1Cor 6:12
I Will Not
As a young Christian, I made up my mind about certain behaviors. I
decided that there were some things that I just would not do. Those
decisions have been a tremendous help to me in living for Jesus
Christ. This evening, I want to share with you some of what I decided
and why, and ask you, as the people of God, to consider making
similar decisions.
Before I share with you what I decided, let me share with you the
reason I decided it.
I. \\#9-11\\ There are TRUTHS. In these verses, Paul points out
different kinds of life with two different destinations.
A. \\#9-10\\ There is the SINFUL life.
1. Here Paul lists some of the sins that the flesh is
capable of committing.
2. It is a veritable who’s who of sins.
a. Many (fornicator, adulterer, effeminate, abuses with
mankind) of them are sexual sins.
b. At least one is strictly between man and God
(idolatry).
c. Some are sins which primarily effect self (victimless
sins) (i.e. covetous, drunker).
d. Some are community sins (thief, reviler, extortioners).
3. Paul makes clear the judgment of God on those who lead
this sinful life. THEY SHALL NOT INHERIT HEAVEN!
a. Notice that God does not explain Himself.
b. Notice also that God does not ask us if we approve.
c. God is just stating the fact.
B. \\#11\\ Then there is the NEW life.
1. We were all living the sinful life at one time, but
something happened to some of us.
2. SOME were washed and sanctified.
a. WASHED is not a reference…
(1) a bathtub washing.
Jer 2:22 For though thou wash thee with nitre,
and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is
marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
(2) a baptism washing.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to his mercy he saved
us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing
of the Holy Ghost;
Revelation 1:5 …Unto him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in his own blood,
b. WASHED is a reference to the believers’ washing.
(1) It is the washing that salvation brings.
(2) God has washed…
(a) the sin out.
(b) the wages of sin out.
(c) the guilt of sin out.
(d) If you will let Him, He will even wash the
appearance of sin off.
c. Then he SCANTIFIED us..
(1) SCANTIFIED means set apart, made different.
(2) God picked us up out of the sinful world we were
in and sat us in heavenly places.
C. There is to be a difference in the SINFUL life and the NEW
life.
2Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he
is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
II. \\#12\\ Understanding these truths, Paul lists a principal.
A. I may do whatever I want, but some things are expedient; that
is, they are not good for me to do.
1. I am a Christian. That means that the penalty of sin has
been paid for me.
a. I can’t be charged, tried, condemned, or executed for
any sins I commit.
b. Why? Because Jesus has already paid for them.
c. I have been granted a better immunity than the
politicians!
2. So I live under grace. That means that I do not have to
keep all of the Old Testament’s lists.
a. I am not constrained to do all the Thou shalts.
b. Neither am I kept from doing all the Thou shalt nots.
c. In truth, my obligation in this dispensation, is to
obey the leading of the Holy Spirit.
B. So I may do just about anything I want to do.
1. So Paul says, ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL TO ME.
2. Paul saying ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL is not the same as Paul
saying all things are right to do.
3. When Paul says all things are lawful, he is saying God’s
law will not punish you for it.
C. But all things are EXPEDIENT.
1. EXPEDIENT means good, profitable, helpful.
2. Just because I can do all things, why would I want to?
a. I may watch television which excites the flesh, but it
is not good for me. Why do it?
b. I may listen to music that is worldly and carnal, but
it is not good for me. Why do it?
c. A woman may dress as a man. A man may dress as a
woman. but such things are not good so why do it?
d. We may wear immodest clothing, but it is not good for
us. Why do it?
e. WE may waste our lives in pursuit of riches, but it is
not good for US. Why do it?
F. we may take our tithes and go on vacations, but it is
not good for us. Why do it?
III. Based on the TRUTH and PRINCIPAL Paul shared, I made some
decisions.
A. I will not purposely do that which is sinful.
1. In all of these decisions, I will mention the word
PURPOSELY.
a. Certainly, I still sin. My goal is not to purposely
sin.
b. In other words, I will do my utmost to obey both the
Word of God and to follow the leadership of the
Holy Ghost.
2. Homosexuality is still wrong.
3. Reviling - sinful partying is still wrong.
4. Stealing, in all forms, is still wrong.
5. Drunkenness is still wrong.
6. Adultery is still wrong.
7. So also are the other sins that God condemns in His Word.
a. These things are still wrong.
b. These things will not do us good.
c. Therefore, we should not do them even though it might
not be unlawful.
8. May I also point out that Jesus deserves better?
B. I will not purposely do that which would hurt the testimony of
my Lord.
1Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
1. It is not enough in my life to be found having committed
no purposeful sins.
2. My desire is to keep my testimony above reproach.
C. I will not quit on God.
1. Many have quit on God.
a. Some from the Bible.
(1) Balaam \\#2Peter 2:15\\
(2) Lot \\#2Peter 2:7-8\\
(3) Demas \\#2Thess 4:10\\
(4) Hymenaeus and Alexander \\#1Tim 1:20\\
(5) Diotrephes \\#3John 1:9\\
b. Many, many more throughout history have quit on God.
c. Today, I curdle when I read or hear of someone who
claims to have been saved but walked away from Jesus.
2. Each has his own reason for quitting.
a. Some were easily confused at the Scripture.
b. Some were pulled by sin’s temptations.
c. Some quit at a life crisis.
d. Some quit because of fear or persecution.
3. To keep from quitting, I have had to purge myself of some
desires and goals.
a. I no longer desire to build a large church.
b. I no longer desire to have a lot of money.
c. I no longer want to be liked by everyone.
4. I want to finish my course and hear Jesus say, "Well
done."
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