Jesus and a Fresh Start

Well after the teaching of Jesus on divorce and marriage in the opening verses of Matthew chapter 9 we know you have a very tender scene with our Lord Jesus lays his hands on children so ask you open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 19 for those of you are visiting. It's oh joy to have you join us for worship were going through the book of Matthew and that we find ourselves in Matthew chapter 19 and this in a sense also concludes series within the series as we been thinking of Jesus teaching on marriage and gender. Matthew 19 then verse 13 then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray the disciples rebuked the people. But Jesus said, let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven delayed his hands on them and went away. You notice the reference to the kingdom of heaven – 14 to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. This thought of the kingdom of heaven is a constant theme in Matthew's gospel.

In fact, our Lord Jesus began his public ministry, as we see in chapter 4 verse 17 as he came. This was his preaching repentance for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. In chapter 18 verse one we read that the disciples came to Jesus and saying who's the greatest in the kingdom of heaven were questioned. Jesus tells them in verse three. Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Give that this is the very opposite of the prevalent philosophy in our society, isn't it prevalent philosophy. As we seen during our series is this expressive individualism. If it feels good do it. Everything is permissible as long as it doesn't harm anyone else, and as long as it makes me happy. No one is going to tell me what to do, is increasingly Rob was praying for the nation that we need to pray. Life is more more about me my rights my freedoms my happiness very opposite of the teaching of Jesus.

Jesus is saying is that I didn't.

Matthew chapter 19 that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those like little children. Verse 14, so it is essential that we understand how we can enter the kingdom of heaven. I did is a wonderful truth that whoever you are and whatever you have done, you can enter the kingdom of heaven. Sometimes it's called the kingdom of God.

So today I want you to think of the kingdom of God want you to think of the kingdom of heaven want you to look up to God want you to understand the wonder of our Lord Jesus Christ's over this past few weeks we dealt with somebody difficult subjects on marriage, divorce, the gay debate LGBT Q plus transgender is him and you think well and God's grace on the part of that community over some of you are, let me say to all of us. Every single one of you sitting here struggles to every single one of you including your your pastor standing here have sinful desires. Normally, we are fallen, broken men and women that fall in this and that brokenness manifests itself in many different ways but we've all of this in common that we all have sins become short of the glory of God and here is our magnificent Lord Jesus Christ telling us how although we are sinful people these disciples were men characterized by ego by our competitive spirit by selfishness and by sin. Here is the good news, whoever you are, yes, will you and what ever you have done that is a new beginning in the gospel that is offered for you and for me a fresh start. Call this message, Jesus and the fresh start.

We turn in your Bibles to John chapter 3 because were going to read the words of Jesus that to enter the kingdom of heaven, and who here doesn't want to enter the kingdom of heaven to enter the kingdom of heaven.

You must be born again. Here is one the most brilliant passages in Scriptures and to John three verse one is a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

This man came to Jesus by night and said Rabbi, we know that your teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him, press Jesus answered him, truly, truly, I was brought up in the old King James Vallely Vallely are so alike are going to Vallely Vallely. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus that them how can a man be born when his old can enter a second time in his mother's womb and be born. Jesus answered, truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is one of walk to the end of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you have it signed, but you do not know what it comes from and when it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit. Bottom line to enter the kingdom of God. To see the kingdom of God. You must be born again.

Nicodemus's face with the most important issue of human existence is he or is he not in the kingdom of God is he right with God. Does he have the assurance of eternal life, that when he stands before God, he will answer the kingdom of God is a sincere man with martyrdom is a ruler knows the Old Testament Scripture is mine. We might call them SC could and he comes to Jesus by night, perhaps because he was a Cupid secret. We don't know the important thing is he came to Jesus with a very important question and Jesus tells him sincerely.

Although he is ruler. Although he is an impressive pedigree that he has wonderful that he is seeking truth, Nicodemus, you must be born again that you command that you notice verse three. Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Verse five unless one is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Verse seven you must be born again doctor say to you, whoever you are, whether you consider yourself a religious and privileges, whether you consider yourself the best person sitting here on the worst person really doesn't matter. You must be born again. I measure born again you will not enter the kingdom of God, George Whitfield, a famous preacher said of him that rarely, if ever, did he preach with art at some point saying you must be born again and the woman came to visit Mr. Whitfield why is it when you preach you always say you must be born again no answer what Phil says because you must be born again that we Jesus is saying and notice what he says in verse six that which is born of the flesh is flesh physical life cannot produce spiritual life the physical under spiritual are two entirely different dimensions of life. That's why Jesus is teaching us something which we must grasp that it is essential to be humble like a child to be utterly dependent on the grace of God unless you are like the child in the sense of humility in the sense of being utterly dependent. You will not enter the kingdom of God. But as you will never, never on your own reach the kingdom of God your best efforts, your religion, your sincerity, your goodness your wonderful pedigree that you have your impressive resume all of that can never ever produce spiritual life God gave you physical life, which we enjoyed meeting as a gift from God today in this beautiful morning as we get up with a beautiful temperature was the say thank you Lord he's given us physical life. Only God can give you physical life and only God can give you spiritual life of the message of the gospel is that Jesus Christ came into our world and dined on the cross for our sins, was buried, and he arose from the dead rise is so significant it is utterly essential to the gospel message that he has conquered death, he has conquered darkness yes conquered sin, you cannot come conquered your own sin. You cannot buy yourself. Get rid of the sin in your own life utterly impossible.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, our magnificent Savior, the Lord from heaven rises that third day, and is eternally alive and this risen Christ is the only one who can give you spiritual life who can give you eternal life is very life becomes ours say this is the life of God and the soul of man that you hi and the miracle of convulsion kind received the very life of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you place your trust in him. Listen to Jesus my Bible's open village on three John five verse 24.

Another Vallely Vallely Vallely ventilating truly, truly, I say to you, Jesus is speaking, whoever hears my word. Are you hearing the word of God today that is hearing it with humility, healing, hearing it, not as a critic but as a humble person listening to the word of God says Jesus, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has present tense eternal life. He does not come into judgment by this class from day to life and my sin.

I'm in a condemn cell under the judgment of God. I am condemned because of my sin. I cannot extricate myself from the condemn cell. I cannot get rid of the sin in my life by myself.

I can clean up my act I can appear to others to be a nice person but I have a dark dark heart as you have Jesus is saying or come to you and if you hear my words and believes him who sent me, you will have eternal life. You see this new birth. This fresh start. If you like is a burst from above. It is from heaven. If I'm going to enter the kingdom of heaven. The answer comes not from myself, not from within, but from without its from God himself on the bus over the physical birth but to be spiritually alive. We need a spiritual birth a spiritual birth must have a beginning, your physical birth had a beginning. You can tell me the date of your birth, your birth certificate will have the exact time of your birth, your birth had a beginning physical birth and your spiritual birth needs to have a beginning. You don't just get this by osmosis. By being in a church you don't just pick it up because you have godly parents know for each one of us there needs to be a specific beginning. It comes not from inside us, but from without is John and this prologue John one verse 12 to all who did receive him as our Savior, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God is and how did that come about who would born, not of blood, queued on inherited note of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but all God wonderful just gives us hope is that this new birth is not a result of my changing my life including myself, but is it well and come to church and I really got some struggles in certain areas of my life and as I had your messages over the last five weeks. I was very convicted and I really need to do something about it and I am going to get rid of some of the bad aspects of my life. While you may or may not be successful in that but one thing I can tell you is this is not the gospel, the very opposite of the gospel that is the flash trying to produce a flash know this. The message of the gospel is it's a gift of God. It comes from above, it is a radical change from the inside out.

It begins in your heart that begins in your soul begins in the very depths of your being. And then there's little doubt in every aspect of your life. This is why her Savior came.

John 315 whoever says Jesus believes in him may have eternal life. Your dying from sin.

The wages of sin is that life to your own devices you will never enter the kingdom of God. In fact, rather than advancing the kingdom of God, you will experience forever.

The darkness of blackness in the judgment of God knows you mature, absolutely none of the divine. You need you life, you need a new this is a wonderful picture that Jesus is presenting of the new birth, a burst from above when I say to you today. Whoever you are today look to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why he came in love, died on the cross for your sins, and is alive and today. If you receive them. If you look to Christ you will medical of conversion. Enter the kingdom of God. Let me say that another way to enter the kingdom of God. You must have a fresh start new birth, you must begin again.

Done with me your Bibles there to first Corinthians chapter 6. Here is how Paul puts it without her Lord Jesus puts it in John three.

Here is another picture as it were by the apostle Paul. First Corinthians 6 verse nine do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Not everyone is going into the kingdom of God.

There is a righteous and the unrighteous don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor a adulterers, not men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor profilers nor swindlers will and will inherit the kingdom of God say well that's pretty tough one. Say well none of this applies to me. I don't think so.

But notice verse 11.

If you underline your Bible is one to underline. But, says Paul, but such where some of you but you were washed, your sanctifies, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of everyone. While this thing does not enter the kingdom of God gives examples of the unrighteous will not and how to the kingdom of God. Ancient Corinth was a model cesspool something like more than America. And Paul is referring to people who are characterized by decisions is not saying that a person who commits one of these sins is talking about those who are characterized by it, pointing out as we need to be reminded over and over again that sin has consequences. You know that don't you. But sin has eternal consequences.

Wages of sin is death notice in verse nine, the first sin that Paul mentions in his sexual immorality. Sex outside of marriage. We talked about that in the serious saying that fornicators and adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God. Those who engage in sexual activity outside of marriage, whether they are married not on my will not inherit the kingdom of God adulterate his sexual intercourse with someone other than your spouse fornication the sexual intercourse with someone when you're not married. Then he says verse nine note man who practice homosexuality, they will not inherit the kingdom of God. These were translate two Greek words, which in some translations are translated as the effeminate and homosexual footnote in my Bible, English standard version is a footnote saying this phrase switch. They translate men who practice homosexuality refers to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts you say about John. It's legal in our country as it is legal but it is a sinful act. Paul is saying very clearly that those who practice homosexuality will not inherit the kingdom of God as we saw in the cities having same-sex temptations is not sin, but Paul is referring in these sins to the continuing practice of the said that God hold you in me responsible for our actions and their choices is a well I'm okay. I don't think I'm sexually immoral.

Let's look at verse 10. Your little self-righteous here this morning's of the list of thieves, thieves, and he cheats on here who would cheat the government out of your taxes and then post anyone not paying their bills and shoplifters thieves when stealing from your employers, thieves nor the greedy while they went greedy here, never satisfied, you make money and you still want more.

Your boss gives you a raise is never quite enough. Instead of saying thank you complainant greedy individual greedy it comes to drunkards, we call them today. Alcoholics, drunkards, JoEllen is not wrong to have a glass of wine.

No, but drunkards not just to drink a glass of wine as he or she anyone drinking serve control you don't say you're an alcoholic but you can get through the day with a drink and saw just one drink isn't it and it's taking over, nor profilers is more more common in their society, isn't it profilers social media the nasty mean things that people say they set up trouble even in the church profilers abusive never happy and I started a fight profilers nor swindlers swindled the terrible thing to be swindled and is only been in business someday has swindled you. Anyone swindled someone in business. Your dishonorable none of them will inherit the kingdom of God went to take a little time to go over verse 10 because when we approach the subject. We tend to think oh I'm not homosexual I'm not an adulterer, I'm okay. No you're not okay because Paul lists other sins there in the role of the same list that all classes, unrighteous, and that those who practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Isn't that what the text is saying you glad this verse 11 because these verses make a square room 130, think any of us would stand up and so none of this is ever applied to me. Notice also support such where some the in the church at: from a moral cesspool. God had called men and women and boys and girls and some of them were sexually immoral and some of them were swindlers and some of them were drunkards and some of them are homosexuals. But now he says such where some of you, and then the grace of God there were Corinthians were freed from these sins and their no longer numbered with such people because with our Lord Jesus Christ, that we need to learn this part of important is that we grasp this, that when God in his grace saves you that is a mantra of monumental change here of these lists of these terrible people an actual fight.

Let's face it is probably pretty like Calvary churches minutes that we can either sins such where some of you talking to those of you claim to followers of Jesus Christ is the difference I'm very very thankful that when I came to Christ as a boy of 12. We sang a little chorus which I've never forgot that I understood that certain level, and it impacted me and it continues to impact me some of you may know in my mind go back to that camp but was only here, these boys are is one of the oldest I was 12, from 9 to 12 and we sang things are different, something happened to me when I gave my heart to Jesus things I love before have passed away. Things far more have come to say things are different now. Something happened to me when I gave my heart to grasp the hats the Christian life is not just say I believe in defeating a little prayer. It is a fundamental radical change by God himself.

Notice what Paul says this happened in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of God onto that time. You know what I did was in my life football a soccer ball and from that moment I understood this, that my life was the focus not on the soccer ball. Praise God's but it wasn't really all that good things were different was a different orientation. I understood that as a boy of 12, I understood that when I had received Christ that something monumental I happened to John Monroe was never the same of again.

I lived the perfect license and absolutely not. I failed over and over again, but I understood that with Jesus Christ. There's a fresh start and there's a fresh start for a little boy and there's a fresh start for you. Whatever your sin is. Notice how beautifully Paul describes a here in verse 11. He says you were washed, all is not good washed thoroughly is the point completely spiritually.

Clean Paul is emphasizing with his word the washing off the defilement of our sin conduct is that we feel sleazy feel by guilt and shame that we come to Jesus Christ and he washes us children feel including you feel soiled feel bruised Scott because of your sin. Using a shotgun that I wish I could begin again as the gospel, you can begin again if you come to the Lord Jesus Christ. Humbly, like a little child, you will experience this spiritual washing. It is a total washing but when Jesus Christ died on the cross, the price of all of my sins were paid at the John the apostle can say so wonderfully in first John one. The blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all our sin when when the two of you know your Bible is God you love the Lord, all it doesn't say just cleanses us from your slumber. Sin cleanses us from all our sin. This is what Paul is saying here is the beautiful perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. How does he do that through his cross is were going to celebrate the minute and this washing verse 11 is connected to two other actions they are you where sanctified pressure washed your sanctified with the sanctified mean it means set apart as holy.

Here is this drunkard and caught and he saved. He set apart as holy businessman who is known as a sleazy swindler and caught in the say washed, set apart business adulterer nasty individual saved, sanctified and set apart business homosexual he say he's washed totally sanctified, set apart as a clean vessel caught to begin a July a fresh start in our Lord Jesus Christ, the washer sanctified the justified what justification it is been declared righteous by God. Here we are with our sin and our brokenness under ego, the Lord Jesus Christ comes washes us, sets us apart and something else justified. What does that mean it means that the Lord Jesus takes our sin and we receive his righteousness is not just that my sins are forgiven.

It's more than that the righteousness and the sinlessness of my beautiful Lord Jesus Christ is paid to attend justified such where some to those in the kingdom of God have a new identity. Have a fresh start.

This washing the sanctification. This justification are the foundation of the Corinthians, identity as Christians, we are no longer to regard themselves and others are no longer to regard them set God them sexually immoral. No longer are they going to say here in the church at Corinth. Are you using using easy brother Bob who he was with Delta you see sister Jeannie.

She's a real problem, but identity is totally changed.

No longer are they to regard themselves as sexually immoral or drunkards are homosexuals or swindlers that identity is not identity is no longer in the sense that I say to your brother, sister, do not allow the past to define who you are that the device of the enemy. He wants to take you back to the sentence you need to remind him I was like that, but I am no longer. Things are different now. Something happened to me when I gave my heart.

You are now in Christ are you grasping this we have on you. I ended no wonder many alcoholics or homosexuals or drug addicts or lesbians despair they bought into the lie that there sin is that identity that it is an inborn characteristic to which there is no answer they can change and have no hope.

Do not buy into that mindset out identity is not based on our sexuality on our conduct or not drinking or drug addiction on our marital status on a national holiday. Out identity is in Christ.

It is rooted and grounded in the gospel of the grace of God I think today the evangelical is and we lost the fact that Christ comes and makes this radical change. The wonder of being washed, sanctified, justified these three verbs in verse 11. Notice that I think to decisive break with the past and the beginning of a new flash you like that symbolized by baptisms, baptisms, you think it's wonderful.

So in the gospel.

You could have finished fresh start. So Paul says if anyone is in Christ is a new creation. The old has gone, and the new has come with the old saying I drinking my reality might by swindling my stealing us in the past is gone and the new has come to humble yourself like a little child. Matthew 1914 let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for two such belongs kingdom of Europe and today receive Christ as your Savior to be washed to leave culver church and to walk into the parking lot, but your washed your sanctified, justified and empowered by the Holy Spirit to know resides inside of us to live a life of purity all yes withdrawn Tartar since our flesh is never converted. It's always where the devil will last year the devil will try to draw you back, but we now have a new life for life in the risen Christ. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. When you look at someone. Some of you know people's past sins and think of them like a new family. You communities called the church a new identity.

I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I'm know in the kingdom of God and in the kingdom of God for you, and humble repentance of your sins, today my speed to do that, you'll save you.

Your client, you will forgive you to fill you with this credit give you the power to live a holy life.

The power to be a fresh start going to spend with your Christ comes in love to save you to redeem you to help you to rescue you from your sin is an old hymn that says the vilest offender who truly believes that moments from Jesus apartment receipts that moment that very moment will be washed and washed completely messed up struggles regret sins and failures. The cross of Christ as we celebrate communion. The cross is hope for us grace and forgiveness is a fresh start. This salvation you come in this morning into the sanctuary. Just think of someone put a label on you. Just one sent one of your really bad nasty sins. Some of us know what these are but some of you have and that it is you commit burn notice adulterer swindler sheet provider homosexual commencing say well it would be interesting to see everyone sins you would be looking you be so ashamed. I think yes that is me this is John Monroe I Thessaly 171 of the big ones but think of all the percentage of committed and you sit there and despair in the shame and the guilt of all of it overwhelms you.

Just think Lord Jesus at his first two or three are gathered together in my name that I my the Lord Jesus Christ comes to decision-making. Jim Susie cup sees the same and he looks at you and it's a lot of this compassion takes that label off and puts it on himself, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world could you imagine all of the sin in the century, the Lord Jesus Christ is totally covered with this, Paul says that he who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him. He takes all of that said pays the price for it on Calvary rising from the dead is justified conquering sin and the devil are not offers you if you come salvation because God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life Signet as we prepare our hearts for communion. Is it what my to do if you never yet come to Christ. I plead with you, I beg you to cry out to Christ to save your clincher as you receive them, and believe that he is the son of God, risen from the dead. Some of your followers of Christ in your the sins of the past of credit in need to resubmit decisive break doesn't – God once again to forgive that sin and ask him with his help, but you will live a life for the glory of God.

We are stepfather and her son's name is Dr. Norman Christ is a fresh start. All of us need that you beginning some of not yet been born again in the kingdom of God. They never will be, unless they repent and become like little children try to Christ for salvation to look to the sea. Father, we want to come with clean hands and a pure heart to the Lord's table return from person you know our hearts cleanse us. We thank you for this simple phrase reminds us that our salvation is all of grace and soul of your love of your compassion to broken sinners like us working our hearts through your spirit man we pray in Christ