Tension, Conflict, Sin

The point: Remember the three purposes of this study: to sketch a theology of Christian living, to immunize against errors, and to purge existing errors.

The analogy of concentrated orange juice is used to explain 'epitomizing texts' – scriptures that condense a broad range of biblical teaching into a concise statement, like 'the wages of sin is death'.

I use the word epitomizing text. In other words, there are certain texts in the scripture which take the, as it were, almost the full range of biblical teaching on a given subject and state it in a very condensed, concentrated way, sort of like concentrated orange juice. It's all orange juice, but it's orange juice with some of the water removed. Well, when we come to a text such as the wages of sin is death.

2:49 - 3:18 Read in full sermon

The point: Be 'Bible Christians,' not 'half key ring Christians' or 'New Testament Christians,' recognizing the need for the whole Word of God.

The analogy of a large key ring with all the truths of God's Word is used to counter the idea of a single 'master key' to Christian living, emphasizing the need for the whole Bible.

And then we looked. We looked at the overall climate of the New Testament and you filled the board with all of the various problems which are addressed in the New Testament. And we noted that as the New Testament writers address those problems, they did not have a master key by which they unlocked all of those problems, but rather they had a whole key ring on which are hung all of the truths of the word of God. So if you remember that analogy, we don't have one key on the small key ring.

4:35 - 5:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Stay awake and engaged in the class, as it is a discussion, not just a lecture.

The analogy of a pie with slices is used to describe the major principles of Christian living, indicating that they are being picked and opened up without a necessary logical order or descending importance.

So if you want to use the analogy of this or think of the. Pie as all the major principles and we're just picking as it were at random some of the slices and opening them up. All right. The second major principle is this.

6:03 - 6:16 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The class brainstorms and lists several realities that prevent escape from tension and conflict in this life, including the cursed earth, the devil's activity, the world system…

The example of a runner straining to win a race, experiencing heavy legs, burning lungs, and pounding head, illustrates that the dominant images of the Christian life preclude the absence of tension and conflict.

The dominant images or analogies of the Christian life are ones which preclude any notion of the absence of tension and conflict. Did you ever see a runner who's really trying to win the race come floating across the line? You say, this is the most wonderful experience I've ever had. You know, this just feels so great. No effort, no

19:54 - 20:21 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The class brainstorms and lists several realities that prevent escape from tension and conflict in this life, including the cursed earth, the devil's activity, the world system…

The anecdote of marathon runner Salazar almost killing himself and dropping to 86 degrees body temperature to win the Boston Marathon reinforces the idea that high-level athletic competition involves extreme tension and conflict, mirroring the Christian life.

heavy legs, no burning lungs, no pounding head. You talk to any man who is in any kind of athletic competition at any high level where winning counts for something. And the descriptions at times are almost more than I can bear. When you read of the people who win the... Well, look at this Salazar,

20:21 - 20:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Confirm from your own experience that indwelling sin is most powerful when you endeavor to please God.

A story about a busy housewife choosing between watching the news and reading her Bible illustrates how indwelling sin is most active and powerful when one seeks to do the highest good for their soul.

I've used this illustration on several occasions and I'll use it again because it's one I think to which all of us can relate. Here we've come home from a busy day at the office, busy day at school, or as a housewife you've spent a very trying day. Mummy this, mummy that, mummy the other thing, mummy this, mummy that, and you feel if you hear the word mummy one more time you're going to go bang your head against the wall.

26:22 - 26:44 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He continues to expound the reality of indwelling sin, turning to Galatians 5:17, which describes the flesh lusting against the Spirit. Martin uses an analogy of a conquered…

An analogy of a country conquered by its rightful owner, but with remaining pockets of usurping guerrilla forces, illustrates how indwelling sin (the flesh) continues to oppose the Spirit's work even after sin's dominion is broken.

Remaining sin, here called the flesh, continually opposes that which God by the spirit has done and that which the spirit is committed to do is in constant opposition. So conflict and tension will be both incessant and at times powerful. Now let me use a simple illustration that I hope will help clarify this. I'd thought of using the Falklands situation but I said no because if I do then it may inflame passions if I indicate that the Argentines or Argentines or the British are the conquerors. So let's think of a neutral

32:39 - 33:18 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And therefore there can be no release from tension and conflict until remaining or indwelling sin is no longer a reality. And if we understand our Bibles correctly, that will not come until at death our spirits are made …

A reference to John Bunyan's 'The Holy War' is used to connect the analogy of a conquered country to the biblical imagery of King Jesus dethroning the devil in the heart of a believer.

one of the responsibilities of that government to wipe them out until they no longer remain. Well, in some ways that's analogous to what God has done in us. The devil was the usurping governor on the throne of our hearts and in our lives. He had under his power all of the members of our body. Ephesians

35:37 - 35:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Be wary of claims to a Christian experience that goes beyond what Jesus Christ anticipated for His people, as this is dangerous ground.

A story about a former church member who left because the church's teaching on indwelling sin was perceived as 'cheap salvation' illustrates the practical danger of denying the ongoing reality of sin in the believer's life.

Now let me show you how practical. This is some time ago. We had someone come to our congregation and after being amongst us for maybe a year or so. This person wrote a letter saying they could no longer come to this church.

44:37 - 44:50 Read in full sermon