Aug 24
18

Catechetical Sermon: What Is Effectual Calling?, Baptist Catechism 34

Baptist Catechism 34

Q. 34. What is effectual calling?

A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, He doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the Gospel. (2 Tim. 1:9; John 16:8-11; Acts 2:37; 26:18; Ezekiel 36:26; John 6:44,45; 1 Cor. 12:3)

Scripture Reading: Titus 3:1–7

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Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God incarnate, the great prophet, priest, and king of God’s people, accomplished redemption for God’s elect when he assumed a human nature, lived, died, rose again, and assended to the Father’s right hand nearly 2,000 years ago. That work – the accomplishment of our redemption – is finished. There is nothing more to do. The question that this portion of our catechism is addressing is this: How do the elect of God come to have the benifits of the redemption that Christ has accomplished as their own?

Let me remind you of Baptist Catechism 32. It asks, How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? Answer: …by the effectual application of it to us, by His Holy Spirit.

Question 33 probes a little deeper, asking, How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? Answer: …by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. So then, we have learned that it through faith in Christ that we come to be saved, or redeemed. And it is through faith in Christ that we come to be saved, or redeemed, because faith unites us to Jesus. What he has earned comes to be ours when we are you united to him in this way.

This brings us to Baptist Catechism question 34 which digs a little deeper still by asking, What is effectual calling?, and answering, Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel. This is a marvelous question and answer. He we find a clear and sucinct summery of what the Bible teaches on this very importinat subject.

First, we are told that effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit. At this point, I should probably mention that there is a kind of calling that is the work of man. When a preacher preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ and urges men and women, boys and girls, to turn from their sins and trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, he does call them to faith and repentance, but this is not effectual calling. Theologians have referred to this call — the call that those who preach the gospel extend — as an external call. Why? Because when the preacher preaches men and women hear him with their natural ears only (unless the Spirit works). The call of the gospel preacher is not always effective, therefore. But when the Holy Spirit calls a person, it is always effective, for the Spirit calls inwardly. The Spirit’s “voice” is not heard with the natural ears but with the ears of the heart. Theologians refer to the Holy Spirit’s calling as an internal or effectual call. Here in this catechism question, we are talking about effectual calling, and so the answer begins, effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit.

Secondly, notice the word, “whereby”. This word indicates that we are about to be told what the Spirit does in a person to effectively call them to faith and repentance. Notice that this word, “whereby”, is followed by three phrases, each of them beginning with a word ending in –ing: convincing, enlightening, renewing. What are the three things the Spirit does to a person inwardly when he effectually calls them? One, the Spirit convinces them of their sin and misery. Two, the Spirit enlightens their minds in the knowledge of Christ. And three, the Spirit renews their wills. This is how the Spirit persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.

By the way, I think we are to see that these three works of the Spirit are presented as remedies to the corruptions of our nature mentioned in Baptist Catechism 21. Human beings are body and soul. The body has parts and the soul has parts. The parts of man’s soul are the mind and the will (affections are the motions of the will). We must remember that human nature was corrupted when Adam fell into sin. The human mind is not full of light as it was in the beginning, but is darkened. The human heart is not soft to God and the things of God, but is hard and calloused. And the will of man is bent towards evil. This is what Paul plainly says in Ephesians 4:18-19. He speaks of the natural man when he says, “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity” (Ephesians 4:18–19). You see when the Holy Spirit effectually calls a sinner, he repairs these defects in us to make us willing and able to believe in Christ. This is called regeneration or new birth.

There is a famous story found in John 3. There Jesus speaks with a man named Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee who came to Jesus at night to ask him questions. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, ESV). As this passage unfolds, it becomes clear that Jesus was talking about the new birth that the Holy Spirit brings. For a person to see and to enter the kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit must first make the dead sinner spiritually alive. Only then will they truly see their sin and Christ as the King of God’s kingdom leading them to repentance and faith.

Jesus made a very similar point recorded for us in John 6. In this passage, Christ speaks to a great multitude and plainly says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44, ESV). A little later he reiterated this same point with his disciples, saying, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” (John 6:65, ESV). These sayings of Jesus are about effectual calling or the doctrine of regeneration. If spiritually dead sinners are to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ in repentance and faith, God must make them alive. It is this new birth that Paul speaks of when he says, “And you [Christian], who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses…” (Colossians 2:13, ESV). It is God who makes us alive, and this he does through his word and by his Spirit.

Our catechism is correct. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.

Before concluding, we must consider the last phrase, “he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.” I have three brief observations to make about this important statement.

One, notices the words, “he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel.” Friends, repentance, that is, turning from sin, is something you must do. You are called by God to repent. And faith is something you must exercise. You must trust in Christ personally. The Holy Spirit does not repent or believe for us when he effectually calls us. And neither does the Holy Spirit force us to repent and believe. He does, however, persuade and enable the elect of God to repent and believe at God’s appointed time. The Spirit of God persuades the elect of God by convincing them of their sin and misery and enlightening their minds in the knowledge of Christ, as we have already said. The Spirit of God enables the elect of God — that is to say, he makes them able — to repent and believe by renewing their wills. When sinners turn from their sins and trust in Christ, it is something they do willingly and freely from the heart. But we know that they are persuaded and enabled to do this only by the grace of God. They willingly come to Christ because God the Father chose them in eternity, the Son atoned for their sins on the cross, and the Holy Spirit effectually calls them at God’s appointed time.

Two, notice the phrase, “he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ…” This reminds us of what was said in Baptist Catechism 33. There we learned that it is by faith that we are united to Christ. Here our catechism says that the Holy Spirit enables us to embrace Jesus Christ. This is another way of talking about faith. To have faith in Christ is to embrace Christ. I appreciate the warmth of this expression. Those who have true faith in Christ will warmly and lovingly embrace him, and the ability to do so is a gift from God delivered by the effectual calling of the Holy Spirit (see again Ephesians 2:8-9).

Three, notice the phrase, “freely offered to us in the gospel”. This is a very important little phrase. For one, it clarifies that the Holy Spirit always effectually calls sinners to faith and repentance through, or in concert with, the gospel. The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. It is through the preaching (or reading) of the gospel that sinners are called to repentance and faith in Christ in the external way described earlier. And while it is true that there is a great difference between the external call of gospel preaching and the internal, effectual call of the Holy Spirit, the two things are related. The Holy Spirit calls sinners inwardly and effectually as the good news of Jesus Christ is delivered. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that tells us about our sin and misery. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that tells us about Christ and the salvation he offers. And it is the gospel of Jesus Christ that calls us to turn from our sins, to trust Christ, and to confess him as Lord. But it is the Spirit of God who works within us to convince us of our sin and misery, enlighten our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renew our wills. In this way, the Spirit persuades and enables God’s elect to embrace Jesus Christ as he is freely offered to them in the gospel (see Acts 13:48). To put it another way, while it is possible (and common) for men to be called by the gospel externally but not inwardly and effectually, it is not possible for men to be called inwardly effectually but not externally. The Holy Spirit always calls inwardly and effectually in concert with the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ.

The words “freely offered” are also important. Friends, Jesus Christ is to be freely offered to all through our gospel preaching. You and I do not know who the elect of God are. You and I do not know who God will effectually call or when he will do it. We are to freely offer Jesus to all who will hear the proclamation of the gospel. We are to cast the seed of the gospel far and wide, having no concern for the condition of the souls of men and women. That, I think, is what the parable of the sower found in Luke 8 is about. And this is how Paul the Apostle (and others) went about their gospel ministry. They preached the gospel of Jesus Christ knowing “it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16, ESV). They traveled far and wide to preach this gospel knowing that none would be saved apart from it. In Romans 10:14 Paul asks, “How then will they call on [Christ] in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (Romans 10:14–15, ESV). So, for sinners to be saved, the gospel must be preached. And for the gospel to be preached, preachers must be sent. But Paul also knew that for men and women to respond to the gospel in repentance and faith, the Spirit had to call them inwardly and effectually.

Conclusion

Q. 34. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, He doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the Gospel.

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Aug 24
11

Sermon: Let Us Properly Interpret The Times, Luke 12:54-59

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 72

“OF SOLOMON. Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.” (Psalm 72, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 12:54–59

“He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.’” (Luke 12:54–59, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction
1. As we moved slowly through Luke 12, I regularly reminded you that Christ delivered those teachings to his disciples. He spoke to his followers – the Twelve Apostles, the seventy, and the others – and he warned them of the heart-sins of hypocrisy, the fear of man, anxiety, and inattentiveness. He also addressed their expectations for the future to be sure they were squared with reality. Each of the teachings of Christ, recorded for us in Luke 12, has special relevance for the disciples of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we must be sure to keep our hearts pure lest we be distracted, derailed, and rendered infected and fruitless (or worse) by these sins of the heart and mind.
2. While it was good for us to remember that Christ delivered the teachings of Luke 12 to his disciples, we must not forget that a great multitude of people stood about and listened to what Christ had to say to them. Do not forget what Luke 12:1 says: “In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.’”
  1. So then, the teachings of Christ found in Luke 12 were for the disciples of Christ, but many who had not yet followed after Christ overheard what Christ had to say to them. This reminds me of the church. When the church assembles for worship, the word of God is to be read and preached to the church. But there will always be non-believers in our midst (or at least we should hope so). And we should pray that the word of God would affect those who do not yet believe to draw them to faith and repentance.
3. Here in the passage that is open before us today, Christ turns his attention from his disciples to the crowd. Luke 12:54 says, “He also said to the crowds…” I trust you can see why it is important to pay careful attention to who the audience is. When Christ spoke to his disciples, he did not call them to faith and repentance, for they had already turned from their sins to trust in him. He warned them about sins of the heart as he sought to strengthen their faith and to sanctify them further. But when Christ spoke to the non-believing crowds, he sought their conversion and warned them of impending doom and destruction should they remain in their sins and unbelief.
4. Here in our text, and also in the next one, Christ calls sinners to repentance and faith in four stages. First, he exhorts them to properly interpret the times. Secondly, he urges them to settle their debts with their accuser. Thirdly, he commands them to repent lest they perish. And fourthly, he warns them that time is running out. We will consider the first two points today and the final two points next Sunday, Lord willing.
Properly Interpret The Times
1. First, Christ exhorts the unbelieving crowds to properly interpret the times. Look with me at Luke 12:54. There we read, “He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:54–56, ESV)
  1. To understand this saying of Jesus, we must first put ourselves in the place of those to whom these words were originally spoken. This saying of Jesus has application for us, but Christ did not speak these words to us first. We must put ourselves in the place of those to whom Christ originally spoke, lest we misinterpret this passage.
    1. Jesus spoke these words to the crowd in the days of his earthly ministry. Most of the people in the crowd were Jews. They lived under the Old Mosaic Covenant. I think it is right to assume that most of them were very familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures. And many within the crowd, it must be remembered, were religious leaders – Scribes, lawyers, and Pharisees. These men were very well acquainted with God’s Word, therefore.
    2. And we must not forget the great significance of the time in which these people lived. They lived in the most extraordinary of times. They lived in the days of the Messiah. The lived in the days wherein the Son of God incarnate walked the earth for us and our salvation. They lived in the days in which many of the prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled.
    3. Furthermore, we must remember that Jesus Christ was shown to be the promised and long-awaited Messiah in many ways. His earthly ministry, his claims, and his teachings were confirmed by signs and wonders. Jesus healed the sick, calmed the wind and waves, fed the multitudes, cast out demons, and even raised the dead, all as a sign or demonstration that he is the Son of God incarnate, the King of God’s everlasting Kingdom, the Redeemer of God’s elect, the Messiah who was promised from long ago.
    4. When we remember that these people were very well acquainted with the sacred writings of the Old Testament, that they lived in the days of the Messiah, and that they heard the teachings of the Messiah with their own ears, and witnessed many of the signs and wonders he performed with their own eyes, it is not surprising that Jesus rebuked them for their failure to properly interpret the signs of the times and for their heart-hearted unbelief. There were many signs. And these signs were quite obvious and clear. And yet so many failed to interpret the signs correctly.
  2. Notice that Christ rebuked the unbelievers for their spiritual blindness and inability to interpret the signs of the times in which they lived by contrasting this inability and obtuseness with their ability and proficiency at interpreting the signs of nature.
    1. Christ spoke to the crowds, saying, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens.” In Palestine, storms typically develop to the west over the Mediterranean Sea before moving onshore to dump the much-needed, refreshing, and life-giving rain on that semi-arid environment.
    2. Furthermore, Christ said, “And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.” The south wind is the wind that comes up into Palestine from the south, that is to say, from the hot, desert regions of Egypt, bringing with it a wave of heat.
    3. You and I love to talk about the weather. Two things will especially get us talking: the promise of rain and the threat of a heat wave. But think of how interested these people were in the weather. They would have been especially interested in the promise of rain from the west, and the threat of a heat wave from the south, because of they were concerned for their crops. They did not live in Egypt where they could depend on the flow of the Nile. And they did not have the advanced reservoirs or irrigation systems that we rely on today in times of drought or heat. For them, rain from the west would mean the promise of life and prosperity on earth. Conversely, the scorching heat from the south could lead to the destruction of their crops, which could result in poverty, famine, or death.
    4. It is not surprising that these people were profoundly attuned to the weather patterns. Who can fault them for that? But Christ rebuked them and called them hypocrites! He spoke to them, saying, “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”
    5. Why did Christ rebuke these people so sharply and call them hypocrites? Please hear me. Christ did not rebuke them because they were concerned about the weather and attuned to the patterns of nature. Any farmer with experience will naturally learn to do that! No, Christ rebuked them because, while they diligently and astutely observed the natural world being deeply concerned about their prosperity on earth, they failed to observe and interpret the signs of the times pertaining to the arrival of the Messiah, the inauguration of God’s eternal Kingdom, and the New Covenant through which salvation comes to the world. Stated differently, Christ rebuked the unbelieving crowds because they were preoccupied with the world and the things of this world and blind to the things of God. Their attention was fixed upon the earth. Often, they would lift their eyes up toward heaven to observe the clouds and the winds. But up to this point, they had failed to recognize that Jesus is from heaven, that he is the Lord’s Messiah, the King of God’s heavenly and everlasting kingdom.
    6. You see, Christ called these people “hypocrites” because they were preoccupied with external and worldly things – rain and heatwaves, a fruitful harvest, and the wealth that would come as a result. By the way, we must not forget the parable of the rich, covetous, and foolish farmer of Luke 12:13-21. That man set all of his hopes on his riches. He reaped a bountiful harvest and spoke to his own soul, saying, “‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’” This rich farmer was a fool, not because he was a successful farmer, but because he set his hope on the things of this earth. Likewise, these crowds were worldly. They were preoccupied with the world and the things of this world. They were religious, but their religion was superficial and worldly. They were truly blind to things spiritual and eternal.
    7. Think of it. Jesus the Messiah, the one to whom the Old Testament Scriptures point, stood right in front of them. All signs indicated that he was the Messiah. But these so-called “experts in the law” could not see it. They could interpret the signs of nature. They could not interpret the signs of that present time.
    8. These people could predict with certainty that rain would soon come, but they could not see that the Messiah was in those days showering the land with God’s kindness and grace. Indeed, Jesus, in fulfillment of Psalm 72:6, was to Israel, and is now to the world, “like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!” Indeed, “In his days… the righteous flourish…” In those who are united to him by faith peace abounds, and will continue to abound “till the moon be no more!” (Psalm 72:7, ESV). But these unbelieving multitudes could not see in Christ the rain of God’s grace that was about to fall from heaven. Indeed, it had already begun to fall.
    9. Furthermore, these people could predict with certainty that a heatwave was drawing near, but they could not see that Messiah would soon bear the scorching heat of the wrath of God as he died on the cross in the place of those given to him by the Father in eternity. This he would do to shield them from the scorching heat of God’s wrath. But do not forget that at the cross, a fire would be kindled (remember Luke 12:49). It is the fire of the gospel that burns in the hearts of all who are enlivened by the Holy Spirit, but for those who remain outside of Christ and in their unbelief. This fire would be kindled at the cross of Christ. And this fire would spread from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and to the ends of the earth (see Acts 1:8). Yes, the gospel would spread like fire. But so too would the judgments of God. As you know, Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. The temple was demolished. And in these last days, there are wars and rumors of wars. To quote Psalm 2, the nations continue to rage and the people plot in vain. “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, ‘As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.’” The Psalmist goes on to say, “I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” And then the Psalmist warns the nations. “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2, ESV). Dear friends, God’s wrath is continually being poured out in a partial way upon peoples and nations. And God’s wrath will be poured out on all who are not in Christ Jesus on the last when Christ returns to judge and make all things new.
    10. So then, did Christ come to pour out the refreshing rain of God’s mercy and grace upon the earth, or did he come to pour out the scorching heat of God’s wrath upon the earth? The answer is, both. In Christ, God’s grace is offered to sinners even now through the preaching of the gospel. Those who believe the gospel now are refreshed by it. Their spiritual thirst is satiated. The righteous are made to flourish a tree planted by streams of living water. On the last day when Christ returns, the full enjoyment of God’s mercy and grace will be experienced by all who believe upon Christ. But it is also true that through Christ, God’s judgments are administered. The judgments of God are being poured out in a partial way even now as God is patient towards sinners. On the last day, God will judge fully and finally through Christ the Son.
    11. Jesus Christ brings the refreshing rain of God’s mercy and grace and the scorching heat of God’s wrath. While the unbelieving multitudes could predict with precision the natural rains and the natural heat, they were blind to the spiritual rains and spiritual heat that Jesus the Messiah came to bring. Even as he stood before them, being attested to by signs and wonders from the heaven of heavens, they could not see it. Christ set captives free, fed the hungry, healed the sick, and raised the dead, but those who were dead in the sins could perceive him to be the Lord’s Messiah.
    12. So Christ rebuked them: “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:56, ESV).
Settle With Your Accuser
1. The verses that follow are intimately related to the passage we have just considered. In verses 57-59, Christ exhorts the unbelieving multitudes to make the right choice and to settle with their accuser while there is still time. In other words, Christ exhorted the unbelievers in the crowd to get right with God!
2. Look with me at verse 57. There Christ says, “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?” The meaning is this: why do not come to the correct conclusions concerning what is righteous, that is to say, that which God requires of you? This is what the word translated as “right” (δίκαιος) means: “pertaining to being in accordance with what God requires—‘righteous, just.’” (Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 743.) Stated yet another way, the question that Jesus asks the unbeliever is, how can you not see that you are not right before God because of your sin? How can you not see that you are guilty and indebted to God because of your breaking of the law of God?
3. To drive the point home, Jesus illustrates using an earthly example and argues from the lesser to the greater. In verse 58 Christ says, “As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny” (Luke 12:57–59, ESV).
  1. As I have said, this is an earthly illustration. If you wronged someone and they are accusing you and taking you to court, it would be best to settle with them before you go to court lest you be put and prison and be forced to pay the pentalty there.
  2. And as I have said, this is an argument from the lesser to the greater. No, this passage is not teaching the doctrine of purgatory, as the Roman Catholics claim. When it comes to our sins and God’s judgment, the Scriptures are very clear, the punishment of hell is eternal. Purgatory is nowhere taught in the Scriptures, friends. When Christ returns, there is the judgment. Those in Christ will be welcomed into heaven by the grace of God alone through faith in Christ alone. All who are not in Christ will be cast into hell forever and ever. The point that Christ makes here is, if it is true that it is wise to settle with your accusers here on earth before they drag you before a judge, how much more should we be concerned about settling with God before the day of judgment?
  3. Dear friends, the truth is you are not right with God unless you have faith in Christ. We have all sinned against God by violating his commandments. If not in Christ, God is our accuser. If not in Christ, the law of God is our accuser. If not in Christ, Satan can justly accuse us. But Christ came to fix all that. He took upon himself the wrath of God that was due to us for sin. He kept the law of God to meet all of its righteous demands for us and in our place. He even defeated Satan for us and freed us from the curse of death.
  4. When Christ spoke to these unbelievers and asked them, “why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?”, and afterward exhorted them to settle with their accuser, he was imploring them to wake up to the reality of the guilt of their sin and of their need for a Redeemer. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer. The only way to settle with God before the day of judgment is to settle through Christ, for he alone has paid the ransom to redeem us from the guilt of our sin and misery (see Matthew 20:28).
Conclusion
1. In the introduction to this sermon, I said that it was important for us to put ourselves in the place of those who first received this teaching from Jesus in order to properly interpret this text. I also stated that this text does apply to us today. So let us conclude by first identifying the aspects of this text that were unique to the original audience. After that, we will seek to apply this text to our own lives.
  1. First, it must be understood that when Jesus rebuked the unbelievers in the crowd for failing to interpret the times, he was speaking to those who were alive at his first coming and not to those of us who are awaiting his second coming.
    1. As you probably know, there are many Christians alive today who spend a great deal of time and energy attempting to interpret the times. They obsess over current events and try to connect those current events with prophesies found in the Holy Scriptures, especially the Book of Revelation. But I do believe their approach is misguided. For one, they badly misinterpret the Book of Revelation. Two, they ignore the clear teaching of Holy Scripture concerning the mystery surrounding the time of the end.
      1. As it pertains to the misinterpretation of the book of Revelation, their fatal flaw is their assumption that the book of Revelation is mainly about the time of the end. It is not. There are portions of the book of Revelation that are about the end of time. For example, Revelation 20:4 through to the end of chapter 22 are clearly about the return of Christ, the final judgment, and the new heavens and earth. But the majority of that glorious book is about the time between Christ’s first and second comings. After all, the first verse of the book of Revelation says, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place” (Revelation 1:1, ESV). The book was written by the Apostle John in the first century AD. The majority of the book describes things that were experienced even by the Christians living in those days. For those of you who were around when I taught on eschatology and preached through the book of Revelation a few years ago, you may remember that the book is not mainly about the future, but is about these last days, the days between Christ’s first and second comings. Call it the church age, if you’d like. Call it the New Covenant era or dispensation. Whatever you call, know for certain that the book of Revelation was given to equip Christians living in the first century on to the end of time to walk faithfully with Christ in this world. In these last days (which began when Christ rose from the dead, ascended, and sent forth the Holy Spirit), Satan will be active. He will work through the beast (political powers that persecute), the false prophet (false teachers), and the harlot (the seductiveness of the world) to oppose God’s people. But God will preserve his people. He will keep them from the evil one. And he will restrain the evil one from deceiving the nations so that the gospel will succeed. The book of Revelation tells that story before culminating in the return of Christ, the rescue of God’s people, the judgment, and the consummation. The book is not mainly about the future, friends. It is very much about the past and the present too. It meant as much for the Christians alive in the first century as it does for us today. It recapitulates over and over again as it looks at these last days – the days between Christ’s first and second comings – from different vantage points or angles. The book was not written to confound or confuse but to comfort God’s New Covenant people living in every time and place. Let us be careful not to mishandle that glorious and helpful book by using it to speculate about current events.
      2. As it pertains to the clear teaching of Holy Scripture concerning the mystery of the time of the end, allow me to quote a few verses:
        
        Matthew 24:36 is about the return of Christ on the last day. There Christ says, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matthew 24:36–42, ESV)
        
        In Acts 1:6-7 we read, “So when [the disciples of Jesus] had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.’” (Acts 1:6–7, ESV)
        
        Finally, listen to Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6. “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–6, ESV)
    2. Those who were alive in Jesus’ day who did not recognize him to be the Messiah were rightly rebuked by Christ for their inability to interpret the times. They had the Old Testament Scriptures that testified to him. And when he came into the world, he did not come quickly or suddenly like a thief in the night, but slowly and methodically. He was born of a virgin. Angels testified concerning him. He performed many signs and wonders. He fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament Scriptures. Some of them even indicated the time of his coming (the seventy-weeks of Daniel), which is why Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel. Furthermore, it had been revealed to Simeon “by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26, ESV). The Scribes, lawyers, and Pharisees had no excuse for their failure to interpret the times.
    3. But things will be different when Christ returns to judge. The time of his return is a mystery. When he comes, he will come suddenly and unexpectedly, like a thief. And immediately after he comes he will judge and usher in the new heaven and new earth. There will be no 1,000-year reign after Christ’s return, as some suppose (this view is based upon a misinterpretation of Revelation 20:1-3). No Christ will return, the dead will be raised. And “then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.” (1 Corinthians 15:24, ESV)
    4. Dear brothers and sisters, I pray that you will not waste your time and energy speculating about things the Scripture say no one can know.
  2. This leads to my second point of application. Spend your time and energy instead seeking to be a faithful servant of Christ as you live in the world in these last days. I’ve said it over and over again. The last days are not the days right before Christ returns. No. The last days are all of the days between Christ’s first and second comings.
    1. Listen to what Paul said to Timothy in the first century AD. “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” I’m afraid that many Christians will take this to mean that this is about the future and the time right before the end. But listen to what Paul says to Timothy next: “Avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:1–5, ESV)! Paul and Timothy lived in the last days just as you and I do.
    2. Hebrews 1:1-2 is also important. It says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:1–2, ESV). Friends, it was the life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ that marked the beginning of the last days.
    3. When the Scriptures say that these are the last days, it does not mean that there are only a few of them. The word last (ἔσχατος) means, “pertaining to being the last in a series of objects or events” (Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 610. The days of the Old Covenant era were not the last days, for it was promised that the Messiah would come to establish a New Covenant. But the days of the New Covenant era are the last days, for when these days are finished, there will be no more succession of days, only the unending day of God’s glory and the eternal enjoyment of God’s Sabbath rest. Whether the last days are many or few is not stated. So far there have been 2,000 years worth of last days. How many more will there be? I haven’t a clue. And the Scriptures plainly teach that I shouldn’t be concerned about it?
    4. What then should we be concerned about? We should be concerned about being found faithful in Christ Jesus should he return when we are alive or when he calls us home through death.
      1. The Messiah has come into the world, friends. He is Jesus Christ the Lord. Have you rightly interpreted his first coming? Can you see that he came to shower the world with God’s grace and that he will judge the world with the scorching heat of God’s wrath on the last day?
      2. Furthermore, have you judged rightly concerning your need for a redeemer? Have you turned from your sins to trust in him? And having placed your faith in him, are you walking worthily with him, being about the work that he has given us to do in this last era, epoch, or dispensation before the end? Lord help us. Amen.

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Luke 12:54-59, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Aug 24
11

Catechetical Sermon: How Are We Made Partakers Of The Redemption Purchased By Christ?, Baptist Catechism 32-33

Baptist Catechism 32-33

Q. 32. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us, by His Holy Spirit. (John 3:5,6; Titus 3:5,6)

Q. 33. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. (Eph. 2:8; 3:17)

Scripture Reading: Titus 3:1–11

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” (Titus 3:1–11, ESV)

*****

Q. 32. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us, by His Holy Spirit. (John 3:5,6; Titus 3:5,6)

Question 32 asks, How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? Answer: We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.

Notice a few things about this question and answer.

One, notice that the phrase, “of the redemption purchased by Christ”, is in the past tense. Jesus Christ purchased our redemption long ago. The accomplishment of our redemption by Jesus Christ is not ongoing. When Jesus said, “It is finished” immediately before he died on the cross, he meant it (see John 19:30). And what was finished? Well, the accomplishment of the redemption of the elect was finished. The work that God the Father gave Christ the Son to do was finished. Christ actively obeyed God’s law, he passively suffered during the whole of his life, and he laid down his life as a sacrifice for the sins of many. When Christ breathed his last, the work of redemption was finished.

Two, notice that the phrase, “We are made partakers”, is in the present tense. The question is, how do the elect of God living throughout history come to benefit from the redemption Christ earned so long ago? Please understand, the elect of God are not born saved or justified. No, even the elect are born in sin. At some point, they must be saved. At some point, they must have the redemption purchased by Christ applied or given to them. This transition from being not saved to saved is what Paul the Apostle describes in Ephesians 2:1-10. He wrote to Christians living in the city of Ephesus saying, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind…” Notice the past tense. These people who were Christians when Paul wrote his letter were not always Christians. They were not always saved. They were not always God’s beloved children. Quoting the text again: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” So you can see, at some point in time, a great transition occurred in these people. They were dead in their sins, and then they were made alive. They were children of wrath, and then they were adopted as God’s beloved children. What happened to these people to bring about this change? Well, that is the question addressed in Baptist Catechism 32-34.

The third thing to notice about Baptist Catechism 32 is that it says, We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit. So here is your answer. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? It is by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit. There are a few things to notice about this little phrase.

One, notice that the work of the application of redemption is attributed (or appropriated) to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the third person (or subsistence) of the Triune God (remember Baptist Catechism 8 & 9), applies it to us by effectually calling us.

Can you see, then, that our redemption is the work of the Triune God? Truly, all of the works of God are one. But certain works may be attributed to particular persons within the Godhead. We may say that the Father sent forth the Son to accomplish the redemption of the elect (see John 3:16, John 17, and Galatians 4:4). And we may say that the Father and Son have sent forth the Spirit to apply the redemption that Christ has earned to God’s elect living in every time and place.

Many texts speak of this. In John 16:7-10 Jesus speaks about sending the promised Holy Spirit after his ascension to the right hand of the Father. We see the fulfillment of this throughout the Book of Acts. And in Titus 3:5-6, which is listed as a proof text in our catechism, we are told that “[God] saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior…” (Titus 3:5–6, ESV). That passage is clear, isn’t it? When Paul says that “[God] saved us”, he is here referring, not to the accomplishment of our redemption by Christ, but to the application of this redemption to us. “He saved us”, Paul says, “not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…” So, if we have faith in Christ, we came to be saved, not because of good works or obedience, but by God’s mercy and grace. And how was this salvation applied? Paul says it was “by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom [God] poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior…” As I have said, our salvation is Trinitarian. God the Father sent the Son to accomplish our redemption. And God the Father and Son send the Holy Spirit to apply the redemption that Christ has earned to God’s elect at just the right time.

The second thing I want you to notice about this little phrase at he end of Baptist Catechism 32 is the word, “application”. I have been using this word throughout this lesson. It would probably be good to define it. To apply is to implement. To apply is to administer. Application is the action of putting something into operation. As has been said, Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption a long time ago. What did he earn for us when he died on the cross and rose again? Among other things, he earned the forgiveness of our sins, our right to be adopted as sons and daughters of God, and life eternal. The question is, how do these benefits that Christ has earned come to be ours? They come to be ours when the Holy Spirit of God applies them, that is to say, implements, administers, or puts these benefits into operation. When does the Spirit do this for God’s elect? It differs from person to person according to God’s eternal decree. Some are saved at a very young age. Some are saved just before they die. Many are saved somewhere in between.

Three, notice the word “effectual”. Effectual means effective. When we say that someone’s work is effectual, we mean that the person gets the job done. Did Christ the Son get the job done regarding the accomplishment of our redemption? Yes. It is finished. And does the Holy Spirit get the job done regarding the application of the redemption that Christ has earned to the elect? Yes. Always. Remember, we are talking about God here and the accomplishment of his eternal decree. God the Son paid for the sins of all whom the Father gave to him in eternity (see John 17). He finished this work. His work was perfectly effective. And God the Holy Spirit has (and will) apply this redemption to every one of God’s elect at the appointed time. None will be lost (see John 10:25-30)

Question 33: How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

Answer: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ, in our effectual calling.

Question 33 builds upon question 32. It asks, How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? In other words, how does this work? Answer: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ, in our effectual calling.

I have three observations to make about this answer.

One, the Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us. Remember, it is through faith that we are saved. That is what Ephesians 2:8 says. “For by grace you have been saved through faith… (Ephesians 2:8, ESV). Faith in what? Faith in the good news of Jesus Christ. And faith in whom? Faith in God and in the Christ he has provided. But the question we must ask is, where does this faith come from? How could we, who were by nature dead in our trespasses and sins (see Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:13), ever turn from our sins and to Christ to trust in him? Here is the answer. It is the Holy Spirit who works faith in us. Notice how carefully that phrase is worded? Who believes? Who is the one who exercises faith? Does the Holy Spirit believe for us or on our behalf? No. It is we who believe. But it is the Holy Spirit who enables us to do so. And that is why our catechism says, the Holy Spirit works faith in us. This is what Ephesians 2:8 goes on to say. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV). Faith, that is to say, our trusting in Christ as Lord and Savior, is a gift from God. Here our catechism is helping us see that it is a gift the Holy Spirit gives. The Holy Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us.

Two, our catechism teaches that it is by faith that we are united to Christ. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? Answer: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ… This little phrase, and thereby uniting us to Christ, helps us to understand how faith can bring salvation to us. Please hear me, it is not the faith that saves us. No, it is Jesus Christ, his person and work, that saves us. But it is by faith that we come to be united to him.

If you were adrift at sea and a fisherman happened upon you in his boat, drew near to you, threw you a lifeline, pulled you into his boat, and brought you to safety, you would not tell people that it was the lifeline that saved you, would you? No! You would tell them the fisherman saved you, for it was the fisherman who spotted you hopeless and helpless in the water. It was the fisherman who threw the line to you and pulled you to safety. You would give glory to the fisherman, and not the lifeline. The lifeline was merely the means by which you came to be united to the fisherman. And so it is with saving faith. We are saved through, or by the means of, faith. But it is not the faith — that is to say, the act of believing — that saves us. Rather, it is Jesus who saves us. It is through faith that we come to be united to him. And we have just learned that faith itself is a gift from God.

The Scriptures speak often about union with Christ. This concept is often expressed by the phrase “in him” or “in Christ”. Listen to Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…” Galatians 3:26 says, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” Many other Scripture texts could be cited. The point is that we are saved in Christ Jesus through our Spirit-wrought union with him. And how do we come to be united to Christ? It is by faith that we are united to him. Faith is the hand that reaches out to take ahold of Christ and to cling to him unto salvation. And faith is a gift from God.

At this point, I should remind you of the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace. Who is the head or representative of the Covenant of Works? Adam is. It is important to remember that all born into this world through the ordinary process of procreation are born in Adam (Christ is the exception. He was born into this world but not in an ordinary way, and therefore, not in Adam). We are united to Adam as a federal head or representative by birth. We are born, therefore, into the covenant that Adam represents, namely, the broken Covenant of Works. Its promised blessings are gone — only its curses remain. And now I ask you, who is the head or representative of the Covenant of Grace? Jesus Christ is. And how do men and women come to be united to Christ and, therefore, brought into the Covenant of Grace to partake of all of its blessings? It is through faith that we are united to Christ. And we know that faith is a gift from God. In just a moment we will learn that faith is made possible only through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. So, men and women are born in Adam. The elect of God are reborn in Christ being united to him by faith.

Here is an immensely important question: who are you united to? Are you united (covenantally speaking) to Adam or Christ? Again I say, all who are born into this world are born in Adam and into his covenant. Only by faith do we come to be united to Christ to partake of the blessings of the Covenant of Grace he mediates. Listen to 1 Corinthians 15:21-22: “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” As I have said, the question is, who are you in? Is it Adam or Christ? All in Adam die. All in Christ shall be made alive.

How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? Answer: …by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ, in our effectual calling.

The third thing to notice about this answer is that this work of the Holy Spirit is called effectual calling. You should know that Baptist Catechism 34 asks and answers the question, What is effectual calling? We come to this question next Sunday, Lord willing, so we need not define effectual calling here.

Conclusion

I’ll remind you of this by way of conclusion. Our salvation is the work of the Triune God. Who has saved us from our sin and misery? God has. God the Father sent to the Son to accomplish our redemption. It is finished. And the Father and Son sent the Spirit to apply the redemption that Christ has earned to the elect at the appointed time. That work is ongoing. Thanks be to God for the marvelous grace he has shown to us in Christ Jesus. May we be found in him on the last day.

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Aug 24
4

Sermon: Christ Came To Bring Division?, Luke 12:49-53

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 4:2–6

“In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.” (Isaiah 4:2–6, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 12:49-53

“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:49–53, ESV)

*****

Introduction
1. As we consider the teaching that Jesus delivered (primarily to his disciples) as recorded here in Luke 12, it is clear that Jesus was very concerned to prepare his disciples to walk faithfully in this world after his departure. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. There he would be crucified and buried. On the third day, he would rise. Forty days after this, he would ascend to the Father, leaving his followers to serve him on earth as members of the New Covenant and citizens of his inaugurated kingdom. The teachings of Christ that we find here in Luke 12 were meant to prepare his followers to walk faithfully in the world after his exaltation and to avoid all hypocrisy.
2. Dear brothers and sisters, please recognize that these teachings of Christ delivered to the original disciples of Christ are also for us, for we live under the same New Covenant (the Covenant of Grace) and we are citizens of the same kingdom (the inaugurated, eternal kingdom of Christ, the Son of God). We would be wise, therefore, to pay careful attention to what Christ says.
3. As we have been working our way through Luke 12 over the past week, I have regularly drawn your attention to the fact that Christ here addresses the hearts and minds of his disciples. The very first thing that Christ addressed was the sin of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy, friends, is something we must avoid. And to avoid it, we must recognize it as a sin of the heart and mind. To avoid religious hypocrisy, we must be renewed by Christ in the heart and mind. Our belief in Christ must reside in the heart (see Romans 10:9-10). Our love for God and Christ must not be superficial but from the heart. And our obedience to God and Christ must flow from a heart renewed by the grace of God, by his word and Spirit. Superficial religion is bound to produce hypocrisy, and Christ has sternly warned us to avoid the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (see Luke 12:1).
4. And do not forget the many other sins of the heart that Christ has addressed – sins that will inevitably result in an inconsistent, hypocritical walk if they are allowed to remain in us. Christ has warned us about the fear of man, covetousness (which is idolatry), anxiety, distractions, and inattentiveness. Dear brothers and sisters, I pray that you will take these warnings we have received from Christ over the past several weeks to heart. Please reflect on the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Make a diligent search of your hearts for these sins and, by the grace of God and with the help of the Holy Spirit, cast them away in Jesus’ name.
5. Here in the passage that is open before us today, Christ prepares the minds and hearts of his disciples for their future walk in this world by dispelling false expectations concerning life in his inaugurated kingdom.
  1. Expectations are a very powerful thing, aren’t they? Expectations reside in the mind and heart. When our expectations are met, it leads to rejoicing. When expectations are not met, it leads to frustration, discouragement, and even despair. How important it is, therefore, to have expectations that are good and reasonable – expectations rooted in truth.
    1. This is true of all our relationships. Perhaps you have noticed that people will sometimes disappoint us. I see three possible reasons for this.
      1. One, perhaps your expectations of the person were too high. They failed to meet your expectations, but the fault was not theirs – it was yours. You expected too much from the individual, and so it was inevitable that they let would eventually let you down. Sometimes parents will expect too much from their children. Sometimes husbands and wives expect too much from each other. Sometimes church members expect too much from their pastors, and pastors of members. We must beware of this propensity to heap heavy burdens on others, burdens hard to bear.
      2. Two, sometimes disappointment comes because a person fails to meet good and reasonable expectations. The truth is, we are human beings plagued by weaknesses and sin. In situations like this, we must be prepared to show love and grace to those who let us down. Instead of putting a spotlight or magnifying glass on the weakness or sin, we must patiently cover it by showing mercy and grace and grace to others.
      3. Three, many disappointments come as a result of a mixture of the two things mentioned above – unrealistic expectations, and the weakness or sins of others.
    2. I briefly mention the causes of disappointment in our ordinary human relationships only to contrast them with the disappointment that people will sometimes feel toward God and Christ.
      1. Perhaps you have heard someone say something like this: I feel as if God has let me down. If I had the opportunity to counsel a person who felt this way, I would eventually, and with care, want to explore what that person’s expectations of God and Christ were. It probably would not take long to see that the person harbored expectations for God and Christ in their mind and heart that did not square with what God has promised in the Holy Scriptures.
        
        I can imagine someone saying things like this:
        
        I feel as if God has let me down. I trusted him, but I lost my job.
        
        Or, I feel as if God has let me down. I trusted him, but my child got sick.
        
        Or, I feel as if God has let me down. I trusted him, but my loved one died.
        
        Or, I feel as if God has let me down. I trusted him, but my life has gotten harder, not easier, after deciding to follow after Christ.
        
        A Christian thinking this way would need to learn that God has not promised to give us a life free from such trials and tribulations now, but to be with us in the midst of the trials of this life and to work all things for good. The disappointed believer needs to see that Christ did not come to free us from all sickness or physical death now but to give us something far better – life eternal with him in the new heavens and earth. Then and there, “He will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things [will] have passed away” (Revelation 21:4, ESV).
        
        You see, God is perfectly faithful to keep all the promises he has made to us (see 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Timothy 2:13). It is vitally important for us to know what those promises are, and what they are not so that our expectations of him are right and true.
6. The passage that is open before us today is about expectations. You can see it clearly in verse 51. There Christ speaks to his disciples, saying, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12:51, ESV). Here Christ addresses the expectations of his disciples concerning the future and he sets them straight.
  1. This was necessary, for many who followed after Christ at this time still harbored false expectations concerning Christ and his kingdom in their hearts and minds. Many hoped that Christ would overthrow Rome and bring peace to the nation of Israel on earth.
  2. And it is not difficult to see where these false expectations came from. They came from a misinterpretation of Old Testament passages which speak of the Messianic bringing peace to his people on earth.
    1. I think of Psalm 72 which says, “In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!” (Psalm 72:7–8, ESV). This is a Psalm of Solomon. It is a prayer that Solomon prayed for himself and the kings that would descend from him, but it is especially about the everlasting kingdom of the Messiah, David’s true son. This passages teaches that Messiah’s kingdom will stretch from sea to sea, that the righteous will flourish, and that peace will abound.
    2. I think also of Isaiah 2:4. It too is a prophecy about the days of Messiah. It says, “He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4, ESV)
  3. So then, Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah do indeed move us to expect him to bring peace to the earth. It is not difficult to see why many who recognized Jesus as the Messiah, the King of God’s everlasting kingdom, harbored these expectations within their hearts and minds. There is evidence that even the twelve carried these expectations within them. In fact, Luke tells us in his second volume, the Book of Acts, that Peter still harbored these false expectations in his mind and heart after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and before Christ’s ascension. It is in Acts 1:6 that we hear Peter ask Jesus the question, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6, ESV). Peter still didn’t get it. And so Christ said to him, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:7–8, ESV).
  4. When the Holy Spirit fell on Peter and the others on the day of Pentecost, one thing the Holy Spirit did was to help them remember and understand the teaching of Christ that was delivered to them earlier (see John 14:26). It seems that it was not until then that the disciples of Christ fully understood what Christ meant when he said, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12:51, ESV).
  5. The meaning of this saying should be clear to us now. The meaning is this: these Old Testament prophesies which speak of the peace that Messiah will bring to the earth were not entirely fulfilled at his first coming but will be fulfilled at his second coming. Stated differently, while many expected the Messiah to bring a full and immediate fulfillment of prophecies such as Psalm 72 and Isaiah 2, Christ made it clear that these prophecies would be fulfilled progressively in two stages.
    1. Is it true that in the days of Messiah “the righteous [will] flourish, and peace [will] abound, till the moon be no more!” Is it true that Messiah will “have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth”, as Psalm 72:7–8 says? Yes, it is true. But the question is, how will this happen, and when?
      1. Many who lived in Jesus’ day expected this prophecy (and others like it) to be fulfilled by Messiah immediately upon his arrival and all at once. But Christ made it clear that this peace and dominion would come progressively and in two stages.
        
        First, Christ’s everlasting kingdom of peace would be inaugurated. The Spirit of peace would be poured out on all flesh upon Christ’s ascension to the Father’s right hand in heaven. The gospel of peace would be proclaimed to all nations. Christ’s kingdom of peace would progressively spread on earth, therefore. But in these last days – the days between Christ’s first and second comings – the peace will be confined to the church where the everlasting kingdom of Messiah is now manifest. It is in the church that the righteous will flourish. And in these last days – the days between Christ’s first and second comings – the world will remain hostile towards God and the people of God.
        
        Secondly, Christ’s everlasting kingdom of peace will be consummated when he returns. It will be at the return of Christ that peace will fill the earth from sea to sea. It will be at the return of Christ that the righteous will flourish in all the earth.
7. I trust you can see why it was vitally important for the expectations of Jesus’ disciples to be set straight. If they expected that the full glory of the kingdom of Messiah would soon come, immediately and in full, they would be ill-prepared, sorely disappointed, and given to despair when faced with trials and tribulations of various kinds, persecutions, and continued to hear of wars and rumors of wars in the world. These false expectations would need to be corrected in the minds and hearts of Jesus’ disciples if they were to serve him faithfully in the world after his ascension to the Father’s right hand.
“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!”
1. And so Christ said, “I came to cast fire on the earth”, and he expressed his desire that the fire was already kindled.
  1. What is the fire that Christ came to cast on earth?
    1. Fire often symbolizes judgment. Think of the fire that fell from heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah. Think of the way that Peter speaks of the final judgment when he says, “But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly” (2 Peter 3:7, ESV). Think also of the many times fire is used in the Book of Revelation to symbolize God’s judgment – both the partial judgments of God and the full and final judgment.
    2. But fire also symbolizes the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures and the work that the Spirit does both to save and sanctify God’s people. It was in Luke 3:16 that we heard John the Baptist speak of Jesus. “John answered them all, saying, ‘I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” In Acts 2:3 Luke tells us about the fulfillment of these words. It was on the day of Pentecost when the ascended Christ poured his Spirit out on his disciples. They were assembled in one place on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the fiftieth day, or seven sevens, after Christ’s resurrection, that “divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them” (Acts 2:3, ESV).
    3. So, fire symbolizes judgment and fire symbolizes the pouring out of God’s Spirit on God’s people to save and to sanctify. Which of these things did Christ have in mind when he said, “I came to cast fire on the earth”, and expressed his desire that the fire was already kindled? I’m not so sure we need to choose.
      1. Fire, as you know, has both life-giving and destructive capacities depending on the context. Fire can be used to heat, to cook, and to refine. Fire can also hurt, destroy, and consume.
      2. When Christ said, “I came to cast fire on the earth”, I think it is right to understand him to mean that he would send forth his Spirit both to save and sanctify his people and that he would judge the world by his Spirit. The same Spirit who saves God’s elect by warming their hearts to God and Christ as he is offered to them in the gospel and sanctifies God’s people by the refining fire of God’s word also delivers the judgments of God to people and nations who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
      3. So then, Christ announced that he was about to kindle a fire. This fire, as we will soon see, would divide. Some would be warmed, comforted, enlivened, and refined by this fire. Others would be consumed by it.
“I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!”
1. And where would this fire be kindled? Where would it start? From where would it spread? Answer: This fire would be kindled at the cross of Christ.
  1. Christ spoke of his crucifixion when he said, “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:50, ESV)
    1. This baptism of which Christ spoke was no water baptism, but a baptism in the wrath of God poured out, in death, and in the grave. In other words, this baptism was for Christ a baptism of fire.
    2. A great fire was kindled at the cross of Christ.
    3. This fire would soon spread from Jeruslam to Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth. It would spread as Christ’s Spirit-filled disciples took the gospel of peace to all nations. It will continue to spread until Christ returns. And when he returns, he will rescue the godly and pour out the fire of God’s wrath upon the earth and upon all who are not united to him by faith.
    4. How can it be that the fire of God’s wrath which was kindled at the cross has such a differnt effect on people so that it warms and enlivens some and consumes others? The answer is found in Christ and in one’s relation to him. When the wrath of God was poured out on Christ on the cross, he shielded many from it as he died in their place and as their substitute. These are the elect of God who by God’s grace place their faith in Christ in due time, being effectually called by God’s word and Spirit. All who reject Christ and die in their sins have no such cover or shield. The holy and righteous wrath of God will consume these.
“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”
1. And this is why Christ said, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”
  1. These last days – the days between Christ’s first and second comings – the days of the New Covenant and the inaugurated Kingdom of God – will be marked by division and hostility on earth.
  2. And where will the division be found? Christ tells us in verse 52: “For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
    1. It is very important to see that Christ drew the line of division through the family.
    2. This should shock us for it is contrary to the way the world operates.
      1. Where is the greatest unity typically found in the world? Is it not typically found in the family? Perhaps you have heard the expression, blood is thicker than water. The meaning is that blood relations should be the strongest of all. Mothers and fathers are typically devoted to sons and daughters, and sons and daughters to brothers and sisters, etc. And the world will work out from the immediate family to the extended, and from the extended family, to the community, and from the community to the nation. Nationality, race, or ethnicity, has been a source of unity throughout the ages, as I am sure you know. But Christ drew a line of division right through the middle of all that worldly unity. Why? Because the division Christ is here speaking of is the division between those who belong to him and those who do not. The division is between those who are members of the covenant he mediates, and those who do not. The division is between those who are citizens of his kingdom and those who are not. And belonging to Christ as members of the new covenant and citizens of his eternal kingdom has nothing at all to do with blood relations, that is to say, physical birth. What is it that unites us to Christ, his covenant, and his kingdom? It is only faith. And we are enabled to place our faith in Christ only because of the new birth that God gracious gives by his word and Spirit. And it is when we believe that the blood of Christ is applied to us for the forgiveness of sins. So then, the dividing line of Christ’s kingdom does not agree with the dividing lines of the world. The world is divided up according to families, communities, ethnicities, and nations. But God people are distinguished from the world by their union with Spirit-wrought, faith bound, union with Christ. It is not natural birth that matters, but new birth. It is not natural bloodlines that matter, but the atoning blood of Christ applied to the believer by the Spirit of God and received by faith alone.
    3. When Jesus drew the line of division through the family, it shocked the world. And this line of division would have been especially shocking to the original followers of Jesus, who were mainly Jews who were born and raised under the Old Covenant order.
      1. The Old Covenant had its own lines of division to distinguish between those who were in and out, covenantally speaking. What were the lines of the Old Covenant that mattered most? I can think of three:
        
        One, there were the lines drawn on the earth or on a map that demarcated the boundaries of the land of Israel. Israel was the land given to the Old Covenant people of God. Being in or out of the land of Israel mattered greatly under the Old Covenant.
        
        Two, even more important were the lines of genealogy or physical descent. Being a Hebrew, a descendant of Abraham, mattered greatly under the Old Covenant order.
        
        Three, there was the particular line of genealogy or physical descent through which it was promised that the Messiah would one day come into the world. This line was especially important, for it was only through belief in the Messiah who would be born into the world in this line – the line of Abraham, Judah, and David – that those who lived under the Old Covenant order would be saved.
      2. The thing to recognize is that when the Messiah was finally born into the world for us and for our salvation, and once he had completed the work of redemption through his obedient life, death on the cross, and resurrection on the third day, these lines of division melted away. Now, the only dividing line that remains, covenantally speaking, is Christ. Under the New Covenant, where you live does not matter. And neither does it matter whom you were born.
      3. National borders, ethnicity, and genealogy do not function as lines of demarcation under the New Covenant. Faith in Christ is the only thing that distinguishes God’s covenant people from the world in this New Covenant era, and that is why Christ has warned that he came, not to bring peace on earth, but division. And under the New Covenant dispensation, the division will appear even within families, as a husband believes while a wife does not, or children believe, and parents do not.
        
        As an aside, this is why I am a Reformed Baptist and not a Reformed paedo-baptist. I’m afraid that our Reformed paedo-baptist friends have failed to appreciate this great difference between the Old Covenant and the New. Under the Old Covenant, all who were born in the line of Abraham were members of the Old Covenant, and the male children were rightly given the sign of the covenant, namely, circumcision. But under the New Covenant, this genealogical principle has passed away having been fulfilled by Christ. The thing that makes one a member of the New Covenant and a partaker of its blessings is faith in Christ alone. The sign of the New Covenant, which is baptism, is only to be given to those who make a credible profession, therefore, something that our infants and small children cannot do. Though they might trust in Jesus from a young age, we must wait until they can make a credible profession of faith before giving them baptism and the Supper. This is what Christ has ordained, saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV)
2. I’m sure there are some who upon reading these words of Christ, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division”, think to themselves, this doesn’t sound like something Jesus Christ would say.
  1. After all, doesn’t Christ command his people to be peacemakers? Indeed he does! In Matthew 5:9 Christ says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
  2. And what about the commands of the New Testament instructing Christians to pursue peace? Take, for example, Romans 12:18, we Paul says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18, ESV).
  3. And what about the many, many statements in the New Testament wherein peace is pronounced on the people of God? Again and again, Paul says things like this to the church: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:2, ESV).
  4. Friends, there is no contradiction between these verses that I have just read and the words of Christ, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” All of these sayings must be interpreted in context. When all is considered, here is what we must believe.
    1. One, Christ came to bring us peace. He came to bring peace between us and God by removing the guilt and stain of sin. He came to bring peace among men by erasing the old national and ethnic lines of demarcation. This peace that Christ came to give us is experienced now in the church where “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for [we] are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28, ESV)
    2. Two, Christ was a peacemaker, and as disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to be peacemakers. Notice that Christ did not say, I came to be divisive, but rather, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” There is a great difference between bringing or giving division and being divisive. Divisiveness is sinful and must always be avoided. But sometimes division cannot be avoided. In fact, there are times when avoiding division would be sinful, for there are times when avoiding division would require you to compromise on the truth. This agrees with what Paul has said: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18, ESV).
    3. Three, the thing that brings the division that Christ speaks about here in Luke 12 is the gospel itself. The gospel is a gospel of peace! It is the good news that through faith in Christ, peace with God is found. But the gospel is also a dividing line.
      1. When the gospel is preached, men and women are forced to choose a side.
      2. When the gospel is preached, men and women might take offense. After all, the good news of Jesus Christ includes the bad news that all are dead in their sins and guilty before God apart from Christ.
      3. The gospel will bring division between the believer and the non-believer because belief in the gospel will result in a new way of life. The non-believer will think it strange “when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you…” (1 Peter 4:4, ESV)
      4. This division within families that Christ spoke of would be experienced in a pronounced way by the first disciples of Jesus. As has been said, the first disciples of Jesus were mainly Jews. And we know that a great division arose amongst the Jews in the early days of the church over the question of Jesus as the Messiah. Some believed he was the Messiah and confessed him Lord. But many remained in unbelief. Some of the unbelieving Jews persecuted Christ’s followers sharply.
Conclusion
1. So how does this text apply to us today?
  1. One, in general, I do believe this text should move us to ask ourselves the question, are my expectations of God and Christ right, being founded in the truth of God’s Holy Word?
  2. Two, in particular, we should not be surprised to experience division in the world as followers of Jesus Christ.
  3. Three, we must beware of any theological system that draws dividing lines (covenantally speaking) in a place other than what Christ has drawn them.
    1. Reformed paedobaptism
    2. Dispensationalism
    3. Reformed confessionalism
  4. Four, when we inevitably experience division in the world over the cross of Christ and the gospel of Jesus Christ, we must strive to be peacemakers. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18, ESV).

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Luke 12:49-53, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Aug 24
4

Catechetical Sermon: Wherein Consisteth Christ’s Exaltation?, Baptist Catechism 31

Baptist Catechism 31

Q. 31. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?

A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in His rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. (1 Cor. 15:4; Acts 1:11; Mark 16:19; Acts 17:31)

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11, ESV)

*****

“Christ’s exaltation consisteth in His rising again from the dead on the third day…”
1. “He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4, ESV).
“In ascending up into heaven…”
1. “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11, ESV).
“In sitting at the right hand of God the Father…”
1. “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19, ESV).
“And in coming to judge the world at the last day.”
1. “He has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31, ESV).
Application
1. Christ meets all of our needs as he fulfills his offices.
  1. London Baptist Confession 8.10: This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to return to God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need his kingly office to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heavenly kingdom. ( John 1:18; Colossians 1:21; Galatians 5:17; John 16:8; Psalms 110:3; Luke 1:74, 75 )
2. Christ can identify with our weaknesses given his humiliation.
  1. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, ESV).
3. Christ has the power to meet all our needs given his exultation.
  1. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37, ESV).

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Jul 24
28

Sermon: Stay Dressed For Action, Luke 12:35-48

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 12:1–11

“The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, ‘This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover.” (Exodus 12:1–11, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 12:35-48

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’ Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?’ And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.’” (Luke 12:35–48, ESV)

*****

Introduction
1. This section of Luke’s Gospel is very practical. As you will probably remember, here in Luke 12, Christ delivers a series of teachings to his disciples aimed at the mind and heart. Christ has warned us about the heart-sins of hypocrisy, the fear of man, covetousness (which is idolatry), and anxiety concerning the necessities of life. Each of these passages has been delightful to study and to preach. These texts have benefited me greatly and I pray they have encouraged your hearts too.
2. The older I get, the more clearly I can see the great importance of keeping the mind and heart pure before God. If we hope to honor God with our words and deeds, our minds and hearts must be governed by the word of God and filled with the Spirit of God. To strive to honor God in word and deed, but to neglect the mind and heart, will soon result in hypocrisy. It is from the mind and heart that our behavior naturally flows. A corrupt heart will produce corrupt living. A pure heart will produce holy living. Some will attempt to honor God in word and deed by sheer willpower alone. Their success will be merely superficial and short-lived. But Christ transforms the lives of his people by first renewing their minds and purifying their hearts. Stated differently, God enables his people to believe upon Christ and obey him by renewing them to the core of their being, by his word and Spirit. If this is how Christ saves and sanctifies his people, we should not be surprised that Christ focused so much attention on the hearts and minds of his disciples. Christ’s desire is that we would walk faithfully and serve him in the world. And so he addresses our hearts.
3. Here in Luke 12:35-48, Christ warns us about the heart sins of inattentiveness, slothfulness, and distractedness. To be inattentive is to fail to pay attention to something. To be slothful is to be lazy, inactive, or idle. To be distracted is to lack the ability to concentrate on something because the mind is preoccupied with something else. Followers of Jesus Christ must not be inattentive, slothful, or distracted. Instead, Christ commands us to be like servants who are always dressed for action, awake, alert, watchful, and diligent in the performance of our duties.
4. This passage is clearly connected to the previous one. In the previous passage, Christ commanded us not to seek what we are to eat and what we are to drink, nor be worried. “For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them”, Christ said. Instead, we are to seek God’s kingdom – Matthew’s gospel adds, and his righteousness (see Matthew 6:33) – and then Christ promises, and these things – that is to say, the necessities of life – will be added to you (see Luke 12:29–31). The meaning is this: Disciples of Jesus are not to live for the things of this world. We are not to make the attainment of food or drink or any other thing the leading concern or driving force of our lives. Instead, we are to seek first the kingdom of God, trusting that God will provide for all our needs as we do. Here in Luke 12:35-48, Christ commands us to maintain this focus.
5. What is the Christian to be about? What is the leading concern of our lives to be? We are to seek first the kingdom of God. This means we are to live for the glory of God as we enter God’s kingdom through faith in Christ and strive to honor Christ as king in every aspect of our lives. This means that we are to seek the furtherance of God’s kingdom through the proclamation of the gospel. This means that we are to seek the flourishing of God’s kingdom through the building up of Christ’s church. This is to be the leading concern of every disciple of Jesus. We must beware of slothfulness, inattentiveness, and all that would distract us from this calling.
Exposition of Luke 12:35-48
1. Please look with me at Luke 12:35-36. Here, Christ issues a command: “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.”
  1. This is an analogy or metaphor for life in God’s kingdom. In Luke 2:31 Christ commanded his disciples to seek God’s kingdom. Here Christ commands his disciples to stay dressed for action. This means that we are to be ready, alert, and about the work that Christ has called us to do.
  2. The scene that Christ sets is that of a very great household – a large estate, we might say. The master of the house has gone away to a wedding, perhaps his own. And in his house, there are many servants. It is expected that the servants of this great house will not be slothful, distracted, or inattentive, but will remain dressed for action while the master is gone. They will keep their lamps lit so that the house is bright. They will be about the work the master has given them to do so that the house is kept in order. And they will remain faithful in this work until the master returns home, however late it may be.
  3. How terrible it would be for the master to return home late at night (perhaps with his new bride) to a dark and disorderly house filled with sleeping servants. Can you imagine the master standing in the dark at the door to his estate, knocking, but with no replay? And when he finally enters, he finds his servants groggy from sleep, poorly clothed, and the house in disarray. That master would not be pleased with his servants.
  4. Clearly, Christ is the master of the house in this metaphor. Christ is the master of God’s house. He is the King of God’s kingdom. He is the Lord of the church, which is where the eternal kingdom of God is manifest on earth today. The household is the church, therefore, and Christ is the master and Lord of his church.
  5. And clearly, the servants of this great house represent Jesus’ disciples.
    1. To follow Jesus, one must turn from their sins, trust in him, and confess him as Lord (see Romans 10:9).
    2. Those who follow Jesus are to live as servants of God and Christ (see 1 Peter 2:16).
    3. Given this teaching, it is not surprising that the apostles of Christ often referred to themselves as servants of Christ.
      1. “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,” (Titus 1:1, ESV)
      2. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.” (James 1:1, ESV)
      3. “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:” (2 Peter 1:1, ESV)
      4. “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:” (Jude 1, ESV)
      5. “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John…” (Revelation 1:1, ESV)
    4. Following Christ requires one to be a servant in Christ’s house, that is to say, in Christ’s kingdom and church. Here Christ commands his disciples to:
      1. “Stay dressed for action…”
        
        A more literal translation of the Greek would be let your loins be girded. In the days of Christ people wore long flowing robes. When there was physical work to be done, the robes would be tied up to allow the person to move around more freely.
        
        When Christ commands us to stay dressed for action he means that we are to live with our hearts and minds being continuously prepared to do the work that God has called us to do as citizens of his kingdom and servants within his household.
        
        One of the first things we do each morning is get dressed. What you put on will be determined by what you plan to do. If you plan to work in the yard, you will put on a certain kind of clothing. If you plan to go into the office, you will dress more professionally. The point is that we dress ourselves daily, and this always involves being mindful of the work to be done on that day.
        
        Christ is here commanding us to do the same thing spiritually. As his disciples, we are to clothe ourselves mentally, emotionally, and volitionally to be about the work that God has called us to do. We are citizens of his eternal kingdom and servants within his household and we are to stay perpetually dressed for action.
        
        Stated negatively, we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted, slothful, or inattentive.
        
        And oh, how easy it is to be distracted, brothers and sisters. How easy it is for us to be drawn away from our devotion to Christ being tempted by our own desire for ease and pleasure or by some shiny thing in the world. As disciples of Christ, we must stay dressed for action…
        
        Paul the Apostle was concerned for the believers in his day. He write to the Corinthians, saying, “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3, ESV)
        
        And so, in another place, Paul commanded Christians to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:11–13, ESV)
        
        And how is it that we stay dressed for action? It is through prayer. Paul, after listing the piece of the Christian’s armor in Ephesians 6, says, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18, ESV). It is through prayer that we daily put on the spiritual armor that God has provided for us. It is through prayer that we stay dressed for action.
      2. Christ also commands that we keep our lamps burning.
        
        This must symbolize the light of the Word of God and the light of a life lived in obedience to the Word of God.
        
        Christ’s house is to be well-lit. And where does this light come from? God is the source of all light. His word is a light to our feet (see Psalm 119:105). It is by the light of God’s word that Christ’s house, the church, is to be ordered. It is by the light of God’s word that we are to walk personally. And it is the light of God’s word that we are to share with the world.
        
        “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,” Christ commands.
      3. And then he says, “…be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast…”
        
        The word feast is not in the Greek. A more literal translation would be wedding or wedding hall. How are we to live as disciples of Christ? Like men, or women, who are waiting for their master to come home from a wedding.
        
        This must be a reference to the second coming of Christ. These last days, which span from the resurrection of Christ from the dead on to his second coming (see Acts 2:17, 2 Timothy 3:1, Hebrews 1:2, James 3:5, 2 Peter 3:3), may be compared to a wedding, for in these last days Christ, the bridegroom, is calling his elect bride, the church, to himself from every tongue, tribe, and nation. When all of the elect are gathered in, being called to repentance and faith, Christ will return, and then there will be the consummation and the marriage supper of the Lamb (see Revelation 19:6-9). Disciples of Christ must live with a sense of anticipation and readiness as if waiting for Christ’s return.
        
        This could also be interpreted with our own personal deaths in view. It could be that Christ returns while we are alive. We live being ready for his return. It is more likely that Christ will come to us personally to call us home through death. We must be ready for that too.
      4. Whether Christ comes to us in his second coming or to call us home through death, we must be ready so that we, like good and faithful servants in his house, “may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.”
2. “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.” (Luke 12:37, ESV)
  1. To be blessed is to be truly happy in the Lord. Do you wish to be blessed now and for eternity? Then die to yourself and live as Christ’s servant!
  2. What Christ says in the second half of verse 37 is truly shocking. Here it again: Truly, I say to you, he [that is to say, the master] will dress himself for service and have them [that is to say, the servants] recline at table, and he [the master] will come and serve them [the servants].”
    1. Who has ever heard of such a thing? What kind of master is this who, after arriving home late at night, will dress himself with the garb of a servant, command his servants to recline at the table, and insist on serving them? This sort of behavior is unheard of! But this is precisely the kind of master we have. Christ is a King who serves his servants. He humbled himself to lay down his life for us and our salvation. He was raised to glory and ascended to the Father’s right hand where he serves us still and our great prophet, priest, and king, the only mediator between God and man. And when he returns, he will serve us still as he welcomes us into his eternal home and ours, wipes away every tear from our eyes and preserves us in glory forever and ever.
    2. The servant-hearted nature of Christ the King was displayed beautifully when he, on the night he was betrayed, rose from supper as he observed the last Passover with his disciples, “laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (John 13:4–5, ESV). As you probably know, Peter objected. Christ the King spoke to Peter, saying, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (John 13:8, ESV). Paradoxically, Christ the King is also Christ the suffering servant.
  3. In verses 38-39, the metaphor changes. There we read, “If he [that is, the master] comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!”
    1. The meaning here is that the servants must be diligent. The master might delay a long time and come home very late at night. Indeed, for those of us who live 2,000 years after the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, it might seem like the master is delayed and the night is growing old. Nevertheless, we must remain alert and vigilant, knowing that to the Lord a thousand years is as one day and one day is as a thousand years (see 2 Peter 3:8-13).
  4. Christ goes on to say, “But know this, that if the master of the house, had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:39–40, ESV)
    1. The meaning is clear. Instead of allowing the fact that we do not know the hour of Christ’s return to lull us into a sense of sleepy complacency, we must be all the more vigilant. As the Scriptures say elsewhere, Christ will return like a thief in the night. As Paul says, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1–6, ESV)
3. In verse 41, Peter, the leader of the Apostles, asks a good question. “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” (Luke 12:41, ESV)
  1. It must be remembered that there were twelve apostles. Around them were seventy (or seventy-two) others who followed Jesus closely. And around the seventy, there was a very great multitude.
  2. So then, Peter’s question was, is this teaching for us, the twelve apostles, only, or is this for all who follow after you?
  3. Jesus’ answer begins in verse 42: “And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.’” (Luke 12:42–44, ESV)
    1. At first, it might appear that Christ ignored Peter’s question. In fact, he answered Peter’s question carefully and wisely. Instead of taking one of the two options that Peter gave him, saying, it is for you, or, it is for all, Jesus distinguishes between the ordinary servants in the master’s house and the servants who are managers within the master’s house.
    2. So then, Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question was, this teaching is for all my disciples. All my disciples are servants in my house who must remain dressed for action and keep their lamps burning. But in my house, there are also servants whom I have appointed as managers. You, apostles, are the managers. Later, I will appoint elders to oversee, rule, and manage the affairs of my house. While all of my servants are expected to stay dressed for action and keep their lamps burning, a special responsibility falls on my servants whom I appoint as managers.
    3. “Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom his master will set over his household,” Jesus asks. This is a reference to a servant whom Christ appoints to oversee the affairs of his household, that is to say, the church.
    4. And what is the responsibility of the manager? One, the manager is to oversee the house. Two, the manager is to see to it that the other servants are fed and cared for.
    5. As I have said, this is a reference to the apostles, and later, the elders who would be appointed to serve within Christ’s church as managers, stewards, or overseers. In the Greek, the common word for servant is δοῦλος. The Greek word translated as manager is οἰκονόμος.
      1. This is the word that Paul uses to describe himself as an apostle in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, saying, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards [οἰκονόμους] of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards [οἰκονόμοις] that they be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:1–2, ESV)
      2. In Titus 1:7, elders or overseers are also called stewards. “For an overseer, as God’s steward [οἰκονόμον], must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain…” (Titus 1:7, ESV).
    6. The point is that while all of Jesus’ disciples are servants in his house who are called to remain dressed for action, a special obligation and responsibility falls on those servants of Christ who are appointed as managers, stewards, or overseers within Christ’s church – first the apostles, and later, the elders (see Titus 1:5).
  4. Christ says that the managers who are found faithful will be rewarded. But then he issues a warning, saying, “But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.” (Luke 12:45–46, ESV)
    1. Here is a sober warning delivered to those who serve as pastors, elders, or overseers within Christ’s church. Pastors are to servants of Christ who have been appointed by Christ to serve the other servants of Christ. This authority must not be used for selfish gain. This authority must not be abused. Those who abuse the authority given to them by Christ will be judged harshly by Christ when he returns.
      1. This is what James was referring to when he said, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1, ESV)
      2. And this is why Peter wrote to the elders of the churches, saying, “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (1 Peter 5:2–4, ESV)
  5. In verses 47-48, Christ offers a word of clarification. “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” (Luke 12:47–48, ESV)
    1. There is a great difference, dear brothers and sisters, between acting foolishly and sinfully out of ignorance and acting foolishly and sinfully while knowing better.
    2. I have met many Christians (and some pastors) who are not as faithful to the Lord as they should be, but for them, it is a matter of ignorance. God and Christ look at that very differently from a situation in which the person knows better and yet disobeys. So should we.
    3. Everyone to whom much is given, of him much will be required, Christ says. That is a sobering statement. It reminds the parable of talents that Christ told, as recorded in Matthew 25:14ff. The servant who was given five talents (a sum of money) earned five more, and the servant who was given two talents earned two more. When they reported to their master they both received the same reply: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21, ESV). But the servant who was given one talent buried it in the ground. “His master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” (Matthew 25:26–30, ESV).
Conclusion
1. Dear brothers and sisters, how will the master of God’s house find you when he calls you home through death or when he returns on the last day to judge and make all things new? Will he find you awake, dressed for action with your lamps burning, and about the work that he has called you to do? Or will he find you sleepy and slothful, inattentive, and distracted by the cares and concerns of this world?
2. It is very easy to be distracted, friends. If we are not careful, even good things can draw us away from our devotion to Christ and his kingdom. But we must seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, trusting that the good things of this life will be added to us (see Luke 12:31, Matthew 6:33).
3. So, in each arena of our lives, let us “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:11, ESV). Let us “Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” (Psalm 100:2, ESV).
4. Dear friends, it does not matter what your particular calling is. Are you male or female, rich or poor, old or young, married or single? Let us serve the Lord and seek his kingdom first. Are you are member of Christ church or a minister? It does not matter. What matters is that we are found faithful in Christ’s kingdom.
5. Each of us must trust in Christ and honor him as king. We must have him as Lord of our minds and hearts as we seek to obey his commandments in private and in public. As Paul says, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (Romans 12:9–13, ESV)
6. And as it pertains to life in the church, we must seek to build it up according to our gifts and callings. As Paul says, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6–8, ESV).
7. When Christ calls us home through death or when he returns, may he find us dressed for action with our lamps burning. And may we be blessed to hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21, ESV).

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Jul 24
28

Catechetical Sermon: Wherein Did Christ’s Humiliation Consist?, Baptist Catechism 30

Baptist Catechism 30

Q. 30. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?

A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in His being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross, in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time. (Luke 2:7; Gal. 4:4; Is. 53:3; Luke 22:44; Matt. 27:46; Phil. 2:8; Matt. 12:40; Mark 15:45,46)

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:1–8

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:1–8, ESV)

*****

Introduction

Q. 23. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?

A. God having out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation, by a Redeemer. (Eph. 1:3,4; 2 Thess. 2:13; Rom. 5:21; Acts 13:8; Jer. 31:33)

Q. 24. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?

A. The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was and continueth to be God and man, in two distinct natures and one person, forever. (Gal. 3:13;1 Tim. 2:5; John 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Rom. 9:5; Col. 2:9)

Q. 25. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?

A. Christ, the Son of God became man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul; being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary and born of her, yet without sin. (Heb. 2:14; Matt. 26:38; Luke 2:52; John 12:27; Luke 1:31,35; Heb. 4:15; 7:26)

Q. 26. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?

A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in His state of humiliation and exaltation. (Acts 3:22; Heb. 5:6; Ps. 2:6)

*****

Baptist Catechism 30

“Christ’s humiliation consisted in His being born, and that in a low condition…”
1. “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7, ESV).
“Made under the law…”
1. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4, ESV).
“Undergoing the miseries of this life…”
1. “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3, ESV).
2. “And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44, ESV).
“The wrath of God…”
1. “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Matthew 27:46, ESV).
“And the cursed death of the cross…”
1. “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8, ESV).
“In being buried…”
1. “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40, ESV).
2. “And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph” (Mark 15:45, ESV).
“And continuing under the power of death for a time.”
1. “And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb” (Mark 15:46, ESV).

*****

Conclusion

Why did the Son of God humble himself as he did? Consider what the Nicene Creed says about Christ the Son:

We believe… in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

begotten from the Father before all ages,

God from God,

Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made;

of the same essence as the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven;

he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,

and was made human.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered and was buried.

The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.

He ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again with glory

to judge the living and the dead.

His kingdom will never end.

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

Jul 24
21

Sermon: True Remedies For An Anxious Heart, Luke 12:22-34

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 17:5–10

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.’” (Jeremiah 17:5–10, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 12:22-34

“And he said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. ‘Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’” (Luke 12:22–34, ESV)

*****

Introduction
1. We live in a very anxious age. I suppose we could spend all of our time theorizing as to why so many are plagued by anxiety today. Perhaps it has something to do with the pace of our lives. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we are constantly bombarded with troubling news. Truth be told, I think it has a lot to do with the condition of the modern man’s soul. As our society grows more and more secular and less and less godfearing, it is not surprising to see that anxious hearts abound.
2. The world does offer some relief.
  1. If you were to look up remedies for anxiety on the internet I’m sure you would learn that breathing techniques can help calm the anxious mind. Someone recently told me that if you take 12 deep breaths in and out and hold the 13th as long as you can, it will help the brain to shift from the Beta wave frequency into the calmer Alpha wave frequency. That is good to know.
  2. A healthy diet is also important. Exercise is important too. And do not forget about the importance of getting adequate sleep. We must take care of our bodies. And we should not forget that the body and mind are connected.
  3. And of course, the world will also offer medication. You should know that I am not entirely opposed to medication. In some circumstances, it can be helpful. I am concerned that we overmedicate though.
  4. The thing that I want you to see about these remedies offered by the world is that they are useful for managing and masking the symptoms of anxiety. Now, I do not mean to suggest that these remedies are useless. If you are feeling anxious, it might help you to take a series of deep breaths, cut back on the caffeine and sugar intake, and get some exercise. If the anxiety is out of control to the point of being debilitating, perhaps medication should be considered, but I would urge you to proceed with caution. Nevertheless, I do believe my observation is true. While these remedies may help to manage and mask the symptoms of anxiety, they do not get to the heart of the matter.
3. But Christ gets to the heart of the matter in the passage that is open before us today.
  1. My question for you is, will you listen to Christ concerning your anxiety? You’ll listen to your doctor, your psychologist, or your psychiatrist. But will you listen to Christ?
  2. Need I remind you that Christ is your Creator? The person of Christ is the second person of the Triune God, the one through whom all thing were made (see Hebrews 1:2). Christ is the Creator, yes, even of your body and soul.
  3. And need I remind you that Christ is your Redeemer? He is the eternal Son of God incarnate. The Son assumed a true human nature, body and soul, for us and for our salvation. He can sympathize with our weakness, therefore. He was tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin. And he assumed a true human nature, body and soul, to redeem and heal our corrupted natures.
  4. If there is anyone you should listen to regarding your anxiety, it is Christ, your Creator and Redeemer, the great physician of your body and soul.
  5. So, let us listen to Christ as he warns his disciples of the heart-sin of anxiety and presents us with precieous remedies – remidies that do not merly mask or enable us to manage the symptoms of anxiety, but remidies that address the very heart and root of the anxious thoughts and feelings that plague our souls.
Exposition of Luke 12:22-34
1. In Luke 12:22, Christ commands his disciples to be not anxious. The command: “Do not be anxious…”, Christ says. The Greek word is in the imperative mood. It is a command that we are to obey. This indicates that we have responsibility in this matter. This indicates that we have choices to make and the freedom to make those choices. “Do not be anxious…”, Christ says.
  1. What is anxiety?
    1. The first thing to acknowledge is that is an inward thing. Anxiety is a condition of the mind and heart. It effects the body, yes. When we are anxious, our brian fires rapidly, our heart races, and our chest tightens. And anxiety in the mind and heart will certainly impact our actions. But anxiety, properly speaking, is a condition of the soul.
    2. So the theme continues in this section of Luke’s gospel. Christ is here addressing matters of the heart and mind with his disciples. He has warned against hypocrisy, the fear of man, the fear of persecution, and covetousness – all of which are matters of the heart. Here Christ warns against anxiety.
    3. Anxiety is more than a reasonable and responsible concern.
      1. Anxiety is concern accentuated by worry.
      2. Anxiety is concern mingled with fear and apprehension.
      3. Are there things in this life that you should be concerned about? Yes, of course.
        
        A husband and father, for example, should be concerned to provide for his family and to protect them from physical and spiritual harm. This reasonable concern should result in responsible action. But a husband and father must not be anxious, that is to say, plagued by worry.
        
        A pastor should be concerned for the church over which God has made him an overseer. This reasonable concern should result in responsible action. But a pastor must not be anxious, that is to say, plagued by worry.
        
        A mother should be concerned for the physical and spiritual wellbeing of her children. Again I say, this reasonable concern should result in responsible action. But a Christian mother should not be anxious, that is to say, plagued by worry.
      4. While reasonable concern will move us to responsible action, anxiety is a debilitating distraction. Anxiety in the mind and heart will hold a Christian back from living the life that God has caled them to live. It is no wonder that Christ warned his disciples about the heart sin of anxiety. If allowed to remain in the heart, anxiety will distract us from what matters most and consume our lives, rendering us fruitless and ineffective.
  2. What is the thing Christ forbids us from being anxious about?
    1. Two things: our inner spiritual life, and our outer physical life.
    2. In verse 22 Christ speaks to us, saying, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on” (Luke 12:22, ESV).
      1. The Greek word translated as “life” is Ψυχή. It means “soul”.
      2. The Greek word translated as “body is Σῶμα. This is a reference to our physical bodies.
      3. When we think of our life or existence it is right for us to think of these two things: human beings have bodies and souls. When the body dies the soul lives on. On the last day, our bodies will be raised and reunited with our souls to be either judged by Christ or openly acquitted, if we are united to him by faith.
      4. Here Christ teaches that we are not to be anxious about our Ψυχή – our souls – that is to say, our inner life. And he mentions food. Why does Christ mention food as if food is the thing that sustains the soul and not the body? I think the reason is this. Food (and drink) is what we take in for the sustenance of life. Food functions as an apt metaphor, therefore, for that which sustains the inner life of man. So, Christ commands us to not be anxious about our life, what we will eat.
      5. And neither are we to be anxious about our bodies, what we will put on. The soul appears to need food. And what does the body need? Most fundamentally, the body needs to be clothed. And so Christ says, do not be anxious about the life of your body, nor about what is necessary for its sustenance.
      6. And then Christ explains, saying, “For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.” I believe the meaning is this: the sustenance of the life of the soul requires more than food and the sustenance of the life of the body requires more than clothing.
      7. You see, the argument is from the greater to the lesser. John Calvin explains the principle nicely. Commenting on this verse, he says, “[Christ] argues from the greater to the less. He had forbidden [his disciples] to be excessively anxious about the way in which life might be supported; and he now assigns the reason. The Lord, who has given life itself, will not [allow] us to [lack] what is necessary for its support. And certainly we do no small dishonour to God, when we fail to trust that he will give us necessary food or clothing; as if he had thrown us on the earth at random. He who is fully convinced, that the Author of our life has an intimate knowledge of our condition, will entertain no doubt that he will make abundant provision for our wants. Whenever we are seized by any fear or anxiety about food, let us remember, that God will take care of the life which he gave us.” (John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 340.) I think this is good and right.
      8. And it seems to me that Christ is also reminding us here that God has the power to sustain the life of our soul and the life of our body, for all eternity. The life of the soul requires more than food. The life of the body requires more than clothing. God is able to sustain us, body and soul, in this life as he provides us with food to eat and clothes to wear. More than this, God is able to sustain us, body and soul, for all eternity. We are to trust the Lord that he will sustain us in this life (for as long as he has decreed we live here), and we are to trust the Lord that he will sustain us in the life to come.
      9. The argument is from the greater to the lesser. If we are to trust the Lord with our very lives and concerning the most basic necessities of life, then we out to trust him in all things, and not be anxious.
      10. Hear the command of Christ again: “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.” (Luke 12:22, ESV)
2. Not only does Christ command his followers not to be anxious, but he provides us with remedies – true remedies – remedies that get to the very heart of anxiety.
  1. The first remedy is found in the word “therefore” at the beginning of verse 22. “And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.”
    1. The word “therefore” is to remind us of what Christ had just taught as recorded in the previous passage. In the previous passage, Christ warned his disciples about the heart sin of covetousness. “And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life [ζωή] does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15, ESV).
    2. He then told a parable about a foolish rich man who put all his trust in his possessions. The rich man’s fields produced bountifully. He did not think to give thanks to God, nor did he think to relieve the suffering of the poor and needy. Instead, he thought only of himself. He tore down his barns and built larger ones to store (hoard) his possessions. And then in Luke 12:19 he spoke to his own soul (his Ψυχή), saying, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But in verse 20, God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul (Ψυχή) is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” Jesus then concluded his parable with this word of explanation: “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21, ESV).
    3. When Christ began his teaching about anxiety with the word “therefore”, he connected what he had said about covetousness with what he was about to say concerning anxiety. Covetousness and anxiety go together, and it should not be difficult to see why. If you love the things of this world supremely, and if you have placed your hope in the things of this world, as the rich fool did, then you are likely to be anxious concerning the loss of these things. In fact, I think it is right to say that you ought to be anxious. Stated differently, if you are covetous – if you have loved the things of this world (created things) supremely and have made them the source of your hope, your joy, and your peace – then it is perfectly reasonable for you to be anxious, for you have built your life on a very shaky foundation, one that is destined to give way.
      1. Think of the man who loves money supremely and has made his 401K his trust. He spends a lifetime soothing himself with the accumulation of wealth. It brings him a sense of comfort and security. But that man is a fool. He is a fool because he has forgotten about death. He has forgotten that at some point God will say to him, “This night your soul (Ψυχή) is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”
      2. Think of the mother who loves her children supremely. She spends a good portion of her life living for her children and finding her ultimate satisfaction and peace in them. This too is folly. As good as it is for a mother to love her children and to nurture them, she must not make her children the foundation of her life. The children will grow and establish households of their own. They too are moral beings. They cannot bear the weight of our hopes and dreams. They do not have the power to sustain our lives.
      3. Apply this principle to every created thing. Covetousness is idolatry. Idolatry is folly. God alone is to be supremely loved, feared, and trusted, for God alone is able to sustain us. Whenever we transfer the love, fear, and trust that is due to God alone and place it on some created thing, anxiety is bound to follow, or at least it should. Those who trust in created things supremely and do not feel anxious about it are blind fools who have forgotten about death and the final judgment.
      4. It is no wonder that the only remedy the world can offer for anxiety is to manage and mask the symptoms. The truth is, apart from God and Christ, human beings have every reason to be anxious. In fact, I am not surprised that the world is anxious. To be honest, I’m surprised there is not more anxiety in the world. But I know what holds it back. Men are fools. They have found many ways to convince themselves, against all evidence, that God does not exist and to distract themselves from the fact that they will die someday and will be judged by him. More than this, men are idolaters who have found ways to soothe themselves with their little false gods. And when these false gods fail them, which they inevitably will, men have found many ways to numb themselves to the reality of their hopeless condition. Of course, this is no true solution to their anxiety.
      5. The fear of God and faith in Christ is the solution. But to have God and Christ, covetousness must go, for covetousness is idolatry (see Colossians 3:5).
  2. The second true remedy to anxiety that Christ offers to his followers is found in the “consider.” Do you see the word “consider”? It appears twice in our text, once at the beginning of verse 24 and again at the beginning of verse 27.
    1. The word “consider” is also in the imperative mood in the Greek. This means it is a command we are to obey. This indicates that we have responsibility in this matter.
    2. To consider is, “To give very careful consideration to some matter—‘to think about [something] very carefully, to consider [something] closely’” (Louw Nida, 349).
    3. If a follower of Jesus Christ is feeling anxious (which we all do from time to time), one thing we must do is consider. We must slow down and think. We must contemplate.
    4. And what are we to consider? Answer: We are to consider God’s revelation. We are to consider what God has said to us regarding who he is, who we are, and our relationship to him, in Christ Jesus.
      1. In verse 24 Christ says, “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” (Luke 12:24, ESV)
        
        Just a moment ago, Christ spoke to his disciples, saying, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat… (Luke 12:22, ESV). Now Christ reassures his disciples concerning God’s faithful provision of food.
        
        Christ reassures his disciples concerning the faithful provision of food by directing their attention first to natural revelation. “Consider the ravens”, Christ says. Even nature testifies to the fact that God is faithful to provide for his creatures. “Consider the ravens”, they are not like that rich fool who sowed his field with seed, reaped an abundant harvest, and tore down his perfectly good barns to build bigger ones. That rich fool trusted in himself and in his possession. The ravens are wiser than him. They trust God for their daily provisions, and “God feeds them.” God has designed the world in such a way that even nature speaks to his existence and faithfulness. “Consider the ravens”, Christ says.
        
        And then Christ comforts his disciples with a bit of special revelation. “Of how much more value are you than the birds!”
      2. The pattern is repeated in verses 27 and 28. There Christ says, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!”
        
        Just a moment ago Christ commanded his disciples, saying, “do not be anxious… about your body, what you will put on” (Luke 12:22, ESV). Now Christ reassures his disciples concerning God’s faithful provision of clothing.
        
        He reassured them by again directing their attention to natural revelation. “Consider the lilies”, Christ commands. Look at how they grow. You do not see the flowers of the field anxiously straining or struggling. They simply trust in God day by day. And yet they are dressed more beautifully than King Solomon ever was.
        
        And to this observation of the natural world, Christ adds his definitively clear word: “But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!”
    5. So then, Christ speaks to the anxious disciple of his and says, it is time for you to consider some things more carefully than you have before. You must think more deeply about God and his faithfulness to provide for his creatures, in general. And you must think more carefully about the special love that he has set upon you to call you to repentance and faith and to reconcile you to himself through me. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ plagued by anxiety, one thing you must do is consider God’s revelation – his world book and his word book – the book of nature and the book of Scripture – more carefully, and believe what God says. Notice that Christ rebukes his disciples for their lack of faith. It’s as if Christ says, you are plagued by anxiety because you are failing to believe what God has said.
    6. Sandwiched in between Christ’s commands to consider the ravens and to consider the lilies, we find this little comment regarding the futility and folly of anxiety. “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” (Luke 12:25–26, ESV).
      1. This is also an important truth for the anxious disciple of Christ to consider. Not only are we to consider God and his faithfulness to us in the Covenant of Grace, we also must consider what a giant waste of time and energy – what a useless distraction – anxiety over the cares of this world is.
        
        Not only is anxiety dishonoring to God, being rooted in a lack of faith in him, it also accomplishes nothing.
        
        We cannot make our stature increase by 18” by worrying. That is what the Greek literally says. And this is a metaphorical way of saying, by worrying, we do not have the ability to lengthen our lives by a single hour. Why worry, then? Being anxious brings nothing good and beneficial. It only does harm.
        
        Anxiety is a distraction. It will rob us of our vitality and sap our strength. Instead of being anxious about the cares and concerns of this life, we are to trust the Lord and depend on him for daily provision.
  3. So far, two remedies to anxiety have been presented. First, we are to beware of covetousness, which is idolatry. Covetousness and anxiety go together, remember. Secondly, we carefully consider God’s revelation of himself and of his care for us in nature and in Scripture so that we might trust God’s Word. Thirdly, we are to put away every distraction and devote our lives to seeking the kingdom of God.
    1. Look at verses 29-31. There Christ says, “And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Luke 12:29–31, ESV).
      1. There are three commands in verses 29-31. Two are negative, and one is positive.
      2. The two negative commands are these: “Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.
        
        What does Christ mean when he says, “Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink”? Does Christ mean that we are to think nothing at all about procuring food and drink? Does he mean that we are to neglect work and sit idly by as if food and drink will fall down from heaven? Does he mean that we should not shop for groceries or meal prep? No, that would be absurd. And we know this would be an incorrect interpretation because other Scriptures texts command us to be diligent in work so that we might provide for ourselves and those under our care (see 1 Timothy 5:8).
        
        Given the context, Christ must mean that we must not make the attainment of food and drink the aim and driving ambition of our lives. This is how the nations live, Christ says. The non-beliving world lives for the attainment of wealth, food, drink, clothing, and shelter. The disciple of Jesus is not to live for this. We are not to worry about these things, but we are to trust that God will provide for us through means, the most common means being work.
        
        You know, there is a difference between living to eat and eating to live. There is a difference between pouring your life into your home and responsibly maintaining the home that God has provided for you to live in. There is a difference between living to shop for clothing and shopping for clothing so that you might live. Disciples of Christ are not to seek what they are to eat and drink with anxious concern.
      3. Instead, Christ positively commands us to seek the Father’s kingdom, and promises that these things – the food and the drink – will be added to us (Luke 12:31, ESV). In other words, we are to make the attainment and advancement of the kingdom of God our driving concern as we trust in the Lord to meet all our physical and spiritual needs.
        
        What does it mean to seek the Father’s kingdom?
        
        To seek the kingdom of God is to seek to enter it now and for eternity. And how does one enter the kingdom of God except through faith in Christ the King?
        
        To seek the kingdom of God is to seek to be ruled by God and to be more and more obedient to him.
        
        To seek the kingdom of God is to advance his kingdom on earth now to through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
        
        This is what Christians should devote themselves to as they trust in God to meet their basic needs.
3. There are four more imperatives found in verses 32 through 33. “Fear not”, Christ says.
  “Sell” and “give”. And finally, “provide for yourselves”. I take these to be the fruit or result of a life that is free from anxiety and marked by faithful dependence upon the Lord.
  1. In verse 32 Christ speaks to his disciples, saying, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
    1. In Christ, we are to live a life free from anxiety and fear.
    2. We are not to fear because we are Christ’s sheep and Christ is our shepherd.
    3. We are to seek the Father’s kingdom without fear knowing that it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom.
  2. As it pertains to possessions, those who are free from covetousness and anxiety will be free to sell and give. “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy”, Christ says.
    1. It would be foolish to think that Christ is here teaching his disciples to sell all that they have to give to the needy. This is not what the text says. If his disciples were to do that, they would all be needy themselves.
    2. We must remember the context. When it comes to our possessions we are not to hold on to them with a clenched fist like the rich fool did, but with an open hand, being willing to give out of our abundance and according to our ability (see Acts 5:4, Ezra 2:69; 1 Corinthians 16:2).
    3. Those free from covetousness and anxiety will free to live with this kind of boldness, courage, and generosity.
  3. The final command is, “provide”. “Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys” (Luke 12:33, ESV).
    1. Being freed from covetousness and anxiety concerning the things of the earth we free us to store up moneybags and treasures in heaven. All of the treasures of this world will fail us. Moths will eat away at clothing, food will rots, houses and barns will decay, thieves will steal, and death will cause all of the possessions we have accumulated to be distributed to others. But it is possible to store up treasures in heaven. This is done through faith in Christ and through the good deeds we perform by God’s grace.
Conclusion
1. In the introduction to this sermon, I stated that Christ does not merely teach us to mask or manage the symptoms of our anxiety but gets to the heart of the matter. This has been demonstrated already as Christ links anxiety with the covetousness in the heart, commands us to consider his word, and directs us to seek first God’s kingdom and his rightousness (see Matthew 6:33). But all that Christ has commanded is summed and explained with these words, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34, ESV).
2. Anxiety is a matter of the heart. The heart will always be set on its treasure. And the heart will always be anxious to preserve and protect it’s treasure. Where is your treasure? That is the question. Is your treasure here on earth? If it is, your heart has every good reason to be anxious. Or is your treasure with God and Christ in heaven? If your treasure is in heaven with God and Christ, you have every reason to be at peace and free from all fear and anxiety, for that treasure is secure, having been secured by Christ our redeemer.
3. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:3–7, ESV)

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Luke 12:22-34, Posted by Joe. Comments Off

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Baptist Catechism 34

Scripture Reading: Titus 3:1–7

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Conclusion

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 72

New Testament Reading: Luke 12:54–59

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Baptist Catechism 32-33

Scripture Reading: Titus 3:1–11

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Q. 32. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us, by His Holy Spirit. (John 3:5,6; Titus 3:5,6)

Question 33: How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

Answer: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ, in our effectual calling.

Conclusion

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 4:2–6

New Testament Reading: Luke 12:49-53

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Baptist Catechism 31

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

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Old Testament Reading: Exodus 12:1–11

New Testament Reading: Luke 12:35-48

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Baptist Catechism 30

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:1–8

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Introduction

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Baptist Catechism 30

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Conclusion

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 17:5–10

New Testament Reading: Luke 12:22-34

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