Mark 9: 38-50 Tolerance
Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsJesus discourse on tolerance and the wrath of God - hell.
Notes
Transcript
Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church
Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church
From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”
House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text
House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text
Jesus’ Ministry Travels
Jesus’ Ministry Travels
Pray
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Review
Review
Mark is one of the Gospels - it tells us how we can be reconciled to God and gain eternal life
Beginning of Mark: Preceded by John, Jesus came from Galilee
Signs and wonders demonstrated His lessons
Jesus was alienating Israel’s religious and political leadership - they were plotting to kill Him
Knew He was going to the cross to finish His work - prepared His disciiples
Recently: A turning point in Jesus mission -
Peter confesses Jesus as Christ
Jesus focuses on His mission to Jerusalem
Jesus teaches on the cost of following Him
Jesus gives His disciples a foretaste of Heaven
Things are starting to intensify, as Jesus heads to Jerusalem
Conflict and Satan
Jesus prophesies His death and resurrection
Pray
Mark 9:38-50
Mark 9:38-50
Introduction
Introduction
Today Jesus teaches about to important subjects
Tolerance in religion
Hell (refer to the Gospel above)
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”
Christ teaches about religious tolerance
Christ teaches about religious tolerance
The man was doing a good work - same side of the apostles - John was not satisfied
He was not one of the apostles, did not work with them
John forbade him
Jesus response: Mark 9:39-40 “But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us.”
A golden rule, one that our nature really needs and is often forgotten
Men of all branches of Christ’s Church often think that nothing good can be done in the world, unless it is done by their own party and denomination
Very narrow minded: cannot imagine that any other pattern of ministry will work except their own
Their denominational approach becomes an idol - they can’t see good in any other
This spirit of intolerance had caused some of the darkest pages of church history
Christians have repeatedly persecuted other Christians for the same reason John had
“You will either follow us, or not work for Christ at all.”
We need to guard against this tendency
It is very near the surface of all our hearts
We need to study this intently, this liberal, tolerant spirit which Jesus recommends here
We need to be thankful for good works everywhere, no matter who does them
We need to watch the impulse to stop others in their ministry - because they do not do it our way
We may think
others mistaken in some points
that more could be done if they would work with us
evils arise from conflict and division
But we can’t let this stop us from rejoicing if the works of Satan are destroyed and souls are saved
Key questions: Is our neighbor warring against Satan? Is he working for Christ?
Better that the work should be done by others, than not at all
Phil 1:18 “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,”
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
We need to give up anything that stands between us and our salvation
We need to give up anything that stands between us and our salvation
The things that are dear to us, the eye, foot, hand, we must give up, of they harm our souls, no matter how painful the sacrifice
This is a stern and harsh teaching, but Jesus did not give it without a cause
Anything that keeps us from salvation, condemns us to Hell
Temptation comes through our bodily senses
Our body parts can be instruments of evil, as well as good
eyes, hands, feet are good servants, when under the right direction, but we need to watch them, or they may lead us to sin
Let’s make use of this instruction, as we would the advice of a kind doctor, a tender father, or a faithful friend
No matter how the world may criticize this teaching, we need to “crucify our flesh, with its desires and lusts”
We need to deny ourselves any enjoyment that risks us sinning against God
1 cor 9:27 “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
The terrifying reality of future punishment
The terrifying reality of future punishment
Here we see the reality, the awfulness and the eternity of future punishment
Three times He speaks of Hell
Three times, of the worm that never dies
Doesn't matter if these are actual things or symbols
worm and fire are symbols of a reality
There is a real hell, and it is eternal
It is not loving to avoid the subject of hell
Terrifying and tremendous as it is, all need to be aware of its reality - it is one of the main truths of Christianity
Jesus spoke of it
John spoke of it in the Revelation
Christians must not be ashamed to confess their belief in it
There is boundless mercy in Christ for all believers, so we don’t need to be afraid of this subject
If we were not cleansed and saved by the precious blood of Christ, we might be afraid to speak of the wrath to come
But there is mercy in all who ask in Christ’s name.
We need to clearly and boldly maintain that there is a hell, and to beg men and women to flee from it, before it’s too late
It is not possible to say too much about Christ, but we can say too little about hell
2 Cor 5:11 “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.”
Bringing it home
Bringing it home
Jesus concluding words: Mark 9:50 “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.””
We need to make sure we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts, sanctifying, purifying, keeping us from corruption, our whole beings
We need to use the grace God gives us, to keep an eye on ourselves and pray to be kept from sin, or else we may be taken in our faults and mistakes
We dont want to make ourselves miserable by going against our consciences or bringing shame on Christ
We need to live in peace with each other, not trying to out do each other
but clothed in humility and love all who love Christ sincerely
These seem like simple things, but they have a great reward
Prayers
Prayers
Questions
Questions