Sexual Immorality; Such were or such are? - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (Pastor Josiah Shipley)

Now I want you to pay attention it wasn't anything in Israel wasn't their military.

Would you please turn in your Bibles to 1st Corinthians chapter 6 please for the ends

chapter 6.

It would be excellent if everyone had a handout.

I know half of them are have color half of them don't.

The toner ran out this morning.

But if everyone could have a handout, but we're gonna start in 1st Corinthians chapter 6 and Every

other text that I cite for the most part.

I have put on your paper.

So you can stay there for the duration of the sermon.

This sermon.

Will probably.

Not be very popular and that is okay.

It's something we all need to hear so I'm gonna read 1st Corinthians chapter 6 9 through 11.

Here the word of the Lord or do you not know that the unrighteous

will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Don't be deceived.

Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who practice homosexuality

nor thieves nor greedy nor drunkards nor revilers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you.

But you were washed.

You were sanctified.

You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

What am I doing wrong, mate?

All right.

Sexual morality that is the topic of today's sermon and I titled this such were or such

are.

Now of.

Course it is true That a true genuine

Christian can be tempted by sexual morality and even fall in that regard.

I would argue that at some level every person in this room including myself can say just that.

Including Question.

That's not the question.

The question is defines your life.

The question is and always boils down to have sinned the true definition of

struggle and I don't know how many times we've gone over this but we'll do it again if You were to pull out your phone right

now and Google the word struggle.

It means to violently resist.

That's what it means to violently resist.

Now the problem is that word is probably.

The most.

Misused word in the Christian vernacular.

Mike man, what am I doing wrong?

All right.

Sounds good, man.

You ready Jimmy?

All right now look that word struggle is probably the most misused word in the

Christian language and I've been I've said this before the word struggle means to violently resist.

How often do you or someone you know use that word to simply mean I sin?

That's not a struggle.

That's not a struggle.

Do you understand that one of the signs of a true Christian

is that they struggle against sin.

Not that they're perfected in their state.

Not that they don't some but they actually put up a fight.

That's one of the signs of being a Christian.

If someone tells me they're struggling with the sin I celebrate because that means they're putting up a fight.

Here's the problem most time that's not what they mean.

They simply mean they're doing or worse wallering or living in.

This sermon is not about the question of can a true Christian fall in the sexual morality because the answer

that is Yes, the question is Does that define you?

Can you commit sin Christian?

Can you commit sin of any kind but particularly this one?

With no remorse.

No conviction and worst of all no repentance if You can.

I want you to seriously consider the words that we just read.

Because this Bible right here says such were some of you not such are some of you

you understand.

Now as we confront this today.

Some of you are going to be upset with what you hear.

And I want you to recognize as best as I can.

I am simply trying to present to you what the Bible says.

So when you encounter those feelings make sure you understand that the one who you're actually going to be upset with is the Almighty God.

But let me encourage you in this regard if that be you today whether of

your own doing or.

Maybe for some of us in this room by diminishing it in the lives of others.

Mm -hmm by making less of a deal about it than God does to other people around you.

When you encounter that as everyone in this room including myself has repent that's

the call today.

Not all sins are equal.

Show of hands.

How many of you have ever heard someone say all sins are equal.

God doesn't do half hands.

Yes.

Yes or no.

Okay.

How many of you have ever said that?

Yes, okay.

That is not true.

That is not true.

That is not true.

And Quite frankly, I know you don't intend this when you say stuff like that.

You are accidentally making God look like an idiot.

Because when God set up the law he had varying degrees of punishment.

There are roughly roughly six hundred and thirteen commandments that he gave the Israelites.

Yes.

Some of those commandments when they're broken called for the death penalty.

Some of them for a fine some of them for exile you understand there was varying degrees of punishment.

You know why there were varying degrees of punishment?

Because there was varying degrees of the seriousness of the sin committed.

Does that not make sense?

Someone follow me on this.

So when you say all sins are equal.

You're making God look like a hypocrite because he did not punish them all equally.

Now here's what you can say and probably what you mean.

Not all sins are equal.

All Sinners are Equally destitute and

without hope before sovereign and just God so let me say that back not.

All sins are equal.

Let that never come out of the mouth of anyone else in this room ever again.

But yes all sinners We good Landon.

Thank you all sinners are Equally in need of a

Savior.

Josiah Shipley is not one inch closer to the gates

of heaven Than anyone else in the history of the planet saved the

blood of Jesus.

Everyone hear that?

That is not the same thing as saying all sins are equal.

They are not.

They are not.

To give you an idea of some so of the of the 613 laws in the old covenant.

And I'm choosing that one because we have a justice system that God set up directly.

Yes, so it's a good.

It's a good Measuring rod for us.

Yeah.

Only roughly depending on how you count them 30 or 40 called for the death penalty

just to give you one.

And this is a good apologetical tidbit for you.

Apologetics is where you defend the faith and the reason for the hope that is in you.

Yes Exodus 21 16 you don't have to turn there says whoever steals a man Sells him or

anyone found in possession of him shall be put to death.

By the way a Common theme of the

unbeliever today of Basically any common podcast you listen to is that the

Bible does not forbid Slavery.

I'm gonna read that again Anyone who steals a man

Sells him or is found in possession of him shall be put to death.

I'll do it again.

I'll do it again Anyone who steals a man that's kidnapping

sells him or Is found in possession of him shall be put to death.

I'm gonna tell you a story.

I was talking with a He referred to himself as a liberal.

He was an unbeliever, that's the point.

When I.

Talked to him.

I said, why don't you believe the Bible the number one answer? He gave me was because it doesn't forbid slavery.

Now remember just as a side note for your apologetical tidbit when you talk to a

Young normally white person from Collierville Germantown when you they hear the word slavery They think of one type of

slavery from one country from one time period because they don't know anything else.

But at any rate that's a fact by the way at any rate.

I Showed them this and I said the type of slavery you're talking about like the transatlantic slave trade Would have called for the

death penalty if the law of God was applied the person who kidnapped them and brought them to the shoreline and

Brought them on a boat over the person who sold them at the auction and the person who bought them Under the law of God would all been put

to death.

You know what his answer that was?

Well, that's too harsh.

Now I want you to watch this well just think for a minute God is unjust for not stopping slavery.

Here's an instance where he stopped it and it's too harsh.

You know why they don't want an answer.

They don't want an answer.

They want excuse to not to submit to a sovereign God.

That's the reality of it.

That's the reality of it.

And.

Then they will say why didn't he just make them not do it.

And when I show them instances where that happens in the Bible.

They say well, how could he violate their free will?

They don't want an answer.

They want excuse to not to submit to a sovereign God.

That's the answer.

There are only a handful of sins that required for death penalty.

Not very many.

Almost all the sexual sins called for the death penalty.

Adultery.

Fornication.

Homosexuality incest.

Almost all of them called for the death penalty.

Now I know that's shocking for some of you to hear.

Because you live in a culture where that's the norm.

Do not be deceived.

Do you understand.

One of the problems the Israelites had is wherever they moved in the wilderness.

They started adopting.

Adopting the lifestyle of those around them to that what would have appalled them

like child sacrifice in a generation or two was just another thing and Another generation or two

was something they participated in.

The reason why sexual morality does not shock you Christian is because our culture is

ingrained in it in every aspect in Every aspect so it doesn't

shock you anymore.

It just doesn't shock you anymore.

Do you understand?

There are Muslim countries on this planet that make it illegal to watch pornography.

You can't get access to it.

I'm not lobbying for that what I'm trying to show you is.

What I'm trying to show you is the double standard of what we consider righteous is appalling.

Absolutely appalling.

Well, we can have unbelieving nations of 99 is not a high

enough percentage of Non -christ followers who recognize how pagan that

is and that's something.

And yet some of us yeah in this room.

We live in it.

We listen to it.

We watch it so often that it no longer shocks us.

That's a problem guys the book of James chapter

1 verse 27 Says this this is James 1 27 for the three of you writing this down for later.

This is James 1 27.

It's the only time.

The word religion is used in a positive light in the entire Bible.

James chapter 1 verse 27.

You don't hear that word spoken from this pulpit very often in a positive light.

That's because the Bible doesn't either.

But there is one time James 1 27 and the writer says

Pure and undefiled religion before our God is this to care for to look

after widows and orphans in their affliction and.

To keep oneself unstained by the world.

I would argue that this church does pretty good at the first one and I have a pretty excellent track record that I could show.

You.

Of the widows and orphans.

Maybe not so well.

The second one.

To keep oneself unstained by the world every day.

I'm sorry every week when I go to the SOG gym.

In fact, two of my fighters are here.

They could vouch for this every week.

There's probably 15 or 20 guys in there.

I ask everyone who's a Christian raise their hand.

Normally about eight or nine of the 20 will raise their hand.

By the way, that's just how many claim.

Do not be deceived.

And I always say the same thing.

Those of you that raised your hand if your life looks the same in Every aspect in the way you talk the way you walk

the way you live in every aspect.

That's the ones who didn't raise their hand.

You cannot be a Christian.

Do I do I not if it looks the same in every aspect?

I want you to find that model for me anywhere in this book find it

that model.

It's not there.

This book says come out from among them and be separate says the Lord so it's not the unclean thing

this book says he has made you a holy nation a purified people

zealous for good works.

See, we're not talking about perfection.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're talking about a heart that longs to please God.

Do you have that?

Do you have a heart that longs to please God and do your actions show it or

does it stop with your words?

Only.

Because every one of us in this room Can think of someone in our life who told us they loved us,

but their actions showed different.

Yes or no.

That person did not love you.

I Don't care what the word said right or wrong.

This is why I say so often there will be more people in hell I bargain who think

they love God than there will be the any amount of atheist because.

Words.

Are so meaningless if there's no action to back them up.

Yes.

Do you have a heart that longs to please God?

That's the question?

Jesus taught there are varying degrees of punishment in hell now.

The Bible does not say this isn't always been intriguing to me.

The Bible says there are varying levels of punishment in hell, but does not describe what those levels are.

Not levels of hell levels of punishment.

Okay, I wouldn't say what those are but and I wrote it down for you.

It's Matthew 11.

Jesus clearly teaches that it will be.

Especially for those who have received more revelation.

Let me put that in perspective for you those who have heard the word more.

Those who have had more opportunities to turn.

Maybe like those who sit in a church every Sunday where the Bible's read something like that.

All sinners without Christ are equally hopeless loss and condemn the hell.

No one is one inch closer to communion with the Father on his own merit.

In summary, it is not all sins that are equal, but all sinners that are equally in need of a Savior.

This however does not remove the fact that some sins will be rightly judged by God more severely than others

if maybe.

You are deceived in thinking.

Well, yes, that was the stance God took in the Old Covenant in the Old Testament

against sexual immorality.

But that is not the stance he takes now in our day.

That is not the stance he takes in the New Testament.

I want you to consider the following passages and these are actually all on your paper if you have a colored sheet.

It's in red.

These are all on your paper on the bottom of page 1.

This is Galatians 5 19 through 21.

Now the works of the flesh are evident sexual immorality impurity sensuality idolatry sorcery

enmity strife jealousy fits of anger rivalries dissensions divisions.

Envy drunkenness orgies and things like these.

I warn you as I warned you before that those who do such things those who practice such things those who habitually

Walk in such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Now a couple verses later Paul mentions what is often called the fruit of the Spirit.

Maybe some of you have this passage memorized.

What are the fruit of the Spirit love?

It's like so much louder love joy peace patience goodness

gentleness faithfulness and self -control.

That's the fruit of the Spirit in other words.

Those are the things that a genuine Christian will produce.

Not all the same measure Jesus said what some 30 -fold some 60 -fold some 100 -fold whatever

but all to some degree.

Love.

Joy.

Peace patience goodness kindness gentleness faithfulness self -control.

And in the same manner Right before that the part that everyone skips are

the works of the flesh.

These are the ones that the unbeliever will produce.

Would everyone please look at the very first one mentioned Sexual immorality.

So when Paul is describing and comparing believer to Unbeliever the number one

marker the first thing that comes to his mind the first thing that leaves his pen and is on the paper of sexual immorality.

Wow, not as many amens on that one.

Do y 'all see this?

Number one the Greek word pornea P -o -r -n -e -i

-a.

Gives you an indication that we're referring to all types of sexual sin and let me repeat

Something that everyone in this room to some degree or another myself included have committed.

That's not the question.

The question is is that something you practice?

Because these are the marks of an unbeliever Number two Ephesians 5 3

but sexual immorality and all impurity and covetousness Must not even be named among

you as is proper for the Saints.

Number three Colossians 3 5 7 put to death what is earthly before you wonder what the first

one on this list is sexual immorality.

Impurity passion evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Listen church on Account of these the wrath of God is coming.

On Account of these the wrath of God is coming.

In these you two once walked does everyone see that little ed at the end of walk right there.

You once walked someone see that see in English we use that to refer to the what the

Does it say in these you are walking now, is that what it says.

In these you once walked when you were living in

them and There's the emphasis ladies and gentlemen

all of these sins, but particularly sexual morality is our topic today.

Is that something you are walking in?

Living in.

Because so far in the three passages we read the number one Indicator

of an unbeliever is walking and living in that sin.

Do you understand I?

Am NOT trying to put any higher emphasis on this than what the Bible puts on it.

That's what I'm trying to do.

See ladies and gentlemen all of us Myself included have fallen

here.

That is not the question and some of you're gonna choose to hear it that way and walk out of here hearing something you didn't

hear.

The question is what's it say right here?

Walking in.

Living in and here's the next point or maybe you are not.

But someone very close to you is and you have kept your mouth shut about it.

Silence.

Boys will be boys.

Girls will be girls.

That ladies and gentlemen is a very unloving thing to do

on account of these the wrath of God is coming.

If I love someone that would be something I would want to warn them about.

Yes, or no the wrath of God.

First Thessalonians 4.

For this is the will of God.

Stop right there if you have ever asked yourself.

What is God's will for my life?

The Bible has the answer right here first Thessalonians 4 for wait no more.

First Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 3.

This is the will of God your sanctification.

Someone tell me what that means.

The being set apart the process of looking more and more like Jesus every day.

Do your actions conform to the actions of the Son of God?

More today than I did a year ago.

That's the question.

That's the question.

More today than I did six months ago.

If not, that would be time to repent.

Right, that would be the time this is the will God your sanctification.

God's purpose for Josiah Shipley's life and Every believer in this room

is to be more sanctified more set -apart more.

Holy not on my own terms.

More loving the things God loves and hating the things God hates tomorrow than it was today.

That's his goal for my life.

That's his goal for my life.

And I wonder what the first marker is gonna be of my sanctification.

Let's keep reading your sanctification.

That you abstain from sexual immorality.

You know that feeling you just got in your heart like how many times he's gonna say this.

Please notice the emphasis not Josiah.

The Bible is putting on this.

That each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.

Not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who don't know God.

Do you hear that if you can't you're walking like those who don't even know God.

That.

No one transgressed and wronged his brother in this manner because the Lord is a

Avenger in all these things as we told you before him and solemnly

warned you.

Can you say that you do that for other people in this regard?

Solemnly warned them.

Solemnly warned you.

For God has not called us to impurity But in holiness.

Now here's the key.

Look read this last line with me.

Therefore whoever disregards this disregards not man, but God

Who gives the Holy Spirit to you?

Whoever disregards this disregards who?

God.

Whoever makes light of this it's not that big of a deal.

Disregards.

What's it say.

Not man, but God I want to

stress one more time the things that are.

The things you are appalled by.

When you watch the news or read something.

Especially let's say another part of the world you see that and you say I can't believe they act that way.

And they do that.

You know maybe for some of them.

They didn't always.

But they lived in a culture so long.

They started conforming to it.

You understand and looking more like it.

Do you understand the Muslim today?

Looks at us and.

Says.

How can they be so sexually immoral?

They're appalled by it.

Because we ladies and gentlemen Have lived in a culture so long that instead of coming out from among them being separate being salt

of the earth being a light Being a city on a hill We started looking like the world.

When the church is most powerful and submissive the God the culture starts conforming to the church not the church

to the culture.

That's what happens.

That's what happens When the church has an authority higher than God's Word.

The church will always conform to what's going on in the world.

If you don't believe me, I want you to just think about what used to appall your grandparents now is an everyday

thing yes.

If we do not repent what appalls you right now will be an everyday thing.

Just be another thing a generation or two from now

when it comes to.

When it comes to this and the emphasis the Bible puts on it.

Every one of us have a choice and I use this analogy often because I've had to ask myself this

when you're confronted.

When the Bible hits you square in the teeth.

With something that you need to repent of you always have two options ladies and gentlemen.

Option one you can leave here before the snow comes.

You can drive over or walk over to Walgreens.

You can walk down the aisle where the school supplies are.

You can grab some whiteout you can go in the Bible and Mentally erase that which offends you

and then tonight in your prayer inform God That he is really bad at writing the Bible and you can do it better.

He needs to step off the throne and get where he belongs in second place to where you are.

Or.

With a spirit of humility like every one of us myself included must do.

Bow before the will of the Creator who knows what's best for me whether I see it or not.

Bend the knee of my heart.

To his will repent and conform to him not him conform to me.

Now that may sound extreme to you.

But that is exactly what we do when we put our thoughts our intentions our culture

In priority over God's Word.

That's what we're doing.

Are you able ladies and gentlemen to use the past tense here in this passage?

I want to read it again in 1st Corinthians 6 and.

Maybe give some hope.

That's all right, man.

You can get it and maybe give some hope to those of us either

who are not struggling yet in this area who have not started putting the fight but want to.

As brother Jeff says often you have the desire to have the desire.

Yeah, I've been there.

Maybe give some hope to those in that category or give some hope maybe to those who are actually struggling or

maybe give some hope to some of us who may be and By maybe I mean definitely

lack the courage to tell others about this.

Let me give some hope in that.

Yeah, is that I with you?

That's what we're gonna do anyway, so Chapter 6 verse 9

or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?

Don't be deceived.

Neither of us sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who practice

homosexuality nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor revilers nor swindlers

will inherit the kingdom of God and.

Such.

Were some of you.

But you were washed you were sanctified and you were justified.

Hmm.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

This question is often asked of me.

And it's amazing that we can read this passage and this is the only one we hear Josiah.

Can is there such a thing as a gay Christian?

Can someone who is gay be a Christian?

Can they go to heaven?

But depends on what you mean by gay and.

That's not funny.

I'm not trying to be any type of way.

I mean that genuinely if you mean.

Can a true Christian?

Struggle with homosexual desires and even fall on that area.

Yes of course.

Yes, but that is not normally what someone means.

If someone is Is proud of their sin

flaunts their sin feels no need to repent no conviction no remorse and

chooses an identity counter to what God's Word says with no intention plan or

purpose in changing the parts of them that are less holy and Demands that God must conform

to their way of life.

My answer that would be of course not.

Which is also true of every other sin on this list, which is amazing that we would all agree with that.

In other words, I want you to imagine this.

Let's just look at this list for a minute.

Let's say idolatry.

Just imagine this sentence for a minute.

Yeah, I'm an idolatrous Christian.

Yeah, I have idols and I have no intention of getting rid of them.

That's just part of who I am and God has to accept that.

Let's keep looking at the list right here.

Revilers swindlers adulterers thieves greedy.

See, that's the whole point of it.

That's the that's the crux of it.

Habitual practice something you do something that even defines you

is different.

From removing the works of the flesh and fighting against it.

You see that does everyone see that?

Don't be deceived but but man, I just point out very quickly that homosexuality is the fifth one on the list.

Number one is sexual morality ladies and gentlemen.

Idolatry adulterers all them are first, of course a true

believer can give in the sexual sin and still be a Christian.

But it's sexual morality a lifestyle for you.

Are you broken when you commit it or do you do something about it?

Or is it just the same thing over and over again?

Yeah, let's put this to the test.

Let's try it this way.

Your attitude towards your sin with God.

The Bible often compares that any of you who have read the Bible of any variety know this to what a

wife Cheating on her husband.

Yes, the church is the bride of Christ.

This is an analogy if you want a real stark look at this I want you to go read Ezekiel

chapter 16.

Ezekiel chapter 16, let me warn you.

You need to get ready to have your teeth kicked in.

Yes, it is brutal.

Ezekiel chapter 16.

The analogy is often this that we are the bride of Christ and when we choose to love

another We are betraying him and giving our loyalty and ourselves to another that's the analogy

often used.

Yes.

That again.

Includes every one of us of every type of sin myself included.

So no one's gonna be able to leave here today saying I said something that didn't apply to me.

I'm right here with you.

Yeah, but are you broken?

Because the Bible says what me and Bill always talk about this verse in Psalm 51.

It is a broken and contrite heart.

But Lord will never despise or turn away.

Let me say it again Psalm 51 a broken and contrite heart.

He never turns away.

But some of us in this room have no broken and contrite heart to our sin and we demand

that God can form his ways to ours.

That's a different matter entirely.

I remember Making a not -so -fun

Pastoral visit let's call it a couple years ago to a young man's house.

Pastor Jermiah and Pastor Christian were there.

Pastor Jeff was there.

I remember sitting on his couch.

He was caught he was In some very grotesque

sin, let's just word it that way.

And I remember sitting there as he's telling me What he's been doing with a straight -faced

monotone voice no care in the world and I am weeping.

After about 10 minutes. I said stop.

Do you not see that?

I am more broken over your sin than you are.

And he just did this goes.

Yeah, that's and I told him that should terrify you.

That I'm sitting over here and I am more broken over your sin than you are.

That's crazy.

That's insane.

If your mindset right now, especially with sexual morality is this and I know it is because some of you because you've told me.

Well, it's just something everyone does.

Everybody does it could be better.

Apply that to your loved one to your husband to your wife.

Let's say in the same analogy that God used of his church.

That you cheated on your spouse.

All right, let's just go with that.

Cool.

You.

Cheat on your spouse and It is found out and your response to him or her is well,

yeah, but everyone does it it's not a big deal.

Now I want you to look at the disgust on your faces right now.

And I want you to think about is that your attitude with God?

Well, yeah, everybody sins.

The silence means yes it is.

Then we're more disgusted With that on a human level than on a divine level.

Broken and contrite heart.

He will never despise.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Here's the good news.

There has never been a single person whether for the first time or the thousands

who has ever humbly submitted and repented to an almighty God and

Found him to be anything other than a perfect loving Savior.

The Bible says right here and such were some of you.

Such were now for those you that want to argue such are.

I want you to look at that passage one more time.

If this is these are things that still define you I Leave you with nothing more than the past tense.

It says such were.

You can plead with him that it should say such are.

But it says such words everyone reading what I'm reading make it say something.

It doesn't.

I'll wait.

Last call.

Such were some of you but.

It really is the most beautiful word in the Bible isn't it.

Except.

But on the other hand you were washed.

You were sanctified.

You were justified In the name of the Lord Jesus

Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Just a couple more things and brother Mike.

I'm actually not gonna ask them to come up.

Because you're gonna play it on that.

Right, okay, just a couple more things and we're done.

You were washed.

Regenerated made spiritually alive.

Does anybody know John 5 24 by heart that is one

worth memorizing?

It's on the bottom of your page right there.

It's one worth memorizing.

It's highlighted.

It says this.

Truly I say to you.

Anyone.

Who hears my word and believes in him who sent me?

Has.

Eternal life and Will not come in the judgment But has

already passed from death to life

for those of us in this room.

Who.

Say Josiah I Really honestly have submitted to God.

Not a one -time thing ten years ago, but daily.

I'm struggling in this area.

I'm falling in this area.

Well, I have news for you.

If that's you I'm not referring to the one who is defined by their sin and God must conform to you.

I'm not referring to somebody Who thinks the Bible to be archaic standards that don't apply to today's

world.

I'm not talking about you.

I'm talking about the genuine believer in this room who's actually struggling with this who's fallen and needs help binding their

limbs and getting back up for you.

The Sovereign God has already placed you out of the realm of darkness and into the realm of light and you have passed

from death to life.

You were washed.

You were sanctified.

And you were justified.

And let me just one more time go over that beautiful word.

We've been over this on Wednesday nights.

Justification means what?

To be rendered innocent or declared righteous.

Our court system can't even do that our court system says guilty or

Not guilty.

They won't say innocent will they?

Because you're not that just means they can't prove that you did what the dude claimed you did, right?

Innocent righteous.

And do you know why?

Because of double imputation.

Maybe the most beautiful teaching the most beautiful doctrine the whole Bible.

Imputation to charge to someone else's account.

Do you not understand?

Oh my goodness.

That is not the act of you asking for forgiveness that brought about your salvation.

For if it was You would have to re -ask for forgiveness every time you sin in

hopes that before you died.

You understand that you said that so that that sin would be forgiven up for when you died you go to heaven.

That used to be how I thought.

That's not what W imputation is.

Here's what double imputation is that all my sin

past present and future.

Because the Bible says there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

It's placed on the head of Jesus and he gets credit for my sin and

I get credit for his perfect obedient life.

You understand in a sense.

And let me finish this.

It is good works to get you to heaven.

No, no, listen to what I'm about to say.

It is it's just not your good works.

It's the good works of another.

God never changed his standard.

God didn't say ooh.

Adam and Eve didn't even hit the slow pitch.

He didn't change his standard.

The standard still had to be met, but it was met by another.

And his perfect life.

His perfect obedience is Applied to your account by

submissive faith and repentance to a sovereign King.

That's it.

You can't buy it.

You can't work for it.

You can't earn it.

You already tried and your perfect righteous deeds are like filthy minstrel rags before God.

That's what the Bible says.

But in a moment you were declared innocent because he took on the credit for your sin and you took on the

credit for his obedience and You were washed you were sanctified and you were justified.

For the true Christian in this room that's struggling with this

when our world is inundated with someone's death

Jesus says that you must remove it from yourself if your right hand offends you.

Right?

Maybe.

You'll have to change what you listen to sometimes.

Or what you watch or who you talk with whatever it takes.

Gentlemen, maybe some of you don't have the Christian maturity at this point to have a smartphone.

Then don't whatever it takes.

Ladies maybe some of you don't currently have the Christian maturity to have some of the social media apps you do.

Then get rid of it.

If it offends you cut it off.

Maybe some of us maybe some of us need a

More straightforward approach and accountability.

Maybe some of us Need to first get on our face before sovereign God.

And when you pray for forgiveness, I want you to change this notion in your head.

You're not praying for forgiveness.

You can be rejustified.

When I wronged my wife, she doesn't threaten me with divorce.

I Apologize to her.

Not to avoid divorce, but to renew a right relationship.

That's what you're doing with God.

You are renewing a right relationship.

Every one of us in this room Myself included have something to repent of.

Maybe in this area maybe not or maybe.

Have a message to lovingly share with somebody else who we've kind of been

mum about this for long enough.

Let me give you the courage to do this.

The sovereign Word of God does not return void.

It accomplishes what it means to accomplish every single time.

It comes out of someone's mouth in here.

The message that we're preaching is not one of damnation is.

Not one of gloom and doom.

But of joyful hope in the only sovereign of the planet who can wash sanctify

and justify.

Any sinner who calls on his name?

Amen?

I'm gonna ask the pastors to come forward as we get ready for our

time of invitation.

We're gonna do something different.

It's gonna be over the loudspeaker.

That was Melanie's idea so that the music folks can participate.

Probably a good idea.

Yeah.

We'll see.

If it works out, well as my idea if it doesn't it was Mel's idea.

Let's do it that way.

Now would be the time To get to work to go pray with somebody else.

To go pray with somebody else to go encourage somebody else to go love on somebody else.

This would be that time for that right now.

Okay, would you please stand with me?