The Wisdom of Jesus
Luke 2:39-52
October 29, 2017

Luke has been carrying us through the History of Redemption.
He has started with the long-awaited and promised Messiah.

Malachi said that the Messiah would come
And would manifest Himself to those who fear the Lord,
And that is precisely what has happened.

We’ve seen Jesus introduced
And we’ve seen Him introduced to the meek of the earth.
Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary, the shepherds, Simeon, and Anna,
Have all seen and testified about this child.

They know He is the coming Savior of the world.

This morning we have one more witness,
And that is none other than Jesus Himself.

Luke takes us to a single story in the adolescent years of Jesus
To reveal what Jesus knew about Himself
And what He knew about His purpose.

In short, He knew who He was.
He was the very Son of God,
And He knew He was here to accomplish God’s will.

And on one day at the age of 12, Jesus made that clear.

So this morning we are going to look at a very interesting passage.
We are going to study the entire adolescent life of Jesus.

There are some heretical gospel accounts
That try to speak some of Jesus adolescent life.
(Stories about him healing a bird or making birds out of clay, etc.)

But Biblically we have very little insight into His childhood.

Matthew gives us a little and the rest is found here in Luke.
Matthew tells us that sometime around the time that Christ was 18mo. to two years of age, that magi from the east visited and then that He spent some time in exile in Egypt.

And the other adolescent truth is found here in Luke,
And in this passage it contains
The only spoken words of Jesus prior to His ministry.

In Luke 2:42 we find Jesus as a 12 yr. old boy.
We won’t see Him again until Luke 3:23 when He is a 30 yr. old man.
Furthermore that means that everything God wanted you to know
About the adolescent life of Jesus can be found in this passage.
Had God wanted you to know anything more about this period
It would have been included, but this is all God desired that you know.

And that alone makes this passage tremendously important.

And so naturally after we have studied His birth a little,
It is only fitting that we take
A Scriptural look at His adolescent life.

And the truth we see about Him is His wisdom.

(40) “increasing in wisdom” (52) “increasing in wisdom”

Before we do, let me just take a moment and clarify what wisdom is.

A common adage today is that “Wisdom comes with AGE”,
But that is not always true.

Experience does come with age, but not necessarily wisdom.
We find many men in Scripture that age had no effect on,
They were just as foolish in their golden years as they were while younger.

• We could think of Saul, who actually started out but seemed to become more
foolish as his life went on.
• We could look at Solomon’s son Rehoboam who was arguably the most foolish
King Judah had, since it was he who split the nation of Israel. He obviously
learned nothing from the experiences of watching his father Solomon reign.
• We might even say about Solomon, the wisest man ever, that if anything he was
less wise in his later years than early on.

Some think that wisdom comes with KNOWLEDGE.
In other words that you find wisdom in a university.

I don’t disregard the importance of knowledge as it pertains to wisdom,
But knowledge alone DOES NOT make you wise.
(knowledge alone merely makes you accountable)

Regarding wisdom, Jesus would say:
Matthew 11:18-19 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘ He has a demon!’ “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

You don’t measure someone’s wisdom by giving them a test.
You measure someone’s wisdom by watching their actions.

Wisdom is seen when a person rightly acts
Upon the knowledge and experience they possess.
If you know the facts and don’t act accordingly you are called a fool.
If you know the facts and apply it to life you are considered wise.

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell — and great was its fall.”

So it is not age or knowledge, but rather obedience that renders one wise.
This is what allowed the writers of the Old Testament
To make this conclusion:

Job 28:28 “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'”

Psalms 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Job, David, and Solomon all came up with the same conclusion.
Knowledge of God is important,
But it is obedience to that knowledge that makes a person wise.

And this morning that is very clearly seen in Jesus.
More than just His ability to win an argument
I want you to see the tremendous wisdom of Jesus.

And so this morning let us look at the wisdom of Jesus.

3 things I want you to see.
#1 HIS WISDOM DEVELOPED
Luke 2:39-40

And so our text picks up after the initial birth of Jesus.
“When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.”

Luke 2:22-24 “And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, ” A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.”

And then in verse 40 we have the first 12 years of Jesus life.

So if you want to know what went on during His childhood,
Here is the entire record.
(40) “The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”

We most certainly see the HUMAN ASPECT of Jesus here again.
He “grew”

If there is one characteristic that all children have in common, this is it.
They grow up, often in a hurry.

He had become fully man, and as such
He had to grow up just like every other human being.

Scripture also says that he BECAME STRONG.

This can be seen in a physical sense,
But the text seems to indicate it MORE IN A SPIRITUAL SENSE,

Since it goes on to reveal how He became strong
And that is by “increasing in wisdom”

And remember, that is NOT simply a knowledge thing.
It doesn’t say Jesus became “smart”, it says that Jesus became “strong”.

And He did so by “increasing in wisdom”

That means He was routinely taking what He learned
And applying it and obeying it.

Deuteronomy 4:5-7 “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. “So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?”

Wisdom is applying and obeying God’s word.

That is furthermore seen in the book of James.

James introduces wisdom in the first chapter.
James 1:5 “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

He takes it a step further in the end of the chapter.
James 1:22-25 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”
James echoed what Moses taught and that is
That wisdom is found in doing what God commands.
THIS IS WHAT JESUS DID.

And we see THE BLESSING His wisdom provided.
(40) “and the grace of God was upon Him.”

This is obviously not saving grace, since Jesus did not need salvation.

Rather this is speaking of God’s favor.
God was pleased with Jesus, God bestowed favor on the child,
Because even as a child He took pleasure in doing what God commanded.

And let me just say even to the kids in here for a moment
That wisdom is not limited to the aged.

A child who does what his parents command is a wise child.
Certainly Jesus was this.

Proverbs 15:5 “A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible.”

And so we see the first twelve years of His life
Is characterized by developing wisdom.

He was learning and perfecting the art of submission and obedience.
He was growing into the man God intended Him to be.

His Wisdom Developed
#2 HIS WISDOM DISPLAYED
Luke 2:41-50

And of course this is the longest section of the text,
For it tells a story that reveals to us the true nature of Jesus’ wisdom.

So let’s first work through the story.
(41-42) “Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the feast.”

Every Jewish man who lived within 15 miles of Jerusalem
Was commanded to attend the Passover.
Others hoped to attend once in their lifetime.

Nazareth was about 80 miles
And so the fact that they went every year
Indicates the devotion of Joseph and Mary.
(Probably a 4 day walk)

Furthermore it was only commanded of men to go not women,
And so the fact that Mary continued to go says something of her devotion.

And when Jesus became 12 He went with them.
(A man at 13, Jesus was on the brink of manhood)

We can only imagine what sort of impact
This Passover would have had on Jesus,
Knowing what His purpose was and what this Passover looked forward to.

(43-44) and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.”

So they stayed “the full number of days”, which was 8 days
From Sabbath to Sabbath and then they started home.
(again speaks to their dedication since most only stayed 2 days)

And because in a caravan the women walked in front of the men
To keep them from getting separated,
Mary and Joseph each assumed that Jesus was with the other.

And at night when they started getting ready for bed,
It became apparent that Jesus was not with them.

Instead, “the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.”

He wasn’t disobeying His parents,
He just hadn’t had enough of the glorious event
And continued to seek out truth and to apply it.

But that’s not how his mother saw it…
(45-46) “When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.”

“three days” – one day traveling away, one day traveling back, and one day searching Jerusalem.

And when they found Him we see again His desire for wisdom.
He was listening to the teachers and asking them questions.

This was not a debate, this was a 12 yr. old boy
Seeking out the perspectives of the teachers of the Law.

WHAT COULD HE POSSIBLY BE LEARNING?

Remember Hebrews 5?
Hebrews 5:8-10 “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”

The education of Jesus was not an education of facts or knowledge,
It was an education on human struggling.

The education of Jesus was an experiential one.
• He came to learn the struggles of the human condition.
• He came to learn the struggles of obedience.
• He came to learn the struggles of temptation.

It was this experiential education
That allows Him to be a merciful and faithful high priest.

Isaiah 50:4 “The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.”

He became human that He might learn the struggles of humanity
That He might better come to our aid when we come to Him.

This is part of that education here.
• He is learning from the teachers of the Law exactly what points of the Law are
hardest to obey.
• He is learning the difficulties of practical righteousness.
• He is learning the human perspective on what is important to God.

In short, Jesus isn’t learning about God here, He is learning about men.

THE AMAZING PART is that this 12 yr. old boy has been 3 days
Without His parents and doesn’t seem the least bit stressed.
What did He eat?
Where did He sleep?
His mind is truly on spiritual things.

(47) “And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.”

They had the common response to Jesus, and that was amazement.
This kid understood God.

And as a side note we realize that the last time anyone was able
to answer one of His questions was when He was a 12 yr. old boy.
They would never be able to answer them again.

So we certainly see His knowledge on display.

BUT IT WAS MORE THAN KNOWLEDGE…
(48-49) “When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

And so after 3 anxious days Mary and Joseph find Jesus
And Mary is in typical mother fashion.

She is flustered.
“Son, why have You treated us this way?”
How often we ask such questions of God when in reality
It is only because we cannot see what God is up to.

“Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.”

And that turns out to be a massive statement on behalf of Mary
Because it causes a very serious remark from Jesus.

“Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

You may even notice that the word “house” is in italics,
Meaning it is not in the original manuscript.

This causes some translations to say, “about My Father’s business”

Literally it just says, “I had to be in My Father’s”

And more importantly He is referring to God’s will.

But there is a tremendous enlightenment from Jesus here.

Mary just scolded Him for causing His father anxiety.
Jesus responded by reminding Mary that He is in His Father’s will.

It seems that Mary was forgetting that Jesus’ Father was God,
And that Jesus would put His will first at all times.

Remember that Simeon gave a harsh prophecy to Mary after Jesus birth.
Luke 2:34-35 “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed — and a sword will pierce even your own soul — to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Here Mary is feeling the sword.
Jesus would do God’s will even if it was against her own.

This is where His wisdom was on greatest display.
FIRST OF ALL: Jesus knows who He is

This is very significant.

In the ministry we see it all the time.
At seminary we called them the “Momma Called”.

Their calling to the ministry had more to do with their mother pushing them
Than it did with God calling them.

And some could think that of Jesus.
That He grew up so well, that all those around Him
Told Him He ought to be a preacher.

But this was not true.
Jesus knew who He was before anyone else

And no one else had to tell Him, He was aware of it.
His wisdom was on full display here.

SECONDLY: Knowing who He was, shaped the things that He did.
He had to be about His Father’s business.

Do you understand that this wisdom
Is the very wisdom that would guide Jesus through his entire ministry?

• How many times did the crowd want to turn Him into their own personal miracle
worker?
• John 6 reveals how they want to make Him King.
• Matthew 16 shows Peter trying to discourage Him from the cross.
• BUT HE WOULD NOT BE SIDETRACKED!!!

In the Garden Peter tries to deliver Him with the sword.
Matthew 26:52-54 “Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? “How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

It was the wisdom of Jesus to always be about His Father’s mission
And to walk in obedience to it.

(50) “But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.”

Certainly Mary and Joseph hadn’t forgotten that Jesus was virgin born,
Or the circumstances surrounding His birth.

What they didn’t understand was His great wisdom,
That even at 12 years old He was only concerned with
Doing His heavenly Father’s will.
Even at age 12 His wisdom had already surpassed
Those that raised Him and those that questioned Him.

For 12 years He developed His wisdom and now His wisdom is on display.

And then comes the truly amazing part.
#3 HIS WISDOM DEMONSTRATED
Luke 2:51-52

How many people in here have kids that are smarted than you?
If your kids are anywhere between the ages of 12 and 19
It is certain that they are.

Their words, their mannerisms, they’re responses
Indicate that they think they are smarter than you.
But that is not how Jesus revealed wisdom.

He was already wiser than anyone around,
• But did He rub it in their face?
• Did He take over the household?
• Did He role His eyes and belittle His dumb carpenter of a father?
• Did He go to the synagogue and argue with the Rabbi?
• Did He complain about how dumb His soccer coach was?

No, His wisdom was not revealed in what He knew, but in how He walked.

(51) “And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”

And there we have in one verse years 13 through 30.
18 years of His life summarized right there by one word. SUBMISSION

Wisdom isn’t about what you know,
It’s about what you do with what you know.

And despite the fact that Jesus really was wiser than His parents
He obeyed God’s word to honor His father and mother.

Matthew 11:19 “…wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

We know Jesus was wise, not because of what He knew,
But because of what He did with what He knew.

Which is why we read:
(52) “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature”

By age 12 He was already wiser than those around Him
And yet He continued to increase in wisdom.

Proverbs 4:7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.”

For the next 18 years Jesus just kept growing in wisdom.
• His education continued.
• He experienced every temptation and overcame it because of His intense
commitment to the Father.

Jesus didn’t just show up on earth as a 33 year old man, die on a cross and then return.
• He had to live this life.
• He had to face temptations.
• He had to overcome struggles.

He spent 30 years in what must have been a frustrated condition,
And the sole purpose of that time period
Was for Him to grow in wisdom.
These 30 years would be the foundation for His 3 years of ministry.

And because of this intense desire for wisdom,
He continued to have God’s favor on His life.

“and in favor with God and men.”

Because He sought to know and obey, because He always showed wisdom, He continued to have God’s favor on His life.

Proverbs 3:33-35 “The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.”

And so from Jesus we learn a tremendous amount about wisdom.
• It is not about what you know…
• It is not about what you have experienced…

Do you see how this fits with what Luke has been teaching us
About the type of people who Jesus saves?

Jesus has been revealing Himself to the humble, to the meek,
To the pure in heart, to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

DO YOU SEE WHY?
BECAUSE THAT’S WHO HE IS!

It’s not surprising that Luke pulled out this story of Jesus.
THIS STORY EPITOMIZES the humble and meek Jesus
That Luke wants you to see.
AND THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF WISDOM THAT IS EXPECTED OFUS.
TURN TO: JAMES 3:13-18

This was Jesus, and it should be us.

To walk like Jesus, you must value what Jesus valued,
And for Him it was wisdom of humble submission to God.

James 1:21-25 “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

So at this point, Luke has laid for us the foundation of who this Jesus is.

• Jesus is the One Malachi promised.
• He is the Savior, the Son of God, the Holy Child
• He is solely devoted to His Father in all things
• He is received by those who are humble, broken, submissive, hungering
and thirsting for righteousness, and pure in heart

THAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF LUKE’S GOSPEL
• Now you know why John the Baptist is about to show up.
• Now you know why Jesus is going to preach the way He does.
• Now you know why Jesus will oppose those religious leaders and cling to
the poor.

And most importantly you know that He is the Savior
Of all who will see their desperate need for salvation.

Satisfied With Jesus – Part 2
Luke 2:25-40 (33-40)
October 22, 2017

Last time we met we began looking at these last two witnesses
That Luke uses surrounding the birth of Jesus.

We noted how Luke has not only given the history surrounding the birth of Christ, but how he has also DOCUMENTED that history every step of the way through reliable WITNESSES and EVENTS.

• We saw the muteness of Zacharias.
• We saw the unlikely pregnancy of Elizabeth.
• We heard the remarkable song of praise form Mary
• We marveled at the arrival of the shepherds at Jesus’ birth

All of those served as documented proof of the history Luke is presenting.

They also serve as a prototype of the type of people God saves.
Each of these people represented those who can be explained by those BEATITUDES we find the Sermon on the Mount.

• In them we find “poor in spirit”
• In them we find “mourning” over sin.
• In them we find “meekness”
• In them we find “hungering and thirsting for righteousness”

We are NOT SAYING that these people were acceptable to God
And did not need to be saved…that’s not it at all.

What we ARE SAYING is that these people had
The proper attitude to make them ready and eager for a Savior.

• There was no pride…
• There was no self-sufficiency…
• There was no preoccupation with worldly success…
• There was no disregard for righteousness…

These people, though very different,
All shared the common mindset that they were in need of a Savior,
And because of that attitude,
They were all able to rejoice when this new Savior was revealed.

We are finding that this is ALSO TRUE
With these LAST TWO WITNESSES that Luke brings forth.

• Jesus was circumcised at 8 days old.
• Mary then had to wait 33 days for her purification.
• And then the couple entered the temple in order to make atonement for Mary.

• No doubt this place was crawling with priests and Levites and other religious travelers.
• I’m sure you can find tourists and curious people of every kind.
• I wouldn’t even be surprising to find some of those flea-market types there expecting to make a buck or two.

But of all the people there, Luke brings to our attention
The only two who saw beyond the business of the temple
And recognized that God had truly done something remarkable.

We began looking at the first last week, his name was Simeon.
#1 SIMEON
Luke 2:25-35

And we won’t rehash the life of Simeon except to remind everyone that
He was not a priest, nor a Levite; he had no religious pedigree.

Simeon was simply a man who was “righteous and devout”

He loved God and God had determined to use him to reveal the Christ.
So on the day when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus in,
God revealed it to Simeon instantly and Simeon rejoiced!

(29) “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation”

As we said, Simeon was a man who was fully satisfied in Christ.

This was a man who knew that the beginning of the life of Jesus
Also signified the end of his life on earth.

The natural man would not have anticipated it so readily.

In fact, there was another man in Scripture who assumed that the birth of Christ signified the end of his reign, and he responded totally different.

Remember Herod?
He also heard of the birth of this “King of the Jews” and was so bothered by the arrival of this baby that he “slew all the mail children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16)

That is how a natural man responds.
But not Simeon, he rejoiced.

There was no “bucket list” left unfulfilled,
This world held no value to him any longer.
All he was looking for was the “consolation of Israel”
And on this day his total desire was satisfied.

He had Jesus, he needed nothing else.

But where we LEFT OFF LAST TIME
Was in the special message which Simeon had for Mary.

Everything had been all peachy and roses in regard to the prophecies regarding this baby.

• Gabriel talked about how this holy child would reign over the house of Jacob.
• Zacharias talked about how He would bring salvation from our enemies.
• The heavenly host talked about how He would be a Savior for all people.
• Even Simeon said He was “a Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

It had been nothing but positive.

And then Simeon throws the wet blanket on the deal.
(34-35) “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed — and a sword will pierce even your own soul — to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

We understood what Simeon was saying.

While you are rejoicing in this child who is a Savior for all people,
You need to understand that not all people
Are going to be as excited about this as you are.

There are plenty of people who aren’t looking for a Savior from their sin. They love their sin and want to keep it.

John 3:19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”

There are plenty of people who aren’t looking for a King to reign.
They don’t really like the idea of taking orders from someone else.
(We saw that parable about the king whose subjects did not want him to reign over them)

Point being: many in this world are not going to be happy about this baby.
(We already saw Herod’s response)

And Mary, I just have to tell you that what this world is going to do to this baby is going to be like a knife in your heart.

“to the end that thoughts from many hearts will be revealed.”

In short, Jesus is the litmus test.
What people do with Jesus
Reveals who and what they are more than anything else.

If you don’t love Jesus, then don’t claim to love God.
AND WE SAW JESUS EXPOSE MEN LIKE THIS OVER AND OVER

• These religious people walked around in their long robes and their religious traditions and they sure looked faithful to everyone who observed them.

But Jesus came to expose them.
He would reveal that they did not love God as much as they claimed.

Listen to what the writer of Hebrews said about Jesus:
Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

I know that passage is about the word of God, but did you notice how the writer switched to a “He” in verse 13?

This passage is about Jesus, who is the incarnate word,
And it speaks to His ability to expose men for what they are.

And because men don’t want to be exposed,
They will hate this child and will do unthinkable things to Him.

And this is not a new thought…
Isaiah 50:6 “I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.”

Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”

And here we are, while everyone is celebrating
And high-fiving each other regarding the birth of Messiah,
SIMEON STEPS IN AND REMINDS EVERYONE OF HIS PURPOSE.

This child is going to be rejected and will suffer and will die.

Now, before we move on to Anna, there is sort of a sub-plot here that I want to make sure and address because I think it is extremely valuable.

As I studied these passages, there was one phrase I couldn’t get past.

verse 34, “Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother”

This sobering reality that Simeon spoke of, he directed it for Mary.
It wasn’t just some open ended prophesy for all to hear.

Luke writes it as though Simeon grabbed Mary’s hand,
Looked here in the eye, and said, “There’s something you need to know.”

And I just kept wondering, “Why Mary?”
And I actually think the answer is found in the way Luke chapter 2 ends.

If you look down to verses 39-40
“When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”

And of course then we have the story of when Jesus was forgotten
In Jerusalem at the Passover as a boy. (And we’ll look at that story next week)

Luke 2:48-49 “When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

What you begin to understand is that Jesus went through a period
Where He was also a boy who was growing up.

Sometimes we have this tendency to skip from baby to man
And sort of forget that Jesus grew up just like the rest of us.

Also important to understand is that we find throughout the Bible
That much of the teaching and instruction that comes to children
Comes from their mother.

(No, I’m not disregarding the clearly revealed Fatherly mandate to bring up your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord)
It’s just that while the Father’s worked, the mommas did the raising.

Remember Paul talking to Timothy?
2 Timothy 1:5 “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”

And then later:
2 Timothy 3:14-15 “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Well who do you think taught Timothy those sacred writings from infancy?

In fact, Paul even outlines in 1 Timothy that this role of raising godly children is the ultimate mode of significance for the Christian woman.
1 Timothy 2:15 “But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.”

It’s the whole “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world” concept.

While both parents share the burden, the fact remained that
Much of the instruction and training occurred at the hands of the mother.

MY POINT?
Mary had better have a good handle on what she was raising this boy for.

I’m not trying to knock any parent in here, for indeed I want the same things…
But if you’ll stop and pay attention I’d venture to guess that
About 99% of the prayers that get offered up for our kids
Focus on their safety, happiness, and general well-being.

“Lord, watch over them…”
“Lord, keep them safe…”
“Lord, make them feel better…”

And those prayers are often coupled with parallel forms of instruction.
“Don’t run with scissors…”
“Don’t put that in your mouth…”
“Don’t drive fast…”
“Be careful…”

And really, even most of our warnings against sin
Have more to do with them not getting hurt
Than they do with being worried about whether or not God is offended.

What’s the problem with that preacher?
Nothing, in a general sense.

But everything is wrong with it if you raise your child to think
Their sole ambition in life is to be happy and not get hurt.

Simeon is giving Mary a lesson in “Godly-Motherhood 101”
“Mary, God has a plan for this boy,
And I can already tell you that it’s not going to be a pleasant one.
You make sure that you raise this boy to be faithful, not merely careful.”

That, by the way, is Christian parenting at its finest.

I spoke with a lady on the phone this past week. She’s got a daughter (whose name I can’t say) who is serving on the mission field in a country I can’t mention. It is that dangerous.

After reading this passage, I thanked that mother for spending her life raising her children to be faithful, not just careful.

Mary is about to raise this child,
And Simeon, whose sole concern is the consolation of Israel,
Wants to make sure that Mary knows what her role is here.

It is truly a sobering reality and reminder.

But that’s the first witness Luke brings up here on this day.
#2 ANNA
Luke 2:36-38

Just in reading those 3 verses you probably already see
Just how many similarities Anna had to Simeon.

First she is called “a prophetess”
And I’ll just take that at face value
And say she was a proclaimer of the word of God.

• Since there was no new revelation occurring that day,
• It does not indicate that she was receiving new revelations and delivering them to the people,
• But it is not at all far-fetched to imagine this godly woman teaching the children and the younger women in the temple court yard.

Again, Paul spoke of the role of an older woman:
Titus 2:3-5 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

I don’t think it’s a stretch to see a ministry just like that for this woman.

We also find that she was “the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher”
Indicating that her service was not some sort of obligatory service.

She wasn’t of the tribe of Levi.
You know she didn’t grow up in a priest’s household.

She was just a normal Jewish woman,
Who had a commitment to the word of God.

“She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four”

This speaks to her chastity and devotion.
Perhaps you remember Paul speaking of widows and widowers.

1 Corinthians 7:8-9 “But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”

The reason of course:
1 Corinthians 7:32-35 “But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.”

Paul could have had Anna in mind when he wrote that.
Her husband died early in life and she transferred that devotion to Jesus.

Luke goes on to say:
“She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.”

Certainly I think there is some hyperbole there.
Luke’s point is merely that it was an extreme rarity
To go to the temple and not see Anna there fasting and praying.

Anna is what Paul would call “a widow indeed”
1 Timothy 5:5 “Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day.”

• When her husband died she didn’t become a busy-body.
• She didn’t become “overly concerned with community affairs”.
• And she also didn’t just start living for her own happiness.

She saw the absence of her husband
As a void only to be filled by the presence of God.

WHAT IS MORE, By serving in the temple continually, what do you suppose she did for income? How did she make a living?

She was obviously dependent upon the generosity of those who came to worship. This is what Paul meant by she “has fixed her hope on God”.

THIS WOMAN HAD NO WORLDLY HOOKS.

So, can we talk about Anna’s devotion now too?
You can see what she and Simeon each had in common.

Neither of them had an attachment to the world.
They had crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

And look at her response when she sees Jesus.
(She probably heard Simeon’s statements)

(38) “At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Anna went from fasting and praying to thanksgiving and evangelism.
She found everyone in the temple whom she knew was also “looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” and started telling them all about this baby.

The key phrase there is EXCITEMENT, wouldn’t you say?
This woman has been in this temple for well over 60 years praying and fasting continually…her excitement tells us what she was praying and fasting for.
She wanted a Redeemer.

And in her we find the exact same picture as we find in Simeon.
• A person who has no desire or attachment to this world at all.
• A person whose sole desire is redemption and deliverance.
• A person who found Jesus and was totally satisfied.

Certainly neither of them needed anything else,
But do you see that neither of them even wanted anything else?
THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH JESUS.

And to return to those beatitudes we talked about, we would say that these two are “pure in heart”.
• They didn’t just pretend to be poor in spirit, they really were.
• They didn’t just pretend to mourn over sin, they really did.
• They didn’t just say they would be meek, they really were.
• They didn’t just claim to want righteousness, they really did.

And we know that based on the way they responded to Jesus.

Jesus is just a baby and yet He has already revealed two hearts.
• Simeon has seen all he needs and is now ready to go home.
• Anna has seen the satisfaction of 60+ years of praying.

JESUS REALLY WAS ALL THEY WANTED.

And that makes for a very penetrating observation for each of us.
We don’t anticipate the first coming of the Messiah as they did,
WE ANTICIPATE THE SECOND.

But I would hesitate to say that any of us
Anticipates the coming of Jesus like these two did.

One was ready at any moment to see Christ and leave this earth,
The other had spent her entire life praying for this day.
I don’t know that any of us can match that. (In fact, I know we can’t)

And that confronts the fact that perhaps
We are still trying to find fulfillment in this world instead of in Christ alone

Can we really sing the songs we are so familiar with:
• “Jesus is all the world to me, My life, my joy, my all”?
• “All that thrills my soul is Jesus, He is more than life to me”?
• “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold, I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands, I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand”?
• “I am satisfied with Jesus”
I THINK YOU GET THE POINT.

• And look, I’m not trying to sit here and insinuate that I’m a shining example and you are all just idolatrous thugs…
• Nor am I blindly assuming that you don’t love Jesus more than anything else…

I’m merely asking you to CONSIDER WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES ARE
And to realize that regardless of what your priorities were
When you came in here this morning,
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT JESUS IS BETTER!

He alone is all-satisfying!
He alone is totally fulfilling!
He alone is all-sufficient!

And I know that because we just saw two people who weren’t satisfied by anything this world had to offer and yet they were satisfied in Jesus.
JESUS IS ENOUGH

TURN TO: Psalms 4
This is a Psalm I really “saw” for this first time this week.

It begins with David begging God to answer his prayer.
(1) “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.”

Certainly we recognize:
• David’s confession that God is his “righteousness”
• And that God is his Savior who has “relieved [him] in [his] distress”

But we also see that David has a request that he wants God to answer.

So my natural question is: What is your request?

Well, David doesn’t immediately tell us.
Instead, he immediately begins to address the “sons of men”

(2) “O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach?
How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?”

Well we know what David’s “honor” was,
It was God who is his Savior, and the righteousness He had provided.

And here we find David asking people
• Why they have such reproach for God and His righteousness?
• Why they love worthless things so much.

But before they answer, David has a word of testimony.
And his word is great.
He assures them that there is a fulfillment in having God
That perhaps they have never understood.

(3) “But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; The LORD hears when I call to Him.”

I don’t know why you love the world so much,
But I’m telling you that being a child of God is a tremendous thing!
Having God hear me when I call is a tremendous thing!

And then David even gives sort of an invitation to the wicked to draw near to God.
(4) “Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.”

AND HERE WE ARE AT SORT OF THAT MOMENT OF TRUTH.

• David sees a world that loves sin and hates righteousness.
• David wants them to know that there is a fulfillment in God that they can’t receive anywhere else.
• David even tells them that the way to receive this fulfillment is to repent of their sin and draw near to God.

But let’s be honest…
How many times have we offered that very invitation to people?
How many times has that invitation been offered to us when we become preoccupied with the world?

I can’t count the number of times I’ve had conversations
And tried to assure people that if they would let of their sin
They would find fulfillment in Christ.

It seems like nearly every time they disregard my advice.

THAT IS WHERE DAVID IS.
He can’t seem to get through to people just how fulfilling Christ is.

NOW WE COME BACK TO HIS PRAYER REQUEST.
(6-8) “Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?” Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD! You have put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.”

David first reveals the world’s cry for satisfaction, “who will show us any good?”
Mick Jagger said it accurately, they just can’t get no satisfaction.

And David has a solution.
“Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!”

What is David’s request?
SHOW THEM YOUR FACE!

“God, I can’t seem to get through to them, that you are the all-fulfilling, all-sufficient, God of the world. They just keep looking for love in all the wrong places. God please show them Your face!”

And if God will, David knows that they will be convinced.
(7) “You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and new wine abound.”

That is to say, that
“They’ve been to the best parties and celebrations that the world can throw and yet not one of them has ever reached the level of gladness in their hear that I have found in You.”

The world just can’t compete…

Often times we try to do ministry by competing with the world, We try to entertain.
But in the entertainment arena we cannot compete for the world can appeal to the flesh, and we cannot.

However, we have at our disposal something the world cannot compete with, we have the very presence of God.

DAVID WANT’S GOD TO REVEAL HIMSELF,
BECAUSE IN GOD HE HAS SOMETHING
THE WORLD CANNOT COMPETE WITH.

(8) “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.”

In You God, I get:
• True gladness of heart
• True peace of mind

The world can’t offer either, they are found in You alone:
God, please show them your face!

Incidentally, this became my prayer for you this week.
• This became my prayer for me this week.
• This became my prayer for the youth that come on Wednesday nights.

I am praying that God would show His face
So that if you can’t presently say that Jesus is enough,
That very soon you will be.

Consider Asaph in Psalm 73.
• He lamented his inability to be satisfied with the things of the world.
• He didn’t have enough, and he longed for more.

Until he entered the sanctuary of God.
He saw the end of those who seek the world
AND HOW UTTERLY UNFULFILLING IT ALL IS.

This led Asaph to confess:
Psalms 73:25-28 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.”

Asaph found fulfillment in Christ.
Jesus became all-sufficient to him.

THIS IS MY REQUEST OF YOU THIS MORNING.
Luke has been revealing to us the birth of
The most fulfilling and satisfying person to ever enter the human realm.

It is in fact “good news of great joy” for He is the Savior!
And He is enough.

This morning I’m going to ask you to begin to seek His face.

And NO, I DON’T MEAN some mystical trance where you set Indian style with your eyes rolled back in your head waiting for Jesus to appear.
God reveals His face in His word.

So I’m going to ask you
• If you would simply begin to pray, “God, show me Your face!”
• And if you’d be willing to follow that up by searching for Him in His word.

As you read, ask God to show you who He is.

The result of that will be that
If you don’t currently find Him to be all-satisfying, you will shortly.

I also want you to pray that same prayer for our church,
Pray it for me,
Pray it for the youth of this church.

We cannot seem to get through to others just how wonderful He is
So pray that He will lift up the light of His countenance upon us.

Jesus is all-satisfying, the tragedy is that so many don’t know it.
Simeon knew it…
Anna knew it…
It is my prayer that we all know it as well.

The Effectiveness of Faith – part 2
Romans 4:9-12
October 15, 2017

As you know we are currently examining the doctrine of SOLA FIDE
Namely that man is Justified by Faith Alone

Having looked at the Necessity of Faith
We are now looking at the Effectiveness of Faith

By lifting up the example of Abraham,
We see there is only one way a man is made just before God,
And that is by believing God.

Man cannot possibly do anything good enough to get to God,
But because God is so merciful,
If man will place his faith in God,
Then God will credit that faith as righteousness.

It is the absolute blessing of being forgiven.

Romans 4:6-8 “just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”

It is a blessing to be freely forgiven by God.

So Paul has been hammering “Justification by Faith”
Romans 3:28 “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”

Romans 4:4-5 “Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,”

But you and I know, there is a flip side to every argument.
If works don’t get us to God,
Then why do you always talk about works?

Do I work, or not work?
Does it help, or no help?

The fact is that there is nothing which challenges
The doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone
Like a misunderstanding of the relationship
Between faith and works.

And granted, it’s easy to see why people can be confused in this area.

Let me put two verses up on the screen and you’ll see what I mean.

Romans 3:28 “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”

Seems clear enough.

James 2:24 “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

Do you see the problem?
If all you do is take those two verses out of context
It is an apparent contradiction.

TONIGHT Paul helps us understand this issue.
And in doing so we are again convicted just how effective faith really is.

And in our text, I want you to learn two main points.
#1 FAITH PRECEDES WORKS
Romans 4:9-10

“Is this blessing..?”

Of course he is referring to the blessing
He mentioned in verse 6 that David spoke of.
The blessing of having your sin forgiven…
The blessing of having your sin forsaken…
The blessing of having your sin forgotten…

Paul is here asking the question.
“Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also?”

And that is a very critical question to ask.
He is wanting to know, exactly when forgiveness of sin takes place

Does it occur immediately after faith,
Or does it occur after faith and a few works.

Years ago the local Church of Christ preacher named Bob Martin began publishing the “Caprock Bible Study” in the Texas Spur.
In one of those “Bible Studies” he quoted from the gospel of Mark.

Mark 16:16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

He then commenced to say that in order to be saved,
A person must have faith and baptism or else he could not be saved.

It was faith plus this one work.
(Incidentally, Tommy Bailey published nearly the same on Facebook)

It’s important to note that
• None of them were questioning the necessity of faith.
• Every Church of Christ preacher I have ever met would tell you that faith is absolutely required for salvation.

For that matter Rome would absolutely tell you that faith is required for salvation.

None of them question the effectiveness of faith.
What they question is the sufficiency of faith.
(the effectiveness of faith)

That is the question that Paul is asking here.
When does forgiveness occur?

The Jews said, it was faith plus circumcision to be forgiven.
Acts 15:1 “Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Paul is asking if that is true here.

And so Paul begins to answer the question.
“For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised?

AT WHAT POINT DID GOD FORGIVE ABRAHAM?
AFTER FAITH OR AFTER FAITH AND CIRCUMCISION?

“Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;”

Abraham’s forgiveness came after faith and before circumcision.

Forgiveness:
Genesis 15:6 “Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”

Circumcision:
Genesis 17:24 “Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.”

Please notice that the time span had to be at least 13 years, for Ishmael was born in chapter 16, and Abraham isn’t circumcised until Ishmael is 13 years old.

And the point is OBVIOUS
FORGIVENESS FOLLOWS FAITH & FORGIVENESS PRECEDES WORKS

In order for a person to get to God, faith alone is required.
There is no moral pre-requisite,
There is no standard of goodness to first be attained.

Only faith in Jesus is required.
Romans 3:23-24 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;”

In regard to the preacher who wrote the Bible study.
He quoted one half of one verse
And built his entire theology upon it.

Look at that verse again.
Mark 16:16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”

When the second half of that verse is read,
It becomes most apparent that believing and not working
Determines salvation.

IF A PERSON TAKES SCRIPTURE AS A WHOLE,
• You will see that Scripture overwhelmingly teaches that faith alone is required for salvation.

John 3:14-18 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

John 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

John 6:35 “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

John 6:40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

John 6:47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.”

John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 12:44-46 “And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”

And that is just the book of John.
In order for God to forgive a person and credit righteousness to their account, the only thing required is faith in Jesus.
IT IS ENOUGH

WHY?
BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T HAVE FAITH, WORKS ARE USELESS

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”

Matthew 23:23-28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Or consider the children of Israel:
1 Corinthians 10:1-5 “For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.”

About those same people the writer of Hebrews wrote:
Hebrews 4:2 “For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.”

The problem with them was not a lack of works,
The problem was a lack of faith.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?
• Faith Alone will justify a sinner.
• Works Alone will not.

Going to church… Lord’s supper… Baptism…
Are NOT means of attaining salvation,
And if they occur before salvation, they are out of order.

In fact, in many cases,
They only succeed in giving the lost a FALSE SENSE OF SALVATION.
Forgiveness occurs directly after faith.
Not directly after works.

Therefore, we conclude that FAITH PRECEDES WORKS
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

But there is a second truth that we must understand
In order to have a complete understanding of Scripture.

#2 WORKS PROVE FAITH
Romans 4:11-12

Paul really gives us some tremendous
Insight there in the first part of verse 11.
(incidentally this is James’ point)

Paul called circumcision two different things, did you catch that?
1) SIGN
2) SEAL

Works don’t precede faith, they prove your faith is real.
If a man has no works – he has no faith.
If a man has no faith – he has no salvation.

James 2:14-17 “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”

We would have to be blind to miss James’s point.
The idea is that if a man’s faith is not accompanied by action,
Then that man has no real faith.

James 2:18-19 “But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”

Here James lays down a challenge for all to answer.
“show my your faith without the works,”

And of course YOU CAN’T.
Which is why James says next, “I will show you my faith by my works.”

If you don’t have works, then you don’t have faith.

James 2:20-26 “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”

And that also fits our example of Abraham.
We know he was saved by faith alone.
But how do we know he had faith?
HIS WORKS PROVED THAT HIS FAITH WAS REAL.
Certainly we think of the willingness to sacrifice his son,
But that wasn’t the first work Abraham ever did.

The first work Abraham performed was circumcision.

WORKS PROVE THAT FAITH IS REAL
And this is seen even in the New Testament.

John 8:31-32 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Matthew 7:16-20 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “So then, you will know them by their fruits.”

It is not works that save you.
Works aren’t even required to be saved.
But if you don’t have works, then you don’t have faith.

That is what Paul is speaking of here,
And he gives 3 ways that works prove faith.

1) WORKS SIGNIFY YOUR FAITH
“and he received the sign of circumcision”

“sign” translates SEMEION (say-mi-on)
That which distinguishes a person or thing from others.

It is the word that is used when the crowd wanted to see proof from Jesus that He really was the Son of God.

Matthew 12:38-39 “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet;”
They heard Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah
They heard Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God
They wanted proof.

So it is with our faith.
We can claim to have it, but is there any way to prove it?
Sure, we call it works.

In Abraham’s case, the first was circumcision.
And as we have said this circumcision
Was also symbolic of what God was doing in his heart.

God was removing the sin of Abraham
Which had been passed down from Adam.

Today, the first step of faith is baptism, but that is just the first.
Loving God…
Righteous living…
Loving your brother…
Loving the poor…
Loving the lost…
ARE ALL WORKS TO PROVE OUR FAITH IS REAL

But that is what works do.
They prove that your faith in God is genuine.

But there are more.
2) WORKS SEAL YOUR FAITH
“a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised”

What is the difference between a “sign” and a “seal”?
As sign is something you do to prove your faith.
A seal is something you receive to show your faith has been approved.

“seal” translates SPHRAGIS (sfrag-ece)
A signet, the stamp impressed as a mark of privacy or genuineness.

That means when we are talking about a “seal”
We are talking about something that is given after as verification.

A seal is a guarantee of authenticity.

WHAT DO WE MEAN?
• Circumcision for Abraham wasn’t just a test to verify his faith.
• Circumcision was also a gift through which God was approving his faith.

THINK OF IT LIKE A WEDDING RING.

When you stand before the preacher they bring out the rings
And the preacher gives the significance of the wedding ring.

He in effect says that this ring is the “sign” of your marriage.
And he asks if you will wear it on behalf of your spouse.

But to you the ring quickly becomes more than just a sign,
It is also a gift to you from your spouse
Which serves as a reminder that they have pledged their life to you.

So in one sense it is a sign and in another sense it is a seal.

So it was with Abraham’s circumcision.
• It was something Abraham did for God – thus validating his faith.
• And it was something God gave to Abraham – thus reminding of his acceptance.

And by extension that is the same thing works do for us.

On one hand they are the first indicator that we really trust God,
But over time they also become the proof that we look at
That God has accepted us and we are His.

And these works become a reliable seal because
True works of faith are only possible if we are in Jesus and He is in us.

I recently hear R.C. Sproul talk about assurance…

Someone came to him doubting their salvation, and he said, “I’ve got 3 questions for you, to help you determine if you are saved.”
1) Do you love the Biblical Jesus perfectly?
2) Do you love Him as much as you should?
3) Do you love Him at all?

And do you realize that even this less than desired love is a fruit of salvation because no unregenerate person has any affection for Christ.

Now it may very well be that
• You need to repent of something that is stealing your assurance,
• Or you need to obey in an area to regain peace,
• But in regard to salvation that evidence of loving God is only available because God gave you the capacity to do it.

So it is with all spiritual works.
They are only possible because they have been granted by God.

FRUIT ONLY COMES FROM A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

That means if you have fruit, you are the real deal,
Because you can’t have fruit if you are not.

Matthew 7:17-18 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.”

That is why John wrote his first letter.
1 John 3:13-20 “Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.”

John said, we will know we are true believers when our fruit is of God.
And that is only one type of fruit, but you get the point.

Works are not only a sign that you give God to prove your faith,
But works are also a seal that God gives to you
To show your faith is approved.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

These works did not originate with you, they originated with God.

Works serve as a seal.

It is a constant stamp of approval
That we can look at to know we are God’s.

Listen to Jesus:
John 5:36 “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish — the very works that I do — testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”

Works aren’t just what we do to prove our faith.
They are what God gives us to do,
To prove He has accepted our faith.

When God sees our faith is genuine
He gives us the ability to do good works
Which serve as a seal that we really are His

This is what John had in mind.
1 John 3:7-10 “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”

If God gives you the ability to be righteous,
Then let that keep someone from deceiving you that you aren’t.

They signify your faith to God They seal your faith in God
3) WORKS SHOW YOUR FAITH
“so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.”

Here Paul lists two different categories.
The lost Gentile who is not circumcised.
The lost Jew who is circumcised.

Abraham’s works were meant to show each of them what God required.

The fact that Abraham was justified by faith apart from works
Shows the uncircumcised sinner that he can be saved
And it shows the circumcised Jew that he still needs faith

Works don’t save you, but they are a powerful testimony
To an unbelieving world.

Think about the testimony of baptism.
• Baptize a thug, it reveals that God will save anyone.
• Baptize a religious person, it reveals that everyone needs
salvation

WORKS ARE A POWERFUL TESTIMONY TO LEAD OTHERS TO FAITH.

That’s what James said wasn’t it?
James 2:18 “But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Works don’t save you.
They never have, they never will.
BUT WORKS DO HAVE A PURPOSE
They signify your faith – They seal your faith – They show your faith

That is the relationship with faith and works.

THE POINT I AM MAKING IS THAT WHILE WORKS ARE CERTAINLY IMPORTANT, IT IS FAITH AND FAITH ALONE THAT IS EFFECTIVE.

And this is the doctrine which was rescued in the Reformation.

Let me give you another piece of info that I gained from R.C. Sproul.
It is a math analogy, but it paints such a clear picture of what we are about.

Rome says:
FAITH + WORKS = JUSTIFICATION

The Gospel says
FAITH = JUSTIFICATION + WORKS

Antinomianism says (Romans 6)
FAITH = JUSTIFICATION – WORKS

I think that is a clear way to put it.
We are certainly NOT like the antinomians who are asking Paul in Romans 6 if they can go ahead and sin all they want since they are under grace?

Absolutely not!
The genuine faith of Scripture would never make such a claim.

However we don’t at all believe that
Works are in any way necessary for justification either.
WE BELIEVE FAITH IS EFFECTIVE.

Martin Luther said it like this:
“We are justified by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.”

Meaning, if your faith has no works, then your faith is dead.
It is not saving faith and you are not justified.

But if your faith is genuine, and of the sort that justifies,
Then rest assured it will be evidenced by good works.

We’ll continue on with this next time…