The Real Salt Life

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” (Matthew 5:13)

Beloved,

In 2003, a group of friends developed a line of clothing called, “Salt Life.” They were connected through their passion around their time spent in the ocean. These friends embarked on a journey, “to develop a brand that wasn’t just a logo; they wanted it to represent a style of life.” Salt Life encourages its customers to live for a passion for the outdoors and to experience all that the ocean has to offer. It is not uncommon to see bumper stickers on cars all over the Southeast spreading the “Salt Life” culture.

Christians were the original ones who were called to live and spread the “Salt Life.” Jesus said Christians are the salt of the earth. Although salt had many purposes in the first century, it was primarily used to enhance the flavor of and to slow the decay of food. The church is called to be the salt of the earth as we enhance the flavor of life and arrest the decay and corruption of the earth. How does the church live the “Salt Life”?

First, we live flavorful lives. Christians should live in such a way to attract people to Jesus. Their speech should, “always be gracious, seasoned with salt,” causing people to consider the claims of Christ (Col 4:6). Proverbs 14:13, “By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.” We can preserve the earth with our “salty” speech.

Secondly, we live holy lives. In the first century, salt would lose its taste and effectiveness as it was mixed with impure substances. Craig Bloomberg writes with that the common problem with salt was of it, “being mixed with various impure substances and therefore becoming worthless as a preservative.” Salt could no longer function in its designed way because it became defiled. Likewise, the church will no longer function in its designed way if it becomes defiled. The church has to remain holy and pure from the world if it is going to slow the decay of corruption in the earth.

If a clothing brand could embark on a journey to create a “Salt Life” culture, should we not do so even more? We have been rescued from the dominion of darkness through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. We no longer are destined for wrath but to obtain salvation in Christ. If a group of friends could use a logo to develop a Salt Life culture, then blood-bought believers can strive to create a true “Salt Life” culture.

Beloved, let us live flavorful and holy lives. Let us strive for a church culture where our speech is seasoned with salt as we live as blameless and pure children of God in the midst of this crooked and depraved generation (Phil. 2:15). We are the salt of the earth. Therefore, let us live like it as we give flavor and preservation to the culture around us.

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The Blessings of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:1-7)

  “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” This is how JR Tolkien begins the tale of Bilbo Baggins. Baggins is a respectable, orderly and predictable hobbit. In the first few pages, he is encountered by the great wizard Gandalf. Gandalf looks at this respectable, yet boring hobbit and says, “I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone.” Bilbo stared back at Gandalf in full agreement. He replied, “I should think so - in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can't think what anybody sees in them. We don't want any adventures here, thank you! You might try over The Hill or across The Water.”[1] Bilbo had no time for adventures because they were ripe with inconveniences, as they were, “nasty disturbing uncomfortable things.”

      Bilbo would go on an adventure and his adventure changed his life forever. We are about to go on an adventure through the book of Proverbs. It may be a disturbing and uncomfortable journey, but it may also change your life forever. Adventures bring excitement and intrigue. They bring challenges and pitfalls. They expose weaknesses and hidden strengths. Adventures are revealing. And I pray that our adventure through the book of Proverbs will be revealing and yet invigorating. Proverbs is a book of wisdom. The book is mostly made of wisdom gathered from King Solomon, although there is a collection of sayings taken from other sources as well. Solomon is the main author of Proverbs, but he is not the one who compiled it together as a book. 

      Solomon became king as a young man. He had his faults, but early in his reign he was given the golden ticket from the Lord. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him what He should give to him. Solomon replied,

“You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? (1 Kings 3:6-9)

And the Lord answer Solomon prayer,

Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” (1 Kings 3:11-14)

Solomon asked for wisdom and God answered that prayer in abundance. And Solomon’s prayer continues to bless us as we have the treasure trove of wisdom left for us to glean from as we journey through his Proverbs.

      Over the next several weeks, we will examine the wisdom in the Proverbs. Lord willing, we will see the wisdom of work, friendships, parenting, relationships, money, communication, and education, but every adventure must first have a beginning. 

The Beginning of Wisdom

      The first seven verses of Proverbs are known as the preamble. In these seven verses, the goal of the book and encouragement to approach its contents with excitement is laid before us. Proverbs 1:1-7,

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs is a book of wisdom and the very beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.

      Every Christian should memorize Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Someone may have two PhD’s and tenure at the most prestigious university in nation, but still not have knowledge. True knowledge only begins with the fear of the Lord.  This is very important, because Proverbs primarily is not speaking about intellectual aptitude. Proverbs is focused on the direction of that aptitude. If someone does not have the fear of the Lord, then they do not have true knowledge. Someone may have a tremendous mind to understand the world, but will never use it as it was intended until they fear the Lord.

      When I was four years old, my family lived in Cedar Rapids, IA. The Midwest was known for tornados. I’ll never forget the first tornado that I witnessed as a four year old. I remember going out my front door to see the trees bending with the power of the wind, trash blowing down the street, lightening filling up the sky and the booming of thunder that felt like it was right on top of me. It is hard to grasp the feelings of a four year old, but I knew that I did not want to mess with the power that I witnessed that night. Even though I saw the ferocity of the storm, I was safe from it in the arms of my parents. John Piper says, “The fear of God is what is left of the storm when you have a safe place to watch right in the middle of it. . . . Oh, the thrill of being here in the center of the awful power of God, yet protected by God himself![2]”

      The beginning of knowledge is to understand the awesome power of a holy and righteous God and that God’s hatred towards sin. The beginning of knowledge is to fear the Lord as our Judge. It is appointed for a man to die once and then face judgment. We all will be held accountable for our sin.  So how can we be safe in the storm of God’s wrathful judgment? The answer is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came to be our refuge in the storm by taking our judgment for us on the cross. Jesus has promised us protection from the storm. He died in our place and on the third day rose from the dead and ever lives to intercede for his people to protect us from the wrath to come. The fear of the Lord is “to turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thess. 1:9b-10).

      So as we begin this adventure in our search for wisdom through the Proverbs, have you had your beginning with God? Do you fear the Lord? Have you turned from idols to serve the living and true God and wait for His Son to deliver from the wrath to come? Do you recognize the awful power of God, but stand safe in his arms protected from his ferocious power? If you do not fear the Lord, you will never gain true wisdom.

      Of course I say that because I have the assumption that you want wisdom. I believe that everyone wants to be happy. Everyone does things because they believe those things will ultimately make them happy. I eat ice cream at 10 pm because I believe that yummy goodness will bring me a bit of delight. Other times, I chose not to eat ice cream at 10 pm because I believe a favorable number on the scale the next morning will bring me more happiness than a giant bowl of Moose Tracks. My choices are dictated by my own understanding of happiness in that moment. I believe that you should pursue wisdom with all your strength, because I believe that God’s wisdom will ultimately make you the happiest.

The Benefits of Wisdom

      The entire book of Proverbs offers countless examples of the benefits of wisdom, but as Duane Garrett writes in his commentary, the prologue…

Challenges the reader to commit himself to the mastery of this book. It offers the significant benefit of acquiring the key to attaining capability in life. By this book, one can learn the principles that determine success or failure in the major arenas of human activity, including business, personal relationships, family life, and community life. Verses 2–6 describe the purpose of the book, that is, to teach wisdom to the reader.^[3]

Garrett also provides four categories of benefits listed in these 5 verses. The categories are: practical, intellectual, moral and life’s mysteries. Let me read the verses again and see if you can see these four categories before we break them down together.

To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. (Proverbs 1:2-6)

I believe it is more beneficial to study this book thematically rather than verse by verse, because the book gives categories that affect every area of my life. One of the reasons people do not read the Bible is because they do not believe the Bible is relevant to their lives. You will see through these four categories just how relevant this book is for our lives.

Practical – the book is to educate people with wisdom and instruction. The meaning of wisdom would include the arena common sense, how to cope with daily problems, and occupational skills. Studying proverbs will help you become a better employee at your job, and instruct you in how to speak to your spouse and how to choose friends. It reminds loud people like me to be quiet in the morning to allow people to wake up. It holds tremendous practical and relevant advice.

Intellectual – It does not give just practical advice, but intellectual knowledge. This is implied with words like understanding and knowledge. This book provides intellectual knowledge not only to the youth which is the primary audience, but to the wise. It says, “Let the wise hear and increase in his learning.” We never outgrow our need to learn. Living with a learning position helps to keep us humble. Young and old should practice the art of learning on their never-ending adventure to gain wisdom.

Moral – The book pushes a biblical morality. There are right and wrong ways to live. The words to learn instruction in righteousness, in justice and equity all apply to morality. In a society that is increasingly becoming more lax in its morality, it would benefit us to give ourselves to examine the specific morality the Bible advocates, especially in our speech and relationships. When Solomon addresses the simple, he is addressing the immoral person. The immoral person is simple because he forgets that he will answer for all his deeds. Someone is simple because they do not have a proper fear of the Lord; therefore they have no knowledge making them simple. It is there lack of morality that makes them simple not their intellect.

Mysteries of life – The one who has wisdom can understand proverbs and wise sayings and riddles. The deep questions of life can be answered as one seeks the wisdom held in the book of Proverbs, but these things can only be understood when one has a proper disposition before God.

      All that is to say, there are tremendous, absolutely tremendous, benefits of seeking the wisdom found in the Proverbs. If you want to be truly happy, you will study the proverbs. If you want to have happy friendships, study the proverbs. If you want to have a happy bank account, study the proverbs. If you want happiness, study the Proverbs and live God’s way, but know there is a battle for your true happiness.

The Battle for Wisdom

      With all the benefits of wisdom built on the beginning of wisdom in the fear of the Lord, it seems like a no-brainer. Why would anyone not choose wisdom? Well the answer is seen at the end of the Prologue in verse 7. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” There is the way of wisdom and the way of folly. Wisdom gives her reasons and folly gives her reasons. There is a battle for what you will believe will ultimately bring you joy. 

      The first nine chapters of Proverbs address your heart, so that you will be prepared for all the nuggets of gold that fall on the following pages. You must to first understand the why before you will ever get to the what. At the end of the opening section Proverbs 9 pits wisdom and folly together again. Notice how wisdom has built her house and calls out to the simple, but so does folly!! Wisdom calls to the simple, Proverbs 9:1-6,

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

And folly calls to the simple, Proverbs 9:13-18,

The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. (Proverbs 9:13-18)

The battle is on.  Wisdom makes her case and folly makes hers. Which will you choose?

      This battle should not surprise us, for it is a battle that the church has always faced. The world thinks the things of God are folly, but we believe Christ is the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24 refers to Christ as “the power of God and the wisdom of God,” and 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “And because of him (referring to God) you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” The battle is not new, but it is very real. Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God. He has made his case. Jesus says, “Whoever is simple, let him turn to me.” Jesus invites you to leave your simple ways and to walk in the way of insight. 

      God wants us to live in wisdom. God wants us to live in Christ. Proverbs are really just practical ways we can choose Christ. We choose Christ in our friendships. We choose Christ in our communication. We choose Christ in our money. We choose Christ. To study Proverbs is to study how we can live for Christ. There is a purpose in our lives. God wants to use the lives of his church to display his glory to the nations. Paul writes of his mission as a minister of the gospel in Ephesians, which provides another reason we should battle for wisdom in our adventure through the Proverbs. Paul writes,

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3:7-10)

Beloved, do you see why studying the Proverbs is so powerful? We want to display the manifold wisdom of God to the nations and to the heavenly community. We want to show that we have been crucified with Christ and the lives we now live we live by faith in the Son of God.

      We show we have faith in the day to day activities of our lives. We show our faith in how we treat our spouse, raise our kids, work at our jobs, handle our money, and speak to our neighbor. And we must always remember that we cannot do this in our flesh. We cannot “white-knuckle” our way to obeying the Proverbs. If we are not careful, the study of Proverbs will become just another avenue to create legalists. We heed the Proverbs by the grace of God given through the power of the Holy Spirit as we grow in the fear of the Lord. Growing in wisdom in all the various aspects of our lives is a life-long process as we walk by faith not by sight. The righteous will live by faith. We battle to believe that God’s way is better than the world’s way. We battle to open ourselves to Lady Wisdom and close ourselves off to woman Folly who is loud, seductive, but knows nothing. And we fight this battle in the Spirit, for all who are led by the Spirit are sons and daughters of God.

      If you want to live for Jesus in the day to day, let us choose wisdom, the wisdom of God. Let us choose Jesus Christ. Let the adventure begin. Let our proverbial adventure disrupt our lives so that we can be further transformed into the image of the Son as we live in the blessings of wisdom.

     

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[1] Tolkein, J.R.R. The Hobbit. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1973. Pg. 3

[2] Piper, John. The Pleasures of God. Multnomah Books. 2000. Pg 186-187.

^[3] Garrett, D. A. (1993). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (Vol. 14, p. 67). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

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Do you believe in a Religion of Works?

Excerpt from my Book, "Guard Your Soul" available for purchase (Paperback and Kindle)

Do you believe in a Religion of Works?

Certain people came up to Jesus to challenge the religious character of His disciples.  In Luke 5:33, the Bible says,

And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 

The people were not merely making an observation, but rather, they were making a statement about the character of the disciples.  The statement implies that Jesus’ disciples were not as religious or zealous for God as the disciples of John and the Pharisees for they fasted and offered prayers regularly to God. 

Before we slam the critics for questioning the character of Jesus’ disciples, it is important to understand the reasoning behind their statement.  Fasting was a normative part of the religious climate which usually entailed not eating food for one full day.  Jews were only required to fast once a year on the Day of Atonement.  There were also four day-long fasts to remember the destruction of Jerusalem.  The other fasts were for repentance and the mourning of sin.

Although the Jews were only required to fast once a year, the Pharisees increased fasting to twice a week. Every Monday and Thursday the Pharisees would fast and intercede for the nation of Israel, praying for her deliverance. Fasting was a sign of piety and reverence for God. So, in Jesus day, you were considered religious and reverent if you fasted regularly. 

Jesus and His disciples enter the scene, and not only do they not fast, but they are eating and drinking with sinners.  It is a stark contrast. It was as if I showed up to preach in here in a t-shirt, shorts and flip flops instead of the customary suit.  I would look totally irreverent and irreligious because it would not fit in our church’s cultural framework. 

These people looked at Jesus’ disciples and were implying to Jesus that he needs to do something about them.  They were attempting to be obvious without being obvious.  It is like when a well-meaning grandmother tells one of her granddaughters after one of her small children throws a tantrum, “You know that so-and-so’s children were over here the other day and were so well behaved and respectful.” This is code for, “What is wrong with your children?”  People came to Jesus with a statement about fasting, which was code for, “What is wrong with your disciples?” The people questioned Jesus and His disciples because they were living with the mindset of the old covenant or living in a religion of works.  They believed that people were justified in God’s sight based on what they did rather than by God’s grace. Unfortunately, this works-based comparison of our religious activities is still active today.  This perspective easily can creep into the life of Christians and the culture of churches.  So we have to ask ourselves, “Do we functionally believe in a religion of works?” We may not intellectually believe that, but do we practically live our lives believing in a religion of works? 

Be honest with yourself. Do you pat yourselves on the back because your life is a little bit better than the person you are sitting next to on Sunday morning? Do you elevate yourself over your brothers and sisters by focusing on how their behavior is not quite as good as yours? Do you look down at other churches and/or people because their religious activities do not seem to measure up to yours? 

The issue that the people had with Jesus’ disciples was not only that they were eating and drinking, but they were eating and drinking with sinners.  The disciples were judged to have a weak walk with God because they spent time with sinners.  They spent time talking with sinners. They spent time eating with sinners.  They spent time laughing with sinners.  Bottom line, they spent time with sinners.

So why were Jesus’s disciples spending time with sinners? Because that was where Jesus was spending his time!!  Jesus said,

Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:31-32).

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.  The only way to save the lost is to be among the lost. While the religious establishment was focused on their religious activities and on how Jesus’ disciples were not meeting their expectations, Jesus and the disciples were calling sinners to repentance and calling them to turn to the living God for salvation.  

Beloved, we must guard ourselves from thinking that our spiritual life is connected solely to our religious activities.  God wants us to do good works.  Ephesians 2:10 says,

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 Good works are important, but the reasons behind those good works make all the difference.

As a pastor, I spend a lot of time trying to get people to come to church and to have them participate in religious activities.  If I am not careful, it is very easy to start preaching and teaching a religion of works. It is easy to judge people’s devotion to God based solely on their church attendance and/or service in the church.  I do want people to be more faithful in their service to the church. I want people to be more faithful in their attendance and giving to the church.

Hear the difference in the following, “You need to be more faithful to the church. You need to give more and do more. God wants you to be more involved.”  Those are not heretical statements, but I think that they are wrong-headed.  The other way of saying it is, “Jesus Christ is so glorious and so holy.  He came to rescue you from sin and death by giving His own life for your soul.  What a great and glorious God!! This great God that has sacrificed His life for you is calling you to lose your life for His sake so that you may truly find it.  Jesus calls you to pick up your cross, deny yourself and follow him.  Give more and serve more and sacrifice more for Jesus Christ. He is worth it.”  The first sounds very works-based while the second is all about worship. Christianity is not a religion of work. Fundamentally, it is a religion of worship.  

Greater Reward

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

Beloved,                 

Moses grew up as a prince of Egypt. He had access to all the riches in Egypt, all the opportunities of privilege, and all the respect of the kingdom. He had everything the world could offer him, but he chose Christ. Moses chose, “to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” (Hebrews 11:25-26) Moses was looking for the reward of Christ.

We remember Moses leading his people out of Egypt, but we forget the 40 years he spent in the wilderness as he waited for God’s reward. Would Moses have considered himself blessed as he tended the flock on the mountain estranged of his own people as lived as an outcast? But would Moses consider himself blessed today?  He has received his reward.  He is enjoying the eternal pleasures at the Lord’s right hand. He is in heaven.

It is hard to rejoice when others revile and persecute us and utter all kinds of evil against us. It may be hard, but God has said that we should rejoice and be glad for our reward will be great in heaven. Our trials are not exclusive to us. The Prophets, like Moses, who came before us experienced the same struggles. We are not alone in our trials. We all have choices to make when we are treated poorly for Christ’s sake. We can raise our heads to heaven and ask why or we can raise our heads to heaven with joy as we wait our great reward.

Everyone lives for the promise of reward, but the Christian redefines the reward. The world lives for the fleeting pleasures of sin. They live for the reward of temporal pleasure and comfort while the Christian lives for the eternal, great reward promised for us in heaven. The Christian lives their lives banking on a greater reward than the fleeting pleasures of sin. A Christian’s reward is not fleeting, but everlasting.

Moses may have struggled with living in the wilderness for 40 years tending the flocks of his father-in-law, but he is not struggled now. If you were to ask him if he made the right choice considering the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, what do you think he would say now? Beloved, consider the reproach of Christ greater wealth than all the treasures of this world.

The Disciples Encounter the Risen Christ (Luke 24:28-53)

      Alien life has been a major Hollywood theme over the last thirty-plus years. America seems to be fascinated by alien lifeforms. Whether it is Men in Black, Aliens, Star Wars, or Star Trek, American culture has had a fascination with alien life ever since Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of a Third Kind. In 1977, Richard Dreyfus starred as Roy Neary, a cableman who, during a routine call, witnessed a bright light leaving his face sunburned. Neary had his first encounter with alien life. He was eager to return home and tell his wife. His excitement is dashed upon his arrival, as his wife refuses to believe in his apparent hallucinations. Neary could not get the vision that he saw out of his head. He becomes consumed with his desire to have a close encounter of a third kind: contact. Neary’s wife ended up taking the kids and leaving him because of his obsession.

      Roy Neary’s life was dramatically changed because of his encounter with this Unidentified Flying Object along the roadside. There was no going back. Similarly, the disciples were dramatically changed because of their encounter with the Risen Christ following his death and resurrection. Their lives would never be the same. The major difference between Roy Neary in Close Encounters of a Third Kind and the disciples is that one is grounded in historical fact, while the other is fiction.

      Skeptics may want to frame the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a simple tale of make believe, but we cannot take the bait. When the Eleven first heard the news of the resurrection, they believed it was an idle tale told by hysterical, unreliable women, until they encountered the Risen Christ themselves. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not some unbelievable alien encounter, but true historical event that radically transformed his followers to give their lives. Remember Luke is a historian. He carefully analyzed the evidence and wrote an orderly account. Although Luke wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and leaves us his book as the infallible Word of God, he also can be trusted as a careful historian who gives facts of the events surrounding the resurrection. Let us not over mystify the Bible, but carefully consider this account from Luke as reliable historical account of the resurrection, specifically as we examine how the disciples encountered the risen Christ.

     

The Disciples Saw the Risen Christ

      When Jesus encountered the two men on the road to Emmaus, their last words described the mood following the resurrection. Luke 24:24, “Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” These disciples were walking in the opposite direction away from Jerusalem because no one had seen Jesus, but that was all about to change. Luke 24:28-35,

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24:28-35)

Jesus revealed himself to the disciples upon the breaking of bread and their eyes were opened. They saw him. It was their sight that confirmed the reality of what they were feeling.

      They testified that their hearts were burning inside them as Jesus opened up the Scriptures as they walked along the road. They knew something was different with this man, but it was not confirmed until Jesus himself opened their eyes. How many times have people said, “I’ll believe it when I see it?” These men were walking away from Jesus, they wanted to believe, but did not see him. And yet, everything changed when their eyes were opened. Notice that they were not the only ones who had encountered Jesus. They returned to the other disciples and they were already saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” The number of people who encountered Jesus in sight was growing, now extending now to Simon Peter.

      In 1946, Billy Graham became friends with a fellow evangelist, Charles Templeton. Templeton and Graham traveled the United States preaching the gospel. Unfortunately, as time went on Templeton started to drift from his faith. In his memoir, Farewell to God: My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith, Templeton recalls a conversation with Graham. Graham said to him,

I’ve discovered something in my ministry: When I take the Bible literally, when I proclaim it as the word of God, my preaching has power. When I stand on the platform and say, ‘God says,’ or ‘The Bible says,’ the Holy Spirit uses me. There are results. Wiser men than you or I have been arguing questions like this for centuries. I don’t have the time or the intellect to examine all sides of the theological dispute, so I’ve decided once for all to stop questioning and accept the Bible as God’s word.”

“But Billy,” I protested, “You cannot do that. You don’t dare stop thinking about the most important question in life. Do it and you begin to die. It’s intellectual suicide.”

      “I don’t know about anybody else,” he said, “but I’ve decided that that’s the path for me.”[1]

Beloved, it is not intellectual suicide to believe in the resurrection. The first disciples doubted until they saw Christ. It is not an idle tale, but a fact of history. This is one of the reasons I am so encouraged with the renewed interests of apologetics in our congregation. We have reasons for the faith that is within us. Near the end of Templeton’s life, he was interviewed by Lee Strobel in a Case for Faith. Strobel recounts the conversation,

      “And how do you assess this Jesus?” It seemed like the next logical question—but I wasn’t ready for the response it would evoke.  “He was,” Templeton began, “the greatest human being who has ever lived. He was a moral genius. His ethical sense was unique. He was the intrinsically wisest person that I’ve ever encountered in my life or in my readings. His commitment was total and led to his own death, much to the detriment of the world. What could one say about him except that this was a form of greatness?”

      I was taken aback. “You sound like you really care about him,” I said.

      “Well, yes, he is the most important thing in my life,” came his reply. “I . . . I . . . I . . . ,” he stuttered, searching for the right word, ‘I know it may sound strange, but I have to say . . . I adore him! . . .Everything good I know, everything decent I know, everything pure I know, I learned from Jesus. Yes . . . yes. And tough! Just look at Jesus. He castigated people. He was angry. People don’t think of him that way, but they don’t read the Bible. He had a righteous anger. He cared for the oppressed and exploited. There’s no question that he had the highest moral standard, the least duplicity, the greatest compassion, of any human being in history. There have been many other wonderful people, but Jesus is Jesus….’

      “Uh . . . but . . . no,’ he said slowly, ‘he’s the most . . .” He stopped, then started again. “In my view,” he declared, “he is the most important human being who has ever existed.”

That’s when Templeton uttered the words I never expected to hear from him. “And if I may put it this way,” he said as his voice began to crack, ‘I . . . miss . . . him!”[2]

This man wanted to believe, but refused to accept the evidence. Beloved, the disciples saw the Risen Christ. The resurrection is not intellectual suicide, but real people seeing the Risen Christ in real history.

The Disciples Touched the Risen Christ

      There will always be a few skeptical people in the crowd. Charles Templeton was a skeptic, but there were skeptics among the disciples. While they were all recounted what they had seen, Jesus came to address the skeptics. Luke 24:36-43,

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

This was not a spiritual resurrection, but a literal, bodily resurrection with flesh and bones. Jesus looked at him and said, “Touch me, and see.” He then offers them his hands and his feet so they can touch him and see. 

      Luke notes that the disciples “still disbelieved for joy and were marveling.” Luke is highlighting the sheer amazement and shock of what they were witnessed.  It is similar to when we hear or see something and say, “That is unbelievable.” We do not mean it is actually unbelievable, but we are amazed that it just happened. We know this because Luke says the disciples disbelieved with joy and were marveling; a clear sign of belief. Jesus then removes all doubt by taking a fish and eating it. Although we may draw implications of this meal of Jesus communing with the disciples as in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me,” Luke’s main point is to confirm the reality of Jesus resurrection. The disciples had good reasons to think that Jesus rose from the dead.

The Disciples Heard the Risen Christ

We have seen throughout Jesus’s ministry that the miraculous events done by his hands were to draw people to his words. He would heal a paralytic or exorcise a demon so that people would listen to his teachings. The same could be said of his resurrection. The resurrection is like the Mount Everest of miracles. It confirms the reality of all the Scriptures and has implications for all of life. The charge that Jesus gives his disciples following the greatest miracles of all history is the charge he gives to us as well. Luke 24:44-49,

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The first thing that Jesus does is remind them of the words he has already spoken.

He starts not with sharing with anything new, but that which is from the beginning how everything written in the Law, Prophets and Psalms has been fulfilled. Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. He has done everything that was required of him. He confirms that the entire Old Testament finds its “Yes and Amen” in Christ Jesus. If we read the Bible and miss the person and work of Jesus Christ, we are misreading the Bible. The main thrust of the Bible is to show us Jesus.

After reminding his disciples of the truth, he then commissions them to go and share this knowledge with the entire world. Jesus said that he suffered and was raised on the third day so that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations. This is the task of the church. This is our mission. We are to go and to proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins to all nations. We are on mission to proclaim that the Kingdom of God has come near in Jesus Christ. Therefore, in order to be faithful to our mission, we must proclaim the message of the gospel, but why would we not want to share it? 

Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), the world-famous violinist, earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn't able to buy it. Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking price, he returned to the seller, hoping to purchase that beautiful instrument. But to his great dismay it had been sold to a collector. Kreisler made his way to the new owner's home and offered to buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea. "Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?" he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector's emotions were deeply stirred. "I have no right to keep that to myself," he exclaimed. "It's yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it."  

Beloved, the gospel message of salvation is so beautiful; we must take it into the entire world.  Think back to your salvation: How precious did that grace appear the hour you first believed?  Romans 10:15b, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news.”  It is a privilege and joy to share the beauty of the gospel with those lost in sin.

Non-Christian, have you ever heard and believed the good news about Jesus Christ?  The Bible says that all have sinned and stand condemned before God.  Because of God’s perfection he cannot allow sinners into his presence and because of his justice he has to punish sin with death.  But the good news is that God sent Jesus Christ into the world to be condemned in our place.  And after Jesus was dead and buried, God raised him from the dead as the firstfruits of the resurrection for anyone who would turn and trust in Him as Lord and Savior.  Christians cannot imagine better news.  We were dead in our trespasses and sin, but have been made alive in Christ.  Dear friends, believe the good news of Jesus Christ.  The kingdom of God has come near in Christ. This is our mission, but we will not be left alone to complete it.

We can know this that whenever God gives us a mission, he will give us the means to complete that mission.  As a church it is easy to give reasons why we cannot complete our mission to reach the world for Jesus Christ.  We do not have enough time. We do not have enough energy. We do not have enough money. We do not have a cool, hip pastor.  The list can go on and on. We do not need what we think we need, for what we need has already been given to us by God.  Remember the promise of the Lord Jesus here, “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” We will finish our mission because we trust the promise of the perfect Promise-Keeper. God the Son will send the promise of God the Father which is the power of God the Spirit.

Two Greek words in the text should frame our understanding of our task to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. The first word “power” comes from the Greek word dunamis which usually connotes the ability to overcome evil forces. The kingdom of God has been inaugurated by the Lord Jesus and will be ushered in by the Spirit of God at Pentecost where the church will be clothed in the Holy Spirit. The second word “witness” comes from the Greek word marturion which is where we get our English word martyr.

We are called to be powerful witnesses. These two words should frame our understanding of the mission. You will face evil, but you have the power to stand up against that evil with the truth of the gospel in unto death. The Christian mission is one of ultimate victory. God promises opposition, but promises the power to testify in the face of that opposition so that we will be fully and finally blessed. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)

The Disciples Believed the Risen Christ

Jesus leads his disciples to Bethany comforting and confirming with them the task that lies before them. He blessed them and then returned to the Father. Luke 24:50-53,

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

The Resurrected Christ was raised to sit at the right hand of the Majesty on High. He returned to his place of authority and power waiting for the day when all his enemies will be his footstool. The disciples saw, touched and heard the Risen Christ and believed. They worshipped him with great joy continually blessing God in the temple.  They encountered the Risen Christ and they believed. Have you encountered Christ? Have you believed?

Encountering Christ will change you. Our faith is not some mystical, idle tale like Roy Neary in Close Encounters, but a reasoned faith grounded the historical eyewitness accounts of those who were there. Let me close with the words of one of the 500 eyewitnesses that saw the Risen Christ, the Apostle John says,

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

That which they had seen and heard, I proclaim to you also that you may have fellowship with God. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Dear friends, listen to those who were there. Believe in evidence. Believe in the Risen Christ and have eternal life.

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[1] http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2013/05/09/charles-templeton-missing-jesus/ accessed 4.18.15

[2] http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2013/05/09/charles-templeton-missing-jesus/ accessed 4.18.15

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For Righteousness' Sake

“Blessed are those who persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10

Beloved,

Matt had been unemployed for a year and recently landed an interview with a local company. Matt was selected for the position, but the employer told him that it was necessary for them to pay him under the table so that the company could save money on taxes and insurance. Although Matt desperately needed the money, he chose to turn down the position because his Christian faith was more important. Matt believed righteousness was better than money.  He was willing to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

Christians face decisions every single day that could bring persecution into their life. Whether it is the college freshman who chooses not to drink, or the spouse who refuses to lie on her taxes, or the parents who choose to go to church rather than have their children play in sports on Sunday, they all face decisions that could bring persecution into their lives. Every Christian will one day be faced with a choice to either forsake righteousness or be persecuted. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12) The persecution may vary depending on the society. It may be losing the opportunity of career advancement in America or losing your life in Iraq. Although the persecution may vary, the promise of Jesus Christ will never vary or change.

When we face persecution, we must remember Jesus’ words, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” God’s people need to resolve to choose righteousness. We do not look for persecution, but when given the choice, we should gladly bear persecution for righteousness’ sake. We may lose things in this life, but we gain the kingdom of heaven. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12) When we remain firm in the face persecution, we are still blessed.

Do not focus on what you may lose, but what you will gain. We may lose everything, but we gain Christ!! Let us consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord. Take the sure road of blessing by choosing to suffer for righteousness sake.

Do You Have the Truth? (Luke 24:13-27)

   

On September 11^th, 2001 Al Qaeda orchestrated the greatest terrorist attack on American soil.  Two planes took down the World Trade Center and another plane crashed into the Pentagon.  Three thousand people lost their lives during the coordinated attacks that day. There are certain dates that impact a generation: December 7, 1941 and the bombing of Pearl Harbor, November 22, 1963 and the assassination of John F. Kennedy, January 28^th, 1986 and the Challenger explosion. Everyone in my generation will remember exactly where they were when they heard that the planes flew into the towers.  We have life before 9/11 and life after 9/11.

      I will never forget driving through New York City a few weeks after the attacks and seeing American flags flying everywhere. I counted how many seconds it was between flag sightings and the longest I got to was 5 seconds. Our nation was drawn together against this horrible evil. There was unanimous agreement that the attacks of 9/11 were a textbook example of moral evil. That day, our nation testified to the belief in that truth as absolute. Would we do the same today? Would you? What about our belief in God? Is “truth” about the God of the bible absolute, or simply relative?

   A year after 9/11, when the nation appeared to agree on the concept of moral evil, the Barna Research Group discovered that most Americans do not believe in moral absolutes. Moral Absolutism is the ethical belief that there are absolute standards against which moral questions can be judged, and that certain actions are right or wrong, regardless of the context of the act. An example would be saying that the premediated murder of innocent lives in 9/11 is morally wrong. In a survey of 4,000 people, it was discovered that,

·         64% of all adults believed truth to always be relative, depending on the situation.

·         83% of teenagers believed truth to always be relative.

·         Only 32% of Christians believe in moral absolutes

·         Only 9 % of Christian teens believe in moral absolute.[1]

Based on this survey, most Christians do not believe in moral absolutes. When asked this, “When you are faced with a moral or ethical choice, which ONE of the following best describes how you, yourself, decide what to do?” In other words, where do you turn to find your morality? Twenty four percent of born-again Christians said when facing a moral choice that they do, “whatever feels right[2].” One out of four Christians says their morality is determined by their feelings. 

   
The world does not value absolute truths and sadly, too often, neither does the church. Do you? Was 9/11 absolutely wrong or was it justifiable? Truth is important. Let me ask you, “Do you have truth?” I believe the Bible is clear in its claims of absolute truths. And I believe the Bible makes specific claims about Jesus Christ.  Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father accept me.” Jesus believed in absolute truth. As we work through our text, I want to ask you 2 questions to see if you have the truth.

Do you have True Knowledge?

  
 In order to have the truth, you have to have the right facts. You have to know the right things. Jesus appeared to two men on the road to Emmaus to make sure they had the right facts about the Bible and the Messiah. Luke 24:13-17,

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. (Luke 24:13-17)

The men were talking over the facts about Jesus. They were discussing the meaning of everything that happened.  They did not recognize Jesus, but because his identity was hidden from them. They were shocked that he had “no idea” of the recent events. 

  
 Human beings are meaning makers. Pastor and Counselor Paul Tripp explains this concept in his book, How People Change,

We look for meaning and purpose in every event, activity, and relationship in our lives. The toddler who asks his mother if God made telephone poles is a meaning maker. The second grade girl who advises her friend on how to get other girls to like her is a meaning maker. The husband and wife who discuss why the husband can’t get along with his boss are meaning makers. The elderly woman who wonders why her daughter doesn’t visit is a meaning maker. Meaning making is something we do unconsciously but incessantly. We never stop trying to figure life out. We ask questions. We make assumptions, draw conclusions, make connections, interpret data, and make distinctions. Whether we suffer, strive, achieve or relax, we ask ourselves consciously or subconsciously, “What is the point? What does it all mean?” And here is the important part: the answers we give ourselves, the meanings we give to our thoughts, circumstances, relationships, and actions move us in specific directions.[3]

The disciples were grasping for meaning. They wanted to know, “What was the point?” of Jesus’ life, death, and rumored resurrection. 

     Although they were still discussing the recent events, it appears that they had already made their decision about Jesus. Over the last 15 chapters, Luke has pictured Jesus journeying towards Jerusalem and his ascension. The turning point for is Luke 9:51 which states, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” Jesus was journeying back to the Father, but had to go through Jerusalem and the cross. These disciples of Jesus were on the road to Emmaus traveling from Jerusalem.  They were journeying in the opposite direction. They thought everything was over. When Jesus approached them on the road, they stopped, stood still and were looking sad. They had knowledge of the events, but did not interpret them rightly. They assumed they understood everything that was going on, but as we will see, they did not have the true knowledge.

 
   These men were not waiting in Jerusalem, but had turned away. Their faulty interpretation caused them to change their direction as Tripp said above, “And here is the important part: the answers we give ourselves, the meanings we give to our thoughts, circumstances, relationships, and actions move us in specific directions.” Have you ever turned away from a friend because you wrongly interpreted information? You may have believed something to be true about someone so you turned from them. You may have made a decision without having all the facts, or perhaps you had the facts, but drew the wrong conclusion.

   The two men will explain to Jesus all the recent events and Jesus will add clarity to their confused knowledge.  Luke 24:18-24,

Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” (Luke 24:18-24)

    There are two phrases that help explain these disciples’ actions. First, in verse 20, “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” This reveals why they are sad. Jesus did not fulfill their hopes. They expected him to restore Israel as a nation by overthrowing Roman oppression. Their expectations were not met so they were sad and walked away.  Beloved, I have seen too many people walk away from relationships, the church and the Lord because of the unfulfilled hopes of unmet expectations. But did Jesus fail these disciples, or did Jesus fail these disciples’ expectations? Jesus is not the problem, but rather the expectations of disciples. They did not have true knowledge. Jesus was going to redeem Israel, but not the way these disciples had expected. Their sadness was a result of unmet expectations.

   
The second phrase that reveals the motive behind their actions is the end of verse 24, “him they did not see.” The irony is very thick. The reader knows far more than these two men. There is a sense of anticipation and excitement. They said they did not see him as they were staring at him. This passage answers the question that every disciple had asked, “Where is Jesus?” His body is gone, but where is he?

Jesus’s response is crucial for us to understand. Luke 24:25-27,

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)

Before Jesus reveals his identity, he gives them true knowledge by helping them rightly interpret the Scriptures. He corrected their interpretation. Verses 26-27 are extremely important in how we interpret the Scriptures. Jesus is the key to interpret the whole Old Testament.

  
 This would have been an amazing conversation. Jesus unpacks and interprets how everything from Moses to the Prophets explains how the Messiah would come and redeem his people through his death and resurrection. Do not miss this!!! The main purpose of the Bible is to explain how Jesus Christ was going to come and rescue an unholy people to reconcile them to a Holy God. The Bible answers the question, “How can a holy God forgive sin, yet show justice to the guilty? The answer is found only in Jesus Christ. It was necessary for Jesus to suffer on the cross before he was to enter his glory through the resurrection. Jesus Christ was punished for sin experiencing the penalty for sin in his death on the cross. And now through his resurrection from the dead, anyone who places their faith Jesus will have everlasting life. A holy God cannot overlook sin, so for our sake, Jesus, who knew no sin became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God.

   
Jesus provided true knowledge to the disciples showing from the Scriptures how to interpret everything in relation to Him. Jesus gave his disciples true knowledge, but true knowledge is not enough. You also need to believe.

Do you have True Faith?

 
  The disciples needed things clarified for them, but their main problem was a lack of faith. Jesus said, “O foolish ones, slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” The disciples did not believe. Their main problem was a lack of faith in the word of God. I believe that this is our main problem today as well. In John 6, Jesus disciples asked him, “‘what must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’” (John 6:28-29)

It is not enough to have the right knowledge; you must also believe in that knowledge. Your belief in the truth will dictate how you live. The reason people do not forgive those who sin against them is because they do not truly believe Jesus words, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15). The reason people give themselves to lust or greed is because in those moments, they do not believe in the resurrection. John Piper writes,

All the promises of God were purchased for believing sinners by an act that happened in the past, namely, by the death and resurrection of Jesus. But God-glorifying BELIEF doesn't merely stare at those acts; it stands on them, and then looks forward to all the promises Jesus bought for us, and banks its hope on the promises, and moves out in a life of faith. Faith is future-oriented. It is heartfelt hope in the promises of God.[4]

So as a church, we have to ask ourselves, “Do we believe in God’s Word?” Are we motivated by faith in God’s promises or unfilled hopes of unmet expectations? 

As your pastor, I am praying that we will be motivated by faith to believe all that God has promised for us in Christ Jesus. I am praying that our hope will be set fully at the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Beloved, if God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Will we be motivated by faith in the very great and precious promises of God or by fear that God will not be there for us in the end?

Maybe your problem this morning is not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of faith in that knowledge you already possess. Do not be foolish and slow of heart to believe. Jesus Christ has promised you a glorious resurrection if you have faith in Him. Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God. One pastor shared a story of young boy caught in a house fire,

The young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters[5]."

Beloved, we do not place our faith in what we see, but in our God who sees us. Our faith is grounded in what He has said and what he has done for us in Christ. The disciples did not believe in the resurrection, because they did not see him so they turned to walk away. We must trust God even when we cannot see the outcome. We must be disciples with a true knowledge and a true faith. Even though we have not seen him, we love him. Though we do not now see him, we believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls.

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[1] http://brileyh.home.comcast.net/~brileyh/morals/barnsurv.htm accessed 4.9.15

[2] https://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/67-americans-are-most-likely-to-base-truth-on-feelings#.VSapmPnF-So accessed 4.9.15

[3] Tripp, Paul. How People Change.  Pg 31.

[4] http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/battling-unbelief-together accessed 4.12.15

[5] Sherman, Reece. Faith Lessons, pg. 16
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