WEBVTT 00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:04.160 Welcome to Baptist Bible Church. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:07.519 It is great to have you here with us this morning to worship. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:10.800 Are you excited to worship the Lord this morning? 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:12.480 Amen. 00:00:12.880 --> 00:00:14.240 Let's pray and then we'll get started. 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:15.439 Father, thanks for today. 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:23.760 Thankful for this opportunity we have to be here today to gather together with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and to worship you. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:25.359 And we're excited to be here. 00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:30.640 We're excited to join together in song as we lift up our voices to worship you. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:34.240 We're excited to open up your word and hear what you have for us today. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:38.240 So give us open hearts, open minds to receive what you have for us. 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:43.520 And I pray that as we do so that you would draw us closer to yourself, Lord. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:44.479 We love you. 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:45.840 We want to know you more. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:47.439 We want to grow closer to you. 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:49.600 And I pray that you would help us to do that today. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:51.759 It's in Jesus' name I pray. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:54.320 And everybody said, Amen. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:06.719 Psalm 33, verses 6 through 9. 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:21.040 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their hosts, he gathers the waters of the sea as a heap, and he puts the deeps in storehouses. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:24.079 Let all the earth fear the Lord. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:28.879 Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:32.799 For he spoke, and it came to be. 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:22.080 Oh, by the way, Brenda, close your ears. 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:22.879 Just plug your ears. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:23.200 Thank you. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:30.559 We are so thankful for our Continental Baptist missionary builders. 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:38.720 These would be the Woosters, the Smiths, and the Kruegers are the three families that were such a blessing to our church family. 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:50.399 We're so thankful for not just the work they did building this awesome building for us and with us, but certainly the bonds go far deeper than concrete and plaster. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:52.000 Isn't that right? 00:12:53.039 --> 00:13:08.000 And uh we want to take take this opportunity as a church family to uh bless those families with a little bit of financial help because they're just about finished up in Montana and they're uh preparing, they're making preparations to drive back home. 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:12.960 And if you haven't noticed, gas ain't cheap. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.799 And there's multiple trips that need to be taken. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:28.480 And so we want to uh we just want to, as a church family, take up an offering to designate some funds to uh help these families with some travel expenses on the way home. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:33.600 So this time we're gonna have the guys uh go ahead and pass the plates and collect an offering. 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:42.240 If you're not prepared uh but you still want to give, make sure your check gets in the offering box before the end of the morning. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:45.519 Uh, but we'll go ahead and pass the plates now to go ahead and take up those funds. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.720 So go ahead, guys. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:54.480 Thank you for that. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:59.840 I have a few notes that I'd like to give you, just a few updates. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:04.879 First off, I want to say on my behalf, thank you for all your prayers. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:10.559 This family has really supported me through all of my medical journey this last few months. 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:18.399 I did have an MRI recently, and uh this week I got results back saying there's nothing up there. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:27.039 So I don't know how to take that, but no, actually. 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:35.679 Um there's no result, no reason for my uh seizure. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:40.720 So um guys at work would think that's pretty funny that there's nothing up there. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.000 Anyway. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:48.799 Um the other thing I would like to bring up is I did talk to Emily David yesterday and the family. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:55.840 They're very thankful for all your prayers and your support, all the text messages and everything that's come their way. 00:15:56.559 --> 00:16:01.679 Um the the surgery was quite long. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:06.159 There was a lot of endometriosis once they got in there. 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:09.600 Actually, the surgery took about four hours. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:13.919 So uh they did their best to get all that they could. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:19.039 Um, and actually they got the very best possible outcome they they could. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.879 So it's very good. 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:24.879 Um, she's managing her pain right now, is the biggest thing. 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:27.519 So um, but she is feeling somewhat better. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:33.440 I think Karen said she can talk to her a little bit, so she's laughing, she's starting to eat a little bit. 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:36.240 So things are on the road to recovery. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:40.960 So I think they can continue to receive or covet your prayers. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:52.159 Ron will be driving home tomorrow, so if you can remember to pray for him for travel, Lisa's gonna stay there as long as Emily needs her, and then she will fly back home once that's done. 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:56.480 So with that said, I don't think there's anything else. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:17:11.599 I know that there is an insert in our bulletin, and it does say Sunday school is at 9.15, but let's just try to remember that we have the month of June where we're not going to be meeting until after July 4th weekend. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:13.680 So there will be no Sunday school. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:16.559 So if you do show up, it's on you. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:21.039 So open mic, I guess you want to call that. 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:26.079 So join me as we go to the Lord in prayer. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:36.720 Almighty God, you are so good to us, and I am so thankful for this body of believers that you have brought into my life. 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:58.000 And I pray, Lord, that you will continue to work in in this family, that you will work with us, that you would teach us, help us to grow closer to one another, but also most importantly, grow closer to you as we learn, as we hear your word, and as we study your word, and as we worship you together as one body. 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:08.640 In this facility, but as we worship you corporately throughout the world, Father, you deserve all of our worship and you deserve all the glory. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:11.359 Thank you so much for all that you have done for us. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:15.519 Thank you for being with Emily as she had her surgery this week. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.839 And thank you for the good outcome. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:29.599 I pray, Lord, that you would comfort her and encourage her as she goes through this road of recovery, as there's always pain involved when uh somebody goes in and starts to clean things out. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:33.359 Muscles have been cut and inflammation is about. 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:38.640 And I just pray, Lord, that you would encourage her and you would comfort her and manage her pain. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:41.039 Help her back onto the road of recovery. 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:47.039 And Lord, today, as we hear Pastor Jonathan's words, I pray, Lord, that you would speak to our hearts. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:19:01.200 Help us to focus on what you have for us, focus on your words, and um help us to apply that to our lives as we strive to serve you every day and be a good testimony to the rest of this world for your sake. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:02.880 In Jesus' name we all pray. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:16.960 So last week we introduced this new song, Oh Church Arise. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:24.480 So I'm gonna ask you if you would arise, please, as we sing the song. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:21:24.400 Church arise and put your armor eye, here the call of Christ are gaped, for now we can say that they are stroke in the straight but you got this for big time, but it's a bit called to me, that's the colour. 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:35.759 Allow me to remind you just one more time that we have just started a new series on spiritual warfare. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:56.559 And because of the nature of this topic and just all of the confusion that is just so prevalent within the culture at large as well as within the church, could I encourage you, if you've missed either of the last two sermons, to make sure you take some time this week, go back and listen to the sermons. 00:26:56.640 --> 00:27:01.200 You can find them on podcast or on YouTube if you'd like to watch instead. 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:03.759 And I think that would be supremely helpful to you. 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:12.640 It kind of frames the nature of the topic and how we're going to handle it, how we're going to address it and talk about it over the coming weeks. 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:21.519 So I think that's helpful, helpful content within those first couple of sermons that would be helpful to you as we continue on in the series. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:45.759 Don't forget this morning the remark we noticed last week from 2 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 11, where Paul states that the reason Satan was not able to gain an advantage over Paul and over Paul's ministry partners was because Paul said that he was not ignorant of his devices. 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:53.839 Meaning, Paul, Paul, his point being that Paul was aware of his enemy. 00:27:54.240 --> 00:28:03.359 He was aware of what his enemy was trying to do, and he was aware of how the enemy was seeking to accomplish that objective. 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:13.039 And it's because Paul knew that he was equipped and enabled to with to resist and to withstand the attacks of the enemy. 00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:18.000 And as Christians today, that is just so relevant. 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.599 It's relevant. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.599 Do you know your enemy? 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:24.160 Do you know what your enemy is trying to do? 00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:27.200 Do you know how your enemy is trying to do it? 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:30.880 If you don't, you will lose. 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:41.359 In World War II, to give another illustration of this point, codebreakers performed a vital function. 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:47.920 Their task was to intercept and interpret enemy communications. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:55.920 It was their ability to do so that provided major military and strategy advantages. 00:28:56.319 --> 00:29:03.039 If you knew what your enemy was going to do before they did it, that's a major advantage to you militarily. 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:08.559 One of the most cited examples of this in World War II was the Battle of Midway. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:22.720 And American forces won the Battle of Midway in large part because codebreakers had learned in advance the military strategy and movements of the Japanese fleets led by Admiral Yamamoto. 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:34.079 And it's because they knew the movements of the fleet that they were able to set the ambush that led to that great military victory in the Pacific Theater. 00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:36.400 This just goes to prove the point. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:48.319 If you know what your enemy is doing, you know what their objective is, you know their how you know how they're trying to accomplish it, that puts you at the advantage to have the victory. 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:54.240 So last week we identified the first enemy of the Christian. 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.359 Who can tell me? 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:57.359 Enemy number one, first enemy of the Christian. 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.160 What was it? 00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:59.119 The world. 00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:00.319 The world. 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:02.400 Somebody was listening. 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:03.920 Gold star to Ben. 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.200 The world. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:06.640 First enemy of the Christian. 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:12.400 This morning we notice there is another enemy that we have identified, another enemy that we need to learn more about. 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:14.240 And you can see it there on the screen. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:16.799 That is the enemy of the flesh. 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.000 So let's pray. 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.839 And then we'll dig in. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.839 Heavenly Father, thank you for today. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:23.519 Thank you now for this opportunity. 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.799 We have to open up your word. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:27.279 Help me, God, to preach this morning. 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:29.200 Help me to preach with clarity. 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:32.160 Help me to explain your word correctly. 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:45.279 Father, help me to not get in way, get in the way of the text or get in the way of your word this morning, but just to be a conduit, a vessel through which your word works and is received by those here this morning. 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:49.279 I pray that your word would work effectively and powerfully. 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:53.039 We're so thankful for the promise of Scripture that your word never returns void. 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:57.119 And so we ask, Lord, that you would be faithful to that promise this morning. 00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:58.000 Help us. 00:30:58.240 --> 00:31:00.640 Help us to learn who our enemies are. 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:13.759 Help us to learn how to be effective in fighting against those enemies so that we can have victory, so that we can claim and embrace and have victory over our enemies. 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:16.480 We ask these things in the name of Jesus. 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:17.279 Amen. 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:21.519 Enemy number two this morning, the flesh. 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:22.880 The flesh. 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.920 What is the flesh? 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:28.799 Well, before we get to there, there's a quick reminder on our definition of spiritual warfare. 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:33.440 Don't forget that when we talk about spiritual warfare, this is what we mean. 00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:38.720 The believer's continual struggle against the devil, the flesh, and the world. 00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:50.480 One by standing firm in Christ through faith, obedience, truth, prayer, and the ordinary means of sanctification empowered by the Holy Spirit. 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:54.319 This is our definition of spiritual warfare in that first sermon we did. 00:31:54.400 --> 00:32:01.440 We laid out the framework of why we define spiritual warfare this way, and this is how we're going to be operating going forward. 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:03.039 So then, what is the flesh? 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:09.920 Well, the most common word in the New Testament for flesh is sarx, in the Greek, sarx. 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:14.160 And depending on the context, it can have different meanings. 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:20.480 There are some contexts where the flesh refers simply to the physical human body. 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:23.519 We think of flesh and bone in this context. 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:31.279 And it's important that we identify right away that when we talk about the flesh being the enemy, this is not what we mean. 00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:34.400 We are not referring to your physical human body. 00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:38.720 This is not the sense in which the Bible describes the flesh as an enemy. 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:46.880 There is a strain within Christianity that was developed within early Christianity known as asceticism. 00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:56.079 And it is this strain of Christianity that believes that everything that is physical or material is in fact inherently evil. 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:58.160 They're known as the ascetics. 00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:02.720 And they would say that the physical, material things of the world are sinful. 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:05.279 They're polluted by sin. 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:17.119 And so their way of life then is shaped by that philosophy where they would say any earthly pleasure, any physical comfort is to be shunned by the Christian. 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:22.720 You need to get away from anything that provides any kind of comfort or pleasure to the physical flesh. 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:24.559 This is the philosophy. 00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:30.640 One of the most famous ascetics was a guy by the name of Simeon Stilides. 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:37.279 Simeon Stilides, you can see the paintest the painter's rendering of Simeon. 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:38.400 There he is right there. 00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:40.160 And do you notice where he is? 00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:42.880 He's on a pedestal. 00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:46.079 And this guy is actually very interesting. 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:48.720 He lived in the 400s A.D. 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:57.279 and he lived on a small platform that extended into the sky for 37 years. 00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:59.200 He lived on that thing. 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:01.119 And he was an ascetic. 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:10.079 And so the reason why he lived on that platform for 37 years was because he believed that the physical material things of the world were evil. 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:14.960 And he had to get away from it and separate himself from the earth. 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:17.199 And so he took that very literally. 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:37.519 However, we must recognize that when God created man, he created you as an embodied being, meaning he made you as a as a unification of both immaterial, soul, spirit, and material, body, flesh. 00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:39.039 That's how he created you. 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:40.159 That was his design. 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:51.360 And if anybody remembers from Sunday school, at the end of the creation week, after man was created as an embodied being, what was the statement God declared? 00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:53.119 It was good. 00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:54.400 It was good. 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:58.480 Which means that God's creation includes the physical and material. 00:34:58.639 --> 00:35:04.239 We can't claim that the physical material is evil or wrong when God is the one who created it in the first place. 00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:08.719 So this is not the correct, this is not the correct view. 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:12.079 When we talk about the flesh, don't think physical material. 00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:14.719 The physical material things of the world are not your enemy. 00:35:15.440 --> 00:35:16.320 They're not your enemy. 00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:19.840 So then how is the flesh your enemy? 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:37.199 The flesh is your enemy because when the authors use the term to describe it as your enemy, they use it to refer to fallen humanity's internal tendency or inclination to sin. 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:42.800 This is our definition of the flesh as the enemy of the Christian. 00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:45.119 And I want to illustrate this for you. 00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:47.360 And so we'll see how this works. 00:35:47.679 --> 00:35:48.800 Anybody know what this is? 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:53.119 This is a magnet. 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:54.880 Now look how tiny this is. 00:35:55.199 --> 00:35:57.039 This is a tiny little magnet. 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:59.039 It is very small. 00:35:59.360 --> 00:35:59.679 Okay? 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:03.280 That you would think that this probably does not have a whole lot of power, does it? 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:04.320 It's a tiny little magnet. 00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:06.400 I mean, look, this is small, smaller than my hand, right? 00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:15.679 Okay, so I'm gonna have Hudson come on up, and Hudson is gonna help me to demonstrate the power of the magnet. 00:36:15.840 --> 00:36:19.679 I've separated it so you can see I'm not gluing this together. 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:21.440 This is not glued. 00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:24.639 It's pure magnetic force. 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:26.400 Alright, now. 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:29.519 Hold on. 00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:39.440 Sometimes you have to grunt to really get the right force that you need. 00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:41.360 Alright, Hudson, come on up here, buddy. 00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:42.159 Come on up. 00:36:42.320 --> 00:36:42.800 Okay, now. 00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:47.679 ChatGPT told me don't use this with a human, but AI doesn't know everything, so. 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:49.199 Okay, Hudson. 00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.000 Let's see. 00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:54.079 These tiny magnets, tiny magnets, how can they be so strong? 00:36:54.239 --> 00:36:55.440 Okay, Hud, are you ready? 00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:56.239 Do it. 00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:57.440 Lift up your feet. 00:36:58.559 --> 00:36:59.760 Okay, you can get down. 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:00.559 Good job. 00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:02.559 Everybody, give a hand to Hudson. 00:37:05.119 --> 00:37:07.119 Okay, what is that illustrating? 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:08.159 What am I trying to show you? 00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:11.920 What I'm trying to show you is that that is your flesh. 00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:13.280 That's your flesh. 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:21.599 Your flesh acts as an inner magnetic force that is pulling you toward sin. 00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:27.440 And it's not a small inclination, it's not a small little temptation. 00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:28.719 It's strong. 00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:39.599 It has a powerful magnetic force that is that is like sin, is the opposite end of the magnets, and it is pulling you toward sin. 00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:48.639 When biblical authors refer to the flesh, they're referring to this natural inclination that resides in every human being. 00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.559 Every person has this. 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:55.119 It explains why sin tempts you. 00:37:55.440 --> 00:37:57.360 Why are you attracted to sin? 00:37:58.800 --> 00:38:00.079 We're Christians. 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:02.000 We know what sin is. 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:03.840 We know what it does. 00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:06.000 We know what it leads to. 00:38:06.320 --> 00:38:08.079 So why do we still sin? 00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:10.960 And don't say this morning you don't. 00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:13.360 Why? 00:38:14.480 --> 00:38:17.760 Because the flesh is powerful. 00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:22.800 It's a powerful enemy that is pulling you toward sin. 00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:24.400 This is the flesh. 00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:25.360 Okay. 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:29.440 So where did it come from? 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:31.119 Where did the flesh come from? 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:37.119 Psalm 51, verse 5, David writes, He was born into sin. 00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:38.800 Born into sin. 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:50.639 Ephesians chapter 2, verse 1 says that we are all born dead in our sin, which indicates, which seems to indicate that the flesh is something you're born with. 00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:54.559 It's not a nature you take on as you go through life. 00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:57.679 You are born with the flesh. 00:38:58.400 --> 00:39:06.320 And we recognize that if you turn to Romans chapter 5, we need to draw a distinction. 00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:08.719 We are born in the flesh. 00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:14.880 We are born with the flesh, but God didn't create mankind with the flesh. 00:39:15.280 --> 00:39:18.480 God didn't create Adam with the flesh. 00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:22.239 If you go to Romans chapter 5, look with me in verse 12. 00:39:37.280 --> 00:39:46.880 Paul writes, therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin. 00:39:47.760 --> 00:39:53.519 And so death spread to all men because all sinned. 00:39:53.920 --> 00:39:56.800 So who is the one man that Paul is referring to here? 00:39:56.880 --> 00:39:58.639 That is the one man Adam. 00:39:58.880 --> 00:40:09.199 And Paul is saying that it was through Adam's disobedience, through his failure in the garden, that sin then entered into the world and entered into humanity. 00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:14.880 And notice that what goes along with sin, what's tied together with sin here in Romans 5, 12. 00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:15.840 It's death. 00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:22.559 So sin and death entered into the human race through Adam's disobedience. 00:40:22.800 --> 00:40:32.079 And notice, if you notice here, that we are included, we are included in the death and in the sin. 00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:49.840 If you skip ahead to verse 19, he says, For as by the one man's disobedience, that's again Adam, his disobedience, referring to the fall in the garden, as by the one man's disobedience, the many were made sinners. 00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:54.559 Which tells us this morning that we are all born in Adam. 00:40:55.280 --> 00:40:56.960 We are all born in Adam. 00:40:57.039 --> 00:41:03.760 And because we are born in Adam, we therefore are born into Adam's sin. 00:41:04.719 --> 00:41:14.159 It is best to understand, as we talk about the flesh, it is best to understand the flesh originating in Adam's failure. 00:41:14.960 --> 00:41:21.920 In Adam's failed test of obedience, the flesh with sin and death entered into humanity. 00:41:22.320 --> 00:41:24.079 And notice how that's passed down. 00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:29.280 So where did you get your flesh? 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:31.280 You can blame your parents. 00:41:31.760 --> 00:41:33.280 Thanks a lot, mom and dad. 00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:35.440 But where do they get it? 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:36.960 From their parents. 00:41:37.199 --> 00:41:38.000 And where did they get that? 00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:39.119 Where do they get the flesh? 00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:43.360 Their parents going all the way back to our first parents. 00:41:44.079 --> 00:41:45.360 This is where the flesh comes from. 00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:48.559 This is why the biblical authors talk about being born in sin. 00:41:49.440 --> 00:41:50.559 You don't become a sinner. 00:41:50.639 --> 00:41:51.920 You are born a sinner. 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:53.039 It's who you are. 00:41:53.440 --> 00:41:59.679 And you are born with a natural inclination, a natural tendency that is pulling you towards sin. 00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:01.679 We call it the flesh. 00:42:02.400 --> 00:42:07.519 Anybody that has kids or has interacted with kids shouldn't be surprised by this, by the way. 00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:09.920 You don't need the Bible to tell you this, do you? 00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:17.840 I mean, kids, before they can speak, before they can speak, you can see the flesh at work. 00:42:18.239 --> 00:42:18.880 Can't you? 00:42:19.440 --> 00:42:26.960 I mean, it is it's apparent, it's apparent that we are born with a natural pull toward sin. 00:42:28.559 --> 00:42:30.719 So this is where the flesh comes from. 00:42:31.360 --> 00:42:40.000 The next thing we need to take some time this morning to do is to examine a few biblical concepts related to the flesh so that we we don't get confused. 00:42:40.880 --> 00:42:45.599 So one of the bib one of the concepts related to the flesh is something called the sin nature. 00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:47.440 The sin nature. 00:42:48.079 --> 00:42:56.159 Theologians use this term to communicate that your human nature has been corrupted by the flesh. 00:42:56.400 --> 00:42:59.760 Your human nature has been corrupted by the flesh. 00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:01.440 This is synonymous. 00:43:01.760 --> 00:43:04.880 Sin nature and the flesh are synonymous concepts. 00:43:05.199 --> 00:43:10.159 So when we talk about sin nature, we're talking about your fallen human nature. 00:43:10.320 --> 00:43:12.960 It is inherent, it is a part of you now. 00:43:13.440 --> 00:43:15.360 This flesh, this nature. 00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:27.280 And it's interesting because we also need to recognize that the sin nature, what it means is that the entirety of your nature has been polluted by sin, has been tainted by sin. 00:43:27.440 --> 00:43:30.719 There's no part or piece of you that is exempt from this. 00:43:30.960 --> 00:43:35.199 And so it's common, I think, as Christians, to think I just have a small sin problem. 00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:37.920 I have a very isolated sin problem. 00:43:38.239 --> 00:43:47.199 I have just one tiny minor little struggle, and I've got the rest of it all figured out, and the rest of me is all pure and perfect and righteous and it's good. 00:43:47.360 --> 00:43:49.280 I just have a tiny little problem. 00:43:49.840 --> 00:44:02.159 But when we talk about the flesh, when we talk about the sin nature, what is being conveyed or communicated is that the entirety of your being Is broken by sin. 00:44:02.800 --> 00:44:04.639 Everything's included. 00:44:04.880 --> 00:44:07.199 It's a little bit like if you get poison ivy. 00:44:07.440 --> 00:44:09.360 Maybe for you, poison ivy can be contained. 00:44:09.440 --> 00:44:10.639 For me, it cannot. 00:44:10.880 --> 00:44:12.960 When I get poison ivy, it spreads. 00:44:13.119 --> 00:44:15.199 I don't know how it does it, but it spreads. 00:44:15.280 --> 00:44:16.480 I have poison ivy right now. 00:44:16.559 --> 00:44:17.440 It is all over me. 00:44:17.519 --> 00:44:19.039 I'm very itchy right now. 00:44:19.280 --> 00:44:20.559 Poison ivy, I don't know. 00:44:20.639 --> 00:44:22.719 It just doesn't contain itself. 00:44:22.960 --> 00:44:26.320 In fact, I showed Liz, and Liz said, How did you get poison ivy there? 00:44:26.480 --> 00:44:28.000 I said, I don't know. 00:44:28.800 --> 00:44:31.440 It travels through bloodstream, maybe. 00:44:32.000 --> 00:44:33.599 It's everywhere. 00:44:33.840 --> 00:44:35.039 This is the flesh. 00:44:35.199 --> 00:44:36.559 This is the flesh. 00:44:36.800 --> 00:44:43.679 Look, if you look at just a couple pages back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 3, look what Paul says in Romans chapter 3. 00:44:43.760 --> 00:44:45.840 Look in verse 10. 00:44:46.639 --> 00:44:51.840 As it is written, he's going to quote all these passages from the Old Testament to talk about the sin nature. 00:44:51.920 --> 00:44:52.559 Look what he says. 00:44:52.719 --> 00:44:55.599 As it is written, none is righteous. 00:44:55.920 --> 00:44:57.119 No, not one. 00:44:57.440 --> 00:44:59.039 No one understands. 00:44:59.599 --> 00:45:01.360 No one seeks for God. 00:45:01.920 --> 00:45:03.519 All have turned aside. 00:45:03.679 --> 00:45:05.920 Together they have become worthless. 00:45:06.239 --> 00:45:07.760 No one does good. 00:45:08.719 --> 00:45:09.840 Not even one. 00:45:10.639 --> 00:45:13.440 Their throat is an open grave. 00:45:13.920 --> 00:45:16.079 They use their tongues to deceive. 00:45:16.320 --> 00:45:19.440 The venom of asps is under their lips. 00:45:19.760 --> 00:45:22.880 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. 00:45:23.039 --> 00:45:26.079 Their feet are swift to shed blood. 00:45:26.400 --> 00:45:32.639 In their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. 00:45:32.880 --> 00:45:36.480 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 00:45:36.719 --> 00:45:42.480 Do you notice how the entire human body is mentioned in these verses? 00:45:42.639 --> 00:45:43.679 Did you see that? 00:45:43.920 --> 00:45:44.320 Right? 00:45:44.480 --> 00:45:49.119 The throat, the lips, the mouth, the feet, the eyes. 00:45:49.840 --> 00:45:54.239 This goes to show that your entire humanity has been broken by sin. 00:45:54.880 --> 00:46:04.000 When we talk about the entirety of your humanity, we're talking about your intellect, your mind, how you think it's broken by sin. 00:46:04.239 --> 00:46:12.960 We're talking about your affections, how your heart is shaped, what you love, what you cherish, tainted by sin. 00:46:13.519 --> 00:46:16.239 And of course, we're talking about the will. 00:46:16.800 --> 00:46:24.559 The will, the decisions you make, your self-determination, what you decide to do. 00:46:24.880 --> 00:46:32.639 All of that is enveloped in this concept of human nature, and all of it is corrupted by sin. 00:46:32.800 --> 00:46:35.440 Nothing escapes the flesh. 00:46:36.559 --> 00:46:38.400 Nothing escapes the flesh. 00:46:38.960 --> 00:46:41.920 So the sin nature is a synonymous concept. 00:46:42.079 --> 00:46:43.039 The heart. 00:46:43.840 --> 00:46:45.760 The heart is another term. 00:46:46.480 --> 00:46:52.960 In Matthew chapter 15, Jesus makes an interesting statement. 00:46:53.280 --> 00:46:56.159 Matthew chapter 15, verse 18. 00:46:57.199 --> 00:46:59.760 You can turn there or I can just read this one for you. 00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:02.400 Matthew chapter 15, verse 18. 00:47:02.480 --> 00:47:12.000 He says, But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 00:47:12.800 --> 00:47:24.559 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 00:47:25.519 --> 00:47:28.239 These are what defile a person. 00:47:28.639 --> 00:47:29.840 What's Paul saying here? 00:47:29.920 --> 00:47:34.159 He's saying that your heart is contaminated by sin. 00:47:34.400 --> 00:47:43.679 And it's important to remember that in Bible times, when they used this term the heart, they didn't just mean emotion or feelings like we think of today. 00:47:43.920 --> 00:47:48.320 They perceived the heart to be the command center of the human being. 00:47:48.559 --> 00:47:50.880 Your heart was your command center. 00:47:51.119 --> 00:47:56.800 It's where I reason, it's where I make decisions, it's where my affections are shaped. 00:47:57.039 --> 00:48:02.639 And Jesus' point is that evil is flowing out of your command center. 00:48:02.800 --> 00:48:04.880 It flows out of your heart. 00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:12.400 So the point here, we notice it's not quite synonymous with the flesh. 00:48:12.480 --> 00:48:17.599 It's better to say that your internal command center has been corrupted by the flesh. 00:48:17.920 --> 00:48:23.760 Your heart has been corrupted by the flesh, which may which makes it no longer trustworthy. 00:48:23.840 --> 00:48:26.239 We'll notice that in just a couple minutes. 00:48:26.639 --> 00:48:32.320 This is why John Calvin referred to the heart as a perpetual idol-making factory. 00:48:34.079 --> 00:48:36.559 So what idols are you worshiping this morning? 00:48:37.599 --> 00:48:41.039 What idols is your heart at work producing? 00:48:42.400 --> 00:48:44.559 That factory never stops. 00:48:44.800 --> 00:48:46.239 They work 24-7. 00:48:47.199 --> 00:48:52.800 And it's always producing something else to draw you away from God. 00:48:53.199 --> 00:49:01.679 And if you ever make the mistake to think that your heart has been cured, you have fallen directly into the trap of the enemy. 00:49:02.239 --> 00:49:07.119 Your heart is always at work seeking to draw you away from God. 00:49:07.920 --> 00:49:08.559 Why? 00:49:08.960 --> 00:49:10.960 It's been corrupted by the enemy. 00:49:11.199 --> 00:49:13.360 It's been corrupted by the flesh. 00:49:13.679 --> 00:49:15.840 So this is a somewhat synonymous term. 00:49:15.920 --> 00:49:16.960 It's a little bit different. 00:49:17.119 --> 00:49:19.280 How about our next term, old man? 00:49:19.519 --> 00:49:20.239 The old man. 00:49:20.320 --> 00:49:23.360 Now we're not trying to be offensive with that term. 00:49:23.920 --> 00:49:25.599 All you older guys. 00:49:26.000 --> 00:49:28.320 That is literally what the text says. 00:49:28.559 --> 00:49:29.199 The old man. 00:49:29.280 --> 00:49:35.519