Why? The Why Of Continued Faith And Obedience

Introduction

Jesus’ name above all names, majesty. And then my favorite. I’m telling you, I could sing it every week. I’d like to give it a try. Sometimes you don’t appreciate songs you sing all the time, but Hosanna. Save now. We beseech thee. Hosanna and the highest, the people screamed as Jesus rode on the donkey into the city, his triumphal entry. Rebuke your disciples, they said. He said, if these become silent, the stones will cry out. Made a point about that this week in the lesson of the widow’s mights, actually. That God will use what we contribute, but even if we don’t, he will accomplish his purposes. And we have sung. We bow down. King of my life. Yes, he is the resurrected Lord. Yes, by his resurrection from the grave, we have hope.

It is the central part of the salvation message, the death and resurrection of Jesus. But unless he is more than just the one who saves. Unless he truly becomes the king of my life and the king of your life, it will be to no effect. Ultimately for you. So that’s what I want to talk about for a few seconds this morning, a few minutes. We’re going to entertain the question that I love to ask. It’s an important question. We need to be asking it of ourselves over and over again. Why? Why are we doing this? Why have we come here today? Why do those of us who come to this place every Sunday morning, again on Sunday night and Wednesday night, why are we doing that?

Why are we striving to live a certain kind of life that pleases the Lord? Why are we pursuing all of that? Why are we exercising self-control? Why should we continue in faith and obedience? Now, let me just tell you. If I can do this in a very short amount of time, you’re going to have to get engaged. If you’re taking notes, get that pen ready. We’re going to go in a hurry. Okay? Get it razors sharp. Stay focused. And let’s get started. Because we’re going to cover the entire Bible in one sermon. Why? We’re going to answer that in one aspect at least this morning. It’s because of who Jesus is. It’s because of who he was. It’s because of who he continues to be to this moment in time in 2016.

1. Jesus Is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever

And that’s the point the Hebrew writer is making in Hebrews chapter 13. He has already concluded his argument for faith. That starts way back, well, really the whole book, but specifically in chapter 10, down through chapter 12, he concludes with a statement, our God is a consuming fire. And so after he sums up the argument for faith, he throws in some concluding admonitions that have to do with the exercise of your faith. And he does it like in bullet points to begin the chapter. As he says, let love of the brethren. Continue. These are the things that come to the Hebrew writer’s mind. This is what the expression of faith looks like in your life. He says, Love the brethren. He says, I want you to be hospitable to one another.

After all, some by doing that in the past entertained angels. A lot of benefits come from engaging in the acts of hospitality. And then in verse 3, remember the ill-treated, because some in the first century were going through persecution because of their faith. Remember them. And then in four, he says, keep your marriage sound. Let me marriage be held in honor among all. And the bed undefiled. And fornicators and adulterers, God will judge. And he says, watch your character in verse 5. Be free from the love of material things. Be content with what you have. That’s an important message for our time. And that he will not desert you nor forsake you. But when he comes to verse 7, he talks about remember those who have led you and have contributed to your well-being.

He says in verse 8, this statement.

Always the same. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What was true about Jesus when the Hebrew writer pinned these words is true about Jesus in 2016 and will be until he returns. And will be perpetually in eternity. Jesus is always the same. That’s why we’re here. Therefore, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. Majesty, Hosanna, that is the fruit of lips that give thanks to his name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices, God is well pleased. So I want to tell you about the hard part of the why. The hard part of faith and obedience. It is to maintain and possess an unwavering confidence in Jesus. We have that at some points in our lives.

We have that when we obey the gospel. But to maintain that, an unwavering confidence in Jesus. And I want to contribute to that this morning by telling you.

2. The Summing Up of All Things in Christ

And we go back even further in history, and there’s Napoleon Bonaparte and Alexander the Great, and we study all of these stories of kings and battles. But from God’s perspective, the greatest event in all history. The death of Christ at Calvary. And then his resurrection from the dead. And so, young people, whenever you’re studying history in school, would you remember something? That the ultimate point of history is the work of Jesus Christ, the greatest person that has ever walked on this planet. It is more about the King of Kings than it is about all of those stories and all of those battles. It is about a spiritual battle that takes place with the King of Kings who triumphs over death and overall. It’s not about elections.

Look, this whole thing is it going to be Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, and we’re wringing our hands and it’s a disaster. Let me just say it’s a disaster. I get it. But that’s not what’s important in the whole scheme of history. It’s about Jesus as the King of Kings. And the whole Bible story is about his triumph over death. And look, I want you to look at Ephesians chapter 1 quickly before we go through, yes, the whole Bible. In Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 7, it says about Jesus, in him we have redemption. You need that. You need a fix for your problem of sin. In him we have redemption through his blood. The forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace.

And I’ve, verse 8’s really cool. Which he lavished upon us. What’s not to like about lavished. Again, you’ve got to see this from a spiritual perspective to appreciate it. Which he lavished upon us, it says, He made known to us the mystery of his will in verse 9. And that is in verse 10, the summing up of all things in Christ. Remember all those battles I talked about? Everything about history has been all about the King of Kings. The summing up of all things in Christ in heaven and things upon the earth. In him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to his purpose, and then this who works all things after the counsel of his will. What has history been all about?

3. Predicted in the Old Testament, Revealed in the Gospels

Well, it’s about men posturing, it’s about power and control and food and resources. That’s what it’s about with men. But what history is all about as far as God is concerned, your creator, and where everything is ultimately going has to do with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And this story is the lens through which we must see all history. The summing up of all things in Christ. And what I want you to know is that Jesus was predicted from the opening pages of Scripture in Genesis chapter 3 and verse 15, when sin entered the world, now God is going to go about to fix that problem that will plague men perpetually onward. He said, There will be enmity between righteous and unrighteous, between your seed and the seed of Satan.

Conflict, enmity. And we see that unfolding in the book of Genesis. What’s the story of Genesis all about? It’s about enmity. It’s about hostility. And he shall bruise you on the head. He’s going to crush the serpent or Satan’s power. He shall bruise you on the head. Oh, yeah, you’ll give him in the heel. You shall bruise him on the heel, reference to the crucifixion. But Jesus is going to get the better of this warfare. Coming down to the Old Testament, a promise is made to David that affects the rest of the Bible story. That he would establish David’s throne forever. And that’s what ultimately happens, as we’ll see as the story moves along in the Bible. We read in Isaiah 53 how many times do we look at this as we partake of the Lord’s Supper?

The prediction of the suffering of Christ, 700 years. It’s like high definition, 700 years before it ever happens. He was crushed for our iniquities. He was smitten of God and afflicted from the way it looks. He was bruised for our well-being, as our iniquity fell upon him. But as Psalm 2 also predicted. As those, there have always been those who will take their stand against the Lord’s counsel and against his will.

And as they oppose the Lord, and as they oppose the anointed, it says, The Lord sits in the heavens and laughs and scoffs. And it says, But as for me, I have installed my king upon Zion. My holy mountain. And that’s precisely what happens when you get to the New Testament. And thus we are admonished in that psalm that predicts who and what Jesus is going to be. It says, Worship the Son. Give him homage. Because his wrath will soon be kindled. And if you do not give him that homage, you will perish. And so that was the story of Jesus predicted in the Old Testament. See, that didn’t take that long. Revealed in the gospels. All of those promises of the Old Testament coming to fruition.

In John chapter 1, the word who was God, who was with God, became flesh and dwelt among us. In him was life, and that light was the light of men, and to whom he gave the right to become sons of God. In John chapter 1 and verse 12. That’s what Jesus came to do. And in John 20, John says, These things are written that you might believe. If all the things written about Jesus that could have been written if they had been written, he said, the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. This one who had been promised came and lived among men. And his life was extraordinary. The most extraordinary person who had ever lived, the sinless Emmanuel, God with us.

He was an extraordinary teacher. People hung on his every word. He taught them as one having authority. And not as the scribes. He performed extraordinary deeds. No one had ever seen anyone like Jesus. And the things that he taught and the things that he did. And then there was his extraordinary death. Creation even refused to look. As darkness shrouded the scene, it caused bystanders to say, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Certainly, this was a righteous man. Certainly this man was innocent. And then there was an empty tomb. As he had promised.

4. Preached in Acts, Explained in the Epistles

And upon accomplishing these extraordinary things, this extraordinary man is then declared and preached in the book of Acts. This Jesus, whom you crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ. He is ultimate ruler. He is Lord. He is the long promise predicted in the Old Testament. He is Christ. He is the Messiah that everything’s been pointing to. And as that message begins to be preached on the day of Pentecost, 3,000 souls embrace that message. As it continues through the book of Acts, we come to the message of Paul in Athens. And he says, the times of this ignorance, God linked that. The ignorance that was gripping the people of Athens, as they were serving at their various shrines, idols to false gods, as he talked to them about the inscription to the unknown God.

They didn’t want to leave anybody out. Let me tell you about the real God, and let me tell you about his son. The times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. And that message is as applicable today as it was when Paul preached it. Because, listen to this, verse 31. He has appointed a day. And it hasn’t happened yet. A day with the Lord is a thousand years, and a thousand years is one day. But he has appointed a day, and we’re closer to it than we’ve ever been. In which he will judge the world in righteousness. Every single living human that has ever walked on this planet is going to stand before God. And your life and my life is going to be measured in relation to what is right.

God’s righteousness.

Having furnished proof to all men, what was the proof? He raised from the dead. He arose from the dead. God raised him from the dead, he says, having furnished proof unto all men, and that he was raised from the dead. And so Jesus is going to be our judge. That’s the message that was preached. Well, what all does that involve? What does that righteousness include? May I suggest to you that’s what the epistles do for us. All of those writings of Paul and Peter and John and the others that follow, that’s what all the epistles are about. What does this righteousness look like? What does allegiance to him mean?

When I read the epistles, I get one thing out of it. God has expectations. I’m not going to sugarcoat that for you this week. I wouldn’t be your friend. I wouldn’t be a successful preacher of the gospel. In fact, I would incur judgment if I didn’t do it. I can’t alter this to make it easier for you. I must preach what is. And I must tell you, God has expectations. You can’t read Romans through the book of Jude. I know I’m leaving Revelation out and come back to that in just a second. You can’t read Romans through Jude and not get the idea that God has expectations. Just read the book of Hebrews where we started. God has expectations. What are they? They’re delineated so very clearly.

You know we’re doing this daily Bible reading, and that’s good. We need to become familiar with the whole story that relates to Jesus. Have that perspective as you’re reading it. All of this is ultimately leading to the central person of all history. But I’ll tell you some of the easiest reading in terms of comprehension that you’re going to do is when you ultimately, later part of 2016, get to the New Testament. And there it is. This is the conduct. If you’re loyal to the risen king, this is what your conduct looks like. It’s not without its challenges, it’s not without its stumbles. And it talks about that also. But you have to keep your commitment to the king. You have to constantly keep in mind who he is and who we are.

And so this is all explained in the epistles. Various threats that exist to your well-being. Your spiritual well-being, and various threats that exist to your relationship with him. And so what we see, if I could just summarize it all what we’re seeing in the epistles, we’ve got to get the whole Bible in this morning. This is it. Instruction. Training and righteousness sort of sounds like 2 Timothy 3.16, right? This is the instruction that God gives us. This is how you’re supposed to live your life. And then there’s all of these encouraging words. If I might use admonishment just in that vein, sometimes it has a correcting tone to it. And there is that. But there’s also encouragement that says, you can do this. You have help.

You have assistance. You have each other in Christ. There’s admonishment. And hopefully we’re giving you some of that today. We sang all those songs about Jesus. Oh, yeah, we were praising God and giving him, giving Jesus his due. But did you feel something? I did. I was admonished. Your singing admonished me. Isn’t the singing good in this building? I hope when we knock out those walls, it doesn’t affect that. And there’s warning. Again, threats to the relationship, threats to your spiritual well-being, assistance. All of these things are included. What membership among his people means. That is clearly discussed. It’s not just about me and the Lord. I now have relationship with others that belong to him and responsibilities. Somebody says, I’m going to do this Christianity thing my way.

Well, that’s not Jesus’ religion. I have responsibilities to you, and you have responsibilities to me as hard as I am to love sometimes. I was expecting a bigger laugh. There you go. This message teaches us how to respond in every circumstance in life. What we read in the epistles is an explanation of how you should respond to everything that happens. To every relationship that you sustain. Everything. Remember that old Testament prediction about Jesus’ death by his stripes. You are healed. Look at 1 Peter chapter 2, as that is continued in the epistles. 1 Peter 2 and verse 24. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross. That’s what Isaiah 53 was anticipating. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

5. Glory and Dominion Belong to the Lamb

That’s the why of it all. It’s not just a sin fix. I did some things that are wrong in the past, and Jesus fixes that. He’s going to bring us out of the mucking mire of that and change us. We’re going to be transformed. We’re going to die to sin and live to righteousness. After all, we’re going to be judged by that righteousness that we’re called to. Or by his wounds. You were healed. And we’re going to come back to that passage, so keep a finger there. Okay, we have to cover the whole Bible. One more thing. Predicted in the Old Testament, revealed in the Gospels, preached in Acts, explained in the epistles. Oh, but things are looking bleak. Christians are suffering. They’re dying. They’re being persecuted.

This evil machinery, the Roman Empire is breathing threats against God’s people. Oh no! Is the church going to survive? What does it say in Revelation chapter 12 and verse 11? Despite those threats, they overcame him. By the word of their testimony, their commitment to the king, by the word of their testimony, by the blood of the Lamb. They were inwardly cleansed. There’s nothing Rome can do to take that away. The word of their testimony, the blood of the Lamb, and they did not love their lives even unto death. They surrendered their lives physically, but they live on perpetually in the presence of the Lord. Love that. Revelation chapter 12 and verse 11. And then this. Hey, this Jesus, same yesterday, today, and forever. Don’t lose sight of this when you’re going through trial and difficulty.

He still sits upon his throne. Glory and dominion are still his. And right now, in the presence of the Father, there is the Son at the right hand of the Majesty on high. And that phrase continues to this hour. Glory and dominion belongs to the Lamb. And everybody else in the world can say, I don’t believe it. I’m not going to subscribe to that. I’m not going to serve him. But one day they’ll wish they had.

Because they will not be in that throng forever. Who acknowledges the king for who and what he is. One day they will see, yes. The most hardened atheist and evolutionist is going to stand before the throne of the king and will then realize, but it will be too late that all glory and dominion and power belongs to the Lamb. Hallelujah. We better subscribe to that. Because the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. He reigns. And I’ll tell you what. You don’t want to be a found opposite of him. Because later in the book in Revelation chapter 19, he comes to bring vengeance on those who have hurt his people. And he comes riding on a white horse with his robe dipped in blood and a sword in his hand.

And he feeds the armies of those who have opposed him to the birds of the midheavens. King reigns. He who is the word of God. This Jesus is no less real today. We did the whole Bible there. That was it. It didn’t take long.

6. He Deserves It, He Rewards It, He Equips Us

Young people, you’re going to make some choices about marriage. I know it seems like it’s way off because I’m not interested in that right now. Some of you are. But it’s going to happen. Ten years, a lot happens in ten years. You’re going to make a choice about marriage partner. And let me just tell you, it’s a critical choice. Choose wisely. Choose someone who loves the Lord like you do, I hope. But that’s not the most critical choice you’ll ever make. The most critical choice you’ll ever make relates to this kingdom. He’ll affect that other choice and make it better if you let him. Here’s where we get to look that marriage, whatever the choice is, that’s temporary. This is permanent. You’ll be at your silver wedding anniversary in a hurry.

I’d done blown by that. That’s past. Some of you would say golden. You’ll be there in a hurry. But where am I going with all this? I saw this quote recently from George Bernard Shaw. He got it mostly right. This is pretty cool. Life is not about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself. I think that’s right. But that’s a little short of the whole story. May I take George Bernard Shaw’s quote and give it the spiritual twist that it needs. Life is not about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself. I would say yes, but even further. It is about creating yourself in the image of Jesus by the help and grace and mercy of our God. And then this from C.S. Lewis. God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than of any other slackers.

God doesn’t like slackers. If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you. You are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you. Brains and all. That’s what Peter says. That passage of 1 Peter chapter 2, he bore our sins in his body upon the cross that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. For you were all continually straying like sheep. But now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. That’s truly finding yourself by finding him. And then creating yourself in his image. That’s what we’re all about. Okay, I get it. I see it. You haven’t told me anything I don’t already know about Jesus. But what does that mean? Three things quickly. C.S. Lewis got it right.

But I’m here to tell you. First of all, he deserves this. This one who surrendered heaven to die upon the earth, he deserves this. We should do it simply because he deserves it. Hosanna.

But not only does he deserve it, he has promised to reward us, which we don’t deserve. That’s enough. The first is enough. The second is over the top. He deserves it. He rewards it. And he equips us for the journey. He helps us along the way. Do you have confidence in that? Jesus Christ. The same. Yesterday, today, and forever. So I’ve been preaching here for seven years now, nearly, and been doing this work for 30 years, and I’ll tell you something’s never changed. And that’s who Jesus is. And where history is going. And what he deserves. And what he’s promised. And you need him. And I need him. And there may not be another opportunity to embrace him and what he’s offered. Tell you what I like about this sermon.

Conclusion

This is the message that we do when we talk about specific things each week. This is the whole of it. This is the whole thing. See if it isn’t so. If you’ve not yet embraced it. And we encourage your response today, if you’re ready, to sign on to allegiance to the King, to submit to him. Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins. Calling on the name of the Lord. Yes, he is indeed the one who possesses the name above all names. Let’s stand and sing.