“Do You Not Know?” - The S.A.L.T.

"Do You Not Know?"

(A Message to the Multitude)

(Preached Sunday Evening, September 20, 2020)

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”

(1 Corinthians 6:9-12)

Introduction

Now, please allow us to share with you the testimony of George Muller.

“One Saturday afternoon, about the middle of November 1825, I had taken a walk with my friend Beta. On our return he said to me, that he was in the habit of going on Saturday evenings to the house of a Christian, where there was a meeting. On further enquiry he told me that they read the Bible, sang, prayed, and read a printed sermon. No sooner had I heard this, than it was to me as if I had found something after which I had been seeking all my life long. I immediately wished to go with my friend, who was not at once willing to take me; for knowing me as a gay young man, he thought I should not like this meeting. At last, however, he said he would call for me.-I would here mention, that Beta seems to have had conviction of sin, and probably also a degree of acquaintance with the Lord, when about fifteen years old. Afterwards, being in a cold and worldly state, he joined me in this sinful Journey to Switzerland. On his return, however, being extremely miserable, and convinced of his guilt, he made a full confession of his sin to his father; and whilst with him, sought the acquaintance of a Christian brother, named Richter. This Dr. Richter, who himself had studied a few years before at Halle, gave him, on his return to the university, a letter of introduction to a believing tradesman, of the name of Wagner. It was this brother, concerning whom Beta spoke to me, and in whose house the meeting was held.

“We went together in the evening. As I did not know the manners of believers, and the joy they have in seeing poor sinners, even in any measure caring about the things of God, I made an apology for coming. The kind answer of this dear brother I shall never forget. He said: “Come as often as you please; house and heart are open to you.” We sat down and sang a hymn. Then brother Kayser, now a missionary in Africa, in connection with the London Missionary Society, who was then living at Halle, fell on his knees, and asked a blessing on our meeting. This kneeling down made a deep impression upon me; for I had never either seen any one on his knees, nor had I ever myself prayed on my knees. He then read a chapter and a printed sermon; for no regular meetings for expounding the Scriptures were allowed in Prussia, except an ordained clergyman was present. At the close we sang another hymn, and then the master of the house prayed. Whilst he prayed, my feeling was something like this: “I could not pray as well, though I am much more learned than this illiterate man.” The whole made a deep impression on me. I was happy; though, if I had been asked, why I was happy, I could not have clearly explained it.

“When we walked home, I said to Beta, “All we have seen on our journey to Switzerland, and all our former pleasures, are as nothing in comparison with this evening.” Whether I fell on my knees when I returned home, I do not remember; but this I know, that I lay peaceful and happy in my bed. This shows that the Lord may begin His work in different ways. For I have not the least doubt, that on that evening, He began a work of grace in me, though I obtained joy without any deep sorrow of heart, and with scarcely any knowledge. That evening was the turning point in my life.-The next day, and Monday, and once or twice besides, I went again to the house of this brother, where I read the Scriptures with him and another brother; for it was too long for me to wait till Saturday came again.

“Now my life became very different, though not so, that all sins were given up at once. My wicked companions were given up; the going to taverns was entirely discontinued; the habitual practice of telling falsehoods was no longer indulged in, but still a few times after this I spoke an untruth.-At the time when this change took place, I was engaged in translating a novel out of French into German, for the press, in order to obtain the means of gratifying my desire to see Paris, & etc. This plan about the journey was now given up, though I had not light enough to give up the work in which I was engaged, but finished it. The Lord, however, most remarkably put various obstacles in the way and did not allow me to sell the manuscript. At last, seeing that the whole was wrong, I determined never to sell it, and was enabled to abide by this determination. The manuscript was burnt.

“I now no longer lived habitually in sin, though I was still often overcome, and sometimes even by open sins, though far less frequently than before, and not without sorrow of heart. I read the Scriptures, prayed often, loved the brethren, went to church from right motives, and stood on the side of Christ; though laughed at by my fellow-students.

“It had pleased God to teach me something of the meaning of that precious truth: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I understood something of the reason why the Lord Jesus died on the cross, and suffered such agonies in the Garden of Gethsemane: even that thus, bearing the punishment due to us, we might not have to bear it ourselves. And, therefore, apprehending in some measure the love of Jesus for my soul, I was constrained to love Him in return. What all the exhortations and precepts of my father and others could not effect; what all my own resolutions could not bring about, even to renounce a life of sin and profligacy: I was enabled to do, constrained by the love of Jesus. The individual who desires to have his sins forgiven, must seek for it through the blood of Jesus. The individual who desires to get power over sin, must likewise seek it through the blood of Jesus.” (Muller, George. “George Müller’s Testimony.” GeorgeMuller.org, 24 Dec. 2017, www.georgemuller.org/devotional/george-mullers-testimony.)

Now, let’s hear that opening passage that we read to you in the beginning, again, but this time, instead of in the King James Version, let’s hear it in the Amplified Bible version.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [by perversion], nor those who participate in homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander], nor swindlers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God. And such were some of you [before you believed]. But you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].”

[The Body Is the Lord’s]

“Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me].” (1 Corinthians 6:9-12)

I. I was lost in sin… without Christ!

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God?” (1 Corinthians 6:9a, AMP)

II. You will not continue in sin… in Christ!

“Do not be deceived;

“Neither the sexually immoral,
“Nor idolaters,
“Nor adulterers,
“Nor effeminate [by perversion],
“Nor those who participate in homosexuality,
“Nor thieves,
“Nor the greedy,
“Nor drunkards,
“Nor revilers [whose words are used as weapons to abuse, insult, humiliate, intimidate, or slander],
“Nor swindlers

“Will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9b-10)

IV. You will be washed, sanctified, and justified… in Christ!

“And such were some of you [before you believed]. But

- “You were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ],
- “You were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy],
- “You were justified [declared free of guilt]
  - “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and
  - “In the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].” (1 Corinthians 6:11)

Conclusion

“Everything is permissible for me,
“But not all things are beneficial.
“Everything is permissible for me,
“But I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me].” (1 Corinthians 6:12)

OUTLINE:

“Do You Not Know?”

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?” (1 Corinthians 6:9)

Saintly George Muller of Bristol testifies that he was a once-so-wicked sinner!

I was lost in sin… without Christ!
You will not continue in sin… in Christ!

III. You will be washed, sanctified, and justified… in Christ!

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-12)

WORSHIP:

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (22)

Opening:

I Am Resolved (315)

Jesus Paid It All (265)

Message:

Be Thou My Vision (386)

Preview:

(Unbroken 2 (2018) Official Trailer