A Christian Manifesto (Part 1 of 3)

Most of us are familiar with sermon on Mount but what about Jesus sermon on the plane in Luke's gospel just like the better-known sermon from Matthew's gospel. Jesus calls for us to embrace a radical lifestyle. But how can anyone live out the truths of Christ teaching today on Truth for Life weekend. Alastair beg explains where to begin were in Luke chapter 6 here's Alastair gracious father we pray now that with our Bibles open before us the spirit of God might be our teacher for this earnestly plead what futility to use that time simply waiting upon the meanderings of a man's mind and what an immense thought that through the voice of a mere nine in taking up the Bible we may hear the voice of God is this which gives his expectation and humbles us greatly as we pray in Christ's name.

Amen. I begin by asking you a question. Which would you rather be. You can choose one of these two lists are for either pool or hungry. Sad and hated our rich wealth and happy and popular and what is our answer to that question mattered, not only for the affairs of time, but if the answer to that question, and upon our answer to that question. Hinged all of the matter about eternal destiny. I want to show you this morning that it actually does now in order to do so going to look at what we're going to do as a Christian manifesto, a Christian manifesto manifesto is a public declaration or proclamation of policy that is issued by a monarch or by head of state or by a representative of a company or organization. We understand and hear in the verses that are before us from verse 20 through to the end of chapter 6 we have what is essentially a manifesto for Christian living that is issued by Christ to his arm.

Monarch, the head of the church. Now it is important for us to acknowledge immediately that were coming to material for many of us is familiar this and the material that we find in Matthew's gospel which runs to some hundred and seven dollars as opposed to the faculty that are before us here is known even by people who have a scanned understanding of the Bible and abetting knowledge audit is immediately dangerous and I want to explain to you why because the material were about to consider is regarded by many as simply a series of external commands which will be strictly an adherent to rigorously provide the means of entry into Christian faith and Christian living.

In other words people treat this aspect of the New Testament in much the same way that they are tempted to treat the 10 Commandments in the old, that is, instead of seeing the 10 Commandments as a means of confronting eyes with our sin and our need of a Savior, the 10 Commandments are viewed as the latter of which men and women are endeavoring to climb so that they may then be welcomed by God, having done so well out of the tenfold tests in the same way the issues that are before is now in our study and will follow in our studies are issues on external matters in the minds of many, and are dreadfully misconstrued. Perhaps we will each be helped, as I have been helped by this statement from Martin Luther. Of course, in his pre-converted days as a religious monk knew a great deal about, hoping that external observance would put them in a right relationship with God.

And this is what he says the verses we are not about to study Christ is saying nothing in this sermon about how we become Christians but only about the works and fruits that no one can do unless he is a Christian and in a state of grace, not a mechanism whereby a man becomes a Christian or a woman comes to faith in Christ. But as the very emblems of a life in a state of grace as having been embraced by Christ. This is very very important because there are many individuals who are well-meaning unkindly. People and they are kept from trusting Christ on account of the fact that they are well-meaning and they are kindly indeed. I'm speaking to some of you already in this phraseology you are well-meaning and gracious in your deeds. You have an interest in religious things or you would not be here.

You have given out regularly to various causes and you have been cherishing the idea in the back of your mind, that by means of this some more. You are gaining or have already gained entry into God's eternal kingdom.

In other words, instead of trusting in Christ to do something that you cannot do, you are trusting in the things that by your own endeavors.

You have been able to do and consequently you are a very difficult group of people to proclaim the gospel well-meaning unkindly. People trusting in what well-meaning unkindly. People are able to do. Now the other end of the spectrum, there is another group that is equally held from trusting Christ and for the very opposite reason. This is a group of individuals who believe that the Christian message.

It's somehow automatically that either by dint of my family background or not religious heritage or the process through which I've come or having been born in the continental United States. Whatever else it may be.

We have come to the assumption that the automatic disbursement and benefit of Christianity somehow just been showered upon us and as a result of that we do not trust Christ.

One group fails to trust Christ because of all the are trying to do. On the other group fails to trust Christ, believing that there is nothing to do and therefore we have to eradicate both of those myths Christian faith has no comfort, no consolation it offers to men and women no power and no purpose apart from our belief in its truth apart from our own personal trust in the truth of the gospel. That is why you see Jesus speaking to men and women individually and calling them to faith and trust in himself when you read and reread as I hope you will. This sermon that is before is in the some therapy versus that.

I think it will become perfectly clear that this sermon establishes the absolute necessity of something dramatic happening in the life of an individual.

If they're going to be enabled to embrace this truth and live it out because if we are honest and I hope that we are when we answer the question, what would I like to be. Most of us would rather be rich than poor, well fed and hungry happy rather than sad and popular, rather than hated, and indeed some of us, all of us to reserve extended another set up the totality of our existence in order to ensure that we are that and not the other.

Now what I ask you, are we going to do if we good everything upside down.

If our value system is so dreadfully skewed if the things that we are regarding as the issues that make us are really the things that break see that is why Jesus when confronted by the questions of a very religious man in John chapter 3 cut to the very heart of the matter. After Nicodemus shows up in system a good master. We know that your prophet sent from God or a teacher sent from God because nobody could possibly do the kind of things you're doing. If God were not with him a very gracious introduction. I'm sure you will agree Jesus is. Verily, verily I sent to you. You must be born again and fight.

If you're not born again Nicodemus you will build to see the kingdom of God and Nicodemus. If you're not born again you never really enter the kingdom of God. In other words, you can go in there as you are. I know you're a religious man. I know you well-meaning. I know you're fairly vociferous when it comes to the 10 Commandments, etc. but you are in need of a new birth you are in need of the transformation from the inside out.

One of the reasons that the church is so patently ineffective is not because of an absence of attendance but it is on account of the fact that many who are meticulous in their adherence to attendance are themselves unchanged and so the cultural tone is surely with such a great mass of humanity. They want to be doing more than their doing what of what you have is simply a mass of humanity. Why would a mass of humanity be able to work on this very much.

What if a significant portion of the mass of humanity is comprised of people who are trying to do everything they need to do in order to be accepted with God and therefore not trusting Christ and another group of them is made up of people who believe that their automatically forgiven and they never need to trust Christ and that trusting Christ is the key to the whole operation and people don't trust Christ everything that I might be the true of the truth of the reported multimillion people were apparently born a grand in the United States of America showing up in trying hard to be acquainted with being born again is sitting out there thinking that somehow or another eye-catching in the air to be acquainted with being born again.

No, the comfort and consolation of the gospel accrues only to those who pecan in personal faith and trust to embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior. In other words, unless by God's grace we have discovered a new life then we will not be able to live out this radical new lifestyle. Now I see all that to say this sermon before, is this morning is not a call to pull up your religious socks and yet it is regarded in that way and it is preached in that way and countless situations and indeed it is one of the most bedeviling aspects of people's attendance at church because they go to church and I well-meaning individual speaks to another to well-meaning individuals and essentially says this I know that you're having a dreadful time but if you would just pull up your religious socks and try your best and go out and see if you can do a little better this week than than you did last week and I'll see you next week and I'll tell you this infinite report results to make about the poor soul gets out of the car park gets in the concert. I don't know how many more Sundays. I can be exhorted to pull up my socks.

My sponsor so far up my legs and there's no one else to pull there is nothing else to grab hold up because that is not the message of the gospel. So don't read this sermon and say what it is supposed to do this and this and this and this. When I do this it's all fine. No, only in the lives of the disciples of Jesus who have known the transforming touch of Christ will and can these principles be displayed. What then are these characteristics of genuine Christian discipleship because he is speaking to his disciples.

As you will see that in verse 20 which we are trying to come.

One of the followers of Jesus supposed to look like.

The question is what are the followers of Jesus supposed to look like the answer in one word is different. Different from whom different from those who are not the followers of Jesus. And when you read the history of the people of God.

When you read the history of the church throughout the Chronicles of time, you discover the church is been at its most effective when the people of God have been so radically different from their surrounding pagan neighbors.

In fact, in Matthew chapter 6. Referring to the babbling of the pagans when it comes to the issue of prayer.

Jesus gives very helpful directive when he says do not be like them. In other words, be different from the no from all eternity.

We discover that God's purpose to have a people of his own and the people who are his own on his own there to be called his holy people and the word holy essentially means set apart from set apart to set apart from sin from the world. From my own propensities and set apart to he who is in himself.

Holiness, I can take time to work my way through all of redemptive history with your Junior be relieved of that. But let me just give this to you in a couple of Old Testament illustrations. First, in Leviticus chapter 18 and then in Psalm 106. In Leviticus 18 the Lord said to Moses, verse one. Speak to the Israelites and say to them.

I am the Lord your God you must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan. When I'm bringing you do not follow their practices, you must obey my laws. Be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God, keep my decrees and laws for the man who obeys them will live by them.

I am the Lord.

And then he goes on to provide in that immediate cultural context express explicit practicalities in the outworking of that principle. What happened when a couple things happen. One of things that happened was that the people of God God in externalism whereby they determined that all was interested in was that they made sure that he kept all these external rules and regulations. God was sending his profits to them again and again and again to see the issue is not out there, the issue is in here he send the prophet Jeremiah to see there's coming a day when I will send my spirit and I will write my law upon your hearts that you don't come to me just with the externals of burnt offerings and sacrifices and all those things as if somehow or another I was delighted by that externalism, though he says that stuff is only a rep is only relevant. Inasmuch as it is an expression of a transformed heart of a heart that is in June with me.

That was the one thing that he raised externalism and the other was that they were absorbed by the surrounding peoples time and time again. For example, in chronicling the history of the people of God. In Psalm 106, the psalmist having spoken about the redemption from Egypt says of the people of God but they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel in the desert. They gave into their craving in the wasteland they put God to the test.

Verse 21. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done the great things in Egypt and in verse 35 summarizing their predicament, but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs and you see what's happening here. Throughout history, that is, that God says your my people. You belong to me. You're all mine.

I want you to live from your heart out in relationship to the principles that I provide the people of God say you know what Lester's doing externally. Make sure were clean on the outside and we can do whatever we like.

Behind closed doors to begin to operate on a double standard. God sends his profits. As you can do that. The external is only relevant provided the internal is true. The only the only reason for men to walk around with a wedding ring on his finger after 24 years of marriage is if it is representative of his faithfulness over 24 years. If he's a liar and a fraud on the cheek and take the external often admit what you are but you're allowed to wear the ring if it represents the reality of fidelity and integrity in relationship that's what gives the external that's what gives it reality it is the internal truth in the same way the people of God are wearing all the stuff dressing up attending all the right church services listening to all the correct sermons and God sends his brother to Mrs. you know I the only reason that is valid, as if it represents a heart in touch with me to feel the sting of that. I do James.

By the time we come to the New Testament is buying the syndrome. He says to them, don't you realize you do them. I'm writing that friendship with the world is enmity with God says you can do this double standard you can be playing a game over here and playing the game over there.

You can be Saturday night over here on Sunday morning and this you can be amassed during the week in your school and then trying to play the game on Sunday is incongruous. It's not impossible, but it is totally incongruous.

Let the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart be acceptable in the sight of God.

Peter says the same thing your chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a people belonging to himself. First Peter chapter 2 verses 11 and 12. He says you know when you are your aliens and your strangers aliens and strangers. And I urge you to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul and live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may actually see your good deeds and glorify God in the daily visits.

As in other words, when we spend time amongst our pagan friends. It is not an opportunity for us to be like our pagan friends when, like our pagan friends in the sense that we breathe the same air that we will probably wear similar close except in extreme circumstances that we will drive some of our cars and live in similar houses. But once those externals are tackled when it comes to the core value system of the Christian. Although we live amongst the pagans.

We do not live like the pagans, and the reason the largest reason for the ineffectiveness of contemporary Christianity is a resident resolve seriously. First of all on my part.

The radical difference that Jesus calls for within our Christian pilgrimage. We are at the end of 1/4 of a century of congratulating ourselves for being able to go amongst our pagan friends and safe you know what just the same as you and Dave come back and said you know what I think you're absolutely right for what right does the Christian businessman who cheats on his income tax have to speak to his buddy in the office about integrity, not what right does the Christian professing young person who sleeps with her boyfriend have to say to their friends when they're out with them on an evening about morality absolutely none.

What does the embittered backbiting, rigid horrible mouth woman have to say to her friends about the beauty and power in transforming grace of Jesus when all he ever get from her when there with her.

His victory all in criticism and enmity.

She has absolutely nothing to say why because she is the exact same and indeed love was the degree to which that is true, calls us to do what Paul says examine yourselves to see whether you are all the faith you going to get to the end of chapter 60 test deal. He says you call me Lord, Lord, and you do not do what I tell you what you think you're doing, says Jesus going to all those services preaching, although sermons back attending all those conferences getting your photograph and all those brochures.

Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I tell you you're supposed to be different.

He says the same laugh at the same jokes you watch the same films you embrace the same lifestyle is the difference. That's what guards ask, have a sneaking suspicion that's what my pagan name. Just exactly why is it Alister that I'm supposed to believe your Christ followers of Jesus we are supposed to be different Talisker bread with part one of our message. A Christian manifesto, your listing to Truth for Life. We can our lesson today reminds us that as believers we belong to God's law is written on our hearts. We been changed from the inside out.

That's the good news of the gospel, but many people find that news hard to believe.

So today we want to recommend a book that unpacks the gospel message. It's titled the all sufficient God and it's written by Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones it's a study that comes from Isaiah chapter 40 Isaiah examines why people in his day struggled with unbelief in this book Lloyd Jones shows that today's struggles are no different than he points us to God and to his role in our salvation. He reminds us that God not only gives us a message. He also helps us leave it find out more about the book the all sufficient God. When you visit Truth for Life.org now if you're not listening to Truth for Life on our mobile app today or you get to download just a reminder it's completely free. You can search Truth for Life in your app store. The app allows you to listen to the program each day, listen to any message in Alister's entire teaching library and read the daily devotional. The app makes it easy for you to share your favorite messages with a friend so search Truth for Life in the app store and downloaded today about looking thanks for listing. Join us next week when Alister explains how poverty, hunger and sadness could be blessings in disguise.

The Bible teaching of Alister Brigg is furnished by Truth for Life Learning is for Living