Exodus 17:8-18:27 How will you respond to the God of Israel?

Exodus 17:8-18:27

I have a confession to make. I must confess that I have struggled with this passage for the past two weeks. I started preparation already last week, together with chapter 17, because I was pretty unsure about this one. It seems so random. Jethro suddenly appears again, out of the blue. He brings Moses’ family. He seems to be a priest of God offering sacrifices, but isn’t part of Israel. And then he sits Moses down and tells him how to lead the people and Moses listens to him. Huh?
This is not a passage I wanted to preach. Not at all! But we are convinced that 2 Timothy 16-17 is correct: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

So chapter 18 is breathed out by God and profitable, useful to us, for teaching and correcting us. There’s another reason why we can’t just jump over chapter 18: God wrote Bible books as Bible books. They have a beginning, middle and end. They progress. And we need to respect the way God has written it. So we preach passages like this, trusting the Spirit to lead us and teach us. And knowing that we as men of God (and women of God) will be equipped for every good work, and we will not be lead astray by those who seek to twist Scripture to say what they want it to say – because we know the context of the verses they use, and know the themes of the books, and know that the focus of Scripture is Christ, Jesus, the Son of God, not you or me or politics or Israel or Jehovah or health and wealth or anything else people try to make it about! The man of God, complete, equipped for every good work.

So let’s dive in and see what we can learn from this passage. And we’ll start by putting it in context.

Last week’s lesson was for the Israelites: stop pretending to be God. Let God be God. Only God can be God. It’s the same lesson we struggle with. That’s why Paul writes in 1 Cor 10:11 These things happened to them (the Israelites during the Exodus and desert wanderings) as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

Because as we read these stories we see ourselves reflected there. We are quick to complain when things don’t go our way – just like them. We forget what God has done for us. We long to go back to our sinful lives – our pre-Christian lives, forgetting what it was actually like to be ruled by our desires, forgetting what a blessing it is to KNOW the Father, and to have His Spirit with us, in us, at all times.

So last week we looked at the attack of the Amalekites. It was a cowardly attack, attacking those lagging behind at the back of the camp. They attacked without warning, and for no reason. It was a new challenge for the Israelites, a new lesson to learn how to trust the Lord. Who fights for Israel? The Lord fights for Israel. Moses’ hands are raised to the Lord – they win. Moses’ hands are lowered, they lose. Your strength comes from Him. Trust the Lord.

But there is a second thing we learn from the Amalekites, and that is to contrast them with Jethro. Here we have two foreigners, non-Israelites, with two very different responses to God’s people and God’s blessing of his people. The Amalekites fight, they rebel, they seek to destroy the Lord’s people before they can become a threat. Jethro, however, praises the Lord, sacrifices to him, and blesses and helps the people of God.

1. Two responses

17:8 While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them.

18:10 “Praise the LORD,” Jethro said, “for he has rescued you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Yes, he has rescued Israel from the powerful hand of Egypt! 11 I know now that the LORD is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.” 12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came out and joined him in a sacrificial meal in God’s presence.

Two responses to God’s people that couldn’t be more different. Both the Amalekites and Jethro were also descended from Abraham. Amalek was the son of Esau, brother of Jacob who God renamed Israel. But Amalek and his descendants had turned long ago from the Lord. They would have known the promise to Abraham. They would have known that Esau, their ancestor, gave up that promise. They would be afraid that Israel was coming to claim their birthright, their promised land – because guess where the Amalekites lived? That’s right, in Canaan, the promised land.

You know, I wonder what would have happened if they had responded like Jethro did? If they had come to offer sacrifices and praise to the Lord. To rejoice for the rescue of their relatives? Could they not have lived side-by-side with the Israelites? Perhaps they could have been grafted back in? For we know the Lord’s name is “the gracious and compassionate God” (Ex34:6). We certainly see that in the way he treats his people!

But, no. They stay on the path laid down by their ancestors. Their brutality and ferocity towards the Israelites tells you a great deal of how they feel towards the Lord. They hate Him, they do not want to bow the knee, they want to wipe Israel out. And so they march out of their own land, into the desert, and attack the defenceless Israelites.

But they forgot that they are not fighting the Israelites. They are fighting the Lord.

Jethro, however, praises the Lord. He rejoices at the rescue of his people. Jethro, too, is a descendent of Abraham. Jethro, too, is a son of Esau. But he and his descendants after him chose to obey the Lord instead of reject him. Later we find Jethro’s son, Hobab, has joined the Israelites. And the descendants of Jethro, known as the Kenites, we later find as part of the nation of Israel, living alongside Judah and sharing in all their blessings!

What a contrast! The Amalekites reject the Lord, and fight against his people. And their judgement is destruction.
The Kenites, Jethro’s people, embrace the Lord, rejoice at his blessing his people. And their reward is to join with his people in the Promised Land. Remarkable.

Be like Jethro, seems to be the obvious application. And it is. But there’s one more thing we need to notice before moving on. And it’s to do with the names of God. Have a look at v8. Moses tells of what the LORD has done – that small capital letters stands for YHWH (Yahweh) God’s personal name in the Old Testament. Jethro, too, in v9, 10 and 11 praises the LORD “YHWH”. But in v12, when he offers sacrifices as worship to God, he offers them to God – the Hebrew word Elohim, not the LORD, Yahweh. Why? Because Jethro is not part of the people of God. He is still an outsider. He can be part of the blessing of God, but he is still outside – and Moses cannot bring him in. Moses, for all his greatness, is a limited saviour.

2. A limited saviour

17:12 Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.

18:17 “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.

What do we make of this story? Well, I think there’s some truth in the application that leaders need help. We need to carry each other’s burdens, says Ephesians. I need you to keep my arms upraised towards God, as you pray for me and the other leaders in this church that we would remain God-focussed and God-dependent. In your prayers you are like Aaron and Hur, supporting my arms. It’s a bit like that famous picture of the soldiers together raising the flag on Iwo Jima. Working together. Or the rugby scrum. Working together as a team. Honouring the Lord. I think that’s a fair application. As Jethro says “You cannot do it alone”

I think another is certainly that wisdom comes from many areas, even outside the camp! And the wise man accepts good counsel, no matter where it comes from (Prov 19:20).

Those are probably good secondary applications - but I don’t think those are the main applications.

Because we need to let context drive our application – what has come before, AND what comes after. What has come before is Moses leading the people, rescuing them from slavery and taking them through the sea. Raising his arms and giving them victory in battle. Moses has been the voice of God.

And what comes after is the first church – the gathering of God’s people before God Almighty, hearing God’s word. The mountain shakes, there is smoke and fire and thunder and lightning. It is GOD who has rescued the people. It is God’s power, God’s word.

And in between a couple of stories which reminds us that Moses is weak. That Moses is not the saviour. That God is the saviour. 8 Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the LORD had rescued his people from all their troubles. 9 Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel as he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.

I think that the point the text is making must be that Moses is great, yes, but he is not the Messiah. His family’s sudden return – the last time they were mentioned was in chapter 4, before he approached Pharaoh - reminds us of his past. Moses who was Gershom, the foreigner, the outcast, is no longer. He is now Eliezer, the one rescued by God.
We are reminded, after all of Moses’ triumphs, of Moses’ failure before God met him at the burning bush, and like Israel, rescued him. Moses is not the rescuer, but the rescued.

Moses is one of the greatest leaders ever, because he was humble before the Lord. But he is just a man. In case we were putting our faith in Moses – perhaps thinking that “Here’s the serpent-crusher promised in Genesis 3:16, the one who will overturn evil - after all, he overturned the evil Pharaoh.” Here we are reminded that He is just a man. We’re still waiting for the Messiah, the serpent-crusher. We’re still waiting for Jesus. And I think that’s the main point of this whole chapter. Jethro’s arrival, Moses’ family suddenly back in the picture, Moses’ folly, Jethro’s wisdom – all points us towards the perfect leader, the perfect Messiah, the one who does need to be rescued.

3. Jesus is greater than Moses

You see, Jethro had to remind Moses of what his job was: 19 Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. 20 Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives.

Moses was to be the people’s representative – the mediator between man and God. But Moses was limited. He couldn’t handle the pressure of a couple of million or so people.
But Jesus! Jesus is our mediator, our representative before the throne of God. The Son of Man is before the throne – we have a human representative in the court of Heaven. But because he is also fully GOD – he is the God-man, born of the Virgin Mary, by the Holy Spirit (as we’ve been reading in Luke’s gospel in the Bible study) – because he is fully man and fully GOD, he can be our perfect representative, and mere numbers are no problem for him. He does not need to divide us up into manageable groups and have a massive bureaucracy to handle our prayers!

Moses was the mediator between man and God – he stood between the people and God. Jesus brings us into the very throne room of heaven. Heb 9:24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.

Jesus is the greater mediator (representative).

In the same way, Moses brought the word of God (v20 Teach them God’s decrees): but Jesus is the word of God. John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus is the very Word of God.

Moses needed the wisdom of men. Jethro says in v19 Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. But Jesus is the very wisdom of God. 1 Co 1:24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Jesus is the very wisdom of God.

And Jesus does what Moses could not. Jesus brings the nations in, so that people like Jethro can know God not just as God (Elohim) but in person (Yahweh). We who are Gentiles have been grafted in to Israel (made part of Israel), and so we can know Israel’s God personally. In fact, he comes to live in us by His Spirit. Praise God. That is what Jesus has accomplished.

Jesus is greater than Moses. He is the greater mediator. He is the very word of God. He is the very wisdom of God.

Heb 3:3 ... Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. 4 For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God. 5 Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. 6 But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.

So, if Jesus is greater than Moses, how are we to respond? Not like Amalek, but like Jethro.

Heb 3 continues 7 That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, 8 don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness..... 12 Be careful... , dear brothers. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

There are only two responses to the Lord and to his work. Amalek, or Jethro. Praise God that Jesus is the better Moses, so that if we like Jethro call out to him, he can save us, bring us in, make us one of his people. And if we belong to him, then we belong to him. Brothers and sisters, by His grace we are the people of God! Praise God. Amen.

Colossians 3:5-17 Kill and live

Colossians 3:5-17

Have you ever wondered why we go through books – why we start at the beginning of Colossians and go through to the end? Or when we do a more topical sermon we always set the scene of where we’re preaching from – tell you a bit of the context?
I wonder why more churches don’t do this. It is bizarre to me – just as bizarre as someone who reads the books on their bookshelf by pulling a book at random, opening to a random page, and then thinking hard about that page. But it is not only bizarre (strange) but it is also dangerous. Let me illustrate:

Colossians 3:5-17 is all about how to please God. Like it says in v24-25 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done.

He is our Master, and will pay us back if we do wrong. So we must not do the wrong things , and we must do the right things. Otherwise we will be punished. Dt 4:24 (NLT) The Lord your God is a devouring fire; he is a jealous God.

So, how’s your performance. Are you a sinner, loving the earth? Or are you righteous? Are you full of lust and sexual sin (v5). Don’t lie to me! I can see your lust from here. The wrath of God is on you! 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.
And are you greedy (v5)? For you are an idolater! Get rid of it, you sinner. Instead you must be merciful, kind, humble, gentle, patient. Now do it.

How does that make you feel?

If you’ve been coming to Rock Church for a while you’re probably feeling a little off-balance right now. Thinking that’s not quite right, there’s something wrong with this message. And that’s right – it’s a message completely devoid of the Gospel. It had Bible in it, it seemed to be the passage – but I was using the Bible to support MY ideas, rather than preaching the Bible’s ideas. It was all stop doing this and start doing that. It was try harder, do more. And that’s the opposite of the Gospel. The Gospel is that Christ has done it.

Beware the preacher who preaches out of context.

There’s another version designed to make the congregation feel better at the expense of other people. This is where you change the focus of the text off the Christians (which is who Paul is talking to) to the non-Christians “out there”. It’s the Paradise Hotel or Jerry Springer version – you know, that type of TV show which exists to show people at their worst so that you can feel better about yourself. Many churches do this, and so the “pastor” rails against the sexually impure – these divorcees and unmarried people fornicating, these homosexuals – because of them our country is facing the anger of God. Look at v6. The Bible says it and I believe it. And so as God is my witness I will fight against the scourge of gays in this country….

A text without a context is a pretext for a con. In that little example there I made “the Bible” say what *I* wanted it to say. Which was “I hate gays”. How many churches and sermons are full of bigotry and hatred dressed up in Christianised clothing. In context this is exactly what Paul is warning us against! Not pride, but humility before the Lord. Not looking at the sins of others, but looking at our own sin. Not judgementalism and hatred, but peace-making, gentleness, kindness, love. Be like Christ, who went to the cross to die for his enemies. And so if gay people are really your enemies, then if you belong to Christ are you ready to die for them? Are you ready to welcome divorcees, fornicators into your home, your church? Are you willing to recognise that you too are a sinner, just like “them”?

So what does this passage say? What is it that makes this a gospel passage, and makes our two preachers that I started with wrong? It is the word “so” or as other translations translate it “therefore”. Of course, it’s not just that – the gospel is sprinkled everywhere through this passage – v7 you used to when you were part of this world (past tense). V10 you are renewed V11 Christ is all that matters and he lives in all of us, v12 God chose you to be holy, v14 the Lord forgave you, v15 the peace that comes from Christ. It’s everywhere – for those who are reading with open minds. But if you are reading for a religious list, if you are reading for a way to be right with God by your own efforts, if you want to find a way to make God owe you – you will miss them, and you will miss the word “so”.

When you’re reading the Bible be on the lookout for these words like “so” because” “since” and “therefore” – and when you see them ask what they are there for. What’s the therefore there for? Especially just before a list of “this is how you are to behave”.

David Cook, an Australian minster, was telling the story of inviting some of his gym buddies, who all happened to be Roman Catholic priests, to a talk he was giving on the 10 commandments. One of his friends came, and afterwards David asked him what he thought. His friend said “what really struck me is that 2 came before 3”- David thought “whaaaat? What kind of great thought is that? 2 comes before 3 – that’s what he got out of it?” But it was a great thought: Ex20:2-3 “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 3 “You must not have any other god but me”.
Notice the order. God says “I am the one who has redeemed you, now live this way”. He does not say “now if you want to be redeemed, live this way”. Redemption is always first. Never tell people a gospel of morals without its redemptive context. We are saved by grace, not good behaviour!
David said “for my friend it was a great breakthrough that redemption (v2), must come before lifestyle (v3)”

It is the great message of grace that runs throughout the Bible, and it’s the same message here. Paul lays out the lifestyle of the redeemed, the saved, the Christian, after first reminding us of the grace of God which saved us. So let’s remind ourselves of the “therefore” – what’s the context.

Turn back to chapter 1, and look at v2. The letter is addressed to God’s holy people, literally “saints” in Colossae, who are known 1:6 as people whose lives were changed by the Gospel. When we come to Christ we become, in an instant, saints. God’s holy people. Because the gospel is not “try really hard”, or “despise all the sinners and fornicators around you” but look at v13. The Gospel is 1:13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Just like in Romans, just like in the story of Abraham, we find that being a Christian is not a philosophy or even a lifestyle, but is a spiritual transfer from darkness to light, from judgement to blessing – and no matter what we do, we are blessed by God, because Christ’s actions are viewed as our actions. Abraham kept sinning – for example lying about Sarah being his sister instead of his wife – because he couldn’t quite believe in the promises of God – that God would be faithful towards him even when he was faithless. But, as we saw, God was faithful.
How often are we like Abraham, disbelieving God’s promises, thinking our performance somehow changes things. Look at v13. HE has rescued us. HE transferred us. HE purchased (redeemed), He forgave our sins. All of them. If we could really grasp that, it would transform our lives. What freedom we would know! Truly forgiven. Truly blessed. That is the truth. We live in the realm of blessing.

Col 1:21–22 (NLT) This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
You are holy and blameless. Why? Because you are in Christ, and Christ is holy and blameless.
Our response is in v23 Col 1:23 (NLT) But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.

Believe it. Act like you believe. Live in a manner that agrees with your beliefs.
At the train station I stand on the platform as the train hurtles towards me because I believe that I am safe. Normally if a huge chunk of metal was racing towards me I wouldn’t stand only an arm’s length away! But I know that the train will follow the tracks and will go safely past me. I am safe. I act in accordance with my beliefs. I don’t leap into the air shouting “look out!” and running as hard as I can off the platform and out of the train station.
But how often are we doing that as Christians?
God says do not fear. He says that the forces of darkness are powerless over us. Col 2:15 (NLT) In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. But often we are afraid of evil spirits, of ghosts, of curses, of the “evil eye”, of the tokolosh. Oh there can be real power there – but Christ has shamed them publically and stripped them of their power. If you are in Christ, you are safe. If you are not in Christ, you are not safe.
He says in 2:8 that we are not to be captivated by the empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
But how often are we! We are fooled by the rhetoric, the clever speeches, the flash delivery, the “science” backing it, the zeal of the people delivering the message, and of course, the core of truth in many of these philosophies. But they miss Christ – and without him wisdom is just foolishness. As v2:17 he is the reality these philosophies are searching for. In Christ is found true feminism: women honoured for their womanhood in all its different forms, not a one size fits all, but each woman showing off her unique gifts and beauty to the praise of her Saviour. In him is found true consumerism: the things that promise satisfaction are put in their proper place, and we find satisfaction in Christ – and then those things are ours to enjoy, to use to the praise of God. An example is the Farm – given by God, used to his praise and glory so many times. All of us have experienced hospitality, warmth, fun, beauty there. My parents delight in the farm because they delight in the Giver of the farm, and delight in using it to his praise and glory.

See, the secret to Christian life is death. It is to die to your self and your own interests, and live for Christ. Only when we lay aside ourselves can we truly live.

Colossians 3 is a real trap for us. We can look at it as a list of behaviours, and try to squeeze ourselves into that list, contorting ourselves to fit it – shouting look God, look, see, look, aren’t I a good boy, hurry up and look, I can’t hold this for much longer…
Or we can die to self, stop being preoccupied with our performance, and live for Christ. For his life is ours, we must let it shine out. That’s all chapter 3 and 4 is. Showing us what this new life looks like. Showing us what we are, and are becoming in Christ. We are holy and blameless. That is what we are. And we are becoming holy and blameless as his life in us shines out all the brighter.

Col 1:27 (NLT) For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

Christ lives in us. Colossians 3 is not a list of how to live, but a description of Christian behaviour. How will you recognise Christians? Because they start more and more to live like this, like Christ. They start to look like Jesus. 3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

And the way to live like Christ is not try really hard – but to surrender yourself to death. I must give up my life, my pride, my reputation – remember Paul’s hard-to-preach words in chapter 2 about suffering (download the sermon if you haven’t – it’s sermon 5, called “true Christianity”). As we die, our new life in Christ is seen.

Death is the path to life. It’s sprinkled all throughout this chapter: v3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.;
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you;
7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world;
11 In this new life…Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. We need to die to world’s way of thinking – the lie that we can save ourselves. Trying really hard seems the wise way, but it is empty and pointless. 2:23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. What kind of people are we when we follow this way of thinking? Graceless, harsh, superior. With an appearance of false humility. Exactly the opposite of Christ, and exactly like the Pharisees and religious leaders who put him to death!

We must put it to death v5. In fact, the word in v5 is “nekrosate” lit. kill. We must KILL that old way of life. Surrender to the cross. It is an active act of faith.

So, practically, how does this work out? How does v5 work out in practice, with its warning against sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires, and greed? And v8 with anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language, and lying (v9)?

Well, firstly we must believe that these are sins, and stop trying to justify or explain away our sin. Put to death or sinful self-justification! And acknowledge, yes, I am sexually immoral. Yes, I am greedy. Yes, I am full of impurity and lust and evil desires. Yes, I am a liar, and angry, and a slanderer. Only then will we be willing to take action against it, to put it to death.

Let me give an example: If Debby is not at home or about to come home, I will not invite anther woman into my house. So if you’re standing there on the step, ladies, and Debby isn’t home, you’re not coming in! Why? Because I don’t trust myself. And you know what – I don’t trust YOU! We are sinners. Sin is destructive. Part of me wants to tear down and destroy all that is good. Satan waits like a roaring lion, ready to devour. We want to sin. That is who we are without Christ. Now, we probably wouldn’t, but I won’t take that chance. And, gentlemen, if you come a-calling when I’m not home and Debby is, well, you’ll be standing on the steps as well!
So, first we must recognise all the sinful, earthly things lurking within you (v5).

Secondly, we need to take action. I must kill that part of me, the old me, the old sinful man. (v5 Nekrosate: put to death). Remind him that he is dead. I cannot sin, I say, because dead men cannot sin! I have died to this life – Christ is my real life (v3). I used to do these things when my life was part of this world (v7) but no longer.

Thirdly, recognise that this is a struggle to the death. Our goal is to kill our sinful desires, not make life comfortable for them! So often we walk right into situations we shouldn’t. We follow the same tired old paths towards our sin again and again.

In the film the Matrix, Neo, the main character is faced with a choice. He’s standing in the doorway of the car, not knowing whether he can trust these people he’s just met. As he stands and looks down the street, the easy option, the safe option, one of them says to him “Neo, you know that street, you know where it leads…” and he gets into the car, and into a whole new world.

We know where our sin leads. We have been down that road before – some of us many times. Don’t go there. Instead, lift up your eyes to heaven. Keep your eyes fixed on Christ. And a whole new world is open to you.

To sum up then. V6 is true: Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. We are sinners, and we desrve his anger. And if we are not in Christ, we will face his anger.
But to avoid his anger we don’t try really hard to impress him. No. We come to him and say “Help me”. We come to Christ, and follow him to the Cross, the Cross of our salvation. And we leave our old life there with him, and he takes our sins, our old life, and it is nailed to the Cross with him. And then as he is resurrected, we too are raised to new life.
And so we are now saints. Holy and blameless. Christ is in us – and his new nature starts to affect the way that we live. New speech. New actions. New feelings. New love. We are new.
Put to death the old life. Kill your sin. Lift up your eyes to Christ and embrace him.

Father, thank you We do not come to church to pretend that we are good. We come to church to be reminded that we are sinners, that we are saved by grace, to confess our sin, and to celebrate the Good News that Christ died to save sinners. Help us to strip off the dirty rags of the old sinful life, and put on the royal robes of righteousness. Amen