The sermon by James Lundquist on 'Christian Modesty' explores the concept of modesty in the context of Christian faith, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's clothing choices with scriptural teachings and the transformative power of the Gospel. Lundquist addresses potential tensions surrounding the topic, highlighting that both men and women should consider how their attire reflects their relationship with God. He explains that clothing serves as a reminder of the need for salvation and righteousness, as illustrated in the biblical account of Adam and Eve. The sermon stresses that Christian modesty is not about legalism but about an inward transformation that manifests outwardly in humility, purity, and a desire to glorify God. Lundquist encourages believers to consider their clothing choices as a reflection of their transformed hearts, urging them to avoid drawing attention away from God. He also discusses the roles of men and women in maintaining modesty, emphasizing that modesty begins with a heart change and a commitment to living out the Gospel in every aspect of life.

Our God, I thank you for your word. I thank you we have it to instruct us and not my own feelings, not my own thoughts, not even my own convictions. So God please exhort us, teach us, instruct us, correct us by your word this morning. We want to honor you in the way we adorn ourselves. We want to honor you, we want to glorify you.

But please teach us in these things. Amen. This topic, put it right out there in front, this topic can bring tension, Christian modesty. It can bring tension right away. There's potential tension in your mind.

You're thinking, what is he going to say about my clothing? The men are thinking that this is about the ladies, the ladies are thinking this is about the ladies, there's fear by ladies about how their husband, their father's gonna respond to this, there's tension there. There is. So may that tension be used to help you pay more attention. Let's see what God has to say about this.

Scott Brown mentioned several other tensions. He's, of course, preached on this several times at father, daughters, and other places. There's other tensions involved here. There's husband-wife tension, right? Submission type tension that comes in their parents' children.

There's tension because fathers have delegated authority to their children or authority to the culture or to others. There's tension because fathers and mothers are afraid of conflict in this area and won't take responsibility. There's tension because we rebel and sin against God in all kinds of areas, even in this area. We're not submissive, especially to his word. There's tension because women don't understand the struggles of men just don't and ignorant to it at times There's tension especially with scripture.

If there's gonna be tension, if it's with scripture, let scripture then help relieve that tension as well. We need aligned with scripture, It is sufficient. This is a topic for both men and women. Let me use an extreme example. You've been to the beach, or you've been to a gym, extreme examples, but you get the point.

This is for men and women. So I ask for you to listen, give me grace, give me room, but I pray the Word of God the opportunity to reprove us, to correct us, to instruct us in righteousness, to equip us for every good work. We will see in in 1st Timothy 2 10 Christian modesty is a good work. It is a good work. We want good works that that God says are good.

Now not just this topic but any of the topics that we're talking about in this series, we may forbid that anything Jason or I say implies legalism, Forbid it. If we do anything that in your mind gives you a thought that we're implying legalism, remove it from your mind, come let me know that I can correct my words, because that's not our desire at all. Legalism is works righteousness, works justification, and salvation is only by grace, only by faith, and only in Christ alone. That is it. When we are in Romans, I use Rob Ventura's definition of legalism to help us out or what it is not.

Legalism is not a strict and conscientious life of obedience to the commands of scripture. Legalism is not pressing biblical duty upon a person. To expound the word of God and then apply the word to the hearts and consciences of the people of God is not brow-beating or legalism." What it is, it's called being conformed to Christ. Legalism is never a strict conscientious obeying God. It can't be.

God is righteous, God is good, God is holy. And Hebrews 12-14 tells us to pursue holiness. So let's start here and look first at the purpose of clothing in Genesis 3 Is 3 we have Adam and Eve sin? Emey sin and starting in verse 7 here's what they did right after they sinned. Right, and in verse six, she also gave her husband the fruit and he ate, and starting in verse seven.

Then the eyes of both of them were open, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. In verse 21, also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin and clothed them. On God making the tunics of skin, just say this, we don't know how he did it.

He just created the whole universe. He could have created the tunics. He could have killed an animal and sacrificed, which would be a nice image, but we don't know. All right? But this is the first time that clothing is mentioned in the Bible.

Adam and Eve sin, and what's the first thing they do as recorded here? The first thing they do is they try to hide and cover their shame. It's the first thing they do. And we can never do enough to do that. We can never do enough to cover our sin.

We can't hide from God. But that's what they tried to do. That was their inclination. Right, so clothing has a couple purposes. One, just to clothe us.

But why? Why are we clothed? They weren't clothed when they were created. They were fine as they were created. But when sin into the world, we needed clothing.

And God then closed Adam and Eve after they sinned. Adam and Eve, what they did to try to clothe themselves, we see here, they tried to do was not good enough. And God had to come and clothe them properly. See, we're never good enough at covering ourselves. We're never good enough at covering our sin.

We're never good enough at covering our shame. That's why we need the Gospel. That's why we need Jesus to die for us. That's why we need him to conquer sin and death. Because we're not good enough.

We'll never be good enough. Anything we do won't be good enough for salvation, good enough to cover our sin. But one of the purposes of clothing is to point to the gospel our need for covering of of sin it's interesting here fine about clothing what did God make he made a tunic they tried fig leaves they tried hiding God made a tunic God made a robe God made a coat for them right the world the world wants to hide as little as possible actually, and aren't really ashamed of their sin. God says I'm clothing you with a tunic not just with skin, but with a tunic He says there so if you have you really ever considered that your need for clothing points to the gospel He's contemplated that or is it just something you wear and you think about what's the right thing to wear here or there. But it points to our need for the gospel.

Turn to Isaiah 61. Isaiah 61 is all about salvation. All about salvation. I'm going to read verses 1 through 3 and then verse 10. Especially in verse 1, the end of verse 3, you see the me, me, me, and he.

This is talking about the Messiah who we know is Jesus. Listen to this. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, upon Christ, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent me, He has sent Christ, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberties to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of a Lord that he that the Christ that Jesus may be glorified. In verse 10, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation.

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels." See, at salvation, our clothing, this clothing is to really point to our need for salvation. That's one of the purposes of it and at salvation our clothings transform our bodies transform our minds are completely holy Our hearts are completely holy our desires and we are given new clothing also that points to the gospel points to the righteousness of Christ in salvation and being transformed by him. Revelation 3, 5. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments. And I will blot out his name and I will not blot out his name from the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father and before his angels.

These kind of robes, This kind of clothing only happens from a heart that's been transformed by the grace of God. And it gets to why the sermon title is Christian Modesty and not modesty. Christian modesty. We can think of examples of modesty in the world. We can think of the Amish.

We can think of Muslims. We can think of those in India. All hiding everything to the nth degree in some of them. They may look modest, but they have no heart for God. They have legalism, thinking they can appease their false gods and their idols, but they have no heart for God.

Their desire really isn't to proclaim the glorious gospel, to proclaim the need for salvation. That is not theirs. Theirs is to earn it. And they show dourness and different attitudes that we shouldn't have. So let's define Christian modesty, point number two, Christian modesty defined.

If you're not taking notes in your handout, take out your handout, take out your handout. On the top of your handout, I've put the definition there of Christian modesty by Jeff Pollard hey take that right now plan on putting that in your closet putting you wherever your clothes are put it someplace where you will see this and help remind you of why and encourage you on how to be clothed and adorned. We read this. The Christian modesty is the inner self government rooted in a proper understanding of oneself before God, which outwardly displays itself in humility and purity from a genuine love for Jesus Christ. Rather than in self-glorification, modesty like humility is the opposite of arrogance.

It does not seek to draw attention to itself or show off. Drawing attention to ourselves, there are good ways to draw attention to ourselves. As Christians we're gonna draw attention to ourselves. I'm out at the abortion center, you have to nurse you home, you're gonna draw attention to yourselves. We're drawing attention to ourselves by meeting here today.

There are godly reasons that you would draw attention to yourself, but all of those are to draw attention to God. Right? So he's talking about not drawing attention, not drawing attention to yourself, which is actually drawing attention away from God. From God. But this outwardly, this outward display of humility and purity from a genuine love for Jesus, Christian modesty starts, starts with a heart change, starts with salvation towards loving Jesus, not with clothing standards.

It's not where we start. You have to start with our heart. Without a heart change, you will not love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and that's what we've been commanded to do. 1st Corinthians 10 31. Therefore whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, clothing's included in whatever, do all to the glory of God.

Clothing is including all. When was the last time you got up, looked at what I'm deciding what I'm going to wear and say, all right, how am I going to glorify God and what I'm picking out today? For whatever activity it is and different activities have different clothing I am NOT dressed like this when I'm working in the garden not that would be foolish in many ways but that's not how I dress but I do consider how I dress when I'm working outside. I do. But whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Again, Christian modesty is about hearts that are humble, self-controlled, devoted to Christ, submissive to Christ, and your authorities, parents, husbands, hearts that want to do all to the glory of God. There's a warning. There's a warning. We all have convictions on things. We all pray about things.

I have convictions about all these things. We have convictions. You have a conviction on this. You prayed about this. Say, James, I have a conviction on this.

I pray about this and we're different. Convictions and praying, you can still be wrong. You don't think so? You think you can come to me and say, well, I prayed about this, I'm good. Let me address Romans 14 for you.

Go back to Romans 14. There were those that were very convinced that I should not eat this food, I should not drink these drinks, and I must observe these days. They were convicted with extreme conviction, I'm sure lots of prayer. They were wrong, but they were still wrong. They're still to be worked out with gentleness, with grace-filled love, though.

So with that, now we're ready to turn to 1 Timothy 2 and start with some application. Don't be concerned about some big shoe being dropped here when I say application. The heart of modesty, point number three, the heart of modesty, first Timothy two and in chapters two and 3, Paul is directing the church for proper order and conduct. That's his concern here, is how the church is ordered and conducting themselves, and especially how our conduct reflects on the gospel. In verses one and two, it's exhorting to supplications and prayers and intercessions, thanksgiving, why?

That we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and reverence. That's a concern there. And then verse three, in verse three through six, we have this wonderful summary of the gospel. Read verse three. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time. This gospel summary and then Paul in verse 7 goes into it. We know Paul, he can't help but preach. He's gonna teach and he's gonna apply the gospel to everything that happens. So our motivation for everything comes from salvation, being born again, new hearts, new desires to love God.

And in verse eight through the end of chapter three in verse eight we start with I desire therefore. In this I desire therefore from verse 8 all the way through to the end of chapter 3 is this gospel applied, is the gospel applied. How to apply it to many situations. He applies it to conduct. He applies it to apparel.

He applies it to submission. He applies it to authority. He applies it to elders. He applies it to deacons. He applies it to husbands and wives, men and women.

Gospel applied. We talked about the centrality of the gospel last week two weeks ago right applied how do you apply the gospel and everything including clothing is right here How we adorn ourselves is right here. The gospel needs to be applied to how we adorn ourselves. Remember, Christian modesty is important because what we wear is a reflection on a heart that's been transformed by the gospel. What are you telling people?

Have you been transformed or not by what you wear? 1st Corinthians 6 19 and 20, or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who was in you whom you have from God and you are not your own we just saying that you're saying about that, that we are gods, we are all his, his robes for mine. And you are not your own. For you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's. We often apply that to the n-word right?

We'll think of other things that we shouldn't do whether it's smoking or other things that we'll say put into our body. We often apply it to the inner part of the body But our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. And, and it is not my own. It was bought with a price. My body is God's.

All of my body is God's. And how I present it belongs to God. That's the concern. Outer and inner, all of me belongs to God. I've been bought with a price and it all belongs to Him.

So we are to be motivated by the gospel and our demonstration of love for Him through our clothing. For him through our clothing. To the Christian, the Christian is modest because we do not want to distract from, distract from, or reflect poorly on the gospel, on our Savior. We want to draw attention to Christ as much as possible and start so this gospel applied, verse 8, verse 8, I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. This therefore, I desire therefore pointing back to the gospel.

We are men, we are to be leading in gospel proclaiming work. And how we lead in that gospel proclaiming work matters. He says here a couple things about how we're to be leading that gospel proclaiming work in all we do to glorify Him. We're to approach everything with humility of heart and prayers. We're not to be prone to wrath or anger.

Speaks to our character, what we do and how we do it. We know it matters, but we're being exhorted here to modesty of spirit, a humbleness of spirit, this humility in prayers where we rely on God, the transforming power of the gospel. No wrath, no anger, including when we proclaim the gospel. Oh, there can be great woes, there can be great warnings. I'm not angry.

I'm extremely upset at the abortion center. I hate what I see happening when I proclaim the gospel, the grace of the gospel, and the hope of the gospel. But it's going to come across hard at times. They're not going to like it, oh well, that's their heart. May God use to draw them to it.

We're not to distract from the gospel, draw attention to the gospel through our character, our actions. Verse 9, the beginning of verse 9 of 1 Timothy 2, in like manner also. So in like manner also goes back to the I desire therefore, which goes back to gospel, gospel application. In like manner also that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel. Adorn.

What does it mean to adorn yourself? To put in order. Remember, it's about church order, about people's order. What Paul's concerned about here for the church and proclaiming the gospel. Adorned, to put in order, to arrange, to make ready, to prepare, to make things right.

It's an action. This is an action to do this. At least once a day, at least once a day, you, all of us, are going to consider what to wear. How will I adorn myself? That happens every day.

You get up, how am I going to adorn myself today? In order to do that, you need to have a standard. What am I going to use for that standard? Is my standard going to be indifference? I'm just not thinking about it.

Is what I wear to work, is my favorite shirt, my favorite dress, whatever it might be. It's cold outside, it's warm outside. Hey, those things do matter. Cold, warm, what's the weather today? Those do matter, but ultimately, what's the standard I'm gonna use to determine the right way to put myself in order for that day?

You have several choices here. Use the world standard. Just use the world standard. And none of us here would say, I'm using the world standard. But you might say, I'm better than the world.

Welcome to a low bar. That's a very low bar to have. Oh, I'm better than the world. That's not the standard. It could be my friends.

Well, maybe that's good. Maybe it's not. You should have godly friends. Ladies, have godly older ladies. Look at them.

The ones that you look at that you admire for their godliness, they're probably adorned well. But you could be your friends, but that's not ultimately our standard. Could be fashion, could be just my comfort. That's not a good standard all the time. Just what I feel like wearing.

I'm really not at liberty just to do whatever I want with my body. I've been bought. My body's been bought. I'm owned by God. I'm not at liberty for that.

So it's ultimately how will I glorify my Savior in my clothing choices? How am I going to do that today? Wherever I'm at, whatever I'm doing Colossians 3 Colossians 3 12 Therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts." When was the last time you picked out clothing and you said, all right, how is this clothing going to be putting on tender mercies?

Kindness. Ladies, there's a lot you can do in your clothing choices to be merciful and kind to the men. A lot you could be doing. There is. Men, a lot you can be doing to be showing and demonstrating tender mercies and kindness to women and others as well.

When was the last time you thought, hey is this clothing putting on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering, a love for God? Is it demonstrating that? Our clothing should reflect putting on Christ, God ruling in our hearts. This putting on is being clothed. You look at it, this is throughout scripture, putting on, I'm going to read more, putting on is being clothed by.

God doesn't use these phrases because he says, look at them, they're wearing clothing so I can use that as an example. Now this is God remember he's the one that first clothed us properly. God uses this language for we understand this language and yes it's spiritual and it's character but that character is often shown through what we wear and how we present ourselves, not just in our speech. First Peter 3, First Peter 3 is very similar to 1st Timothy 2. In 1st Timothy 3, about 3 and 4, Peter says this.

Do not let your adornment, right? We're still on the word, this word adorn, do not let your adornment be merely outward. Remind us of the definition that Jeff Pollard put for us. Be merely outward, arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel. Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is very precious in the sight of God.

Remember this definition, this outward display of humility and purity from a genuine love for Jesus Christ. It says don't let it be merely outward. So just looking at that not merely outward means it can be outward. Peter, God, right? God has Peter write this and say, you can adorn yourself well.

We're not saying you can't. And we'll get to what Paul writes, but Peter and Paul are not in opposition to one another. We'll get to that. We're not. It's not merely that.

It includes that. You can dress well. Ladies, you can have your hair arranged well. You can. It's not merely that.

That's not the heart of the matter. You can do that. It says, but let your adornment be inward, the inner person of the heart. You need to be coming from the heart, a heart motivated to glorify God with how you adorn yourself. And then he says it's very precious in the sight of God.

Now, as a daughter of God, you are already very precious in the sight of God. Hear that. Clothing yourself doesn't give you favor with God. It has nothing to do with salvation. But as his precious daughter, he tells you what is precious to him.

And seeing you, having you adorned in a way that proclaims the gospel, does not distract from the gospel, is precious to God. Like anything we do, my language, the way I work, the way I do things, the way I dress is to draw attention to Christ. And it's hard to apply at times. It's hard to think through that at times, but that's the purpose of all we do. Now, have this here.

You can be adorned. You can be adorned outwardly. Listen. You can be a whitewashed tomb of modesty as well. You can be a whitewashed tomb of modesty as well you can be a whitewashed tomb of modesty look great on the outside I'm not talking about the Amish and the Muslims, and those in India.

I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about here. You can be a whitewashed tomb of modesty. In other words, you look great on the outside, but it is merely on the outside. Quote Peter, it is merely on the outside and there is no gospel change.

You can be that. My exhortation to you is not make the outside look like the inside. Let's go all goth, let's go all frumpy, let's go all dour. That's not the, the exhortation is to repent and make the inside match the outside. And now the outside will be even more beautiful because your countenance will change, your words will change, your mind will change, your desires will change, and people will look at your outwardness much different.

You're not fooling anybody probably. You're not fooling too many people, most likely anyway. But you can be a whitewashed tomb of modesty. So repent and keep the modesty. Verse 9, back in Timothy, 1 Timothy, verse 9, continuing on, in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing.

This is the character of one with modest and respectable apparel. Let's talk about propriety and moderation first. In the King James it says shame-facedness and sobriety. Now shame-facedness, I like the word better, it gets more at, I think, what this really means. Shame-facedness, propriety, means I don't want to get near the line.

I don't even want to get near the line. I would be ashamed to get near the line and tempt that line, whatever that line is. I don't want to tempt the line. I do not want to push the boundaries. I want to be blameless.

God uses that word blameless later on in this chapter for character, for elders. But we all want to be blameless. We all should want to be blameless. Where serious charge means a serious charge would not stick. You're immodest.

You're immodest. But it wouldn't stick because maybe there's a one-off, maybe somebody's just viewing something wrong. But it wouldn't stick because you don't push the boundaries. You don't even get close to that line. You want nothing to do with that line.

You want to back off that, because that line really is gonna draw attention to yourself versus Christ, probably. This is a reverence, a regard for others, a self-control. This understatedness, you can still be beautiful, wonderful, bright of Christ, but an understatedness, this restraint over my thoughts, preferences, and desires. This is being regulated and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Romans 13-14, but put on, again put on, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill it less.

No provision for the flesh, no provision for the flesh of others that see you as well. And then he has, when he talks about braided hair, gold, pearls, and costly clothing. Paul is not going against what Peter says. He's not going against the rest of scripture also that has ladies being adorned well as well. What it is, it's a warning.

There's a warning here of immodesty of what the words called ostentation. This showiness, this dressing to impress, the extravagance and vanity, this arrogance, this boastfulness, this revealing and enticing. That's what it's against. This immodesty of ostentation is what he's really going against. You read Philippians 2, 3, and 4.

Let nothing be done, nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interest of others." So when you're picking out, when you're picking out your clothes for the day you need to check for a selfish ambition you check for that I mean selfish here am I really looking out for the interest in others of others when I'm picking out my clothing for the day and in my speed self-control just gonna show restraint the desire of purity and self and others, a humble heart of modesty? Ladies, ladies, modest clothing is looking out for the interest of men. It is looking out for the interest of men. It is.

Looking out for the interest of men, especially your brothers in Christ who were bought with a price and war with their eyes all the time. Their eyes and their mind all the time. Christian modesty is looking out for your brothers. Especially, especially here in church or in our homes, that should be a great respite for us. It's a great war out there.

It's a big war out there. This should be a good place of respite from that war. It really should. And our homes should be as well. Now, lust can happen with the most modest apparel.

I know that. But don't lead them in temptation. Don't lead them. It can happen with the most modest. That's not your fault.

That's their fault. Richard Baxter. You must consider that you live among diseased souls, and you must not lay a stumbling block in their way, nor blow up the fire of their lust, Nor make your adornments their snares. But you must walk among sinful persons as you would do with a candle, among straw, or gunpowder. Or else you may see the flame which you would not foresee when it's too late to quench it.

Jeff Pollard says this, Bathsheba failed to govern her modesty, David failed to govern his eyes, candle meet gunpowder. Boom. There might be a lady right now saying, I'm not Bathsheba. I'm not on the top, the rooftop, taking a bath. Bathsheba, Did she know David's porch was right over there?

Absolutely she did. She knew he was there. She knew he walked out there and other men walked out there probably. This is about enticing. This is about knowing.

This is about intentionality as well. It takes very little for a man's mind to wander and be enticed. I have got a few daughters, so between all my daughters, I'm warning at least, or not warning, but talking to at least one of them about this almost every week. Do you know what their response is? No way, Dad.

A man's mind is that bad? Yes, it is. Yes, it is, it can be that bad. And that's just a Christian man's mind. It can be that bad at times.

Not to mention the unsaved man's mind. Don't entice. Candle meat gun powder. Men, men, men. You are responsible for your heart and your mind.

I am responsible for my heart and my mind. I'm responsible ultimately. Nobody else is ultimately. Women be careful not to be a stumbling block. Ladies do not be ignorant of this.

Don't be ignorant of the war with less men deal with the effect you can have on their eyes and their desires and their thoughts and their hearts. It doesn't take much you can be a don't be a candle amongst gunpowder. Don't be that. Continuing Timothy verse 10. But which is proper for women professing godliness with good work.

He starts with the gospel. He doesn't end. It's an ending in a section, but here he has this. He's making sure we write. This is about the gospel still.

This is proper for those professing godliness with good works. Christian modesty professes godliness. God says that. It's proper. This is professing godliness.

God says adorning yourselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation. Professing godliness is what? He says it's a good work. It's a good work. We pray often.

I pray often, God, what would be good in this circumstance would be good to do what What would honor you and glorify you? Well, God tells us. God tells us in several places in scripture what is good and what His will is. And everything, give thanks for this is the will of God. I don't need to pray about the will of God on giving thanks.

I know it is good to give thanks. It professes godliness and it's a good work to have Christian modesty. It's a good work proclaiming the gospel. It's a good work proclaiming the power of the gospel in self-control and humility, looking out for the interest of others. And this, this is your reasonable service.

This is a reasonable service. Romans 12, right? I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. It's a reasonable service to look out for the interest of others.

It's a reasonable service to proclaim the gospel in all we do in our clothing. It's a reasonable service when God says it's precious, when God says it's a good work to profess godliness in the way we dress, that's reasonable. It's a reasonable service to not look like the world. Well, you will at times. It's not saying that I garden in my clothes any different than another gardener necessarily.

Right? Jason runs a marathon in a tuxedo. That's not happening. But it is your reasonable service to think through this of your intent and the interest of others. I want to go one more place, Deuteronomy 22.5 and then applications and some exhortation.

Deuteronomy 22.5. Deuteronomy 22, 5. A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God. A God created two distinct genders And he wants our appearance, our adorning, to display those created distinctions. He wants that.

He's command that, to be that way. Men, Men, if your clothing, if your hairstyle, if your jewelry would not be questioned if a woman was wearing it, you've got a problem. Women, If your clothing, if your hairstyle would not be questioned, if a man was wearing it or had that hairstyle, you have a problem. You have to think that way, because God wants distinction. He made you a woman.

He made you a man. That's wonderful. That's beautiful. Show it off. Jason, Jason says it this way in his, in his talks he's given about gender distinctions.

And he'll have another, there was another talk coming down the road on on roles biblical roles and gender distinctions But but Jason says it this way often trend feminine Trend masculine Make it very obvious leave no doubt I'm feminine or I'm masculine. Run with how God created you. Enjoy how God created you. Run with it. Culture's not going to help you with this.

Culture not only is blurring gender distinctions, but they're getting rid of gender distinctions. Other thoughts on this of what they actually end up doing, they actually do proclaim some distinctions even in their they're mixing up of all kinds of things but they're saying hey there's no there's no real distinction right so culture is not gonna gonna help us with this right and and us just saying I'm better than Bathsheba was I'm better than the culture was welcome to the low bar again. That's not the bar we have. And all we do whatever we do do all the glory of God. That's the bar.

That that's the bar. If your heart right now is in defense mode, you're kind of hearing this, you're just kind of, there's a tension there and you're pushing back in your mind, you're saying, but James, but James, but James, but James, but James, I want to ask you why you might be pushing back. Because I haven't mentioned anything specific. I haven't, very intentionally. And the shoes are not about to drop either.

I haven't mentioned anything specific about clothing style, hair length, hem length, when, if, pants, jewelry, tattoos, men with shirts or no shirts. I haven't. I do have convictions on all of those And we should talk about all of those. But right now, if your heart's in defense mode, why? Because the job of any preacher, the duty of any preacher, is to try to convince you from scripture.

And that's been my desire, not to convict you from my, convince you from my convictions. It's not my desire there, but may we come to agreement on on convictions first Corinthians 11 here's an application by God Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is dishonorable to him. But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for her covering. Trend feminine, trend masculine. I Do not have a ruler to tell you what is too long for a man and too short for a woman.

What I'm telling you is, be distinctly feminine, distinctly masculine. That's God's desire there, ultimately. And it's got to come from your heart, ultimately. It's got to come from your heart. Christian modesty does not start with rules.

Starts with the gospel, a heart motivated by the gospel, declaring the gospel and glorifying God in all that we do. Applications, three of them. Three applications and then a couple of exhortations on top of that. One, wake up asking what will I wear to glorify God? Think about the activity you're about to do.

What will I wear to glorify God? One of the first things you decide every morning is what I will wear. One of the first things people notice about you is what you are wearing. They'll notice you coming. They may not know who you are, but they'll notice what you're wearing.

They'll see how you carry yourself. They'll perceive something about your countenance. They may have it wrong. They may have it right. But what are you leading them to think?

And they look at you and say, yep, that's a woman. Yep, that's a man. Can they at least do that? Are they being enticed in any way? Being drawn away from God in any way then after you make these decisions right you have to determine what what standard am I going to use.

Then, once you have it on, you're like, okay, this is it. Double check. Look at it. Double check where your clothing draws the eyes. Does it draw the eyes anywhere inappropriate?

Ladies, you might need help from your father. Men, you might need help from a sister, from your mother. Anywhere inappropriate, check sitting, check standing, check bending. Women, check how you're about to wear that purse today. Please do.

Check how you're going to wear that purse. Everything. Check it. Where does it draw the eyes to? Number two, Sovereign Redeemer Community Church will be a place, is a place, better be a place, where the unbeliever or immature, less sensitive Christian can visit, be dressed in modestly and welcomed.

That should happen. Yes, is there a line? Of course there's a line. Of course there is a line where we might offer a jackler we say you just can't be in here if you refuse. Of course there's a line.

We've never come to that line. I don't know of any time we've come to that line. Modest clothing with gender distinction is not their problem. That's not ultimately their problem. It is the heart that needs either saved by the same grace that we were saved from, bought with the precious blood of Jesus, or need sanctified further with more trust in what God says is good and precious.

Number three, husband's fathers, we are responsible. We are responsible. You heard that from Jason last week. We say this a lot. This is what we say a lot in marriage counseling.

Welcome to Headship, men. Welcome to Headship. We are responsible. Husbands, fathers, this is our responsibility. We must govern this.

We must. Partnering with your wife, but men, we own this. And sometimes we might need to come across as the bad guy. Now I'm not necessarily in favor of right, be careful. Be very careful with when you decide to put your foot down, all right?

Be very careful. And gently, sweetly come to this. There might be a place where you have to say, nope, nope, I'm convinced, never again. But we can't do that. Right, And ladies, ladies, be patient.

Be patient. Is it your reasonable service if your husband says, hey, I want a higher neckline? Okay, a higher neckline. Okay. Is it your reasonable service if your husband says, you know what, I'm much better to see you wear more dresses.

Oh, okay. How hard is that really? Men, is it your reasonable service to not wear such baggy shorts maybe or some clothing that's too tight? Okay. Right?

But work on that conviction together. Men, help the ladies in your home examine their wardrobe. Men, the ladies in our house are doing well, commend them, praise them. If you're a husband that doesn't love praising your wife, oh my, Praise your wife when she's doing well in this area and being a great example. And being a great example.

We'll have a message on marriage here in about a month. When we're proclaiming the gospel together, praise her. No clothing, purchased or sewn, is approved to wear until you say it is. Until you say it is. Men and women's clothing.

It can be returned, it can be an alter, it can be altered. Dad examine the clothing from all angles. How it out the coverage, the fit, showing see-through exam might need to examine in the sunlight. How is this going to look when it gets wet if you're swimming at the beach in a pool? Is this pushing the limits?

When I'm walking, I'm standing, sitting, bending. Ladies, when you're holding babies that has its own challenges at times, think of that what you're wearing. Last thing here on these applications, clothing and adornment, what you wear is not and it cannot be once approved always approved. It can't be. Just think about it.

Some standards and convictions do change. And also people grow, don't they? Bodies do change, don't they? But men, we tend to be very slow about changing the wardrobe when these things happen. We're caught off guard like, whoa!

Pay attention, ladies, wives, mothers, help us see that. Help us see what's happening and help us with those things as well. Final exhortations, Final exhortations to all of us. Men, you want protected from being distracted, right? We want being protected from being distracted in conversation, especially with our sisters in Christ, distracted in worship, from being distracted in hospitality.

So men, love your brothers and take responsibility of your home in this area. Love me. I will work to love you in these areas. Husbands, fathers, listen to me because right now there's some ladies in the room that are very concerned about this pendulum being swung too far in some ways and in a big swing and having to go shopping or something. Listen carefully.

Be gentle. Be sweet. Be sensitive. Be kind. Be gracious.

Be humble in all your conversation with your wife and daughters, especially if you've drifted and you haven't addressed this in a while. It's your fault. It's your fault. So be sweet to them. Be kind and gentle.

Be patient. And ladies, don't, try not to get too anxious about this. You've got some scripture on your side for some good things here. You can still dress well. Proverbs 31, 22, she makes tapestry for herself.

Her clothing is fine linen and purple. First Peter, you can be adorned outwardly. Go read the Song of Solomon. That bride is adorned. Read scripture about the bride of Christ of how God adorns us.

We'll end here in Revelation. But it's beautiful. It's wonderful. Sons, sons, you have a closet too. You do have a closet that you need to joyfully submit and honor your parents in any adjustments required.

There is a standard for you too. What does it say about your heart, your desire to glorify God herself? Don't you dare again, don't you dare blame another woman for your sin. Don't you dare. David was punished for his sin, not Bathsheba's sin.

Don't you dare. Don't you dare. Hey, when you're looking at that closet, look at your shorts. Look at your t-shirts. What sayings are on your t-shirts?

What are they promoting? Look at the tightness of your different clothing. Look at all these things. Church, Be patient with one another. Be patient with one another.

Think the best of one another. Let's pray for one another. Let's talk with one another. Don't just sit there and be too bothered. Let's talk with one another.

Maybe my line's the one that needs to move. Might be. I'm willing to hear that. Give God the, definitely the last words here from Revelation. Revelation 3, 18.

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich, and white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed and annoying your eyes with eyesalt that you may see. God covers us. Sin and shame through the gospel. In Revelation 19, seven and eight. Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory for the marriage of the lamb has come and his wife has made herself ready.

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. God, in whatever we do, may we glorify you. God, help us. Holy Spirit, give us good convictions. Give us good convictions in the way we profess godliness.

Let it be good in the way we profess your gospel through what we wear and whatever we do. God, don't let me be a distraction to your gospel and whatever I do, including my clothing. Sanctify us, grow us in these areas. Where there be good conversations in our homes, God, please give good conversations, sweet conversations, helpful conversations. Where movement needs to be done, God, don't let me fear.

Let me fear you alone. In Jesus' name, Amen.