A Clean Slate — Shane Idleman

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

Matthew chapter 26 verse 57 this is when Jesus faces the Sanhedrin. What the Sanhedrin was is a governing body in Jerusalem that would govern the people spiritually. So Rome was the law over the people and the Sanhedrin was the governing body of mainly just Israel of the Jewish people and they could not execute.

The power of execution was taken away from the nation of Israel when Rome conquered them. But right before we reread Matthew 26 verse 57 do you remember what got us here last week. I talked about when darkness reigns and we just saw that Judas betrayed Jesus and it was interesting this week.

Judas, Satan’s Bargain, and the Need for Repentance

And sometimes I recommend books. I would recommend this book. It's called The Christian in Complete Armor by a Puritan William. I believe his name is William Grinnell written in the 1700s. David Wilkerson C .H. Spurgeon.

A lot of men and women highly recommend this book. I actually got the modernized abridged version of it versus I've got the big larger one but it's an old English and it's a little challenging to say the least.

So this is put in modern language but talk about a page I can't highlight. I mean it's talking about the Christian being in complete armor and it's not for the faint of heart so I'll tell you that up front.

But he wrote this and I thought of and I read it two days ago and I thought of Judas Iscariot on this and actually many who live today would it not be wise before you barter with the devil to ask if his promises come with a warranty.

Can he secure the bargain and keep you from a lawsuit with God. Can he guarantee that when you die you will not be left destitute in another world. Let the buyer be warned. Time will show how Satan has cheated you.

And that's what happened with Judas. And that's what happens with a lot of people. The devil presents the bait and we think that we can rebel against God. But there will become a day of reckoning. There will become there will come a time where we have to give account for our choices.

And many of you know I can say this because he definitely won't hear the sermon. Probably. But my friend from high school came last week and he's still caught up in that whole lifestyle. And we talked afterwards and he makes comments like well that's good for you.

I'm glad you found that. You know it's good for you and I wanted to just keep in mind. So it's everybody at some point you will have to give an account for your life. But the devil barters with him. And many people who aren't believers.

You just keep up that lifestyle. You know that drunkenness and that party scene and I don't want to give this up because I love it. Well the flesh loves it and that's what the devil keep bartering with you.

And it goes by week and then month and then years later and you realize that he had led you astray because you can't barter with the devil and you can't play with him and get away. He's got free. You have to repentance has to take place in that disconnect has to take place.

The High Priest and Jesus as the True High Priest

Matthew 2657. And those who had laid hold of Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Caiaphas is the high priest. And what that means is once a year the high priest would go into the holies of holies and make atonement for the sins of the people.

So he actually had this position above all other those who served in the temple all other administration administrators. He was the high priest. And that's why Hebrews talks about we have a high priest now who's been tempted like we are.

He was tested in all points yet he's without sin. So we go straight to our high priest. That's one big difference between Protestants and Roman Catholicism. We don't need the guy sitting in the booth to go confess to.

We have our high priest. That's sufficient. And there's a big distinction there that people like to argue. But it's crystal clear that we don't need that anymore. But that's where it comes from that they had priests back in Old Testament in Jesus' time.

So they led him away to Caiaphas the high priest where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance. You know it's safer to follow Jesus at a distance isn't it for most people.

Let me just stay back not get in that controversy. But then it's hard to stay in God's will when we follow at a distance. So they went to the high priest courtyard and he went in and he sat with the servants.

Oh Peter went and sat with the servants to see the end. Now the chief priest the elders and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put him to death. But none found any or found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward.

They found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said this fellow said I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it up in three days. Now this to me maybe it's just me but it's ironic because this is all you got this is all you have on Jesus after three years.

That's that's. You can't find anything. So you bring in false witnesses. He taught he preached he rose people from the dead. He cleansed the temple he drove the money changers out and none of that was bad.

None of that was wrong. Three years they found nothing. And I want to throw that invitation out to you as well. If you're seeking you will find nothing in Christ. Nothing that will cause you to find and seek something else.

Nothing demeaning nothing of sin nothing at all. And that's one another distinction from Christianity with other religions that the founder Jesus Christ was God he was free of sin. You look at any other religion that was founded on somebody.

They were a sinner and they're trusting in the center for eternal life. That's a distinction and a difference. Jesus really said destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days meaning his body.

You destroy me. I will raise it up again in three days. So after all of this all they have is false witnesses saying that he would destroy the temple and rebuild it now even if he was talking about the temple of God that's not a blasphemous statement.

That's not going to get you killed. They might just say away with this man. That's that's no big deal. That's nothing to die over. So you can imagine Caiaphas is getting rather upset by now. He's trying to find something and he can't find anything.

He wants to put Jesus to death and he can't find anything. And the high priest arose and said him do you answer nothing. He's getting mad now. Do you answer nothing. What is it that these men testify against you.

But Jesus kept silent. And you know that's a good model. You don't have to respond to all the lies. We're gonna see Jesus respond in a minute. But he doesn't respond to the lies. He just whatever whatever the truth will defend itself.

But then Caiaphas puts him on the spot so to speak. But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to him I put you under oath by the living God. Tell us if you are the Christ the son of God so you have the high priest the highest position of authority asking Jesus.

I put you under oath answer this question. So Jesus felt compelled to answer the question. He says it is as you said it is as you said. Nevertheless I say to you hereafter you will see the son of man sitting at the right hand of the power and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Christ’s Authority, Judgment, and the Power of His Name

That did it right there and we went. What's a big deal with that. Well you have to understand that the right hand of power. They knew exactly what Jesus was talking about. Old Testament imagery. The right hand of God is the right hand is the power is usually a signal of strength.

So Jesus is going to sit on the right hand of God be in his position of authority and ride the clouds in judgment. He just put himself above Caiaphas and said you will see me coming again to judge you.

That's not going to do right now. You can understand Hebrews. Hebrews 12. I read it this morning. I jot it down. He endured the cross. Jesus endured the cross. He put up with the shame. And then he sat down at the right hand of the authority of the father.

That's why God says every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Christ is Lord. He's at that position of power and authority. There's no other name greater than the name of Jesus. You can say any other name and nobody cares.

But when you start why do they want to remove him from the schools from the government office even from the churches even from the little kids at the public school get Jesus out of here. Why. Because that name.

But that name grabs the spiritual realm and it rips it apart. Even demons have to flee. Even Satan is under his control and dominion Jesus Christ. Every knee will bow and every tongue will submit what they're saying to him everything.

There's no other name under heaven that saves. And he just told Caiaphas this and he's upset. He's alarmed. Then the high priest tore his clothes with which is unthinkable for a high priest to stand up and tear his clothes which they cannot be put back.

It's to say blasphemy. And he rents his garment. He rips it in half. You know it's interesting. I just thought of something I didn't express last night. I think it was pastor Steve Shell on the radio a year ago I heard him talk about this and it's just an interesting concept.

But it's something I think it fits in here. The high priest said blasphemy and tore his clothing and tore his outer garment. But it's interesting when Jesus died on the cross it is finished. The veil in the temple was rent from the top to the bottom as if God was saying blasphemy.

Blasphemy on you. You just sacrificed the Messiah and God rent ripped that that temp that that veil. That's thick. It's impossible. You can just rip and he just ripped that thing as if he was saying blasphemy.

Christ has just died. You don't need the veil now separating the inner court the outer court the Holy of Holies. You don't need that veil. That veil has been removed by Christ and Christ alone. And you can walk boldly to the throne of grace.

The Clean Slate and Perseverance in Spiritual Warfare

That's why I want to talk about a clean slate and tie it in. Because so many Christians walk around defeated and beat up by the devil. And they fell down and they fall. And they can't get back up. God doesn't say oh you're in trouble.

He says get back up and win this race. You were not designed for failure here. Get up and take your place. That's what life is. Getting back up. The Christian life folks. You get when you go to the grave.

You go limping. You go with the hurt arm. You go with crutches. You go and you go broken before. That's that's why it's called warfare. The Christian walk is not easy. I don't care what you hear on television.

It's not it's warfare. We're tempted. The enemy is coming after our homes. He's coming after our hearts. He's coming after our testimony. We're one choice away from ruining our testimony. Have you ever realized that one one one choice away one choice away from ruining our testimony.

But God wants us to return to that clean slate. And I'll get to that in a minute. Then the high priest tore his clothes saying he has spoken blasphemy. What further need do we have of witnesses. Look now you have heard his blasphemy.

What do you think. And they answered and said he is deserving deserving of death. Also this is even a false charge. I don't know it's not. I was looking for the name last night. It's not the Talmud and it's not a I couldn't find the exact wording or that what the term of it.

But the Jews have their law inside of this this this book. And actually the charge of blasphemy the the word Yahweh has to be used. The word Yahweh has to be to be taken in vain. The word Yahweh basically has to be taken and trampled on the ground.

Blasphemy. This is not blasphemy according to their own rules. But that's why it upset him so much. Then they spit in his face and beat him. Another struck him with the palm of their hand saying prophesy to us Christ.

Who is the one who struck you. This is interesting as well as a commentary I'm reading talked about when they hit his face or spit in his face. I don't know if you ever had that happen to you. I still remember a girl in elementary school did it to me spitting in the face to lack of respect for authority.

Beating him showed he had no power. And then saying who who who hit you prophesy to us. Try to show him as a false teacher false prophet. Let me stop here for a minute. When he said tell us if you are the Christ the Son of God.

He said it is as you say. There is no wiggle room there. There's when he said I am the Christ I am the only way the only truth. No man comes to the Father except there's no wiggle room. Everybody wants a little bit of wiggle room.

It's very clear very direct that he is the only way the only truth the only life. Now I thought this is interesting as well. How could Caiaphas. How could these religious leaders not recognize Jesus. I mean you you you start out your ministry.

There's no fault in him. All you're going to you're going to find that he said destroy this temple and and I'll rebuild it. That's all you have. I mean they heard the report. The reports went went nationwide.

People travel far to be healed and touched and delivered set free. Why. How in the world can Caiaphas hearing these things. No doubt seeing these things he sent men to get him. They said no man ever spoke like this man.

We can't take him. He would he would hear the healings. He probably saw the healing the feeding of the thousands. And he how in the world can you see all this and still deny him that folks is the power of a hard heart.

That's that's a hard heart. How do I know. Because on this side is Caiaphas. Who's on this side Nicodemus religious leader. Wasn't he. He was high up there. Nicodemus was one of the religious leaders.

So he comes to Jesus. And by night by the way I don't want people know just yet clearly you have been sent from God because nobody could do these works if it wasn't for God being with them. So how do you have Nicodemus and Caiaphas different complete right.

Nicodemus. One is Joseph of Arimathea rich man probably in the on the council that all there was followers of Christ that were Pharisees. It was Sadducees that were religious leaders. But then you have this side.

Why. How. It's the power of a hard heart. What's okay from believer Shane. But no it's true of believers to the power of a hard heart. It will destroy a marriage. It will destroy a church. It's devastating.

The reason is to one is a searcher Nicodemus. The other is a skeptic. That's the difference. If you don't know God if you if you don't know Christ is your Lord and Savior. You must turn from being a skeptic to a searcher.

And I don't. I encourage people often say God. If you're out there Jesus I want to know. If you're real would you show me. God will answer the prayer of a sincere heart. God's not gonna be up in heaven going.

No not answering that one. No. You have to find me on your own. This is your. You're out of luck. He he wants. He bring your questions to me. Bring your sincerity to me. He wants a soft pliable teachable heart.

He'll show that person the way. So you have kaya fish. You have Nicodemus. You see the difference there. I want to read a quote from stop playing church. It's I found him on Facebook. They have a lot of interesting quotes.

They said two thousand years ago Israel was expecting a lion but they got a lamb. Two thousand years later the church is expecting a lamb. But they're going to get a lion. When Christ returns he's no longer on the throne of mercy.

He's on the throne of judgment. See. Don't we live in it. We live in an interesting time here. Because when Christ comes again there's no. There's no plan B. There's no backup plan there. Oh now it's time to get ready.

No. When he comes the time of mercy and grace is coming to an end. At some point those times come to an end. And then the time of judgment comes. People have to be prepared. And a hard heart is what is keeping many people away from the kingdom.

Hardness of Heart, Rebellion, and Idolatry

You might say Shane what is a hard heart. Glad you asked. Let me tell you what a hard heart is. Baker's evangelical dictionary says this. The heart in effect is the whole person in all of his or her distinct human activity as thinking planning willing feeling worshipping and interacting.

And of course when the person is not living according to God's will it is the heart that is described as darkened rebellious callous unfeeling and idolatrous. Now this is interesting. You can look at get a lot of scriptural support for this.

Yes that's true of an unbeliever when they're when an unbeliever's heart my friend I was talking to okay let's the hard heart. You make sure I don't send him this message. Right. But if he finds on Facebook there's nothing to do about that.

So unbeliever the heart is darkened rebellious callous unfeeling and idolatrous. That's a hard heart. Because they're outside of God's will. But you can take a believer whose heart is becoming hard. And the same things apply.

They're darkened. They're living according to the flesh the rebellious. A person with a hard heart is rebellious. There's just no way around that. Let me just get that out. Just in case you're wondering if you have a hard heart you are rebellious.

There's many times we've I've talked to marriage counseling and wanted to marriage counseling for people. And then no I don't want to do it. I don't want to do it. I don't want to hear it. Why. Because you're rebellious.

You've got a hard heart. Somebody has a teachable pliable open heart wants to know what God's Word says. They want to change. So believer can have a very hard heart rebellious callous unfeeling and idolatrous.

Idolatrous means idle. There's something else where God should be. We see that everything from sports to partying to everything that God is. You'll fit him in on Sunday. But he's really not your whole life.

There's idolatry taking place and idolatry is just putting anything where God should be. And I wrote an article last year I might bring it sometime or print it about where I see sports going to with kids and they you know the little leagues and all those didn't want to publish it because I talked about how it becomes idolatry now all these travel ball teams and how they'll.

They'll have to get them to soccer and to baseball and all these things on weekends and we'll fit church in maybe once a month. When did. When did that happen. I mean I drove down Valencia last year. The churches are empty but the parks are full.

What. Idolatry. Idolatry. I want the next. Nolan Ryan. I want the next. My son's going to the big leagues. I'm going to do everything he can to get there. It becomes idolatry because you see how that works.

Because in church we'll squeeze it in and this is a struggle. I have helping with little league and coaching and seeing you know my son's potential and I could turn him into a very very good player if it was five days a week batting lessons and pitching lessons all these things.

I could do that. But then that becomes the focus. We've asked to be on three or four different travel ball teams. Now we can't do that. Well we'll take your son for the weekend and bring it. No that's not going to happen either.

But it's this culture. You have to be careful because it happens with believers that we start to put other things before God. Just look at church attendance 30 40 years now this is going to get a little convicting.

It's okay. It's time for the choir to get convicted. Right. They say you're preaching to the choir. Well it's time for the choir to get convicted. Because the choir's getting pregnant. The choir's getting pregnant out of wedlock.

The choir's indulging in all these things. So sometimes the church needs to be convicted. And it's okay to preach this conviction but look at church attendance it was always consistent except for you know if things came up and then it came to three times a month and now I think it's two times a month.

It's because our culture's changing. We don't wake up with. I've got to get to church. That's my passion week. I guess so should we go today. I've had those discussions. I won't tell you when it's not.

It hasn't been last six years since we planned the church. But we it's like are we going today. I don't know. Are we going today. I don't know. Are we going today. And then you go back and forth and you don't end up going.

Or you end up arguing. See the enemy why is there no arguments on the way the movies getting ready. Have you ever thought about that getting ready going to the movies or going out to dinner. Very rarely is there an argument.

You've got a babysitter lined up. You're going to the movies. But come Sunday morning come Sunday morning the littlest thing. And that's why. Because the enemy wants us out of fellowship. You take somebody out of fellowship.

That's the first step in the wrong direction. When we isolate ourself we get out of fellowship. We get out of the normal course of following God. Now he talks about here a disregard for God's Word does lead to a hard heart.

But also I've seen people use God's Word as a weapon and they are judgmental. They are arrogant. They are bitter. They are mean. And they're just as in much sin as this person. Because you have to remember the Word of God is not meant to be used as a sledgehammer all the time.

A surgeon and a thief both use a knife. Do they not. But one is to help the others to hurt. So we have to be careful because I've seen people on this side just oh I can't believe you did this and this and this and this.

But they're just as mean as a rattlesnake stirred up with a stick. And they're just judgmental and bitter and mean. You can just see it coming off of them like well you're not in a much better spot to be critiquing this person.

Okay they fell off the wagon but you're still on the wagon. So we have to watch it on both sides. And judgmentalism can creep in those who've been Christians a while or mature in their faith or in the Word.

You careful careful for this side. Your pastor can slip into this side quite often right. So be careful because a hard heart. And the more we do this see see see the heart of the heart becomes how could you.

How could you. What would Jesus say woman. I don't condemn you but go and sin. No more. See it's okay to do both. You show the love but you also encourage them in the right direction. I'm going to keep reading from about the hard heart.

I'm almost done. The heart represents a total response of a person to life around him or her and to the religious and moral demands of God. Hardness of heart describes a negative condition in which the person ignores spurns or rejects the gracious offer of God to be part of his or her life.

Do you know how many people I've talked to my friend is a perfect example dozens of times about God's gracious gift. And a hard heart rejects that and rejects that. But as believers who have those have a hard heart.

If you ever went to somebody you might want to consider. I've noticed a lot of things. I don't think you're heading in a good direction and with whatever you name it and they're like no I'm not. Yes I am.

It's you. And they'll put it back on you all excuses that there's a hard heart there. There's a hard heart because they don't want to address the problem. So I would just really really really encourage you.

Is there a strong word for really really really look at your heart. Are you. Are you open to constructive feedback. Are you teachable. Are you pliable. Are you flexible. Are you loving. Are you very rigid.

Because that is a sign of a hard heart. There's no way around that God says often choose life or choose death. Choose humility or choose pride. Choose being teachable or choose being arrogant. Choose to soften your heart or choose to harden it.

It's a very interesting thing. So on this topic of a clean slate I would encourage you. I'm going to use that word encourage a lot this morning because I do want to encourage you look at your heart and start a clean slate.

That's one of the things I love about God when I come to him and I want to soften my heart and clean. He says no you have to wait six months. No you've you know what you've asked me a hundred times. I'm not going over a hundred and one.

But it's that loving father gracious father clean slate. Actually if you've never never embraced God's gracious gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The Bible says you just have to repent of your sin confess that Christ is Lord.

And then you're a new creation in Christ. A new creature creation in Christ. All things have passed away. Behold. And now everything is new. It's as if this old self was put off and this new person in Christ starts a clean slate.

That's a wonderful gift of God. You want to shout it from the rooftops. Why don't more people embrace it. Why. Because of a hard callous heart. Verse 69. Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard and a servant girl came to him saying you also were with Jesus.

But he denied it before them all saying I do not know what you're saying. And when he had gone out to the gateway another girl saw him and said to those who were there this fellow also was with Jesus.

But again he denied it with an oath. I do not know the man. Basically swearing I do not know the man. And a little later those who stood by came and said to Peter surely you also are one of them. For your speech betrays you.

Then he began to curse and swear saying I do not know the man. Immediately a rooster crowed and Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him before the rooster crows. You will deny me three times.

So he went out and wept bitterly. I'm gonna do something a little bit differently. Susie's gonna get it ready and you can get the lights to as well tray. I'm gonna show you what this actually looked like to get a better picture of it.

Many of you seen it before. But it fits right in and I think it's gonna be a huge benefit to get our hearts in a right spot to see exactly what this looked like with Peter's denial. And and that it was just it was terrible.

Denying Christ by Works, Doctrine, and Silence

We've all denied him in some way. Correct. All of us have denied him in some way. Now what's the definition of deny. You might say no I haven't. Well here's the definition one who refuses to admit the truth or the existence of it.

J .A. Brody said in fact a Christian is always and everywhere either confessing Christ or denying him. Every wrong act performed every duty disregarded or imperfectly discharged every indication of a character not conformed to his will and likened to his image is by the very necessity of the case a denial of our Lord and Savior.

Anything that we do. There's three ways an unbeliever denies the Lord. And there's three ways that also believers can be tied into this Titus 116 that we deny him by our works. They profess to know God but they deny him by their works.

So that should be a wake-up call to many people that they can deny him by their works. So these people that think they hadn't think they know God if there's no fruit if their life doesn't line up with scriptural with the scriptural course they are living in deception.

That's that's that's clear throughout the Word of God. And then it dawned on me about believers. We can deny him by our lifestyle to count we. We can deny him by our words. People are watching. And so it's our character.

I think I read that poem on Father's Day about a son looking at his father saying dad the lessons you give me may be very wise and true but I'd rather get my lesson by observing what you do. For I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give.

But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live. And we can deny Christ by our works by our lifestyle. Look at what our kids see sometimes. Oh this hurts a little. It's okay. It's okay. Because the reason this hurts a little is so the heart will start to soften.

Your heart will never soften nor will mine unless it's convicted and hit sometimes with a little sledgehammer from God breaking that hard stone. So believers and unbelievers can deny him by their works.

The second way they can deny who Jesus really is. Did you know. You can deny who Jesus really is. First John who is a liar. But he who denies that Jesus is the Christ. So everybody that comes knocking on your door trying to give you a false gospel of who Jesus.

Well this is who he is. He was Satan's brother. He's a created being. He's not really God. They are liars and the truth is not in them. They are anti-Christ. When is the last time you heard that that those people are anti-Christ.

I love them. But I'm telling them the truth. Anti-Christ come on chain. Isn't that some figure in the end of the world. What depends what your theology is. But John says that the anti-Christ spirit has been here for two thousand years.

The anti-Christ spirit denies who Jesus is. Because that's the way to salvation. Why is it. Have you ever thought why is that so important. The virgin birth it had to be conceived by God. Not man had to be.

They can't have the DNA of man in Christ born of a virgin. It had to be God himself. Who who is going to take my place in your place on the cross. Another man. It won't happen without the shedding of blood.

There is no remission of sin. For for sin to be eternally cleansed it had to be God himself dying on the cross in the form of Jesus Christ. That's why this is so important. So somebody denies who Jesus is.

He wasn't God. He was a created being. He's the brother of Satan. That is anti-Christ. That's against what God proclaimed to what God did. The verse if I keep reading says that is the anti-Christ. He who denies the father and the son.

No one who denies the son has the father. So people who deny Jesus you don't have the father. You have the wrong God. Because it's the whole package. It's the Trinity the try you nature of God. God is father son and Holy Spirit.

If you've got that theology master talk to me afterwards because I don't but we know that it's true. We see the try you nature of God. You can go back into the very beginnings of the Old Testament when God said let us create man in our image.

And you look at the the single the singular word of God L and then you look at the plural Ella and then you look at Elohim and you see that this this this try you nature of God. And who denies that denies that the father and the son are one yet separate is anti-Christ.

Acknowledging Christ Under Persecution

Now let me encourage you in this as well. Those who are new believers are those who don't understand this. It is. It's a process to understand theology. It's good to have questions. If you say God I don't understand it.

I believe in Christ. I believe you sent him help me understand this this theology the study of God. God will show you God will will help in that area. So a person doesn't need to have perfect theology before they die.

But they better have good theology that lines up with scripture as long as they know believe that Jesus died for their sin that Jesus is the son of God. That's what this is saying here Matthew 10 32 deny him before others.

Deny him before others. So everyone who acknowledges me before men I also will acknowledge before my father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men I will also deny before my father who is in heaven.

You're going to be seeing this a lot more in our nation. It's happening in other countries where if you can quote the quran they won't shoot you. But if you can't you are dead. And we're going to see this as the culture as the as the as the as the um gas on your stove right turn turn on the heat on that water and that water starts to get hot.

Or you're going to see more people jumping out of that that crock pot. It's very right now. It's very easy to be a christian. You just put a little side of the fish on your car and you show up to church and you post the cute little facebook things.

But when persecution comes that's when the rubber meets the road. When when when when you will die for your faith or you'll be lose a job because of your faith. There's so many people right now in the school system or in the government different things.

And i i don't i'm not in their position but to maintain their job they have to be silent. They can't say a word about anything. And this will come as we're seeing more the more we deny him not us in particular.