Root of Purity
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
“C = Degree” in seminary. Bare minimum.
Imagine finding out your medical doctor had the same attitude.
Working to be best version of yourself to help others.
The role of placing your root in purity.
Righteousness helps to fulfill the Golden Rule.
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
SOM theme:
Purity requires consistency between the inner person and outer actions.
Leads us to one of the most quoted and misunderstood verses - 7:1.
The principle found in v. 1.
Clarification
Clarification
How we use “judge”:
Two uses of “Judge”
Proclaim Punishment
Proclaim Guilt
Proclaim Guilt or Proclaim Punishment??
This verse tells us that judgment can be measured.
One we can and should do.
One we cannot and should not do.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
“Christians can pronounce ‘that is good’ and ‘that is wrong’ but not ‘you are condemned by God.’”
Scot McKnight
Illustration
Illustration
This is meant to be a humorous image!
[Plankeye Image]
Not only incapable, but harmful!
Speck = sawdust. Carpenter’s shop.
Cutting firewood. Requires delicate touch.
Then, lumbering in… Dangerous!
One who is functionally ignoring their own obvious sin.
We have a call to help others.
Effectiveness requires awareness.
Humility to admit your own sins.
First Application
First Application
Hypocrite! Actor!
Acting like no large sin.
Helps us to avoid misunderstanding this verse.
Doesn’t say to get the speck out of your eye first.
Moral perfection isn’t required to help others.
Or else, no one would be able to help anyone else!
Instead: first, don’t act like you have no sin; second, be working toward righteousness.
Awareness produces compassion.
But for some, wrath…
“Wrath toward the speck in someone else’s life may come from the suppressed guilt over the massive sin in our own lives.”
Kent Hughes
The necessity of placing our root in forgiveness and purity.
Second Application
Second Application
An odd verse.
Not everyone is going to accept correction.
Some will turn and attack.
Dogs & Pigs are the unclean.
Expecting the lost to act like the saved.
And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
Sanctification is best in community.
Root in fellowship.
Church membership has an expectation of vulnerability and permission.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Not a fan of hospitals or doctor visits. Stress.
And then the instructions.
But imagine sitting in your doctor’s office and they are telling you all the normal things.
And as you look around, trash. And they look like it.
And you think, who are they to lecture you??
The church is better compared to a hospital.
You go there when you are sick to get well.
All of us are in a process of getting better.
Sanctification is becoming more and more like Jesus Christ in attitude and action.
We are called to assist one another in that process.
To be effective in that, we must be experiencing transformation ourselves.
Humility to admit our own sin.
Humility to allow others to speak truth to us and hold us accountable.
Humility to love others enough to lead them to growth.
