THE INDISPENSABLE LAW OF ETERNAL LIFE

Luke 10:25-37; 18:18-30 (Mat.19:16-30); John 17:1-3

The Torah had little or no teaching about afterlife or eternal life and Jewish rabbis did not teach much about the subject either. People’s understanding of it was vague. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection and eternal life in heaven. But the Sadducees did not because they didn’t see it explicitly taught in the Torah. All this division and vagueness continued until Jesus came.

The clearest teaching about eternal life was brought to the surface by Jesus Christ. No wonder there were many questions to Him about what the afterlife would be like after the resurrection (Mat. 22:23-32). The Sadducees here referred to the Jewish law of levirate marriage. They tried to use it to prove the teaching of Christ to be false. But Christ the Author of eternal life shed light on the truth, and accused them of neither knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. Why do people doubt miracles? Because they know not the scriptures nor the power of God. Why do people doubt heaven and hell? Because they know not the scriptures nor the power of God. 

But the teaching we are going to concentrate on is found in the famous story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).

(1)   The Investigation  Of The Learned

A. Searching Questions

1.What shall I do to Inherit eternal Life (Luke 10:25)?

2.What is the Greatest Commandment in the Law (Mat.22:36)?

3.What must I do to be saved (Acts 16:30)?

B. Succinct Answers

1.Do this and thou shalt live (Luke 10:28)

2.Sell what you have and give to the poor (Mat.19:21; Luke 18:22)

3.Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31)

These are great questions in the bible demanding clear answers. After His baptism two disciples of John the Baptist followed Him on the way and He asked them a very important question, “What seek ye”? What do you want with Jesus? For some all they want from Jesus is to solve their problems – family, job, finances and health. Once they get these done, they would say bye to Jesus. What do you want from Jesus? If all you want from him are job, family, etc., you will not be able to follow Him. You cannot endure the demands of discipleship (Luke 9:58)? You need to give a clear answer to this question.

The next question is of great importance. What shall I do to inherit eternal life? It is related to, “what must I do to be saved?” it a great question, possible the most important question anyone would ever ask.

It is a shame that this question was asked not because the lawyer is seeking eternal life. He asked it to tempt (test) Jesus! Have you asked that question? Have you got the answer? Have you acted on the answer?

(2)   The Illumination From The Lord

Luke 10:27; Deut. 6:5; Lev.29:18.

If you are seeking for eternal life, the Law of the Lord supplies the answer. The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul (Psalm 19:7). It is necessary to our eternal happiness. Heaven is an eternal state and Law of the Lord tells us how to get there. The Scribe quoted the Law correctly (Luke 10:27; Deut. 6:5; Lev.29:18). His question was answered but did he really want the answer? No! He simply wanted to test Christ’s teaching. Some people come to Church just to test what the minister is preaching, or to find out and criticise what the church teaches. They are never really interested in eternal life.

(i)                 The Insight Of The Law. But how does the Law of the Lord convert the soul (Psalm 19:7; Rom.10:8-17; 1Cor.15:1-3)? (i) It is by the word of God that men are made to see that they are in error (Rom.3:23; 6:23); (ii) then the word of God would lead the man away from all attempt to get by the wrong way; (iii) then it will show man how he might get right (Isa.30:21-22); (iv) After this the Holy Spirit then helps the man to believe – believe in Jesus; believe that He died to save him. Then the man is saved. (adapted from C H Spurgeon).

(ii)               The Insincerity of The Lawyer. With all his learning, he still did not come to understanding the definition of who is a neighbour. The Lord knew their hearts (Luke 18:9). “And who is my neighbour?” the lawyer asked. Religious bigotry leads to spiritual blindness and ignorance. “Who is my neighbour?” To the Jew, a neighbour was a fellow Jew. A Samaritan was never a neighbour. Jesus was about to shock this learned man!

(3)   The Illustrations Of The Law                                                                             (Deut.6:5; Lev.29:18; Luke 10:30-35; Mat.19:16-31 )

(i)                 Go To The Samaritan And Do Likewise: Our Lord Jesus knew how the turn the theology of His opponents upside down, for their own good that is. Think of the proud Pharisee, think of the pompous Scribe. This illustration would not go down well with them. A man was attacked by robbers and left half-dead on the way from Jerusalem to Jericho. A priest, supposedly holy to the Lord passing by saw him and went his way on the other side. A Levite, serving in the Lord’s Temple, looked him over, and also passed on the other side. But a travelling Samaritan saw him and sensed the urgent need and immediately swung into action (Luke 10:30-35).
           The Lord instructs this lawyer forcing him to say with his own mouth, that the Samaritan, a man from a hated race, acted as the true neighbour of this man. To drive the point home. Literally, he told this proud lawyer to go do like the Samaritan! Go show love like the Samaritan. Go and help the needy like the Samaritan. Go support the weak and helpless like the Samaritan. Go and do likewise. We have to notice that Jesus did not attempt in the object lesson to show how to love God. We can only assume that the lawyer knew how to love God. He was instead truly shown who a neighbour was; that understanding and loving your neighbour, whoever they may be, is a necessary requirement to enter eternal life (Mat.25:31-46).  Even a person that as a Jew he passionately hated was given as an example of a true neighbour.

So who is your neighbour? (i) Those members or visitors of this Church who you have not been in the Church for some time, have you been a neighbour to them? Have you gone out of your way to visit them? Have you phoned them? Encourage them in the faith? (ii) Those who are not in the same fortunate situation as you, have you gone out of your way to succour them, support them, to share with them your provision of blessings? Even if you do not have goods to share what about sharing your faith? Sharing your love? Giving a helping hand? I thank God for one of us who has seen the need to lend a helping hand to my wife to clean up the house. did you ever think that such service was rewardable by God?

(ii)               Go Sell What You Have And Give To The Poor: This question of eternal life was asked in a different setting in (Mat.19:16-21) compare (Luke 10:27)). Here is the indispensable Ten Commandments in a nutshell.  The requirement for eternal life is the same – keep the Royal Law. The person in this story in (Mat.19:16-21) again sought to justify himself. He wanted to be commended by the Lord for keeping the commandments. But the Lord went straight to the point underneath the fine façade, into the depths of the man’s heart. There we discover that he was man ruled by his wealth. He would not part with his wealth, even if parting with it would lead him to eternal life!  Are there people in this Church like that (Luke 12:15). Some so called Christians even go as far as withholding their tithes and offerings from the Lord. If you are looking for excuse not to do the will of God, Satan is there to help you to do it.

Have you got eternal life? Are you saved? Are you heading for heaven or for hell? Are you using all that God has given you in service to the and to those who are in need? If you have not, repent today and be saved. Then begin to do those good works which God has fore ordained for us!

CHRIST’S DEMAND FOR TRUE DISCIPLESHIP

Matthew 16:24; Luke 14:26-28, 33; 16:1-13

 

Discipleship is the state of following Jesus Christ, serving and obeying Him. As soon as our Lord Jesus started His earthly ministry, He began to make many disciples, notable among whom were His twelve apostles. These first line disciples obeyed Christ’s command (Mat.28:2-28) and made other disciples. And so through the centuries of Christian ministry, the Church has made more and more disciples. These disciples have followed in the footsteps of Christ their Master. They suffered persecution in the name of Christ. But as we have learned, persecution will prepare us, purge us, purify us, make us patient, leads us to perseverance, increase our power, send us on our knees to prayer, and makes us prepared for the coming of Christ. True disciples of Jesus Christ are overcomers whose names are written in the book of life, whose mansions are being prepared by Jesus Christ, whose home will be the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.

We are going to look at the command, the conditions, the cost, the consequences and the compensation of true disciple.

1.     The Call To True Discipleship 

The call to true discipleship is a call to every true believer. It is not a call meant only for apostles, evangelists or pastors or workers only. To be an apostle you must first be a true born again believer, a true disciple. To be an evangelist you must first be a true disciple.  To be a pastor, you must first be a true disciple. To be a leader of any sort in the church you must first be a true disciple. Discipleship involves following. The Pharisees claimed to be the disciple of Moses (John 9:28). They made a show of upholding the Law. Our Lord Jesus Christ called people to follow Him (Mat.4:18-20; 9:9). A disciple of Jesus Christ must follow Him; He must follow His teaching (John 8:30-31; 15:4-7); He must follow His example of service to others (John 13:13-17); His example of love (John 13:34; 15:9, 12; 16:27); His example of suffering (John 15:18-20; 2Tim.3:12; 1Peter 2:21). True Christian disciples are still following in this footsteps of Christ. True disciples follow promptly (Mat.4:19-22; 9:9). Therefore in following Jesus Christ, the disciple must:

(i)                  Learn from God (John 6:45; Eph.5:1-2)

(ii)                Learn from Christ (Mat.11:28-30; John 8:30-31; 13:15; 1Pet.2:21; 1John 2:6)

(iii)               Learn from The Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13; 1Cor.2:13)

(iv)              Learn from Other People (Deut.31:12; 1Cor.4:16; 11:1)

Learning is what characterises disciples. In most known religions of the world, disciples are devoted to learning the teaching of their masters and following in their footsteps. Even though these teachings and examples are not going to earn them any eternal reward, they hold them tenaciously and assiduously.  If these people are so passionate in holding unto unfruitful tenets, and doctrines and teachings that at best lead to death, how much more should we hold unto the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Good Shepherd, the saviour of the world?

So to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, you must follow Him (Mat.4:18-20), and you must learn from Him (Mat.11:28-29).

2.     The Conditions Of True Discipleship

Let us begin with a quotation from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ." In contrast to this is costly grace, Bonhoeffer continues,

"Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light. The term “costly grace” should not be taken to mean a works-based salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith. J.I. Packer said that “…free grace in one sense, will cost you everything”.

What then are the conditions of true discipleship?

(i)                  Unquestionable, undisputable LOVE for CHRIST (Luke.14:26)

(ii)                Uncompromising DENIAL of SELF (Mat.16:24)

(iii)               Unflinching CHOOSING of the CROSS (Mat.16:24)

(iv)              Unswerving FOLLOWING of Christ (Mat.16:24)

(v)                Unfeigned LOVE for all who belong to Christ (John 13:35; 1Cor.13:4-7)

(vi)              Unrelenting CONTINUANCE in His Word (Luke 9:26; John 8:31)

(vii)             Unregrettable FORSAKING of all to follow Christ (Luke 14:33)

 

3.     The Cost Of True Discipleship

What will it cost you to be a true disciple? Everything! It will cost you your life. It will cost you your family. It will cost you your friends. It will cost you your wealth. It will cost you your reputation. It could even cost you your job. If your spirit man is still raw, you will struggle with true discipleship. True discipleship demands

(i)                 Death (Mat.16:25; John 12:24; 1Cor.15:31; Gal.2:20). Speaking about Himself Jesus said a corn of wheat must fall down and die in order to produce more corn, else it abides alone, fruitless. Discipleship is about losing your life. It is about dying with Christ and for Christ. Have you been crucified with Christ? Or are you still raw?

(ii)               Denial (Mat.16:24)

(iii)             Discipline ( Prov.25:28; 1Cor.9:24-27; 2Tim.2:3-5; Heb.12:1-4)

(iv)              Devotion (Luke 14:26-27, 33). Did you notice the tone of finality in the words of Jesus? If you cannot and do not forsake all you have and follow him, you CANNOT be His disciple. If you claim to be one, he will come back and say, I don’t know you!

True discipleship is costly. Stephen was the first martyr of the Church; James the brother of John died next for his faith. Church history tells us that only John among all the apostle of Jesus died naturally. For the rest, some were hauled to lions in the arena to entertain Caesar and his senators. Others were tortured, or crucified – Peter was crufied upside down. Jim Eliot was an American missionary to the Auca Indians of Ecuador. He and four other missionaries went to reach the violently dangerous tribe. Before they could speak any word of the Gospel to them, they were ambushed and all four of them were murdered by the Auca Indians. Elliot wrote in his diary, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. After their death, his widow and others went back to the Auca Indian and preached Christ to them. We are told that an entire village confessed Christ as saviour including the man who confessed to killing Elliot. Missionaries are regularly sealing their testimony with their lives.

The Lord demands for true discipleship with readiness to follow and serve Jesus.

4.     The Consequences Of True Discipleship

Many souls are brought into the Kingdom. The Church is expanded and multiplied (Acts 8:4-8)

5.     The Compensation Of True Disciples

True disciple have a lot of divine promises awaiting them (Mark 10:28-30)

6.     Cumbrances To True Discipleship (Luke 9:57-62)

"Lord, ...me first"!!!!

(i) Love for earthly Comforts

(ii) Precedence of a Job or Occupation

(iii) Priority of Family ties

 

As someone had said, "when we think of forsaking all, we think we would starve" this is a fallacy. "If Christians forsook all, who will fund Christian work?" This is another fallacy that assumes that we must create wealth in other for Christian work to progress. The Lord will always use His disciple and others to fund His work. James Hudson Taylor, said, "God's work done in God's way will not lack God's supply"

 

If we believe that Christ is coming again will we not put our money and resources in use for Christ and the Gospel rather than reserve them for use by the anti-Christ and his disciples on earth?

Do you know what it means to sell what you have? (Luke 18:22-25).

In the parable of the unjust steward, Jesus pointed out to us how wise the children of this world can be for their effort to provide for their future, even using unjust means to achieve their aim. If they can do it for something that does not pay, how much more should we use all in our means for the full propagation of the gospel. This is what Jesus meant by making friends with the mammon of unrighteousness, and laying our treasures in heaven.

THE GLORIOUS FUTURE OF THE FAITHFUL

Revelation 21:1-27; 2:7; 3:12, 21;

The final state of the faithful in Christ is coming and it is going to be glorious. We have no continuing place in this world (Heb.13:12-14), no lasting resting place. But our Lord promised that He is preparing a place for us and will come and take us to himself so that where He is there we shall be also (John 14:1-3).

God is going to make all things new. I wonder if any of you has watched ABC’s Extreme Makeover. A bunch of men will take a poor, rundown house, send the owners on a week’s vacation, and within the space of 10 days transform it into a delightful and luxurious home. They would then bring the owners back who are blown away by the extreme transformation that has taken place.  This old earth and old heaven will pass away with all that are in them. God is going to do extreme makeover of all creation. That is no joke (Isaiah 34:4; 2Peter 3:10-12; Rev.6:12-14). Prophets and apostles describe this event as the heavens being on fire, will vanish with a noise; the earth will be burnt up; the heavens will be rolled up as a scroll. When this has happened, a new heaven and a new earth will be created and a new city, the heavenly New Jerusalem will be made and brought down from heaven. It will be unparalleled in beauty and size. The Throne of God will be in it and God will dwell among His people.

In a world that is fractured and full of misery; a world full of crime and wickedness; a world full of hatred and disappointment, this is great news for all who would believe in Christ as saviour. Their future is glorious. We can look beyond the present trial and temptation; distress and anguish, and look forward to the coming resurrection and the New Jerusalem coming out of heaven, our place of final abode. We will be talking about 1. The Place, 2. The People, 3. The Preparation, 4. The Privileges

The Place Called New Jerusalem (Rev.21:9-21)

(i) The Resplendent City – The city is called by many names – The Holy City (Rev.21:2; 22:19); New Jerusalem (Rev.3:12; 21:2); The Tabernacle of God (Rev.13:6; 15:5; 21:3); The Bride, the Lamb’s, the Lamb’s Wife (Rev.21:2, 9); Holy Jerusalem (Rev.21:10); Heavenly Jerusalem (Heb.12:22); The Father’s House (John 14:2). This City will be the centre of the Universe. God will live there with restored creation. New Jerusalem is unsurpassed in beauty. From the description it will be a translucent, gleaming city. Think of gleaming jasper walls. It gleams with the glory of God, resplendent with vibrant colours. The street of New Jerusalem will be of pure gold, not one whose purity is measured in carats. It will be so pure it look like a sea of glass! For inhabitants of that city, a list of things will be totally absent:

(a)  No more Death (Rev.21:4) – death the invincible arch enemy of mankind has been judged and consigned to the lake of fire;  (b) No more Sorrow, (c) No more Crying – where there is no sin, there will be no sorrow nor crying, for sorrow is a product of sin. Jesus took our sins away and there will be no repeat in the New Jerusalem; (d) No more Pain – (Isa.11:6-9) – all the things that cause pain are destroyed: the venom of the serpent, the blood thirst of the lion are gone. (e) No more Temple. There will be no need for one. The Almighty God and the Lamb will be the temple there. (Rev.21:22); (f) No more Sun and Moon. Those are artificial, created lights. The glory of the Lord will light up the city with eternal light throughout eternity (Rev.21:23); (g) No more Night ((Rev.21:25); (h) No Defilement (Rev.11:27). The new earth will have no more sea. The sea is part of the old things that must pass away. The sea has been serving as grave for thousands of people. We also note that the wrath of God was poured out to the seas and the rivers of the world in judgement (rev.16:3-4). But the New Jerusalem will have a river – the River of life whose source is the very throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev.22:1). There will also be the Tree of Life on either side of the River of Life.

(ii) The Rock-solid Foundation Of New Jerusalem

God used Israel to lay the foundation for the salvation of mankind. All those saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ are described as the bride of the Lamb, precious stones. They will be the occupants of this glorious city. This that city with foundations sought for by the patriarch Abraham (Heb.11:10).

1.      Jasper – representing the tribe of Gad; 2. Sapphire – Representing the tribe of Simeon; 3. Chalcedony – representing the tribe of Reuben; 4. Emerald – representing the tribe of Zebulun 5. Sardonyx – representing the tribe of Issachar; 6. Sardius – representing the tribe of Judah; 7. Chrysolite – representing the tribe of Dan; 8. Beryl – representing the tribe of Asher; 9. Topaz – representing the Tribe of Naphtali; 10. Chrysoprasus – representing the tribe of Ephraim; 11. Jacinth – Representing the tribe of Manasseh; 12. Amethyst – representing the tribe of Benjamin

These are all precious, translucent stones. The city from foundation to the walls are unparalleled in beauty. The street is made of pure gold clear as glass. The twelve precious foundation stones are related to the twelve precious stones that studded the breastplate of the high priest. Each foundation stone represented one tribe of Israel. The beauty of the foundation, the walls and the street of the city are in comparable.

(iii) The Residence Of God With Men (Rev.21:2-7; Exo.25:8; 1Cor.3:16; 1Pet.2:5)

The New Jerusalem is God’s residence among men after the restitution of all things, when He has made all things new. God has always planned to stay with His people, to be their God (Exo.25:8; Lev.26:11-12). God’s presence was represented by the Pillar of Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire by night.  Believers are described as precious stones that make up the temple of God. In the New Jerusalem, there will be no physical temple. The Almighty God and the Lamb will be the Temple in it (rev.21:22).

The Resting Place Of the Faithful (Rev.21:24) – those saved by grace through faith in Christ will live therein. The best part of it is that this belongs to you and me! No wonder it is written, “Let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich”. If you have not seen wealth in this world, if you have not experienced beauty in this world, you will see and experience it in the New Jerusalem. Though people who have wealth in this world will share it with you, in the New Jerusalem it will all belong to you!

The People Of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2-3, 9-11; Heb.11:9, 13-14; 12:22-24; John 14:1-3)

Who will populate the New Jerusalem? It is described as a City wherein dwelleth righteousness. There will be no wicked. The air is cleared of evil spirits. The new earth is cleared of wicked men.

All the saints of God whose souls are in heaven – the patriarchs, Abraham, Moses, Elijah and all the prophets, the apostles, (ii) all saints who will meet the Lord in the air at the rapture (John 14:1-3; 1Thes.4:13-18) will come down with Jesus, the millions and millions of the Church of God (Rev.7:9-17) will come with Jesus into the New Jerusalem. All those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will be the inhabitants. They will be as kings and priests to the Lord and shall reign with Christ.

The Preparation For New Jerusalem

Since the New Jerusalem is the dwelling of Righteousness, the seat of the Holy Throne of Almighty God, a holy city, an eternal city, astonishingly beautiful, the dwelling place of God and of the Lamb, of the apostles and prophets, of all the saints who have served God since creation, to enter there would require thorough preparation.

1. Heaven is a holy place, Filled with glory and with grace, Sin can never enter there;
   All within its gates are pure, From defilement kept secure— Sin can never enter there.
• Refrain: Sin can never enter there, Sin can never enter there; So if at the judgment bar, Sinful spots your soul shall mar, You can never enter there.
2. If you hope to dwell at last, When your life on earth is past, In that home so bright and fair, You must here be cleansed from sin, Have the life of Christ within— Sin can never enter there.
3. You may live in sin below, Heaven’s grace refuse to know, But you cannot enter there; It will stop you at the door, Bar you out forevermore—Sin can never enter there.
4. If you cling to sin till death, When you draw your latest breath, You will sink in dark despair
   To the regions of the lost, Thus to prove at awful cost, Sin can never enter there.

If you want to be in the mansions which Jesus has gone to prepare, if you want to walk the street of gold, if you want to eat of the tree of life and drink from the river of life; if you want to enter the New Jerusalem, you must get rid of sin! But sin is so stubborn. It is a spiritual law and you have no power to get rid of it in your life. You need help. Only Jesus has the power help you get rid of sin.

(i)           You need to be saved (John 3:16; Rom.3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10). When a young ruler asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus said to him, “Keep the commandments” (Mat.19:16-19)

(ii)         You need to be holy (Heb.12:14; Mat.5:8) – New Jerusalem is holy, the Temple of God and the Lamb there is Holy, all sin and wickedness and filthiness have been eliminated, you cannot enter there with sin and stain in your life.

(iii)       While still here on earth submit yourself to God and resist the devil.

(iv)        Reject sin and sinful behaviour

(v)          Keep the faith in spite of trials and temptations.

(vi)        Put Christ first in your everyday life.

(vii)      Pray, read the Bible, apply the truths to your life.

Only overcomers, or victorious Christians can enter there. Prepare yourself here, now. Jesus will help you, just come to Him today.

THE PRIVILEGES IN THE NEW JERUSALEM

(i.)               A place of perfect fellowship

(ii.)             A place of perfect rest

(iii.)           A place of perfect joy

(iv.)            A place of perfect love

(v.)              A place of perfect harmony

(vi.)            A place of eternal rewards

In (Mat.13:1-9) Jesus spoke about fruit bearing proportions – 100/60/30 fold. Christians will receive reward according to the fruit we bear on earth. (In Mat. 16:27) Jesus said Christians will be rewarded according to their deeds. Some careless Christians may yet scrape it to heaven but their works will be burnt by fire (1Cor.3:9-15). Jesus commands us to lay up our treasures in heaven (Mat.6:20). How do we do this? He tells us in (Luke 16:9-13). So first and foremost, book your place in New Jerusalem - believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved. Then boost your place in New Jerusalem - live for Christ and work so that your work may be rewarded.