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                         "CLEANING THE INSIDE"

                             Luke 11:37-41

INTRODUCTION

1. People are often concerned about appearances...
   a. Especially that they are viewed as moral and upright
   b. Even when deep down they are not moral and upright

2. Jesus warned of cleaning the outside without cleaning the inside...
   - Lk 11:37-41
   a. Of which the Pharisees were often guilty - Mt 23:25-26
   b. Appearing righteous, but full of hypocrisy and lawlessness - Mt
      23:27-28

[To avoid hypocrisy, we need to clean both the outside and the inside. 
To succeed, it begins...]

I. THROUGH CONVERSION

   A. BY BEING BORN AGAIN...
      1. Jesus taught the necessity of a "new birth" - Jn 3:3-8
      2. This new birth involves the Spirit and water - cf. Jn 3:5;
         Tit 3:5
      3. It also involves the Word of God - Jm 1:18,21; 1Pe 1:22-23

   B. BY OBEYING THE GOSPEL...
      1. The Word which causes rebirth is proclaimed in the gospel 
         - 1Pe 1:24-25
      2. The good news Jesus which Jesus wanted everyone to hear 
         - Mk 16:15-16
      3. A message including faith, repentance, baptism - Ac 2:38;
         3:19; 8:35-38

[When one obeys the gospel in faith, repentance, and baptism, their sins
are washed away through the blood of Christ (Ac 22:16; Re 1:5).  That is
truly "cleaning the inside"!  But the cleansing continues...]

II. THROUGH SANCTIFICATION

   A. PUTTING OFF THE OLD MAN...
      1. Sanctification involves becoming "holy", "set apart"
      2. This requires seriously addressing those things which
         defile a man - Mk 7:20-23
      3. This is an ongoing process for Christians, putting off the
         old man - Col 3:5-11

   B. PUTTING ON THE NEW MAN...
      1. It is not enough to get rid of the old, we must replace it
         - cf. Mt 12:43-45
      2. Replacing the old man by putting on the new man - Ep 4:20-24;
         Col 3:12-17
      3. Producing the fruit of the Spirit instead of works of the
         flesh - Ga 5:19-23; cf. Lk 11:41

CONCLUSION

1. Are we clean on the outside while dirty on the inside...?

2. Look to Jesus for true conversion and sanctification, or remain as
   "whited sepulchers"...!

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