This week, Michael writes that when Jesus preached the sermon on the mount in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, he concluded with three parables. One was the illustration of the narrow way through the narrow gate. Then He told them the parable about good fruit and bad fruit. He finished with the parable of the house built upon the rock.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a former physician and renown British preacher and pastor of the Westminster Chapel of London, wrote a commentary on the sermon on the mount. Leaders need to keep the vision in front of the people. A leader reminds the flock of God who they are in Christ. The purpose of preaching is to remind us not only who we are, but more importantly, whose we are. According to Lloyd-Jones, in Jesus’ parable about the narrow way and the narrow gate, our Lord established a new kingdom in the midst of the kingdoms of this world. Jesus called His chosen people out from the world to conform them to His heavenly kingdom which is not of this world. The kingdom of light ... the kingdom of heaven is unlike any other kingdom. The subjects of the kingdom of light will be hated by those of the kingdom of darkness. Jesus told His followers that they would be persecuted. He said His followers would need to be above reproach. Therefore, bless those that persecute you and despitefully use you, and say all manner evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven. He said to go the second mile beyond the call of duty. If someone steals your cloak, don’t sue him. Instead offer him your coat.
Paraphrased, Jesus said to the crowd at the sermon on the mount, “You’ve heard the sermon. Now, what are you going to do about it?” What is the purpose of following in Jesus’ footsteps unless you do that which He’s called you to do and stop doing what He tells you not to do? One of the major themes of the book of James is, “be ye doers of the word and not hearers only.” As “Followers of the Way”, our challenge is to stand firm in the midst of the persecution of this lost and dying world. This is a test. The Sermon on the Mount is practical ...it’s meant to be lived “where the rubber meets the road.” As one of our Christian brothers prayed, “may our bibles be wrapped in shoe leather.”
The sense of human pride will well up in our hearts when we feel wronged, offended, and despitefully used. How do we react when we’re offended by our spouses? Jesus said, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord and husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.” As Christian husbands and priests in our own homes, men are called to represent our wives, interceding on her behalf before God. Do you?
The outstanding principle to which Jesus has called us is narrowness. In John 14:5, Jesus said to his disciples, I’m going and you can’t follow me yet. Then He said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. If you believe in God, believe also in me. If you’ve seen me you’ve seen the Father. The Father’s characteristics are evident in my life. I always do my Father’s will. According to 1 Timothy, there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Though God’s offer of salvation is an inclusive free gift, God’s way is the exclusive way. There is only one way. Jesus is the only way. We’re saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Unlike worldly religions who think that everyone has a “spark of the divine,” Jesus said, “I am the way ... no man cometh unto the Father except by me.” The world’s politically correct will argue that God wouldn’t condemn anyone to death who doesn’t accept Jesus Christ as Lord of their life. They think that God would ignore their sins and allow people into Heaven because of their good works. However, Jesus said, “There is none good, (in the flesh), no, not one. You must be “born again”.
Let's continue Michael's message on being "doers of the Word" in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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