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Jul 20 '08
(A Series of Sermons on Building Character in Your Life)
Rev. Erik O. Garthe, Pastor - Edgemere Baptist Church
Message #5 ... July 20, 2008
“It Serves without Seeking Reward”
John 21:15-17
Read Galatians 2:16
16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
See Luke 16:19-31
19 "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 "But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 "Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 "But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 ‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 "Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 ‘for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 "Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 "And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 "But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’"
Here are two questions to consider from that account:
1. Since the Law cannot save anyone, why did Abraham, the “father of faith,” tell the rich man his brothers would not be saved from hell unless they accept Moses and the prophets?
2. Why is it that a person who rejects Moses and the prophets will not “be persuaded though one rise from the dead”?
God’s Word makes it clear that salvation through Christ is what the Old Testament is all about.
“Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” (John 5:39)
Yet, the passage we read in Galatians makes it clear that no one can be saved by the works of the Law; and that is because we cannot keep the work of the Law perfectly, the way a holy God demands.
So, what is the correct understanding of Abraham’s words?
We have to see those words in light of New Testament truth. If we focus on the Law, we will either become discouraged or develop a false pride. But if we focus on the words of the Law and the words of the prophets, we will get a clear picture of Jesus Christ and His work. See John 5:46-47
"For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"
In Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus made a very strong statement about the Old Testament:
17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
The Law helps us come to the point of faith: (Galatians 3:24-25)
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
See Romans 3:19-22
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ,
The Law helps us to live the new life in Christ: (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
See Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
How does a believer, who has been called to live under grace, fulfill the call to obey God’s Word without becoming legalistic and proud?
See John 14:15, 23b, 24a
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments … 23 If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word … 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words;”
It has to do with motive – See John 21:15-17
(introduce the story)
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." 16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
Love … is meeting the needs of others without having a motive of personal reward.
o There are two primary Biblical words translated as “love”.
a. The first is agapao or agape. This word literally means “to love dearly” or “to be well pleased.”
b. The other is phileo, which means “to be a friend to’ or “to have affection for.”
i.e. philanthropia = love of mankind (benevolence)
philadelphia = fraternal love (brotherly love)
When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, He used the word—agapao, but Peter responded with phileo. Jesus then told Peter about the suffering he would experience. See verses 18-19.
18 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
Why did Jesus tell Peter this?
If we respond to suffering with joy and thankfulness, we receive the power of the Holy Spirit with agape love.
It is through suffering that our love is developed and perfected for ministry. The apostle Paul had to learn this lesson—See 2 Corinthians 12:9
9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Because of our sin nature, we tend to operate in the flesh with phileo love, rather than in the Spirit with agapao love. Therefore, God provided a detailed description of what agape (Spirit-empowered) love looks like. See 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
a. The Importance of Agape Love, Vv. 1-3
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
b. The Picture of Agape Love, Vv. 4-7
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
c. The Context of Agape Love, Vv. 8-13
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
In 1991, Dr. Robertson McQuilkin made a courageous decision that has impacted the understanding of love in many people’s heart. McQuilkin had been the president of Columbia Bible College for twenty-two years when he walked away from that position to care for his ailing wife, Muriel McQuilkin who had Alzheimer’s disease. Ten years before, she repeated a story to some friends while vacationing in Florida. That began a process of medical attention that ultimately proved she had the disease. McQuilkin suggested the board begin searching for a successor, yet everyone hoped he could continue until retirement. Some wise and godly friends encouraged him to consider institutional care. They too loved Muriel, but they also saw God’s hand and calling on his leadership at the school. For several years he tried to juggle the challenge by using a caregiver during the day while he went to the college. With amazing love, Muriel would try to follow him to school. The walk was one-half mile and she would make that trip as many as ten times a day. Sometimes while preparing her for bed, he would find blood on her feet from the incessant walks. He knew a decision had to be made, yet in his mind the decision was resolved forty-two years prior when he vowed “in sickness and in health, till death do us part.” He walked away from a thriving ministry and many unfulfilled dreams, but there was no regret. McQuilkin said, “I don’t have to care for her, I get to. If I took care of her for forty years, I would never be out of her debt.” Those who have heard this story have been deeply touched, yet McQuilkin didn’t at first understand why. It became less of a mystery when a distinguished oncologist told him, “Almost all women stand by their men; very few men stand by their women.” Maybe this unfailing love explains the uniqueness of Mrs. McQuilkin’s communication. After losing the ability to speak in intelligible sentences, she retained the capacity to regularly tell her husband, “I love you.” This is the love that never fails! [The Family Book of Christian Values, Stuart and Jill Briscoe, 1995, p. 42]
How Loving Are You?
Do you get discouraged and give up when things seems to go wrong?
Do you look for ways to help out wherever you go?
Do you enjoy telling your achievements more than listening to those of others?
Do you look down on those who don’t live by your standards?
Do you want your own way and argue when you don’t get it?
Do you easily get irritated with others?
Do you harbor grudges against those who have hurt you?
Do you spend time daily in God’s Word to know and do His will?
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