Sacrificially Battling Sin

Krista Wilson • July 14, 2021

Summary of sermon on Matthew 18:7-9 from Pastor Ky Martin.

In this passage, Jesus is instructing the disciples on sin.


From these verses we can see three truths about temptations:


(1) They should be expected.


“Beloved; do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” - 1 Peter 4:12 


(2) They are under God's sovereignty. 


God is not the author of temptations however he does use them as part of the process into making us into his own image and likeness. 


“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13 


(3) They are serious.


The scriptures use aggressive language when it comes to resisting the temptation to sin...


  • Fight (2 Timothy 4:7)
  • Resist ( James 4:7)
  • Put to death (Colossians 3:5)
  • I discipline my body and keep it under control ( 1 Corinthians 9:27)
  • Stand against ( Ephesians 6:11)
  • Make every effort (2 Peter 1:5)


We must not forget that we should pursue holiness!


Reasons that we do not pursue holiness...


(1) The fear of legalism.


If our idea of being gospel centered does not require work on our part then we have centered ourselves on a false gospel. There are going to be times when the world applauded us for being holy, however if we were truly following Jesus there will be other things that the world will not be a big fan of.


(2) False perceptions of Jesus.


As we read scriptures we build an idea of who we think Jesus is. We often take in the things we like about Jesus. We love that Jesus was not judgemental and a friend of sinners and tax collectors, but we need to remember that he took sin seriously! Jesus heals and restores but it’s not without calling us to walk differently.


(3) We don’t see it as necessary.


The fight against the sin that wants to entangle us is 100% necessary. Jesus is painting a picture for us of the lengths we should go to in order to save our lives to fight against the things that tempt us and want to draw us away from God. While we must hold fast to what we know that we are justified by faith alone, we can’t miss that there is a practical holiness and righteousness that we must have to enter heaven. 


(4) Laziness.


We will always be fighting the battle against sin until the day that we die. Part of following Jesus is recognizing that I am not the person I should be because of sin, recognizing that we cannot do it alone to become more like Jesus


(5) We equate personal holiness with perfection. 


The Bible talks about holiness as something we cannot generate or achieve, but there are other texts that talk about holiness in a different way.


“And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” - Job 1:8


God is saying that there is a righteousness that sets Job apart as someone who is clearly following the Lord.


We aren’t talking about a goal that is unachievable. All sins separate us from God, but there is a difference between someone who is blatantly not following Jesus and someone who is trying to live a life learning to follow him and obey him eliminating certain sins from our lives. 


Through all of this we can still have encouragement that...


...holiness is possible


“Be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence,

for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.” - 1 Corinthians 16:16-18


...there is a finish line 


“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” - 1 Peter 5:8-10




“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13 

Arm Yourselves

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Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:1-6 Prepare to suffer Is. 50:6-8a I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter. -Thomas R. Schreiner Some people won’t like you if you follow Jesus When a culture abandons biblical standards, when extramarital sex, cohabitation, and birth outside of marriage become normal, people attack the church for its moral snobbery and judgmentalism. Peter warns us that if we do take a stand, we need to expect slander, not applause. -Daniel M. Dorian This is one of the hardest things a new Christian has to face. Your friends liked you because you shared in “the same flood of debauchery.” It seemed great fun at times, but then you came to embrace Christ… But your friends have not… They will be surprised when you say “No.” -Juan Sanchez. Keep an eternal perspective Our outcome is glorious Suffering is good for us Let’s remember that suffering accomplishes God’s purposes. It exposes what or whom we are trusting (1 Peter 1:6–7). - Juan Sanchez Ecc. 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Discipleship Questions: Verse 1 tell us to arm ourselves by thinking as Christ did about suffering. How did Christ arm himself for and against sufferings? What does it look like for us to do that? Have you ever lost friendships (or had them change) because you were following Jesus? Do you fear that we (or our kids) will experience greater persecution in the future? If yes, how should we handle that fear?

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Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Jesus suffered and died in order to bring us to God Jesus conquered death by his resurrection “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” —Martin Luther Problem #1 - he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison —Jesus preached through Noah to those who lived at that time (1 Peter 1:10–12) —Jesus proclaimed His victory to evil angels (see Genesis 6:1-4) Problem #2 - baptism now saves you —Scripture is clear - we are saved by grace not works —baptism pictures our salvation from God’s judgment through the resurrection of Christ “The waters of baptism, like the waters of the flood, demonstrate that destruction is at hand, but believers are rescued from these waters in that they are baptized with Christ, who has also emerged from the waters of death through his resurrection. Just as Noah was delivered through the stormy waters of the flood, believers have been saved through the stormy waters of baptism by virtue of Christ’s triumph over death.” —Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude —in baptism we are appealing to God for a good conscience "This appeal is an act of the heart looking away from itself and from all human instruments and calling on God, appealing to God, for grace to save.” —John Piper —in baptism we are pledging to God to live in a manner worthy of the gospel Jesus ascended to heaven and now reigns over everything “We can face suffering as Christians with confidence rather than panic, and hope rather than despair, because the road marked with Christian suffering is, no matter what its twists and turns are, the road to vindication and glory. The God who vindicated Jesus will vindicate you, and he will sustain your faith until that day.” –Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You Discipleship Questions: How does Jesus’ death and resurrection encourage us when we suffer? Why did we need Jesus to suffer and die to bring us to God? How does Jesus’ victory over death give us eternal hope? What are your thoughts regarding some of the problems in this passage? How does what Peter says about baptism elevate the importance of baptism? When were you baptized and how does this passage inform your understanding of baptism? How does knowing our victory is secured help us with all the things this life throws at us?

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