Sermon Select
What Happens to Persons Who Never Hear the Name Jesus Christ? 11/1/98
John 3:16-21
Page 1554 Come Alive Bible
JESUS CHRIST is living proof that God loves you AND the whole world. Jesus, Himself said, “God so loved the WORLD He gave His only begotten Son…”
Why did God do that? Two quick answers are deserved.
One, God is love (I John 4:8). The very nature of love is to give. He being the personification of love fulfilled His nature and gave.
Second, He had to give because there was no other way to have a restored relationship with us. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ” (Romans 6:23).
The expression “wages of sin” refers to the big pay off made by sin. In today’s carnal world market the wages of sin can be quite high but there are no benefits and retirement is pure hell.
Likewise, the “free gift of God” means the free gift given us by God. It is without cost to us but it costs Christ dearly.
Both “death” and the “gift” are earned.
Death is earned by the sinner. The gift is earned for the sinner.
The person who in faith trusts Christ receives the most for the least. Such a person receives everlasting life for nothing.
“Everlasting life” means fellowship with God through Jesus Christ through all eternity.
On one recent Sunday I was asked by three unrelated persons about what happens to the person who never hears the name of Jesus Christ. That is a legitimate question. Often as in these cases the question is posed hoping for a simple one sentence answer. There is an answer but it is neither one sentence or simple.
We have so much and know so much; but how about others in far away places like Zaire, Sri Lanka, and Guyana? What happens to those who never know the name of Jesus: the Hottentot, Inue, and Lapplander? What about those of previous generations who never heard the gospel?
There has always been and there is more evangelism than the world recognizes and reports. For example, after Christ’s resurrection, a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit happened at the celebration of a feast called Pentecost. Acts 2: 5-11 lists the languages of 18 different languages spoken there. Years before Alexander the Great laid siege to Jerusalem. The priest came out of the city to greet him with the Book of Daniel and convinced him Daniel wrote of him. Thereafter he carried a large contingency of Jews with him in his world conquest. They were scattered over most of the known world. They learned the languages of their adopted countries but returned to the land of their ancestors to celebrate Pentecost. Many of these were saved when they heard of the resurrection of Christ. Extra-Biblical sources tell of a great wave of evangelism that swept the world in the first century as these people carried the gospel back to their adopted lands.
A letter from Pleny the Elder to Emperor Trajan referred to the large number of believers throughout the area.
Peter and Thaddaeus worked in Persia where King Agbar became a zealous follower of Christ and many people in his realm were converted.
Pontius of Alexandria went to India in 190 AD where he found many Christians resulting from the work of Matthew in that region.
In the 6th Century the Nestorians went to China as evangelists. For years there were more believers than non-believers in China. This continued to be true until the emergence of the Khans.
Globally our Lord has been at work throughout the ages. He is presently.
Traditional mission fields are experiencing marvelous growth. These are countries where there are between 15,000 and 100,000 converts a year with 75 to 200 new churches being started a year. Some of these are in Korea, the Philippines, India, Mexico, and Brazil.
Some traditional mission fields in which there is great revival going on are Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Uganda.
There are people groups being reached as never before in non-traditional mission areas. In Cambodia large numbers are being saved and churches started.
In one people group in India amid great persecution 400 new churches were started last year.
In China similar growth is being experienced among certain people groups.
In North Africa there is a house church in every town and village.
In Kazakhstan there is a bright movement of God in spite of efforts to stifle and disrupt the work.
In the Middle East, in Iran particularly, there is a great movement of the spirit currently.
This is a sampling of what the Lord is doing all over the world which He loves.
Today as in those days more people are saved than the world cares to report. Still the question lingers; how about those who have never heard the gospel. Those who live in areas where we have not exported the gospel. In the next few moments a Biblical answer will be offered. Five points are needed to answer the question. Note them please.
I. THE DOCTRINE OF DIVINE ESSENCE.
This point of beginning is the highest level possible. It is the character of God. One characteristic of God is absolute righteousness. That means God cannot sin. He never has an improper motive. Our human righteousness conduct is relative; that is, sometimes we act righteously and sometimes we don’t. God is consistently absolute righteous. That means He has never been nor can He ever be unfair or unjust to anyone. He is incapable of being unfair. All people of all ages are in the hands of a just and righteous loving God.
Install it on the hard drive of your mental mainframe and store it in permanent memory: God can not be unfair, and God can not be wrong.
God wanted to get so intimately involved in opening the door to heaven that He manifested Himself on earth in the person of Jesus Christ. He is defined and described as “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Get the message. He is identified as “our great God and Savior.” This answers the question as to who Jesus Christ was.
Romans 9:5 defines Jesus as “Christ…who is over all, the eternally blessed God.”
II. THE DOCTRINE OF UNLIMITED ATONEMENT
Atonement is not a word in the working vocabulary of most moderns. The word means reconciliation or to make peace between two parties. It refers to a sacrificial offering to remove the effect of sin. In the New Testament it refers to reconciliation between God and humanity achieved by the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The purpose of Christ coming to earth was “to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
“When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Rom. 5:10).
The way in which the way of salvation was made possible is clearly spelled out. The body of believers is depicted as “the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). This raises the question: when did God shed His own blood? Jesus Christ, God in flesh and blood, did it on Calvary.
It can be understood by way of illustration. Formerly native Americans thought a drought was caused by the gods being angry. They went through ritualistic dances to make the gods happy in hopes they would be rewarded with rain.
The Biblical reference to the principle of atonement refers to what Christ did to satisfy the righteous demands of God the Father. After sin entered the world God saw all persons as the sinners they were. In love He devised a plan to solve this sin problem. Let’s call it “Operation Grace.” The plan called for God the Son to come into the world and remove the sin barrier that existed between God and mankind. This barrier could not be removed by any human effort. The purpose of the virgin birth was to provide the sinless Son of God to die on the cross to do what no mere mortal man could do. That is, remove the sin barrier.
Get this! On Calvary He bore EVERY sin of EVERY person who has ever lived.
This made forgiveness available to the “whosoever” of John 3:16. Don’t leave me at this point. That does not mean every person is saved. It means any person can be saved. The individual must personally appropriate this forgiveness by faith.
The fact Christ died for all sin of all persons means God wants to save all persons. Observe these texts:
II Cor. 5: 14, 15 “…one died for all…”
I Tim. 4:10 speaks of Christ “who gave Himself for all.”
I Tim. 4:10 also speaks of Christ “who is the Savior of all men.”
Again I say this does not mean all persons are saved. It means salvation is open to all. Each person must personally receive it by faith.
Hebrews 2:9 says, “…He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”
I John 2:2, “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
John 1:29, “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”
In love God extended Himself on the cross on behalf of every person. God in love has exhausted His every effort to make salvation available to every person.
III. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD OR GOD’S WILL.
Through the prophet Ezekial God spoke: “‘Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ … says the Lord God, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live.’” (Ezekial 18:23). The clear answer is that God desires all to turn and be saved.
II Peter 3:9 states God’s will clearly. He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Thus, God has stated He wants everyone saved. For any person not to go to heaven they have to violate God will which is for them to be there. To accomplish this from His vantage point Christ died for all.
Again the will of God is noted in I Timothy 2:4. Therein He is described as the God “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth.” That is His will. What is yours.
IV. THE HUMAN MIND.
The determining issue is what do people think.
In the life of every person there is a time when they become God-conscious. That is, the Holy Spirit convicts them there is a loving God. No matter when or where a person lives, there is a point in their life when they are convinced by the Holy Spirit of their being a loving God.
Acts 2: 17 God said, “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.”
I Cor. 7:17, “God hath called everyone …”
John 7:17, “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know…”
At a point in the life of every person they are made God-conscious by the Holy Spirit. That is, they become aware there is a loving God.
Romans 1 tells us of the reaction of many at the point of God-consciousness.
This brings us to the fifth point.
V. THE HUMAN HEART
At the point of God-consciousness every person responds in one of two ways:
a. I want to know more about this God, or
b. I don’t want to know more about this God.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man; and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1: 20 – 23).
It is at the point of God-consciousness that most people reject. At the point of God- consciousness they respond negatively and in their heart say: “I don’t want to know more about this God. I want to make my own god of wood, stone, or metal.”
This shouts this fact:
THE HEATHEN IS NOT A HEATHEN BECAUSE HE IS IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS, BUT HE IS IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS BECAUSE HE IS A HEATHEN.
IT IS NOT THE SPIRITUAL DARKNESS THAT CAUSES THE HEATHEN-NESS; IT IS THE HEATHEN-NESS THAT CAUSES THE SPIRITUAL DARKNESS.
However, there are those who send up positive signals at the point of God-consciousness indicating they do want to know more about this loving God. Then God takes it upon Himself to get the gospel to them through His obedient people.
No matter WHO, WHEN, or WHERE any person wants to know the gospel message, God gets it to that person through a human instrument.
God can tell who has said “no” and who has said “yes” at the point of God-consciousness. We can’t. We must assume all have said, “Yes, I want to know more.” Therefore, we must evangelistically reach out to them. That means we are to export the gospel. Have you said “Yes” to Jesus?
For any person to be saved, they must “accept Jesus Christ.” What does this involve? It involves:
1. An attachment which is: a) intellectual, b) emotional (God never intended for you to be a plaything of your emotions), c) willful.
It is as though three little people are sitting on a bench under the dome of your cranium. One is named Mr. Intellect, one Mr. Emotions, and the third Mr. Will. Each is to give a testimony.
Mr. Intellect stands to say, “I believe the Bible to be the sole authority for faith and practice. I believe Jesus Christ the only begotten son of God was born of a virgin to be the Savior who died for the sins of the world.
This intellectual ascent is wonderful but at this point the person isn’t saved.
Mr. Emotion speaks with great depth of feelings. Emotion is evident in his every word as he shares how deeply he feels about Jesus Christ. Poignantly with passion he tells of his sensitive regard for Jesus. He speaks in terms of chill bumps, thrills, a tingling spine, and tears of joy.
Now Mr. Emotion and Mr. Intellect have joined in testifying of their regard for Jesus, but the person still isn’t saved. The devil believes and trembles. He has intellectual knowledge with which he agrees about Jesus as the Son of God and is emotional about it, but he isn’t saved.
Next, Mr. Will stands to testify saying, “I ‘Will,’ will that my will be thy will. Not my will but thy will be done. Knowing the will of the Father to be to trust Jesus Christ as Savior I join with Mr. Intellect and Mr. Emotion in declaring my will is for Christ to forgive and give me new life.”
When the three join as one then the person is saved.
2. This attachment is: All-inclusive. We don’t accept his Saviorhood today and wait until tomorrow to decide on His Lordship. Our life orbits around Him.
3. This attachment is: All-exclusive.
Nathanael Bartholomew
“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote; Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ And Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’ Nathanael said to Him, ‘How do You know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’ Nathanael answered and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ (John 1:45 – 49).
Jesus Christ called Philip to follow Him as an apostle. Immediately Philip went looking for his friend Nathanael from Bethsaida. Nathanael who was also known as Bartholomew was rude, crude, and uncivil. Such was not uncommon for people from this rural area. They were a rather primitive society.
Nathanael Bartholomew is believed to be the name of one person. Bartholomew is not a first name. It is a family name that identifies a person by his father. “Bar” means “son of.” It is used like “Van” is used by the Dutch, “Von” by Germans, “Mc” or “Mac” by Irish or Scottish folks.
Scholars agree Bartholomew means “son of Talmai.” II Samuel 3:3 mentions a Talmai who was King of Geshure. This being correct means Nathanael Bartholomew was the only apostle of noble birth.
When Philip told Nathanael he had found the one prophesied of by Moses, Nathanael blurted out his prejudice. He questioned, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” That was a more legitimate question than we might suppose.
The historian Josephus listed over 750 cities, towns, and villages in Galilee. Nazareth was so small and insignificant it wasn’t even listed. As a village, Nazareth was not only remote, but it was of little or ill repute, and Nathanael was not interested in such a place or anyone living, or coming from there. Recent excavations of the town reveal that in the time of Christ the residents were cave-dwellers. Christ was born in a cave, grew up in a cave, spent many nights in caves, and was buried in a cave.
Jesus responded to Nathanael’s barb by referring to Nathanael as a person “in whom there is no guile,” that is, no deceit or insidious cunning. He was the personification of sincerity and honesty. Nathanael was clear as day and never lowered himself to deceitful contrivances. He was man anyone could trust and therefore earned the warm greeting by Jesus.
That prompted Nathanael to ask, “How do you know me?”
Jesus said He not only knew Nathanael but He saw him when he was under the fig tree. Fig trees in the Bible land were an oasis. The limbs grew large and spread out forming a leafy canopy with a shaded place under the limbs next to the trunk. A person could crawl up under one and not be seen. Jesus was saying “When you thought no one could see you I saw you.”
Jesus revealed even greater knowledge of Nathanael. Jesus even read Nathanael’s thoughts regarding Jacob’s ladder and said, “I am that ladder.”
From this we learn of Jesus’ omnipresence and omniscience; He is all present and all knowing. He see us at all times and He knows our thoughts. That is wonderful. That means He is constantly aware of our needs.
Nathanael could have seen in this the fulfillment of Psalm 139:1, 2: “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.”
Nathanael has some characteristics of a loner, an introvert. The cast of characters around Christ was diverse. The extravertive Peter and the introvertive Nathanael reveal there is room for distinctively different people in the kingdom.
Jesus described Nathanael as a man in whom there is no guile, that is, hypocrisy or deceit. Those were some of his virtues, but he did have a prejudice against Nazareth. A person may have many virtues and lack one.
Philip said, “Come and see.” In other words if you want to condemn a whole village because of your encounter with one man come and meet another and see if you don’t have a different opinion. “The proof is in the pudding.”
Augustine of Hippo, in his “Confessions,” written between 397 and 400 AD tells of his experience “under a certain fig tree.” He describes how there God called him to repentance and service. He wrote: “I cast myself down I know not how giving full vent to my tears.” He tells that as he confessed his “uncleanliness” he heard a voice “as of a boy or girl” chanting: “Take up, and read.”
He tells of taking up the New Testament and reading a passage about putting away ones vices and following Christ. Then he wrote: “light, as it were, of serenity infused into my heart, all the darkness of doubt passed away.”
Do you have your own fig tree? Do you have a quiet place where God can get your attention?
The symbol of Nathanael Bartholomew is a shield on which there are three knives. They represent his method of death. Tradition says he was flayed alive. That is, he was skinned alive.
Nathanael was quickly convinced once he met Jesus. He replied: “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Nathanael is the prototype of all those sensitive souls who have since followed Christ. Those who desire fellowship and follow Him.
Profile of a Non-PC Wife/Mother 5/10/98
Proverbs 31:10-12
Page 975 Come Alive Bible
Jesus Christ who in eternity leaned on the breast of His Father without any mother in time leaned on the breast of His mother without any father.
His earthly parental tie was obviously closer with His mother than Joseph, His guardian father. The likelihood is that Mary was widowed while Jesus was still very young. Mary was still with Him even at the cross. The relationship between these two is a pattern for parental relations with their child. Mary mirrors admirable motherhood.
Once a year many families pause on a day called “Mother’s Day” to try to atone for a year of neglect. Yet, even that is commendable. It got its modern start May 10, 1908, at the funeral of the mother of Anna M. Jarvis. Anna love her mom and at her memorial service suggested an annual day honoring mothers. Her mother’s favorite flower was the carnation. At the memorial service she gave everyone a white carnation. The concept gained popularity until Mother’s Day was observed in a number of large cities. On May 9, 1914, by act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. He declared the day as a time for “public expressions of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.”
By then it had become customary to wear white carnations to honor departed mothers and red to honor the living. This custom is still observed by many.
The concept has expanded to include giving mom a gift. It is a grand idea. Most are deserving. Every young female who eventually becomes a mother should aspire to merit such.
Most of us men would concede selecting that gift is a challenge. The selection process is stressful for most men. Many a man has felt extreme frigid temperatures for a long time because of a poor decision in gift selection. Veterans of these wars suggest:
-Don’t buy anything that plugs in. Anything that plugs in is seen as utilitarian. It is in the same category with a washboard in a previous era.
-Don’t buy clothing that involves sizes. The chances are one in seven thousand that you will get her size right, and your wife will be offended 6,999 times. You will hear, “Do I look like a size 16?” Too small a size doesn’t get it either: “I haven’t worn a size 8 since I was 18.”
-Avoid useful gifts. The silver polish guaranteed to save hundreds of hours is not going to win any brownie points.
-Don’t buy anything that involves weight loss or self-improvement. She will interpret a six month gift certificate to a diet center as suggesting she is overweight.
-Don’t buy jewelry. The jewelry your wife wants, you can’t afford. The jewelry you can afford she won’t wear.
-Don’t spend too much. “How do you think we can afford that?” she will inquire. Don’t spend too little. She won’t say anything but she will think, “Is that all I am worth?”
No one deserves a special day more than a good mom. A cartoon showed a psychologist talking with a patient/mom. “Let’s see,” he is saying, “You spend 50% of your time and energy on your job, 50% on your husband, and 50% on your children. I think I know why you are tired all the time.”
Preaching on the occasion of Mother’s Day was once a given easy for ministers. Not so today.
Politically correct (PC) feminist have worked to erode the virtue and honor of the role. This has prompted Rita Carver to write: “In today’s world one wonders if mother is not headed for extinction… Some of our feminist sisters have declared that as non-working mothers we are only maids doing the job any eight year-old could accomplish.”
The avant-garde mood of feminists is attempting to dismantle the traditional concept of what a woman should do and who she should be.
It was reported on Dr. James Dobson’s radio program that many books have been taken from public libraries that depict the traditional role of fathers and mothers. These have been replaced by volumes depicting current PC parents.
Fortunately the failure of these recast roles is now being realized. Many young women are realizing the importance and joy of living on less and living for more than material goods. One lovely young mother, a former “Miss Cobb County,” said to me recently, I didn’t realize of what I was being robbed with my first two children. Now that I am a full time mom I know what a blessing it is to be a parent giving my child deserved attention.”
Some moms have to work and that must be respected. However, if a mom can possibly devote herself to mothering the family should adjust to accommodate her.
Let’s go back to the wisdom of Proverbs and redefine the Biblical ideal for a wife and mother. Though few may fit the ideal, none will unless the Biblical role is defined and understood.
I. SHE IS A DEVOTED WIFE (VSS. 11, 12, 23)
There are three reciprocal roles a wife and husband should play related to each other.
Build one another’s confidence.
Seek another’s welfare. A husband should study his wife. Get to know her temperament, mood, and disposition. Learn what pleases or displeases her. Seek her happiness.
Be as sensitive to her needs as I heard of an infant being. A young mother placed her infant in his high chair and sat down to feed him. She was physically fatigued and emotionally drained. She was even a bit fearful for the family had run out of money. As she sat down she reflexively put her head on the child’s feeding table and began to cry. The child took the pacifier out of his mouth and tried to put it in his mother’s mouth.
Enhance one another’s reputation.
Never, repeat, never criticize one another in public. Demeaning one another is a game no one wins.
II. SHE IS A DILIGENT PARTNER (VSS. 13-17, 18B, 19, 22, 24)
As a woman with God’s view point, she is a willing worker, a wise planner, and a thrifty shopper.
She keeps herself fit spiritually and physically.
Husbands remember she is your partner, not your servant.
Hear a modern version of the fairy tale of the frog and the beautiful princess.
Once upon a time a lovely, independent, self-assured princess found a frog in a pond.
The frog said to the princess, “I was once a handsome prince until an evil witch put a spell on me. One kiss from you, and I will turn back into a prince, and then we can marry, move into the castle with mom, and you can prepare my meals, clean my clothes, bear my children and forever feel happy doing so.”
That night —- the princess had frog legs for dinner.
The moral of the story: men don’t take your wife for granted. Especially if you are a frog.
Both husband and wife have responsibilities toward each other. Husbands reevaluate your responsibility toward your wife and recommit to fulfilling them.
Again I appeal, study your wife.
Know her in order to look out for her welfare.
Keep the channels of communication open and clear.
Make sound and timely decisions.
Determine your wife’s gifts and capabilities and encourage them.
Assume responsibility for your own actions.
III. SHE IS A DUTIFUL SERVANT (VS. 20)
Her unselfishness motivates her to be concerned about her own family as well as others. She has a vision and heart for ministry not only to her own family but others.
IV. SHE IS A DEPENDABLE MOTHER (VSS. 15, 21, 27)
Some children appear to think being a mother is a cushy job. It involves standing on Mt. Sinai waving a spatula shouting, “Thou shalt not!”
The importance of the role was indicated in a three frame cartoon. One frame showed a depiction of the nation’s Capitol, the next the White House. The third showed a mother in a rocking chair reading to her child. The caption read: “Choose the real seat of power in America.”
In speaking of mothers I know not everyone has had an ideal mother. Resentment often last into adulthood as a consequence of a mother having failed in her role. Perhaps you had such a mother. You want to have loving thoughts regarding her, but what happened doesn’t result in such warm encouraging thoughts. It is OK not to like some of the things you mom did. However, you need to be mature enough to dislike the things she did and separate them in your thinking from what she was. Love her even though you don’t like what she did.
In our “Me-ism” society a “I want it all now” complex has developed. As a result some young women rush into motherhood before marriage. Don’t! The mother depicted in the Proverb is self-disciplined and willing to practice delayed-gratification.
I know when that statement is made in a congregation as large as this there are some who didn’t. The Bible never condones such and the Christian community must never sanction such. However, once it has happened the young person needs the Lord, His church, and His people as never before. The church must be supporting and encouraging once the mistake has occurred. The young couple may well be suffering from a repressed moral-failure complex and not know what it is. They need to deal with their own emotions and be accepting of the fact they are accepted though their conduct is unacceptable.
Those of you busy in rearing children I want to share with you one of the biggest blessings of parenthood. I referred to delayed-gratification. Keep this in mind all through your challenging years of child rearing. One of these days your door will open. In will walk a young adult. Your best friend, your child. Anticipate and work for that delayed- gratification.
She is organized and energetic (Vs. 15).
She is an equipper (Vs. 21).
Throughout this Proverb reference is made to clothing and providing for her family. This is often done at a personal sacrifice. One young adult told recently of her excitement when she was in the eighth grade. Her class was having a much talked about party. All the girls talked excitedly about what they were going to wear. This little girl knew her widowed mother was rearing her and her brother on a limited income and a new dress wasn’t possible. Naturally she was a bit disappointed. She soon cheered up when her mom, a wonderful seamstress, agreed to make her a new dress for the party. It was so lovely. What made it special was that it was just like one her mom had that they both admired.
That young woman said of her mother, “It was some time before I realized my mom never wore her dress again – she had made mine out of hers.”
Diligent and devoted moms are miraculous providers.
She is self-disciplined and unselfish (Vs. 27).
Playwright Victor Hugo captures the essence of motherhood in one of his plays in which a ship’s captain gives a starving mother and her two children a slice of bread. She tears it in two and gives a half to each child.
A deck hand standing by asks the captain, “Is it because she is not hungry?”
The captain replies, “No, it is because she is a mother.”
Her very lifestyle is a testimony to her children (Vs. 28). Many wonder about what their child might be tomorrow. A mother never forgets that her child is someone today.
V. SHE IS A DOCTRINALLY ORIENTED WOMAN (Vs. 26)
She is a woman full of wisdom.
What Does God Require of You? 8/16/98
Micah 6:8
Page 1366 Come Alive Bible
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
Jesus Christ spoke of “justice, mercy, and faith” and of them said we “ought to” do these things. That means it is to our advantage to live with these three attributes as our character traits.
Visitors to our nation’s capital enjoy the beauty of the Library of Congress Building. In it are beautifully decorated alcoves providing reading rooms. The various alcoves are dedicated to different disciplines: art, history, science, philosophy, and religion. Each alcove has a distinctive design and motto. The committee responsible for choosing the motto for the religious alcove requested prominent ministers to make suggestions. The one chosen: “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
When President Jimmy Carter took the oath of office as our nation’s leader he quoted the prophet Micah: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
The prophet Micah, our Great High Priest Jesus Christ, and our former President Jimmy Carter all appeal for us to make these traits our habitual lifestyle. In our current carnal culture these attributes need to be modeled.
At a time in the life of ancient Israel when moral depravity and religious decadence corrupted the people, God sent forth four prophets simultaneously to preach to His people.
Amos and Hosea were His heralds in the North.
Isaiah and Micah sounded forth the truth in the South.
Amos preached justice.
Hosea struck the note of love.
Isaiah called for reverent, humble fellowship with God.
Micah gathered the gist of all three and summarily said, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, To love mercy, and walk humble with your God?” (6:8).
Three virtues are mentioned in our text that are described by God as “good.” It should also be noted they are required of us by God. Jesus confirmed this when He said of them we “ought to” do them. They are:
I. MORALITY “TO DO JUSTLY”
“To do justly” refers to our ethical response to other people. To “do justly” there must be a standard for what is just and what is unjust. Some conduct is right and some isn’t.
A new virile virus has been loosed in our culture under the guise of a new virtue. Because of its rapidly increasing influence it needs to be reexamined. It is called tolerance.
For generations people have espoused tolerance. The definition normally given is: “the disposition to be patient toward those whose opinions or practices differ from our own…”
That is now called “negative tolerance.”
Positive tolerance is defined as: “every single individuals beliefs, values, lifestyle, and truth claims are equal.” That’s positive tolerance. It is broadly advocated.
If that is true then the door to the jail cell of the Uni-Bomber, Ted Kazinski, should be opened and he set free. Timothy McVey, your beliefs that prompted a lifestyle that blew up the building in Oklahoma is acceptable. You can go free.
If positive tolerance is correct Rudolph should be invited to come out of the North Carolina mountains to visit Centennial Park.
Positive tolerance has replaced the virtue of justice. Positive tolerance and justice cannot co- exist. They are mutually exclusive.
An advocate of positive tolerance defines for him or her self truth. One opinion is as good as another. Likewise one statement is as good as another. Such a person can state as true what facts reveal as not being true and still say, “I did not lie.” If there are no absolutes there is no truth and no falsehood. In the mind of such a person what ever they say is true.
This time in history is now being called the postmodern era. It is reshaping cultures concept of truth. Lying is impossible since it presupposes objective reality. To the postmodern mind there is no objective truth. Truth is subject. That is, what I as the subject define it as. Such a person can say, “I did not tell him to lie” becomes a “true” statement because lies don’t exist. To such a mentality words don’t have a fixed meaning. They mean what the user wants them to mean at the moment. An interpretation may be different from an interpretation tomorrow.
God has expressed His desire for us: “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom” (Psalm 51:6).
Our value-free, morally neutral, education opens the door for sources in Hollywood, Madison Avenue, and yes, Nashville to bombard young minds with thousands of hours of sounds and images that glamorize immorality and mock Biblical values.
Often parents begin to teach their little children that “what is good” is optional without knowing it. How often have you heard a parent of a young child say to a child, “Stop doing that and come here, O.K.?” Or, “Get out of the pool, O.K.?” Or, “Put that bag of cookies back on the shelf, O.K.?” That “O.K.” makes it appear to the child the choice of right or wrong is his. If it isn’t don’t say “O.K.” That solicits a choice in response.
God doesn’t say, “Thou shalt not bear false witness, O.K.?” Or, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain, O.K.?”
That brings to mind the lady who wanted a pet parrot. Upon visiting the pet shop she found one on sale at a remarkably low price. When she offered to buy it the shop keeper advised her not to. When ask why she was told it cursed a lot.
Confident she could break the parrot of this habit she bought it.
Soon after getting the bird home it started cursing. She put it in the freezer for 15 minutes. When it came out it is was shivering. Soon it warmed up and started cursing all over again. This time he was sentenced to 30 minutes in the freezer. When it came out it was coated with ice crystals. Upon warming up it started all over cursing.
This time he drew 45 minutes to an hour in the freezer. He came out stiff and ice coated. When it thawed out his owner asked, “Are you going to curse any more?” It shook its head “No.” “Are you through cursing?” A nod of the head indicated “Yes.”
Then the parrot spoke, “I have a question for you. What did that turkey in the freezer say to you?”
Advocates of positive tolerance are tolerant of anything but Christian virtues and Bible based morals. To them there are no absolutes of right or wrong. Everything is relative. Ask them if they are sure there are no absolutes and they will respond “Absolutely!”
To do as God requires and act justly there must be a standard for what is just.
Micah said, “He has shown you … what is good.” If there is a good there is a bad. If there is a right there is a wrong.
What is good and what is bad is defined for Christians by Scripture. Therein God “shows” what is good.
“To do justly” is to do God’s will. It means to act toward God and man according to the divine standard of God. Dante wrote, “In His will is our peace.”
The second virtue Micah states is:
II. MERCY “TO LOVE MERCY”
“To love mercy” is to freely and willingly show kindness to others.
As with all virtues we can learn from God what is meant by it. Grace is God’s favor shown spiritual rebels who repent. Mercy is God’s favor shown those in distress. In His mercy He protects us from harm or punishment what we might well deserve.
Our Lord is spoken of as “the Father of mercies” (II Cor. 1:3).
A close synonym for “mercy” is compassion. As followers of the Lord we are to show compassion toward others. “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like minded” (Philippians 2:1, 2).
In general mercy means to feel sympathy with the miseries of others. God has such mercy toward us and we should show it to others.
Some persons comply with this first requirement but neglect the second. Such persons are as upright as a marble column and as cold and hard.
We should even have mercy on ourselves. When we do we overcome inferiority complexes. Many have done so.
Steinmetz, one of the greatest scientist of all times, came to believe he could be useful in spite of the fact his body was terribly deformed.
Milton was blind, but eventually he believed that, in spite of his blindness, he could write poetry that would make life sing — and he did.
Robert Louis Stevenson was sickly. He suffered chronic pain, but during his sickest years, he wrote some of his greatest masterpieces.
Beethoven reached the point at which he believed he could give to the world a composition like the Ninth Symphony, even though he was deaf and could not hear it himself.
Louis Pasteur made his greatest contribution after he had a stroke.
In showing mercy toward themselves these make of their adversities springboards rather than letting them be stumbling blocks.
On the beautiful Hawaiian Island of Molokai was a colony to which persons inflicted with the dreaded disease of leprosy were sent to live out their lives in misery.
A simple noble priest, Father Damien, went there to minister to them. He did so for months addressing them as: “You lepers.” He met with no response.
One day he spoke to them as, “My fellow lepers.”
He had so identified with them as to have contracted leprosy. Thereafter, his ministry met with positive response. His mercy was their hearts. It so won the admiration of our nation that a statue of Father Damien stands as the only religious figure under the rotunda of our nation’s capital.
These persons stand in admirable contrast to the character depicted by George Bernard Shaw as: “a selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making him or her happy.”
With justice and mercy so closely linked in the text some persons often confuse the two.
When a person commits a crime and thereafter expresses an apology or gives a self-excusing explanation we often say the person should be forgiven even if a crime was involved.
There are conditions for forgiveness. Contrition, confession, repentance, and a request for forgiveness precedes forgiveness. Some Christians become confused at this point and think that under these circumstances even the crime should be forgiven. There is a distinct difference in forgiveness of a wrong and acquittal of a crime.
There are times when justice and mercy can be compatible.
When Fiorello La Guardia was mayor of New York City he liked to keep in touch with all departments of government. He would even substitute for various heads. Once he sat in for the Night Court judge. It was a cold night and a trembling man was brought in charged with stealing a loaf of bread. He said he did it because his family was starving.
“I have to punish you nevertheless,” said La Guardia. “There is no exception to the law. The fine is $10.00.” As he said this he reached for his wallet, took out $10.00 put it in his famous hat and said, “Here is the $10.00 to pay the fine.”
“Furthermore,” he continued, “I’m going to fine everybody in this courtroom .50 cents for living in a city where a man has to steal bread in order to eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant.” The total was $47.50.
In effect that is what our Heavenly Father did for us. We sin and He has found us guilty. In the person of His only begotten Son He paid the fine and remitted our sin.
Because of that we are to live out Micah’s third virtue.
III. MEEKNESS “TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD”
“To walk humbly with your God” means to live in conscious fellowship with God.
It is to recognize God’s absolute holiness and submit to His will.
In Scripture the term “walk” often refers to a lifestyle. To be humble means to be respectfully obedient.
When Elizabeth married the ultimately to be famous poet Robert Browning her parents disowned her. She and Robert moved far away to Florence, Italy. She loved her parents and sought reconciliation. Several times a month she would write telling them of her love. After 10 years there came a response. She received a package from her parents which she opened with excitement. Elizabeth’s happy moment rapidly faded when she found inside all of her letters to her parents — unopened.
Elizabeth, like Robert, was a poet. Her letters of reconciliation have been called “some of the most beautiful and expressive in the English language.” Unfortunately her parents never read them.
Like Elizabeth, our Lord went to extreme measures to achieve reconciliation. Have you left His love letters unread. As Micah said God has shown us, it is right here in the Book, what is good. To find what is “good” read and obey His love letters. Accept His offer of reconciliation.
Come to the cross. It is an exhortation to “do justly.” it was sin, human kinds injustice, that put Him there.
Come to the cross. It is an appeal to love mercy because of the mercy manifested there.
Come to the cross. It empowers one, enabling a walk with God.
Levi Matthew
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him” (Matthew 9:9).
Jesus Christ often kept bad company for a good reason. When He encountered Levi Matthew, the tax collector, He was in bad company. Jewish rabbis considered them unclean for three reasons:
Ceremonially they were unclean because their job constantly brought them into contact with Gentiles.
Politically they were unclean because they were employees of the occupying Roman government.
Morally they were unclean because they were dishonest extortioners who exploited the people for personal gain.
Matthew, like most of the others who were Christ’s apostles, was a most unlikely candidate for apostleship. He was a bad dude. Understandably critics asked others, “Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and sinners?
Jesus overheard the question and answered Himself. “When Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick'” (Matthew 9:12).
The Great Physician had found a chronicle sick sinner.
Matthew was known as Levi. Jesus evidently gave him the name Matthew. It means “gift of God.”
Matthew was the brother of James the Lesser, cousin of James and John, as well as cousin of Jesus Christ.
To the public he was the man everyone loved to hate. He was looked upon about like a drug dealer who is a child abuser would be looked upon today. The term “scum bag” could have been coined for him.
Romans sold the right to be tax collectors. The tax collector collected the tax prescribed by the Romans plus all else they thought they could get out of the people. There were two basic types of taxes: statutory and customs.
Statutory taxes were one tenth of the grain, one fifth of the wine, one percent of annual income, and a poll tax equal to one day’s pay.
They often collected custom taxes, tolls, and tariffs as high as 12% of the worth of the goods. They were legal extortioners. People hated them.
Cicero (146-43 BC) listed trades most unbecoming of a gentleman. Number one was a tax collector.
Of tax collectors Christ said, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:31). He grouped them in pretty sorry company. In recent times there have been horror stories about how IRS agents have treated some persons. Such would be considered acts of kindness compared to the extortion people like Matthew imposed.
Matthew was one of the most educated of the apostles. He had to be in order to deal with the Romans and manage the book keeping. His writing skill became a blessing when the Holy Spirit guided him to write our first gospel: “Matthew.”
Matthew wrote his gospel in his native language of Hebrew. There are more of Christ’s words in Matthew than any gospel. He wrote of Christ as the Messiah King of the Jews. It was the gospel directed primarily to the Jewish mentality.
Augustine chose the lion as a symbol for Matthew for it is the Lion of Judah, the Messiah, about which he wrote.
Not all of the apostles were illiterate poor people. Fishermen and tax collectors did very well financially.
Jesus was just beginning to get a hearing from the public. His “movement” was gaining popularity. For Him to take into His inner circle a tax collector was a risky thing to do. It would have caused Romans and Jews alike to have increased suspicion regarding what Christ was trying to do.
It was risky also because Simon the Zealot was also a member of the apostle band. This insurgent had just as soon put a knife in the back of a tax collector as in the belly of a Roman soldier. For Matthew and Simon to get along was a miracle. It is an example to all opposites in the church to the fact we are to co-exist in love with Christ.
Both of the men needed forgiveness and needed to forgive. Two little boys were taught the Lord’s prayer using the phrases, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” They visited another church where they used the verbs “debts” and “debtors.” When they got home they told their parents that church had a different Lord’s prayers which went like this: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive those who are dead set against us.” That we must do.
Matthew was not respected by the Romans for he had sold out his own people and was in effect robbing them for the Romans. The Jews detested and feared him as a collaborator with the enemy. His word was worthless in the court of law. He was shunned by his fellow citizens and unwelcome at all social functions. He was even unwanted at the synagogue. He was an outcast from society. When he heard Jesus speak it must have touched a responsive cord in his life. He was a lonely man when invited by Jesus to follow Him.
Not only was he a lonely man he was a guilty man. The message of repentance being preached by John the Baptist was well known in the region. Matthew would have heard of it. “Repent” he could do and needed to do. But how?
Then Jesus came to Capernaum to preach. Envision Matthew along the fringe of the crowd listening to the message of hope preached by Jesus. For the first time in his life, he began to have qualms about his work. It was what he, a hopeless man, needed to hear.
Almost immediately after Jesus healed a paralyzed man at Peter’s house in Capernaum Matthew encountered Him. Jesus spoke to him, “Follow Me!” He did.
Luke described the first thing Matthew did. He gave a big fish fry: “Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, ‘Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance'” (Luke 5: 29-32).
The first instinct of a convert was acted upon by Matthew. It is inherent to a new life to want to tell others and he did.
Observe the emotion in the text, “Jesus…saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office” (Matthew 9:9).
Others saw him and despised him for what he was.
Jesus saw him and loved him for what he could be.
That is the way Jesus looks at all of us. We need to look at ourselves like Jesus does. We need to recognize the potential the Lord has put within us and ask Him to develop it as we surrender it.