Things We Can’t Do Without
22nd February 2009 pm
I. Blood – Hebrews 9:22
John Philips - “Today many look with revulsion on the shedding of blood that formed such an essential feature of the Old Testament religion. They consider with equal horror the New Testament’s teaching concerning Christ’s blood. They shudder with abhorrence at many of the gospel hymns that emphasize the efficacy of the blood of Christ. Those who thus scorn the shed blood have their eyes blinded both to God’s blazing holiness and to the dreadful nature of sin. Sin is a radical and terrible reality that calls for a radical and terrible cure.”
The world may not like to think or hear about blood, but the Scripture tells us that it is only the blood of Christ that can cleanse us from our sins. The sacrifices of the Old Testament could temporarily cover sins but they looked forward to a future fulfilment. For the sins to be forgiven there needed to be a new covenant relationship that fulfilled what was foreshadowed and promised by the Old Covenant.
The Bible takes sin very seriously, more so than perhaps any other religion. Sin alienates us from the presence of God. Sin is rooted in the heart of man. Sin cannot be removed by any self-help program. No other religion in the world has any help to offer for the removal of sin.
At a great parliament of religions, held in Chicago many years ago, practically every known religion was represented. During one session, Dr. Joseph Cook, of Boston, suddenly rose and said: ‘Gentlemen, I beg to introduce to you a woman with a great sorrow. Bloodstains are on her hands, and nothing she has tried will remove them. The blood is that of murder. She has been driven to desperation in her distress. Is there anything in your religion that will remove her sin and give her peace?’ A hush fell upon the gathering. Not one of the company replied.
Raising his eyes heavenwards, Dr. Cook then cried out. ‘John can you tell this woman how to get rid of her awful sin?’ The great preacher waited as if listening for a reply. Suddenly he cried, ‘Listen John speaks; ‘The Blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from all sin’ (1 John 1:7). Not a soul broke the silence; the representatives of Eastern religions and Western cults sat dumb. In the face of human need, the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone could meet the need. The sin of the human race demanded the blood of Calvary.”
Hymn – What can wash away my sin – nothing but the blood of Jesus….
II. Faith – Hebrews 11:6
Faith is a common denominator. Every body expresses faith in something. No one can live a single day without exercising faith – faith in the physical world. When you woke up this morning you flicked a switch to boil the kettle, you had faith that it would work. When you get in your car you have faith that it will start. When you post a letter you have faith the post office will get it to the right address. When you go to the chemist you have faith that they will give you the right medication. Every time you walk into this building or any building you are expressing faith in the architect and the workmen.
Faith is also expressed in the spiritual realm. Each of us regardless of our backgrounds or educations, our social status or our talents can express faith. The difference between the faith we exercise in our daily routine and our religious faith is the object of that faith. Again everyone places their faith in something or someone.
The Muslim puts his faith in the Koran and in Mohammed. The humanist put his faith in himself. The follower of religion, in his own good works. None of these can save, because in each case the object of faith is wrong. Your faith is only as good as the object in which you place your faith. The Bible insists that we personally put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Enoch is a fascinating biblical character. Enoch lived in one of the darkest periods of the history of the world. Enoch lived just before God had to destroy the earth because of man’s evil, yet Enoch managed to keep himself pure. Enoch walked with God. The Hebrew form of the verb means he walked closely and continually with God. The walk that Enoch experienced was one of deepening intimacy with God. He lived every day in the presence of the Lord and in constant communion with Him. His faith and his obedience, as well as his worship, were outstanding.
The hallmark of Enoch’s life was that “he pleased God.” What a wonderful description of a believer’s life. Can that be said of your life? Is God pleased with how you use your time? Is God pleased with what you read? Is God pleased with the words you speak? Is God pleased with your plans for the future? Have you even bothered to consult God with your plans?
Enoch’s walk of faith delivered him from the consequence of death. Will yours? This verse does not say that faith is simply one way to please God: it is the only way.
III. Works – James 2:20
In the next couple of verses James gives two illustrations that say real faith is something you do. Faith is active. It’s not passive. It’s a commitment.
Two illustrations of two very different people, Abraham and Rahab -- exact opposite extremes. Abraham is a man. Rahab is a woman. Abraham is Jewish. Rahab is a Gentile. Abraham is a patriarch. Rahab is a prostitute. Abraham is a somebody. Rahab is a nobody. Abraham is a major character in the Bible. Rahab is a minor character. He uses these illustrations to say, it doesn’t matter who you are as long as you’ve got the important thing. They only had one thing in common -- their faith in God. Their faith in God led them to an action.
Our faith is not determined by what we do, it is demonstrated by what we do. About 35 years ago there was a famous tightrope walker named George Blondin who, for a publicity stunt, decided he would walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. On the appointed day they stretched a tightrope from one side of Niagara Falls to the other. He got out there and there were crowds lining both the Canadian and American side.
Thousands of people showed up to see this unbelievable feat. Blondin walked up to the edge of the tightrope, put one foot on the tightrope and put another foot out and began to walk across -- inch-by-inch, step-by-step. He got out in the middle and everybody knew that if he’d make one mistake in balance he’d fall off the rope and into the Falls and obviously be killed. Blondin got to the other side and the crowd went wild, shouting and cheering.
Blondin said, "I’m going to do it again." He got to the other side and the crowds went crazy. Blondin said, "I’m going to do it again but this time I’m going to push a wheel barrow full of dirt." He pushes the wheelbarrow across. He got to the other side. He did this nine or ten times. On about the tenth time, he pushed the wheelbarrow right in front of a tourist who said, "I believe you could do that all day." Blondin dumped out the dirt and said, "Really? Get in."
In a very real sense that’s what God says to you. Talk is cheap. Put your money where your mouth is. "I believe in Jesus!" Prove it. Our faith is demonstrated by our actions. Actions speak louder than words. Our behaviour shows what we really believe.
2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.
A couple of questions: Am I a Christian? What changes can I point to in my life? Is my lifestyle any different at all from unbelievers? So many people think it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you believe. The Holy Spirit, thru James, says that’s not true. He’s not saying you work your way to heaven. He’s not saying works deliver salvation. He’s saying they demonstrate it.
IV. Charity (Love) – 1 Corinthians 13:2
Priority Number One for the believer is given by Jesus in what we call “The Great Commandment”; Mark 12:30-31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. [31] And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Love is a very popular word in our society, it is one of the deepest human needs of all, yet it is also a very misunderstood and misused concept.
Consider the following love letter:
Dearest Jimmy,
No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking off our engagement. Please say you’ll take me back. No one could ever take your place in my heart, so please forgive me. I love you, I love you, I love you!
Yours Forever, Marie
P.S. And congratulations on winning the lottery!!!
Genuine love is a powerful reality, a biblical reality, and a family transformation reality. The Bible has a lot to say about love, the word occurs 311 times. Scripture tells us about the transforming power of love, what it can do for broken marriage, a severed relationship or a struggling family.
Paul said
V. Chastisement – Hebrews 12:8
Who, as parents, have gone out for a nice meal and left the children with a babysitter (nana, gramma, etc…)? The problem is that sometimes you go to a nice place to eat and someone else’s children are at that restaurant and not with a baby sitter! These children act worse than your own!
Even though you’d like to, could you or would you discipline those children? The answer of course is no! They are not your children!
You may wonder why others who are not Christians seem to have an easier time of it than you. You are committed to God and you are a Christian. You are on God’s side and suffer such misery. The enemies of God seem to fare better.
Verses 7-8 give us the answer to this question. God disciplines His children. Just as a parent does not discipline the children of others, God doesn’t either.
But God does correct His own children. God does teach His own children through adversity. God does train His own children.
If God isn’t disciplining a person it is simply because that person is illegitimate. He or she is not a child of God. Now don’t think that God is going to let the unsaved get away without punishment.
Asaph, in Psalm 73, was disturbed because of the seeming prosperity of the wicked and the easy time they had compared to him. God gave Asaph an answer to his dilemma. God showed Asaph that although it didn’t seem so at the moment, the wicked were in big trouble.
The wicked are in big trouble. The Christian is disciplined as a child of God. If God does not discipline a person, he is illegitimate, not a true child of God. The wicked will face judgment for their sins and be punished for all eternity.
Revelation 20:11-15
Now I realize that the unsaved are not exempt from the some of the same trials that we have. The difference is, they are facing the same troubles without being under the loving, corrective discipline of God the Father. Their troubles could lead them to faith in Christ.
VI. Christ – John 15:5
Phil 4:13
Paul does not say “I can’t” – That is the language of PESSIMISM. We hear this kind of talk everywhere. Churches can’t grow, or be great for God. Christians can’t witness, pray, be effective.
Paul does not say “I can” – That is the language of PRESUMPTION. We hear this a lot too today. People say, “I can run my own life! I do not need God, the church or the Bible. I am the captain of my own soul and the master of own fate.” Take Christ out of Christian and what do you have? IAN = “I am nothing” Rich fool – “I will” – Luke 12:32.
He said “I can…through Christ” – That is the language of POWER. This is dynamic contentment; this is dynamic Christian life. This is victory over every temptation; grace for every trouble; strength for every task. Jesus gives power to face life’s adversities. He gives the power to cope. He gives the power to enjoy contentment regardless of the circumstances, Phil. 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
People succumb because they can’t cope. He gives the power to face anything that comes your way with true contentment. “strengthens me” – “infuses His strength into my life.” Pres. Tense!
Without Christ we can do nothing – with Christ we can do all things.
