The Priority of Purity: Mark 9:42-50

Introduction

J.C. Ryle writes, “It is not possible to say too much about Christ. But it is quite possible to say too little about hell.” As you likely noticed, the text we just read comes in at a high temperature and is very serious in its content.

We observed Jesus’ prediction of the passion, which led to the conversations we have considered the last two weeks and again this morning. In this discussion, we encountered the problem of pride and explored the privilege of partnership. Jesus has already taught that humility and hospitality should be the priorities of His people. He now wraps up His teaching in Galilee by expounding another priority of Christian discipleship. That priority is holiness or purity. Thus, the big idea of this sermon is prioritize purity. Prioritize purity. Jesus provides four ways by which we make purity a priority in our lives. We will consider each one as they show up in the text.

Exposition/Doctrine

1. Prioritize purity by protecting others: 42

Read verse 42: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” Perhaps you recall that when Jesus addressed the question of who was the greatest, He used a small child as an illustration. Here He shows that He was not only talking about literal children, but all who believe in Him. Even those believers the world counts as insignificant, unproductive, and unattractive are of great value to the Lord Jesus. What the world counts as dandelions Jesus counts as roses, precious and beautiful. To tempt or cause one of them to sin will garner great consequence.

Such consequence is worse than being forcibly drowned. The kind of millstone Jesus mentions would have been roughly 3.5 to 4 feet long and dragged by a donkey to crush grain. A slow death of lungs filling with water and eyes going dim would be better than what comes to those that lead Jesus’ people to sin.

Parent, teach your children God’s law and God’s gospel. Discipline them that they might honor the Lord. Teach them that they might know Him and the salvation He has accomplished in His Son. Make a priority out of obeying the Lord yourself. What sins you tolerate they will celebrate. If you neglect church attendance, they will not go at all. Kevin DeYoung writes, “The man who attempts Christianity without the church shoots himself in the foot, shoots his children in the leg, and shoots his grandchildren in the heart.”

Pastor, Sunday School Teacher, Team Kid instructor, and Youth Director, remember you will be judged more harshly. That should make you quake in the knees. Watch your life and doctrine. Dare not to cause one of Jesus’ people stumble.

Prioritize purity by protecting others.

2. Prioritize purity by purifying yourself: 43-48

Look at the first part of verse 43: “And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.”

Look at the first part of verse 45: “And if your foot cause you to sin, cut it off.”

Look at the first part of verse 47: “And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out.”

A hand, foot, and eye are all valuable aren’t they? Nevertheless, Jesus says if they lead you to sin, they are to be removed. No matter how valuable something is in this life if it leads you to sin, rid yourself of it. It is better to lose it, than to go to an eternal hell.

Consider the second part of verse 43: “It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.”

Consider the second part of verse 45: “It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.”

Consider the second part of verse 47 and all of verse 48: “It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”

The wages of sin is everlasting death. It is consciously suffering just punishment for sins. In the time of Jesus, the term translated “hell” spoke of a dump south of Jerusalem. During the reigns of Ahaz and Manasseh, it was the place Israel roasted their children to death as sacrifices to Moloch (2 Kings 16:3; 21:6).

The hell described by Jesus is nothing less than the destination of the wicked after the final judgement. It is the lake of fire that has smoke that goes up forever and ever. It has fire unquenchable. In other words, it is the eternal destination of those who die in their sins apart from Christ.

The true disciple of Christ doesn’t coddle, tolerate, or ignore sin. Dillydallying with sin results in death. Halfway dealing with sin leads to havoc. Instead, by the power of the Spirit the true disciple radically, diligently, and violently fights and kills sin in Himself. Are you a true disciple?

Hell is not the only destination. The text speaks of entering life. This life is life eternal; what is commonly called heaven or the New Earth. This life is for those who have been converted into true disciples of Christ. It is for those who by the Spirit kill the sin that would kill them. Will you enter this life?

It is true, as some say, that grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone saves. However, it is also true that grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone never results in faith alone. Put differently, the same grace that works faith in you will also work holiness in you! Have you experienced such grace?

To pick sin or lead others to sin results in a punishment worse than drowning. It results in punishment likened to being burned eternally or devoured alive by maggots. Hell is a place that no one should want to go to. Do you want to go there? What shall you do considering all this talk of Hell?

Christian, talk of hell must not be avoided. The good news only sounds good to those who are aware of the bad news. The grace and kindness of the Lord is best seen in the light of His justice. Speak of Christ much, but do not neglect from proclaim what Jesus saves people from.

Unbeliever, hell is real and terrible. You will go there and never escape. When you die or when He returns, it will be too late. Every moment you live, the following moment could be your last. Death is an eminent reality that you will face and after it comes judgement. Take hold of Christ and His salvation now while it is being offered to you. Believe in Christ before it is too late. Allow the vileness of your sin, the threat and heat of God’s judgment, and the kindness of God’s Grace in Christ drive you to the Savior. Trust Christ today for tomorrow you may die. I set before you now eternal life in Christ or Hell, what will you choose?

Counterfeit Christian, who tolerates your own sin, you, also, will go to Hell. You are not wheat but chaff that is taken to the fire. You have not built the house of your hope on the solid foundation of Christ. You have built it on the sand of your works, feelings, and experiences. Religion of legalism and license both end in the same awful way, hell fire. Look to Christ now and be saved. Trust in His righteousness and sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Forsake false Christianity and take hold of the true Christ.

Prioritize purity by protecting others and purifying yourself.

3. Prioritize purity by personifying perseverance: 49

Follow along as I read verse 49: “For everyone will be salted with fire.” Jesus has just issued charges to protect others and purify yourself. Now He gives another reason why. Temptations, trials, and tribulations abound for the disciples of Christ. This was especially true of the twelve as the crucifixion approached. Fire purifies, and salt preserves and gives flavor. Through trial, true disciples will be preserved and purified. The purifying salty fire will not only separate good people from bad people, believers from unbelievers. It will also destroy what is bad and bring out what is good in the hearts and lives of believers.

As gold is refined and purified in fire, believers are refined and purified in the trials they endure. Thus, in God’s economy, no trial or suffering is meaningless for the believer in Christ.

Christian, persevere. Know that whatever trials you are going through are not meaningless. God has a purpose in them. He will work them together for good. You are like a piece of coal and God is making you into a diamond. Heat and pressure are required. Hold on to Christ, pray for strength, and press forward.

Prioritize purity by protecting others, purifying yourself, and personifying perseverance.

4. Prioritize purity by pursuing peace: 50

Read the first part of verse 50: “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again?” Jesus transitions from the sacrificial and purifying language of the preceding verse. We use salt much less as a preservative and more as a seasoning. We do this because we like its taste. It makes bland things we may not like tolerable or even good.

The salty fire of trials makes salty disciples that are good, useful, and compelling. The true disciple who has experienced the saving and transforming grace of God in the gospel will be of great use in God’s mission of advancing His kingdom.

The counterfeit Christian, who at first appears genuine, but proves false under trial or in time, will prove useless and unattractive. Those who have known the truth and resolve to reject it become hardend to it. This is why many of the loudest critics of Christianity are former “Christians.” Does this describe you?

Christian, be salty salt.

Salt that loses its taste will be discarded, the same is true for counterfeit disciples and all who harden themselves against the truth of the gospel.

Look at the second part of verse 50: “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Salt in this portion of the verse represents the good, or those qualities which are desirable. Unless one has the Christ-like qualities of “love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) they would be foolish to try and influence others. Jesus is telling them to be true disciples of Christ. Such disciples will be the salt of the world and compelling witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Are you such a disciple?

The second command to “be at peace with one another” flows out of obedience to the command to “Have salt in yourselves.” How can Jesus’ people be the salt of the world if they are constantly dividing, bickering, and devouring one another? How can the church expect to have a compelling witness in a culture growing more and more hostile to natural law, institutional religion, and absolute truth claims? It starts with inner transformation and flows into loving communion with one another. Are we united?

Perhaps we are, but let me pose four ways to solidify our unity going forward. Church:

We must unite around Christ and His Word, the infallible rule of doctrine and obedience.

We must subscribe to a confession of faith that accurately and exhaustively summarizes what the Bible teaches. I suggest the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (published in 1677 and affirmed in 1689). In it, we find an orthodox view of Scripture, God, man, sin, Christ, and salvation. We also find a summary of what the Bible teaches on the church, worship, marriage, the state, and last things. It in no way contradicts our current statement of faith, but is far more robust. I wager we will need to be more robust to endure the coming trials ahead of us.

We must regulate church government and worship by the Word of God. Everything we do as a church must be regulated by the Word of God. Our government and worship must find its foundation in the express commands and example of the New Testament. We exist and our main mission as the church is the Worship of the Triune God as He has prescribed in His Word. The commandments and preferences of men are to be surrendered to and supplanted by the Word of God. The Corporate Worship of the Church is to include and only include the the ministry of the Word, prayer, which includes singing of hymns, psalms and spiritual songs, the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s supper, testimonies of God’s grace, and the collection of offerings.

We must practice regenerate church membership and corrective church discipline. Regenerate church memberships means we only allow professing and baptized believers to join our church membership. Corrective church discipline is what we do when such professing and baptized believers publically contradict their profession through unrepentant sin. Such sins must be verifiable. To tolerate such public sin whether it be adultery or forsaking the assembly actually violates what Jesus says earlier in the text. It leads Jesus’ little ones to sin. Let us remove from membership those who refuse to repent of their public sin for Jesus’ sake, their sake, and our sake.

Such actions will be prioritizing purity in our local church. Let us do them.

Conclusion: Christ, the example and source of purity

Prioritize purity by protecting others, purifying yourself, personifying perseverance, and pursuing peace. This exhortation is the subject of our text and has been the subject of this sermon. I have made many specific applications of this exhortation throughout the sermon. Some of you may be cut to the heart, being aware of how you fail to prioritize purity. Maybe this is true of all of you. Perhaps you even fear that your destination is hell. Recall the quote I read at the beginning: Ryle writes, “It is not possible to say too much about Christ. But it is quite possible to say too little about hell.”

At this point, I have said much about hell. I would regret if I concluded having said little about Christ. Jesus is our example and source of purity. As the example of purity, He was perfect in every conceivable way. He never sinned. He never lead anyone into sin.

As the source of our purity, He was salted with the fire of His Cross, bringing peace between God and man. He rose from the grave, demonstrating that God accepted His sacrifice as payment for the sins of all who trust in Him. He has delivered them from sin, death, and judgement. He ascended to God’s right hand where He intercedes for and sends His Spirit to His people. The Holy Spirit is Holy or pure and He purifies all who He indwells. Jesus through the Holy Spirit produces, strengthens, and preserves the faith of His people by applying God’s Word to their minds and hearts. He will return, rescue His people from judgement, and lead them into eternal life.

Christian, you have been transferred from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. You have been transformed from sinner into saint. You were God’s enemy and now you are a part of God’s family. My charge to prioritize purity is simply a charge to be who you are in Christ from the motivation He has given you, by the strength He supplies you, and with the means He has provided for you. Trust in and obey Christ and you will surely reach life.

Unbeliever or counterfeit Christian, Jesus alone is the example and source of purity. Do not try to be pure by your own works and strength. Your best works apart from Christ are but filthy rags. Hell is the destination you deserve, but I offer you eternal life and the forgiveness of sin in Christ. Come to Christ and be made pure.

To all, prioritize purity. May God help you do just that. Let’s pray.