We come now to the exposition of God's holy word and congregation. Let's take our Bibles out together and we want to turn in the word of God back to Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 5. Continuing our exposition, considering the various duties of the various members within the household. Of course, the Apostle Paul addresses each in their order, speaking to wives, speaking to husbands, speaking to parents and children, and then speaking to masters and to slaves. We are looking specifically at verses 22 through 24. And here, of course, we are looking at those duties related to the wife. Paul writes in verse 22, Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church, and he is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Let's now join together before the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, we bow before you as we come before your word. We pray that you would grant the ministry of your Spirit that illuminating, guiding, comforting, correcting presence, whereby the Word of God is brought fresh to our hearts. And may he find our hearts receptive, eager, and ready with humility and with true devotion to receive the Word of God and to receive it so that we might be truly those who follow in its paths, who seek to obey its principles, and who desire in all things to obey your word, whereby you would receive glory, honor, and praise. Father, grant this, we pray, as we ask it all in Jesus' holy name. Amen. As we continue looking at the subject of the wife's duty found here in these verses, we have spent just a few weeks discussing the various duties related to the wife's submission. We have said that the wife's submission involves placing herself under the authority of her husband as to the Lord in everything. We said that it is the common understanding among Reformed Christianity, traditional historic Christianity, that this idea of submission is fleshed out with four types of duties that are incumbent upon the wife. We said, first of all, it is this responsibility of reverencing her husband. That's found in Ephesians 5 and verse 33, where it says that the wife is to see to it that she respects her husband. This is her duty to have this deep, heartfelt respect for him, acknowledging that he is the God-ordained head As God has said repeatedly in his word, showing this respectful conduct and communication, both in his presence and in his absence. Secondly, we said there is a responsibility of obeying. the husband, not only reverencing him, but obeying him. Titus 2 verse 5, 1 Peter 3 verse 6, those are some of the verses that explicitly command wives to do this obeying. This obeying involves the abstaining from doing what he forbids and by positively doing what he requires. And so that's the kind of the two sides of the same coin. It is to be extensive in everything, in all things that are lawful. And again, as we said, it is as to the Lord. Thirdly, we said that this is a responsibility, this submission of wives, that not only includes reverencing the husband, obeying the husband, but then the responsibility of assisting the husband. We looked in Genesis chapter 2 verse 18, the very purpose of the woman, was for the reason of being a helpmate to the husband, a helper comparable to him, helping and assisting. The wife's primary and her priority, ministry, mission, and calling in life is her husband. Now, obviously, her ultimate goal is the glory of God. That's the goal of every believer. to live for the glory of God and living for the glory of God for the wife is seeing in her husband the primary mission and ministry and calling she is responsible for. It isn't juggling several things poorly. It is focusing on what the priority God has given the wife to be, namely, to be a helper to her husband. Now, today we want to take up a fourth responsibility, and that is the responsibility of showing modesty in her apparel. Obviously, in a sense, both men and women, married or single, are to be following principles of modesty. But there is this idea of modesty as it relates to the wife that is a part of her understanding of showing honor due respect to her husband and honor to the Lord, which is why it is included in these passages dealing with the wife's responsibility. So what does the Bible say about the wife having this modesty of dress or apparel? Well, let's turn to a couple of passages. Turn with me first of all to 1 Timothy chapter 2. 1 Timothy chapter 2. Often we will find in the context of the duties of wives, this issue of modesty of apparel. And we find it here in this passage in 1 Timothy 2, and we'll just take up our reading in verse 8 and read down through verse 15. Paul writes and he says, verse 8, I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. In like manner also that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel. with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression. Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self-control. We already have looked at this passage as it relates to the idea of patriarchy in the church. And we've already noted there in verses 11 through 15 that women are not to have roles of leadership in the church. They're not to be teachers in the church. They are to be in a place of submission in the church. They are not to have authority over men. And we noted in verses 13 and 14, the reasons given are nothing cultural, nothing related to Paul's day or the first century, but they go back to creation, to the created order. That's where he bases his teaching. Because, verse 13, Adam was formed first, then Eve. And secondly, it was the woman, verse 14, who was deceived and fell into transgression. And so that is the universal abiding reasons for that patriarchy. So we see patriarchy in the home, in the church, and in society. But what we want to consider is looking up earlier in the text and specifically looking at verses 9 and 10 related to the apparel of women. Paul says in verse 9, if you would please look with me back in verse 9, he says, in like manner also that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing. but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works." So here Paul speaks about how women are to dress. That's the very idea of women adorning themselves with modest apparel. Let's just look at these words found in verse number nine. Now, obviously, the context here is corporate worship. Women are addressed in this text. But, of course, these principles are applicable in other contexts as well. Notice in verse number nine, he says, first of all, that women adorn themselves. The word there, adorn, is the word cosmeo. It is from where we get our English word cosmetic, cosmeo. It almost sounds like cosmetic. It is this idea of how they literally arrange, put in order, or to make one ready. That's the idea of adorning. Notice he says they are to adorn themselves in modest apparel. The word modest is the word kosmos. Think about the word kosmos speaking of the world. Here this idea of kosmos is that their dress is to be orderly, decorous, and decent. It is actually this word kosmos is an antonym of chaos. It is the opposite of that which is chaotic. It is to be orderly and decent. Look at the next word in verse nine. It's the word apparel. Katastole is the Greek word. This word encompasses not only the clothing itself, but the whole look of her apparel. You know, we use this kind of terminology. We might see someone there dressed in a certain outfit and we say, well, I know what look you're going for there. It's the idea of everything about the apparel in its totality. Look here again, verse number nine, she is to adorn herself with modest apparel, that is, with this idea of orderly, decent look, modesty in its orientation. And then notice there are two words he attaches. to give even fuller description of how she is to dress. For he says here that women are to adorn themselves in modest apparel with, and here's the two words, propriety and moderation. The word propriety is the word ados in the Greek, and it means modesty that is mixed with reverence and humility. This is why the King James translation, if you have a King James translation in front of you, uses the word shamefacedness. which is a rather interesting word, somewhat archaic, but it tends to try to communicate the idea of the word, the idea that there's to be this humility, this reverence that is attached, that which is appropriate with propriety, with a mixture of reverence and humility in her dress of modesty." Now, look at verse 9 again. The second word that is used, the word moderation, as it is translated in the New King James, is the word sofrasune. And it has the idea of dressing with soberness or with self-control. That's the meaning of the word. So here we have all of these words that are used and they are used to give more fuller understanding of guidelines and principles which should guide the women in their dress. Listen to what John Gill says here in this regard, and speaking specifically of those last two words, propriety and moderation. He says, and I quote, these are the two general rules by which dress is to be regulated. It is right and proper when it is consistent with chastity, when it is not immodest and imprudent, and more like the attire of a harlot than a woman professing godliness." In other words, it ought to be consistent with one's confession, not trying to look like a harlot. He continues, when it is moderate as well as modest, and suitable to one's age and station. I think that's very helpful. And sometimes our older ladies, not in our church, praise God, but some older ladies in our culture, it looks like they're trying to look like their look is like trying to be a teenager or something after the culture of our age. He says, it is to be suitable to a person's age and station and is not beyond the circumstances of life in which they are. There is no religion or irreligion in dress, provided pride and luxury are guarded against, and modesty and moderation are preserved. John Gill says that there is no religion or irreligion in dress. And I think that's a very helpful thing because there are some contexts of Christianity that can move from following legitimate principles about dress to become rather legalistic about how a woman dresses. And you see this in some church cultures and in some denominations. And I don't want to get into all the details there. I think you probably already know who I'm talking about in those contexts. And it can get very extreme, not necessarily biblical. And then these things are vaulted to be like the judge as to whether someone is a Christian or not. Well, did you see how short that skirt was? Or did you see how short her hair was? And that becomes like the test, not only of propriety and modesty, But it becomes the test of whether a person is regenerated and is actually even a believer. So I think John Gill is right when he says there is no religion or irreligion in dress. provided that pride, luxury are guarded against, and modesty and moderation are preserved. So this is the first text I want us to see here. Here in the context of a woman's submission, she is to submit to her husband. She is to submit, as it relates to the church, And specifically, she is to submit to the elders, the pastor, and, of course, in society at large, and the dress that she has conforms and comports to that idea of submission in all three contexts. Now, turn with me, please, in your Bibles over to 1 Peter chapter 3. 1 Peter chapter 3. And here again is another one of those classic passages as it relates to the apostolic instruction to women, to wives. And the context here is in the context of the relationship she has to her husband. And so reading again, 1 Peter 3, beginning with verse 1, Peter writes and he says, wives like wives, be submissive to your own husbands. that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives." That is, the husband may not be a believer. And yet her submission is a testimony. It will be a blessed pointer to Christ because she's been transformed by the power of the gospel. Verse two, he continues on this theme of the husband being one when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. And then notice in verse 3, the subject of her dress, her clothing is brought up. Do not, verse 3, let your adornment be merely outward, arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel. Rather, let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the uncorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him, Lord, whose daughters you are, if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. So in verse three, Peter speaks to the issue again of adornment, apparel. And what is interesting here is that Peter is assuming she will, as a godly woman, adorn herself with moderate dress. But he takes it a step farther, and he says it's not only the outward modesty that is important, but it is the inward modesty that is also just as important. That's what he says. Look again at verse 3. Do not let your adornment be merely outward. Certainly it is to be outward, but not merely outward. John MacArthur in his commentary says this, and I quote, Peter was not here condemning all outward adornment. His condemnation is for the incessant preoccupation with the outward, to the disregard of one's character. Every Christian woman is, especially to concentrate on developing that chaste and reverent Christ-like character." End of quote. Well, what does this look like? Well, we are told here, he says that they're not to be all wrapped up and all concerned as they're consuming concern with the arranging of hair, the wearing of gold, and putting on a fine apparel. Now, he is not saying here women shouldn't comb their hair and fix their hair. He's not saying here that they shouldn't ever wear gold, that it's sinful for you to wear gold or a ring or having fine apparel. That in itself is not sinful in its modest expression. But, verse 4, let it be the hidden person of the heart with the uncorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That's what pleases God. That's the mark of a godly woman. She has a quiet and gentle, or a gentle and quiet spirit. These things are very precious, verse 4, in the sight of God. Again, a quote from John MacArthur in his commentary, he writes, here is beauty that never decays. As the outward body does, Gentle is actually meek or humble. And quiet describes the character of her action and reaction to her husband and life in general. Such is precious, not only to her husband, but also to God. Notice in verse five, Here, Peter says, this is how godly women dressed in former days, and so let's follow their example. For in this matter, verse five, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves being submissive to their own husbands. So he says that the look here that you are to seek is inward, not outward. It is an issue of inner beauty, character, and modesty. And you are to consider as examples, not the modern feminized world in which we live, where there is all manner of immodesty and all manner of that which is cringeworthy, quite honestly. No, look back to godly women of past ages. See how they dressed. See how they, as godly examples, conducted themselves. It is this mark here that the godly woman and wife will have the past as a helpful guide as she lives to the glory of God in the present. So regarding modesty, let me just give you a couple of quotes. First of all, listen to Joel Beakey. And I've already given you the reference, his book that is kind of one of those go-bys we're using for this study. He says this about modesty. He says, quote, all outward adornment and show is useless. if the woman's heart is not right before God, and sinful if it displays a rebellious heart towards her husband's headship." You see, that's the issue. You say, well, how is modesty connected to the husband and submission to the husband? Well, that is exactly how, as Joel Beakey points out. It is connected to the husband because if she is not dressing with that outward adornment that is modest, with that propriety and moderation, then it is a display of a rebellious heart against her husband's headship. Joel Beakey continues, if she neglects to furnish her heart with grace and dresses to be seen by men, then she is neither a blessing to her husband nor faithful to her duty before God. This then is a wife's best, most precious, and therefore most coveted adornment, the adornment of her spirit with grace before God, resulting in the adornment of her life with good works before men, beginning with her husband." 1 Peter 3 and verse 5, the text that we just read. So the idea there is that this is the mark of godliness. And not living with this inner and outward modesty and propriety and moderation is a sign of rebellion to your husband, to God, and it is contrary at its very heart. to the godliness that a wife is seeking to follow. Listen to the words of Edward Rayner, a Puritan. He wrote this in 1657, but it's very helpful, and it is, the thing that he wrote is called The Considerations Concerning Marriage, and as he's dealing with marriage, he gets into this issue of dress, and he says this. He says, this duty of modesty with regard to a woman's apparel is not to be understood to prevent the wearing of gold jewels and precious things by a woman. but is to set a limit, set or limit their use within certain boundaries. These boundaries include the following, and then he gives four boundaries as it relates to how a woman dresses. Number one, first, she should wear that which does not exceed responsible financial stewardship. Very practical advice. Second, she should not wear clothing which manifests wastefulness, wantedness, or desire for the newest fashions. Number three, she should not dress vainly, excessively, or with pride, as if her clothes make her better and more than she is before God. And then number four, she should strive above all else to adorn herself inwardly rather than outwardly, striving to be more precious for her graces and good works than for her garments. and endeavoring that whatever she wears before men shows that she herself prizes her inner Christ likeness far above her outer beauty. And that is a very helpful list of advice, principles to follow. So what are some of the aims in this modesty of apparel? I want to look at three passages. First of all, turn with me, please, in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5. This is the words of the Lord Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount. Basically, the aim is that the woman's apparel would be in keeping with her pursuit of practical holiness and godliness. She is saved by the grace of God and she has new life in Christ. If she is a new creature in Christ, then she wants to conform everything about her life to the will and the word of Christ and seeks to show that in every respect of holy, godly priority and pursuit in her living. So notice with me the words of the Lord Jesus, Matthew chapter five. Again, very familiar words. Jesus says this, you, verse 13, is where we're looking, chapter five, verse 13. You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Verse 16, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Here Jesus is saying we as believers are to live as salt and light in the midst of a perverse, rotting, decaying culture in which we find ourselves. The idea of salt is that it is a preservative against decay. How we live, how we interact in our world is a stopgap. It is an influence for good and it is the opposite of the flow of debauchery and decay that is presently in our world. The idea of light is the idea of illuminating in darkness. We live in a world that is in darkness. And they do not know the light. They have not come to the light. In fact, they hate the light because it exposes the deeds of darkness. And yet here the Lord Jesus says, I don't want you simply to go along and get along and blend in with everybody else. And don't ever be controversial and don't ever have anything that might rub the world wrong. No, he says just the opposite. We are to live in the world and be like salt that preserves and stings in the wound of sin found in our society. We are to be not just keeping our mouths shut whenever wickedness is going on. We need to be sharing the light and illuminating the truth and God's word in the midst of the darkness. So it's not just saying, well, we want to be liked and we want to be nice, so we better not say anything. No, it is being salt and it is being light. You say, Pastor, what does this have to do with the women's clothing and adornment? Well, godly living provides a testimony of the saving power of God, every aspect of our lives. And the way we dress testifies to whose we are, at least it ought to. Your apparel should be a testimony. You're not following the latest trends. You're not trying to look like what is in the latest edition of Vogue magazine or whatever. No, you're following a different standard. You have a different Savior and different Lord and different priorities. And this applies as it relates to a woman's dress. So the question for our ladies is simply this, does your apparel, that is how you clothe yourself, does it testify to the transforming power of the gospel? Or does your apparel mimic the immodesty of the masses? That's a good test to take. What is your dress, your apparel, seeking to accomplish? What does it line up with? What does it look like? We're called to be salt and light. Amen? We're called to be different and distinct. And yes, it even includes how we adorn ourselves in our wicked world in which we live. Now, another biblical aim, not only being salt and light, which should inform how the dress is to be, but turn with me over in 1 Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians chapter four. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, and look with me please at verses 3 through 5. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verses 3 through 5, the apostle Paul writes and he says, verse 3, for this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you should abstain from sexual immorality. that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor. Verse five, not in passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God. Now again, it's another one of those examples. We talk about believers in Jesus Christ. We talk about Jews and Gentiles. And here he is speaking to a church comprised of Gentiles. And yet he says, you're not to dress like those Gentiles. Because you're different. You're a part of the Israel of God. You are a new identity. And so, therefore, you're not going to dress like Gentiles because you're a part of God's covenant community. But notice, if you will, that our God has as the will for our lives, verse 3, our sanctification. The idea there is the idea of separation and consecration unto the Lord, of pursuing holiness and not living as if we were in the world. Yes, we are in the world, but we are not of the world, and so therefore we are to be different, and that impacts even how we dress. And specifically, abstaining, verse 3, from sexual immorality. Possessing, verse 4, your vessel in sanctification and in honor. And that includes how we adorn ourselves, dressing with moderation and propriety and modesty. It is God's call that we pursue holiness and live lives of consecration so that our dress expresses the inner chastity of our hearts, and it does not tempt others to lust so far as we can help it. You see, there are some people who say about the dress, well, it doesn't really matter because it's all about the sinful mind of the beholder. That's where the problem is. Well, certainly that is a part of the problem, but just because that is a problem doesn't mean that you should, well, therefore I'll just dress however, because if they lust, it's their problem, not mine. No, it is your problem, too, because you have been called to conduct your vessel in a worthy manner, verse 4, with sanctification and honor. And so you are to seek to put up guardrails and hedges so that Men are not immediately drawn to look with a look that tempts them to lust. The issue is not only the sinful mind of the beholder. Notice, if you will, looking still in 1 Thessalonians, just turn over a page or so in your Bibles and look with me in chapter 5, verse 22. 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 22. Paul writes and he says, abstain from every form of evil. Abstain from every form of evil. Immodest clothing is evil, amen? And so therefore, you need to abstain from that. Dressing immodestly, dressing provocatively, dressing in a manner like the world dress, That is immodest. It is evil, and God commands that you abstain. Now, obviously, this is true for men and women also, but we're talking as it relates to women and wives, as we noted in 1 Peter 3 and 1 Timothy 2. Your apparel and adornment should reflect the inner beauty of holiness and consecration. That's God's will for your life, your sanctification. So that is pleasing and honoring to the Lord. I want to conclude this morning by sharing with you some principles from another writer from another era. And it's a list of things. I'm just going to read through these rather quickly. And you don't really necessarily have to take notes. You can listen to it later if you like. But the writer, the preacher, is someone by the name of Vincent Alsup. Vincent Alsup. He died in 1702. And it is in his work on practical godliness. And there is a section in this work on practical godliness. Remember, we're talking about sanctification, godliness. where he has a whole section entitled, The Sinfulness of Strange Apparel. I like the way they put things back then. You know what? There's a lot of strange apparel in our day too, isn't there? If you don't believe it, just go to Walmart sometime. You'll see a lot of strange apparel. But listen to what he says, just basic principles for women, for wives, as they are to dress. And there's about 13, I'm gonna read them quickly. Number one, do not be ambitious to appear first in any fashion. A modest Christian in conscience as well as in courtesy will not think it unwise to let others go before him. In other words, don't seek to be first in some sort of a new trend or fashion. Number two, Do not strive to come up to the height of fashion. Stay back from the limits and well within safe ground. That is, don't always have your desire. Well, what is the most cutting edge and the most noticeable new trend as it relates to fashion? No, stay back within the limits. Number three, follow no fashion so fast or so far as to run your finances into ruin. And all the husbands said, amen. Advise first with conscience what is lawful, then with your purse what is practical. We cannot always do what we would like to do. Number four, if you determine to follow lawful fashions, then keep in step with those who are your equals in religion and holiness, having them as your pattern. That is, rather than just breaking out and whatever the latest thing is, well, what are the other, not ungodly women, but godly women doing? And look to them as an encouragement and guide in how you dress. Number five. do not come near those fashions whose numerous implements, trinkets, and tackling require much time in dressing and undressing. Number six, suit your apparel to the day of God's providence and to the day of His ordinances. That is to say, in a day of mourning, dress for mourning. In a day of joy, dress for rejoicing. In a day of worship, dress for worship. and see that there is never a day of immorality to dress immodestly. And so the idea is dress appropriate to the occasion, but always with modesty. Number seven, in all apparel, stay a little above contempt and somewhat more below envy. Number eight, let the ornament of the inward woman be your rule for adorning the outward woman. Number nine, let the heart mortified, or rather get the heart mortified and that will mortify the clothing. That's one of the best ones so far. Mortify your heart and that's gonna mortify the clothing. Number 10, Avoid in your own dress whatever fashions of apparel you have found to be a temptation to your own soul when worn by others. Number 11, let all your indifferences be brought under the government and guidance of religion. That is, see everything, even those things that may be seen as a liberty where it's a matter of indifference. But nevertheless, still look at it through the lens of godliness and holiness as you decide. Number 12, use all these indifferent things with an indifferent affection for them and an indifferent concern for them and about them. Clothes will not commend us to God. so we should not place stock in them as if they will. And then number 13, he says, seek above all else that honor which comes from God alone. Let us so dress that it may be clear that we seek his honor and his commendation, not the honor and approval of an evil world from whom he has separated us unto himself. Our ultimate desire and goal is honoring God and pleasing him. So, congregation, as we conclude this morning, let me just say, by way of summary, these principles about women's clothing and apparel, and they're just six bullet points. Number one is the priority of modesty. The Bible encourages modesty in dress, meaning clothing that is appropriate, decent, and not overly revealing or flashy. Number two, self-control. It is important to dress with self-control, avoiding extremes and appearance that draw undue attention to oneself. Number three, inner beauty. Focus should be on cultivating inner beauty, good works, and a godly character, rather than solely on outward appearance. Number four, decency. Clothing should be chosen with decency and propriety, reflecting respect for God, your spouse, and others. Number five, distinguishing roles. Deuteronomy 22 in verse 5 highlights the importance of distinct gender roles, even in clothing, as a matter of respecting God's design. In other words, women are to dress like women and men are to dress like men. That is a principle that has not changed. And then number six, avoiding temptation. Clothing that is provocative or seductive can lead to temptation and should be avoided. Modesty, self-control, inner beauty, decency, distinguishing roles, and avoiding temptation. Beauty is a matter of the heart, and we seek And our women, our wives, they desire that they follow after godliness and holiness. And this is another one of those occasions like last week where I wanted to say a word of commendation to our women. Our women dress with that kind of modesty which is pleasing to the Lord and we give thanks to God for that. We congratulate and we praise our wives and our women because that is a mark of our ladies here in our congregation. Those who do not follow after these pursuits will be said it really is an issue of the heart. And so the first thing, the first priority is not the outward apparel, but the inner condition. And if you have not come to faith in Jesus Christ, then the call of the gospel to you is to turn and receive Christ. Find in Jesus Christ a satisfaction that is so beyond the outward and external that those things will seem to be merely perfunctory by comparison. You come to the Lord Jesus and he will change you. Your priorities, your pursuits, your desires will be different, and that by the transforming power of the gospel. Turn and trust in Jesus Christ. Let's bow together in prayer. Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you again for your word to us. Lord, we thank you that while you have called us to be in this world, you have not called us to act like this world. You have not called us to be of this world, but you have called us to be salt and you have called us to be light. Father, we pray that these basic principles related to moderation and apparel will be principles that not only are embraced as they are, but they'll be enlarged. And we will see in this day that we are salt and light so that the world can see that indeed the gospel transforms. It transforms us, and God, we give you praise because we could not do it ourselves. We pray, Lord, that you would draw sinners to yourself even today, those apart from Christ. In accordance with your sovereign mercy, you would draw them and they would run to Christ and be delivered from their sin. Father, this all for your praise, your honor, and your glory. And we pray all of this in Jesus' holy name. Amen. Amen. This time we'd like to stand together as we prepare to be dismissed with our benediction. Again, we do so with the words of Holy Scripture, the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. All of God's people said, amen, amen.