Now this should give us a really big revelation of grace. Why? The prophet Isaiah says this: We all like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. In other words Jesus doesn't just forgive you for what you've done; Jesus forgives you all the way back to your eye hooked to it. In other words Jesus forgives you for the light, and then the heavy takes care of itself. But in terms of your life, in terms of living the best life, we have to handle things at iniquity so it doesn't get to transgression. A later writer said this: Fix hook your eye to Jesus, because whatever your eye hooks to multiplies. What would happen if we could dominate our own imagination and keep it from wrapping around things that God wouldn't want us to have? What would happen?
Listen, every affair, every affair that's ever happened starts with flirting - not every but most. It starts with somebody flirting with another, and then it takes the other reciprocating the flirt. That's where they mostly start. Now is that iniquity, sin or transgression? Iniquity. It's iniquity. You haven't actually committed adultery yet, you're just starting the process of becoming inappropriate. So if you handle it at the light it never gets to the heavy - you with me? That's just life wisdom. Now the other way that light and heavy was used is to determine what do you do when the Bible contradicts itself, and I want to stop here tonight by investigating a scripture because Jesus answers one really well. You might say well I thought the Bible never contradicts itself. You're right if you're talking about historical fact, but you're wrong if you're talking about commands. Often times commands put ourself in situations where you have two contradictory commands. There are books this thick written on it, it's called ethics okay, like what do you do in these situations.
Alright, let me give you an example what I mean. Leviticus says do not touch someone who's bleeding out. Do not touch someone who's bleeding out. Leviticus also says do not leave someone for dead. Can you see where you could be in a situation where that could contradict itself, alright? Let's read one. This scripture is a parable Jesus told - it's very familiar, out of Luke 10:25 to 37. I want to take 10 minutes or so and break this scripture down, and then I want to apply it to our lives. We're going to find ourself in this. It says this: On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. Teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life? What is written in the Torah, He replied, how do you read it? And Jesus - oh, I'm sorry - Jesus answered him, what's written in the Torah? How do you read it? And he answered love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. Do this and you will live, and he wanted to justify himself so he asked Jesus a follow up question; And who is my neighbour?
In reply Jesus said a man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of some robbers and they stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away leaving him half dead. And a priest happened to be going down the same road. When he saw the man he passed him on the other side, so too the Levite, when he came to the place and saw him he passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan as he travelled came where the man was and when he saw him he took pity on him. He went to him and he bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to the inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. Look after him he said and I will return. I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have had. Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? And the expert in the law replied the one who had mercy on him, and Jesus told him go and do likewise.