What More Are You Doing Than Others?

Mt 5:43-47

What a sobering question.  Jesus asked, "What more are you doing than others" while He was teaching a lesson on the high standard of loving our enemies.  He used the practical workings of the Law of Moses when He said, "eye for an eye..." Mt 5:38 In contrast to that He said, "love your enemies..." Mt 5:44  Wow, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.  That makes the question He asked even more sobering!  Remember, Jesus exemplified this teaching when He was on the cross. Lk 23:34  We must follow Jesus and imitate Him.  What should we do more than others, love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you.  This is essential to show our resemblance of our Father who gives to the righteous and unrighteous. Mt 5:45

Some say and think this is impossible for a human to accomplish.  It may be extremely hard, but not impossible.  Jesus makes it possible.  He does so by not just saying it, but by living it.  Paul says a similar thing when he writes the Romans and is instructing them to behave like Christians. Rom 12:17-21

In verse 46, Jesus said that even tax collectors love the ones who love them.  These tax collectors were commonly known for theft.  If a thief can love those who love them what praise is found in this kind of love?  NONE!  Listen to me now, a Christian should have a love that distinguishes them from sinners! Lk 6:32,33  Jesus asked, "What more are you doing than others?"  The answer He is looking for is,  "Loving others like the example you gave, my Lord."  Instead, we are trying to love others, like sinners.  A Christians love should distinguish them from sinners.   I once read about a father teaching his son about being a gentleman and said, "My son, speak kindly to everyone, even those who do not speak kindly to you.  You must remember to show courtesy to others not because they are gentlemen, but because you are one."   Jesus wants us to love, do good for, and lend to our enemies while expecting nothing in return. Lk 6:35  We must love our enemies not because of who they are, but because of who we are, Christians.

This question Jesus asked teaches that Christianity is of little value if it doesn't make us better than those in the world.  At their baptism, a Christian is raised up to walk in the newness of life (Rom 6:3,4) not the oldness of life.  At their baptism, a Christian has buried their old self and put on a new self. Col 3:7-10  This newness of life and new self is harder than memorizing book, chapter, and verse of God's Word.  It is hard to do!  The Pharisees were Law abiding men.  They tithed down to the mustard seed.  All of this wasn't sufficient.  Jesus said, our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees. Mt 5:20  If we memorize the entire Bible and give all we got at tithe and offering time but fail to love our enemies we are no different than the world.  

Jesus asked, "what more are you doing than others?"  Jesus is our standard not other people or denominations.  It's a shame that Jehovah's Witnesses circulate literature filled with error, we should circulate more to preach the truth.  If a Mormon can give ten percent to support error, we should give more to support the truth.  If a denomination can meet to worship in error for three hours, we should meet to worship for four hours in truth.  I know, now I have gotten personal.  Jesus asked, "What more are you doing than others?"  

Don't be caught up in the trap of being average!  Most people are satisfied when they have accomplished what is considered average.  Jesus didn't call us to be average!  The average was "eye for an eye" but Jesus demands more.  He demands love and not to resist an person who is evil. Mt 5:39  The average was "thou shall not kill"  but Jesus demands more.   He demands us to love our brothers. 1Jn 3:15; 4:20  The average says that "one faith is as good as another" but Jesus says worship can be in vain. Mt 15:9  One more, the average is "drink but don't get drunk" but God's Word says abstain forms of evil. 1Th 5:22  These examples vividly show that Jesus demands that we excel beyond average.  We were not called to be average.  We were called to be Christians!  We are called to follow Jesus' example even in suffering. 1Pe 2:21  Jesus leads us to the Father.  Jesus leads us home. Jn 14:6  

Jesus asked, "What more are you doing than others?"  May we never measure what we are doing to anyone other than Jesus.  Today, are we willing to love and pray for our enemies?  Are we willing to answer the call to go beyond average?  Are we ready to be a Christian?  Are we ready to follow Jesus?

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22   

I'm not a "Water Dog", I'm trying to be an "Obedient Dog."

Many people receive nicknames because of something they often did, or do, and thus earn a nickname.  You may have a nickname that was earned that has stuck with you for a very long time.  My mother was never really known for her birth name.  If I told someone I was Roberta's son they had no clue who I was talking about, but if I said I was Binky's son they knew exactly who I was talking about.  I always wanted the nickname "cutie" but that never stuck, and I think I know why.  However, the nickname "chatterbox" did stick for awhile and again, I think I know why.

I am a member of the Lord's Church.  I was added to the Christ's Church several years ago.  One of the many nicknames I have been called since then is "water dog."  Yet, you never hear anyone mention the obedience involved in that statement.  Consider some of the Old Testament and New Testament examples.

NAAMAN THE LEPER   2Ki 5:1-14

We read that Naaman was "captain of the army, highly respected, and a leper."    A young Israelite girl was taken captive and served Naaman's wife.  I want you to notice even though this young girl was was a prisoner of war in a foreign land she was not bitter towards her captors.  As a matter of fact, she was concerned about their welfare.  What a lesson we can learn from that young girl! Isa 11:6  I do not know her exact age but it is abundantly evident that she was taught about God and His prophet.  She was not afraid to tell strangers about them.  The Jews were diligent to teach their children the Law of God. Dt 6:1-8  Oh 21st century church, when we will we learn this lesson?  When we stop allowing the world to teach our children what defines marriage, murder, and morals?  Things will not change until we change that!  

Don't loose sight of the fact that, as often is the case, a correct report was not made in these verses.  The young Israelite servant told Naaman's wife, she told Naaman, and Naaman told his master that a prophet in Israel could cure Naaman.  The king of Israel received a letter that said, "you may cure him of his leprosy."  This was severely wrong.  We often credit man with the abilities that only God can provide.  Man cannot save you, only God can.  Man will fail you, God will not.  Man will break promises, God will not.  Confusion concerning God and His Word, in this instance, almost started a fight.  It is that very thing, confusion concerning God and His Word, that starts denominationalism today!  

So Elisha sets things straight and requests that Naaman be sent to him so the king of Aram would know that a prophet of God was in Israel.  Naaman was told, by a messenger sent be Elisha, to "go and wash" but this made Naaman furious.  He went away mad, still a leper, because he wasn't being healed the way he wanted.  He wanted the prophet to come to him, wave a magic wand, and say something special. Today we want the preacher to lead us in a special prayer and be saved the way we want.  Naaman said, "Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?"  He wanted "Holy Water" to make him clean.  He wanted to be dabbed instead of immersed.  He wanted it  to be poured over him without entering the water.  He wanted to be healed and saved his own way but it doesn't work that way, my friends!  Listen to me, he was unable to see any connection between the act commanded and the result of obedience to the command that would be attained!  He knew there was no cleansing power in the water of the dirty Jordan river, and he was right!  The power that heals was what was behind the water, and that power is God.  The power of our baptism today is not in the water, but what is behind the water, and that is the likeness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.  How many people have their own idea as to how God should save them today?  Many are willing and waiting to be saved as soon as God adopts their method of saving.  Surely, no one thinks the dirty water of the Jordan healed Naaman.  If so, the Jordan would have people of all kinds of diseases in it 24 hours a day!  No, God healed Naaman, but not until he completely obeyed, regardless if he saw the full purpose of immersion into that water! 

I am not crying, "water salvation" by any means.  I am crying, "obedient salvation."  Jesus commanded baptism.  Mt 28:18-19; Mk 16:16  Like Naaman, you may not be able to see how baptism can have any connection with salvation, but if you truly desire salvation, you will obey Jesus' command, trust in God's promise, and rejoice in being immersed.  Take note that Peter says repentance must precede baptism. Acts 2:37-38  Philip says belief must precede baptism. Acts 8:35-38  Luke writes that faithfulness, even in struggles, must follow baptism. Acts 14:21-22

JESUS AND THE BLIND MAN   John 9

This is a man who was born blind.  Jesus spat on the ground, made clay by combining  the two, and applied it to the blind man's eyes.  He the said, "Go and wash in the pool of Siloam."  There is no doubt that this is an almost unheard of procedure.  I am glad because I don't want you making clay with your spit and smearing it on my face!  As far as I can tell, Jesus didn't indicate what the result would be when the blind man washed the clay off his eyes.   Jesus didn't say if anything would even happen.  He simply gave the commands "go" and "wash."  If Jesus did give him a promise it is unrecorded, but all we know is that the blind man had a spirit of obedience!  The blind man obeyed and came back seeing.  I am not crying "water salvation" or "spit and dirt salvation."  I am crying "obedient salvation."  Notice how the man explained what happened, "He applied clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see."  The Pharisees never for even a second thought the clay or water did the healing. The man who was born blind knew the clay and the water did not do the healing.  The man said, "He opened my eyes."  

Jesus says "...he that believes and is baptized shall be saved..."  Every who knows as much as the Pharisees and the blind man knows that the saving agent is not the water but the power comes from the power and authority behind the one giving the commands "go" and "wash."  

We show our confidence in our doctor be following his directions, even if we don't understand how the treatment will work.  Jesus is our physician. Mt 9:10-12

We show our confidence in Him when we follow His directions to heal us from sin, even if we don't understand how the treatment will work.  When we decide to set aside some of His directions as "unnecessary" and only follow those that we choose we show more confidence in ourselves than is our physician, Jesus the Christ.  We are trying to take our healing in our own hands.  A person shows confidence in his leader by his unquestioning obedience.  God requires whole hearted compliance with His will. Heb 5:8-9   No one questions that Jesus is the author of salvation.  The previous verses show that salvation is offered to those who are obedient.  You may ask, "Who are the obedient?"  Those who do God's will! Mt 7:21; 12:50   

Today, are you ready to be obedient to God's will, even if you do not see the connection of the command to the promise?  Are you ready to obey even if you don't know that a promise is attached to the command?  Are you ready to be an obedient disciple? 

Back To The Basics: Sin

Sometimes it is necessary to revisit basic principles.  We get so involved in being deep thinkers and speakers that we leave out some basic things.  When I coach sports I always hammer basic fundamentals.  Today, we are trying to avoid the basics of sin by changing the name of it.  We avoid calling it sin, so we call it "freedom of choice" or "alternate lifestyle" or "convenience" and in doing that we change the word grace to fit our new look at sin.  We change the word grace to "free pass."  That leaves us with a free pass to a freedom of choice or an alternate lifestyle or to live conveniently.  Today, I want to point out that we can change the names of many terms but we are doing that because we do not understand the basics of sin, like where sin started, what it is, etc..  I read a quote and I thought it was very relevant to this subject and it goes like this, "I covet no phraseology that lends respectability to sin.  The sorest injury we can do a man is to lighten his conception of the enormity of sin."~J.H. Howet  I must add here that we can't sugar coat sin, but we can and should expose it as loving as possible!  Remember, a liar is as evil as a raping murderer in the eyes of God.  You don't have to burn down the place the congregation gathers to be a sinner.

Sin started in the Garden of Eden.  Mankind became a sinner because they heard, believed, and obeyed a lie that was preached to them by Satan through the serpent. Gen 3:1-8  Eve was deceived because the lies that were preached to her was mixed with some truth.  That is happening today as well.  Except Satan is using well dressed, articulate, and intelligent men and women to preach his lies mixed with truth.  Adam and Eve were given a simple and plain command that they chose to disobey.  That disobedience brought sin into the world.  Which brought death, or separation from God, into the world. Gen 2:17   

Let's look at a few words that are translated sin to understand what sin is.  First, sin is lawlessness.  One word translated lawlessness means to break, violate, or reject God's law. Sin is to be in opposition of and disregard God's law. 1Jn 3:4  This is exactly what we see in the actions of Adam and Eve.  Remember there was only one tree forbidden tree in that entire garden.  The command was simple and clear "you shall not eat."  You have to hire someone to help you misunderstand that!  God provided a way for them to be saved forever in the tree of life, but He also allowed Adam and Eve to have the freedom of choice: loyalty or disloyalty, obedience or disobedience, life or death.  He is doing the same today.  He has provided a way for us to be saved forever through Jesus Christ, but He is allowing us to choose from the same choices.  This test of loyalty definitely didn't cause the disloyalty.  This test of obedience didn't cause the disobedience.  The disloyalty and disobedience came from a rebellion of Adam and Eve that started in their hearts!  The eating of that fruit, or disloyalty and disobedience, was just a display  of what is their hearts.  

Second, sin is a transgression of God's law.  This word that is translated transgression means to go over or beyond God's law. It is disregarding the boundaries between right and wrong.  This is the word that the elder brother of the prodigal son uses when he is voicing his complaint to his father. Lk 15:29  This is what we do when we try to change the meaning of the grace.  

Third, sin is missing the mark.  The word translated sin literally means a missing of the mark.  Vine's says this word sin is an inward element producing acts.  That is why I say Adam and Eve's sin started in their hearts.  The mark that is missed is God's mark.  All mankind has missed the mark and fallen short of the glory of God. Rom 3:23  

I read one time, I believe it was Barclay, and he was discussing the difference between sins of commission and sins of omission.  I want you to know that sin is not just avoiding the wrong, but it is also not doing the right!  We can avoid all the bad and never do any good!  That is just as sinful as doing the bad and wrong in God's eyes!  James says as much in Jas 4:17  

Sin is selfish and that is its essential principle.  The chief characteristic of love is giving.  No matter what it cost ourselves.  The chief characteristic of sin is the exact opposite.  It is getting, no matter what it costs others.  Sin is very alluring.  It has an appealing characteristic to it.  It is very charming and fascinating because it is filled with pleasure.  Often times sin can feel great.  That pleasure may be short lived but is still alluring.  It makes me think of a bug zapper.  I can never figure out how so many bugs fly into that light to their death.  That light is so alluring to bugs that just can't resist.  I would look around see all my dead buddies and say, "Forget this.  I'm outta here!"  Really...   I look around and see my buddies now filled with sin and far too often I fail to say, "Forget this.  I'm outta here."  The biggest reason is because sin is also deceitful.  Sin shows off all its pleasure but disguises its pain, shame, and consequences.  That is exactly what Satan did to Eve!  He listed all the advantages but disguised the consequences and pain of sin.  Satan is a barter, who bargains with things he doesn't have!  That is what he tried with Jesus. Mt 4:1-11  Satan wants us to think of sin as something beautiful and pleasureful.  The beer commercials do the same thing today.  Their product will cause you to do dumb and costly things.  It will make you extremely sick.  It will cause to loose memories of what you did.  It could even kill you.  Yet, their commercials never communicate that.  All we see is fun, pleasure, and beautiful people. If we are not careful sin will make us its slave.  Rom 6:16  

Sin separates us from God. Isa 59:2  It brings suffering.  Eve suffered in childbearing, Adam suffered in labor, the earth suffered in what it produced, and Satan suffered with his head being crushed.  Everything and anything suffers when sin enters the picture!  Sin also brings death, both physical and spiritual.  It may have took over 900 years for Adam's resulting death from sin to catch him, but it did.  Cemeteries all over the place are a reminder that sin resulted in a physical death.  Paul reminds us of the spiritual death that sin produces.  2Th 1:7-9  

Thank you Lord for providing a cure from this sin in Jesus Christ! Rom 5:8-12

He died for our sins, by His wounds we are healed, and He destroyed death and brought life! 1Co 15:3; 1Pe 2:24; 2Ti 1:10  Thank you Jesus!  His blood provides our redemption and forgiveness in accordance with God's grace. Eph 1:7

The cure is provided all we must do is partake.  Antibiotics can't help you if you do not take them.  Christ can't help if you do not obey Him.  Obedience to the Gospel is a must.  God did His part and now we must do ours.  Those at Pentecost understood this and asked, "What should we do?"  Saul understood this and said, "What will you have me do?"  Today, are you ready to let go of sin in your life that is separating you from God and ask the same question as Saul and those at Pentecost?  Sin is not an alternate lifestyle or permissible due to convenience.  It is separating you from God and eternity with Him.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22   

Conversion Is More Than A Van

Mt 18:3

I truly believe the word "converted" is disappearing from the 21st century church.    The above verse is not saying we are to be childish but that we are to be childlike in our pursuit of power and dominance.  Children really care less about those things, but those are the things that drive adults!  Remember, Jesus said this right after he was asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  In conversion, the entire person is remade from the inside out, and that is bound to show up in our daily lives.  What do we treasure most in life?  Consider what Jesus said in Mt 12:35   You see, a new life is the product of conversion!  There are steps a person takes as this conversion, or new life, happens.  Consider the following...

Faith leads to a new life.  Christians live for a world that they have not seen.  They lay up treasures in a place they have never been.  They are not overly concerned with the things of this world.  This is all done is faith!   People of the world, however, are very much a part of the world.  These people are not merely in the world, as a Christian is, but they are truly a part of the world.  Jn 17:14-16  I preached a message a month or so ago and I asked the question, "Will someone from your life stand up and witness, that by the way you live, they know you are not a part of this world?"   Can someone do that for you?

Faith is a must.  Faith changes the way we live.  If you faith doesn't change the things you say and do you do not have a saving faith.  Does your daily walk in the world reflect that you are converted by your faith?  Heb 10:38; 2Co 5:7; Gal 2:20.  We must have and live by faith if we plan to please God.  Heb 11:6  Notice that faith is more than believable that He is.  We must also understand that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him!  Too many people think faith is believing that He is, fail to seek him, and are robbed of a reward!!!!

Faith is believing that He is.  Faith is believing that He rewards those who seek Him.  Faith is believing Jesus is God's son. Jn 8:24  We prove this faith is God's son by loving him with our obedience to his commandments.  Jn 14:15  Having a faith that changes our lives, or converts us, is proving we are "saved by grace through faith." not earning grace!  Eph 2:8   A person cannot live a Christian life without being converted by faith.  The Christian life is a life of faith.  

Peter failed to walk on water when his faith failed.  The disciples failed to cast out demons when their faith failed.  The same thing happens to us when our faith fails.  We sink and fail to imitate Christ!  A living, active, and saving faith is found in the obedience and practice of God's Word (Jn 17:17) and that is how faith leads to a new life.

Repentance leads to a new life.  Our actions prior to being converted nay not have appeared foolish (Titus 3:3) while in the world because we were seeking fleshy things. Rom 8:5.  Repentance of something is to quit doing it!  We must quit seeking fleshy things if we are to be converted.  When we repent of a life of sin we must change that life we lived.  We must change all of our behavior.  1Pe 1:14-16. When someone repents due to a strong faith in God's son they are thrusted into a new life.  That is how repentance leads to a new life.

Confession leads to a new life.  I do not want to spend to much time on this as I have posted on this in the past called, "I confess... I confess..."   God has a claim on every life on this planet.  Many do not recognize that claim and confession is a way of saying we recognize God's claim on our life.  We confess that our creator surely knows more about us than we do, I mean He is our creator!!   The confession is a solemn committal to the will of Christ before others!  That is how confession leads to a new life. 

Baptism leads to a new life.  Many people try to elevate baptism and others try to bury it.  The Bible has a lot to say about baptism and that is a fact.  Here are some more facts, until this point we still have the old self with us and the old sins on us!  We have a dirty conscience about our past life.  How is that going to change?  BAPTISM!  In baptism, we have a clear conscience toward God concerning our past life.  1Pe 3:21  In baptism, we have our old sins washed away.  Acts 22:16  In baptism, we lay the old self to rest and rise to a newness of life. Rom 6:1-4  In baptism, we have the blood of Christ applied to us and that sets us a part for the service of the living God.  Heb 9:14   In baptism, we are clothed with Christ.  Gal 3:27  nd not of it!  That is how baptism leads to a new life.  

Today, do you live a life that says you are converted from the old fleshy lusting person you used to be?  Do you walk in the newness of life?  Do those of the world around you know there is something different about you or do you look too much like the world for them to tell?  I always say if the people around you do not know you are a Christian, God probably don't either.  Potiphar knew God was with Joseph because of his demeanor, do others know God is with you because of yours?  Have you been converted to Christianity or are you just claiming Christianity?

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22