10-09-2022 – “Part Six: Hear and Obey, the Eternal Way”
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October 9, 2022 (AM INSERT)
“Part Six: Hear and Obey, the Eternal Way”
Luke 6:27-49
Read Luke 6:46-49…
46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
47 Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
This parable at the end of the sermon on the mount is the culmination of Jesus’ message to the most religious people in the world (at that time), people who had been set apart by the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth in order to serve and honor Him; but their religion, Judaism, got in the way.
Look again (Luke 6:46),
Jesus says, “Why do you call Me Lord but do not do what I tell you.” Jesus isn't just a good teacher, He is God and He is to be worshipped. He is not only to be believed, He is to be obeyed; in fact obeying Him is synonymous with loving Him.
Luke 14:15,
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
Luke 14:21,
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
Luke 14:23,
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our [home] with him.”
See John 6:29…
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
The crowd who had been with Him the day before, when Jesus took five barley loaves and two fish and fed 5000 men, said to Him, ‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’ [i.e., what is required to be made acceptable to God?] Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God [i.e., this is what is required], that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’”
Jesus said to His disciples
(John 16:8-9),
“When He [the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth] comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me.”
The conviction of God's Spirit concerning God’s Son, causes us to recognize, acknowledge, and repent of our sin, for it is sin that separates us from God.
You must realize that you are a sinner and seek forgiveness, for only then can you be saved. This doesn’t mean you just admit your sin, or have a moment of silence about it; you must be convicted in your heart [your inner person, your spirit, the ID or EGO] to the point that you have genuine remorse and sorrow over your sin, seeking God's mercy through Christ to save you.
Many say they are followers of Christ, but they don’t obey Him, so Jesus gives an illustration showing what an obedient person’s life is like
(Luke 6:47-48),
“Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built."
The first man in Luke’s parable builds his house (his life) on the foundation of God’s Word: God’s sovereign, authoritative, eternal, and irrevocable Word
(Romans 11:29),
“the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
God’s “gifts” [His promise that those who believe in Him receive forgiveness for sin and eternal life] is granted on behalf of God’s great love for us, His unmerited favor/grace.
The “calling” spoken of here, refers to God’s divine desire for you to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth; everyone, before believing in Jesus, is a condemned sinner, but after believing, you are a forgiven sinner, eternally saved by God’s Son..
Acts 2:21,
“And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Acts 4:12,
“There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
1Timothy 2:3-4,
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men [women, children of age] to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Jesus is the Truth
(John 14:6),
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Jesus is the only way to heaven, the only truth of God, and the only eternal life from God. Through believing in Him, i.e, obeying His word, we our set free from sin’s curse and condemnation forever.
See Romans 3:10-12;
10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
Romans 3:23-24;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
Romans 6:23;
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8;
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 10:9-10,
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Romans 10:13;
13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
1John 1:9.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The angel Gabriel came to Joseph in a dream
(Matthew 1:20-21)
20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
concerning Mary’s pregnancy saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Jesus [Gk], Yeshua [Heb], speak of God’s Servant, our Deliverer/Rescuer, this is the name above all names, meaning God’s Salvation, the Savior.
A believer's life is safe and secure
(Luke 6:48),
48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
because of the “foundation” of a Christian’s life is Jesus..
1Corinthians 3:11,
“No man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
2Timothy 2:19,
“The firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His.’”
In Luke 6:48,
48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
the word “rock” is a metaphor for God’s Son
(2Samuel 22:2),
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.”
Isaiah 26:4,
“In God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.”
In the NT “stone” [or rock] is a metaphor for Christ and all who believe in Him.
1Peter 2:5-6,
“You, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [As the Scripture says]: [Isaiah 28:16] ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
In and through God’s Son, we are established and made steadfast; everyone who hears, believes, and obeys the gospel of Christ (that He died for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead on the third day, and is coming back to get us), that person is safe and eternally secure, and has been set free from sin’s curse.
James 1:22-25,
“prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”
Speaking of Jesus Christ,
Hebrews 5:9 says,
“Having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.”
Anyone who only hears but does not obey the Word of God concerning Jesus, is like the man
(Luke 6:49)
49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
who builds his house [his life] without any foundation [i.e., without Christ]; and when the judgement comes, that man will be eternally condemned.
Hebrews 9:27,
“It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes [the] judgment.”
Many (so-called) Christians build their lives on false doctrine, instead of the solid foundation of God’s Word. This produces “converts” who may look like genuine believers, but they have not believed nor obeyed the message of Christ
(John 3:36),
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
True Christianity is not just knowing certain facts about God, or doing certain things that look good; true Christianity is a spiritual and eternal relationship with God based on having responded to, believed in, and acted upon the truth of God’s Word.
2Corinthians 13:5,
“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?”
You can look like a Christian, talk like a Christian, walk like a Christian, but when times get hard, when the godless world and the storms of this life come against you, what will keep you standing? Participating in religious rituals and/or doing philanthropic works cannot produce righteousness, and therefore, cannot save you.
See Matthew 7:13-14…
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
All people have a choice, there are two ways to live your life: there is a wide gate/door onto a broad path/road, and a small gate/door onto a narrow path/road. Jesus commands, “Enter through the narrow gate,” i.e., choose Me,” and yet, most of the people in this world will enter through the wide gate [religion, works, self] onto the broad road [the road to hell]; and only a few find the small gate [Jesus] and enter onto the narrow road [the way to heaven].
Only a few find it, because most people are unwilling to acknowledge their sin, let alone repent and believe in Jesus. They think they are good enough, as they are.
The Jews believe, as descendants of Abraham, they will enter into heaven. But entrance into heaven has nothing to do with human ancestry, ritualistic religion, or strict adherence to the law of God.
The two gates in this parable lead to two ways of life: one with God, and one without God; two different destinies: one in hell, and one in heaven.
The broad path is easy, indulgent, self-centered, with very few requirements or restrictions, where sin is tolerated and truth is continually modified, redefined, suppressed, or rejecterd. This path symbolizes the absence of all things God.
The narrow path can be difficult, there are restrictions, constraints, requirements, those who enter this path must give up everything in exchange for Christ, and there are only a few who are willing to do this. This path symbolizes the presence of all things God.
God's way of salvation is simple, but it is not easy; those who follow the Lord will find trouble in this world.
2Timothy 3:12,
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”
Jesus told His followers
(John 15:20),
"they persecuted Me, and they will also persecute you."
The broad road leads to death [the absence of all things God]; the narrow road leads to life [the presence of all things God]. Every religious belief system in the world, apart from Christianity, leads to eternal condemnation and hell.
Islam rejects the idea of redemption, for Muslims believe and teach that salvation depends solely upon man’s actions and attitudes, not on the work of God.
Hinduism seeks escape from the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth through many reincarnations to final salvation, which is dependent upon and expedited by acquired knowledge, expressed by devotion through works or meditation.
Buddhism sees ignorance rather than sin as the roadblock to salvation. The way of salvation, the end to continual birth-death-rebirth cycles, is reached through levels of meditation, through which one is able to supposedly acquire their spiritual self.
Mormonism teaches that Jesus was a spirit-child of Elohim (the God of planet earth), and through obedience and devotion Jesus was able to attain Godhood. They believe in many gods, all of whom were once mortals, until they attained Godhood, like Jesus did.
Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus is not God; but instead He is Michael the archangel, a created being of God, like all the rest of mankind.
Christian Science teaches that Jesus is the human man, Christ the divine idea, Jesus is not eternal or sovereign, nor is He one with the Father.
Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is God the Son, Lord and Savior: crucified, resurrected and coming again.
Both men in Lukes’s parable heard Jesus’ words: one man believed in and obeyed; the other man did not believe or obey.
There is a common way to live in this world: being religiously self-righteous, rejecting God’s authority, living apart from the knowledge of God, traveling on the path that leads to destruction and death in hell.
Proverbs 14:12,
“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
There is an uncommon way to live in this world: admitting you are a sinner, repenting of sin, believing in Jesus Christ for salvation; this path leads to eternal life in heaven.
John 10:9-10,
Jesus said, “I am the door [the only way to God]; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved… I came that they [those who believe in Me] may have life [eternal life], and have it abundantly” [beyond comprehension].
John 14:2-3,
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
John 1:12,
“as many as received Him [Jesus], to those who believe in His name [Savior], He gave the right to become children of God,”
(1John 3:2),
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
Revelation 21:3-5
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
Revelation 21:3-5 says God will, at a future time, live among His people in the new heavens, on a new earth, where “there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain [or death]; [for] the first [order of] things have passed away” and God says, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
1Corinthians 2:9,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, [things] God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Do you love God? Have you heard and obeyed God’s Word concerning Eternal Life? That Jesus Christ is God’s Son, Lord and Savior, and everyone who believes in Him will be saved!
Pastor Mike
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