WEBVTT 00:00:00.152 --> 00:00:01.983 Question: What would you say to those 00:00:01.983 --> 00:00:03.694 who are looking for a feeling, 00:00:03.694 --> 00:00:09.766 or they've got some sin they're trying to let go of? 00:00:09.766 --> 00:00:13.414 That that's stopping them from coming to Christ? NOTE Paragraph 00:00:13.414 --> 00:00:14.913 Mack: Well, the New Testament 00:00:14.913 --> 00:00:17.474 never tells us to feel anything. 00:00:17.474 --> 00:00:19.173 It doesn't even use that word 00:00:19.173 --> 00:00:22.274 in the context of salvation. 00:00:22.274 --> 00:00:25.620 Our minds must know the facts. 00:00:25.620 --> 00:00:28.117 If I know I'm a true sinner, 00:00:28.117 --> 00:00:30.507 and I know I can't save myself, 00:00:30.507 --> 00:00:34.608 I must be persuaded that these things are true, 00:00:34.608 --> 00:00:36.719 that they're facts. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:40.021 And my mind as well as my heart 00:00:40.021 --> 00:00:43.726 must embrace the truth. 00:00:43.726 --> 00:00:45.317 We shouldn't look for feelings. 00:00:45.317 --> 00:00:47.684 Feelings can be deceiving. 00:00:47.684 --> 00:00:49.342 Feelings can mislead us. 00:00:49.342 --> 00:00:52.258 If we're looking for feelings 00:00:52.258 --> 00:00:54.626 and we don't have them, 00:00:54.626 --> 00:00:58.533 then we think that we still need something else 00:00:58.533 --> 00:01:00.014 or we're trusting in that. 00:01:00.014 --> 00:01:03.283 So, feelings mean nothing. 00:01:03.283 --> 00:01:05.453 Emotions mean nothing. 00:01:05.453 --> 00:01:08.582 They can mislead us and deceive us. 00:01:08.582 --> 00:01:11.039 So, they're not important. 00:01:11.039 --> 00:01:15.703 Now, oftentimes, they will come. 00:01:15.703 --> 00:01:19.150 Oftentimes, they will accompany salvation 00:01:19.150 --> 00:01:21.979 or they will accompany true conversion, 00:01:21.979 --> 00:01:24.074 but they're not necessary. 00:01:24.074 --> 00:01:26.266 And no one should look for those 00:01:26.266 --> 00:01:29.229 or be dependent on feelings 00:01:29.229 --> 00:01:32.480 to trust Christ. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:35.246 All that's needed is that we know 00:01:35.246 --> 00:01:38.538 in our hearts we're a true sinner 00:01:38.538 --> 00:01:41.697 and we truly need a Savior. 00:01:41.697 --> 00:01:43.299 You can be persuaded of that 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:45.484 and that's a true feeling in your life 00:01:45.484 --> 00:01:46.764 and in your heart, 00:01:46.764 --> 00:01:50.647 but it necessarily doesn't mean emotions. 00:01:50.647 --> 00:01:54.990 All that's needed is to truly know 00:01:54.990 --> 00:01:57.032 of our need for Him. 00:01:57.032 --> 00:01:59.829 And that's the basis upon which we come. 00:01:59.829 --> 00:02:01.878 Don't trust feelings. 00:02:01.878 --> 00:02:04.195 We can look away from any feelings 00:02:04.195 --> 00:02:08.340 and trust the Savior. NOTE Paragraph 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:09.825 Question: What about someone 00:02:09.825 --> 00:02:12.070 who's holding on to a certain sin 00:02:12.070 --> 00:02:14.837 that's stopping them coming to Christ. 00:02:14.837 --> 00:02:17.668 What would you say? NOTE Paragraph 00:02:17.668 --> 00:02:20.824 Mack: Well, any sin, any particular sin 00:02:20.824 --> 00:02:22.263 can have us in bondage, 00:02:22.263 --> 00:02:25.985 whether it's pornography, or lust, 00:02:25.985 --> 00:02:28.844 or greed, or love of money, 00:02:28.844 --> 00:02:31.221 or an adulterous relationship, 00:02:31.221 --> 00:02:34.262 or religious pride. It doesn't matter. 00:02:34.262 --> 00:02:37.884 One sin can keep you out of Heaven. 00:02:37.884 --> 00:02:40.935 One sin can put you in hell. 00:02:40.935 --> 00:02:46.624 So, Paul said to the Thessalonians, 00:02:46.624 --> 00:02:49.456 he spoke to them about how they had 00:02:49.456 --> 00:02:51.580 turned from idols 00:02:51.580 --> 00:02:54.353 to serve the living God. 00:02:54.353 --> 00:02:58.884 We must turn from our sins, 00:02:58.884 --> 00:03:02.462 which means if a person 00:03:02.462 --> 00:03:05.556 has come to the place where they know 00:03:05.556 --> 00:03:06.835 the Gospel is true; 00:03:06.835 --> 00:03:10.756 they know Jesus Christ is the only way, 00:03:10.756 --> 00:03:12.799 they will either hold on 00:03:12.799 --> 00:03:19.702 to the sin that they love the most 00:03:19.702 --> 00:03:22.166 and lose Christ and perish, 00:03:22.166 --> 00:03:26.190 or they must relinquish and lay down 00:03:26.190 --> 00:03:28.039 and turn from that sin 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:29.658 to be able to embrace Christ. 00:03:29.658 --> 00:03:33.021 You can not have Him and your sin. 00:03:33.021 --> 00:03:36.696 So the important thing for such a person to realize 00:03:36.696 --> 00:03:40.507 is do I love my sin so much 00:03:40.507 --> 00:03:42.106 that has me in bondage? 00:03:42.106 --> 00:03:43.983 Do I love my chains? 00:03:43.983 --> 00:03:46.741 The bondage that it brings? 00:03:46.741 --> 00:03:48.811 That I would rather have my sin 00:03:48.811 --> 00:03:51.433 and hell for eternity 00:03:51.433 --> 00:03:54.465 than freedom and Christ for eternity? 00:03:54.465 --> 00:03:56.561 Which is wise? 00:03:56.561 --> 00:03:58.268 Which do you truly want? 00:03:58.268 --> 00:04:00.671 Are you willing to love your sin 00:04:00.671 --> 00:04:02.918 and embrace it and not let it go 00:04:02.918 --> 00:04:07.614 and let it take you to hell for eternity? 00:04:07.614 --> 00:04:10.423 You need to see that your sin 00:04:10.423 --> 00:04:12.060 cannot save you, 00:04:12.060 --> 00:04:13.563 it cannot satisfy you, 00:04:13.563 --> 00:04:16.313 it can only destroy you. 00:04:16.313 --> 00:04:19.125 And yes, you love it, 00:04:19.125 --> 00:04:21.960 but you've got to recognize it for what it is. 00:04:21.960 --> 00:04:23.757 You cannot hold on to it anymore. 00:04:23.757 --> 00:04:26.172 You have to count the cost. 00:04:26.172 --> 00:04:29.193 There was a young man in the New Testament 00:04:29.193 --> 00:04:32.214 who believed that he was upright, 00:04:32.214 --> 00:04:33.355 that he was good, 00:04:33.355 --> 00:04:35.306 that he kept the commandments of God, 00:04:35.306 --> 00:04:36.879 but he loved his riches. 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:39.401 He loved his money 00:04:39.401 --> 00:04:41.319 because he was very rich. 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:45.475 And Jesus told him that he had to 00:04:45.475 --> 00:04:47.707 give it all to the poor 00:04:47.707 --> 00:04:50.688 and come and follow Him. 00:04:50.688 --> 00:04:53.351 The man went away very sorrowful 00:04:53.351 --> 00:04:57.154 because he could not give up his money 00:04:57.154 --> 00:04:59.448 and follow Christ. 00:04:59.448 --> 00:05:02.762 So, if you have a sin 00:05:02.762 --> 00:05:05.926 that you're holding on to, 00:05:05.926 --> 00:05:07.662 forsake it. Turn from it. 00:05:07.662 --> 00:05:09.331 It will not satisfy you. 00:05:09.331 --> 00:05:10.900 It will only destroy you. 00:05:10.900 --> 00:05:14.206 You must see it as an enemy to your soul, 00:05:14.206 --> 00:05:16.391 whatever that sin is, 00:05:16.391 --> 00:05:19.969 that you might be able to embrace Christ. 00:05:19.969 --> 00:05:23.622 I would say be honest with God about that. 00:05:23.622 --> 00:05:26.830 Tell Him: I have this sin 00:05:26.830 --> 00:05:28.029 that is in my life. 00:05:28.029 --> 00:05:30.141 I have this thing that I love 00:05:30.141 --> 00:05:32.362 that I don't want to give up, 00:05:32.362 --> 00:05:36.201 but I know Jesus is real. 00:05:36.201 --> 00:05:37.648 Cry out to God for mercy. 00:05:37.648 --> 00:05:39.583 Ask Him to work in you. 00:05:39.583 --> 00:05:40.875 Begin to pray about that 00:05:40.875 --> 00:05:42.882 and be honest with God. 00:05:42.882 --> 00:05:45.445 That would be the beginning place.