"Put to Death"

In a recent study conducted by ChristianMingle.com, Christian singles between the ages of 18 to 59 were asked, "Would you have sex before marriage?" The response? Sixty-three percent of the single Christian respondents indicated yes.

In response to this survey, Kenny Luck wrote:

In my 30 years of youth and adult ministry experience, this is as unfiltered, direct and honest as a question and answer can be. In practice, [Christian young adults have become] sexual atheists. In other words, God has nothing to say to them on that subject of any consequence or, at least, anything meaningful enough to dissuade them from following their own course of conduct. It is the ultimate oxymoron. A person who at once believes in a wise, sovereign and loving God who created them and all things, can also believe simultaneously he should not, cannot or will not inform their thinking or living sexually.

Amazing isn’t it. That today with so much advancement and so much progress intellectually we still have this kind of thinking. This is a real thing. At one of the churches where I was an assistant pastor there was a particular young man who was very critical of much I did constantly complaining as to how things were done and whether the church and its practices were in line with the scriptures and historic protestant theology. He was very passionate about it. He was uncompromising abut it. But one day the girl that he was dating scheduled a meeting with me to discuss the relational problems they were having. It came out that they lived lives of drugs, drunkenness, and sex. When I talked with him about this he did not believe that anything in the Bible that prohibits sex and drunkeness applied to him or anyone these days. Sexual atheism.

It is not just with sex. Why is it that we do this with many things. We are very strict about things in the scriptures but very lax of the vices that we indulge?Is it that we just don’t know? Or is it that we choose not to know. All we gotta do is cover our eyes and the monster will just disappear? As long as we don’t see it, its not there? We decide to stay away from preachers who speak the truth or what is biblical so that we don’t have to see it. Don’t have to hear it.

This is Idolatry. This is idolatry behavior. It is the unwillingness to rid ourselves of our Idols. It is the unwillingness to be far from it. It is the unwillingness to put it to death. If we as Christians are dead to this world, why will we not put to death the world that is in us. And we better… the judgement of the Lord is coming. It is because of behaviors like this that the anger of the Lord is coming. The Bible says that it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Shane is there hope for us… yes there is. Let’s check it out.

Colossians 3:5–7 NLT

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.

Mortify What Is In You

The Anger of God is Coming

The first thing we will look at today is the worldliness in us that we still need to mortify, what we still need to kill. Second, we will see how it is these things in us that is provoking the anger of God and He is coming to deal with it.

Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world entice us to keep alive the world in our hearts, it truly is the Word of God and the power of the Spirit that will cause us to see that Christ is more than anything the world is and what the world brings.

I. Mortify What Is In You

- Things we still need to kill.

A. We got a therefore here. So we need to see our passage today in light of what we have heard already. We are dead to this world. We have a new life in Christ and it is hidden in Christ and will be one day revealed when Christ when he is revealed in glory. So if we are to have a heavenly mindset, therefore, get rid of thse things that pull you away from it.

B. I love the way Dr. Moo puts this...

“But this “putting to death” of sin is not only demanded by our incorporation into Christ; it is also empowered and effected by it. Union with Christ, because it puts us in a new relationship to sin and brings us into the sphere of the Spirit’s power, will impact the way we live. Ultimately, then, the imperative “put to death” in this verse must be viewed as a call to respond to, and cooperate with, the transformative power that is already operative within us.”

C. This idea is beautifully illustrated in the words of Christ when he said...

Matthew 5:29 NLT

So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

D. When we see this it is showing two things. Number 1, it is showing the seriousness of sin. It is so serious that it is extreme measure must be taken to rid yourself of it. Sin must be cut off, it must be put to death. This is how serious it is. It is better for you to lose an eye then for you to be condemned. But it also shows, number 2, Jesus illustrates the frivolity of it all, you will end up chopping every part of your body off because not only is in serious it is also pervasive. If you think COVID 19 spreads, sin spreads even more than sand.

E. I’m from Hawaii… you can go to the beach, be wearing pants, a shirt and shoes… never go in the water, never sit on the beach, and never even go for a stroll and still when you shower you find sand everywhere… even in your belly button.

F. Sin comes from the heart and if you wanna rid it… cut out your heart. Centuries past in England, if a pickpocket was caught and convicted, his right hand was cut off. If he was caught again, his left hand suffered the same fate. One pickpocket lost both hands and continued his occupation with his teeth! Physical dismemberment cannot change the heart. “Put to death,” as Paul uses it, means to discard evil practices and, here in Colossians, to get rid of the twin evils of sexual sin and covetousness.

G. We are called to kill the porneia in us. Where we get the word pornography. We are to put to death all fornication and all sexual acts that are morally objectionable in us. This includes sex outside of the marriage bed. In greek culture just like it is today… to be one to cry out in the streets against sexual immorality is to become labeled a moral bigot who is our of touch with the times.

H. We are called to put to death… akatharsia. Kartharsis. Put to death non-kartharsis. Impurity describes any kind of moral corruption. Moral corruption of any kind. It is nomally used for sexual impurity, but it accounts for even more. Dr. Kent Hugues writes, “This is wider and subtler than physical immorality, for it embraces the lurid imagination, speech, and deed of a sensual heart or filthy mind.”

I. We are also called to put to death “pathos” where we get passions… the passions that we have for morally objectionable sexual acts. One commentator wrote, “the shameful emotion which leads to sexual excesses.” This is a very serious thing...

A man is walking home from work and lusting after the woman approaching him on the sidewalk. He slows down his walk to get a longer look, and he turns around and watches as she passes. Think with me again about the godlike posture of this man. First, he is treating this moment as if it belongs to him. It's as if he is sovereign and she is on the sidewalk according to his will and for his pleasure. He's the self-appointed deity of the moment … The world has shrunk to the size of his desire, and he rules it for his pleasure. … He will have what he will have, even if it is the only the right to stare at body parts and imagine having them for his pleasure.

But there is more. For that moment he is stealing God's creation and taking it as his own. He has no right to this woman. She does not actually belong to him in any way, but he takes her with his mind and his eyes. … He's ripped this woman out of the hands of God and claimed her as his own for whatever momentary pleasure he can achieve … He has denied God's existence. He has set himself up as God.

J. We are also to put to death epithymia which is an inordinate self indulgent craving. It is the desire to fulfill the evil appetites of the flesh. The desire to fulfill our desire and our wants and not practice restraint is kind of the way of the world today.

K. This is horrible horrible things in us that should result in the cutting off of the source. And family we cannot lie to ourselves… it is because of our cultural context that we have fallen into the acceptance of this behavior. We struggle with putting these things to death because we still do not want to be dead to the world. And the world continues to entice us with sex and sensuality. And we keep falling for it… it is so bad that we feel that we cannot overcome it. We cannot defeat it. It is everywhere. It will not go away. So we in the church have come to the place where we will no longer fight it and just try to accept it. Twist scripture to make it not condemn sexual sin. Just look away from scripture. Just ignore it. We can’t beat it so we resign ourselves to join it.

L. Dr Hugues writes,

Personally I can think of no other array of sins more prominent in our society—and more in need of being put away. Daily living subjects the average American to a sea of sensuality. It is conceivable that on a given evening of TV watching, one may see more sensual sights than one’s grandparents did in their lifetimes. The magazine ads for certain brands of blue jeans defy adequate description in polite company, and the Fellini-inspired TV ads for perfume promote a mystical eroticism. The January 1984 issue of Psychology Today, a magazine not known for promoting Biblical concern, stated that a pervasive cultural desensitization has taken place through films which feature sexual violence, and suggested that such films be packaged with warning labels (as are cigarettes)!

M. And remember how I have been talking about our cultures incessant problem of self-deception. And especially when it comes to sex and sexuality. Christians will recommend to me tv shows that are loaded with sex scenes and sick sensuality and when I ask them about it, they say they don’t remember it or act like they don’t really care. No apologies. No embarrassment. Either we have become so desensitized to sex and sensuality or we just don’t see it as a problem. No big deal. No worries. What’s the point of living life, if I can’t really live it. To deny our impulses is to deny what it is that makes us human. Why ask why… do what you want. You deserve it.

N. None of these things that Christians quote to me come from the Bible. But let me tell you what is...

Proverbs 6:27 NLT

Can a man scoop a flame into his lap and not have his clothes catch on fire?

We are heaping coals into our laps daily. And we are being burned whether we know it or not. We are playing with fire. We think that we are ok to do this. We think that there will not be consequences to our actions in sexual immorality and sensuality? Do not be deceived…

II. The Anger of God is Coming

- The Lord is coming to judge.

A. Because of these things… the wrath of God is coming. I told you this was serious… We are being warned here.

B. This is not a novel thing in the scriptures.

Romans 2:5 NLT

But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Ephesians 5:6 NLT

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.

Psalm 7:11 NLT

God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day.

Luke 12:5 NLT

But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.

Hebrews 10:26–31 NLT

Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For we know the one who said, “I will take revenge. I will pay them back.” He also said, “The Lord will judge his own people.” It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

C. This is a problem. A huge problem that our society seems to be ignoring. Even popular Bible teachers are even teaching people that this judgement is just a myth and illusion. This is not the case. God declared that judgement was coming for the Israelites. He said it. And many did not believe it. Many false teachers and false prophet said like their saying today … there is not judgement coming. The temple of the Lord. Peace peace where there was not peace. And lo and behold...

D. Judgement came and it was huge and devastating. It is the same for us today. Judgement is coming and our Lord and King is coming with fire in his eyes...

Revelation 19:11–16 NLT

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

E. Oh but Shane can we be saved from this coming judgement? We sure can. Our savior, our hero will save us

Romans 5:9 NLT

And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

F. Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures and he was buried and he was raised on the 3rd day according to the scriptures. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. He became sin who knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. By His wounds we are healed.

G. And the promises continue… all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your hearts that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.

H. And we have the power in Christ to overcome the lusts of the flesh, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are dead to sin and we are alive to Christ. It is the desire for Christ that will give us victory over sin. We will be free when we love Christ more than the World. When we love Christ more than anything.