Christian Purity #1
Christianity Is The Supreme Advocate, Defender of Purity.
2. Nothing can compare to the power of Jesus when it comes to
cleaning up your life.
a. ROM 8:2, 5-14. We are to walk in purity. But its not
easy.
(A) And because its not easy many have opted for a lower
standard.
(1) That is the trend in everything today. The dumbing down of
America has also
come to be the standard in Americas Christianity today.
Many school systems have lowered the standards of sducation because
its to hard for some. And we dont want to hurt their
feelings or cause them to feel substandard. End up with a destructive
Outcome Based Education.
It results in having no standard of pride in achievement or self.
Dumb down every body so theyre all equally stupid and lazy
under achievers with no pride or ambition.
(2) This socialist philosophy has crept into the Church and its
taking its toll.
(a) When confronted with the choice, to many Christians choose
to be carnal.
They refuse to stand solidly on Gods Word as the standard
of righteousness.
Begin to rationalize, make excuses. Lower standards to the same
unrestrained carnal standards of a world run amuck in sin. Dummed
down Christianity so we wont hurt their feelings and cause
them to feel substandard.
(b) This battle is not new. The Bible describes this warfare quite
vividly.
(c) ROM 6:6, 12-13. GAL 5:17. Evil is alive and active.
(d) Be on your guard. Be aware, reject these advocates, avoid
them.
(B) Not to be pathetic putty in the pawing, grasping, enslaving
hands of temptation.
(1) Gods Word tells us to be on our guard about the strong
appeal of the flesh .
(a) Demands that Christians maintain moral purity in both public
& private lives.
(b) The attitude of America is becoming one that endorses, encourages
immorality.
(2) Christians every where have failed to seek out and live the
standards of God.
(a) We are in a fierce battle against the host of darkness and
Satan are real.
(b) 2 COR 10:3-5.
(3) The Power of Satan is as real and Observable as the ground
you walk on. Yet
as stealthy, and as hidden and unseen as the air you breath. Set
a trap for you.
(a) 2 COR 11:14-15, Dont be surprised! For Satan himself
transforms himself into
an angel of light. Therefore it is not unusual if his ministers
(Those who serve
Him) also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness
their works.
(b) Paul describes Carnal Christians. Those who have been captured
by Satan
and his servants this way in PHIP 3:18-19, For many walk,
of whom I have
told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the
enemies of the
cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their
fleshly appetites
and whose glory is in their shame?? who set their mind on earthly
things.
b. And the lack of moral purity has spawned a total disregard
for spiritual purity.
(1) Gods Word is no longer the final authority in all spiritual
matters.
(1) Isnt that the natural result of Ignoring Gods
moral laws. Reject spiritual laws.
(1) If I can ignore Gods moral laws with impunity. Also
disregard spiritual laws.
(2) If I dont like any part of Gods requirements for
Salvation I just disregard them.
(2) If I dont want to honor Christ by observing, every 1st
day of the week, this covenant meal we call the Lords Supper,
I arbitrarily decide to do it when I want.
(1) If I want to reject Gods command to administer baptism
by sprinkling water on people instead of Immersing as God commanded,
I ignore God, and accuse any one who objects as being narrow minded.
(2) If I want to make it easier for people to accept Christ I
tell them they dont have to be baptized to be saved. Just
believe and pray the sinners prayer.
(2) Jesus taught a specific doctrine to 12 apostles and told them
to go teach that doctrine to everybody in the world and teach
those people to observe every part of that doctrine.
(1) You can read that in Matt. 28:18-20. Observe everything commanded.
(1) Where did those apostles get the doctrine they taught? Jno.
16:13.
(2) Jesus taught Them exactly what God taught Him and then He
told them that the Holy Spirit would teach them EVERYTHING ELSE
they would need to know to teach others how to be saved.
(2) What they taught was from God and binding on everyone, its
unchangable.
(1) Listen carefully to Luke 10:16. Thats not the only scripture.
(2) Jno. 12:48-49.
(3) Matt. 5:18-19.
(3) Do you remember what Paul said in 1 Cor. 4:17, I teach
the same thing everywhere in every church. Why Paul? Because
thats what Christ commanded me.
(1) Gal. 1:6-10. You depart from the doctrine of Christ and youll
be lost.
(2) Thats what Paul said, and if you reject what Paul says,
1 Cor 14:37?38, says,
If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let
him acknowledge that
the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.
But if anyone
is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Reject the writings of
the apostle Paul and you
do so because you are spiritually ignorant and if you dont
change you will die in
your ignorance.
(4) Do you want to be spiritually and doctrinally pure? Want be
a child of God?
(1) Hear the Word of God, Believe the Word of God, Obey the Word
of God and youll be saved. And if you dont, youll
be lost.
(2) Acts 20:32.
Spur - 8/5/2001 am
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