Filed under: Christ Likeness, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Law, Salvation, Sin, Tanach, The Church
Answer to Question #3
The answer to Question #3 turned out to be my sermon topic a month ago. You can listen. Or you can read the text below.
Today we’re going to focus on a text out of Matthew 7. A section out of the gospel called the “Sermon on the Mount.” But before we turn there, we’re going to need a little bit of background. In order to do that we need to look at the very beginning of chapter 5.
1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying…
This is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. However, contrary to what is believed about this “sermon.” It really wasn’t a sermon at all. Take a look. “Now he saw the crowds…” Then, what did he do next? He went up the mountainside. Jesus wasn’t preaching to a crowd, he was getting away from a crowd. Then what does he do next? It says, “He sat down!” Now, for anyone who knows acting or speaking, the worst way to address a crowd is to sit down. So, it must have been a small crowd…which indeed it was because then the text says, “His disciples came to him and he began to teach them saying…”
What is very important to catch here is that Jesus wasn’t preaching to a crowd, he was preaching to his disciples. To his followers. It was an intimate small group teaching. The sermon on the mount folks isn’t for everyone. What Jesus goes on to talk about in chapters 5, 6, and then seven is meant for his followers, people walking with Him and know him well.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
I’ve seen that verse so many times, and it’s always presented as a downer. (more…)
Filed under: Accountablility, Christ Likeness, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Salvation, The Church, Torah
Hey guys…I preached this sermon at my church, Door of Hope Community Church. Enjoy.
Filed under: Christ Likeness, God's Will, Grace, Kingdom of God, Salvation, Sin
As I’m preparing for the question 3 and I am becoming acutely aware of how much we as Christians proof text verses without really looking at what is bookending the verses we often quote. My next question is on Matthew 7:13-14…
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (NIV)
Man…I’ve seen that verse so many times, and it’s always been a downer for me, just reading it it looks like defeat. That no matter how hard we try, only a few people will really be saved. Many people will go to hell. However…as I look at the verses leading up to that statement, then looking at the verses afterward, one must ask…does this really have anything to do with how many people make it “in” and how many people are “out?”
I’ve been struggling so much lately asking myself the emphasis we as Christians need to be placing on “sharing the gospel” in the sense of a salvation prayer. Are we really supposed to be notching it up on our bible covers the amount of people we lead through the “narrow” gate? Or in light of God’s sovereignty, do we really do anything?
Then…it strikes me…how do we preach the gospel to those who need water, food, and a warm bed? Is the gospel good news to someone who’s about to die? Pray this prayer with me so you can be my brother so I can take care of you. Does it really work this way? Isn’t God’s love Agape, unconditional, meaning I will be loving toward you know matter what, even if that means you’re not having said “The Prayer.” Did Jesus not feed the hungry, and heal sick, without condition?
The verses leading up to 13-14 talk about how to treat your brother in regard to judging him, being so careful how we judge each other as Christians. In verse 6, it even suggests that the life we receive as Christians (in regard to morality and right-living) is to be considered sacred and treated like a pearl. Something not thrown to pigs or dogs or people who have no appreciation for that way of life. The verse preceding verses 13-14 is also talking about God’s provision and how He loves to give to His children like we love to give to ours. However, verse 12 brings the previous 11 verses home with the golden rule. A truth so paramount in our society today, that it may not be even seen as scripture anymore…
”So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
This sums up the law and the prophets??? Wow…this certainly says something in regard to my previous question. Especially if Jesus has fulfilled the law of the prophets.
What happens after Jesus tells about the narrow road? He talks about false prophets. He talks about how a good tree bears good fruit. Another way of saying, “We’ll know they are Christian, by their love.” as the old hymn says. Then Jesus makes it clear that only a person who “…does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”(verse 21) may enter the Kingdom. Jesus ends the parable with the famous houses built on sand cannot stand speech. A parable not about how much “knowledge” someone has…but, someone who “hears these words of mine and puts them into practice.“
What do I see going on before and after Verse 13-14? I see a general sense of how a person is to conduct themselves as a member of the Kingdom. No judging, asking God, doing to others as they would do to them self, watching out for false teachers, bearing good fruit, doing the will of the father, and putting His words into practice. There is a general sense of what is to be done as a Christian and how to live this life. What does this mean for Verse 13-14? We’ll find out in my next blog entry.
Filed under: Accountablility, Christ Likeness, Kingdom of God, Sin, The Church
(I first wrote this on February 5th, but my blogging client never put it in, because I had some settings wrong, it’s been a rough month, so I let my blog go by the wayside.)
First, I would ask for your prayers as I’m feeling very frustrated with God and life at this moment, there’s a lot swirling through my head, lots going on in my life, and hefty decisions need to be made.
There is a myth in the church these days. It has to do with the perception, or appearance of evil. What does the church really mean when this idea is tossed out? Where does this idea come from? Lets first say that the idea is not biblical. The King James Version of the bible says in 1 Thes. 5:22 “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” which is vastly different from the NIV version which says, “Avoid every kind of evil.” A quick glance and the differences are clear. If you can see it…let me splain…no…let me sum up. To abstain from the appearance of evil gives the impression that you need be watchful over everything you do not to give the perception or impression that you aren’t sinning. The other…gives a clear understanding to stay away from those things that are sin or evil. I believe avoiding perceived guilt diminishes the power of the gospel and the potential of the church. For example, there are a couple of men who have made it their mission to bring the gospel to pornographers. They go were many men would not go to preach the gospel. This is their calling. Why do many avoid this mission field? There is the appearance that they are going there for selfish reasons guised a mission from God? Could this be the case? Maybe? But, I don’t know these men, and I’m certainly not the person they would be accountable to. The gospel is diminished by the appearance of evil. Also, the power of the church working according to the gospel need not hide behind those who risk their position or status in the church by fearing the appearance of evil.
5“If your brother sins gainst you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that very charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” – Matthew 18
In light of that scripture, isn’t it enough that if we do sin, a church working correctly and biblically would handle those who do sin. A church working correctly need not worry about the appearance of evil because there are always those who are accountable to others and those who knows their lives deeply. A church need worry about the appearance of evil because the sin of gossip would not permeate the people with speculation and innuendos. Those walking currently in the truth need not worry about the appearance of evil as they are so grounded in the teachings Jesus that they themselves know what is good, and those who know them will know their heart. The church would never again take a risk because to do so mean stepping out in faith against the man made rules of the church. To know Jesus is to know his heart. All things biblical are not black and white, and rote with questions and deliberations. Jesus asks us to work together as a community and not be held back for fear of being perceived to be evil.
(Written today) After milling over this subject for a month, I’ve also come to the realization that we as a church also bank on the “Appearance of Good”. Often making ourselves to look better then we really are. So, it’s deception on another level. We must strive to really be transparent as a church so the power of the gospel works. How can we be the hands of feet of Jesus without extending each other grace and accountability? How can we love each other as Jesus does if we keep a facade. God knows who we are, but does the church?
Today…I’ve been very blah. My back has been really hurting.
Probably from all the lifting at Target, and from working endlessly on
the apartment. I need to soak in a hot-tub. I am reminded though of
something a guest speaker said this past Sunday at church. He was
talking about suffering. And how the goal of many religions is to move
away from suffering. He pointed out Buddhism an how it begins with the
premise of suffering and the “enlightened one” has moved away from
suffering. To be like Christ is to suffer. A quick search of the word
“suffer” in the bible brings hundreds of results, and Christ has to
suffer and endure many things.
“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And
hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into
our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:3-4
While my back hurts, I remember the one who suffered many blows to
his back to absorb the wrath of who I am so that I might be free to
commune with a living God who wants so much for me to be present to His
presence now. Lord, my back hurts, but my spirit rejoices knowing that
you’ll restore not only my back, but all things, for you glory and your
glory alone. Amen.
