Trust in God - Isaiah 26:1-11

Introduction: Who can you trust?

Who can you trust? It's a hard question to ask these days. Who can you trust. Do you trust people based on what they do for work?

Last year (2008)¹, there was a survey done to see which professions people trusted the most in Australia.

Who do you think the top 5 are? (Pause). Who do you think the bottom 5 are? (Pause).

The top 5 professions are:

Ambulance officers

Fire fighters

Pilots

Nurses

Pharmacists

The bottom 5 professions are:

Real estate agents

Sex Workers

Car salesmen

Politicians

Telemarketers

Who can you trust? Because we have all heard stories, sometimes rightly and sometimes wrongly, of people within these professions who have broken our trust. So who can you trust these days?

And that is the question that the people of Israel had to continually be reminded of. They were always asked “Who can we trust these days”.

Israel in exile:

Isaiah was a prophet to the nation of Israel – someone who spoke the words of God. He lived in a time when Israel’s future was uncertain because of their unfaithfulness to God. At the time this part of Isaiah was written, God punished Israel. God punished them by putting them into exile. Instead of being God’s righteous nation, they were not under God’s rule, under his land. Their kingdom is shattered. They deserved what they got. They didn't trust God. They didn't serve him or commit to him with everything they had. So God had to deal with them. He gave them a lenient sentence. He only deported them out of their land. The other nations God dealt with, he destroyed. And while there seems to be no hope whatsoever for Israel at this time, there seems to be a glimmer of hope. There is a promise that looks to the future. A time, when God’s people, will be in God’s place, under God’s rule.

God saves a righteous nation

And as Isaiah looks forward, he looks forward to God saving for himself a righteous nation in the future that could not have been Israel. And in that day, the song that will be sung.

But what does this nation look like? If they don't look like they other nations that have been destroyed and judged at the hands of God, what does the righteous nation do differently from that of the rest of the nations?

They are faithful to him

Firstly, this righteous nation is not like the other nations. They are faithful to God. Have a look with me at chapter 26, verse 2:

Open the gates

that the righteous nation may enter,

the nation that keeps faith.

This nation is made up of people who are faithful to God. It's not good enough for people to have had faith in God once in their lifetime. It's a continual faith in God. The righteous nation believes he will look after them both physically and spiritually!

They are steadfast² on him

Also, this righteous nation is not like other nations. They are steadfast on him. Have a look at the first half of verse 3:

You will keep in perfect peace

him whose mind is steadfast,

A righteous nation is steadfast (or firm) on God! It's because God will keep his people in a peace that is perfect. God has kept them firm on him.

They trust in him

And the righteous nation is not like the other nations, in that they trust in him. Have a look at the verse 3:

You will keep in perfect peace

him whose mind is steadfast,

because he trusts in you.

The righteous nation fully trusts in God. This nation has seen and heard what God can and will do. God has proven himself to be trustworthy, time and time again. The other nations did not trust in God for if they did, they would not have been destroyed. They placed their trust in themselves. But for people who trust in God, he gives perfect peace.

Only God can give peace. But sometimes, his people will not always experience this peace. In fact, I know they won't. But God has given his people peace.

Peace is a big deal these days. Especially in our world. When Clare and I were in Melbourne, we saw a big church banner saying “Seek Peace”. The only problem was that there was no mention of seeking peace with God. How can we seek peace in our world when we cannot seek peace with God himself?

God is the only one who provides peace and he gives it to those who trust him.

Trust in God

Even Isaiah himself commands, those who read this song, to trust in God! But why should we trust in God?

He's the rock

We should trust God because he is the rock. Have a look with me at verse 4:

Trust in the LORD forever,

for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

There is no other like God. There is no other god who can claim that they are the Rock eternal. There is no other person on earth who can claim this. The only one that is qualified for this title is God himself! He has proven it time and time again with what he has done.

Clare and I have a pet at home. We've had it since we got married four years ago. It's the best pet I ever had. It's obedient. You tell it to stay, and it does. It doesn't need a pooper scooper. It doesn't need to be bathed. It even doesn't need to be fed. Actually, it doesn't even need any attention. It's always sitting outside. You know why? It's because it's a pet rock. It's the best – he just stays outside. He doesn't need feeding, bathing or attention. He's just there.

What makes this rock a rock? In it's being, it's just an ordinary rock. But it’s secure. It's stable. It keeps going and going. There is an unchanging nature of a rock.

That's why I suspect, Isaiah calls God the Rock eternal. Not like any ordinary rock we have in this world, but a living and active rock. Because in God, there is security from all of your enemies. That's why you trust in God because he can and will make sure you are as secure as he is. The buck stops with him.

God is the Rock eternal because he is stable. In him, there is a stability that our world yearns for.

Our world yearns for the security and stability that only God himself can offer. He offers the security and stability of salvation! We live in a world where we think that if we just have this, or we just do that, then everything will be fine, we will be secure and stable – but only after we have this or do that. If I get that job, then it'll all be great! If I just sleep with him, and if get that girl than I'll be set! If I get my lips done, or I gain 20 kilos or lose 20 kilos, then I'll be so so set. But that is wrong! HAVING THESE THINGS AND DOING THAT WILL NOT SAVE YOU NOR WILL IT PROVIDE YOU WITH THE SECURITY AND THE STABILITY THAT YOU WANT! Our world chases after these things and more. You just need to walk down to the nearest newsagency and look at all the magazine covers to see what provides security and stability in our world today.

Actually, here is one example. Have a look at this cover: “Your Love and Sex Life: What the stars have in store for you!”. These things come and go. They look like they provide security, but they don't. They look like they provide stability in your life, but it just makes life worse. With horoscopes, you live by chance! In God, you with certainty.

So why is God called the Rock eternal? Because unlike the beauty makeovers, the glamourous lifestyle and great sex life, God is sticking around and is not going anywhere. He was there at the beginning and will be there at the end. Can anyone else claim that title? Can anyone else claim the title of Rock eternal? No way. No one else qualifies other than God himself.

He's taken down all other competitors

But there is another reason why God is called Rock eternal. It's because all of the other pretenders have been destroyed. Have a look at verses 5 to 6:

Isa 26:5 He humbles those who dwell on high,

he lays the lofty city low;

he levels it to the ground

and casts it down to the dust.

Isa 26:6 Feet trample it down—

the feet of the oppressed,

the footsteps of the poor.

God himself has brought down the untouchables from their “secure” and “stable” places. He has shown that those high and lofty places are not so secure and stable after all. God brings down those who think they are stable and secure. He brings down those who think they do not need his stability and security. At the time of Israel's exile, their captors, Babylon, were a great superpower in the world. They were feared, they were powerful. They were very secure and they were very stable. They even had one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world in their empire. Yet God brought them down into rubble.

I don't know where you were on September 11, 2001. But I remember it like it was yesterday. At the time, I was house-sitting my sister's place in Campbelltown, while she and her husband were travelling in England. I remember coming home from a night out with friends, turning on the TV to see the chaos of what was going on in New York. On TV, there were reports of a plane crashing into one of the World Trade Square towers. And there was footage of smoke coming from where the plane had hit the tower. I remember being in a panic, because I knew my sister and her husband had been flying that day, then the imagination ran wild, and so I proceeded to call and SMS them. Thankfully, they were ok. But shortly afterwards, a second plane crashed into the second tower. Which was then followed by the towers collapsing in quick succession. The real tragedy of the event, was not only were lives lost that day in New York, but people from all over the world thought the World Trade Centres in New York were what people put their trust in – high, lofty places which were the symbol of capitalism and greed. And they were brought down to a crashing end.

This is the image that should be in our heads when we read this. When God brings down proud empires from their high and lofty places, it looks like the Trade Centre Towers collapsing.

Only God is secure. Only God is stable. God is the one people need to put their trust in. Not in their money or super. Not in their investments. But in God.

God is Rock eternal – there is no one else like him. There is no one else who is able to provide the stability and security like he can. There is no one else like him who is as trustworthy as he is.

God's righteous people wait and long for him

Also, God's righteous people wait in hope for God and they long for him to deliver.

His people walk the level path

And part of this, is that his people walk the level path. That is, they do what is right, without lying or any deception. Have a look at verse 7:

The path of the righteous is level;

O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.

His people are to live their lives in such a way, that it reflects the very character of their master – God himself. That's what it means to be part of the righteous nation. It is not only, that the individuals within the righteous nation are saved, but that their conduct is reflects the one they have faith in – God. For it is God who defines the character of the people. And if you flick back through the previous chapters, you could tell who defined the other nations opposed to god. It was always them. Even the gods that they worshipped, were really wooden versions of what they were.

His people wait in hope for him

Not only do God's people walk the level path, but they also wait in hope for God. Have a look at the first half verse 8:

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws,

we wait for you;

His people have a confident hope in God. That what it means to wait for God – to have a confident hope in God. As his people continue to live a life that reflects his character, they hope in confidence.

The hope presented in the Bible is different to what we see hope. When we think of hope, we think of it in terms of “maybe”. “It might happen, it might not happen. I hope it does!”. We think of it in terms of uncertainty. But the Bible presents hope in a different light. In the Bible, hope is not uncertain, but certain. There is no doubt at all, but it is 100% confidence in God. It is a certain guarantee.

But what exactly are his people waiting on? People are waiting on God himself. They are waiting on God who is the key to everything in their lives. They are waiting on God to act as he has promised! He has promised to judge and to save. That's what they are waiting on. See, the world banks on this world. God's people bank on God.

His people want God to be known and remembered

But have a look at this, God's people want his name to be known. Have a look at the second half of verse 8 with me:

your name and renown

are the desire of our hearts.

His people want to make sure God is known and remembered throughout the world! They want to tell everyone about how good God is!

In another words, they want to evangelise people. The want to do the door-knocking to talk about the goodness of God. They want to do walk up, up and down the street or at the local park. They want to invite people to church or bible study. They want to do all these things because of how good God is! They want to tell everyone about it!

And that is what it is like for God's people. They have the greatest news in the world, that they want to tell everyone how good God is.

His people seek him

But God's people also seek him with everything they have. Have a look at first half of verse 9 with me:

My soul yearns for you in the night;

in the morning my spirit longs for you.

God's people seek him. They want to find him. Such is the level of devotion to God, they want to find him. And they just can't wait.

See, there are implications for us today!

If you trust that Jesus is Lord, the Bible says that you are a citizen of God’s righteous nation. For in Jesus, anyone can be a part of God's righteous nation and not on the path to destruction. If you are in God's righteous nation, by trusting that Jesus will save you from destruction, then what does it look like to live like a citizen of a righteous nation? Trusting in God is a great start – in everything! If you can trust him to save you from destruction through Jesus, then you can trust him in any and every situation. By trusting God, you are showing how faithful you are to him and how much you lean on him for support! Also, in acting like a citizen of the righteous nation, your conduct must match what you are – a citizen of a righteous nation. You love to do the right thing! You want to tell everyone about how good God is. This is what it means to be in the righteous nation.

God will judge justly

The wicked don't do these things, but instead take mercy for granted

But the wicked don't do the things that God's people do. Not only do they need to learn righteousness, but they take mercy for granted. Have a look at the second half of verse 9 to verse 10 with me:

Isa 26:9b When your judgments come upon the earth,

the people of the world learn righteousness.

Isa 26:10 Though grace is shown to the wicked,

they do not learn righteousness;

even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil

and regard not the majesty of the LORD.

There are two types of people here. Those who learn of righteousness and those who don't. The first group see God's judgements at work throughout the world and they learn what righteousness is from mere observation. For they see what justice really is, and they somehow learn from it.

But then the other set of people are shown grace. But do they learn righteousness? No – they don't. It seems that they take the grace given to them for granted. And you can tell when people have taken the grace of God for granted. They continue to live as if nothing happened. They continue to live a life that does not reflect the character of God.

And this is a tragedy isn't it? God has done so much! God has saved, he has secured, he has stabilised, yet... it doesn't make a difference at all in the life of the someone who claims to be a part of God's people.

This is something that I have battled for many years as a Christian living in a corrupt. And all too often, to my regret, I have compromised and not reflected the character of God in my life. It’s tough. The world throws everything at you! They call you a fundamentalist. A wowser. Old-fashioned. A right-wing George Bush supporter! It’s tough isn’t it? But, Friends, I want to ask you, if you call yourself a Christian today, have you really learned what it is to right before God's eyes? Have you learned that it is through Jesus, that you are right before God’s eyes? That's what righteousness is – to be right before God's eyes! If you have learned this, then do you live as if you are under the judgement of God like the wicked? Don't be like the wicked! Act like you are a part of God's people. If you are in Jesus, then act like you are saved by Jesus.

He will take action against the wicked

And the reason why we should not be like the wicked as he will take action against the them. Have a look at the first part of verse 11:

O LORD, your hand is lifted high,

but they do not see it.

God will lift his hand to judge! He will lift his hand against the wicked. The wicked don't respond to God's grace! They simply cannot see his judgement on them.

Result: wicked put to shame and destroyed

And what is the result? The wicked are put to shame and are rightly destroyed. Have a look at the second half of verse 11:

Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame;

let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them.

God is on his righteous nation's side. He is passionate about them and wants their good. Something that the wicked miss out on. And it is to their shame – they have no one else to blame other than themselves. They are put to shame and destroyed. It's not a pretty sight for the wicked. This is something that God does not do lightly. God is serious. He means business.

This is serious stuff. Don't be the ones who are put to shame. Don't be destined for destruction. Instead, run to God for mercy. Run to him if you don't want to be consumed by his judgement against you!

Trusting in God

Earlier in this talk, I asked the question, who can you trust.

in the past...

Because in the past, the Bible tells us the story of Israel. It tells us a story about a nation that failed. They failed because they were a nation that was racked with sin. They failed because they could not and did not trust in God. Their very actions showed that they were a faithless nation. Their very actions showed just how much trust they placed in God. Their exile is a result of their faithlessness. In the past, God treated Israel like every other nation by punishing them. Israel were really no different from any other nation in the world. However, Isaiah speaks of a day when God’s righteous nation will rise up and sing – but when is that day?

in the present...

In this present day, we see that Isaiah looked forward to the day when the righteous nation would sing. He looked forward to the day when there would be signs of resurgence for the people of God. It would not happen to Israel. Israel showed they were NOT God’s righteous nation. They simply do not fit the criteria. And as a matter of fact, no nation on earth fits this description! Who does then? Who completely fulfils this? Not a nation, but a person. Only Jesus – only he has perfectly done this. Only he has shown himself to be the true Israelite. Only he is the one who perfectly trusted in God. Even to the point of death. The Bible tells us how completely obedient Jesus was to God. The Bible tells us how completely dependant he was on God for everything.

In this present day, there is hope for us not to end up like the nations of this world. There is hope that we will not be destined for destruction. Because, if we believe that Jesus is the one who took the judgement we deserved. If we believe that Jesus is our Boss, then we will not end up like the other nations. We will not be destroyed. Because Jesus is the one who took on our destruction on himself!

So today is the day that we do not end up like the other nations. But rather, trust in Jesus and God will make you a citizen of his righteous nation and be saved from his destruction.

And trusting in God in all situations is hard. I know. It is hard. Because our world constantly throws things at you, expecting you to conform to their standards! Yet when we ask the world to conform to the standards of the gospel, they spit, they insult, they reject you. Trust in God in the good times and the bad. Constantly pray to him. Giving him thanks for the good things he has given to us as well as praying about the tough times in life. That's what a life that trusts in God looks like – one that prays to God, depending on him for anything and everything – in the good and bad times.

in the future...

And in the future, for those who don’t follow Jesus, you have everything to fear. You have everything to worry about. If God can bring down nations, what makes you think that you can get away from God’s judgement? You can’t. What dreadful day it is for you.

But some of us look forward to the time when this song will be sung by all who call Jesus Lord! If you are in the Lord Jesus, you should look forward to the future! You should look forward to the time when God comes! I don’t know when it will happen. But I tell you what – for those who follow Jesus, what a great and bright future we have! Look forward to the day when we will sing this song.

Let's pray.

1http://www.readersdigest.com.au/popular/australias-most-trusted-professions-2008-readers-digest-australia/article77699.html

2steadfast |ˈstedˌfast|, adjective, “resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering : steadfast loyalty.”

Deuteronomy 30

Introduction

Last week, Clare and I were in Nowra celebrating birthdays. It was Clare’s birthday the week before, it was Clare’s sisters birthday, as well as her sister’s children’s birthdays – all within a week of each other.

After a celebratory morning tea that all the women went to, Clare’s sister came back home to pick up her kids. The oldest, was watching Finley the Fire Truck. He was glued to the TV. He didn’t want to go home. As soon as Clare’s sister came in and said “OK – Time to go home”, the waterworks came rushing fast. The face went flat and turned red. The eyes went smaller, with tears coming out. The mouth opened with a great big scream coming out. He said “I don’t want to go home”. And when Clare’s sister came to pick him up, he put up a fight. The resistance was short lived. Clare’s sister won. He reluctantly went back home in tears.

What does it mean to truly obey someone? We all obey someone. Whether we like it or not, we all do. We obey our government, even though we may not necessarily agree with what they say. I mean, I’m sure there are people here who don’t agree with Kevin Rudd and his policies. Or even with the previous government and their policies.

Some of us have children. But we are children of someone. Parents, you may experience this with your children. When you tell them to do something, and they don’t agree, they may scream and shout in defiance. They may begrudgingly obey. They may not do it at all, in defiance to what you have asked. Or you may even remember that you begrudgingly did what you were told, even though you were staunchly against it.

But what does it mean to truly obey someone?

Background to Deuteronomy

But before we look at what it means to truly obey someone, we need to look at some of the background to the Book of Deuteronomy. It has 3 speeches by Moses, the leader of the people of Israel at the time. And we are looking at a section from his final speech, starting at Chapter 29. In it, Moses recalls everything that has happened in the life of Israel, especially their time in Egypt.

He tells us about God who gracious and generously looked after the people of Israel throughout their ordeal in Egypt. He provided Israel with their every need, including the defeating of their enemies! It tells us about God who showed many signs and wonders to Israel – and yet they still did not get it! They didn’t get it – they simply could not get it. Nothing in them could show that they “got it”. Chapter 29 verse 4 says that God didn’t give them the understanding to get it.

The people of Israel are expected to fail by the end of chapter 29.

And you know what? All of these disasters are not hypothetical possibilities for Israel. They aren't just a worst case scenario. Chapter 30 begins with a definite! Have a look at verse 1:

When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations

It's not an issue of "if". It's an issue of "when"! It's when these disasters happen! And it's happened because they simply cannot help their disobedience! Israel showed time and time again, that they were disobedient to what God said for them to do.

Israel have a real problem. Imagine this: they are listening to Moses, and they cannot believe what they are hearing. Is there any hope for Israel? Their immediate future is in jeopardy.

God will help them with their problem

But there is hope - because God will help them with their problem! Firstly, he's promises to bring them back. Have a look with me, starting back at verse 1:

^30:1 When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, ² and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, ³ then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. ⁴ Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back. ⁵ He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.

See, Israel can't bring themselves back, as they are scattered all over the place. God put them there as judgement for not keeping their side of the bargain of loving and obeying him. Now God graciously promises to bring them back! And it doesn't matter where they are, but he will bring them back!

But there is something that is far more important than God just bringing back his people. God also promises to make his people clean. Have a look at verses 6 to 8 with me:

⁶ The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. ⁷ The LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies who hate and persecute you. ⁸ You will again obey the LORD and follow all his commands I am giving you today.

Circumcision was a sign that showed that you are a part of God's people, and that you were clean as a result. If you were uncircumcised, then you were considered unclean by God's standards back then. And to circumcise your heart means to be clean on the inside! It means that in your heart, you are clean because God does it on our behalf. He knows that we cannot be clean by his standards on the inside! We are naturally unclean! We cannot fully love God by our own strength or sheer will power. We cannot fully obey God either! But once we are clean on the inside, once God makes us clean, only then can we truly love God with everything we have and only then can we live! Only then can we obey him and please him. That was Israel's problem and the problem with humans generally. We naturally disobey because we are naturally unclean! But remember, God must take the first step in making our hearts clean. Our job as humans, is to fully love and obey God with everything we have. Verses 9 to 10 say that when people are made clean, then despite the destruction, there is a bright future promised to the people of God.

Let me steal an illustration from Jesus. I have here a dirty cup. I've just drank my drink from it. It has all my saliva and goobers and everything gross from my lips in it. You may not see it with your naked eye, but it doesn't mean it's not there and can't be seen under the microscope. No, it's an ordinary cup. It's dirty. Is it of any use? Maybe for me to reuse for another drink. But is it useful for anyone else? No. Can it clean itself? Not this cup. You might find something in Japan, but this cup still isn't clean. It needs help to get clean.

We are like this dirty cup. We try and get clean by ourselves but it doesn't do the job. We think, "well, I'll be a good person". It doesn't do the job. We think "maybe I'll think positively". That won't do the job. Maybe I'll do good works. That won't work either. We cannot make ourselves clean.

The problem with Israel, is the same problem “we” have today. We all have this problem. The problem we have, is that we naturally do not and cannot fully love and obey God by ourselves. Our disobedience towards God is a sign that point to the real issue. As I said before, not fully loving God and not fully obeying God are signs that all of us are naturally unclean. And the only solution to this problem is God himself. Only he can grab us and secure us and save us. You want to be clean? Only God can make you clean.

God's promises are not far

And clean people also have the privilege in trusting that God's promises are not far, but are near them. Have a look at verses 11 to 14 with me:

¹¹ Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. ¹² It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹³ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹⁴ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Clean people can trust in the promises God has made in verses 1 to 10. They know the promises that God has made are true and will come about and are easily accessible. What I mean is, is that clean people are able to believe in the promises. That's the ultimate act of obedience - to trust in his promises. Unclean people don't trust in the promises. Instead, unclean people do what they want and don't care for what God has promised. Verses 11 to 14 are the result of being clean! Think back to chapter 30 verse 6. Only then can we hear and obey God’s word, because of God’s promise to work in people, making them clean.

However, throughout the story of the Old Testament, it is a story of people constantly turning away and disobeying God. From the beginning of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, all the way through to Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, it is a constant story of people turning their backs on God and his ways. But it is also a story of how God is graciously saving people to himself. It is a story of success with God, who constantly intervenes and rescues people. And his promises here, are close. They point to a future where it is bright for those who believe in God’s promises. Even for Israel themselves. Even though the immediate future looks bleak for Israel, they can be included in the bright future God has promised only if they trust the words that he says.

And the prophet Jeremiah speaks about a time when God’s words are so close, that it is within them. Like what Moses says.

Have a look at what Jeremiah 31:33-34 says:

³³ But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴ And no longer shall each one teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

These are the promises that God made. And Jeremiah not only says that the words of God are within people so that they will know Him, but also that God will forgive our sins. What a great thing to hope for! What a future! A future that Israel could not have imagined!

And we must keep remembering that all of the promises God has ever made to us through the Bible have come true. Everything that he has said has a 100% success rate so far, and I would bet all my money that this success rate will continue.

However, we cannot blame God when we place false expectations on him to do something on our behalf, for it not to be brought about. If God has not spoken it, then it most likely won't come true. You can believe God can do it – that’s fine, because he has the ability to do it, but it may not happen the way you want it to. If he has not told you that he’s going to do something, then don’t blame him for not doing it.

But we can trust in what is written in this book. The promises of God are not far from us at all! In fact, the Bible contains God's promises. And we know that we can trust the promises God has written here today. He has given people who trust him HOPE - a certain hope that he will one day gather us to him. A certain hope that God will look after his people, his clean people, who love and obey him by trusting him.

So when we do go through tough times in life. When we face sickness, when we face money troubles, work troubles, relationship crises, we can trust in the promises that he has set out in the Bible. We can look forward to a time when sickness, money troubles, work troubles and relationship crises will all go away because God has said in the Bible that if you trust in him, life with him is where we are headed. Hold onto that hope in hard times.

Choose life!

And let me say again that God's people, people who are made clean by him, are told to have faith in him and choose life! Because if you disbelieve and turn away, you will have the guarantee of perishing. Have a look at verses 15 to 20:

¹⁵ See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. ¹⁶ For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. ¹⁷ But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, ¹⁸ I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. ¹⁹ This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

See what Moses is saying here? He's pleading with Israel to do what is best. To pick the best.

To pick life and riches. Not death and destruction.

Pick to live God's way.

Not your own way.

Listen and obey.

That's what Moses is pleading with the people of Israel here. Moses is saying choose life! Or else!

And, if we continue reading through the Bible, we know Israel fail - they fail miserably. They cannot do it. They choose death because they are unable to choose anything else. They could not perfectly obey God!

So is there hope? There is hope - but it isn't found in Israel. It isn't found in sheer will and determination. It isn't found by luck. It is all found in God and his promises to circumcise the hearts of people, to clean people. It is God doing all the work. He is making us able to trust him, to love him, and to choose life. This is a no-brainer. God enables you to definitely choose life through him!

The only hope for anyone in this world is God. He is the only hope if you want life. You want to live? You have to do it God's way. You want to live and not die? You need to trust in his promises! For in his promises, are life.

Implications

To end, let me spell out some implications from today’s talk.

First, God knows we are naturally faulty. He knows we are unclean people who are unable to do any of the commands God asks of us. Have a look at Hebrews 8 verse 7.

⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. ⁸ But God found fault with the people

God finds fault with the people, then the writer quotes Jeremiah 31. It’s a bright future with God. A new covenant, where God will do all of the work! God will do what we could not do. People will know God because he makes sure they can. He writes the law that he spoke on people’s hearts!

But has this been fulfilled yet? Has God done this?

He has! God has done this through the Lord Jesus. For, the good news of Jesus is the word that is near us! Israel looked forward to this day! That is the promise God said would happen back in Deuteronomy, and it has been fulfilled in Jesus. Have a look at Romans chapter 10, starting at verse 5:

⁵ Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” ⁶ But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’’” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: ⁹ That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Earlier in this talk, I asked, what does it mean to obey someone?

True obedience, is true faith in God’s promises. True obedience to God for Israel, was to believe in God’s promises that he would do the work, back in verses 1 to 10.

True obedience for us today is to believe in God’s promises that Jesus has done the work for us. It is this promise that God plants in you. It is God that enables you to call Jesus Lord, and to know that God raised him from the dead! It is God who uses this to save you. And there is an even brighter future for those who are saved! People who are saved by God become his people. We look forward to an eternity with him! Life gets better than what we have now – we look forward to the best life ever with God because of what he has done for us through Jesus.

Don’t get caught up with all the trappings of this world. Work towards a future with God through Jesus, not through your own strength.

When times get tough, look forward to the promises God has set out in the Bible. Trust in God.

When times get tough, and you want to give up, go to God. See what he has done for you in Jesus. Look forward to heaven.

But is this you? Do you believe? Do you believe in what God has done? Believe in the good news of what God has done through Jesus and be saved.

Let’s pray.

How to be righteous - Luke 18:9-17

The really good bloke

Us aussies, we have a thing called the good, aussie bloke. This person may be really generous with their time and money, will help their friends in times of need. They may volunteer at the local community club, doing great things for the greater society around them. Every culture has them. Asian culture, British culture, Greek culture. The really good aussie bloke comes in different manifestations throughout the world. It may just look differently in these different cultures.

We all know someone who may fit that description. And it may not necessarily be a good bloke as well. It could be a good aussie woman, who does all these things. I have a friend who is like this. She is what you could definitely call the good aussie woman. She is very generous with her time and will definitely help her friends out when they are in need. Even strangers.

But when the good aussie bloke or woman faces death, then we tend to automatically assume that they are with the Lord. What is the basis of this belief? Well, they were really good people! They were very charitable, very hospitable, they were just really good people in general. No one would say anything bad about them. They did great things for the community! And, we most likely would have benefited from their charity in some way.

But is that enough? Is what they have done enough for people to be right before God? That’s what the term righteousness is – it is the state or position, of being right, before God.

How to be righteous

And in the Bible, Jesus tells us how someone can be righteous before God by telling the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. What prompts him to do so is in verse 9. Luke, the writer says that it is Jesus’ perceptiveness, in knowing the arrogance of the people around him, those who were confident in their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else.
 
Case Study 1: The Pharisee
So, starting off with the Pharisee in his story, Jesus tells us that the Pharisee trusts in his own righteousness based on what he did and as a result, looked down on everyone else.

Have a look in verses 10 to 12:

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

The Pharisee was a very devout and religious Jew back in the first century. When it came to being religious, you could not get any better than the Pharisee. So when Jesus says that the Pharisee is not like the robber or the evildoer, people should not be surprised! As a matter of fact, it should be expected that the Pharisee does not do all these things! He should not be an evildoer! He should not be a robber! He should be fasting twice a week! He should be generous and give a tenth of all that he gets. He’s your modern day citizen of the year and religious man of the year, with his “generosity” and his religious works.

But not only was he was telling God about everything that he does “well”, he was making a comparison of himself to other people, by looking down on them based on their works. Look at the people he chooses to compare himself to – robbers, evildoers, adulterers, even a traitor like this tax collector. He compares himself to those society considers to be the lowest of the low. Those, whom everyone would consider unworthy before God. Unworthy to even speak to God about the things they have done because, unlike the Pharisee, they have nothing good to show for it. They would have been like the Australia’s most wanted criminals.

This Pharisee was so confident in his own works, that he felt that he was in a position to look down on everyone else.

And I reckon everyone does it to a certain degree. We all like to feel good about ourselves by comparing ourselves with other people. I’ve even heard of convicted criminals who compare themselves with other criminals who have been convicted of heftier crimes, such as murder. We all compare ourselves in the hope or belief that we are somehow righteous by our own criteria that we set for ourselves. We may not be as religious or seemingly generous as the Pharisee, but we all to a certain degree feel that we are right before God, because, we aren’t as bad as that, Nigerian scammer, that sick, sick paedophile, or that murderer. These people do deserve judgement! They deserve to be put away! But the point is that the Pharisee is seemingly better and right, and in a position to put everyone else down.

But is that what righteousness is? Does being better than that person automatically mean that I am righteous? Do all the good works that I do mean that God sees me as right and good and proper?

Case Study 2: The Tax Collector
Before we answer that, let’s wait and look at the tax collector, who knew he had no righteousness of his own.

Have a look in verse 13:

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

The Tax Collector. Well, there’s a lot of negative press about him back in the first century. The tax collector was notorious for being a scammer. See, what he would do, is that he would be collecting taxes from the Roman citizens. But when collecting taxes on behalf of the Roman Empire, he would also add a couple of extra dollars on top of the sum he needed to collect – think of it like a collector’s fee. The Roman Empire didn’t care, as long as they got their money. And if money wasn’t handed over, there would have been trouble from the Empire. So as you can imagine, they would have been a hated lot. If there was an ancient Today Tonight or A Current Affair show back then, the cameras would be chasing them down the streets of Rome. The tax collectors back then, are looked down upon by, not just a few, but by an entire society.

So when Jesus says that the tax collector pleads to God for mercy and recognises his sin before him, that’s what you would expect isn’t it? The tax collector knows the wrong he has done. His approach to God is not a presentation of his good works like the Pharisee, but rather it is a plea for mercy, because he knows that he has nothing to show.

God who determines who is righteous

So, it is God who determines who is righteous. Not people.

Have a look with me in verse 14:

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Pharisee approached God with complete confidence in himself because of all of his good works. The tax collector, approached God with complete confidence that he has sinned and with a plea for mercy from God.

However, God determined that it is the Tax Collector - and not the Pharisee who is righteous. God made the tax collector righteous before him. God justified him. No one else can be righteous on their own merit – only God is able to make people right.

Have you ever heard of a criminal who makes his own criteria before a judge, expecting that the judge will acquit him of his wrongs based, not on the criteria of the law set, but by their own criteria. Have you ever heard of that? It sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? But that is what is happening here isn’t it? The Pharisee is almost deluded in thinking he is able to fulfil God’s criteria for righteousness. God sets the standard and the standard is high when compared to our standards! It’s impossible to get. The Pharisee doesn’t know it, since he thought everything he did would make him righteous. And that’s what everyone thinks. Everyone thinks that God will somehow see their good works and go “Ah-ha, now there is a man after my own heart!” But that’s totally missing the mark. What that leads to is not a trust in God, but a trust in people’s own self-righteousness. God rightly humbles the exalted Pharisee, and exalts the humble Tax Collector.

We would tend to think that we are more righteous than they are, don’t we? We tend to automatically assume that only the few are guilty. The Pol Pot’s, the Stalin’s, the Iddi Amin’s of this world. We know they deserve to be punished. We know that wrongdoers deserved to be punished to the full extent of the law. But God does not see it that way. God assumes, and rightly so, that all of us are guilty.

But look at the tax collector. He’s down, he’s out. He has nothing to gain. He knows what he has done is wrong. He knows that he isn’t liked by the general populous. He knows that he’s societal trash. He knows he just so far from God. He doesn’t get the accolades like the Pharisee does. Instead, he goes to God, with nothing in his hand. The Pharisee brought his good works and religious life to God. However, God looked favourably on the Tax Collector, making him righteous by justifying him, pronouncing him as good and right -  Not on the Pharisee. The only thing that the Tax Collector brought to the table was his utter and total state of despair, pleading to God for forgiveness. God looked favourably on him.

The good aussie bloke, when he meets with God when he dies, cannot rely on the good works that he has done through his life. He cannot rely on them since no work is ever good enough for God, other than approaching God with a plea for mercy. The good aussie bloke may not be boasting about his good works in his life on earth, and he may be a humble man. But when he meets God, and relies on his own works, he is in trouble. But if he relies on God’s mercy, then he has nothing to worry about. Because what God wants is a plea for forgiveness from us. That requires a great deal of humility. He doesn’t want people who trust in their own self-righteousness and feel they have no need for forgiveness.

So when you approach God, don’t tell him about the wonderful things you have done. Rather, approach him with humility. And it’s not just any humility, but it’s a humility that leads to repentance and forgiveness. Not just an ordinary humility. Asking for forgiveness, and thank him because he will forgive you when you ask for it. Don’t wait until you die to do this, because it’s too late then. Do this while you can now.

Approaching God like the tax collector and children

And when you do approach God, we are not only shown to approach him like the tax collector, but we are also shown to approach him like children.

Have a look with me in verses 15 to 17:

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.  16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Children were usually looked down upon back then. So it is kind of ironic that Jesus says that people are to be like a little child if they are to receive the kingdom of God. And by receiving the Kingdom of God, it’s like saying gaining entrance into heaven, into God’s house. What does receiving the kingdom like a child look like? People are to be humble, having trust in God and being completely dependant on him for mercy, if they want to receive the kingdom of God. By receiving the kingdom of God, they receive salvation, because you are no longer wrong-doers, but righteous.

Some of you have children. They completely trust you. When you take them to Saturday sport, they trust in your abilities to drive a car and to get them to their game or training venue. If they didn’t trust you, they would become a backseat driver or they wouldn’t get in the car at all. But they do trust you, because they get in the car. They are humble about it. They are willing to trust you, with openness. There is a hint of a relationship there as well between the child and the parent. That is the type of attitude that Jesus is talking about in order to enter the kingdom of God.


So, it’s not the arrogant and proud who will receive the kingdom of God. Rather it is those who are humble and dependent before God and have trust in him, who will receive the Kingdom of God, and therefore salvation. So when you approach God, be like the little children that Jesus was talking about. Be humble and dependant on God when you approach him.

God is…

Finally, throughout this part of Luke, Jesus has shown us who God is for.

Not for the self-righteous

Firstly, God is not for the self-righteous. He does not accept those who rely on their own abilities to make them right before God. For their abilities do not righteous at all! It’s God’s standards and his only! And only he can ay whether you are righteous – not you and your own works.

Look at the Pharisee. He did it all and probably would have earned citizen of the year! But God did not say he was righteous nor did he justify him by declaring him righteous. I reckon on the day he meets up with God, this Pharisee would’ve fronted up to God and presented his good works, expecting to enter God’s Kingdom. But you know what? The outcome would have been the total opposite.

Another way to think about it is you are at home. A complete stranger comes to your door, with all of his earthly belongings. He demands that he comes in and stays. But on what basis would he be allowed entrance into your home? He says he’s a good person. He’s a wonderful person and very generous. But is that the criteria by which you have set to let him into your home? No! The criteria is most likely a relationship based on trust, faithfulness and humility. For you set the criteria, not the guy that shows up at your door. That is what it is like with God. God’s house is his kingdom. Trust, faithfulness and humility that all lead to repentance are the criteria which God has set if you want to enter. If you are not like a child who wants to approach God with nothing else other than humility, openness and trust, then forget it. You will not receive the kingdom of God and you will miss out on salvation.

No matter who you are, you cannot earn your way into the kingdom of God. You simply cannot do it. According to the very words of Jesus, the person who works for his righteousness is godless and it does not make him righteous before God!

But for the repentant sinner

However, God is not for the self-righteous, but rather, God is for the repentant sinner. The one who knows that whatever good works they do, it is not enough to earn salvation. God is for those who rely on him to grant him mercy, despite who he is.

God is for those who approach him, not only full of humility, but also of openness and a sense of dependency on him, especially in receiving mercy and declaring them right. God is for those who approach him through his King, Jesus. It’s at Jesus, where you will receive mercy and be declared good and right.

If the good aussie bloke stands in mercy before God, if he stands, united to his Son Jesus, then, and only then, can he be righteous before the one that matters, God.

You may have been here at church with us for many years. If you call yourself a Christian, you must make sure that your righteousness is not your own, but it must always be dependant on God’s mercy, ultimately shown through Jesus’ death on the cross. Never forget the mercy that you received from God when he called you, like the children in the Bible, and welcomed you into the Kingdom because of his mercy.

But maybe you are new here today and you are not sure about Christianity. The question I want to ask you is, when you do die – a fate we will all encounter one day, what are you putting your trust in that will ensure that you enter into God’s kingdom? Is it: because I have been so good? That’s not good enough in God’s eyes. If it is because of the mercy you have shown me through Jesus’ death and resurrection, then according to the Bible, God will definitely say welcome.

If this is you, I would love to talk to you more about it. I would love to chat to you about Jesus and the things he has done for us.

I want to end with verse from a song, that was written many years ago. It’s called Rock of Ages and in the 3rd verse, it says:

Nothing in my hand I bring
Simply to Your Cross I cling
Naked come to You for dress
Helpless look to You for Grace
Stained by sin to You I cry
Wash me Savior or I die

The Outrageous Claims of Jesus: John 5:16-30

This week's sermon can audio file should be found here. If it's not there, it will be soon. Until then, here is my text.

Introduction: Outrageous claims people make

People have made lots of outrageous claims. Some claims are usually with good motives. For instance, Bob Hawke, back in the 1980’s said that:

“By 1990, no Australian child will be living in poverty”

Remember that? And is that the reality now?

Some outrageous claims are usually for selfish motives, such as self-promotion. Mohammed Ali said

“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was”.

or

“I'm not the greatest; I'm the double greatest. Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round”

And another one from another boxer (Mike Tyson) – see if you can figure out who this person is:

"Lennox is a conqueror? No. I'm Alexander, he's no Alexander. I'm the best ever. There's never been anybody as ruthless. I'm Sonny Liston. I'm Jack Dempsey, there's no one like me - I'm from their cloth. There's no one that can match me. My style is impetuous. My defence is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious. I want your heart. I want to eat his children. Praise be to Allah!"

(Anyone? – Mike Tyson) These quotes show the type of person they want everyone to know them by. For Bob Hawke, he wanted to be known for his concern for the children of Australia and I cynically suspect for political motivations too. With Ali and Tyson, it was to show how good they were. They were so confident in their abilities as a boxer, that they felt they could say these things. And these quotes seem outrageous don’t they? They seem really overboard and unrealistic. But is there any truth to these quotes?

And that’s the question we need to ask when we approach the Bible in regards to Jesus. Jesus said many outrageous quotes. So much so, that the religious hierarchy of his day wanted to eliminate him. But are the outrageous quotes of Jesus really overboard? Are they unrealistic?

But before we look at the evidence, we need to get a picture of what has happened so far in the book of John.

Background

Last week, we saw that Jesus, the one from above is far superior than anyone else, because he is from above, and not a product of the earth. Jesus is superior because he has been given authority from above and he is God’s appointed King on earth.

The story then continues with Jesus leaving Judea to go to Galilee. Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman in chapter 4:7ff and reveals himself as the Messiah to her. The Samaritan woman has partial sight, as she still asks the question whether Jesus is the Christ in 4:29, even though Jesus said he was the Christ.

Chapter 4:31-38 presents itself as a special revelation to the disciples about his Mission – the real food for harvest, says Jesus, is to do the will of God, rather than “earthly” food.

After that, the people of Samaria believe in the testimony of the woman at the well. Jesus then goes to Galilee and performs the second of his signs in Galilee. It is interesting to note that in 4:48 – People only believe on the account of miracles, rather than based on his own claims, and other people’s claims about him.

Then in chapter 5: Jesus enters Jerusalem, heals the crippled man on a Sabbath day, and the ex-cripple broke Jewish law by “working” on the Sabbath – that is, by carrying his mat. And here we arrive at this week’s passage.

Jesus claims to be equal with God

And starting at verse 16, Jesus claims to be equal with God. Have a look with me from verse 16 onwards:

“So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 5:17 Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” 5:18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 5:19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:16-19 NIV)

According to Old Testament Law, the people of Israel were to work for 6 days, then rest on the 7th. The 7th day of rest was known as the Sabbath. Now, the Jewish interpretation of the Sabbath law does not allow for anything to be done on the Sabbath, for that would constitute work. However, it was the work that was done throughout the 6 days prior to the Sabbath, that was forbidden. Not getting up to carry something or something miscellaneous like that.

And it is against this backdrop that Jesus says that he and the Father are doing the same work on the Sabbath. By saying this, he is claiming divinity. He is claiming Godhood. This is something quite offensive to the Jewish religious authorities as they would view it as blasphemous and irreverent of Jesus to be equating himself with God.

But Stan, Jesus could have been any crazy man! He may have been just talking crazy. How do I know whether Jesus is God or not?

Firstly, we have the real story of the crippled man at the pool. This man was crippled for 38 years. So everyone around him and the people who witnessed this know that he was not faking it and could not have been faking it for this long. Also, the crippled man was among other people who were disabled - the blind, the lame, the paralysed. These men, according to the Old Testament law were unclean! And if the man was a fraudulent cripple, he would not have wanted to defile himself by being with them.

Also, when Jesus makes these claims, he usually backs up his claims with a sign. So by equating himself with God, and performing the sign of healing of the cripple, Jesus is continually revealing more about who he is and what he is here to do. By Jesus healing, especially on the Sabbath, he is placing his own activity, equal to the activity that God continually does. And in this sense, Jesus does God-like actions. Have a look at verses 20-23:

“For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 5:22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 5:23 that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.” (John 5:20-23 NIV)

See, Jesus is the one who gives life, like God. The cripple was as good as dead! But Jesus brought life to the man by healing him and reversing the effects of our rebellion that has been around. The man is a cripple, because this is what happens when we live in a messed up world that is in rebellion against God. A couple of weeks ago, I spoke about how the world we live in is in a state of utter and total rebellion against God. And part of this, is that we have to live with the effects of this rebellion is death and destruction. Jesus healing the cripple is a reverse of the destructive nature of our resistance against God's rule and ways.

With evidence like this we need to ask ourselves, do we believe that Jesus is God? Do we believe the words that he has said about himself? You may be asking, but if God were to show him to me, then I would believe. Or maybe it would be "if God were to just write a sign with the clouds saying believe in me", then I would. And in response, I would say no you wouldn't believe. If you believe in Jesus, then you know God exists, because that is how God has revealed himself - through Jesus. If Jesus is God, then you need to respond appropriately - do I keep ignoring him, or do I make him the boss of my life?

Jesus is the litmus test for life

But Stan, what if I do make him the boss of my life? What's in it for me? The incentive is that having Jesus as the boss of your life has the reward of eternal life. Because Jesus is the litmus test for life, as judge (v24-25). Have a look at verse 24 with me.

““I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 5:25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 5:27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.” (John 5:24-27 NIV)

I said Jesus is God. He does God-like actions. What is in it for you if you make Jesus the boss of your life? If you believe that in the claims of Jesus, the result is that you receive eternal life and you do not have a death sentence hanging over your head anymore. That is what is in it for you.

Because the default position of all people everywhere is that we are dead people walking. Not zombies, but dead people walking. We are dead because we are naturally not living with the one who gives life. People from all over the world are not living with God as our boss - instead we reject what he says and as a result, everyone has a death sentence hanging over our heads. To assume that we are automatically good is not an accurate assumption. We may be good by our standards, but we do not have to give an account for each other when we die. We have to give an account to God and his standards on the day we die. And if we are not up to his standards, then we get what we deserve - condemnation. And his standards are not hard. It’s just easier to do what we always have been doing – to live a life opposed to God.

And the only way out of this is to be on the side of the judge that God has delegated this to. That is, if you are on a judge's good side and have nothing to be guilty of, he will not condemn you. Have a look at verses 26-27:

“For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 5:27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.” (John 5:26-27 NIV).

Jesus has life in him and as a result, he is not bound to death like we are. He is unique, because God has chosen him to be the judge of us all. Jesus is the litmus test for life, as we are in desperate need of life. We are dead people walking. We need the one who can grant us life because he is the judge. We need to believe in Jesus' words about himself and he will grant you life as he is able to as judge.

Will you be on Jesus’ side by believing in what he claims about himself?

The time for death and sin to be defeated

And in Jesus’ coming, the time has come for death and sin to be defeated. Have a look at verses 28 to 29 with me.

““Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 5:29 and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. (John 5:28-29 NIV)

Jesus tells us of a time of judgement. A judgement where he will act as judge, with the criteria and outcomes defined. A judgement, that will involve something very, very odd. Something that is unheard of. But look at what Jesus is saying – this judgement will involve those who are physically dead. They will hear his voice and come out. This is what the bible calls resurrection. That is, when the dead will literally come out from the graves. Not only that, but upon their rising from the dead, they will be judged according to their deeds!

At this point, you may have 2 objections to what I have just said. You may object to a physical resurrection. You may think that it's all fairytales and lunacy. Something that fundamentalist religious people have invented to give a sense of false hope. However, I want to say that a physical resurrection will happen and in one sense has already happened. When Jesus died on the cross, he did not stay dead. Rather, his tomb was empty because he has physically risen again. Look at the accounts of the resurrection through the Bible. The New Testament writers all say that Jesus did rise from the dead, and there were people (at that time) who testified to this, as 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 6 says. In the book of Matthew 27:52-53, it says that dead people literally rose up from their graves and went into Jerusalem, showing many people of their physical bodily resurrection. So the Bible speaks of a time, when a physical resurrection of the dead will happen.

And upon resurrection, people will be judged according to what they have done. Now some of you may be thinking, "hold on, I thought Christianity was about salvation by faith, not by works!” And you are right in saying that Christianity is about being saved because of your faith! But that does not mean that because I have faith, I will act in a way that is contrary to that faith. Rather, your actions reflect, or are an outcome of your faith. It's like saying "I believe I am a footy player", but you just have to look at me and see that I am not, and if you think I am, guess again!. A faith or belief in Jesus leads to a life that reflects that faith in Jesus. Not by living like the rest of the world does - in contempt for God, but having him as our boss.

So my question to you is, will you rise to live or will you rise to be condemned? Will you live for Jesus or will you continue living for yourself? Living for Jesus leads to life. Living for yourself leads to death. Will you be defeated and condemned along with sin and death, or will you be victorious and vindicated, and have life by believing in Jesus?

Jesus has come to do the will of God, in order to please him

And Jesus is the perfect human, in that he has come to do the will of God, in order to please him. Something that we could not do. Have a look in verse 30 with me:

“By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” (John 5:30 NIV)

This is not saying that Jesus is inept in some way. Rather, Jesus is what humanity should have been in the first place. Humanity should have lived to please God, being fully dependant on him. It should have lived to do the will of God (which, mind you, is to love him, and show him you love him by obeying him). Jesus is just, for his judgements are not biased, as we would think. But his judgements are just, because right and wrong, is found in him and from who he is from, God. And Jesus' judgements are just and he judges, not to please people or himself, but rather to please God.

You may be thinking that Jesus' is biased when he judges. I would agree to some extent, but not to the degree that you are thinking of. When we think of biased, we think of it in human terms. For instance, the Oxford Dictionary says that bias is:

"prejudice in favour of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair".

So you could argue yes: Jesus is biased because the judgements he is making is to please God. However, I want to also say that Jesus' judgements are just. That is, people get what they deserve. That is just. That is fair - that people get what they deserve. If they did not, then that would be considered unjust, biased and unfair. Jesus judgements are just, because he is doing God’s will, which is always just.

Also, Jesus is not tainted in anyway like we are. We are naturally bound to death. We are naturally bound to disobey God, like a child disobeys a parent (sometimes). So our bias is twisted and distorted. That's not to say there isn’t any element of truth in it. But our bias is adversely affected by what the bible calls our disobedience to God, sin.

My question to you is, do you believe yet?

The outrageous claim Jesus made:

Let me conclude this talk by looking at the outrageous claims Jesus made:

He is God

The first claim that he made was that he and God are one – in another words, that he is God. He is not below God, nor is he above God. Rather he claims he is God and he proves it with the miracles that he does. Only God himself is able to reverse the effects of our sin. The sign of this was when he healed the crippled man at the pool. Not even modern medicine has been able to come close to replicating that. Think Christopher Reeve and the accident that left him with severe paralysis. That’s how bad the cripple would have been, but worse because he would have been an outcast as well. Jesus, from his actions of healing and other miracles, shows that what he is saying about himself is true.

He is judge

Secondly, Jesus claims to be the judge. Jesus claims that he is God’s representative on earth. And as God’s representative, he is God’s king and judge. Something that has not been seen, since the time of Solomon, who was God’s king, and judge. If Solomon, a man known for his wisdom, judged with wisdom and justice, how much more would Jesus, from above, judge with wisdom and justice? He shows this by choosing who he rescues and who he does not rescue from sin and death. That’s his role as judge –he decides who should get life and who doesn’t get life.

He is the giver of life

And finally, Jesus last claim is that he is the giver of life. Not only is he God. Not only is he the Judge. But he is also the giver of life. The rescuing of the official’s son back in Chapter 4 verse 49 onwards, shows that Jesus is the life giver and can choose and decide whom he wants to give life to.

My question to you is “Will you believe in Jesus' outrageous claims?” The evidence is here in the Bible. Do you believe the claims of Jesus? Do you believe that he is God? Do you believe that he is the judge? Do you believe that in him, is life and you can gain life by believing in who he is and what he has done?

If you already believe in Jesus, then does your belief in his claims match the way you conduct your life? Does your life reflect your faith in Jesus?

Or will you reject Jesus' outrageous claims? Will you repeat the mistakes of the past and deny Jesus by ignoring him? Will you reject Jesus by ignoring the fact that he is the judge who decides who lives and dies? Will you reject Jesus and choose death, destruction and disobedience? Will you be defeated with sin and death? Instead, choose life by believing in Jesus and choose victory on by believing in who he is – God.

"The one from above" - John 3:31-36

An audio file should be available soon here.

Introduction:

Friedrich Nietzsche was a 19th century German philosopher. In his philosophical works, he is known for his concept of perpectivalism, that is, the notion that truth is wherever you are, and he was also known for the death of God movement, that is, society being free of a God who enslaves you. However the one thing I want you to note about Nietzsche’s teaching is on the Ubermensch, which translated, means “the overman” or the “Superman”, the one who overcomes all of the enslavements of life and basically does what he wants and wills, and rises to the top of the hill. Mind you, Nietzsche thought he was the ubermensch – it’s just a shame that he became a slave to his own mental instability. But is the Ubermensch really what he is cracked up to be? Is this philosophical Ubermensch really the man? Is he able to rise up over everyone and do as he wills and wants?

From the bible today, we are going to see someone far more superior than the Ubermensch, namely Jesus.

Background:

Before we look at today’s passage, there is some ground we need to cover from last weeks passage to this weeks passage. So let’s just have a quick run through of what’s happened so far.

Straight after John’s introduction to the book, 1:19-1:35 is John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus, identifying him at the one that is the light by calling him the Lamb of God (1:29) and Son of God (1:34). This is summarised back in 1:6-8, saying Jesus will take away the sins of the world, and is the Son of God.

Jesus also starts gathering his disciples in 1:36-1:50, climaxing at the sign done towards Nathaniel, who also declares that Jesus is the Son of God.

John then tells the story of the wedding in Cana. This is the famed water into wine miracle in 2:1-11. This was the first sign that showed his glory, and made the disciples believe in him.

In 2:12-20, this is the account of Jesus showing the authority he has, as he drives out the moneychangers from the temple courts. This is the first confrontation of the Jewish Religious Authorities vs. Jesus. At this point as they directly challenging his authority – and Jesus talks about the destruction of the temple and the rebuilding of it in 3 days. John comments on what Jesus said in 2:21-22 with:

“But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 2:22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.”  (John 2:21-22 NIV)

In 3:1-15, Jesus’ conversation with a Pharisee, Nicodemus, who speak about being born again of the spirit (3:8). Nicodemus believes in Jesus (3:2) but it seemed secret due to who he was status wise in Judaism (3:1 – at night…). Jesus in 3:5-8 says that he is the first to be born of the Spirit. As a result, those who follow will need to be born of the spirit. There is also a comparison to him as Son of Man to the snake that Moses lifted in the desert. 3:16-21 seems restates Jesus’ mission to save people, and John is speaking at this point.

In 3:22-30 is the conversation between a certain Jew (we aren’t too sure who he is) and John the Baptist about who Jesus is and why people are flocking to Jesus. John the Baptist recognises that his role must diminish as Jesus’ role increases (3:30).

And then we get to verses 31 to 36 and the first thing we see is that…

The preaching of John about Jesus:

Jesus has greater authority over everyone

Jesus has greater authority over everyone. Have a look at verse 31 with me:

““The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.”  (John 3:31 NIV)

The one from above, namely, is Jesus, who is above everyone in every way. There is no compromise to this - Jesus is the greatest! For example at his baptism in Mark’s gospel, Jesus was the one in which God said everyone was to listen to him. The words that Jesus speaks are different from what the world speaks of. The world we live in speaks another language. The reason for this is the darkness that the world lives in. In other words, the world’s rebellion and rejection of God's ways have created a dividing wall between God and the world. We of course are naturally of this world. But Jesus is greater! Because he is from above and is not tainted by the earth and it’s ways.

If Jesus is above all, then we need to recognise the authority that he has over us, and we need to make a decision about his authority - do I believe and accept him as what he rightfully is in our world, or do we not believe and reject his authority and greatness over us?

Those who accept Jesus' testimony about himself becomes a seal that shows that God is truthful

There will be those who reject the eyewitness account of Jesus according to the New Testament. But there will be those who accept the testimony that is given to us through the New Testament.

And Those who accept this testimony about Jesus becomes a seal that shows that God is truthful. Have a look with me in verses 32 to 33:

“He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 3:33 The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.”  (John 3:32-33 NIV)

What is John writing here? John is talking about the evidence given about “who” Jesus is and “what” he has done and claimed. There will be people who reject Jesus and what he claims. He is telling us that people who accept John's testimony about Jesus is equal to accepting that God is truthful. It is like a seal of approval if you like. When someone believes who Jesus is based on the evidence given through the Bible, this becomes the mark of authentication to show that God is truthful. For all of the promises of God about Jesus have come true! And people believing the testimony is the seal of the truthfulness of God. For 2 Corinthians 1:20 says that all of God's promises have found there yes in Christ Jesus.

But "how do you know God is truthful". This is answered through Jesus. God is truthful, because all of the promises that he has made about Jesus, about salvation, has been fulfilled in him! You just need to read scripture, read the Bible and see how truthful God is in doing what he says, being right about it, and not being deceptive.  Jesus is the test, not your own or my own personal experience.

Therefore, have faith in God who is truthful! He is truthful because all of the things that he has said about Jesus are true and right. So never ever doubt the truthfulness of God! Don’t put your faith in anything else, as these other gods will always be deceptive and will eventually (over a long period of time will) take you away from a true and right God. A person who has faith in God will continue to live with him at the centre of their life. That may mean that works gets cut back, so you can read the Bible and pray with others, or spend time with your family teaching them God’s ways through the Bible.

(It may even mean coming to church early, to encourage people in their walks with God and helping out with mundane church tasks.)

However, I would like to add that these external activities should always be a reflection of the inner reality of having faith in God through Jesus. These activities won’t save you – only through faith in God, will you be saved.

But Stan! What is one example of God's truthfulness? Other than what we have in John's gospel?

Jesus is not a mere prophet, but he is the Son!

Well, from the Bible, Jesus is not a mere prophet, but he is the Son that is spoken about! Have a look with me in verses 34 to 35.

“For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.”  (John 3:34-35 NIV)

Firstly, Jesus, the one whom God sent does not speak his own words. God's words and Jesus' words are one. They are inseparable. Jesus' in one sense, was like the Old Testament prophets. The Old Testament prophets spoke the words of God. And like Jesus, they had the Holy Spirit as well. However, Jesus is more than a mere prophet for, not only is he greater than everyone, including all of the prophets, but he is God's dearly loved Son, on whom God has put everything under his care and authority.

The title of God's son comes from Psalm chapter 2 (what we read earlier). And this Psalm is about God's King who will rule, even though the whole world is against him. But God also calls his earthly king his Son. So the title of "Son of God" is a kingly title. It’s also from 2 Samuel 7. And it's this Son of God who will rule and suppress any opposition, yet if you take refuge in him, you are blessed! This is the one that God spoke about through David in his Psalms. God is truthful in what he says about his Son, and people are blessed if they take refuge in him.

Jesus is not merely an example for us to live by as some would have you believe. There are people out there who say they are Christians, but they say this and this alone. However, if we only think of Jesus as purely as an example, then that says that Jesus is the benchmark by which our lives are to be modelled by, and we can do it all by ourselves! But that was never the point of Jesus or his followers. The point was that we are in darkness and we have no way of helping ourselves out of the mess we have caused our lives to be!

That's why we need to be in the on the winning team with Jesus. Be on his team and you will be safe. He is God's Son. Blessed are those who take safety in him. So don't be on the outside and be on the opposition! Be on Jesus' side. There is no neutral. There, you will see God's truthfulness in showing you his Son, his divinely appointed King, Jesus. Don't take this for granted - take shelter in the safety of God's Son, Jesus.

But are their any other benefits for me if I take shelter in Jesus? 

Jesus is life, which we can access through him alone.

Well, in Jesus is life, which we can access through him alone. Have a look with me at verse 36:

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.””  (John 3:36 NIV)

Jesus has made some serious claims about himself. As we walkthrough the book of John, we will see the claims that Jesus has made about himself, and we will see that those claims are all true. We know he is trustworthy just from what he has said and from what God has said in the past. If we believe in him and the claims he has made, we will receive eternal life. What a great thing to receive!

But look at the flip side. If you reject and disobey the Son, God's appointed King, you will remain as you are dead - and will not see life. Instead, you will be punished for rejecting the Son, because by rejecting the Son, you are rejecting God himself! And by rejecting God, you still face what we all deserve for rejecting God - his anger towards you!

The idea of God getting angry is something that is misinterpreted in today's society. Our society has been taught that God loves, I suspect because of the backlash against the fire and brimstone preaching of an earlier age, where judgement was the only thing preached. Yes, God does love! But now, society has misinterpreted God's unconditional love so much so, that we can do whatever we like, and when we die, because we are "good" people, and because God loves us unconditionally, then naturally, he will let us into heaven. But society has misinterpreted God's unconditional love. They have left out one important thing - Jesus. God's love is only unconditional, if you come to obey and believe in the Son, Jesus. But can’t God just get over it? That’s what I hear some people say about God. No – because wrongdoing needs to be dealt with. And it is dealt with through justice. That’s like saying a paedophile can get away with what he has done, and everyone, including the victim and their families need to get over it. What rubbish. Justice needs to be done. All wrongdoing is against God! And God wants justice, as it is personally against him. But in Jesus, his death satisfied God’s anger. Jesus’s death was the punishment we deserved – but he took it so that there might be a chance for us to be right with God.

There is no other way about it. You either believe and obey Jesus or reject and disobey Jesus. There is no other way. You cannot be a good person and have life, for your good works are not enough. You cannot be "spiritual" (whatever that means these days) and gain life. You must choose life, if you want it, only through Jesus and believing in who he is can you get life! Don't believe in someone else who claims to be the King. Believe in the one who is the King! Believe in Jesus and have life! Reject Jesus and have death and God's anger against you. Believe, and have life.

Conclusion:

To conclude this talk, let me end this by ending with 3 points.

Jesus is superior! Not the Ubermensch!

At the beginning of this talk, I spoke about Friedrich Nietzsche and how he wanted for individuals to be free from anything that enslaves them, with the Nietzsche’s superman rising to the top and overcoming everything that enslaves. This would make him superior in Nietzsche’s thought. However, it is, and always will be Jesus who is superior! Not the human superman! Jesus is superior because he does what God wants and says what God says, unlike the superman who does whatever he wants and wills. Jesus is from above and is automatically superior. The human superman is from the earth. Jesus is superior. Not the superman. Give Jesus the due respect that he deserves as God’s king.

We need to be free from God’s wrath, not from God.

Secondly, Jesus is also deals with the real issue at hand – not the enslavement of individuals to a broader society, but rather our need to be free from God’s wrath, not freedom from God! To be free from God’s wrath leads us to Jesus! And by believing and obeying him as the King that God has chosen, that is true freedom! Not being bound to our darkened ways and living. Not by living according to our standards and rejecting God’s rightful place in our life. That’s not freedom – that’s oppression by our sin and this leads to judgement from God. Instead, be free from God’s wrath by finding security in his King, Jesus.

Have faith in God who is truthful

And finally, have faith in God who is truthful. God has never broken any of the promises he has given to us through the Bible. He is trustworthy and reliable. So when he says “Believe in my Son”, do it. When God says “Believe in my Son or else, I am angry at you for rejecting him and me”, then do it. When God says “You have eternal life through Jesus”, then you know it’s a sure bet. Have faith in God, who is truthful and believe and do what he says.

John 3:31-36 Greek Diagram

Below is the Greek translation that I have attempted to do for this Sunday's sermon. (It's also part of my Greek Holiday Assignment).

For the uninitiated, above the Greek text, you will see some symbols. A forwards arrow indicates the subject of a verb (nominative), a backwards arrow indicates the direct object of the verb (accusative), "of" is to represent the possession of a verb (genitive) and a "2/4" represents the indirect object of a verb (dative). A single underline indicates an infinite verb and an underline with a strikethrough indicates a finite verb.

Feel free to correct me! (I'm still learning all this stuff!)

      →
31 Ὁ ἄνωθεν ἐρχόμενος (ἐπάνω πάντων) ἐστίν•
The one coming from above (he) is above all.
    →
    ὁ ὢν (ἐκ τῆς γῆς) (ἐκ τῆς γῆς) ἐστιν
    the one existing from the earth is from the earth
                                        →
    καὶ (ἐκ τῆς γῆς) λαλεῖ. ὁ (ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ) ἐρχόμενος [(ἐπάνω πάντων) ἐστίν]• 
    and he speaks from the earth. The one coming from heaven is above all.

        32 ὃ ἑώρακεν καὶ ἤκουσεν τοῦτο μαρτυρεῖ,
        this one bears testimony which he saw and heard

                    ←                 of                   
        καὶ τὴν μαρτυρίαν αὐτοῦ οὐδεὶς λαμβάνει. 
        and no one (he, she, it) receives his testimony.
            →              of                 ←
        33 ὁ λαβὼν αὐτοῦ τὴν μαρτυρίαν ἐσφράγισεν
        The one receiving him certifies the testimony
                →    of   
        ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἀληθής ἐστιν. 
        that God is (of) truth.                
                                                  →           ←           of
            34 ὃν γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ θεοῦ λαλεῖ,
            For who God has sent (he) speaks the word of God,
                                                                   →
                οὐ γὰρ (ἐκ μέτρου) δίδωσιν τὸ πνεῦμα. 
                For (not) out of the Father gives the Spirit.
                         →                     ←
                35 ὁ πατὴρ ἀγαπᾷ τὸν υἱὸν
                The father loves the son
                                                                           of
                     καὶ πάντα δέδωκεν (ἐν τῇ χειρὶ) αὐτοῦ. 
                     And all he gives in his hand
                          →                                               ←      ←
                     36 ὁ πιστεύων (εἰς τὸν υἱὸν) ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον•
                     The one believing in the son has eternal life
                                                   2/4                         ←
                         ὁ δὲ ἀπειθῶν τῷ υἱῷ οὐκ ὄψεται ζωήν,
                         but the one disobeying the Son will not see life
                                          →         of
                             ἀλλ᾿ ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ μένει (ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν.)
                             but the wrath of God remains upon him.

John 1:1-18 Sermon

The audio link can be found here soon.

Let me begin by praying:

Father,
You have given us so many things. Please Lord, we ask that by your mercy, you give us understanding to hear your word today. Please remove any distractions, and help us to solely focus on you.
And we ask this in your Son Jesus' name,
Amen.


The problem with creation

When we read of the creation account in Genesis chapter 1, we read of a world that is good and ordered. We read of a world where God speaks and something is created. God declares that everything he created in this world is good and right and in an ordered fashion. The world was full of life as it functioned according to the way God designed it. However, for those who know the story or continue reading through the rest of the Bible, it does not end there. The world became darkened as us men, representative of the earth rejected God's rule and replaced God's ways with our own. We should know - we are part of this and we see this everyday. All we need to do is to turn on our TV to see all the death, destruction and total and utter disorder that is in our world. We even witness this in our very lives. And that's the problem with creation - even though the world created was good, darkness still reigns on this earth and the story of the Bible is a story about a world in total darkness against God. Our world has many social, political, physical and spiritual issues. But what is the answer? What can solve these issues? Some solutions that have been put forward are things such as "getting rid of anything religious all together", especially since Sept 11. Or celebrating the common good that humanity has will help solve these issues. I've even heard of people meditating away evil or thinking positively, such as what is suggested in the New York Times best seller "The Secret". But do these things work? NO! No they do not work. The atheists have been pushing and promoting a religion free society with their reason approach. I agree, we do need reason, but reason must have it's anchor in something higher and better than ourselves because we are faulty. Atheism fails to see humanity's faults and forgets it's own faults of the past, with names such as Pol Pot, Stalin and Hitler, all atheists mind you, who have killed millions of people. The Secret suggests that we just need to think positively and everything will work out – but the big issue, is that it does not deal with the real issue of why we are faulty – our natural inclination of being against and opposed to God in every way, something the Bible calls “sin”. But what is the solution? What is the real solution to all the world's ills? According to the writer of this book, it is the word who is the solution to all the worlds ills. It is the Word that is the solution to the problem of death, destruction and disorder.

The Answer: The Word

The light that is the life giver

For the Word is the light that gives life. Have a look with me in John 1:1-5:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:2 He was with God in the beginning. 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:1-5 NIV)

John 1 says that there is a definite beginning of world history, where a person called the Word was with God at that time and the word is God. The word is the focal point by which everything was made and there is nothing in the world that has not been made without the Word. Not only did he create life and be the focus by which life is brought about, but he himself is life. And as a result, in a world that is darkened against God, he is the light that has appeared amongst men and is effectively, their light. The light stood out from a darkened world that is against him and the one who he is united with - God, and he was never overcome by the world.

This beginning is like a really good intro. That is, something that is big, something that is colossal, and something that sets the scene for something important. I don't know if you have seen the movie Saving Private Ryan which came out a couple of years ago. It's a very graphic and real account of what World War 2 was like. But the movie begins with a bang. It begins with a bang, because the story it wants to tell is something of enormous importance. And here, it is something important. It is something, so important, that we need to take note of this guy. He was with God in the beginning and he himself is God. Your very existence is dependant on him.

Therefore, be grateful for your very existence as you live, because through him, you were made. Be grateful for the things that he has created for you. The fact that you are here at church is something to be grateful for. Be grateful to God for everything in your life.

But how do we know this is all true? How reliable is John the author of this book?

Well, John the author of this book shifts from talking about the background of the Word to someone who is another reliable source.

John is a witness to the light

John the Baptist is a witness to the light because he also knew that life was in the light. Have a look in verses 6 to 8 with me:
1:6 “There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 1:7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 1:8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” (John 1:6-8 NIV)

The John he is talking about here is John the Baptist who appears throughout the gospels and is the one who prepares the way for the one who is greater than he is. The writer John says that John the Baptist was not the one, but only showed people that the Word is the one.

When someone says something positive about another person, you know that there is something good about the person they are speaking about. We do it with sports stars, movie stars, and other people who we may consider to be great. Although we may sometimes disagree with "how great" that particular person is, there is some truth to their greatness. John the Baptist came not to take away the attention from the light, but to make sure that all of the attention was on the light. Why? Because John knew who the light was - he was the life giver to people in a very dark world.

OK – but so what? What is so good about the light? How exactly does it benefit you and me?

The right to become children of God

Those who received the light in the world have the right to become children of God, because of God and no one else. Have a look in verses 9 to 13:

1:9 “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. 1:11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 1:13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:9-13 NIV)

There will be those in the world who will reject the light. The vast majority of the world is totally against the light and do not recognise or acknowledge him for what or who he really is - God. However, there is hope - there will be people who will recognise and acknowledge who he is and what he has done. And as a result, it will be those people who will have the right to become children of God. And to be become a child of God, is a result of being born of God. That is, there is nothing you can do in order for you to become a child of God. It's all God's doing. Natural descent, that is, being part of the nation of Israel (or a type of inheritance) will not make you a child of God, or you deciding one day that you want to become a child of God will not make you one, and not by general consensus amongst you and your fellow people will enable you to be a child of God. It's all God, and his will in making you to become born of him.

You can only be a child of God through the means by which God has said. Could you imagine any other way? I know in this world people from all walks of life will say that you can become a child a God through many ways and through various means. That's like saying I can become one of your children anyway I like and you don't get a say in it. The only way you can become a child of God is through the light, because that is the way God has made it.

Therefore, you need to receive the light - that is, to recognise that he is God and that you need to submit to him as your boss, no longer living your own way, but having him at his rightful place in your life as Boss. And there is a price for not receiving the light – death and exclusion. For that is what we all deserve. So choose life through the light & become one of God's children.

But all along, I have not mentioned who the Word or the light is. Neither has the author John so far. So who is he? John the author of this book and John the Baptist, both say that the Word, the Light is Jesus. As we continue through John's book about Jesus, we will continue to see that the Word and the light, is Jesus Christ himself.

Grace and Truth

And The Word's (God's) glory is revealed in his character of grace and truth come through Jesus Christ. Have a look in verses 14 to 18 with me:

1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 1:15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” 1:16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.” (John 1:14-18 NIV)
John is now spelling out the mission that the Word will be doing. Firstly, John tells us that the word became a man and that he lived, he breathed, he slept, he ate among the people - in another words, he was fully human in every way, while he did not lose any of his God-hood, as we would think for say Hercules, who was half god and half man in Greek mythology. But the Word, Jesus, is fully God and fully human at the same time. And this appearance on earth is far better than what Israel could have ever imagined. When Israel roamed in the desert for 40 years, God dwelled with them, but only with manifestations of a cloud and of fire, and even the great prophet Moses, could not see his glory, and even when he asked to see God's glory, Moses could only see the backside of God and God had to cover Moses as he passed by him. Yet for the writer John, John the Baptist and others, they saw God's glory in it's entirety. They saw God's glory through Jesus, as he fully revealed God's character and his own character – grace and truth.

Not only was he glorious because he came from the God the Father, but because the glory that he displayed was the character of God - grace and truth. And this grace and truth, is made fully known through Jesus, the Word who became flesh, who at this present time is at the Father's side.

Jesus is God's full revelation. He has made God known to all of the world. He has made God's grace and truth known throughout all the world through what he has done on the cross.

And as God's full revelation, if you want to know God and gain life, you can only do this through knowing Jesus. Not knowing of Jesus, but knowing him. There is no other way. John is using very exclusive language, which may make us feel uncomfortable, as we live in an anything and everything goes culture. But the Bible is quite clear – only through Jesus can you know God and have life. So know Jesus through what is written about him through the Bible.

The solution to creation

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The word is full of truth and grace, and is fully revealed through Jesus Christ. The Word is Jesus, the light that is life is Jesus. That is the solution to the problems of this world. Not by eradicating religion or any type of spirituality all together as the atheists would have it, not by thinking positively as the New York Time's best-seller "the Secret" would tell you to do, and not by celebrating similarities as our anything and everything goes friends would have it and nor is it by meditating away the world's evils. The solution to problem of our world is found only and exclusively through Jesus. Death, pain and suffering is all too real in this world and in our own very lives. Jesus is the answer to our darkness, for in Him is life, and he is the light of men, shining out of the darkness. You cannot do this on your own. You need to be born of God, to have life. And the coming of Jesus signals a time when the world will be free from evil, free from suffering and freedom from pain. That is the picture given to us in the book of Revelation. But this restoration, can only be done through Jesus, for everything was created through him and for him.

Let's pray:

Our Father,

We thank you that it is through the Word, Jesus, that we are able to know you and have life.

Father, please enable us to know you more as our days on earth continue.

Father, as we are constantly confronted with suffering, pain and death, please Lord, help us to know you more and look forward to a time when all of these things will be swept away, and where your children will be with you forever.

And we pray these things in your Son Jesus' name, Amen.