We continue a consecutive reading through the Epistle to the Romans, and we are entering into some of the most difficult chapters. I would say this without spending time opening and expositing this passage, Romans 9, 1 through 18, that you are to keep in mind that this is what we would refer to as a redemptive historical description and argument on the Apostle Paul, a redemptive historical description in regards to Israel and the Gentiles in God's overall plan for salvation. Don't jump to conclusions just in the passage I'm about to read. You have to read the entire argument, chapters 9, 10, and 11. And keeping in mind that this is a historical unfolding, a redemptive historical description of God's plan for salvation for both the Jews and the Gentiles. So this is God's Word. Give your careful attention to its reading. Romans 9, 1 through 18. I am telling the truth in Christ. I am not lying. My conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the temple service, and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is overall God-blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed, for they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel, Nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants. But through Isaac, your descendants will be named. That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. For this is the word of promise. At this time, I will come and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this, but there was Rebecca also when she had conceived twins by one man, our father, Isaac. For though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to his choice would stand, not because of works, but because of him who calls, it was said to her, the older will serve the younger, just as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be. For he who says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then, it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, for this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth. So then, he has mercy on whom he desires. And he hardens whom he desires." Now, turn with me to the Epistle to the Philippians, chapter 2. In order to keep our finger on the context, I'll read from verse 5. Our passage this morning, and the message this morning will be really a mere introduction to this passage, verses 12 and 13. But I wanted to pick up the entire context, because that connection of the hymn of Christ, his humiliation and exaltation, very much is connected with this passage. We won't think that that through this morning so much, Lord willing, next week. But the context is important. So Philippians chapter 2, beginning at verse 5 through verse 13. Have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. This ends the reading of God's word. Let's pray together. Father, we ask now for understanding. We pray that we would know your way of salvation in Jesus Christ. Impress that upon us. Assure us. Address us. Speak to us. Uphold us. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen. Throughout the Bible, there are passages that we can refer to as definitive, definitive passages. You could think of Psalm 23. Who doesn't know Psalm 23? The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Who can't, to some extent, quote John 3.16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. These are definitive passages that are so part of the warp and woof of our civilization, whether you're churched or unchurched, You tend to know these particular texts within scripture. And Philippians 2, in fact, that hymn to Christ, the Lord Jesus, who although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself. This passage is rather, we can say, iconic, definitive. It's a go-to passage all the time when people want to talk about the humiliation and the exaltation of Jesus Christ. Well, the text that we are focusing on, that is verses 12 and 13, is also a definitive text. If you read anything about Christian obedience, the Christian life, this text ordinarily comes up somewhere or other in the literature. And people know it. Often, Christians will quote this, somewhat out of context, but they quote it. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it's God at work in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure." It's really a call to obedience, the obedience of the church, of the Christian, obedience that characterize citizens of heaven. And we will take a look at this verse for the next couple of weeks. What I want to do, and I'll describe it this way, is sort of back into it theologically. That is, give the back story, the theological back story of this passage. What underlies it? What did the Philippians understand when they heard this letter? What were they schooled and instructed in that they could understand this text and that emphasis on obedience, the obedience of the Christian? There's a whole lot that underlies this text in regards to Paul's confidence that the Philippians understood this. And so what I would like to do this morning, just as introduction, is unfold what is assumed and somewhat implied under this text to talk about Christian obedience and how it is that we consider Christian obedience. There are pitfalls. There are the two extremes. Many of you, I'm sure, have often heard of legalism, and legalism in which it's placed upon the awareness, the consciousness of individuals that they have to do something to please and appease God. And so they have to live a particular life. And I had a neighbor who considered life like this. If he did more good works than evil works, Well, he would stand justified before God. If he only did more good works, if his good, righteous deeds outweighed the bad things, the sin, the evil things that he did, if God, who is keeping score, could accurately keep score and he could perform enough, he would stand justified before God. That's how he believed. Of course, there's no assurance there. And I'm going to tell you right now, It's futile. We can't do more good. We can't outweigh our evil. And it can be rather subtle. Salvation by grace. God loves you and forgives you freely in Jesus Christ. But now to live the life of a Christian, there are all kinds of commandments, and codes, and regulations, and things you must do in order to walk with your Lord. And you often hear this in evangelical pulpits, on television, various presentations. There always seems to be the exhortation that you need to do this, you need to do that, you need to do this, you need to do that. And even in texts, which we heard this week, some of us, where the text was a psalm rich in the promises of God's protection The presenter kept saying, well, these are the things you need to do. These are the things you need to do. I believe it was Joel Osteen and his wife that either was here or is coming to Columbus, the nationwide arena. It's rather subtle. It's like, yes, receive Jesus and be forgiven. And now do these 10 things to have the best life ever. Do these 10 things, and you'll be happy. Do these 10 things, and you'll be successful. Do these 10 things and you'll have a good marriage. You'll raise wonderful kids. That's a very, very subtle legalism. Is it up to us as even as freely forgiven Christians, is it up to us now to work our salvation, to work our fellowship, to work hard and strive in order to please God? Well, our text addresses that. But there is the other extreme, isn't there? That other extreme we can call cheap grace. That other extreme, we could use theological language. We refer to it as antinomianism, nomos, law, anti, no law, against law. And so cheap grace teaches, well, God loves you. He forgives you. And let go and let God. Don't have to worry. Any commandment, any exhortation, any stress on the imperative is but legalism. As believers, you don't have to worry about that. God loves you. He's at work within you. And all you need to do is just rest in Him. He'll take care of the rest. No commandments, no emphasis on obedience, no call to repentance. And that's the other extreme, which is as much of a snare as legalism. Our text really provides the third way. And the third way is this, just briefly, that in Jesus Christ, God renews you. He grants his Holy Spirit. He changes you, like we read in Jeremiah 31 about that promise. You are Israel. You are Judah. In Jesus Christ, you are God's people. He renews His covenant in your heart. In fact, He writes His law upon your heart. The meaning is He is powerfully by His Spirit, so shaping you from inside out, transforming you, doing a work, empowering you, that when you hear His commands, you delight in them more and more, and you have the ability to follow them, to follow His commands. It's on the basis of his grace and his love to so transform you that you become a new creation, a new creature, that you are being conformed into the image of Christ, that your affections, your desires, your will, your mind, your understanding all begins to change and you become a godly people, which means faithfully following the Lord, listening to his word, endeavoring to be faithful, obedient to what he says with all security as his children. knowing that nothing will sever you from His love, but even in that security, that assurance, you desire then to please Him, to please Him, to honor, worship, obey your God. And so this is the text. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. How? Why? For it's God who is at work within you, giving you the willingness and giving you the power by which you might do the very things he calls you to do." And so this is the proposition for this morning and for next week. I'm not going to exposit the text, per se, this morning. I will next week. It's a rich text. We need to see it in its context. I will do that next week, this week, this morning, right now. Just an introduction, again, a theological back story, as it were. What's assumed here? The proposition, the point that is being made is this. that you are citizens of heaven and as citizens of heaven you are called to live a life of obedience. As citizens of heaven you are called to live a life of obedience. Now we have to unpack that. And so I want to introduce this important topic of Christian obedience using two points. Two points. And the first one is this. You are united to Jesus Christ. You are united. Language that you hear all the time. We're going to think that through a little bit more this morning. You are united to Jesus Christ, first point. Second point, you have communion with Jesus Christ. Again, language you hear all the time. This is not new, but we need to think it through together in the light of the scripture. And this very important text, when it comes to Christian obedience, you are united to Jesus Christ. You have communion with Jesus Christ. So let's consider that union. United to Christ, this is a summarization of biblical teaching. There is a mystical, spiritual relationship that you have with your Savior, Jesus, who The incarnate Son of God came, lived, died, buried, risen again, ascended to God's right hand, the Father's right hand, sends His Holy Spirit. And that living Savior, we have what we can call a mystical, spiritual relationship with, a union, solidarity. He is alive. He's at the Father's right hand. He gives us His Spirit. And by that spirit, there is this uniting, this solidarity, this union that we have. We refer to it as mystical, as spiritual, yet it is inseparable and real. Because we say mystical and spiritual, it doesn't make it so vague and fuzzy. It is a real union, a real solidarity, a real connection. It just has to do with issues of the heart, the mind, of faith. Jesus in heaven, we on earth. His Holy Spirit makes that bridge, makes that connection, that cord that unites us to our Savior. You see it in Philippians. You see it all over the place. But often, Paul uses a very small preposition, the word in, in Christ. You see it in all the epistles. You see it throughout the New Testament, being in Christ. And so he says, from verse 1 in Philippians, to all the saints in Christ Jesus. And what he's talking about is your union with him, your solidarity, your connection with the Savior. The saints in Christ Jesus, those are the saints in Philippi, the Christians in Philippi. That's you. Saints in Christ Jesus. And then he goes on. They not only have a union with heaven in Jesus Christ, they are also citizens of Philippi, a Roman colony, which they take very, very seriously. Saints in Jesus Christ and in Philippi. Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you. And it's a wonderful connection. As surely as we are united to heaven, as surely as we are united to Jesus, We have that testimony and that witness, that assurance, as we are citizens of Columbus, of the United States, or wherever we happen to be. As surely as we are citizens here, we are united to our Savior. Saints in Jesus Christ and who are in Philippi. Saints who are in Jesus Christ and who are in Columbus. The scripture uses many wonderful, wonderful images to describe this union we have with Jesus. We're referred to as the bride, Jesus as the bridegroom, close, intimate communion. We are the living stones being built upon the chief cornerstone, making a glorious temple for the habitation of God. But as living stones being built, connected to the chief cornerstone, again, that connectivity, that solidarity, that relationship, that union. We are branches to the vine. He is the vine. Jesus said to his disciples, apart from me, you can do nothing. Only in union with me can you bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing. Branches in the vine. Connected to the vine, we bear fruit. We are the body. He's the head. Some refer to this as head as representative to his body, his assembly upon Earth. However you want to understand that, whether quite literally or figuratively as representative and assembly, he, head, we, the assembled body, however you want to understand that image, it's an image, again, of connectivity, solidarity, union with our Savior, Jesus Christ. And so we are united to Him by His Spirit. That Spirit that so changes our hearts, our minds, and our will. So much so that by faith we receive and rest in Jesus Christ as our Savior. And this is all a work of grace, God's grace. An effectual call. When the Gospel is proclaimed, at some point we hear struck by our sin, hear the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ, that we are forgiven in Him, we look to Him, we call upon Him, we receive Him, accept Him, we rest in Him alone. That act of faith is an expression and manifestation of a vital mystical, spiritual, inseparable union, connection, solidarity with the risen Savior Jesus Christ. And if you have received the Lord Jesus, you rest in Him, you have that union. It may not be felt. It's not necessarily experiential, although there is an experiential component to it. But by the very promise of God and what is at work within you by that faith, resting, looking, accepting, receiving Christ, you belong to him, he belongs to you. And that belonging together is intimate, connected, like bride to bridegroom, like stone to cornerstone, like branch to vine, like body to head. Second, consequently, since we have union with our Savior Jesus Christ, there's also communion. And we can refer to this emphasizing God's free grace. There is a communion of grace. Jesus is given to us as we are given to him. We are united to him. He is united to us. And so we enjoy special benefits by virtue of that union that we have. There is a communion. by God's free grace, not generated by us, not necessarily chosen by us, not worked out by us, freely given benefits, gifts, graces. I have to say that it's just not qualities and things and gifts that Christ throws at you. It's Jesus himself who is given to you, and in that union, There is a fellowship, a communion of grace in which what is true of Him is true of you. What He knows and enjoys is given to you. The virtues and graces, the strengths, the characteristics that He has as your Savior, because you are so united and He has given to you, they are yours. So when we speak of righteousness, when we speak of holiness, that's given to you because Jesus is yours. They're not as though they were separate qualities or something thrown at you. That's how close you are to your Savior. And so benefits. We are united. We abide and we partake of Christ. and His gifts and graces, all that is found in Him is ours because of that union and now communion. And so there's all kinds of things I could list, the benefits, the gifts, all sorts of things I can list. There will be two, and they're weighted theologically. Language I'm going to use, some of you are familiar with, not all of you, but important language. Large terms, big terms, freighted with a lot of theological truth, biblical truth. So what are the benefits? United to Christ, now communion. And in that communion of grace, Jesus is yours. And what is in him is yours. And that begins with a righteousness. As a benefit, you are justified. justified before a holy and righteous God. We talk of justification. I know it's a big term. It's important to get your mind wrapped around it to some extent. You are justified as a sinner before a holy and righteous God. Justified. Since Jesus died, lived, died, raised again, ascended to the Father's right hand, now you are united to him. The Father pardons all of your sin for His sake. Fully and freely forgiven are you in Jesus Christ. His righteousness is yours, not as though righteousness is some abstract quality then thrown at you. But since Jesus is yours, you're united to Him, that righteousness which characterizes Him, that perfect righteousness is yours. You stand before a holy and righteous God with the perfection and the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That's why a minister from the pulpit, reading from the texts every Lord's Day, assuring you of pardon in Jesus Christ, can say this to you who are trusting in Jesus, that your sins are fully and freely forgiven. All of your sins. All of your guilt. Fully and freely forgiven. present, future. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardons all of your sins by virtue of the righteousness and satisfaction of Jesus Christ. Now, we say that righteousness is imputed God declares you as righteous. It's a legal act. He declares you as righteous. And it's as though the righteousness of Christ is accredited to your account, given to you not in your experience, but is yours by virtue of your union with Jesus. The Father beholds you in His Son, clothed in His righteousness, freely and fully forgiven by His declaration. It's an act of God's free grace in which He declares you as innocent, forgiven, pardoned. He declares that about you. Not because of anything you have done. We think of those texts, for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not a result of works, lest anyone should boast. Even in Philippians here, Philippians 3, 9, Paul says that I might be found in Jesus. I might be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law, but a righteousness which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. And so that's a benefit. Your communion with Jesus is a communion of grace in which his righteousness is yours. Not in your experience, but in your position. Legally declared innocent. Not by anything you have done, nothing you have done. You are passive in that. All what Jesus has done and who Jesus is. God beholds you as righteous with the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Fully absolved. Fully forgiven. Fully justified. Freedom of conscience. Freedom of the burden of the law. Freedom from that sense of doom, condemnation. God's punishment, all gone. It's like the prodigal son. The prodigal son who takes the inheritance, goes off, lives a debauched life, comes back, the father sees him, the father runs to him, embraces him in love, there is full forgiveness. The father has so embraced you. It's by His grace He has drawn you and pulled you to Himself in order to embrace you, to love you, and even whisper in your ear, my son, my daughter, you are fully forgiven. Fully forgiven. So that's the one benefit of communion with Jesus. There is another benefit. There's all kinds of benefits, but there's a second, and it draws us to the text. That other benefit, if we refer to justification, God's act of free grace declaring you righteous, pardoning all your sin. Justification. There is then sanctification. And sanctification is a work of God's free grace. Not an act of God's free grace, but a work of God's free grace in which he renews you, changes you, transforms you, Over time, no one achieving perfection in this life, some more mature than others, some having a greater bump of holiness and piety than others, but God doing a work by His free grace in your lives and hearts transforming you. Now, that's your experience. The idea is, He is slowly at work within you to make you what you are, to make you what He has declared you to be. He is so working in you as to bring you into conformity to the very declaration that He made when He said, you are forgiven and you are righteous. Sanctification, in which He gives power and grace, strength, in order that you might hear His voice, and obey. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it's God who is at work within you, both to will and to do His good pleasure. There's often a confusion between, and I know this is introductory, somewhat a theological primer, important for you to understand. There are times where justification and sanctification can get very much confused. I'm going to say they can't be separated. How can they? They are benefits that are yours because of your union in Jesus Christ. They're in him, and you are in him, and so they are granted to you full and free forgiveness. And then that work in which you are slowly being changed and transformed, they can't be separated. But they are distinct. Just to give you an image, and all images fall apart, I know. Justification is you approaching the courthouse. You're approaching the courthouse. And you stand before the judge, and the judge absolves you. You are innocent, declares you innocent, declares you righteous, declares you innocent. Justification is the courthouse. And what is sanctification? You leave the courthouse. You may go to the hospital. Because of the foolish things you've done, it's made you sick and hurt, and you go. And slowly, slowly, you recuperate. The sanctification is like the rehab center. You go, and you're rehabilitated. Perhaps there are all kinds of addictions and whatever else. And you need that help to get out of those addictions. And so hospital heals. Slowly, slowly, you go to rehab. And so you climb out of this pit, this pit of addiction. And slowly, slowly, you are healthy. Justification is the courthouse. Sanctification, hospital, rehab. Perhaps a nutrition center in which what is laid out for you is a diet that is only going to strengthen you of good nutrition. Perhaps sanctification you could think about as the workout center. You go and you work out, and there's a trainer, and you are strengthened physically. Those are the images, and I know they fall apart. We're talking about spiritual things. But to have that distinction, justification declared by the judge, innocent, free, pardoned, received, sanctification, a slow work of healing, of restoration, of change, of being strengthened, that's sanctification. Consider these contrasts. Please consider these contrasts. I know this is maybe a little tedious theologically, but it's important for you to understand when we talk about Christian obedience, it's not legalism. It's not cheap grace. It's a changed life, knowing full assurance nothing will sever you from God's love, that you are pardoned of all of your sin, and in that security, and by the very power of the Spirit working in you, you more and more follow the commands of God. as his children, with all security. Did I say that? So justification, a legal act. Sanctification, an ethical work that transforms you. Justification, God forgives your guilt. Sanctification, God cleanses you from the stain of guilt. Justification is immediate and final. God makes that declaration and in a moment you are fully forgiven, fully absolved, fully forgiven of all your sin in a moment. Sanctification is a process rather slow throughout all of your lives. Justification, God views you in your position in Christ. Your position is fully absolved, fully all righteous with the righteousness of Jesus. In sanctification, God is at work in you, and that work is experiential. Justification. God imputes righteousness. That is, he accredits to your account. He makes that declaration, pardons you, and Jesus' righteousness is imputed, credited to your account. It's as though it is a tremendous wealth that is yours in your name, but you can't fully spend it all. Sanctification is God infusing his grace. Justification, imputing righteousness. Sanctification, infusing grace into you to empower you, to transform you, that you might be faithful. Justification is equal in all. If you trust in Jesus, we all stand before God clothed in his righteousness. It's as though he beholds his son Jesus in us, all of us equally righteous. Sanctification, it's not equal at all. There are some that are more mature than others. And we say this, no one achieves perfection in this life. No one achieves perfection in this life. Justification is an act of God's grace, pardoning your sin, declaring you righteous. Sanctification is a work of grace, calling you to be what you are. Follow that? Sanctification is calling you to be what you are in your justification. You follow that? And this is all a work of God's grace. So then, my beloved, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it's God who's at work within you, both to will and to do His good pleasure. This text has to do with Christian obedience, sanctification, that work of transformation that God is doing. Now, son, daughter rebels. old enough to know some things, has some freedom, a wherewithal to escape, but not enough experience to know really right from wrong and what that son or daughter has within that household. And so they leave. There's a fuss, there's anger, storming out the door, little bag packed, now free. Over the years, can't really find a job, ends up in some urban center, maybe downtown Columbus. Can't find a job, becoming dirtier, slovenly, perhaps addicted. Eventually can't find a home, lives under a bridge or that encampment along the Olentangy River or something. Until a day comes, until the day comes in which something happens. And this is very, very God-like. Bottoming out, dirty, addicted, lost, no home. And God awakens the son or the daughter by His grace. And so it just comes out of the blue. Why that particular day? Why that moment? Why these set of circumstances? We don't know. God does. And the son or daughter is awakened. Comes back home. Knocks on the door. Mom and dad receive. Tears of joy. Full and free forgiveness. Justification. But the kid is dirty. perhaps an adult, showers, rags, clothes, shower, a good meal. Clothes, shower, good meal. Cleanse, the stain cleansed. And what begins to happen is that work, that work in which the child, the son, the daughter, now clothed, washed, fed, now must learn how to relate. Back in the household, back with mom and dad, has to learn, has to learn how to talk respectfully, how to get along within the household, how to follow the rules of the household, How to demonstrate love and empathy. How to help out with things. And that's a slow process. It's a lifelong process. That's sanctification. You were lost. You were that son, you were that daughter. Addicted living under a bridge somewhere. And God calls you by His grace. And He receives you. runs, embraces, forgives, fully forgives, fully, unconditionally forgives you. What grace is that? Who is it in this life that unconditionally, who knows your sin to its depth and fully absolves you, fully forgives you? Where do you have that? But in Christ. But there's more. You're then into the household. You're into the household. You abide. You inhabit. You're loved. washed, dressed, nourished by the good food. But you're into the household, and you're living in the household, and you've got to get along as a member of the household. It's not easy, you make mistakes, you stumble, but you learn, you change, you continue to fit in to the environment, to the life, to the flow of that household. Well, that's you in sanctification. You're in God's household. And you can't just blow that off. You just can't take the food and all the benefits and think, well, this is all mine. You take it for granted. And you flip off any obligation, any commitment, any faithfulness, learning how to talk, learning how to respond, learning how to serve. No. What God desires for you is for you to dwell in his household, but to dwell, to inhabit as his children. Fully and freely forgiven are you. But now you're learning the rules of the household, the benefits, food, clothing, wash. But then you've got to learn to get along the relationships. And that's a lifetime, a lifetime commitment. One more. Not so abstract. Johnny Manziel. What did they refer to him in Texas? Was it Mr. Football or something? Johnny Manziel? Do I have that? Yeah. And was it Johnny Football? Good. Of course, our own Cleveland Browns took him. I guess it was high in the draft. And so it's as though he were invited into the household. You could call the Cleveland Browns organization a household. He was invited into the household. And of course, reputation as a party animal, and he was, and blew it. He just didn't behave. He didn't go along with the rules of the household. Brown's organization do. They had him go, what, 70 some odd days, 78 days in rehab in Western PA. In rehab. Forgiving and working with the young man. Working with the young man. They bring him back and they bring him back. How many seasons? And what does he do? He blows off those advantages. He continues to break the rules. So much so that he's now out of the organization. But not only is he out of the organization, his agent will no longer represent him. And the agent gave this huge public statement about how he loves Johnny Menzel, he's still a friend, but he's not going to represent this young man. Johnny Menzel's father is all concern for this young guy. He doesn't think, what is he, 24 now? He feels that he won't live to his 24th birthday or something like that. See, the point is this, that the man, and I'm using just kind of a simple, simple illustration of a professional football player, but it does fit, brought into the house, given many benefits and opportunities. And what does he do? He flips them off. There's all kinds of help to rehabilitate and to fit in, to fit in, to live in the household, forgiven, living in the household. And what does he do? He flips it off. He continues to break the rules. Utter disregard and disrespect for those around him. Teammates, organization, agent, everybody. And now all of those ties are being severed. He's out of the household. Estranged from father. Agent will no longer represent him to look for other opportunities. The man is lost. Wandering around in Texas and now indicted because of domestic abuse. All of that is a picture. The Apostle John says, those that were of us went out from us because they were not really of us. And in the household of God, this issue of obedience is really important. You have all security. You are pardoned by the grace of God. declared righteous, and now the Holy Spirit at work within you. And those who know that are going to fit within the house. They're going to learn to live. They're going to learn to walk. They're going to learn to talk. They're going to learn how to relate to their God, to one another, to His people, to His children. They're going to fit into the household. They're going to work to do that by His grace and power. And there will be those who take it for granted and flip it off. And my friends, you're warned that's a very, very dangerous condition to be put in. For once you trample the blood of the Son of God, there's very, very little room, very little margin for repentance. Why does the Apostle Paul say, work out your salvation with fear and trembling? It's an awesome thing that's going on in your lives. You are exposed to the end of the ages. You are exposed to the living and true God, who is awesome and majestic. The writer to the Hebrews says, He is a consuming fire. John in Revelation 1 has this revelation of the resurrected Christ and all of His glory coming in judgment. It's that resurrected Christ and His majesty and glory coming in judgment that addresses the churches first. And Christ is addressing you this morning. And He calls you. He calls you to follow Him, to obey His voice. He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. And so come, repent, come, change, come, know the power of God, follow Him, listen to His word, delight in His commands. Sweeter than honey, more valuable than gold. Come, because it's His voice. It's His will for you to live within His household, under His security, with all of the benefits in Christ, citizens of heaven. But don't flip it off, because there will come a time where you will be severed. And that's a dangerous, dangerous position to be put in, with all that you know, to be severed. little chance of coming back. May God bless you in your obedience and your desire to follow him. Let's pray together. Father, we ask now that you would be with us all. We pray that we would be humbled, we would hear your voice, that we would seek after you. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.