Live It!: 2016 Gospel of Luke #28
This is an exposition of Luke 8:16-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 4, 2016.
Intro:
What does it mean to truly believe? What kind of life is required of those who genuinely possess life in Christ? Is it merely a matter of what one accepts and confesses as the truth? Is it as simple as confirming ones convictions concerning the claims of the Christian faith? I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that He died on the cross and rose from the dead. I believe I’m a sinner. If I check enough boxes or the right boxes, am I in? Or is it a matter of living the right way? I don’t cuss, smoke or chew and I don’t hang out with girls who do? Right doctrine or orthodoxy is no guarantee of spiritual life. You can be straight as an arrow doctrinally and as lifeless as a corpse. As for moral behavior, you may appear as pure as the driven snow and be filled with death. Salvation is not the result of your spiritual knowledge or the product of your moral character it is the gift of God’s grace. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. But as Luther said, “It is by faith alone but not a faith that is alone.” We are not saved by our works but saving faith always has accompanying works. Genuine life always expresses itself. That’s the focus of our text this morning found in Luke 8 beginning with Luke 8:16.
Text: Luke 8:16-21
In Luke 7 Jesus attended a dinner party at the home of a Pharisee named Simon. There He confronted Simon for his lack of hospitality and his lack of understanding of grace. You remember Simon refused Jesus even the basic signs of respect. Yet a notorious woman from the street bathed His feet with her tears, kissed His feet and anointed Him with costly perfume. When our Lord explained the reason for this difference in attitude He told a story about 2 people being forgiven a debt. “Simon, which would love him more?” Simon said, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the larger debt.” Our Lord then said, “You’re right Simon. This woman loves much for she has been forgiven much.” She was forgiven not because she loved much – rather she loved much because she was forgiven. Her actions were the evidence of what had already happened to her.
In the opening verses of Luke 8 our Lord tells a parable about a sower, some seed and some soils. His point being that when a heart is open and receptive to the Word of God/the gospel it springs to life and produces fruit. While the hardened, shallow and crowded hearts show no sign of life. Our text this morning continues this same line of thought. Admittedly these verses are puzzling. Why would anyone light a lamp and then cover it with a jar or slide it under the bed? And what are we to make of Jesus response to the arrival of his family? Seems a bit out of place but I’m convinced this is further application of the parable of the soils.
[Read Text]
As we work our way through these proverbs or mini parables we see that…
Thesis: Our Lord, lovingly yet firmly, admonishes believers to live out their faith warning of the implications of failing to do so.
Note the end of Luke 7:15 – “…They are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”
Those who genuinely believe cling to the word and live it.
Those who are converted live out the truth of the Word, the gospel.
That is the focus of our text.
I want to point out three principles as we work our way through this text.
- Genuine life, of necessity, must express itself. (8:16)
- Our Lord graciously warns of the judgment that awaits false professions. (8:17-18)
- Faithfully living the truth of the Gospel demonstrates the genuineness of your profession. (8:19-21)
Conclusion:
What does it mean to truly believe? It means to embrace and live the truth of God. It means to order your life according to the teaching of Scripture. It means to let the light of God’s truth shine through you for the world to see. No one lights a lamp and then shoves it under the bed. Live the truth to the glory of God.