1 00:00:00,152 --> 00:00:01,983 Question: What would you say to those 2 00:00:01,983 --> 00:00:03,694 who are looking for a feeling, 3 00:00:03,694 --> 00:00:09,766 or they've got some sin they're trying to let go of? 4 00:00:09,766 --> 00:00:13,414 That that's stopping them from coming to Christ? 5 00:00:13,414 --> 00:00:14,913 Mack: Well, the New Testament 6 00:00:14,913 --> 00:00:17,474 never tells us to feel anything. 7 00:00:17,474 --> 00:00:19,173 It doesn't even use that word 8 00:00:19,173 --> 00:00:22,274 in the context of salvation. 9 00:00:22,274 --> 00:00:25,620 Our minds must know the facts. 10 00:00:25,620 --> 00:00:28,117 If I know I'm a true sinner, 11 00:00:28,117 --> 00:00:30,507 and I know I can't save myself, 12 00:00:30,507 --> 00:00:34,608 I must be persuaded that these things are true, 13 00:00:34,608 --> 00:00:36,719 that they're facts. 14 00:00:36,719 --> 00:00:40,021 And my mind as well as my heart 15 00:00:40,021 --> 00:00:43,726 must embrace the truth. 16 00:00:43,726 --> 00:00:45,317 We shouldn't look for feelings. 17 00:00:45,317 --> 00:00:47,684 Feelings can be deceiving. 18 00:00:47,684 --> 00:00:49,342 Feelings can mislead us. 19 00:00:49,342 --> 00:00:52,258 If we're looking for feelings 20 00:00:52,258 --> 00:00:54,626 and we don't have them, 21 00:00:54,626 --> 00:00:58,533 then we think that we still need something else 22 00:00:58,533 --> 00:01:00,014 or we're trusting in that. 23 00:01:00,014 --> 00:01:03,283 So, feelings mean nothing. 24 00:01:03,283 --> 00:01:05,453 Emotions mean nothing. 25 00:01:05,453 --> 00:01:08,582 They can mislead us and deceive us. 26 00:01:08,582 --> 00:01:11,039 So, they're not important. 27 00:01:11,039 --> 00:01:15,703 Now, oftentimes, they will come. 28 00:01:15,703 --> 00:01:19,150 Oftentimes, they will accompany salvation 29 00:01:19,150 --> 00:01:21,979 or they will accompany true conversion, 30 00:01:21,979 --> 00:01:24,074 but they're not necessary. 31 00:01:24,074 --> 00:01:26,266 And no one should look for those 32 00:01:26,266 --> 00:01:29,229 or be dependent on feelings 33 00:01:29,229 --> 00:01:32,480 to trust Christ. 34 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,246 All that's needed is that we know 35 00:01:35,246 --> 00:01:38,538 in our hearts we're a true sinner 36 00:01:38,538 --> 00:01:41,697 and we truly need a Savior. 37 00:01:41,697 --> 00:01:43,299 You can be persuaded of that 38 00:01:43,299 --> 00:01:45,484 and that's a true feeling in your life 39 00:01:45,484 --> 00:01:46,764 and in your heart, 40 00:01:46,764 --> 00:01:50,647 but it necessarily doesn't mean emotions. 41 00:01:50,647 --> 00:01:54,990 All that's needed is to truly know 42 00:01:54,990 --> 00:01:57,032 of our need for Him. 43 00:01:57,032 --> 00:01:59,829 And that's the basis upon which we come. 44 00:01:59,829 --> 00:02:01,878 Don't trust feelings. 45 00:02:01,878 --> 00:02:04,195 We can look away from any feelings 46 00:02:04,195 --> 00:02:08,340 and trust the Savior. 47 00:02:08,340 --> 00:02:09,825 Question: What about someone 48 00:02:09,825 --> 00:02:12,070 who's holding on to a certain sin 49 00:02:12,070 --> 00:02:14,837 that's stopping them coming to Christ. 50 00:02:14,837 --> 00:02:17,668 What would you say? 51 00:02:17,668 --> 00:02:20,824 Mack: Well, any sin, any particular sin 52 00:02:20,824 --> 00:02:22,263 can have us in bondage, 53 00:02:22,263 --> 00:02:25,985 whether it's pornography, or lust, 54 00:02:25,985 --> 00:02:28,844 or greed, or love of money, 55 00:02:28,844 --> 00:02:31,221 or an adulterous relationship, 56 00:02:31,221 --> 00:02:34,262 or religious pride. It doesn't matter. 57 00:02:34,262 --> 00:02:37,884 One sin can keep you out of Heaven. 58 00:02:37,884 --> 00:02:40,935 One sin can put you in hell. 59 00:02:40,935 --> 00:02:46,624 So, Paul said to the Thessalonians, 60 00:02:46,624 --> 00:02:49,456 he spoke to them about how they had 61 00:02:49,456 --> 00:02:51,580 turned from idols 62 00:02:51,580 --> 00:02:54,353 to serve the living God. 63 00:02:54,353 --> 00:02:58,884 We must turn from our sins, 64 00:02:58,884 --> 00:03:02,462 which means if a person 65 00:03:02,462 --> 00:03:05,556 has come to the place where they know 66 00:03:05,556 --> 00:03:06,835 the Gospel is true; 67 00:03:06,835 --> 00:03:10,756 they know Jesus Christ is the only way, 68 00:03:10,756 --> 00:03:12,799 they will either hold on 69 00:03:12,799 --> 00:03:19,702 to the sin that they love the most 70 00:03:19,702 --> 00:03:22,166 and lose Christ and perish, 71 00:03:22,166 --> 00:03:26,190 or they must relinquish and lay down 72 00:03:26,190 --> 00:03:28,039 and turn from that sin 73 00:03:28,039 --> 00:03:29,658 to be able to embrace Christ. 74 00:03:29,658 --> 00:03:33,021 You can not have Him and your sin. 75 00:03:33,021 --> 00:03:36,696 So the important thing for such a person to realize 76 00:03:36,696 --> 00:03:40,507 is do I love my sin so much 77 00:03:40,507 --> 00:03:42,106 that has me in bondage? 78 00:03:42,106 --> 00:03:43,983 Do I love my chains? 79 00:03:43,983 --> 00:03:46,741 The bondage that it brings? 80 00:03:46,741 --> 00:03:48,811 That I would rather have my sin 81 00:03:48,811 --> 00:03:51,433 and hell for eternity 82 00:03:51,433 --> 00:03:54,465 than freedom and Christ for eternity? 83 00:03:54,465 --> 00:03:56,561 Which is wise? 84 00:03:56,561 --> 00:03:58,268 Which do you truly want? 85 00:03:58,268 --> 00:04:00,671 Are you willing to love your sin 86 00:04:00,671 --> 00:04:02,918 and embrace it and not let it go 87 00:04:02,918 --> 00:04:07,614 and let it take you to hell for eternity? 88 00:04:07,614 --> 00:04:10,423 You need to see that your sin 89 00:04:10,423 --> 00:04:12,060 cannot save you, 90 00:04:12,060 --> 00:04:13,563 it cannot satisfy you, 91 00:04:13,563 --> 00:04:16,313 it can only destroy you. 92 00:04:16,313 --> 00:04:19,125 And yes, you love it, 93 00:04:19,125 --> 00:04:21,960 but you've got to recognize it for what it is. 94 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:23,757 You cannot hold on to it anymore. 95 00:04:23,757 --> 00:04:26,172 You have to count the cost. 96 00:04:26,172 --> 00:04:29,193 There was a young man in the New Testament 97 00:04:29,193 --> 00:04:32,214 who believed that he was upright, 98 00:04:32,214 --> 00:04:33,355 that he was good, 99 00:04:33,355 --> 00:04:35,306 that he kept the commandments of God, 100 00:04:35,306 --> 00:04:36,879 but he loved his riches. 101 00:04:36,879 --> 00:04:39,401 He loved his money 102 00:04:39,401 --> 00:04:41,319 because he was very rich. 103 00:04:41,319 --> 00:04:45,475 And Jesus told him that he had to 104 00:04:45,475 --> 00:04:47,707 give it all to the poor 105 00:04:47,707 --> 00:04:50,688 and come and follow Him. 106 00:04:50,688 --> 00:04:53,351 The man went away very sorrowful 107 00:04:53,351 --> 00:04:57,154 because he could not give up his money 108 00:04:57,154 --> 00:04:59,448 and follow Christ. 109 00:04:59,448 --> 00:05:02,762 So, if you have a sin 110 00:05:02,762 --> 00:05:05,926 that you're holding on to, 111 00:05:05,926 --> 00:05:07,662 forsake it. Turn from it. 112 00:05:07,662 --> 00:05:09,331 It will not satisfy you. 113 00:05:09,331 --> 00:05:10,900 It will only destroy you. 114 00:05:10,900 --> 00:05:14,206 You must see it as an enemy to your soul, 115 00:05:14,206 --> 00:05:16,391 whatever that sin is, 116 00:05:16,391 --> 00:05:19,969 that you might be able to embrace Christ. 117 00:05:19,969 --> 00:05:23,622 I would say be honest with God about that. 118 00:05:23,622 --> 00:05:26,830 Tell Him: I have this sin 119 00:05:26,830 --> 00:05:28,029 that is in my life. 120 00:05:28,029 --> 00:05:30,141 I have this thing that I love 121 00:05:30,141 --> 00:05:32,362 that I don't want to give up, 122 00:05:32,362 --> 00:05:36,201 but I know Jesus is real. 123 00:05:36,201 --> 00:05:37,648 Cry out to God for mercy. 124 00:05:37,648 --> 00:05:39,583 Ask Him to work in you. 125 00:05:39,583 --> 00:05:40,875 Begin to pray about that 126 00:05:40,875 --> 00:05:42,882 and be honest with God. 127 00:05:42,882 --> 00:05:45,445 That would be the beginning place.