Attitude of Gratitude that Pushes Christian Progress.

Philippians 3: 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith---

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself. 

 

 

What really matters to Paul?

Is it jewish regulations and laws? No.

Is it righteousness or self-righteousness? No.

It is something very relational.

Philippians 3:10 That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11. In order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect.

Relational!  To know Christ intimately: this is Paul's primary goal.

 

Did you catch that? I haven't obtained it . . . what is it that he wants to obtain; is he talking about the resurrection? In a sense yes, but more than that, we're given a clue with this verb translated perfect. I haven't . . . already become perfect.  It's the only time Paul uses this word in verb form in any of his letters (teteleiomai)  It means to reach moral and spiritual perfection. You could translate it, "not as though I were now already perfected." This is what one author called holy dissatisfaction.  Warren Wiersbe wrote on this text, Paul never permitted himself to be satisfied with his spiritual progress; he was satisfied with Jesus Christ, but he was not satisfied with his Christian life – he lived with a sense of sanctified dissatisfaction.

We Christians get self-satisfied because we tend to compare our running with other Christians – and we usually find someone slower than us to watch.  We need to avoid the danger of comparing ourselves to someone slower than us – and someone faster than us! We need to stop looking over the wrong shoulder!  Maturity, being "perfect" isn't found by looking over your shoulder.

Paul here is comparing himself to the goal of Christ-likeness and says, "I haven't arrived."  But he is also saying "I haven't given up!"

12: "but I press on, so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." But I press on – (diwkw) – which means to move decisively toward an objective, to pursue that objective.

It was a clear sunny day on August 7, 1954 – perfect weather for the British Commonwealth Empire Games.  One particular event had gripped everyone's interest and imagination. And that's because, for the first time in sporting history, two men had recently run the mile in less than 4 minutes.

Roger Bannister from England and John Landy from Australia – and they were now going to face each other, along with other runners in the 1954 British Games.  The race was being called The Miracle Mile, because everyone expected a close, exciting, record breaking match.  Roger Bannister had strategized that he would relax some on the third lap of the four lap race; he planned to kick it into high gear, saving all his energy for the last lap.  But as they began the third lap, John Landy began to stretch his lead even further – and it was already impressive. So Bannister was forced to pick up the pace just simply to have a chance to win the race and as they began the fourth and final lap, Bannister had already cut the lead in half – and he was gaining ground.  Landy began running faster and Bannister followed suit. Both men looked like they were running the 100 yard dash as they made the last turn on the track.  Then came that moment that would be played and replayed thousands of time in print and on flickering movie screens in black and white footage.  Landy was still in the lead by only a few steps. The crowd was roaring and cheering and he wondered where Bannister was – was he far back or close. And John Landy did the unthinkable.  He looked back! He looked back over his left shoulder, which automatically broke his concentration and slowed his rhythm – and in that split second, Bannister, who was at his right shoulder, swept past him and won the race.

Looking back Landy would be the caption of a thousand pictures.

 

Simplicity

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead,

If Paul was the running coach of John Landy, just before the British Empire Games this would have been the perfect locker room speech: "No matter what you do, do not look back over your shoulder – keep your eye on the tape at the end of the race."

Dwelling on the past is like trying to run with a ball and chain around your ankle.

Imagine Paul's problem – had he dwelt on his past persecution of the church; his misguided passion; his cruelty toward the true children of God.

He never forgot it, but he chose to move past his past.  The problem with the nation Israel in the Exodus was that they forgot the right things and remembered the wrong things. They forgot the power and provision and promises of God and they remembered Egypt. In Numbers 11 they said, "We remember the fish which we used to eat in Egypt . . . the cucumbers and the melons." (Numbers 11:5)  We remember Egypt. Evidently we're not going to remember our escape from Egypt.

Forgetting everything about his past failures, frailty, or his fulfilments and trophies he wants to press on to know the Lord better.

Hosea 6: 1 "Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3 Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;…..

4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. 5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. 6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

This was the one thing for the apostle Paul.  We should wonder whether Paul's travelling companion, Dr. Luke, had not reminded him of the Lord's two friends Martha and Mary.

Luke 10: 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

One thing!  Simplicity!  To know the Lord Jesus Christ!!!

Like the Psalmist  Psalm 27: 4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

One thing!! Is it your One Thing: to know the Lord Jesus Christ?

Forgetting what's behind, with its losses and its wins.  The One thing today is to know Him.

 

Intensity

I press on..

14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

What is God's heavenly call on your life? It is in Christ Jesus!  It's a prize!  The Prize is to know Him more perfectly.

but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Both really point to that unbroken and complete fellowship with Christ which is attained through the power of His resurrection, that resurrection being the condition of the believer's victory over sin and death, and making it possible for him to enter the "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens". The purified life in heaven is, in a word, both the goal and the prize.

, "the prize marks the position of the goal"

 

When Spain led the world ( in the 15th century), their coins reflected their national arrogance and were inscribed Ne Plus Ultra which meant "Nothing Further" - meaning that Spain was the ultimate in all the world. After the discovery of the New World, they realized that they were not the end of the world, so they changed the inscription on their coinage to Plus Ultra meaning "More Beyond." In the same pattern, some Christian lives say, "Nothing Further" and others say "More Beyond."

This is where child-like faith meets real maturity. A child can't wait to be bigger, and always wants to be more mature.

But I press on meant that Paul had put his hand to the plow and refused to look back (Luk. 9:62).

That I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me: Paul pressed on for what Jesus wanted. His effort was put forth to do God's will, not his own.

When Paul said, "That I may lay hold," he used strong language. "The word 'apprehend' is from the same Greek word translated 'attained,' but with a preposition prefixed which means in its local force 'down.' He wants to catch hold of it and pull it down.(Wuest)

Paul began this verse with the idea that Jesus Christ had laid hold of him. This is an important idea; yet sometimes Christians react to that idea by being passive. They suppose, "Jesus got a hold of me; so that is it now. I am a Christian and I am going to heaven." Paul showed a different attitude, that he would take hold for that for which Jesus took hold of him. So one should ask, "Why did Jesus lay hold of Paul?"

Jesus laid hold of Paul to make him a new man (Rom. 6:4) - so Paul laid hold of that and wanted to see the converting work of Jesus completely carried out in himself.

Jesus laid hold of Paul to conform him into the image of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29) - so Paul laid hold of that and wanted to see the nature of Jesus within himself.

Jesus laid hold of Paul to make him a witness (Act. 9:15) - so Paul laid hold of both the experience of Jesus and to testify of that experience.

Jesus laid hold of Paul to make him an instrument in the conversion of others (Act. 9:15) - so Paul laid hold of the work of bringing others to Jesus.

Jesus laid hold of Paul to bring him into suffering (Act. 9:16) - so Paul laid hold of even that work of God in his life, wanting to know Jesus in the fellowship of His sufferings.

Jesus laid hold of Paul that he might attain to the resurrection of the dead (Phi. 3:11) - so Paul laid hold of that heavenly hope.

 

"It is a high calling because it comes from above, from God; the conception of it has emanated from His heart. It is a high calling because it is worthy of God. It is a high calling because it is so much above the ideals of men. . . . And then this is a high calling because it summons us to where Christ sits at the right hand of God." (Meyer)

 

Determination: Take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you

Persistency

I press on…. It takes Discipline 15,16 . 15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.

Sir Francis Drake to wrote stirring words to Willingham:

'There must be a beginning of a matter, but the continuing unto the end yields the true glory. If we can thoroughly believe that this which we do is in defence of our religion and  our country no doubt our merciful God for his Christ Our saviour's sake is able and will give us victory, though our sins be red'

Expectancy

17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself. 

 

Paul acknowledged there were people who discouraged him.

They would say of Paul, "You are deluded! You're odd!"

You have wasted your life Paul. There you are in jail, with nothing going for you. You have no wealth, no possessions, you are poor! Look at your brothers!  They have lots of money! And you? Ha!"

Satan would say in his conscience, "you are defeated!"

Warren Wiersbe notes: "In what sense were the Judaizers the "enemies of the cross of Christ"? For one thing, the cross ended the Old Testament religion. When the veil of the temple was torn in two, God was announcing that the way to God was open through Christ (Heb. 10:19–25). When Jesus shouted, "It is finished!" He made one sacrifice for sins, and thus ended the whole sacrificial system (Heb. 10:1–14). By His death and resurrection, Jesus accomplished a "spiritual circumcision" that made ritual circumcision unnecessary (Col. 2:10–13). Everything that the Judaizers advocated had been eliminated by the death of Christ on the cross! Furthermore, everything that they lived for was condemned by the cross. Jesus had broken down the wall that stood between Jews and Gentiles (Eph. 2:14–16), and the Judaizers were rebuilding that wall!

They were obeying "carnal [fleshly] ordinances" (Heb. 9:10), regulations that appealed to the flesh and were not directed by the Spirit. But the true believer crucifies the flesh (Gal. 5:24). He also crucifies the world (Gal. 6:14). Yet the Judaizers were minding "earthly things." It is the cross that is central in the life of the believer. He does not glory in men, in religion, or in his own achievements; he glories in the cross (Gal. 6:14). Paul wept because he knew the future of these men: "whose end is destruction" (Phil. 3:19). This word carries with it the idea of waste and "lostness." (It is translated "waste" in Mark 14:4.) Judas is called "the son of perdition," and this is the word used (John 17:12). A wasted life and an eternity of waste! In contrast, the true child of God, whose citizenship is in heaven, has a bright future.

I think all of us experience this at times. Feelings that you have wasted your life.. nothing going for you. You have no wealth, no possessions, you are poor! Look at your brothers!  They have lots of money! And you? Ha!"

And Satan reminds us and our own conscience confirms it: "you are defeated!"

You need to remember that you have a different citizenship. This life is not all there is. If this is your "best life now," it isn't much. But it's not.  You have a citizenship in heaven.

A dear friend, Matthew K. entered bible college after being held for a long time on the Operation Mobilisation ship "Doulos." He had started on a short mission trip on the ship as a citizen of Ceylon. But Ceylon became Sri Lanka. And the government wouldn't issue him a passport. He was a man without a country!  He couldn't leave the ship to step onto land for a long time, until Australia allowed him a visa to leave the ship. For a day.  It was tough!! You are not a man without a country like Matthew was.  Matthew is now an Australian citizen , pastor of a large multicultural Baptist church in Bonnyrigg. You have a Home, but it's not here, it's Heaven. And you have a Hope, but it's not you, it's Him!

Wiersbe writes: "As the accountant in Philippians 3:1–11, Paul discovered new values. As the athlete in Philippians 3:12–16, he displayed new vigor. Now as the alien, he experiences a new vision: "We look for the Saviour." It is this anticipation of the coming of Christ that motivates the believer with the spiritual mind. There is tremendous energy in the present power of a future hope. Because Abraham looked for a city, he was content to live in a tent (Heb. 11:13–16). Because Moses looked for the rewards of heaven, he was willing to forsake the treasures of earth (Heb. 11:24–26). Because of the "joy that was set before him" (Heb. 12:2), Jesus was willing to endure the cross. The fact that Jesus Christ is returning is a powerful motive for dedicated living and devoted service today. "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (read 1 John 2:28—3:3) The citizen of heaven, living on earth, is never discouraged because he knows that his Lord is one day going to return. Paul mentioned particularly that the believer will receive a glorified body, like the body of Christ. Today we live in a "body of humiliation" (which is the meaning of the word translated "vile" in Phil. 3:21), but when we see Christ, we will receive a body of glory. It will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye! (1 Cor. 15:42–53). At that moment, all the things of this world will be worthless to us—just as they ought to be, relatively, today!"

 

Sometimes I catch myself saying, when I die will I think this was worth my time and energy?

Are you Loyal to heaven's cause?

Are you  looking for Heaven's Lord?

 Sir Francis Drake, a reformed preacher who preached the gospel each day morning and evening, to his sailors wrote a prayer that sums up our hope and desire. Let's make it our own today.

"Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true Because we have dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when With  the abundance of things we possess

We have lost our thirst For the waters of life; Having fallen in love with life,

We have ceased to dream of eternity And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, To venture on wider seas

Where storms will show your mastery; Where losing sight of land,

We shall find the stars. We ask You to push back The horizons of our hopes;

And to push into the future In strength, courage, hope, and  love."

 

 

Philippians 3:1-12  An Old Perspective On The New Perspective

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh---

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:

5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith---

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

 

Paul sounded like so many preachers. He says, "Finally" but then goes on for 2 more chapters.

What's wrong with that?!  Kent Hughes added in his commentary the story of the little boy who whispered to his father in church, "Daddy, what does the pastor mean when he says, "Finally"; to which his father responded, "Absolutely nothing, son."

The word Paul uses is a word that doesn't mean he's run out of things to say, but that he's signalling to his readers that he's about to move on to other matters. Or in the case, he is moving on to BIG matters.

You could translate it, "Now then".

Before Paul moves on, he repeats one critical issue at hand. Notice again – verse 1 – Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.  He will command it again in chapter 4:4.

Paul uses this verb as an imperative – in other words, you could put an exclamation after the phrase. It's a command – rejoice in the Lord. You could also write after it in your margin – Just do it.  Do it!  Rejoicing is a command.

In fact , more than just a command to do it, Paul is saying something even bigger! Something really important!

How can an expression that Christians use glibly be a game changing theological and psychological statement?

As a command, expressing joy then is not the result of an emotion – because you can't command someone to feel a certain way; you can't command emotion.

Joy isn't a temperamental characteristic because you can't rewire someone by simply commanding it. Joy isn't related to circumstances or health or bank accounts – because you can't control circumstances and health and bank accounts just because you want to.

To rejoice in the Lord means to look to Him alone as your depository of joy. To rejoice in the Lord means that you find in the Lord your source of joy; He is the highest object of your joy; He is the treasure and fellowship of joy. And more than a command, Paul regards doing this, rejoicing in the Lord, as being a safeguard. A protection. Like a protective barrier from plunging over a cliff! The word Paul uses here for safeguard comes from a word that literally means to keep from tripping up or stumbling or losing your stability.

Imagine, rejoicing in the Lord can do all of that and more!

Matthew Henry, the Puritan expositor of the 1600's put it this way when he wrote, "The joy of the Lord is a divine armor against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and puts our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks . . . the taste of joy in our mouths makes the tempter's offerings seem bland by comparison."

Warren Wiersbe wrote of a woman who was arguing with her pastor about the matter of faith of works as both necessary for salvation. She said to him, "I think that getting to heaven is like rowing a boat – one oar is faith and the other oar is works. And if you use both, you'll get to heaven. If you use only one oar, you'll only go around in circles." The pastor replied, "There is one major problem with your illustration – nobody is going to heaven in a rowboat."

Funny enough, there is a teaching that many pastors coming out of reformed seminaries have indeed adopted that same idea. They call it "The New Perspective on Paul." It is related to some books by an Anglican Bishop named N.T. Wright, and several others. Ridley College in Melbourne has some teaching this belief. There is a concern that some Sydney Anglican ministers have adopted this teaching. I am sure it is found in every evangelical and non evangelical denomination today.

The April 2014 edition of Christianity Today features a profile of twenty-first century biblical scholar N. T. Wright. On the issue's front cover, we are told that Wright "is brilliant, prolific, and controversial —and says we've missed the heart of the gospel." For 400 years Christians have missed the heart of the gospel, until Wright came along! The heart of this teaching is that for hundreds, if not thousands, of years Christians have seriously "misunderstood" the apostle Paul and his teachings—thus the need for a new perspective on Paul.

There are four basic tenets of "New Perspective on Paul." First is the belief that Christians misunderstand Judaism of the first century. They say that Paul was not battling against Jews who were promoting a religion of self-righteousness and works-based salvation and that the Pharisees were not legalists. Yet the Bible describes the Pharisees as those who "neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness," "straining at a gnat while swallowing a camel," and ones who "cleaned up the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence" (Matthew 23:23–25). The view that first-century Pharisees were not legalists and their religion was not one of self-righteousness and works-based salvation directly contradicts Jesus' own words in this and numerous other passages.
The second tenet of this false teaching is that Paul really did not have a problem with the doctrine of salvation taught by the Jewish leaders of his day. His disagreement with them was simply over how they treated the Gentiles and not a fundamental difference over how one is saved or justified before a holy God. However, in his letters to the Galatians and the Romans, Paul clearly and solidly condemned the works-based system of righteousness promoted by the Judaizers who were trying to lure the Galatians away from the true gospel message. In fact, he said that anyone who preached a gospel other than the one he preached should be "eternally condemned" (Galatians 1:8–9). Once again, Scripture shows that the "New Perspective on Paul" is not based on the testimony of Scripture but instead is contrary to it, making it an unbiblical teaching with serious consequences for those who follow it and are led astray by it.
The third unbiblical tenet of the "New Perspective on Paul" teaching is that the gospel is about the Lordship of Christ and not a message of personal salvation and individual redemption from the condemnation of sin. Certainly, the Lordship of Christ is an important part of the gospel truth, but, if that is all it is, how is that good news? No one can make Christ Lord of his life without first being cleansed of sin and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit of God can empower us to yield to the lordship of Christ. Clearly the hope of Christians is that Christ is first and foremost a Savior whose atoning sacrifice has personally and completely made atonement for their sins. It is for this reason that the gospel is the good news, because "it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16).
This leaves us with the fourth and the most serious unbiblical tenet of the "New Perspective on Paul" teaching—the denial of the doctrine of justification by faith, a central and non-negotiable Christian doctrine. According to proponents of this unbiblical teaching, when Paul wrote about justification, he was not speaking of personal and individual justification whereby a guilty sinner is declared righteous on the basis of his faith in Christ and Christ's righteousness being imputed to the sinner. Instead, they claim, when Paul wrote about justification, he was speaking of how one could tell if a person was "a member of the covenant family."

Paul effectively says to the Philippians – beware anyone who misleads you into believing the gospel of grace is actually the gospel of works.

A gospel of witnessing longer, sinning less often, praying more often, doing better, working harder . . . more, more and even more and then perhaps God will love you and accept you if you do still more.

No, the truth is, we are sinners, saved by grace through faith in Christ and accepted in the beloved.

Beware of the dogs – they will spiritually harm you;

Beware of the evil workers – they will spiritually mislead you

One more – Paul writes in verse 2, beware of the false circumcision.

Keep in mind Paul isn't talking about 3 different groups of people – he's talking about the same group of Jewish false teachers in three different ways.

And in this last description, by calling them the false circumcision, Paul literally destroys their sense of pride and their trust in their own man-made relationship with God.

Circumcision was essential to the Jewish people – beginning with Abraham. It was the distinguishing mark of God's covenant. Over time the Jews would refer to one another as "the circumcised."

But these early Jewish false teachers were attempting to make every Gentile go through the ceremony of circumcision in order to guarantee their covenant with God.

And Paul very graphically sets the record straight here. He refers to them, not with the normal word for circumcision here in verse 2, but with a slightly different word that means physical mutilation.

You see, now, because of the sacrifice of Christ and His finished work on our behalf, salvation comes through faith in Christ alone.

No physical mark, no symbol, no act, no ritual, no ceremony can ever change the heart or transform the heart anyway – they all pointed to Christ's sacrifice.

If it isn't Jesus alone, it is Jesus plus something.

That's legalism at its core. It steals your joy by suggesting that God's love and favor have to be earned and you'd better do more and you'd better be better.  God will never be pleased with you unless your hand accomplishes something that can be added to the cross of His Son. 

 Jesus plus baptism.            Jesus plus church membership             Jesus plus tithing

 Jesus plus Sabbath worship    Jesus plus tithing      Jesus plus pilgrimages       Jesus plus prayers

Then . . . maybe . . . God will be satisfied with you – which implies God the Father isn't satisfied with His Son.

Your baptism doesn't save. No one is saved by an act you might do, whether its religious ritual, race, religion, rules or reputation.

My orthodoxy won't save me             My activity won't save me

My sincerity won't save me                My ability won't save me.

You need a fresh perception of your spiritual bankruptcy before God.

We are those who trust in ourselves least.

Paul writes at the end of verse 3, we put no confidence in the flesh.

Nothing in my hands I bring Simply to Thy cross I cling.

Foul I to the fountain (of His blood) fly Wash me Saviour or I die.

Just as I am without one plea But that Thy Blood was shed for me And that Thou bidst me come to Thee ,

O Lamb of God I come I come.

 

More than that, Paul is positively renouncing anything he might have confidence in to get him to heaven.

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Nothing either great or small—  Nothing, sinner, no; Jesus did it, did it all,  Long, long ago.

"It is finished!" yes, indeed,  Finished every jot: Sinner, this is all you need—    Tell me, is it not?

When He, from His lofty throne,  Stooped to do and die, Everything was fully done;  Hearken to His cry:

Weary, working, burdened one,  Wherefore toil you so? Cease your doing; all was done  Long, long ago.

Till to Jesus' work you cling  By a simple faith, "Doing" is a deadly thing—  "Doing" ends in death.

Cast your deadly "doing" down—  Down at Jesus' feet; Stand in Him, in Him alone,  Gloriously complete.

Sir James Simpson, the discoverer of chloroform, used to say that the greatest discovery that he ever made was the discovery that he was a sinner and that Jesus Christ was just the Savior he needed. John Wesley could have said the same. But, whereas Sir James Simpson was able to point to the exact date on which the sense of his need broke upon him, John Wesley is not so explicit. He tells us that it was in Georgia that he discovered that he, the would-be converter of Indians, was himself unconverted. And yet, before he left England, he wrote to a friend that his chief motive in going abroad was the salvation of his own soul. As soon as he arrived on the other side of the Atlantic, he made the acquaintance of August Spangenberg, a Moravian pastor. A conversation took place which Wesley records in his journal as having deeply impressed him.

"My brother," said the devout and simple-minded man whose counsel he had sought, "I must ask you one or two questions: Do you know Jesus Christ?"

"I know," replied Wesley, after an awkward pause, "I know that he is the Savior of the world."

"True," answered the Moravian, "but do you know that He has saved you?"

"I hope He has died to save me," Wesley responded.

The Moravian was evidently dissatisfied with these vague replies, but he asked one more question.

"Do you know yourself!"

"I said that I did," Wesley tells us in his journal, "but I fear they were vain words!"

He saw others happy, fearless in the presence of death, rejoicing in a faith that seemed to transfigure their lives. What was it that was theirs and yet not his?" Are they read in philosophy?" he asks. "So was I. In ancient or modern tongues? So was I also. Are they versed in the science of divinity? I, too, have studied it many years. Can they talk fluently upon spiritual things? I could do the same. Are they plenteous in alms? Behold, I give all my goods to feed the poor! I have labored more abundantly than they all. Are they willing to suffer for their brethren? I have thrown up my friends, reputation, ease, country; I have put my life in my hand, wandering into strange lands; I have given my body to be devoured by the deep, parched up with heat, consumed by toil and weariness. But does all this make me acceptable to God! Does all this make me a Christian? By no means! I have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I am alienated from the life of God. I am a child of wrath. I have no hope." It is a great thing, I say, for a man who has been brought within sight of the kingdom to recognize, frankly that he is, nevertheless, still outside it.

 

You Have A New Position of Security

 "in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith---"

 

We are those who brag about Jesus Christ most.

Notice again, we glory in Christ Jesus.

The word for glory is a word that describes boasting with joy about what a person is most proud of.

We are people who understand that when you strip everything away, the only thing we have to boast about is our salvation – the only person we have to boast in, is Christ.

 

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord.

I count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.

The word for counted again is an accounting term for carefully adding everything up. I have carefully looked at what I had to offer God. You see, Paul adds to his personal testimony – here's what I've learned; verse 9. I don't have a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

This is what theologians call imputation. It means "to put to someone's account."

In other words, Paul looks at his life ledger and recognizes that he's actually bankrupt. And then he looks at Jesus Christ's ledger and sees nothing but perfection. And then by faith he believes in Christ and God the Father puts Christ's righteousness to his bankrupt account – and then writes his sinful record into the account of Christ, for which Christ suffers and dies and pays for . . . giving to Paul – and every believer – imputing, depositing – the righteousness that He alone can give.

Which comes from God on the basis of faith.

 And it isn't faith plus ceremony.

 faith plus faithfully attending Mass as a Catholic;

 faith plus being baptized in water as a Protestant;

 faith plus zealous devotion to your religion.

 Faith plus keeping the golden rule or making sure you don't commit the dirty dozen.

Listen, don't misunderstand – it's a wonderful objective to be good and upstanding and moral.

But, as Spurgeon once put it so well, good morals can keep a person out of jail, but only Jesus Christ can keep a person out of hell.

Here's the gospel – For by grace you have been saved through faith – not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Salvation is a gift from God – a gift of grace. And you accept it, by faith – by believing that His gift of grace is for you.

Is Christ a sufficient Saviour for you?  This is the question. If you are trusting anything else but Christ, then you are damned already!

Henry Smith wrote "He hideth our unrighteousness in His righteousness. He covereth our disobedience with His obedience, He shadoweth our death with His death and the wrath of God cannot find us!"

 "Dost thou believe," asked Staupitz, the wise old monk, "dost thou believe in the forgiveness of sins?"

"I believe," replied Luther, reciting a clause from his familiar credo, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins!"

"Ah," exclaimed the elder monk, "but you must not only believe in the forgiveness of David's sins and Peter's sins, for this even the devils believe. It is God's command that we believe our own sins are forgiven us!"

"From that moment," says D'Aubigne, "light sprung up in the heart of the young monk at Erfurt."

"I believed," says Luther, "that my sins, even mine, were forgiven me!"

"I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation," says Wesley, in his historic record, "and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine!"

 

You Have A New Priority of Intimacy With the Lord

10that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

 

The Person of His Lord

Jonathan Edwards of the mid-1700's wrote "This is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives or children, or the company of earthly friends are but shadows; but enjoyment of God is the substance. Family and friends are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. They all are but streams, but God is the fountain; these are but drops, but God is the ocean."

 

The Power of His Life

the power of his resurrection

 

The Passion of His Love

and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

 

The Prime  of His Longing

11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Just one thing? Just one person!!!! The Lord Jesus. Do you live for Him? Do you long for His appearing?

John Wesley was taken very ill at Bristol and expected to die. Calling Mr. Bradford to his bedside, he observed: "I have been reflecting on my past life. I have been wandering up and down, these many years, endeavoring, in my poor way, to do a little good to my fellow creatures; and now it is probable that there is but a step between me and death; and what have I to trust to for salvation? I can see nothing which I have done or suffered that will bear looking at. I have no other plea than this: 'I, the chief of sinners am, But Jesus died for me.'"

Eight years later – fifty-three years after the great change at Aldersgate Street – he was actually dying. As his friends surrounded his bedside, he told them that he had no more to say. "I said at Bristol," he murmured, "that

'I, the chief of sinners am, But Jesus died for me.'" "Is that," one asked, "the present language of your heart, and do you feel now as you did then?" "I do."

 

 

 

 

John 18  The Commanding Presence of Jesus

WHEN Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him,  went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" 5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way," 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none." 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" 12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. 15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." 18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself. 19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 "Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said." 22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest like that?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if swell, why do you strike Me?" 24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not!" 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

 

As we have surveyed John's gospel together, we have noticed that John identifies several significant themes in the prologue (John 1:1-18) that allow him to portray the Lord Jesus in His glory. Several of these themes intersect in this 18^th chapter.  Those themes are the glory of Jesus' person (John 1:16-18), the rejection by the Jewish leaders (John 1:10-12),  the analogy of Jesus being the true light and true truth (John 1:4-6), and a new theme is introduced. The majestic glory of Jesus' Kingship (again foreshadowed in John 1:10-18). 

The Kingship of Jesus occurs a number of times in John's Gospel.

John 7: 45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" 46 The officers answered, "No one ever spoke like this man!" 47 The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" 52 They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee."

 

45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.   55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for6  Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?" 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

 

John 14: 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

 

There is a war between the King and one who is called the prince of this world.  Princes might think they are kings, but the King has all the real power.

Throughout this passage there is something kingly about the King, and about how people respond to the King.

You wouldn't expect God and the devil to be working toward the same goal.  Two forces worked at the same time toward the same destination.  Both were working to bringing Jesus to the cross.

Acts 2:22"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—23"Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

The devil wanted to destroy the Prince of Life.  So did God! It was God's intent that through the death of His Son He would save countless millions, as the Saviour died at the cross to give you and I eternal life.

The devil drew Judas along to draw together a mob. The Betrayer had a signal. The one he should kiss was the One they were to arrest. Their intent was to bring Jesus to the Jewish leaders to be killed.

2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went  forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" 5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and  fell to the ground. 7 Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,

Respond with me to:

The King's Commanding Presence

"Whom are you seeking?" 5They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He."

I am!  I Am I.  it was the title the Lord Jesus used throughout the Gospel of John. The I AM!  The One who appeared to Moses in the Burning Bush.  Yahweh. I am that I am! The self-existent  One. The eternal One, who was eternal without beginning and without end. The Infinite One: The Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient One.  God.

6Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and  fell to the ground. 7Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He.

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"

 

Matthew 26:50 "Friend," Jesus asked him, "why have you come?" Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. 51 At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest's servant and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus told him, "Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way? "

One angel destroyed an army in Isaiah's time!

Isa 36:13 Then the royal spokesman stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: Listen to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 This is what the king says: "Don't let Hezekiah deceive you, for he cannot rescue you. 15 Don't let Hezekiah persuade you to rely on the Lord, saying, 'The Lord will certainly rescue us! This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.' "

Isaiah 37. 36 Then the angel of the Lord went out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning — there were all the dead bodies!

 

But the Lord Jesus has twelve legions of angels waiting, ready, prepared, all set to sweep in. It would be the greatest aerial bombardment ever experienced!  12 legions of angels!  A legion is approximately 6,000 soldiers. A minimum of 72,000 angels. But Jesus said the Father would give Him more than twelve legions of angels; therefore, you can conclude that there were potentially many additional thousands of angels available to Jesus the night He was arrested!

6,000 angels would be enough to destroy 1,110,000,000 men (that is, one billion, one hundred ten million men) — and that's just the combined power in one legion of angels! Now let's multiply this same number 185,000 by twelve legions, or at least 72,000 angels, which was the number of angels Jesus said was available to Him on the night of His arrest. When we do, we find that there was enough combined strength at Jesus' disposal to have annihilated at least 13,320,000,000 men (that is, thirteen billion, three hundred twenty million men) — which is more than twice the number of people living on the earth right now!

Jesus didn't need Peter's little sword that night. Had He chosen to do so, Jesus could have summoned 72,000 magnificent, mighty, dazzling, glorious, overwhelmingly powerful angels to the Garden to obliterate the Roman soldiers and the temple police who had come to arrest Him. In fact, the combined strength in twelve legions of angels could have wiped out the entire human race! But Jesus didn't call on the supernatural help that was available to Him.

He who with a word created the heavens and earth didn't need the angels to obliterate these people.  He sure didn't need Peter's sword.

10  Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?

"Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"

This was the plan from before the foundation of the earth!

The cup.. Metaphor for Christ's death, used already in reply to request of James and John (Mark 10:39; Matt 20:22) and in the agony in Gethsemane before Judas came (Mark 14:36; Matt 26:39; Luke 22:42), which is not given by John.

The Garden of Gethsemane was one of the Lord's favourite places for communion with His Father and with His disciples. He had visited here often. In Luke 22:44, we read, "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  In the Gospel of Luke, it says tells us that an angel was sent to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43).
When Jesus said, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me," what did He mean? What did the cup represent?
The Cup Represented Sin

The Cup Represented Separation

The Cup Represented Suffering.

The Lord chose the cup. He was in communion with His Father.

The Lord chose the cup. He was in conflict with the devil.

The Lord chose the cup. He was in conformity with the will of the Godhead and the purpose of saving us.

Have you experienced His Commanding Presence?

Respond with me to:

The King's Challenging Presence

12 Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they led him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better for one man to die for the people.

15 Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard. 16 But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, "You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?" "I am not." he said. 18 Now the servants and the officials had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.

Jesus before Annas

19 The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.

20 "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus answered him. "I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews congregate, and I haven't spoken anything in secret. 21 Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said." 22 When he had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" 23 "If I have spoken wrongly," Jesus answered him, "give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit me? " 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "You aren't one of his disciples too, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." 26 One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you with him in the garden?" 27 Peter denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.

Never was it more clearly seen that there was a war between the Prince of this world and the true King, the Lord Jesus Christ. The enemies troops had taken the King to Annas and Caiaphas. The High Priest was to anoint the King to be King. Jesus the Messiah was the true King. The High Priest was supposed to anoint Jesus. But no, they were under the control of the Prince of this world.

The friends of Jesus were supposed to stand with their King. But the closest of the King's friends denied Him.  Perhaps we have forgotten that the Christian Life is war and that you will never live successfully if you live with a peace-time mentality.  We have forgotten that  our fundamental battle is not with the shifting values of the surrounding culture, It is not with resistant people who don't seem to esteem the gospel. It is not the fight to be successful in church work. And it isn't the constant struggle for resources to do the work. No the war in the Christian life is that deeply personal war of the human heart.  It is a war of allegiances, values and motivations.  It is the war between the Kingdom of self and the Kingdom of God fought on the field of your heart. My wants my needs and my feelings become more important than the Kingdom of God.

2 Cor 5:14,15 says 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

We no longer live for ourselves. Peter understood that. Just a few hours beforehand Peter had sworn.

John 13: 37 Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 38 Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Things like appreciation, reputation, success, power, comfort, and control become all too important to us. They became too important to Peter. Lest we be too quick to condemn Peter, look at our own lives. We may not have been put under the microscope that Peter was put under, butmany times we have been more interested in preserving our own life in its comforts and controls, rather than venturing all for the Lord Jesus Christ our King.  My wants, My needs, My feelings have taken first place, and are we living for our King?

Peter was challenged about sin in his life. Have you experienced His Challenging Presence?

We seek the situations, relationships and fulfilment from other areas of life, that should only be found in Christ alone.

His Kingly Presence

28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and said, "What charge do you bring against this man?" 30 They answered him, "If this man weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you." 31 Pilate told them, "You take him and judge him according to your law." "It's not legal for us to put anyone to death," the Jews declared. 32 They said this so that Jesus's words might be fulfilled indicating what kind of death he was going to die.

33 Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?" 35 "I'm not a Jew, am I?" Pilate replied. "Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" 36 "My kingdom is not of this world," said Jesus. "If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." 37 "You are a king then?" Pilate asked. "You say that I'm a king," Jesus replied. "I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." 38 "What is truth?" said Pilate. After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" 40 They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.

What shall I do with the King of the Jews?

Matthew 27: 21 The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." 22 Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!" 23 And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"

Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea at the time of the Lord Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus stood before Pilate, and Pilate had to make a decision regarding Jesus.  There is no greater question than the one posed in this Scripture: what shall I do with Jesus?

Pilate tried to ignore Jesus. John 18:31 He tried not to make a decision about Jesus. Even today, some think that simply ignoring Jesus is the solution. One day in the judgment, we will stand before the very Jesus we try to ignore today.

Pilate tried to shift the decision to someone else. Luke 23:6-7 Pilate thought he would let Herod decide what to do with Jesus, but Herod sent Jesus right back to Pilate. No one can decide for us what to do with Jesus.

Pilate sought simply to admire Jesus. Luke 23:14-15 Pilate thought that he could avoid the decision by saying nice things about Jesus. Pilate, who by his own words could have released Jesus, said that he found no fault in Jesus; and, yet, allowed Jesus to be crucified. Many today say "nice" things about Jesus. Many say that He was a great teacher. Many say that He was a great man. It is not enough to "tip the hat" to Jesus; we must bow the knee to Jesus.

Pilate attempted to remain neutral. Matthew 27:22-24 Not to decide is to decide not to decide. Matthew 12:30 When Pilate allowed Jesus to be condemned, Pilate was condemned.

The trial of Jesus Christ was a mockery. If Jesus were on trial today and you were the jury, what would you do with Jesus? Throughout history, witnesses (including His enemies) have proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

What Shall I Do With Jesus? Have you bowed to His Kingly Presence?

At that particular time, Jesus stood before Pilate to be judged by Pilate. There's coming a time when Pilate will stand before Jesus to be judged by Jesus. In a very real sense, Pilate represents each of us who is asked the same question: what shall I do with Jesus?

As Jesus was before Pilate, Jesus is before us today. As Pilate will one day stand before Jesus, we too will stand before Jesus. What will you do with Jesus?

This is a present question.   You will answer this question today.

This is a personal question.  You must decide personally what you will do with Jesus.

This is a pertinent question.  Your destiny depends upon your answer to this question.

This is a pressing question.  You will answer one way or the other.  If you choose not to decide, that in itself is a decision.

This is an inescapable and unavoidable question.  Each person who has ever lived, or who ever will live, will either accept Jesus or reject Him. We will either crown Him or crucify Him.  We will either confess Him or deny Him.  No one can remain neutral.

John 19: 1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him." 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him." 7 The Jews1  answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God." 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?" 11 Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin." 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic2  Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour.3  He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" 15 They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

 

Pilate crucified the King because of his fear of Public opinion Matthew 27:20 Pilate was a politician, and he wanted to please the crowds. Mark 15:15 We, too, are concerned about what others think. Sometimes we crucify Jesus in order to please the crowd.

Pilate crucified the King because of his Pride John 19:9-10 Pilate believed that he held the power in his own hands. John 19:11 All of our giftings, abilities and any power that we have are given to us from God the Father.

Pilate crucified the King because of his fear of losing position and possessions John 19:12 If Pilate did not make the politically correct decision, he could lose his job. We too are often concerned about what it may cost us to make a decision for Christ. Could it cost us a promotion? Could it cost us materially or financially?

Will you have this King to reign over you today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Over the past years, the Chinese government has promoted the construction of a harmonious society in China, by advocating 'harmony without uniformity' as a guiding principle and a prerequisite for it. According to Premier Wen Jiabao, 'harmony without uniformity' is a vital feature of Chinese traditional culture.908" "The expression hexie ("harmony") first appeared in The Book of Guoyu909 , the state/quality of being "compatible" and "well-coordinated". Confucius said, "The exemplary man seeks harmony without uniformity."

Committee for the Forum of Leaders of Six Religions.(2003). Special issue of twenty-fifth anniversary of forum of six religious leaders(Chinese text). Hong Kong: the Editing Committee for the Forum of Leaders of Six Religions, 25th Anniversary Publication.

Peter Ng notes "In Hong Kong, religions play a significant role in promoting social harmony too. Since 1978, a Correspondence Secretariat of Six Religious Leaders was formed. Initiated by the six religious leaders who take turn as chair each year, the Secretariat stated its goals as follows:"

"In dialoguing, religions should be faithful to their beliefs and doctrine but at the same time remain open-minded in order to be informed of one another's beliefs. They should show mutual consideration, appreciation, and respect because each religion has its own truth that would not be denied by the others. It follows that in any such exchange no religion should try to preach its own faith to the other, and by no means should any one religion deprecate the other. On the contrary, religions need to manifest open-heartedness to one another and give up prejudices and intransigence. They should instead stand for benevolence, fraternity, patience, and tolerance. In the course of dialogue, they should also learn to share one another's religious experiences, be aware of one another's religious doctrine, and appreciate one another's religious practices".(Committee for the Forum of Leaders of Six Religions, 2003, p.16. in Ng, P.T.M. (2009). 'Religion and Social Harmony' p.74,75 

"Premier Wen developed the same idea in another speech entitled Respecting Diverse Cultures and Building a Harmonious World. Hence, it was affirmed that religions would have a part to play in the construction of a socialist harmonious society in China." p. 71, 72, 73,79 

Article 36 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China of 1982 specifies that:

Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. The state protects normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state. Religious bodies and religious affairs are not subject to any foreign domination