Intro. Read a provocative tract which gave me idea for this sermon.
A. It was taken from book by Patrick M. Morley "Walking with Christ in the details of life"
B. Starts like this,
"While we were still dating, I convinced Patsy, now my wife, then fiancee- that I was a Christian. Shortly after our wedding it became obvious that we had an ambiguity of terms over what it meant to be a Christian. I was commited to a set of Christian values, but learned that she was committed to a Person.
As I soon found out, one can be committed to Christian values but still not be a Christian. To be committed to a set of Christian values is to be a moralist, but not necessarily a Christian".
C. As I read, I thought, "how true!" How many millions think Christians because they are committed to a traditional Christian system Not really committed to a person, Jesus Christ.
I. Many are dedicated to system, not so much to a person.
A. Problem of Pharisees: Mark 7:5-8
1. Vs. 5 What concerned them? God? No, the violation of a set of values, traditions of elders
2. Jesus condemned them vs. 6-8 His point: Concerned with set of values, not with God, knowing Him.
B. Problem in denominations: Seen by their approach to evangelism.
1. Adventists: "We are the true system: Only one that keeps sabbath, proper emphasis to 10 commandments", etc.
a. "We're the ones" Emphasis is more on a system, i.e. "we're right ones," not a Person
b. If we ask, "what about Christ?" they respond "Oh yes!" we believe in Him. But their primary emphasis in trying to teach others is a system
2. Visited the headquarters of a sect called "Aaronists" in Mexico
a. Their emphasis in talking, "We're the right church because we follow the Bible."
b. I let them talk for about ten minutes and then said, "You've talked 10 minutes, haven't yet mentioned Jesus Christ".
c. They responded: "Oh yes, we believe in Christ!" But was Christ their primary focus? Not a person, but a system!
3. Others
a. Traditional church: "we're the oldest, church, original church," etc. Emphasis? System not person
b. "We're the only one that accepts book of Mormon, has explanation for Indians, "baptizes for the dead," etc.
i. What about Christ? "Oh Yes," they say, but frankly He's not the number one priority in their evangelism.
C. Problems among Christians: Can we be dedicated more to a system than an individual?
1. I was raised in Christian home: saw love, dedication of parents ("I want to be like that!")
a. Heard lessons on "One true church," "undenominational Christianity," "Rrestoration Movement"
b. I thought, "I want to be a part of that."
c. I was baptized into Christ. To obey him? yes, but perhaps my focus was more than it should have been on a system I liked, "undenominational Christianity," than a person, a Savior, Christ.
d. Last fifteen years or so, I have come to realize more the importance of dedicating myself first to a Person, Jesus Christ!
e. Focus on person helped me appreciate His system: He does have system of faith
i. "form of doctrine" (Romans 6:17)
ii. "the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3)
iii. there is a pattern, not just for work of local churches, but for daily living
iv. focus on Christ, helped me to appreciate it more: Christ first, as a result, greater appreciation for His system, both for local churches and also for daily living.
2. It pains me to see wrongly directed emphasis in some tracts designed for the lost. They teach some truth, but bottom line is the tracts are pushing primarily a system. "What about Jesus?" "Oh yes, we believe in Him." But that's not the point of emphasis!
3. What is the primary emphasis in the following phrases often seen in tracts for the lost?
a. "investigate the church of Christ." ¿System or Person?
b. "Know the church of Christ. ¿System or Person?
c. "In Search of a church". ¿System or Person?
d. "One true church" ¿System or Person?
e. "The Church of Christ has 3,000,000 members in over 120 countries."
4. We see in many tracts the same error seen in denominations: They push a system before emphasizing a Person.
5. Our challenge is not to convert others to the "Church of Christ Church", the Restoration Movement, or "undenominational Christianity." Our only goal must be to see others converted to the Savior, Jesus Christ.
6. If truly converted to Christ: then will accept His system: they will be baptized, practice "undenominational Christianity," etc,.
7. It's important not to "get the cart before the horse!"
II. Dedicated to an Idol
A. I really liked the first paragraphs of the tract, but then as I read more I became confused and finally dismayed.
B. Author's idea, If you dedicate yourself to a Person, Jesus Christ, you realize you can't really imitate Him. There's no use really trying that hard. It's futile. Just surrender to His person, and don't be overly concerned with trying to be like him (that's impossible) or respect His teaching (you can't).
C. SOME QUOTES WITH RESPONSES
* He wrote, "It is not the way of Christ that leads to everlasting life: it is thePerson of Christ" ("Man w/o plan")
*He wrote "Jesus says simply, 'Follow me." He says, "Follow me" He does not say, "Follow my principles".
1. BUT, How can you separate the way of Jesus from His person?
a. Jesus asked, Lk6:46, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say?"
b. Jn 14:15, "If you love me keep my commandments" (He's saying there, "Follow my principles!")
2. Could I say, "I love my mother." But then say "it's not her way" "It's just her" and then not worry about obeying her?
a. Loving my mother means submitting to her, obeying her! That's common sense!
* Another quote "It is not imitation that leads to everlasting life; it is surrender." "It is accepting that we cannot immitate him".
What? The Bible is full of exhortations to imitate Jesus: No one lives without sin, but it should be our goal to imitate Jesus!
1. I Cor. 11:1 "Imitate me just as I imitate Christ"
2. I Peter 2:21; "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps".
3. I Jn. 2:6; "He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as He walked".
E. Why these statements that seem absurd in light of the scriptures? " It is not way but person", "Jesus does not say follow my principles", "We must accept that we cannot imitate him?
1. Such sayings are common in protestantism, calvinism.
2. They do not want a Lord who speaks, teaches, requires submission. Frankly they want an idol! an "icon."
3. What is an icon: Webster's New World Dictionary: an image; figure, representation
a. can be adored, worshipped but cannot demand obedience, submission, cannot teach.
4. They want a Jesus they can worship but makes no demands:
a. They want to say, "I Love Jesus, my Savior"
b. But...He does not require obedience, submission, that's impossible anyway.
A third alternative
III. Dedicate ourselves to Jesus as Lord
A. First to Him as a Person, a Savior
1. John 3:16 "Believeth in Him" Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus"
2. His sacrifice, His love, He is in control.
3. All depends on His mercy, His grace, His gift
B. But as a result of this dedication toHim, a love and appreciation for His teaching and authority
1. About what to do to be saved Mark 16:16
a. You can't appreciate Jesus as person and say that His words do not matter!
2. About organizacion and work of local churches: Simple: local churches, independantly served Him
a. To be presumptous about this is not to respect Him as a person
3. About daily living: Love, patience, self control, righteous indignation
a. Imitation shows greatest form of respect
b. Though we're not going to heaven because we reach 10 points in every aspect of Christian living...
c. It is necessary that we be in Him, and be abounding in His grace (II Pet. 1)
C. This true concept should be reflected in evangelism
1. I don't use a lot of tracts for the lost, which emphasize a system first, and little about Jesus as a person
2. Won't use this tract which supposedly emphasizes Jesus, while implying it is not necessary to concern selves with His words and His plan.
3. I use tracts for the lost which emphasize Him and also point out that a true appreciation for who He is will lead us to follow His simple pattern.
CONCLUSION: What best describes your religion, Dedication to a system? An icon? Or a Savior and Lord?
A. Jesus says "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved"
B. How respond? Youlike idea of baptism? Want to be baptized? But first, do you know Jesus? Will you be dedicated to him?
1. Don't say, "I really love Jesus not necessary to be baptized." If you say that, you don't really love Him.
C. May someone accept Him in truth as Lord? Let us help you in submitting to Him in baptism.