20 Matthew 7:24-29- The Gospel: The Tale of Two Choices

July 23, 2017

Christopher C. Freeman

Title: The Gospel: A Tale of Two Choices Text: Matthew 7:24-8:1 FCF: We often struggle assessing whether we are a Christ follower or not. Prop: Those who hear and act on Christ’s words are His disciples, so we must believe unto obedience. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Matthew 7. I am abundantly nervous about today’s message. It isn’t because I am unprepared. I wrote the application in one sitting. My wife was somewhat shocked that I had done that. I told her that I had all but written the application for this sermon before I even started the book of Matthew. No I am not nervous because I am unprepared. In fact, I have probably gone over this sermon more times than I do most sermons. I am nervous because of what this sermon means. I am nervous because of what this sermon says. I am nervous – because this… is the sermon that our culture, and the organized American church is dying in their sin to avoid hearing. In some ways, this sermon doesn’t really communicate anything that we haven’t already learned. In others, this sermon will be the boldest I have ever been with you, my friends. I must confess that I was tempted to soften it. I was tempted to blunt the edge. But I cannot. I stand before you, forced, compelled by the love of Christ, to share this message with you. And I know that it is very likely that after I share these words with you that I may chase some of you away. I hope that is not the case. Nevertheless, what Jesus says here, what Jesus demands here… is worth the risk. But I am nervous. Let us first read verses 24-27 on Matthew chapter 7. I am reading from the NASB today but follow along in whatever version you prefer. Sermon Intro: [Slide 2] A man named Reggie stepped into the counselors office. Reggie recently attempted suicide and was obligated by the courts to come to counseling. Reggie sat down in front of the counselor, somewhat reluctantly. After their introductions the counselor started probing to get to the root or at least close to the root of Reggie’s suicidal thoughts. At the end of their hour, the counselor told Reggie to focus his thoughts on positive things. Reggie replied “I hear ya doc.” The following week, Reggie came in and recounted his week. He did not do well. He was depressed most of the week. Did not show up for work 3 out of the 5 days. He considered committing suicide, even though it was brief. After unpacking all of this, the counselor came to a similar conclusion as she had the previous week. So at the end of their hour, she again told Reggie to concentrate on positive thoughts and positive things. Again Reggie said “I hear ya”. The following week, things only got worse. Reggie experienced a similar week of actions and his thoughts were full of negative and dark things. Paranoia and anger was welling up in him. The counselor explained how negative thoughts can affect him greatly. She again advised Reggie before he left. Reggie, do not let negative thoughts or experiences conquer you this week. Surround yourself with positive people and thoughts. Again Reggie said “I hear ya.” The following week Reggie did not show up for his appointment. The counselor panicked. She called Reggie at home. He answered. She asked him where he was. Reggie said that he had chosen to go to a different counselor. She asked him why. Reggie said, well doc, it isn’t anything personal, but it doesn’t seem like we are making much progress. In that the counselor agreed. Now you tell me… Did Reggie hear the counselor? Maybe. But did he act on that advice? No he did not. And lo and behold, he was making no progress. Interesting how that works. We often get confused by the many voices in our culture and mainstream Christianity that tells us that simple belief, simple confession is all that is necessary for salvation. But like Reggie, simple belief that only amounts to lip service saves us from nothing. It is only those who hear the words of Christ and act on them that are His disciples. And if that is the case, then we must believe unto obedience. Transition: Jesus decides to show us this point in an illustration. In fact in the last several verses he has talked about two gates which lead down two paths, which lead to two destinations. He talked about two trees that bear two fruits, and those two trees have two destinies based on which type of fruit they yield. He has talked about two slaves that have similar confessions but one slave is lacking and that produces two proximities to the judge. And now today we will see two hearers who are like two builders who build two houses, but 1 key element determines whether that house stands or falls through the storm of judgment. Look with me in verse 24 I.) Those who act upon Christ’s words avoid catastrophe, so we must believe unto obedience. (24-25) a. [Slide 3] Therefore i. It is difficult to know what exactly this therefore connects to. ii. It could be the entire sermon as a whole, and in fact I believe that what Jesus is about to say will apply to the whole sermon. iii. However, I think it is more likely that Jesus is talking specifically with reference to the only people entering heaven being those who did the will of the Father. iv. When this is true, we will find Jesus’ next words to be astounding. b. Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them i. Jesus is talking about His own words. He is drawing a big = between God’s will and His words. ii. It is God’s will that you act on my words. iii. Now which words is He talking about? Probably the sermon as a whole. Everything He has been saying up to this point. iv. Now this word act on in Greek is incredibly difficult to nail down. In the King James Version alone… this word is translated into over 50 different words. v. With that many definitions it is quite difficult to isolate exactly which one Jesus is talking about. Now most of the time we see the word translated as to do (with something immaterial) or to make (with something material) vi. One thing we do know is that this word does not mean a one time thing but something that is ongoing. And all 50 words have something in common, they are all some sort of action. Some sort of response. So, how the NASB and some others translate this word, to be act on, seems best. It is an ongoing change made because of the words heard and believed. vii. So what we have, essentially, is a 1 to 1 correlation with what He said in verse 21. He is saying that just as if you said Lord, Lord and did my father’s will, so also if you hear my words and practice my teachings. viii. Again it is necessary for us to say that Jesus is not teaching legalistic self-righteousness. He is not saying you will escape the judgment of God by your lifestyle. He is saying that if you heard His words, and a faith was generated in you that was powerful enough to change you to obey, then that will serve as an indicator that you are the following kind of person. c. [Slide 4] May be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. i. A person who has heard Jesus’ words, believed them, and has experienced a change in his lifestyle to obey them… is wise. ii. Not wise as in intelligent. But wise spiritually. The beginning of wisdom is a fear of the Lord. iii. This person fears God. They have believed everything Jesus has taught and they fear God. Not just a honor and respect kind of fear, but a legitimate fear of His holiness compared to their wickedness. iv. Jesus is blending a metaphor here. He is certainly saying someone who physically builds his house on a rock is intelligent but that is not the total of the layers here. So we must see the comparisons between the illustration and the spiritual meanings behind it. v. So like a man who is discerning enough to understand that in the desert there are volatile storms that could arise, causing the rivers to flood and the sands to shift vi. So the wise spiritual man knows that this life is but a vapor that will soon come to an end and the judgment of God will be on all men. vii. And like a man who prepares for catastrophic weather by digging down past the layers of sand to build a foundation on solid rock viii. So the wise spiritual man knows that he could never build any sort of spiritual life on himself since he knows he is unstable in all his ways. ix. So like the man who builds his house on a rock foundation, immovable by wind, rain, or flood x. So the wise man builds His faith on the very Words of Jesus, to the point that He lives by them. His life, His faith, everything he builds, is 100% dependent on and surrendered to the strength of the Rock. xi. And although you cannot conclusively prove it from this passage, I am convinced that Jesus when talking about the rock, was talking about Himself. His words. His sacrifice. xii. And in the midst of that harrowing storm of God’s fury – your life, your faith, rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ will stand firm. Unshaken. Transition: [Slide 5 (blank)] So one man hears and acts on the teachings of Christ and his house of faith stands against the stormy judgment of God. But what of the other man? On what is his house built? II.) Those who hear Christ’s Words only will be destroyed, so we must believe unto obedience.. (26-27) a. [Slide 6] Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them i. There are two hearers here. Both have heard His words. ii. But one of them chooses to ignore them. iii. They pass over him like a gentle summer breeze but he is unchanged. iv. Perhaps there was a moment of clarity. Perhaps the light broke through. Perhaps, for a time, there was change and conformity to the standard set before him. But it was conformity based on self-discipline and willpower. v. It was not lasting. It stopped. It died off. vi. And even if he prayed a prayer, and even if he can quote the words of Jesus. Even if he remembers a time when he went on a missions trip or learned a lot in the bible… the fact remains that today, nothing has changed. vii. Who is this person like? b. [Slide 7] Will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell – and great was its fall. i. Just as a wise person does not communicate intelligence only, fool does not communicate unintelligence only. ii. Fool is a person who refuses to fear the Lord. There is no humility in a fool. They are self-sufficient, and self-reliant. iii. And just like before Jesus is using a physical illustration to show us a spiritual truth. iv. Just as a man who is unwise enough to not anticipate catastrophe of the coming floods, rains and winds of the desert v. So there are men who hear the words of Christ, but do not believe the full scope of the impending judgment of God. They either do not feel that the judgment will be as bad as is advertised, or they do not feel that the solution for that judgment is as difficult as Jesus indicates it is. vi. And so like the man who does not endure the pain and difficulty to dig under the sand to find rock on which to put the foundation of his house vii. So the fool does not think that he is as bad as Jesus conveys to Him. He thinks that his righteousness will be sufficient. His lineage will be sufficient. That he need not labor long in the difficult path ahead, but can simply build his faith where He is. He need not change so long as he believes. He is lazy and convinced that the path to a spiritually sturdy faith need not be built on anything that demands too much. We need not change, only believe. viii. And those same rains and floods and winds will arise against the house that he built on sand ix. And the fool’s faith will endure the same judgment and scrutiny of God that the wise man’s did. x. But since the foundation of the man’s desert house was not on anything but shifting sands, the house came down, and so great was the fall that it was utterly and completely destroyed. Unable to be salvaged. xi. And fool’s faith will crumble in the scrutiny of the King as He watches the Lord dismantle His wicked infested house brick by brick. And there will be nothing good left of such a man. xii. The most tragic thing about the fool’s house falling, is that he thought it was on a solid foundation. He thought that the prayer he prayed, the date he marked in his bible, the simple and easy belief would be sufficient. There was no zeal to pursue Christ for change – only to ask Him for heaven. xiii. Both were hearers. Both were builders. Both underwent the judgment. One survived. xiv. So what is your foundation? Is it Christ? The Solid Rock? How do you know? Jesus has already told us. Those who hear His teachings and obey. c. [Slide 8] But one critical question remains for us. It is one we have all but ignored up to this point… WHAT ARE THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS? The teachings that true followers of Christ act on, obey and do? d. [Slide 9] Of course, the only real conclusion we can come to, based on context, is what? The Sermon on the Mount. So what has Jesus revealed in the Sermon on the Mount? It is Jesus’ description of the Kingdom and its citizens. Review with me… i. [Slide 10] 5:3-5:12 – Gives us the Defining Attributes of Kingdom Citizens ii. 5:13-16 – Gives us the Earthly purpose of Kingdom Citizens iii. 5:17-5:48 – Gives us the Spiritual Law of Kingdom Citizens iv. 6:1-18 – Gives us the Primary Audience of Kingdom Citizens v. 6:19-34 – Gives us the Primary Pursuit of Kingdom Citizens vi. 7:1-12 – Gives us the Holy Community of Kingdom Citizens vii. 7:13-23 – Gives us the Difficult Defection to be Kingdom Citizens e. And Jesus says that if you hear Him and act on or do what He has taught, these will be true of you. So going back through that list… i. Do the Defining Attributes of Kingdom Citizens define you? ii. Do you consider the Earthly Purpose of Kingdom Citizens to be your purpose for being on earth? iii. Is the Spiritual Law of Kingdom Citizens your common lifestyle? iv. The Primary Audience of Kingdom Citizens, God in case you were wondering, Do you perform to please Him? v. The Primary Pursuit of Kingdom Citizens, God again, Do you hunger and thirst for Him? vi. Are you part of the Holy Community of Kingdom Citizens, striking a balance between Love and accountability? vii. And would you describe your continued defection to being a Kingdom Citizen as difficult? Transition: [Slide 11 (blank)] To hear and to act. To listen and to obey. This is what it takes to be considered a disciple of Christ. The goal of all who are disciples of Christ is to be perfect. And that goal becomes more and more a reality as they live. But listen to C.S. Lewis on this topic… Conclusion: [It is like Jesus is saying] The only help I will give is help to become perfect. You may want something less: but I will give you nothing less.’ Let me explain. When I was a child I often had toothache, and I knew that if I went to my mother she would give me something which would deaden the pain for that night and let me get to sleep. But I did not go to my mother—at least, not till the pain became very bad. And the reason I did not go was this. I did not doubt she would give me the aspirin; but I knew she would also do something else. I knew she would take me to the dentist next morning. I could not get what I wanted out of her without getting something more, which I did not want. I wanted immediate relief from pain: but I could not get it without having my teeth set permanently right. And I knew those dentists: I knew they started fiddling about with all sorts of other teeth which had not yet begun to ache. They would not let sleeping dogs lie, if you gave them an inch they took an ell. Now, if I may put it that way, Our Lord is like the dentists. If you give Him an inch, He will take an ell…. That is why He warned people to ‘count the cost’ before becoming Christians. ‘Make no mistake,’ He says, ‘if you let me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is what you are in for. Nothing less, or other, than that. You have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not push Me away, understand that I am going to see this job through. Whatever suffering it may cost you in your earthly life[Slide 12] …I will never rest, nor let you rest, until you are literally perfect— until my Father can say without reservation that He is well pleased with you, as He said He was well pleased with me. This I can do and will do. But I will not do anything less.’ If you are truly His, He won’t let you rest. So if you are at rest, you are not truly His. How long can I stop before it is a rest? How long can I pause before it is a stop? How long can I slow before it is a pause? I have no idea, but why are you asking? Do you want me to help you feel good about your apathy? Do you want me to smooth over the guilt of your distracted and neutralized life? I think it is generally because we want to feel secure. We want a black and white line so we can know that we are unmistakably saved, beyond the reach of God’s judgment. But friend no black line is ever drawn for us. The ONLY metric we have on earth, is an obedient life. Because it is evidence that Christ is at work in us. And the solution to a disobedient or apathetic life is not to try harder. The solution is to repent of your apathy and disobedience. The solution is to depend on being IN Christ to produce obedience in you. The solution is to step out in faith and obedience. Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Do you honestly believe that Jesus was talking about physical problems when He spoke these words? I can’t wait to get to Matthew 11 and blow that interpretation out of the water. But not yet… If you don’t catch this. If you continue to depend on yourself or some magic prayer, then one day it will all crumble. The only thing that matters is belief to the point of change. Because if you are changing, it is evidence that you are believing. [Slide 13 (blank)] So many at the end days will step before Christ, their judge, only to find their house unable to stand before Him. And their house was built so strong. With the finest good works they could muster. They were sincere and perhaps even accomplished great things in the name of Jesus. But at the end of the day, a house is only as good as its foundation and a faith is only as good as what it is depending on. A faith that depends on Christ for the escape from the penalty of sin only, is sand. A faith that depends on Christ for the escape from the penalty of sin and depends on self for the escape from the power of sin, is sand. Only a faith that depends on Christ to escape the penalty, break the power, and ultimately eradicate the presence of sin is rock. To the Jews on the plain that day, Jesus again does not tell them that He is God in flesh. He doesn’t tell them that He is the Messiah. He doesn’t tell them that He is the Lion of Judah. He doesn’t tell them that He will die for their sin. He doesn’t tell them that If they pray a prayer asking for salvation that they will be saved. No the primary content of His message to the Jews on the plain was this… you have to be perfect to be a kingdom citizen. And if you don’t hear my teachings and obey them then you will be destroyed. Roll credits. Most evangelists would have given Him a solid F on that sermon. Why do you think Jesus did this? Because if they don’t understand the implications of this… if they aren’t concerned about this… if they can’t see that they can’t be perfect… if they can’t see how wicked they are… if they really have no desire to be what God wants them to be, then there is no possible way they will ever call on the name of the Lord to be saved. In a very real way Jesus is teaching us how we should be evangelizing the lost. God’s standard is perfection and those who aren’t perfect according to God’s standard will be judged… see ya later. Why should we do this? Because the gate is narrow. If they do not understand what the gate and the path that follows will demand of them… they cannot possibly enter it. I feel like sometimes we think we can bait and switch people into salvation. Great you prayed the prayer now I want to tell you about how hard this Christian life will be for you “well I didn’t sign up for that” too late you are already in. Or maybe we don’t tell them at all how hard the Christian life will be. We introduce them to Christ and turn them loose. Perhaps our time was limited and the most important thing is getting them saved, because discipleship will follow if they are saved. But as soon as they get a glimpse of the hardship of the narrow path they reconsider and stay on the broad path. [Slide 14] One popular preacher supposes that our problem is not with failure to follow up, but failure to produce true conversions. Just because true conversion is proven by obedience to Christ doesn’t mean we can lead them in a prayer and say well if it was genuine they will obey Christ. Do you know what that is like? That is like taking the saying, where there is smoke there is fire, and walking up to a campfire lighting a match, throwing it on the logs and walking away saying, well if it is a true fire, we’ll see the smoke. Can I submit to you that you haven’t evangelized unless you stay with them until the fire starts and the smoke billows up. And you might say, so what is the difference between evangelism and discipleship? There is none. There is no difference. As well there shouldn’t be. And that is what we see with Jesus. To those Jews on the plain, he struck the match, threw it on the logs, and watched and waited. And what do you think would be the sign that the fire began? That a spark landed? They would seek Him for more! [Slide 15-16] But friend… look with me, at what is perhaps two of the saddest verses in the New Testament. Verses 28-29 They were blown away because He taught with power and authority. Unlike their scribes who taught by quoting other scribes, Jesus taught by His own authority quoting God. [Slide 17] Look at verse 30 for me – “So then, those who had received his word were baptized and that day there were added about three thousand souls” Oh wait. There is no verse 30 is there? Maybe that verse is in verse 1 of chapter 8. [Slide 18] No. But they did follow him… maybe it is in verse 2. Nope. Just looking for healing. Don’t know about that obedience thing, but I sure could use a healin’. It is the modern equivalent of someone saying – “Wow great sermon! You really spoke with the authority of God! I mean it was a great message for Bill cause He sure needs it right now. By the way, we are about $2000 behind on our medical expenses, do you think the church could help us out with that?” They missed it. They were silent on the plain and they followed but not for repentance, not for answers. There were only 12 who followed Him that day, and even for most of them, their motives were not quite clear. [Slide 20 (blank)] Today is the twelfth time we have discussed a portion of Jesus sermon. 3 months worth of sermons on 1 sermon from Christ. Twelve times we have looked into what a Kingdom citizen is, does, how they live, and what it takes to be one. And twelve times, just as the Jews were silent on the plain, never interrupting, never pursuing – you, my friends, have been silent in your pew, never interrupting, never pursuing. I am forced to come to one of two conclusions. 1.) Either Everyone in this room is in Christ, living obediently, repenting of their wickedness and allowing Him to change them. But I doubt this is the case. Jesus’ words telling me the gate is narrow tells me that it is unlikely. Some, I can believe, but all… 2.) Or, secondly, that some of you have felt the disconnect. That you have seen that you are not like the descriptions of Kingdom citizens. You have seen that your life’s purpose is not the same as Kingdom citizens. You have seen that your life’s practice does not conform to kingdom law. You have seen that your life’s audience is not God nor is He your one true pursuit. You have seen that you do not fulfill what is required of the Holy community and that your supposed entrance into that community was not difficult nor does it continue to be difficult as Jesus describes. You have been shown all of this and yet you have not interrupted me. You have not pursued me to ask further. a. Perhaps this is because you chose to search out the answers yourself. Perhaps you sought the Word and rejected your life and depended on Christ for the first time, sometime in the last few weeks. If that is the case, please, I’d like to know. So I can celebrate with you. So I can help you on this new perilous path you are on. b. Others though, you have seen this disconnect but for various reason have not sought me or another because you do not wish to change who you are. i. Perhaps because you are arguing with what you feel is MY interpretation of Jesus’ words – If this is the case, I wonder, since we often lie to ourselves, how can you be sure that you don’t feel this way because you want to assuage your guilt and put your mind at ease as you live your lifeless faith? Have you actually searched the scriptures? I can be wrong… I have been wrong before… but have you sought the answers? ii. Or perhaps you do not come to me because you do not care – because you have no wish to be a Disciple of Christ – only a heaven inheritor. Coming to Christ for forgiveness and heaven was fine, but coming to Christ to change, is crossing the line. To you, I simply say, the faith you want doesn’t exist. It was never what Jesus offered. c. Or is it because you were unsure whether you could interrupt. Perhaps it is because you are afraid. Maybe it is because you don’t know what the narrow gate and perilous path hold for you. If that last one is you… won’t you come? Talk with me. I have not attained perfection yet. My wife can well ascribe to that. I am constantly at war with my flesh. That has been my road. That has been my peril. And others in this room share the road I tread. Can we show you how to go about being saved? Can we show you what it means to continually repent and continually believe? Even if that means we don’t have foundations. Even if that means we don’t go on with our day until all your questions are answered Even if that means we all meet in a room somewhere and just beg for mercy from our King… Will you come? Those who have entered the narrow gate and are on the perilous path – perhaps you should stay too. To show those who have not yet entered what it cost you. Those who have no interest, or wish to live a faith without need of works may go if you wish. But for those seeking to finally believe AND obey… come. No music. No manipulation. No prayer to close the service. No lingering long. Today we end like Jesus ended.