Too Gross for Grace? Think Again! 206n3q

Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano Tx. My name is Chris Fluitt. Two Water Bottles – One is clean. – One has a few drops of toilet water in it. Ask: “Would anyone drink this one?” (Point to the ‘toilet’ one.) “What if I poured the clean water into the gross bottle? Would it be clean then?” “Nope. It’s all still gross.” Gross That’s how sin works—it contaminates.  Much of the Old Testament focuses on uncleanness and how it spreads. (Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) If you touched something unclean (like a dead body, leprosy, or bodily fluid), you became unclean too. Under the law of the Old Testament, once something was unclean it was difficult to be made clean again. What does this mean for us? You can’t add “just a little” sin and stay clean. We sometimes make light of sin… “It was just a little white lie.” (Translation: It didn’t hurt anyone, so it doesn’t count.) “Nobody’s perfect.” (Translation: So why even try to live holy?) “At least I’m not as bad as them.” (Translation: Sin is graded on a curve.) “It’s not hurting anyone.” (Translation: As long as it’s private, it’s fine.) “Boys will be boys.” (Translation: Immorality is to be expected.) “Everyone’s doing it.” (Translation: Majority rules morality.) “I’ll repent later.” (Translation: I want the sin and the Savior—but on my schedule.) In the same way that one drop of dirty water defiles the whole glass, one act of rebellion, one selfish thought, one hidden habit, is enough to make us spiritually unclean before a holy God. This is a problem we all face… Romans 3:23 (NIV) “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” How short do we fall from God’s glory? The prophet Isaiah doesn’t pull punches…  Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” Even our best attempts—without God—are still GROSS. It’s not just the “big sins” that separate us from God and His plan for us. The “small sins”… The condition of our hearts… Our materialism… Our thoughts… Our actions… Our inactions… To God these are all Gross. Gross Here’s the tension: If we’re all spiritually unclean, and uncleanness spreads, then what hope do we have? If holiness is that fragile, and sin is that contagious… how do we ever get clean again? The Clean water can only be contaminated by the Dirty water. The Dirty water can not be purified by the Clean water. What are we to do?  Mark 5 tells an amazing story. The Unclean Woman – Mark 5:25-34 -A woman bleeding for 12 years. According to Leviticus 15, that made her ritually unclean. She wasn’t just sick—she was outcast. Untouchable. She spent everything trying to fix it, but got worse. She represents us: Broken by something we can’t fix. Spiritually unclean. Ashamed. Isolated. Trying everything—but nothing works. Mark 5:27-28 This sounds like a bad idea… … The dirty can only contaminate the clean… The clean can do nothing for the dirty… BUT WATCH WHAT HAPPENS! Mark 5:29 For the first time ever, the dirty reached out to the clean and was made clean. Her sickness stopped. She was healed. Her suffering stopped. WHY? The unclean reached out in faith and touched Jesus… and HE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN OUR SIN. No matter your gross sin, Jesus is more powerful. But then this happens Mark 5:30 The woman becomes afraid! She had touched Jesus and thought that she had made him unclean… But look at this verse again. It does not say her sin flowed into her. It says His power flowed into her. And instead of making Him unclean… He makes her clean. This is where Jesus flips the script. Jesus doesn’t become “gross” when touched by brokenness. He makes the broken whole. She got healed and tried to slip away. But Jesus stops. “Who touched me?” Why stop her? Because He wanted more than a miracle. He wanted a moment. He calls her “Daughter.” The only time Jesus uses that word in the Gospels. Before: nameless, shameful, excluded. Now: (Daughter) named, loved, accepted. She wasn’t too gross for grace. She was the exact kind of person grace runs toward. This is the Gospel: We don’t get clean before coming to Jesus. We come dirty—and He makes us clean. Religion says: “Clean yourself up, follow the rules, and maybe God will accept you.” -It makes performance the path to purity. Denominationalism says: “Get your theology perfect, follow our traditions, and then you’re in.” -It makes conformity the path to acceptance. Self-help says: “You already have everything you need inside you. Just fix yourself.” -It makes effort the path to transformation. Self-righteousness says: “At least I’m not as bad as those people.” -It makes comparison the path to feeling clean. Legalism says: “If you check all the boxes, God owes you.” -It makes obedience a bargaining chip. Shame says: “You’ll never be clean. Why even try?” -It locks you in defeat instead of pointing to grace. But Jesus says: Matthew 11:28 Mark 5:34 This is the good news of Jesus! You’re not too broken. You’re not too dirty. You’re not too far gone. You’re not too gross for grace. We get to tell everyone this good news. Sometimes people feel like they are the only sinner in the room… …the only failure in the room. …the only one struggling. Let’s put an end to that real quick. Romans 3:23 (NIV) Raise your hand if you are a sinner who has fallen short.  LOOK AROUND. You belong here.  We aren’t grossed out by you… we get you. Jesus isn’t avoiding you—He’s waiting for you. You’re not too gross for grace. Call to Action 1. Stop Hiding — Bring It to Jesus Don’t hide your sin, shame, or struggles. Jesus already sees it—and He still wants you. Come as you are. 2. Stop Trying to Fix Yourself – Bring it to Jesus You can’t clean yourself up. Religion, rules, and effort can’t save you. Only Jesus makes you clean. 3. Start Reaching for Jesus Like the woman in the crowd, reach for Jesus today. Have you ever professed your faith in Jesus. I invite you to come… Are you ready to be set free from your struggle? Come receive prayer. Your life can be changed forever. 546l3e