Our primary focus should be on spiritual priorities, exalting Christ above all else. Legal victories, like the overturning of Roe v. Wade, are significant but secondary to the transformation of hearts and souls. As Christians, our mission is to save souls and bring eternal joy to forgiven sinners. This means that while we may celebrate legal changes that align with our values, our ultimate goal is to see individuals come to know Christ and experience His transformative power. The true victory lies in the spiritual realm, where hearts are changed and lives are transformed by the love of Christ. [11:42]
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize spiritual transformation over legal or societal victories in your daily life today?
Day 2: The Heart of the Battle
The real battle for righteousness is fought in the heart, not just in behavior. Jesus taught that evil actions stem from the heart, and thus, our focus should be on transforming desires and inclinations. This heart change is crucial for making abortion morally unthinkable. It requires a deep, internal transformation that aligns our desires with God's will. By addressing the root of sin, we can influence not only individual lives but also the moral fabric of society. [17:14]
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)
Reflection: What desires or inclinations in your heart need transformation to align more closely with God's will today?
Day 3: The Limitations of Legal Dams
Legal measures can act as dams against the river of sin, but without heart transformation, these dams will eventually break. Our role is to preach Christ's glory so powerfully that hearts are changed, leading to genuine repentance and transformation. While laws can guide behavior, they cannot change the heart. True change comes from a personal encounter with Christ, where His love and grace lead to a new way of living. [19:08]
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in sharing Christ's glory to inspire heart transformation in those around you today?
Day 4: The Necessity of Being Born Again
True societal transformation requires individuals to be born again, entering the kingdom of God. This heart change is essential for upholding good laws and ensuring lasting change. Our ultimate aim is to bring people into a loving relationship with Christ, where they experience the fullness of life He offers. Being born again is not just a one-time event but a continual process of renewal and growth in Christ. [21:15]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your own journey of being born again. What steps can you take today to deepen your relationship with Christ and experience His transformative power?
Day 5: Exalting Christ for Eternal Impact
Our mission is to exalt Christ and bring people into a loving relationship with Him. This is the most loving act we can perform, as it leads to eternal life and true joy. The overturning of Roe v. Wade will have its greatest effect if it leads to heart transformation and a deeper love for Christ. By focusing on exalting Christ, we can have an eternal impact that goes beyond temporary legal victories. [21:45]
"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (John 12:32, ESV)
Reflection: How can you exalt Christ in your interactions and relationships today to have an eternal impact on those around you?
Sermon Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound implications of the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This decision, while a significant legal milestone, is not the ultimate victory in the battle for life. Our primary focus as Christians is not merely to change laws but to transform hearts. The essence of our mission is to exalt Christ above all, ensuring that our actions are rooted in spiritual priorities. We are called to save souls, not just lives, and to bring eternal joy to forgiven sinners. The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is a step in the right direction, but it is not the end of our journey.
The real challenge lies in making abortion not just legally difficult but morally unthinkable. This requires a shift in human desire, as the battle for righteousness is fought in the heart. Jesus taught that evil thoughts and actions stem from the heart, and thus, our task is to address the root of sin, not just its manifestations. The overturning of Roe v. Wade is a legal dam against the river of sin, but without heart transformation, this dam will eventually break. Our role is to preach the glory of Christ so powerfully that hearts are changed, leading to genuine repentance and transformation.
The ultimate goal is not merely to uphold good laws but to see people born again, entering the kingdom of God. This heart change is essential for true and lasting societal transformation. As we continue to engage in this battle, let us remember that our primary aim is to exalt Christ and bring people into a loving relationship with Him. This is the most loving act we can perform, as it leads to eternal life and true joy.
Key Takeaways
1. Spiritual Priorities Over Legal Victories: Our primary focus should be on spiritual priorities, exalting Christ above all else. Legal victories, like the overturning of Roe v. Wade, are significant but secondary to the transformation of hearts and souls. Our mission is to save souls and bring eternal joy to forgiven sinners. [11:42]
2. The Heart of the Battle: The real battle for righteousness is fought in the heart, not just in behavior. Jesus taught that evil actions stem from the heart, and thus, our focus should be on transforming desires and inclinations. This heart change is crucial for making abortion morally unthinkable. [17:14]
3. The Limitations of Legal Dams: Legal measures can act as dams against the river of sin, but without heart transformation, these dams will eventually break. Our role is to preach Christ's glory so powerfully that hearts are changed, leading to genuine repentance and transformation. [19:08]
4. The Necessity of Being Born Again: True societal transformation requires individuals to be born again, entering the kingdom of God. This heart change is essential for upholding good laws and ensuring lasting change. Our ultimate aim is to bring people into a loving relationship with Christ. [21:15]
5. Exalting Christ for Eternal Impact: Our mission is to exalt Christ and bring people into a loving relationship with Him. This is the most loving act we can perform, as it leads to eternal life and true joy. The overturning of Roe v. Wade will have its greatest effect if it leads to heart transformation and a deeper love for Christ. [21:45] ** [21:45]
Matthew 15:19 - "For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander."
2 Corinthians 3:18 - "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
John 3:3 - "Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.'"
Observation Questions:
According to the sermon, what is the primary focus for Christians in the battle for life? [11:42]
How does the sermon describe the role of legal measures in addressing sin? [19:08]
What does the sermon suggest is the real challenge after the overturning of Roe v. Wade? [17:03]
How does the sermon define the ultimate goal for societal transformation? [21:15]
Interpretation Questions:
In Matthew 15:19, Jesus lists several sins that originate from the heart. How does this passage relate to the sermon’s emphasis on heart transformation over legal changes? [17:14]
2 Corinthians 3:18 speaks of being transformed by contemplating the Lord’s glory. How does this transformation process relate to the sermon’s call for heart change? [19:56]
John 3:3 emphasizes the necessity of being born again. How does this concept of spiritual rebirth align with the sermon’s view on achieving true societal change? [21:15]
The sermon mentions the limitations of legal measures as "dams" against sin. How does this metaphor help us understand the relationship between laws and heart transformation? [19:08]
Application Questions:
Reflect on a time when you focused more on changing external behaviors rather than addressing the heart. How can you shift your focus to heart transformation in your own life? [17:14]
The sermon emphasizes exalting Christ above all else. What practical steps can you take this week to prioritize your spiritual life over legal or societal victories? [11:42]
Consider the idea of making abortion morally unthinkable. How can you engage in conversations that focus on heart change rather than just legal arguments? [17:03]
The sermon suggests that new laws will collapse without heart change. How can you contribute to fostering heart transformation in your community? [19:08]
Think about someone in your life who may not know Christ. How can you lovingly introduce them to the concept of being born again and entering the kingdom of God? [21:15]
Identify a specific area in your life where you need to experience heart transformation. What steps can you take to invite God into that process this week? [19:56]
How can you actively participate in exalting Christ in your daily interactions, ensuring that your actions lead others to a deeper love for Him? [21:45]
Sermon Clips
"we are christians before we are pro-life we are christ exalting before we are life exalting we want to save souls the souls of mothers and fathers as much as we want to save the bodies of the babies the aim for us is not just the end of abortion but the eternal joy of forgiven sinners" [00:11:07]
"i am thankful and the reason i am thankful is mainly because this was the right thing to do a federal law that prevents the legal protection of children from being killed is an evil law an evil law has been in place for 50 years it is a good thing that the evil law is gone and i am thankful to god to god in his glorious providence that it is gone" [00:12:40]
"for all i know we may be entering an era of such visceral rage and coldness of love and multiplication of wickedness both on the right and on the left that a civil war right here in america could take hundreds of thousands of lives it happened just 160 years ago and the issue of killing millions of children is as explosive as the horrors of slavery" [00:13:40]
"i meant that the main battle for human righteousness is not fought at the level of human behavior but at the level of human desire jesus said in matthew 15 19 out of the heart come evil thoughts murder adultery sexual immorality theft false witness slander now at least four of those sins relate directly to abortion" [00:17:14]
"we can build legal dams to keep the river of sin that pours out of the human heart from flooding the world with actual behaviors like abortion and that's a good thing that's a good thing to build those dams with laws that's what all good laws do that make it harder for the sinful heart to overflow in outward crimes" [00:19:08]
"but we should remember that if the river of sin that flows from the human heart is simply damned up and nothing changes the heart that river is going to build behind the dam until the reservoir is so deep and so heavy that no legal dam no mere law can hold it back and a tidal wave of wickedness will overflow the land" [00:19:48]
"so what i meant was and i'm thinking of christians now especially pastors is that's our job preaching to change those hearts that's our job to portray the glories of jesus christ so clearly with such spiritual power that people will see and their hearts will be changed" [00:20:10]
"our main job is not new laws good as that may be but new hearts that's our main job if that doesn't happen new laws will collapse under the pressure of unchanged hearts it's only a matter of time but even that way of saying it bothers me it skews the reality in an unbiblical direction" [00:21:15]
"the main reason to quote jesus in john 3 3 is this unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of god without a christ exalting heart change people perish we perish it is a loving thing to work for good laws it is more loving to help people enter the kingdom of god" [00:21:45]
"the overturning of roe v wade will have its greatest effect if its limitations give life to the christian truth you must be born again yeah new hearts that love christ and as a result love others especially the most vulnerable that's our ultimate aim here" [00:22:09]
"lives are destroyed by sin abortion whether with suction or a pill is only one kind of sin that destroys life there are so many more over a hundred thousand people for example just recently now are dying every year from drug overdoses and most of those people are not people on the street anymore" [00:15:24]
"the entire abortion industry is built on false witness namely that the unborn are not human persons we can build legal dams to keep the river of sin that pours out of the human heart from flooding the world with actual behaviors like abortion and that's a good thing that's a good thing to build those dams with laws" [00:18:20]