's an honor and a privilege to be here with you once again.
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For those of you who may not know me, my name is Jonathan Hoffman.
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! I am a current graduate, or recent graduate, of the apprenticeship program that we have here at Christ Family Church.
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And so, in part, that is a reason why I have been invited and given this privilege today.
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So, it is quite an honor for me to be allowed this opportunity.
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And, just to share something with you that has been in my heart.
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I moved up here to North Georgia in order to go to Bible college.
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I was converted, became a Christian about almost four years ago.
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And, God has so powerfully moved in my life since then.
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And, I moved up here with the mindset of, I want the rest of my life to revolve around these truths that I had found.
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That my eyes had been open to.
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And, so, I have come to feel the sense of calling into the ministry.
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A burden to preach God's Word because I believe that it is the only thing, as Scripture says, that has the power to save.
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And, so, it is a privilege to be given this opportunity.
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But, at the same time, I moved up here and I left my dream career of law enforcement because it had become an idol.
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And, I believe it was Calvin.
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Calvin, I could be wrong.
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But, a whole theologian once said that the heart is an idol factory.
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We create gods by the dozens, by the thousands even, in our hearts.
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And, so, while I was going through Bible college, Tripp McConnell, for about a year,
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one of the greatest convictions that has come upon me of my own sin is my battle with my pride.
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It is a tremendous, tremendous battle that I have to fight with my pride.
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And, it is why I left law enforcement.
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And, while I was going through Bible college, and even now, my pride is still an issue to where I felt like I am constantly in danger of giving myself over to my pride in my learning now.
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You know, I am going through Bible college, and I am learning all these great things and these great truths.
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And, my fear is that I am doing it for the wrong reasons.
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I constantly keep that in check.
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And, God has given me a lot of grace in battling that.
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And, so, I tell you that because I believe that even preaching can be turned into an idol.
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And, it is my greatest fear this morning and for my future that I will turn preaching into an idol.
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Because I can write a good paper, or because I can use eloquent words, or so on and so forth.
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And, so, that has been my greatest battle in preparing for this sermon is to make sure that my pride is at check.
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So, that I will be able to preach in power through the Spirit.
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That I would be as a clean vessel for His Word to come through me.
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And, so, I pray this morning and I ask you, I ask every one of you to pray along with me.
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That, that would be the case.
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And, I ask that every one of you would pay attention.
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Pay close attention because there are waiting matters at hand here this morning.
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And, so, pray for yourselves as well.
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That God would soften your hearts.
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And, that we would be changed by what we learned today.
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And, so, I hope that that is the case this morning.
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If God would see it fit, that that would be the case.
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So, please turn with me to the book of Colossians chapter 3.
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Colossians chapter 3.
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And, just to give you a quick review for those who have not been with us for the last few weeks.
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We have been going verse by verse through the book of Colossians.
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The book of Colossians is a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colossae.
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And, now, Colossae was a city in modern day Turkey.
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And, it was about 100 miles east of Ephesus, the city of Ephesus.
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Now, Paul had never visited Colossae.
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And, so, it is believed that the church there was started by a man by the name of Epaphras.
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Epaphras, who was converted during a visit to Ephesus where Paul, the Apostle, was ministering there for three years.
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And, Colossae was primarily a Gentile city but had a fairly large Jewish population.
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And, so, as the gospel spread and the church at Colossae was established, it consisted of a mixture of Jews and Gentiles.
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A dangerous heresy then arose in the church.
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And, this heresy contained a mixture of Jewish mysticism and pagan, or Jewish legalism, I'm sorry, and pagan mysticism.
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It began to cause division in the church.
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And, Epaphras, being so concerned about the people of that church, made a journey to Rome to ask for Paul's help in combating this heresy.
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Now, Paul was, at the time, in Rome in prison.
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He was in a Roman prison.
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And, it was around the same time that Paul wrote the letter to Philemon, the letter to the Ephesians, and the letter to the Philippians.
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And, this one in particular was primarily for that initial purpose of combating this heresy.
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And, so, in the last few weeks, we have been going through the book of Colossians, and we have now reached chapter 3.
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And, in the first two chapters, we have seen that we have been given a lot of doctrine.
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The first two chapters are a lot of doctrine.
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And, this seems to be a pattern with Paul in his letters.
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First, he gives us doctrine, and then he follows it by practical exhortations or application.
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And, so, it is the case here.
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And, one of the reasons for that is because good life application must be founded upon good doctrine.
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And, so, our text this morning will be Colossians chapter 3, verses 1 through 4.
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Colossians chapter 3, verses 1 through 4.
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And, as we begin to look at the practical application portion of this letter, I would like to actually start reading from chapter 2, verse 20.
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So, please look with me at chapter 2, verse 20 of the book of Colossians.
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And, God's Word, which is inerrant, infallible, and sharper than any two-edged sword, reads,
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If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations?
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Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch, referring to things that all perish as they are used, according to human precepts and teachings.
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These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body.
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But they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
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If, then, you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
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Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
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For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
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When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
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Pray with me.
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Father, we thank You this morning, Lord, for Your work, Lord, that You have achieved, accomplished.
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Lord, for sending Christ to die for us on the cross, Lord, that we might be reconciled to You.
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Lord, that we may receive of this free gift of salvation, conversion, Lord, where You give us a new heart,
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with new desires and an ability to understand Your Word and to love You and follow Your ways.
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Lord, I pray that Your Spirit will be at work within me this morning,
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and within all of those who are in this building.
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Lord, that You would bring about conviction.
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Lord, that You would change hearts.
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Please, Lord, we pray for that.
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Illumine our minds, Lord.
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Change us.
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Please, change us.
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Lord, we thank You, we praise You, and we love You.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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Amen.
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It was R.C. Sproul, who is currently a pastor for St. Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida,
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and the founder of Ligonier Ministries, who once said of modern Christianity,
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and I quote,
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It is a dangerous thing for the Christian's mind to be trapped within the confines of the terrestrial horizon.
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Close quote.
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It is a dangerous thing for the Christian's mind to be trapped within the confines of the terrestrial horizon,
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to be earth-grounded instead of lifted up.
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And it was, for example, for this reason,
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that the Lord Jesus Christ rebukes Peter so harshly.
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In Matthew 16, verse 23,
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as He says to His beloved disciple,
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Peter, who would become a giant contender of the faith,
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a leader amongst Christians,
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one whom the book of Revelation, in chapter 21, verse 14,
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says that His name will be written on the foundation stones of the wall of the New Jerusalem.
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It is to this apostle Peter
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that Jesus rebukes by saying,
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Get behind me, Satan.
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Why?
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Jesus goes on,
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Because you are not setting your mind on the things of God,
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but on the things of man.
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Peter, a true Christian,
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at that moment had his mind trapped within the confines of the terrestrial horizon,
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and our Lord called him Satan for it.
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It is a hindrance upon the believer to be effective in kingdom work.
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It is a serious and dangerous place to be,
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and from it arise many of our maladies today,
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such as depression, covetousness,
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pride, strife,
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idolatry,
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etc.
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The Christian should have his mind set on the things that are above,
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not on the things of the earth.
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And in our text this morning,
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we will see the difference between,
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and the implications of,
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earthly and heavenly mindedness.
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And so I have divided this text into four sections,
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or four headings.
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And for our first heading,
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I want you to notice the subject of the exhortations.
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The subject of the exhortation.
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Beginning in verse 1 of chapter 3.
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If then you have been raised with Christ.
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Now stop right there.
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Who are the subjects of this exhortation?
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If then you have been raised with Christ,
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it's Christians.
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It is true born again believers
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that the Apostle Paul is addressing here.
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Now it is the true condition of the church.
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In our day,
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as much as it was in Paul's day,
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that not everyone who attends church services,
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and not everyone who goes to Sunday school,
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and not everyone who even becomes a member of a church,
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or reads their Bible every day,
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or does all sorts of activity in the name of Jesus,
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is a true Christian.
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And for the purpose of our text this morning,
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this truth has massive implications.
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Why?
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Well, let's look first at the purpose of the exhortation.
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What is the reason behind this text
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that we are looking at this morning?
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Verse 1.
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If then.
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The if then here can also be translated,
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therefore, if.
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The therefore is a conjunction
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connecting the last paragraph of chapter 3,
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or of chapter 2,
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to the first paragraph of chapter 3.
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And so that's why we started reading from chapter 2, verse 20.
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So let's read that again,
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starting in verse 20.
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If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world,
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why, as if you were still alive in the world,
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do you submit to regulations?
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Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,
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referring to those things that all perish as they are used,
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according to human precepts and teachings.
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These have indeed an appearance of wisdom
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in promoting self-made religion,
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and asceticism and severity to the body.
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But.
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But.
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Now here is the purpose of the exhortation
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that is to come in chapter 3.
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They are of no value
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in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
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The main purpose of this exhortation
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is for the true Christian
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to be given the key
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to stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
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And so it is important
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to understand that Paul here,
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first of all,
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is saying that you must be
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a Christian
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if you are to attain
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any degree of this
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truth with any value.
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Otherwise, all you have
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is someone in the flesh
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trying to stop
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the indulgence of the flesh,
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which kind of reminds me
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of a saying of our Lord,
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and if Satan cast out Satan,
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he is divided against himself,
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how then will his kingdom stand?
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It is these people
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who in the power of the flesh
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try to stop the indulgence of the flesh
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that Paul warns us of
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and warns us against.
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Those who try to mortify the flesh
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through self-made religion,
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asceticism,
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and severity to the body.
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And even Paul says
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that these things
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appear to be wise.
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If you look at these people,
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you might think to yourself,
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wow,
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how righteous they are,
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what piety,
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what discipline.
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But behind the smoke and mirrors,
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there is no true power.
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Kyle taught us last week
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some about this.
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He said that these people
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practice these things
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to try to reach
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a higher level of spirituality
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by reducing earthly comforts.
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But in reality,
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it is a practice
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of self-righteousness,
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not self-denial.
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And this,
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at its core,
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is idolatry.
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These people
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who try these
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have created
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a God
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in their image,
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in their own mind,
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to suit
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their own desires.
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And they try
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to gain God's favor
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and even salvation
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through their works.
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Now,
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these false doctrines
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have been widespread
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all throughout history.
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And it is true
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of just about
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every religion
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that is not Christian.
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And it is also the case
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in those who
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entitle themselves
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to be Christian,
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but are not really
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Christian.
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I say that
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of such
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religions
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as
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such as Mormonism,
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Jehovah's Witnesses,
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and yes,
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even the Catholic Church.
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Now,
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let me give you
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just two quick examples
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of this asceticism.
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Now,
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Paul wrote this letter
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in about 60
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to 62 A.D.
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And in A.D. 52,
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at the age of 16,
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the historian Josephus
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wrote about
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three major sects
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or philosophies
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amongst the Jews.
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Now,
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Pastor Nathan
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quoted this portion
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a few weeks back
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where Josephus says
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that
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the first
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were the Pharisees,
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then the Sadducees,
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and the third
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were the
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Essenes.
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Now,
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the Essenes
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were a group
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that were
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dedicated to
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asceticism.
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And Josephus
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writes of them,
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and I quote,
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I contended myself
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with hard fare
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and underwent
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great difficulties
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and went through
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them all,
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nor did I contend
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myself with these
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trials only.
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But when I was
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informed that one
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whose name was
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Banus,
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who was an
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Esseni,
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who lived in the
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desert
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and used
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no other clothing
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than that which
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grew upon trees
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and had no other
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food than what
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grew of its own
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accord,
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and bathed
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himself in
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cold water
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frequently,
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both by night
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and by day,
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in order to
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preserve his
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chastity.
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I imitated
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him in those
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things and
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continued with
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him for three
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years.
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Did you catch
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that?
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That man,
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Banus,
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tortured himself
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with cold water
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multiple times a
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day in order to
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stop the indulgence
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of the flesh.
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But there was
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no power.
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There was no
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true power.
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And Josephus,
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thinking this
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lifestyle to be
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wise,
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imitated him for
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three years.
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Now here's
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another example.
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Historian Edward
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Gibbon, in his
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book, The
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History of the
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Decline and the
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Fall of the
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Roman Empire,
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writes of a
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Roman Catholic
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monk, Dominic
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Loricatus, and
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how he tried to
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gain God's
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favor and
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forgiveness of
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sin.
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And listen to
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what he writes.
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I quote,
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It is a
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maxim of the
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civil law that
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whosoever cannot
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pay with his
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purse must pay
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with his body.
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Now this law,
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by the way,
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came from the
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Catholic Church.
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In the practice
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of flagellation,
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that being the
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practice of
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whipping or
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lashing oneself
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for the purpose
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of mortification,
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asceticism or
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penance,
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was adopted
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by the monks,
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a cheap
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though painful
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equivalent.
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He continues,
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by fantastic
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arithmetic,
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a year of
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penance was
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taxed at
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3,000
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lashes.
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And such
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was the
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skill and
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patience of
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a famous
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hermit,
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St.
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Dominic of
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the Iron
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Curios,
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that in
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six days,
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he could
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discharge an
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entire century
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by a
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whipping of
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300,000
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stripes.
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His example
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was followed
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by many
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penitents
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of both
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sexes.
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And as a
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vicarious
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sacrifice
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was accepted,
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a sturdy
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disciplinarian
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might expiate
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on his own
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back the
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sins of
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his benefactors.
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Close quote.
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They thought
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that they
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could get
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forgiveness
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of sins
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through these
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works.
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And even
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worse,
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they thought
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that they
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could get
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forgiveness
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of other
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sins by
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their own
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works,
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by whipping
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themselves.
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And many
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looked up
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to this
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guy,
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Dominic,
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as a
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saint.
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They thought
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it was wise
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what he
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was doing.
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They thought
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there was
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power and
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value behind
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it.
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And even
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the Catholic
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Church
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venerated
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him as a
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saint.
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This
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has the
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appearance
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of wisdom
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but there
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is no
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power.
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It is
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of no
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value
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in stopping
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the indulgence
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of the
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flesh.
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And so
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in order
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for there
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to be
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any value
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in stopping
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the indulgence
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of the
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flesh,
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there must
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be power
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from on
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high.
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And so
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in order
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for there
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to be
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power,
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you must
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be a
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true
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Christian.
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Christian.
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Now I'm
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very thankful
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for this
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church and
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for our
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pastor because
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the true
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gospel is
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preached here
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on a
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regular and
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consistent
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basis.
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But I do
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have a
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fear that
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some of
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you may
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believe
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yourselves
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to be
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Christians
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this morning
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simply because
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you come
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to a very
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biblical
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church.
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church,
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you know
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the terminology.
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You know
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what to say.
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You know
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how to act.
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You know
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how to answer
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questions of
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the faith.
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You may
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even know
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your Bible,
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but inside
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you are
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not truly
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changed.
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You have
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not been
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born again.
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And so
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you do
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not know
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Christ and
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Christ does
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not know
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you.
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And so
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I ask
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every one
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of you
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this morning
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to please
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examine
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yourselves,
24:13
examine your
24:14
heart,
24:15
test your
24:16
heart,
24:16
make sure
24:17
that you
24:18
are truly
24:19
in the
24:19
faith.
24:21
Because my
24:22
biggest fear
24:23
is that some
24:24
of you are
24:24
comfortable in
24:26
your deception
24:26
and are just
24:28
playing church
24:29
and going
24:31
through the
24:31
motions.
24:33
And may
24:34
one day open
24:34
your eyes to
24:35
the torment
24:36
that is
24:36
hell for
24:37
eternity.
24:39
So please
24:39
examine
24:40
yourself.
24:40
There is
24:41
so much
24:41
at stake.
24:43
So much
24:44
at stake.
24:46
And so
24:46
in direct
24:47
correlation to
24:48
Paul warning
24:49
against heretical
24:49
teaching,
24:50
let's look at
24:52
some characteristics
24:53
of what a
24:54
true Christian
24:55
is.
24:55
If you would
24:56
turn with
24:56
me to
24:56
Philippians
24:57
chapter 3.
24:58
Philippians
25:12
chapter 3.
25:13
And look
25:13
at verse
25:13
2.
25:15
The
25:16
apostle Paul
25:16
says,
25:17
look out
25:19
for the
25:20
dogs,
25:21
look out
25:21
for the
25:21
evildoers,
25:23
look out
25:23
for those
25:24
who mutilate
25:25
the flesh.
25:27
Now in
25:27
this context,
25:28
one of the
25:28
major heretical
25:29
sects that
25:30
Paul was
25:31
combating here
25:32
were the
25:32
Judaizers,
25:33
who were
25:34
all about
25:34
works and
25:36
external things.
25:37
Do not
25:37
touch,
25:38
do not
25:39
handle,
25:39
do not
25:39
taste.
25:40
they clung
25:41
to ceremonial
25:42
laws and
25:44
insisted on
25:45
such things
25:45
as circumcision.
25:48
Paul is
25:50
saying here,
25:51
look at
25:52
verse 3,
25:52
now what he
25:53
says to
25:53
that,
25:55
for we
25:56
are the
25:56
circumcision.
25:58
Paul is
25:59
saying we
26:00
are the
26:01
true
26:01
circumcision.
26:04
Who
26:05
what?
26:06
Who
26:06
worship
26:07
by the
26:08
Spirit of
26:08
God and
26:09
glory in
26:10
Christ Jesus
26:10
and put
26:11
no confidence
26:12
in the
26:13
flesh.
26:16
And there
26:17
is a
26:17
characteristic
26:18
of a
26:18
true
26:18
Christian
26:18
who
26:20
worship
26:21
by the
26:22
Spirit of
26:23
God.
26:24
Who
26:25
worship
26:25
by the
26:26
Spirit of
26:26
God.
26:26
If you
26:27
are a
26:28
true
26:28
Christian,
26:29
if you
26:30
are a
26:30
born-again
26:31
believer of
26:32
the supernatural
26:32
working of
26:34
the Spirit
26:35
of God,
26:36
the rest
26:37
of your
26:37
life from
26:38
the moment
26:38
of conversion
26:39
will be
26:40
marked by
26:41
Spirit-drawn,
26:43
Spirit-filled,
26:44
Spirit-empowered
26:45
worship.
26:49
And what I
26:50
mean by this
26:51
is not that
26:51
you come to
26:52
church and
26:53
sing songs
26:54
and go to
26:56
Sunday school
26:56
or Bible
26:57
studies or
26:59
listen to the
26:59
Christian radio
27:00
on your way
27:00
here.
27:01
God
27:03
what I
27:04
mean by
27:04
this is
27:06
have your
27:06
eyes
27:07
truly been
27:08
opened
27:09
to the
27:10
reality of
27:11
what Christ
27:12
has done
27:13
to what
27:14
he has
27:14
accomplished
27:15
for you
27:16
to what
27:18
he has
27:18
saved you
27:19
from
27:19
to the
27:20
blessings and
27:21
promises that
27:22
have been
27:22
poured out
27:23
on you
27:23
that all
27:25
you desire
27:26
for the rest
27:27
of your life
27:27
from that
27:28
moment that
27:29
you were
27:29
converted is
27:30
to worship
27:30
him and
27:31
to order
27:32
the rest of
27:32
your life
27:33
in such a
27:33
way as best
27:34
to please
27:35
him.
27:37
It isn't
27:38
something that
27:38
you are
27:39
forced to
27:40
do for the
27:42
sake of
27:42
religion but
27:42
rather the
27:43
Spirit of
27:44
God within
27:45
you softens
27:46
your heart
27:46
that you
27:47
come to
27:48
love him
27:48
and thank
27:50
him and
27:50
want to
27:50
know more
27:51
about him
27:52
and long
27:52
for him
27:53
and you
27:53
long for
27:54
his return
27:55
and you
27:55
long for
27:56
him to be
27:56
honored
27:56
and for
27:57
his name
27:58
to be
27:58
glorified
27:59
and proclaimed
27:59
in all
28:00
the nations
28:00
is this
28:03
true of
28:05
you?
28:06
Do you
28:07
ever just
28:08
fall flat
28:09
on your
28:09
face
28:10
and worship
28:12
and weep
28:13
out of your
28:14
love for
28:15
him in
28:17
remembrance of
28:18
what he has
28:18
done for
28:19
you?
28:21
Are you
28:22
a true
28:23
Christian?
28:26
Here's
28:27
another
28:27
characteristic
28:28
of a
28:28
true
28:28
Christian.
28:30
Do you
28:31
have a
28:32
new
28:32
relationship
28:33
with sin?
28:36
Have
28:37
your
28:37
desires
28:38
changed?
28:40
Do you
28:41
now hate
28:42
your sin?
28:43
Do you
28:43
see it
28:44
more than
28:44
ever before?
28:46
Or do you
28:46
just hate
28:47
the thought
28:47
of people
28:48
finding out
28:50
about it?
28:52
Have you
28:52
in your
28:53
innermost
28:53
being
28:54
been
28:55
changed?
28:56
Spurgeon,
28:58
the prince
28:58
of preachers,
29:00
a British
29:00
pastor from
29:01
the 1800s,
29:02
used to
29:03
describe
29:03
conversion
29:04
with an
29:04
illustration
29:05
that went
29:06
something like
29:06
this.
29:07
Say you
29:08
have two
29:09
plates and
29:10
you set
29:11
them on
29:11
the ground
29:11
and on
29:12
one plate
29:13
you have
29:13
some of
29:14
the finest
29:15
cuisine of
29:15
the land
29:16
and on
29:17
the other
29:17
you have
29:17
a bag
29:18
or correction
29:19
you have
29:19
just a
29:20
contents
29:21
of a
29:22
bag
29:23
from a
29:24
household
29:24
trash can
29:25
and you
29:27
get a
29:27
pig
29:27
and you
29:29
let this
29:30
pig go
29:30
to eat
29:32
which
29:33
plate
29:34
is he
29:34
going to
29:34
go to?
29:35
The two
29:35
plates are
29:35
sitting
29:36
side by
29:36
side.
29:38
More
29:38
than likely
29:39
nine out
29:41
of ten
29:41
times
29:41
that pig
29:42
will go
29:44
to
29:44
the one
29:45
with the
29:46
trash.
29:47
It's a
29:48
pig.
29:49
It likes
29:49
trash.
29:50
Now say
29:55
that in
29:55
one
29:56
instance
29:57
while that
29:58
pig
29:59
is
30:00
pigging
30:01
out
30:02
to this
30:03
trash
30:03
you
30:05
by a
30:05
supernatural
30:06
working
30:07
are able
30:07
to convert
30:08
him
30:08
into a
30:10
man
30:10
what will
30:12
happen?
30:13
That man
30:14
who is
30:15
currently
30:15
eating
30:15
that
30:16
trash
30:16
will be
30:17
disgusted
30:18
by what
30:20
he's
30:20
eating
30:20
by what
30:21
he has
30:21
put in
30:22
his
30:22
mouth
30:22
and he
30:24
will spit
30:25
it out
30:25
and be
30:26
ashamed
30:26
that he
30:26
ever went
30:27
to that
30:28
plate.
30:31
His
30:32
relationship
30:32
with that
30:33
plate
30:33
will change
30:34
forever.
30:35
I promise
30:37
you he
30:37
will
30:37
hopefully
30:38
go
30:39
to the
30:40
fine
30:41
cuisine
30:41
from that
30:42
moment on.
30:43
But if he
30:44
ever were to
30:44
return to
30:45
that other
30:45
plate
30:46
that relationship
30:48
is different
30:48
though he
30:50
may have
30:50
enjoyed it
30:50
at one
30:51
time if he
30:51
tries to
30:52
eat of
30:52
that trash
30:53
this time
30:53
as time
30:56
progresses
30:56
he will be
30:58
more and
30:59
more repulsed
31:00
by it.
31:02
The
31:03
relationship
31:04
with it
31:04
is different
31:05
because he
31:07
has been
31:07
changed
31:08
and that
31:10
is an
31:10
illustration
31:11
of conversion.
31:12
It is a
31:13
powerful thing.
31:14
It is a
31:14
supernatural
31:15
work of
31:16
God.
31:16
God, have
31:18
you
31:18
experienced
31:19
this
31:20
change?
31:23
Friend, if
31:23
you do not
31:24
have some
31:24
measure of
31:25
this, it
31:26
could be
31:27
because you
31:27
are walking
31:28
the wrong
31:28
path.
31:31
You could
31:31
be on the
31:32
road that
31:33
is broad
31:34
that leads
31:35
to destruction.
31:37
And so I
31:38
urge you and
31:38
I beg you to
31:39
repent, to
31:41
put your
31:42
trust in
31:42
Christ for
31:43
he alone
31:43
can save
31:44
you.
31:45
There is
31:45
nothing in
31:46
and of
31:46
yourselves
31:47
that you
31:47
could ever
31:47
do, anything
31:48
that could
31:48
come out
31:49
of your
31:49
mouths to
31:50
justify you
31:51
before a
31:51
holy God.
31:53
Nothing.
31:54
Nothing.
31:57
Nothing.
32:00
Turn from
32:00
your sins.
32:02
Forsake those
32:02
things which
32:03
you love, that
32:04
you know are
32:05
wrong.
32:08
Because they
32:09
are going
32:10
against God.
32:12
Sin is
32:13
transgression of
32:14
the law.
32:14
It is a
32:15
crime against
32:16
God.
32:17
It is a
32:18
crime against
32:18
the one who
32:19
gave you
32:20
life, who
32:21
gave you
32:21
everything that
32:22
you have, who
32:24
cares for you,
32:26
who created
32:27
all things.
32:32
Flee from
32:33
the wrath to
32:33
come.
32:35
Please do
32:35
not harden
32:36
your hearts.
32:37
Do not
32:38
harden your
32:39
hearts.
32:40
Repent.
32:41
Trust in
32:42
Christ.
32:43
Believe the
32:43
gospel today.
32:46
Right now.
32:47
Repent.
32:53
And if you
32:54
are one who
32:54
has been
32:55
playing church,
32:56
please,
32:57
please let
32:59
someone know.
33:01
Let someone
33:02
know there is
33:03
so much at
33:03
stake here.
33:05
I promise you
33:06
that there would
33:06
be no
33:06
condemnation from
33:08
whoever you
33:09
go to.
33:09
If you
33:10
have not
33:11
experienced any
33:12
degree of
33:12
this, please,
33:15
what every
33:16
one of us
33:16
desire is
33:17
your salvation,
33:19
because we
33:19
love you and
33:20
care for you.
33:22
Please, let
33:23
someone know.
33:28
Now, I
33:29
don't want to
33:29
bring unnecessary
33:30
doubt to some
33:31
of you true
33:32
Christians.
33:33
Some of you
33:34
could simply be
33:35
struggling against
33:36
apathy.
33:36
and your
33:39
fire just
33:39
needs to be
33:40
rekindled.
33:42
Preach the
33:43
gospel to
33:43
yourself.
33:44
Remember,
33:45
cling to the
33:45
promises.
33:48
Remember what
33:48
He has done
33:49
for you.
33:51
Now, a
33:51
reason for
33:52
this apathy
33:53
and lack
33:54
of zeal
33:55
could be
33:55
the result
33:56
of earthly
33:58
mindedness.
33:58
So now, we
34:02
are looking at
34:02
this a little
34:03
backwards, but
34:06
our next
34:06
heading, our
34:07
second heading
34:07
for this
34:08
morning is
34:08
simply earthly
34:10
mindedness.
34:12
So if you
34:13
would look at
34:14
verse 2 of
34:14
Colossians
34:15
chapter 3,
34:17
verse 2 of
34:18
Colossians
34:19
chapter 3,
34:20
notice our
34:20
second heading,
34:21
earthly
34:22
mindedness.
34:22
Set your
34:24
minds on
34:25
things that
34:26
are above,
34:27
not on
34:28
things that
34:29
are on
34:29
earth.
34:31
Now, turn
34:31
back to
34:32
Philippians
34:32
chapter 3
34:33
with me for
34:33
a moment.
34:43
And look
34:44
at verses
34:45
17 through
34:46
19.
34:46
And Nathan
34:53
just read
34:53
this this
34:54
morning, so
34:56
good to hear
34:57
it again.
34:59
Paul writes,
35:01
beginning in
35:01
verse 17,
35:03
Brothers,
35:04
join in
35:05
imitating
35:06
me, and
35:07
keep your
35:08
eyes on
35:09
those who
35:09
walk according
35:10
to the
35:10
example you
35:11
have in
35:11
us.
35:13
For many
35:13
of whom I
35:14
have often
35:15
told you and
35:16
now tell you
35:16
with tears
35:17
walk as
35:18
enemies of
35:19
the cross
35:19
of Christ.
35:22
Their end
35:22
is destruction,
35:24
their God
35:24
is their
35:25
belly, and
35:26
they glory
35:27
in their
35:27
shame with
35:28
minds set
35:29
on earthly
35:29
things.
35:31
So what
35:32
is earthly
35:33
mindedness?
35:34
I have
35:35
defined it
35:36
as when
35:38
the actions
35:39
of the
35:40
will or
35:41
the affections
35:42
of the
35:42
soul are
35:44
anchored to
35:44
and driven
35:46
by the
35:47
things of
35:47
this world.
35:49
And by
35:49
things of
35:50
this world,
35:50
I mean
35:50
anything that
35:52
is of this
35:53
world,
35:53
material or
35:54
not.
35:54
It could
35:54
be pleasures,
35:55
it could
35:55
be comforts
35:57
or things
35:57
derived from
35:58
them,
35:59
honor,
35:59
power,
36:01
pride.
36:03
Now it is
36:04
important to
36:04
understand that
36:05
it is not
36:05
inherently sinful
36:07
to enjoy or
36:09
make use of
36:09
earthly things,
36:10
or even have
36:10
an abundance of
36:11
earthly things.
36:12
even God
36:13
himself knows
36:14
that we have
36:15
need of
36:15
things and
36:16
he provides
36:16
them for
36:17
us.
36:19
Now I
36:19
don't have
36:20
much time,
36:20
so just
36:21
quickly I'm
36:21
going to
36:21
give you
36:21
some
36:22
characteristics
36:22
of
36:23
earthly
36:23
mindedness
36:24
and we
36:24
will move
36:25
on.
36:25
So first,
36:27
you are
36:27
earthly minded
36:28
if you look
36:30
at earthly
36:31
things as
36:33
the greatest
36:34
things of
36:35
all and
36:36
believe that
36:38
happiness
36:39
happiness
36:39
will be
36:40
derived
36:41
from the
36:42
possession
36:43
of them.
36:46
So this
36:47
could be
36:48
anything,
36:48
relationships,
36:49
comforts,
36:50
homes,
36:51
cars,
36:51
money,
36:51
or anything
36:52
that makes
36:52
you think
36:53
to yourself,
36:53
if I just
36:54
had that
36:55
thing,
36:55
I would be
36:56
happy.
36:57
If I just
36:58
had that
36:59
thing,
36:59
this earthly
37:00
thing,
37:01
I would be
37:02
happy.
37:04
If that
37:05
is part
37:07
of the
37:07
state of
37:08
your mind,
37:09
then you
37:09
could be
37:10
earthly
37:10
minded.
37:12
Second,
37:12
you are
37:13
earthly
37:13
minded if
37:14
the sum
37:15
of or
37:15
the majority
37:16
of your
37:17
thoughts
37:18
revolve
37:18
around
37:19
earthly
37:20
things.
37:22
Proverbs
37:23
23,
37:23
7 says,
37:25
As a
37:25
man thinks
37:26
in his
37:26
heart,
37:28
so is
37:29
he.
37:30
And in
37:31
Matthew
37:31
15,
37:32
18 through
37:32
19,
37:33
Jesus
37:33
says,
37:35
What comes
37:35
out of the
37:36
mouth proceeds
37:37
from the
37:37
heart,
37:38
and this
37:39
defiles a
37:40
person?
37:41
For out of
37:41
the heart
37:42
come evil
37:42
thoughts,
37:43
murder,
37:44
adultery,
37:46
sexual
37:46
immorality,
37:47
theft,
37:48
false witness,
37:49
and slander,
37:51
and all of
37:52
these things
37:52
being indulgences
37:53
of the flesh.
37:55
So in
37:56
your
37:57
innermost
37:58
thoughts,
38:00
in the
38:01
secret
38:01
chambers
38:02
of your
38:03
heart,
38:03
what is
38:06
most
38:07
sweet
38:07
to you?
38:12
Where do
38:13
you find
38:13
your happiness?
38:15
If the
38:15
things of
38:16
earth reign
38:17
in your
38:17
heart in
38:18
this manner,
38:20
then you
38:22
are earthly
38:22
minded.
38:24
Third,
38:26
you are
38:27
earthly
38:27
minded
38:28
if your
38:29
purpose,
38:31
drive,
38:31
and goal
38:32
in life
38:33
is only
38:34
the
38:36
accomplishment
38:37
of
38:38
earthly
38:39
endeavors.
38:41
There is
38:42
no concept
38:43
of doing
38:43
what you
38:44
do for
38:45
the Lord.
38:46
You only
38:46
mind those
38:47
temporal
38:48
things which
38:49
will one
38:50
day perish,
38:50
and you are
38:51
even angry
38:52
or afraid
38:55
at the
38:55
thought of
38:56
losing
38:57
any of
38:58
these
38:59
worldly
38:59
things
38:59
that your
39:00
mind is
39:01
set on.
39:03
And
39:04
fourth and
39:04
last,
39:05
for the
39:06
sake of
39:06
time,
39:07
you are
39:07
earthly
39:07
minded
39:08
if you
39:09
are
39:09
predominantly
39:10
earthly
39:12
in
39:13
spiritual
39:14
things.
39:15
Meaning
39:16
all
39:16
spiritual
39:17
or
39:17
religious
39:18
activity
39:18
that you
39:19
partake
39:19
in
39:20
is
39:21
nothing
39:22
but a
39:22
means
39:23
to
39:23
earthly
39:24
ends.
39:26
The
39:27
intentions
39:27
behind
39:28
your
39:28
actions
39:29
are
39:29
simply
39:30
horizontal
39:31
in the
39:33
confines
39:33
of the
39:34
terrestrial
39:34
horizon.
39:35
They are
39:35
not
39:36
vertical
39:36
pointed
39:37
to the
39:39
things
39:39
above.
39:41
And so
39:41
I give
39:41
you those
39:42
four things
39:42
and from
39:43
that
39:43
the
39:46
opposite
39:46
could be
39:48
said
39:48
encompasses
39:49
what it
39:50
means to
39:50
be
39:50
heavenly
39:51
minded.
39:53
And so
39:53
for our
39:54
third
39:54
heading
39:54
heaven
39:56
mindedness
39:57
please
39:58
look at
39:59
the
40:00
second
40:00
half of
40:00
verse
40:01
one
40:01
to the
40:03
first
40:04
half of
40:04
verse
40:04
two
40:05
back in
40:06
Colossians
40:06
chapter
40:07
three.
40:08
So
40:08
Colossians
40:09
chapter
40:09
three
40:10
verse
40:11
one
40:12
second
40:12
half of
40:12
verse
40:13
one
40:13
notice
40:14
our
40:14
third
40:15
heading
40:15
heaven
40:15
mindedness.
40:16
Seek
40:18
the
40:18
things
40:18
that
40:19
are
40:19
above
40:19
where
40:20
Christ
40:20
is
40:21
seated
40:22
at
40:22
the
40:23
right
40:23
hand
40:23
of
40:23
God
40:23
set
40:24
your
40:25
minds
40:25
on
40:26
things
40:27
that
40:27
are
40:28
above.
40:30
And for
40:31
the sake
40:31
of time
40:31
as I
40:31
said
40:32
you can
40:32
probably
40:32
deduce
40:33
what
40:33
heaven
40:34
mindedness
40:34
is
40:35
just
40:35
by
40:35
applying
40:36
the
40:37
opposite
40:37
of
40:37
what
40:37
it
40:38
means
40:38
to
40:38
be
40:38
earthly
40:38
minded.
40:40
But
40:40
very
40:40
quickly
40:40
let's
40:41
just
40:41
look
40:41
at
40:41
a
40:41
few
40:41
things
40:42
and
40:42
implications
40:43
of
40:44
heaven
40:45
mindedness.
40:46
First
40:47
those
40:49
who are
40:49
heaven
40:49
minded
40:50
are
40:50
those
40:51
who
40:51
live
40:51
with
40:52
an
40:52
eternal
40:53
perspective
40:54
an
40:55
eternal
40:56
perspective.
40:56
It was
40:56
Jonathan
40:57
Edwards
40:57
an
40:58
American
40:59
preacher
40:59
from the
40:59
1700s
41:00
who is
41:01
widely
41:01
acknowledged
41:02
as one
41:02
of
41:02
America's
41:03
greatest
41:04
preachers
41:05
greatest
41:06
theologians
41:06
and greatest
41:07
intellectual
41:08
who
41:09
cried
41:09
out to
41:10
God
41:10
Lord
41:11
stamp
41:13
eternity
41:13
on
41:15
my
41:15
eyeballs.
41:17
And it
41:17
is from
41:18
a similar
41:18
disposition
41:19
that Paul
41:21
could cry
41:22
out in
41:22
Romans 9
41:23
that he
41:23
had
41:23
great
41:24
sorrow
41:25
and
41:25
unceasing
41:26
anguish
41:27
in his
41:28
heart
41:28
for lost
41:30
souls
41:30
because he
41:32
knew and
41:32
kept at
41:33
the forefront
41:33
of his
41:34
mind
41:34
the fact
41:37
that
41:37
multitudes
41:38
were on
41:39
their way
41:40
to
41:40
eternal
41:41
punishment.
41:43
And it
41:43
is from
41:43
this
41:44
disposition
41:44
of our
41:45
perspective
41:45
that love
41:48
and passion
41:49
to seek
41:50
out those
41:51
who are
41:52
lost
41:52
is birthed
41:55
from.
41:57
In 2 Corinthians
41:57
chapter 4
41:59
verses 16
42:00
and 18
42:01
Paul says
42:02
says,
42:32
for the
42:33
things that
42:33
are seen
42:34
are
42:34
transient
42:34
but the
42:36
things that
42:36
are unseen
42:37
are eternal.
42:40
The man
42:40
who can
42:41
say this
42:41
is heaven
42:43
minded
42:43
seeking
42:45
the things
42:46
above.
42:47
He does
42:48
what he does
42:48
for God
42:49
for the
42:50
kingdom
42:50
for souls.
42:53
So let me
42:54
ask you this
42:54
question.
42:55
What you do
42:56
where you
42:58
work
42:58
the life
43:00
decisions
43:01
that you
43:01
make
43:02
do you
43:03
make them
43:04
in light
43:05
of eternity?
43:06
Do you
43:07
make decisions
43:08
for the
43:10
service
43:11
of the
43:11
kingdom
43:11
of God?
43:12
Do you
43:14
have an
43:15
eternal
43:15
perspective?
43:19
Second,
43:20
heaven
43:21
mindedness
43:22
is pursuing
43:23
godliness.
43:26
Pursuing
43:26
godliness.
43:27
In 1 Timothy
43:28
chapter 4
43:28
verses 7
43:30
through 10
43:31
Paul says,
43:32
have nothing
43:33
to do
43:34
with worldly
43:35
fables
43:35
fit only
43:37
for old
43:37
women.
43:39
On the
43:39
other hand,
43:40
discipline
43:40
yourself
43:41
for the
43:42
purpose of
43:42
godliness.
43:44
For godliness
43:45
or for
43:46
bodily
43:47
discipline
43:47
is only
43:48
of little
43:49
profit,
43:49
but godliness
43:51
is profitable
43:52
for all
43:53
things since
43:54
it holds
43:54
promise for
43:56
the present
43:56
life and
43:57
also for
43:58
the life
43:58
to come.
43:59
It is a
44:00
trustworthy
44:00
statement
44:01
deserving
44:02
full acceptance
44:03
for it is
44:04
for this
44:05
we labor
44:05
and strive
44:06
because we
44:06
have fixed
44:07
our hope
44:08
on the
44:08
living God.
44:11
It does
44:12
take a
44:12
certain level
44:13
of discipline
44:14
and sometimes
44:15
hard work
44:16
to be godly,
44:18
to live
44:18
in righteousness.
44:19
But the
44:20
heaven-minded
44:21
Christian
44:21
learns that
44:22
alongside of
44:23
this discipline
44:24
there is a
44:25
fountain,
44:26
a fountain
44:27
of joy
44:28
and sweetness
44:29
unspeakable.
44:33
And it is
44:34
this Christian
44:35
who is
44:36
heaven-minded
44:36
that can
44:37
learn,
44:38
as 1 Timothy
44:39
6.6
44:40
says,
44:42
that godliness
44:43
with contentment
44:45
is great
44:46
gain.
44:47
it is
44:51
for this
44:52
reason that
44:52
the apostle
44:53
can say
44:53
in Philippians
44:54
4.11
44:54
I have
44:56
learned
44:56
in whatever
44:57
situation
44:58
I am
44:58
to be
45:00
content.
45:03
So this
45:03
leads us
45:04
to our
45:04
fourth and
45:06
final heading,
45:08
the reward
45:09
of things
45:10
above.
45:11
The reward
45:12
of the
45:13
things
45:14
above.
45:16
Starting in
45:17
verse 4,
45:18
when Christ,
45:20
who is your
45:22
life,
45:22
appears,
45:24
then you
45:24
also will
45:25
appear with
45:25
him in
45:26
glory.
45:28
Now what are
45:29
the things
45:29
above?
45:31
What is it
45:32
to seek
45:33
those things?
45:34
things?
45:35
It is
45:36
simply
45:36
this,
45:37
Christ.
45:39
It is
45:40
simply
45:41
Christ.
45:44
It is
45:45
to seek
45:45
him.
45:47
It is
45:47
to cling
45:48
to the
45:48
promises
45:49
that he
45:50
has given
45:50
us,
45:51
that we
45:53
will one
45:53
day appear
45:54
with him
45:54
in glory,
45:55
that one
45:56
day every
45:56
knee shall
45:57
bow,
45:58
and every
45:58
tongue
45:59
confess that
46:00
Jesus Christ
46:01
is Lord
46:02
to the glory
46:03
of the
46:03
Father.
46:05
Paul writes
46:05
in Philippians
46:06
3.20-21,
46:09
and actually
46:09
I think this
46:10
is what
46:10
Nathan read,
46:11
not in the
46:12
last text,
46:14
but Paul
46:15
writes,
46:16
for our
46:16
citizenship
46:17
is in
46:18
heaven,
46:19
from which
46:19
also we
46:20
eagerly
46:21
await for
46:22
a Savior,
46:23
the Lord
46:24
Jesus Christ,
46:25
who will
46:25
transform the
46:26
body of
46:27
our humble
46:27
state into
46:29
conformity with
46:30
the body of
46:30
his glory,
46:31
by the
46:32
exertion of
46:33
the power
46:33
that he
46:34
has,
46:34
even to
46:35
subject all
46:36
things to
46:36
himself.
46:44
Oh,
46:44
that our
46:45
hearts would
46:45
learn what
46:48
our mouths
46:49
proclaim when
46:50
we sing
46:50
songs that
46:53
have lyrics
46:53
such as,
46:55
nothing in
46:57
my hands
46:57
I bring,
46:58
simply to
46:59
the cross
47:00
I cling.
47:03
Seek
47:04
him,
47:05
get to
47:06
know
47:07
him,
47:10
cling to
47:10
him,
47:11
and live
47:11
the rest of
47:12
your life
47:13
in that
47:14
pursuit.
47:16
That we
47:17
could all
47:17
one day
47:18
point,
47:21
be able to
47:22
say,
47:23
alongside of
47:23
Paul,
47:24
what he says
47:25
in Philippians,
47:26
I count
47:27
everything as
47:28
rubbish
47:28
compared to
47:30
the surpassing
47:31
worth of
47:33
knowing Christ
47:33
Jesus,
47:35
my Lord.
47:37
Have you
47:38
come to
47:39
understand a
47:40
portion of
47:40
what it means
47:41
when Paul
47:42
says to
47:43
live is
47:43
Christ,
47:44
to die
47:45
is gain?
47:46
you know,
47:50
when I
47:51
first
47:51
became a
47:54
Christian as
47:54
a young
47:54
believer,
47:55
one of my
47:56
friends at
47:56
the police
47:57
department,
47:58
one of the
47:59
few Christians
48:00
who worked
48:01
at this
48:02
police
48:02
department,
48:05
a very
48:06
mature
48:06
believer,
48:07
would often
48:07
say things
48:08
like,
48:09
I just
48:10
wish that
48:11
Christ would
48:12
come back
48:12
today,
48:12
I wish I
48:13
would die
48:13
right now,
48:15
like I'm
48:15
done with
48:16
this,
48:16
and I
48:17
was just
48:17
like,
48:18
what?
48:19
Like,
48:19
this makes
48:20
no sense,
48:21
why?
48:22
Why?
48:23
You know,
48:23
it's like,
48:24
why?
48:24
Don't you
48:24
want to
48:25
live?
48:25
Do you
48:25
not enjoy
48:26
life?
48:26
Why would
48:27
you want
48:27
to die?
48:27
It made
48:28
no sense
48:28
to me.
48:30
As I
48:30
have
48:31
matured
48:31
in my
48:32
walk
48:32
with
48:32
Christ,
48:33
now it
48:35
makes
48:35
perfect
48:36
sense.
48:37
It
48:37
makes
48:37
clear
48:38
sense.
48:40
To
48:40
live is
48:40
Christ,
48:41
to die
48:41
is gain.
48:42
I
48:42
long for
48:42
that day
48:43
and I
48:44
have now
48:45
since then
48:46
had moments
48:48
where I
48:50
just
48:50
have this
48:52
overwhelming
48:53
sense and
48:54
I pray that
48:54
Christ would
48:56
just come
48:56
back right
48:57
now because
48:57
I'm tired
48:58
of this,
48:59
because I
48:59
do not
48:59
belong to
49:00
this world.
49:01
I am not
49:01
of this
49:01
world.
49:03
Do you
49:04
have this
49:05
in your
49:05
life?
49:07
Do you
49:08
have this?
49:08
Do you
49:08
long for
49:09
his return,
49:10
for him to
49:11
be glorified?
49:12
God?
49:12
Is this
49:13
true of
49:13
your
49:14
heart?
49:18
In
49:18
conclusion,
49:20
earthly
49:21
mindedness
49:22
is
49:23
idolatry.
49:25
James 4.4
49:26
says that
49:28
friendship with
49:29
the world
49:29
is adultery
49:31
and enmity
49:32
against God.
49:34
The
49:35
apostle Paul
49:35
says that
49:37
it leads
49:37
men to
49:37
fall into
49:38
temptation
49:38
and a
49:39
snare.
49:42
Ezekiel
49:43
33.31
49:44
describes it
49:44
as
49:45
covetousness.
49:48
My friends,
49:48
nothing is
49:49
more contrary
49:50
to the
49:51
work of
49:51
grace in
49:51
a believer
49:52
than
49:54
earthly
49:54
mindedness.
49:57
John Calvin,
49:57
a pastor and
49:58
theologian from
49:59
the 1500s,
50:00
once said,
50:01
and I
50:02
quote,
50:03
the whole
50:04
soul
50:05
ensnared
50:07
by the
50:08
allurement
50:08
of the
50:09
flesh,
50:10
seek its
50:11
happiness
50:11
on the
50:12
earth.
50:13
To meet
50:14
this
50:15
disease,
50:16
the Lord
50:17
makes His
50:17
people
50:18
sensible
50:18
to the
50:21
vanity
50:21
of the
50:22
present
50:22
life
50:23
by
50:24
constant
50:25
proof
50:26
of its
50:27
miseries.
50:28
There is
50:29
no medium
50:30
between the
50:30
two things.
50:32
The earth
50:33
must either
50:33
be worthless
50:34
in our
50:34
estimation
50:35
or keep
50:36
us
50:37
enslaved
50:38
by an
50:39
intemperate
50:40
love of
50:41
it.
50:43
Close quote.
50:45
The Lord
50:46
Jesus Christ
50:46
warns us
50:47
that one
50:48
cannot serve
50:49
two
50:50
masters.
50:52
And
50:52
likewise,
50:53
a man
50:53
cannot both
50:54
look up to
50:56
heaven
50:56
while he's
50:58
looking down
50:58
on earth.
51:00
choose this
51:04
day whom
51:05
you will
51:06
serve
51:06
in the
51:07
direction
51:08
that you
51:09
will fix
51:10
your eyes
51:11
upon.
51:12
Let us
51:13
pray.
51:13
let us
51:14
let us
51:15
let us