This is an exposition of Matthew 8:18-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 9, 2014.
Intro:
Bonhoeffer called it “Cheap Grace”. Some modern day Bible teachers have called it “Easy Believeism.” You might call it “nominal Christianity.” Whatever name you choose it all boils down to people giving “lip service” to the Kingdom of God. People claiming commitment but showing little or no fruit of genuine life. They’ve walked an aisle, they’ve filled out a card – many have been “dunked” in water – but have never genuinely been born again. To look at many of them you would think their love for Christ was a mile wide. But scratch the surface and you will find it is about an 1/8 of an inch deep! There have always been those who are quick to jump on the band wagon. Those who are carried along on a wave of emotion. Who rise and fall on the ebb and tide of feelings. Throughout the history of the church there have been those who “join the church” for the same reason they join a country club. They want something that will help their public image. Some are seeking a balm for their aching conscience. There is no repentance, no change. There is not a desire to surrender all to Christ – they simply want to feel better about themselves.
Of course we, as the church, cannot point the finger of blame at a corrupt society and say, “Shame on you for trying to use God in such a self-serving way.” We must bear some of the blame for the message we have preached. Where did they get the idea it was okay to believe in God for their own benefit? We told them that! This is the result of our preaching a “Burger King” gospel that says, “Have it your way!” A Gospel that allows the sinner to set the terms of surrender. We do not come to God in our own way – we come His way or not at all. By the way, we are not even comfortable with using language like “surrender.” I remember being told as a young person that, “You do not surrender to God. That is the language of defeat. That is not the language of love.” But take a good look at the Gospel. Apart from Christ we are the enemy of God. We are the object of God’s wrath. Our only hope is to throw ourselves on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus.
It is a surrender. I give up my life. I must die to myself and begin to live for Christ. That is demanding. That is defeating. And that is the Gospel. It is a costly thing to follow the Lord Jesus. And if we are to be faithful to our call as witness of the Gospel we must be prepared to, “Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help us God.”
Our text this evening is found in the 8th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.
Text: Matthew 8:18-22
Matthew has just given us his account of the Sermon on the Mount (5-7).
That is followed with a series of “snap-shots” revealing the healing ministry of Jesus.
This is what his ministry is about – preaching, teaching and healing.
Now we are given some insight into what it means to follow Jesus.
This is a chilling passage.
Chilling because it is abundantly clear in its demands.
You have to work hard to miss the meaning of these words.
Thesis: Following Christ demands self-denial, sacrificial service and a single-hearted passion.
The issue in this passage is discipleship.
What does it mean to be a disciple/follower of Christ?
And this is for all of those who would claim to belong to him.
This is not just for the elite crowd.
This is not about the “special forces” – this is for the enlisted folks!
Ordinary believers like you and me.
A disciple is, in its most basic sense, a learner or follower.
A disciple in the broad sense is anyone who claims to follow a given teacher.
In a stricter sense, a disciple is one who is “officially” joined to a particular teacher.
In that strict sense a close relationship is required.
These two different understandings is what has led to some confusion.
On the one hand we refer to the apostles as “The disciples.”
And then we have a text like this where others are called “disciples.”
Keep in mind in this passage that one is “loosely” a disciple if they claim to follow.
Three things I want us to note from our text.
- To follow Jesus demands self-denial and homelessness in this world. (8:18-20)
- To follow Jesus demands sacrificial service. (8:21-22)
- To follow Jesus demands a single-hearted passion. (Luke 9:61-62)
Conclusion:
To be a follower of Christ is not to mouth a simplistic prayer.
It is not adding a nice addition to your life.
It is a call to arms.
A call to sacrifice and possibly to death.
What does it mean to follow Christ?
It means self-denial and homelessness in this world, sacrificial service and single-hearted passion
Are you prepared to pay the price?