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Obeying Jesus
Sunday, December 26, 2021
Pastor Jojo Ma
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Matthew 7:21-29
Obeying Jesus is really important. It’s not some add-on to the Christian life or something that’s optional. Obeying Jesus is fundamental to being a follower of his.
21-29 21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' 24 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. 28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Jesus' ultimate question as he wraps up his sermon is this: “Do you love me and are you obeying me?”
Warning #1: Just "Saying" the Right Things
Warning #2: Just "Doing" the Right Things
Warning #3: Just "Knowing" the Right Things
Warning #1: Just "Saying" the Right Things
21-23 21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven... 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord...’
21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
So then what is the genuine, concrete, chief characteristic of a true believer? It's grace-driven obedience, it's gospel-centered obedience. It's obedience to Christ that flows from a cross-loving heart. It's obedience that submits to the total Lordship of Christ over every part of one's life. Obeying Jesus is really important.
The converted person to Christ is a changing person in Christ. Every true follower of Jesus is growing in holiness, hating their sin more and more, loving others more and more, even their enemies.
21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Lk 6:46 Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?
Warning #2: Just "Doing" the Right Things
21-23 21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matt 7:14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
True believers do the will of the one true God. Children of God obey their heavenly Father. Kingdom citizens fully submit to their King.
Warning #3: Just "Knowing" the Right Things
24-27 24 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.
The question is not whether they hear God's Word but whether they do God's Word, obey God, and submit their lives to the Lordship of Christ in everyday life over every area of life.
What you read and hear in God's Word...do you obey?
No one enters the Kingdom of Heaven because of his or her obedience, but no one enters the Kingdom of Heaven who is not obedient. We are saved by God's grace through faith, and God's grace results in holy obedience. Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone. A good tree will bear good fruit.
John Stott: "Followers of Jesus are to be different -- different from both the nominal church and the secular world, different from both the religious and the irreligious. The Sermon on the Mount is the most complete delineation anywhere in the New Testament of the Christian counter-culture. Here is a Christian value system, ethical standard, religious devotion, attitude to money, ambition, lifestyle, and network of relationships -- all of which are totally at variance with those of the non-Christian world. And this Christian counter-culture is the life of the kingdom of God, a fully human life indeed but lived out under the divine rule."