PROFANITY

TEXT:Hebrews 12:14-17 "Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright. 17 For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears."

INTRODUCTION--

1. This passage of Scripture arrays the standard of being a Christian against the failure of meeting that standard.
   
   1. The Christian standard is "Peace with men, sanctification with God."
      
   2. The failings are.....
      
      1. "Falling short of the grace of God."
         
      2. "Bitterness springing up, and defiling many."
         
      3. "Fornication" (Whether spiritual or physical?)
         
      4. "Profane persons like Esau"
         
         1. The Biblical definition of the word "profane" is "crossing the threshold."
            
         2. Can such transgression be found among Christians?
            
2. This last failing is the only one illustrated by an example--Esau.
   
   1. "Sold his birthright for one mess of food."
      
   2. "Afterward, he desired to inherit the blessing (without the right)."
      
   3. But, he "found no place for a change of mind in his father, though he sought it diligently with tears."
      
   4. This story is given in detail in Genesis 25:21-34, 27:1-41.
      

LESSON--

1. Why did Esau sell his birthright?
   
   1. He put less value on it than on his belly. Genesis 25:27-34 "And the boys grew. And Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field. And Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison. And Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 And Jacob boiled pottage. And Esau came in from the field, and he was faint. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage. For I am faint. Therefore was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me first thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die. And what profit shall the birthright do to me? 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me first. And he sware unto him. And he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils. And he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright."
      
      1. Esau's circumstances were not critical. (He was faint, but not incapacitated.) 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it."
         
      2. To prefer the belly to sacred privilege is a great profanity. Philippians 3:17-20 "Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample. 18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"
         
   2. Every person on earth has a birth right....the opportunity to be an heir of God.
      
      1. 1 Timothy 2:4 "(God) would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth."
         
      2. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
         
   3. As heirs of such divine good will, we are "debtors" to meet the conditions of heirship. Romans 8:12-17 "So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: 13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him."
      
   4. We will forget this birthright, if we serve our bellies. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables."
      
2. Esau's second offense was in attempting to obtain his inheritance without the right. Genesis 27:35-38 (His father Isaac said,) "Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing. 36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. And, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants. And with grain and new wine have I sustained him. And what then shall I do for thee, my son? 38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept."
   
   1. The "goats" in the judgment miscalculated the effect of living for themselves. Matthew 25:41-46 "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me. 46 And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life."
      
   2. The "lawless" will suffer the same fate. Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work (lawlessness)."

APPLICATION--

1. If a Christian treats his "circumstances" as so special that things "sacred" must be sacrificed, he is as profane (and mistaken) as Esau.
   
2. A person who sacrifices his privileges through profanity cannot suppose that his inheritance is still secure.
   
3. A Christian who is profane should not expect to find the Father in heaven sympathetic to his unrepentent appeals and tears.