Intro.
A. Want to talk about something that is a big concern to all that want to return to Jesus Christ’s simple ways.
1. As we live to serve Jesus, we are surrounded by friends who think they are following God well, but fact is they don’t follow Him according to his commandments.
2. They don’t accept simple teaching about spiritual cleansing we receive through baptism – They avoid passages that refer to its purpose.
3. They're not careful with authority of scriptures. Worship as they want, organize as they want. Don’t know or don’t seem to think it important to follow scriptural pattern.
a. Young Christian named Francisco said, "they do what they want and then dedicate that to God.
4. And yet, some are very sincere. Some outstanding in some aspects of spiritual service. Surpass me.
5. As we strive to serve Jesus, how should we deal with these sincere people, who for whatever reason don’t follow God’s basic teaching?
B. I want us to analyze this question in light of an Old Testament history – 2 Chronicles 29 Hezekiah’s restoration
1. This period of time similar to ours - end of 8th century before Jesus
2. The people of Judah had abandoned the pure religion of Jehovah and adopted a corrupted religion
3. Hezekiah realized the importance of not just reforming the corrupted Jewish religion, but restoring God’s pure religion, just as it had been revealed to Moses hundreds of years earlier.
4. Two great problems in pursuing this goal
a. Idolatrous attitudes still influenced many in Judah
b. Close to Judah, remnants of 10 tribes, just conquered by Syria struggling to survive
i. Before they had worshipped God along with Judah
ii. They had become even more corrupted
C. How did Hezekiah proceed? We can learn from him!
I. Worked first to cleanse his own people
A. First worked with leaders, the priests - Chapter 29 talks of cleansing the temple
1. 29:4,5 Challenged them
2. -But they had to cleanse themselves first – vs. 5
3. Before we can help those without, we must first cleanse ourselves
4. Requires repentance and humble confession
B. Then, all the garbage had to be thrown out – 29:16, before Passover more cleaning 30:14
1.What a cleaning it must have been –
a. I clean my office every two months or so. Imagine a cleaning after almost 100 years!
2.Today, before thinking of helping others, must clean our own house
a. concepts from traditions of men
i."God speaks to me in dreams"
ii superstitions
iii if not found in the scriptures, we must throw it out
b . worldly practices – immodest clothing, ungodly entertainment (subtly contaminating our outlook on life)
c. pride and self sufficiency
i. Some can never admit they were wrong. Always have to be right.
ii. They are controlled by old man just as much as fellow who can’t leave cigarettes
3. What do you have to throw out of your life to purify self, restore Christ to prominent place in your heart?
4. Before thinking of helping others, must think first of yourself.
II. Hezekiah showed love in inviting mistaken Jews to the passover
A . But what about those outside of Judah, those of Israel, some sincere, but products of corrupted religion?
1. They were in bad shape. Been conquered by Assyrians who were in process of dispersing them. Poor farmers left, struggling to survive.
2. Religion corrupted – ancestors of Samaritans, mixing Jehovah’s religion with pagan worship from other nations
3. --Hezekiah wanted to invite them to worship God according to His commandments
----(read 30:5,6)
B. Easy thing would have been just to ignore them. "They’re hopeless." "Those false teachers," "They’ll resent it."
1. He didn’t ignore them. He loved them, wanted to invite them
2. Admire messengers he sent. They were exposed to danger, ridicule.
3. Today easy to ignore. "those denominationalists."
4. Love demands we lovingly invite them to return to God’s pure religion. Do we?
C. He showed respect and tact in the invitation
1. Negative Illustration – A preacher told a couple "I’m going to prove from the Bible that your religion is from Satan and all who follow it are going to hell."
2. Others say things like, "You ought to be like us. We’re the only true church."
3. - Read 30:6-9 – Loving warning along with blessings come from following God
a. vs. 6 – "then He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped…"
b. vs. 8 "the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you…"
c. vs. 9 "God is gracious an merciful and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him."
4. Only way we can help those in false religions, is by showing love and humility
5. The cocky, know it all approach only shows that we ourselves don’t know Christ and His way.
a. A young Christian disgusted others by saying in a store, "charge it to the church – the only church,"
D. --The results – vs. 10.11
1. Same happens today – Most reject, but a few are willing to investigate
E. One point of clarification - He didn’t treat them as if everything were fine (hunky dory) That is love
1. Brother in Australia wrote me about some using this passage to justify eating Lord’s supper with denominations
a. Good to invite them, but also must do what Hezekiah did
b. -– lovingly warn them to leave traditional ways (vs. 7)
c. Doubt they do that in the congregation in Australia
2. Warning is the Loving thing to do
a. Lady with lump in her breast – Doctor said it was OK. A year later, she was dead
III. - Asked for God’s clemency when they were mistaken in their worship
A. -- Many arrived with great religious zeal –vs. 13
B. - But… 18a They committed a serious error - Why?
1. Ignorance, presumption, lack of care and consideration
C. - What did Hezekiah do? Vs. 18b, 19
D. - Result –vs. 20
1. Though they deserved punishment, though presumptuous...
2. God heard Hezekiah’s intercessory prayer and extended His mercy
E. Do we show this same spirit of clemency towards those whose zeal surpasses their understanding?
1. Someone, not Christian, wanted to partake of the Lord’s supper. A Christian grabbed her hand and said, "that's not for you!" Another rebuked a visitor for wanting to put money in the collection plate.’
F. Review how Hezekiah dealt with Israelites in error
--1. Worked first to cleanse his own people
--2. Lovingly invited them to the feast
-- 3. Asked for God’s mercy for their errors0
a. Didn’t justify them, didn’t say that they didn’t matter
b. Did ask God’s clemency - A good lesson for us.
G. Some further applications from this point
1. Love for God demands worship with care and respect
2. But we must trust in His mercy – Salvation is not a matter of getting every thing right (though that is our desire), but rather humbly seeking God’s mercy
a. Pukuma, Zambia. Illiterate villagers obeyed the gospel in the late 1940's from Eldred Echols and Foy Short
b. God accepted them as they were
3. Today I don’t dare say, "I know these will be lost."
a. If I had done so in this case, these are presumptuous, not careful enough, will be punished
b. I would have been wrong. God chose to extend His clemency to them
c. This judgmental spirit is seen too often among God’s people just not our job
4. Our job is…
a. Clean up our own act
b. Lovingly invite those who are mistaken in their religion, lovingly warn, correct
c. After we have done all we can do, pray for God’s clemency for them
Conclusion
A. -A marvelous expression of what happens when this spirit of love and mercy prevails: Read 30:25-27
B. - God has a feast for us that surpasses this Passover feast
1. Rev. 3:20 "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
2. In a sense we can have this feast now. Maybe you’ve noticed the happiness of the Christians here
3. You can have the joy and peace that comes from feasting on God’s spiritual riches, give purpose, hope
C. There is a sense in which this feast will be even greater in heaven
1. "And the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let him who thirsts, come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17
D. But you must cleanse yourself
1. You do not have to be ignorant as those from Israel
2. Acts 2:38; 22:16
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