Sermon summary
Matthew 5:27-30, Genesis 2:18-25, Genesis 3:1-7, Hebrews 12:2, John 17:20-26
Jesus, the true Adam, in delivering his manifesto for how He will restore the Kingdom of God onto earth, and how His followers should live, clarifies for us that lust has no place. He brilliantly weaves Genesis 2 & 3 and the 7th and 10th commandment all together, to show that adultery in the form of lust comes from the heart's secretive desire to take and devour on its own terms. He reveals the only solution is to recognize you are powerless. To come into the kingdom of heaven unable to fight, and work, and exude control. This is a direct echo of the first beatitude, blessed are the powerless! Jesus the true Adam, not only models this, but lives it out perfectly. Though tempted, he never yielded, but instead, set His eyes on His Father’s love, and the Joy that was set before Him, which was us, His true delight. When we give ourselves over to Him, and the infinite and eternal love that He has for us, before the foundation of the world, we are restored, pulled out of lust and isolation, and liberated! (though perhaps a little maimed by worldly standards!)
How has lust presented itself to you in your life?
How have you surrendered it to Jesus?
What things have you chopped off or cut out?
What people are helping you limp along to freedom?
Supplemental studies
The Bible Project: ‘How to Read the Bible Videos’ – ‘How to Read Biblical Narrative’