A Lofty Sermon From a Level Place Pt.5
The Son: Meeting Jesus through Luke • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
We are 27 sermons into the book of Luke in our series “The Son: From the manger to the cross.” I anticipate, by the time we are finished, we will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 108-110 sermon in Luke. Today we are finishing sermon number 5 looking at Luke’s account of Jesus famed “Sermon on the Mount” or as we have titled it: “A Lofty Sermon From a Level Place.”
Because we have divided this sermon into five parts, allow me a moment to review and piece it back together for you in order to get a grasp on the overall sermon in context.
The overarching theme of this sermon is genuine discipleship. It answers for us what a genuine disciple of Christ is and isn't.
(v.20-26) Jesus began his sermon by differentiating a believer from a non believer. A genuine believer in Christ is marked by a sprit of repentance. Those who trust in Christ see themselves as spiritually poor, hungry, sorrowful and rejected who cry out to the Lord for forgiveness and mercy offered through the sacrifice of Christ. The non-believer (who may even be religious) sees themselves as full, rich, happy and accepted by the world. But, they are doomed to an eternity of poverty, emptiness, sorrow and judgment if they don’t turn to Christ.
(v.27-36) He noted that there is one trait that is possessed by all genuine believers and that is supernatural “deliberate love” for their enemies. The kind of love that is only possible if it is given to you by God. Jesus went on to say that this “deliberate love” is demonstrated through deeds, words and prayers for those who do not love us.
(v.37-38) he addressed the disposition of the genuine believer. Saying that a genuine believer is not judgmental toward those who are not believers but instead forgives and is generous to his enemies.
(v.39-45) Jesus cautions his disciples to be on guard against becoming spiritually blind, full of hypocrisy and producing dead fruit in their lives. We learned that when we take our eyes off of our savior we can fall into the pit of sin. When this happens, we can no longer lead others to follow Jesus because we become a hinderance instead of a help.
Today we will end Jesus sermon with a tragic reality.Not everyone who professes Christ as Lord is actually a true disciple. He will make this point again through the form of parable. This time using the building of a house to make his point. A home will only stand the test of time if it is built on a solid foundation. The genuine believer has built his life on a solid foundation that will stand up to the test of time. But, the false believer, the one who has a profession but doesn't actually follow Christ will not stand the test of time.
Jesus tells us in v.46 by way of asking a question that the foundation of a genuine disciple is obedience to Christ.
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
A follower of Jesus is marked by their obedience to Him. That is really the only thing that differentiates a disciple from a counterfeit.
Notice, both the genuine and the counterfeit talk like a disciple. In fact they call Jesus“Lord, Lord”, saying it twice is an intense affirmation of allegiance.
In the crowd present for this sermon there were many present who intensely affirmed their allegiance to Christ but, even among his newly appointed apostles there was a counterfeit.
Just professing Christ doesn't make you a disciple, there must be obedience. Profession without obedience gives a false sense of security. Genuine disciples obey Christ as their Lord not just in word but in deed.
Telling my wife I love her but not being faithful.
Let’s begin to break down Jesus illustration by examining the difference between:
A firm foundation built on Christ (v.47-48)
A shaky foundation built on performance. (v.49)
1.) A firm foundation built on Christ. (v.47-48)
1.) A firm foundation built on Christ. (v.47-48)
Jesus likens the genuine disciple to a builder.
Every single person has a ‘house” (life) to build. What our life is built on has eternal consequence.
Jesus instructs us how we are to build our lives. The blueprints for being a genuine disciple are found in the words:
Coming
Hearing
obeying
A genuine believer comes to Christ, hears the message of the forgiveness of sin, and obeys the message. Our life depends on our response to the gospel message.
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
The command of Christ in the gospel is simple “repent and believe”. This is where building a life on Christ begins.
Christ is the foundation upon which our life must be built.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
It is only when our life is genuinely built upon the foundation of Christ as our Lord that we are able to stand.
The illustration here is that the builder has dug down deep into the foundation and now when the storms come and the waters rage, his home stands up to the pressure. It isn't shaken or bothered by the storm in the least bit. It is left standing firm on the rock.
When through the deep waters
I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow
Shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee,
Thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee
Thy deepest distress.
—RIPPON’S SELECTION OF HYMNS (1787)
Rest assured the storms always come, but its not the house that keeps you safe its the foundation.
2.) A shaky foundation built of performance. (v.49)
2.) A shaky foundation built of performance. (v.49)
The false disciple is a play actor. He is not unlike the people gathered who heard Jesus preach this sermon.
They come to Jesus because they find him interesting, they’re curious. They hear Jesus, but unlike the genuine disciple, they ignore what he says.
He hears Christ but he does not obey Christ.
Jesus compares this man to a builder too. But notice, though he’s been given the blueprints to build his life he sets out to do it his own way.
He doesn't dig down to the bed rock. He doesn't have a solid foundation. Instead he builds his house on the surface. He thinks he doesn't need a foundation because he knows a better way.
The problem isn't apparent at first.
On the outside the houses look almost identical. False disciples are often unnoticeable from the real followers of Christ at first.
These are the people who play the part. They may even attend church on Sunday, they carry a bible. There home is decorated by bible verses and religious sayings from Hobby Lobby just like the real disciple.
The difference only becomes noticeable when the storms come.
Because his house has no foundation, when the waters rise he is swept away.
13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
The person who has built his house on the sand has a false trust. A false sense of security. He has put his faith in his performance instead of in Christ.
To call Jesus “Lord” and not do what he says makes your profession meaningless. Your house will fall and you will ultimately end up in hell.
Listen to Matthews longer account of this point:
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,
29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Friend you are faced with a decision this morning. To become a genuine follower of Christ or to keep playing pretend.
To build your life on the firm foundation or keep building it on the sand.
One path ends in eternal life and the other in destruction.
Are you a genuine disciple?
Only two houses are being built. Ones with genuine foundations and those without. Only one will stand when the storms come and they will come.