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Baggage Claim: Lord’s Day 36

Colossians 3:1-10

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 

Matthew 11:28-30

“28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Introduction:  

  • Ellie the Dog and her special shirt to cover her cut that would not scab.

We are as believers saved by Christ.  This means our sins have been forgiven as Jesus has suffered in our place.  This is called substitutionary atonement.  Jesus was our substitute.  He stood in our place and atoned, paid for our sin.

So, what now? 

I have spent last few months going through Colossians 1 and 2 and it addresses how and why Jesus was able to atone for our sin.  We have discussed how new birth comes about as an act of God upon the believer. 

As we opened Chapter 3, the discussion turned to how we are to put to death what is earthly in us.  And we will be addressing some of the more specifics on that today.

You recall the “use to” part of our lives.  We USE to be this, but now we are in Christ, and we are a new creation, we are to be putting to death this sin.

We talk a lot about sin in the church.  This thing that separates us from God.  We talk about what we bring to the table, and it always seems to be a negative. 

We come to church, or we were raised in church, and we hear about this sin in our lives.  We hear sermons and teaching about sin and forgiveness of sin in Christ and how we can live eternally in the good place.

We like this.  We have these things that we have done, said, thought and places we have gone.  We begin to feel this burden in our conscience and in our heart and we have this baggage. (illustration with suitcase full of things below)

  1. Oh yeah, I remember this. I should not have gone to this place
  2. That thing I should not have said
  3. I thought this was a good idea at the time, turns out, not so much
  4. I just wanted them/that person to accept/love me
  5. My heart was so full of anger and hate that I lashed out
  6. I felt justified because all that they/he/she did to me
  7. I am a red head, what did you expect?
  8. I am Irish, what did you expect?
  9. I am a man/boy with urges, what did you expect?
  10. My parents divorced, what did you expect?
  11. I knew it was wrong; I did it anyway.

Do you mean Jesus will take this away?  Jesus will take this upon himself?  Oh, thank you Jesus. 

We take that and receive that grace.  We are so thankful.  We continue to live and then we find in our bag that maybe we picked up some of those old things.  Maybe there are some items in there that are still there.

Next, you have someone like me that teaches sanctification.  That there is instant sanctification, that you are instantly set apart, instantly set aside for holy use.  There is also continuing, ongoing sanctification.  That we are to progressively be made holy. That we are to grow in holiness.  That we spend our lifetime putting to death our sin.

But this is the difficult part – it is like picking scab.  If I keep talking about our sin and how we need to grow, at what point will there be joy in our life as a believer.  At what point is the burden easy and light?

We look in this bag and there is a never-ending supply of baggage.  The content just keeps coming.

I am bringing this . . . again Lord, do you still love me?

I have not grown like I wanted. . . Lord, do you still love me?

I am doing better Lord, but I am still failing. . . do you still love me?

I hope I die on a good day. . . or I hope the Lord returns when I am having a good day.

We never get to a place where Jesus is seen as a light burden.  We are weary.  We are heavy laden.  Where is our rest?  How can we live out these words of Jesus?  How can we experience these words?

If this is you, then you are missing it here.  You are missing it completely.  The enemy is sowing doubt and lies in your mind. 

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  (repeat) 

Did you hear this?  Do you hear this?  How have we died?

Textual Observation:

If we are raised with Christ (and we are) in what way have we died?  How were we dead?  If one is raised from, what are they raised?

Previously we began to dig into this language here that there are these textual words that say we are dead in one sense and alive in another sense.  That we are buried in one way and raised in another.

What does it mean?

When we are alive in Christ, we are ALIVE in Christ. I really want you to hear this.  Two weeks ago the sermon title was “The Happiest Funeral Ever.” I told you about Dr. Forbes, death just days away from 100.

That was a happy funeral.  But it was not the happiest ever.  You know what the happiest funeral is/was? The day you died and rose with Christ. 

Those who are raised with Christ, will never die. Not for one second.  Not for five minutes.  You will never die.  Two passages we will look at here.

The first is John 11.  In this text we have the death of Lazarus.  Jesus comes to the house where Mary and Martha are.  They are having a funeral.  Martha comes to Jesus v21, Lord if you had only been here, Lazarus would not have died. 

“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus says. To this Martha replies, “I know, I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 

Then there is this, John 11:25–26, Jesus is talking to Martha, the sister of the man who’s in the grave.

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.

Yes, we die. The text itself says, “though he die, yet shall he live.” But no, we don’t die, because it says in verse 26, “everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” Lazarus’s body lay dead in the grave, but Lazarus was not dead. His body was dead. He was not dead. He had not died.

Now here’s the other verse. This one is even more important. Jesus says in John 5:24,

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life

Believers in Jesus who keep his word have passed already out of death into life. They now have what’s called eternal life. Eternal life cannot, by definition, stop for a second. It cannot stop. You never lose it. It is eternal. There’s not a five-minute pause in the hospital or anywhere.

Repeat after me . . Christ . . . is . . . .my . . . life!

(Now put to death what is earthly in you.) 

Put it to death because it is not you anymore.  You do not put it to death because you are trying to gain eternal life.  You do not put it to death to prove that you are worthy for God’s grace.  (Let me clue you in, you are not worthy of your next breath.   You are not worthy of your next heartbeat, and neither am I)

You are putting it to death because you are not that man anymore.   You are putting it to death because you are not that woman anymore.  You are putting it to death because you have a new love.  You are putting it to death because you have a new life.

Now is it more clear how Jesus is not a burden?  Is it clear how Jesus’ yoke is easy?  He is it.  He is pulling the weight. 

We are not picking scabs here.  When we get to verse 5 and it says, “Put to death what is earthly in you,” and then it begins to make a list. 

That list can look A LOT like the things that were in that suitcase.  It will look a lot like what I brought to the table.  It includes this list and even more.  Paul was just making some examples.

“Put to death what is earthly in you, sexual immorality.”

Well that is a big one. 

When I arrived here at Donnel’s Creek the decision had been made to not make any big changes for about six months.  During this time I would get to know you and you get to know me and I would get to know how things operate. I could observe what is working and what can be improved.

As the sixth month date was arriving I began to work on a strategy of growing this body.  There are TWO avenues that can be a HUGE source of growth and one of them is the youth program.

We have on this lower end of our body these kids that represent scores of more kids that could really be nurtured and matured.  Beth is has done, is doing and I am certain will continue to do a beautiful job with this program.

But I want to give you some insight into what the youth of Springfield, New Carlisle and everywhere in between are facing.

Adult content was something that in the recent past in which you wanted to consume, you had to go somewhere else and get.  Those days are over.

This, sexual immorality covers a lot of ground.  The word used there in the Biblical language is pornea.  It refers to a wide range of things like adultery, fornication, immorality, unfaithfulness, prostitution and in general, any sexual sin.

Paul is making an imperative here: “Put to death what is earthly in you.” Which MEANS that there are earthly things in them. 

As a church, as believers in Christ, we are growing in holiness and we are putting to death what is earthly in us.  If we are doing that as a church, as those from the outside come in, they will ALSO be doing this. 

What are some of the alluring things of the world that is attracting our children.  This is not as simple as counseling them to avoid the back seat on Friday and Saturday night.  Times have changed.

Heard of Only Fans? 

Only fans began in the twenty-teens for content creators.  That you can post videos on how to cook a specific dish.  You can start the conversation and invite behind a paywall and be taught. Content creators could be anything from mechanics to comedians.

In 2020 blew up with adult content and if one says Only Fans, the two are paired.  As of today, 90% of the content is adult.

I have consumed none of it.  I will make a pledge that I guard my heart very closely in this area.  I will not even look at a mannequin in a Vicotria’s Secret window.  It is not arrogance or pride, self-righteousness, it is not legalism, it is self-preservation.  I want to give nothing to the enemy.

So much so, that as I explain to you a Tic Tock channel called Bop House, I would not look at it long.  These are fully clothed girls, 13+ that is headed by a woman named Sophie Rain.

Sophie Rain claims to be a Christian.  She also claims to be a virgin.  She is an adult content creator on Only Fans. 

There are young women all over the country, (14, 15, 17 years old) whose goal is to make it to Bop House in LA.  Why? It super charges their career as an Only Fans model.  It guarantees success.

The girls, fully clothed, post videos on Tic Tock that on surface level just appear to be choreographed dances.  They are fully clothed but revealing at the same time.

This is attractive.  The promise to make tens of thousands of dollars each month and some others flaunting millions of dollars each month is attractive.

One such Bop House resident just recently turned 18.  After MUCH publicity, at 12:01 on her birthday she opened an Only Fans account and three hours had 1 million paying subscribers.  Do you not think that there are young women who will find this appealing?  That they can make major money selling themselves?

There are 1.4 million women on Only Fans.  1.2 million of them are between the ages of 18 to 24.  There are only 10 million total women in the USA between ages of 18 to 24.  That means that 1 out of every 10 (10%) have content on Only Fans. 

There are some models who have made millions.  One in ten girls Yet the average income for content creators is $180 per month.  Most are selling their soul for this.

Who is consuming it?  There are 82 million men in USA. 90% of the subscribers are married.  68% are white.  The overwhelming average consumer is white, married male. 

What is the attraction?  The allure. It is all a lie.  That is the definition of sin.  It is a lie.  It made big promises to Eve, but failed to deliver.  This is true in my life.  There was great hope in the promises sin has made and it has failed every time.

What do we do with this?

We want to grow as a church.  When I pray for this church I pray that we grow spiritually.  That we grow in knowledge.  That we grow knowing Jesus more, that it produces in us a reverent praise and a commitment to grow in our faith.

But I also pray that we grow in number.  As we grow in number, I want to fill these seats.  I am serious when I can see a day when we have another congregation.  It is possible with God.  We can have one in east Springfield.  We can have one in Beavercreek.  We can plant churches all over the region.

This means we will be bringing in people who are hurt by sin.  People who have been lied to by the enemy.  People who have scars.  People who need to put to death what is earthly in them.  People just like you and me.  People who need rest.

Jesus says, come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.

There are people who need this.  We must be a people ready to provide it.

I want to repeat what I said earlier.  Paul is encouraging this people to put to death what is earthly in them.  This is a reality for them.  It is a reality for us and it is a reality for those who come to us. 

Foundation: MT e55

This place that I typically record these videos in is both a studio and an office.  Originally it was a shed to store tractors & tools. 

This building was built very well, but the person who built it, over 25 years ago, never foresaw the day when it would be full of electricity, heating, cooling, carpet, drywall, insulation . . .you get the idea.

So it was built on the ground.  It was not built on a concrete foundation.  Therefore, time and weather has not been a friend to this building.

A few days ago I had to deconstruct a portion of it because there was some erosion.  Some of the wood had gotten wet and rotted and needed to be replaced.

The building needed a new foundation.  If I replaced the old, bad wood with the same type, in a few years it would need to be done again.

So this time a different approach.  A better foundation was necessary. 

The building was raised with jacks.  Wood that is made to withstand weather was used.  Concrete was poured where it needed to be poured. Once again, the building was level and firm.

Solid and competent Foundations are absolutely necessary if you want a structure to last.  They are not just a good idea, the are necessary.

Scripture has something very similar to say about foundations.  Jesus said:

“Whoever hears my words and puts them to use is like a wiseman who built his house on a rock.  When the rains came and the streams rose and the winds blew & beat upon that house it did not fall because it was founded upon a rock.” Matthew 7:25-26

This IS the importance of God’s word in our lives.  If we see it as just a good thing but not completely necessary . . . or we will get to it when we have time . . . do not be surprised when your daily walk in the faith goes sideways.

I want to encourage you as a believer, do not just skip over Jesus’ words.  They are life. Remember, he is not saying hear my words only . . . it is hear my words and puts them to practice. How can we put to practice the words of Christ?  More on this next time.

S.D.G.

The Light of Life p2: MT e54

One event, which I may have shared already, that was very rememberable was when, as a youth, my father and mother took me to Mammoth Cave in western KY.

We took a multi-hour tour of these caves and it was nothing short of amazing.  There was one moment where the tour guide gave everyone ample warning that he was going to turn out the lights and even let us know how long it was going to last and when everyone was ready, the lights went out.

It was the thickest, most blackest darkness I have ever experienced.  It was a darkness you could feel.  I literally could put my hand in front of my face, centimeters away, and if that hand was not attached to me, I would have no idea it was there.

Monday we were in John as it was talking about Jesus, the Word and that he was the light of men and that this light was shining into darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.

What was the first thing created at creation?  Genesis 1, The earth was without form and void and darkness was over the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

The same Spirit of God who created light in the darkness of the Creation, is the same Spirit of God who created light in the darkness of the new creation.  (repeat) Every believer is a new creation.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

I like to think of that experience I had as a young boy in Mammoth Cave in seeing that thick darkness like Jesus.  The LIGHT. A light that could not be overcome with darkness but rather aggressively chased darkness away.

S.D.G.

The Amazing Donkeys God Uses in the Faith

Back in the 1990’s I was a big DC Talk fan as well as the Newsboys.  Michael Tait was a part of the trio who made up DC Talk.

During that decade Christian music really changed.  From my perspective, Christians bands mostly stopped copying mainstream pop and developed its own sound.  Bands like DC Talk were entering the top 40 pop charts.

To the disdain of a hundred thousand youth pastors, Toby Mac left DC Talk to start a solo career.  Fast forward about ten years later and Michael Tait became the Newsboys front man.

Recent credible news reports have not been good for Tait.  This news has nothing to do with ticket or music sales, but rather, serious criminal activity which been uncovered.  (The kind of stuff addressed in 1 Corinthians)

Steve Taylor is a writer and producer, and he has done extensive work with the Newsboys.  Recently, Mike Cosper interviewed Steve on the podcast “The Bulletin”.  One part of the interview really caught my attention.

They were pondering those whose faith was greatly influenced by the band DC Talk.  The music of DC Talk accompanied a faith and commitment growth spurt in some youthful Christians. This places a direct link between the music of DC Talk and their faith. Further, for some believers, this ties Michael Tait as a source of faith influence. Yet, this same Michael Tait, has allegedly been doing some illegal and immoral activities.

What about that? What does it say about those whose faith grew by means of a person who has credible evidence of serious wrong doing?

I found myself in the same situation.  A few years ago, the same Mike Cosper from the podcast mentioned above did the expose on a faith hero of mine, Mark Driscoll (The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill). 

In the early 2000’s I was a prodigal man who had strayed far, far from home. With the introductions of iPods and subsequently podcasts, I began listening to Mars Hill sermons while working out.  Mark Driscoll was the preaching pastor at Mars Hill and he had a preaching style I had never experienced before, and it drew me in. 

Over the next two years of almost daily listening to Mark Driscoll preaching, I was brought to repentance.  So drastic the change in me that a desire to enter pastoral ministry began to emerge.

Then I heard the expose of credible accusations leveled towards Mark to which he would not respond.  There were times while listening to the abusive details that I pondered if Mark Driscoll was even saved. 

What does that mean about my faith? Could I REALLY be changed by a man who was possibly, not even saved himself?  How could someone like this be used to grow me so much? 

Then, clear as a bell, Balaam came to mind (Numbers 22-24).  God used a donkey to get His message across.  That donkey never went to seminary (or tabernacle). That donkey was just . . . a donkey.

That moment was both exciting and humbling.  Exciting because the real change in me, brought by the Spirit, was of God and not because of Mark Driscoll.  Humbling because, now as a pastor myself, I MUST realize I am not center.  God’s message is center.  I just deliver that message. In the same way Balaam’s donkey delivered the message.

For those of you who may stumble across this page and find yourself as one of those whose faith really grew because of DC Talk, Newsboys or Michael Tait, do not be discouraged.  Your faith DID grow.  You are not imagining it. 

The ENDS by which brought about your faith is GOD.  The MEANS by which God worked could be through Billy Graham, Mark Driscoll, Michael Tait . . . or even a donkey. 

The most important part in this situation is the ends!

S.D.G.

The Light of Life: MT e53

The book of John begins,  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.  Through time I have focused so much on the first three verses of this passage, which are fascinating that I have missed the significance of that last sentence in verse 5.

The light sines in the darkness, that is Jesus, He is the light.  But the darkness has not overcome it.

Have you ever noticed that at night time, when all the lights are turned off and you are going to sleep that the smallest little light cannot go undetected?  It can be like the littlest of lights on a wall adapter or charger of some sort. 

You do not notice in the day.  But when there is no light, it can become very bright.  If you happen to have a digital clock, the light it emits in the day is dim.  But at night, it can shine like Times Square on New Year’s eve. 

These are small lights.  John 1 is talking about the Word.  This Word is creator.  This Word is God.  This Word is eternally in the past and eternally in the future.  This Word gave life to humanity.  It said to humanity, breathe and it did.

This Word is light.  It is not the little green light on your Chromebook charger.  This Word is a light that changes a life.  Complete change.

This light can cast off the dark world.  Anything and everything in you that is dark, it can be eradicated with this Light.  I want you to know this light.  Oh how your life will change when you know this light.

S.D.G.

The Lonely Acre

It’s so much easier to walk away!

Those invisible restraints seen arrayed.

No burden to there remain,

And a sad emancipation proclaim!

Complex thoughts, yes, and a mix of emotion

Under a cover and fear of delusion.

Erect a dam, contain and constrain!

All thoughts to flee, restrain.

The acres, are they too great?

A pasture too broad for shepherd and sheep?

Restless, confused, wounded, exasperated!

The lonely hidden acre, found.

Silent the lamb, no bleet raising.

Should the sheep pastor the shepherd also grazing?

Awake and prowling the wolf has found,

And to that hidden acre, quickly bound!

Unknown and overlooked with no protection,

No fence! Escape without detection.

Wanders again amidst the fray,

Because, it’s so much easier to walk away!

Protect Your Heart: MT e52

My daughter has two boys, one that is around 6 months and another which just turned 2.   When you go to her house one does not have to look far to notice that this house has babies.  Even if no one was home it is easy to tell it is a house that has babies.

How so?  Cabinets that have dangerous chemicals have a special lock on so that children can’t open the door.  There are gates to keep the children from falling down stairs.  The house has  many safety features to keep little fingers from danger.

The house has been baby proofed.  As much as possible, the desire is to protect them from danger.  Protection.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

This is a protection passage.  The instruction here is with passion, diligence, be deliberate, on purpose, protect your heart.  Is this the muscle that beats in our chest?

No, this is not a call to watch our sugar intake and get cardio exercise.  Even though I could use that advice as well.

The heart in this passage is the essence of your life.  The mind.  That thing that processes what we see and hear.

This passage is saying, be careful what you see and hear. Be careful what you allow into your world.  This is a baby proofing passage. 

Just as my daughter takes precautions for her boys, this Scripture is saying, take precautions.  Set up boundaries. 

My Lord has taught me to look away.  That is protection.  Keep the danger from entering the mind.  Do this with vigilance. 

When we are faced with the potential of thinking deadly thoughts of lust, anger or anything else like this, guard the heart.  Don’t let it in.  keep the springs of life pure.

As always S.D.G.

Treasures: MT e51

Throughout my office and studio I have a LOT of things that have been given to me.  They are little treasures.

Here is one, it is a little ceramic heart that my daughter Madison made for me.  On the bottom is her name and month and. Year she made it.  Inside of it is more treasure.  I have coin from the Holy Lands that my mother and father gave me.  It is called a mite.  Also inside of this is a very tiny shell that my daughter Hannah gave me on one of our trips to the Ocean.

This little heart is just the beginning of all kinds of stuff.  In fact, I have one shelf that has a big collection of all this stuff given to me through the years.  I see most of them every day of the year.

What makes these valuable?  For everyone else, at best, these items are nice to look at but in reality they are pieces of junk, nothing to be valued.  Why are they valuable to me?

They are tied to something, someone or some place that I love.  They bring back memories.  The treasure is NOT the item but what the item represents.

2 Corinthians 4:7 it says, “We have these treasures in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

What is the treasure here?  What does jars of clay mean?

The jars of clay are the believers.  That is what we are.  Just simple jars of clay.  Out of the dust we were formed and to the dust we will return. 

The treasure is Christ!  In the sight of our Lord we are valuable when Christ is in us. 

In the same way that the value of the various items in my office are only valuable because of what is tied to them, we are valuable because of Christ in us.  He is the one in whom God is well pleased. 

Your worth in God is connected to the worth of Christ.  As He is worthy, so are you, if you are in Him. 

As always, S.D.G.

The Distractions of Sin: MT e50

I once had a fat fly buzzing around my office.  The plan was to ignore it and remain focused on the reading in which I was engaged.

However, the more I tried to focus, the more the fly got my attention. So a new plan emerged and it was capital punishment for the fly.  God father reference: the fly would swim with the fishes.

I got up and began following it all around the office.  Swing and miss, swing and a miss. I am no Babe Ruth, the sultan of swat!  Follow it some more until I realized that I was now completely distracted from my reading.

I had gone from being emerged in reading to erratically following a fly.

This is so much like life, even life for the believer. 

We discussed the reality for every person born into this world, no matter if you are born in America or Angola, if you are born, you inherit the rebellion of Adam. For those who are born again, in Christ, we inherit His righteousness.

Which brings up a good question:  What if that old Saab, after repaired, broke again?  What if that synchronizer went out again? 

It is a good question because even though we are born again, forgiven and in Christ, there are times when we still sin.

We are trying to live focused on the Christian life yet we are distracted, just as I was with that fly in my office. 

When we are living this life in Christ as a believer, and a follower, it doesn’t mean that sin won’t distract us and take our attention off the Christ we love. 

I say this as an encouragement because as we strive for holiness, we are still in this body.  It can be temptations and harassment from the enemy. For it is true that “Satan walks about like a lion, seeking who he may devour” but most often the source of our sin is . . . our flesh.

When we were born again, our ability to sin was not removed. What did happen is our hearts were changed and we desired passionately to obey God.  We are disappointed when we do fall short and are given a will to love God’s word and to seek God. (Jeremiah 31:31; Ezekiel 36:25-27).

We have always been and always will be solely dependent upon Jesus.

As always, S.D.G.

Saab Memories: MT e49

I recall the first time I saw a European car in real life.  It was not a photo in a magazine but real silver Saab. A much younger version of me was near Lexington, KY and this 900S turbo with a sunroof passed by and became my favorite.

Fast forward a few years, now into adulthood, my first car purchase was a silver Saab 900S with a sunroof.  I loved everything about this car.  I l loved the way the doors shut.  I loved the way I felt in the leather seats. The seats were even heated, terrific for those deep cold winter days.

Within literal weeks of owning this car I learned that there was a design flaw. Upon putting the car in reverse, it would pop out of gear and found that around 110K miles, every single car (not some of them but all of them) have a piece of the transmission fail. It is called a synchronizer

The cost of the part was under $20.  The installation was near $2,000.  The engine had to be removed from the car to put the in the new part, thus why the big expense.

This is true for every Saab built in a certain timeframe. All of them.

It reminded me of a situation in which we all find ourselves.  If you are watching this, it means you were born. (no brainer, right?).

Let us take it one step further; if you were born, you were born in the image of Adam. Which means you share Adam’s flesh.

Do you and I have to be taught how to lie?  Were you taught how to be rebellious?

The answer is no.  Why?  Because all of us were born in the flesh of Adam. We inherited his rebellion.  Just like the flaw in ALL the SAABS, the flaw of Adam is in every human.

Romans 5:18, “One trespass led to condemnation for ALL”

This is about our position in this life.  If we are IN Adam, you and I, are like my old Saab, beautiful outside, but flawed inside. 

Our hope is in Christ.  Again, Paul writes, “Through one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”  (Romans 5:19) If you are in Christ, who Paul calls the second Adam, you are perfect.

Through the second Adam, Jesus, the curse of first Adam is cured, fixed, settled. 

But what happens if the transmission breaks again (what if we still have sin and rebellion)?  What does that mean?

We will address this next time – until then S.D.G.