Evening Sermon

February 10, 2008

Motivations

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A manner of life worthy of the Lord. Impossible, isn't it? A life fully pleasing God. Fruitful in every good work? Why, that's impossible. That's what we are told today, and what we are tempted to believe. But that's not what the Bible says!

Eph. 2:8 "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."

God created us, he saved us, to do good works!

Jesus puts it this way, Mat. 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Think about, Heb. 10:24 "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works."

Then there is, Titus 2:6 "Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works."

And further down in that chapter, Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."

We are to be zealous for good works. We are to ourselves to be a pattern of good works, letting others see those good works that they might glorify God. And after declaring the gospel promise of regeneration and forgiveness of sins, Paul writes to Titus,

Titus 3:8 "This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works."

So preach the gospel, so that those who believe the gospel will be careful to maintain good works. To preserve their practice of doing good works, to give attention to the continual, ongoing performance of good works. That's our calling.

Or, as Paul writes to the Ephesians, Eph. 4:1 "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called."

That's the application of the promise of the gospel. That's how it fits together. And that's how today's sermon fits in with last week's sermon. Actually, I covered these verses last week as a conclusion, without much detail, simply because I wanted the context to be clear even last week. We'll focus on the context this week. The motivation for doing all this, the motivation for heeding these exhortations. And that motivation begins with an understanding of,

I. THE GOAL OF LIFE. The goal is not the performance of good works. That's just the means to the end, the path we travel en route to the goal. This is the goal, as stated at the end of,

v.11 "...for all patience and longsuffering with joy."

Let me read the whole statement, remembering that this is a prayer. This is what Paul is praying for the saints at the church in Colosse. v.9-11

He prays all those things, first of all, "for all patience." Now that English translation isn't the best in communication the meaning of the Greek. First of all, the word "patience" is better understood endurance or steadfast endurance, perseverance in sustaining faithfulness in the midst of all sorts of obstacles. And secondly, "for all patience" is more clearly understood when the preposition "for" is translated rightly, "for the purpose of." So the whole idea is that all of this would take place with a great purpose and goal in mind.

A. Endurance. That's the goal of the Christian life. Endurance. Abiding under, that's what the Greek word means quite literally. Abiding faithfully under whatever the circumstances might be. Bearing up under adversity, and persevering.

Shall I give you an appropriate illustration of the Christian life, with the goal of endurance?

Heb. 12:1 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

It's a race, a marathon race. And the goal is to get to the end. To win!

1 Cor. 9:24 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."

Beloved, that's the goal. Faithful endurance to the end.

And so John wrote, Rev. 2:10 "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Notice the reference to tribulation. The goal of life isn't to make yourself happy and comfortable, but rather to endure whatever troubles might come to you in this life. Thus, the goal is,

B. Longsuffering. Another Greek word often translated patience. The idea of longsuffering refers to forbearance, slowness in avenging wrongs. Suffering long. Willing to suffer long.

This word for patience is also found in the description of a life "worthy of the calling with which you were called," according to, Eph. 4:2 "..with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love."

Also, Col. 3:12 "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do."

So that's our calling. That's our goal. Not the modern, narcissistic, "what's in it for me" attitude of the modern and postmodern age. But longsuffering. Bearing with one another. Putting up with one another.

And to top it all off, do it with,

C. Joy. v.11 "...for all patience and longsuffering with joy."

Well, if you were with me until now, I just lost you. You might be willing to endure. Persevere. And you might even be willing to suffer long. But with joy? Now I've really crossed the line into the realm of the impossible.

But Paul doesn't write to the Colossians in order to tell them that he is praying for them something that is actually impossible. No, beloved, it is possible. This goal of life is possible. You can abound in every good work, living a life fully pleasing to God. You can. Indeed, you are called to do so. But you can't do it in your own strength. You can't do it if you depend upon your own power.

So don't miss the beginning of, v.11 "...strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy."

That is,

II. THE SOURCE OF LIFE. The source for the energy and power to achieve the goal of life. It is,

A. The strength of God's power. You should know that the Greek verb translated "strengthened" and the Greek noun translated "might" come from the same root word. It is the word POWER. The word comes into the English language as dynamite. It is the power that resides in something by virtue of its very nature. It is miracle power, wonder-working power. Power to do and power to accomplish anything.

And so to accomplish the goal of your life set forth in Scripture, you must be empowered with power. Empowered with God's power. His glorious power, that verse continues. Really there the idea is the power of his glory.

B. The power of God's glory. "Power" there is a different Greek word. The idea of exercising dominion, the utilization of force or strength. And the power is of God's glory. What a wonderful expression, particularly when we think of God so often today in terms of impotence and ineffectiveness. We think of God in terms of the limitations of our own existence or imaginations. We think of God in terms of things that are manageable, explainable, understandable, and essentially, human. We think of God in terms of mere natural power, such as the religion of the deism which agrees to the existence of a god but not a God of great power.

So what is the greatest offense of the gospel? Why, his supernatural power. The power of resurrection. The power of the virgin birth. The power of supernatural miracles. The power of creation. The power to speak a word, and to have it so. "Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." That's power!

This is what we know about God, he is glorious. And his glory is powerful!

The writer of Hebrews describes God with these words, referring to Jesus as the one,

Heb. 1:2 "...through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power."

And so we read, or sing, Ps. 29:1 "Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, Give unto the LORD glory and strength. 2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, "Glory!" 10 The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, And the LORD sits as King forever. 11 The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace."

Beloved, that's the source of power by which you are strengthened and therefore enabled to live a life worthy of the Lord! That's the source of the power by which you are enabled to be fruitful in every good work. It is the power of the glory of God!

So this is the song of our worship, 1 Chron. 29:10 "Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 13 "Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name."

Ps. 62:5 "My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us."

Do you see the point, beloved? Our strength, our ability to live in a way that pleases the Lord springs forth the source of God's glory. So I'm not going to preach to you something I could write in a self-help book, "Ten steps to powerful living." I'm not going to preach you to the five principles for power in life. I'm not going to tell you how to empower yourself. Rather, I am going to preach to you the glory of God, the exalted, infinite, incomprehensible, almighty power of the majestic glory of the almighty God.

What a beggarly gospel is proclaimed in so many places, the gospel of self-help. The gospel of pragmatism. The gospel of ten steps for successful Christian life. Nonsense. Christian living pleasing to God is the result of an overwhelming consciousness of the glory of God.

So Paul prays for the Ephesians, Eph. 3:14 "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."

So you are strengthened with power "according to the riches of His glory." And so to have this power, to have this strength to endure and be longsuffering with joy, you must be those who are absolutely enthralled with the glory of God. Power comes to you when your focus is upon ascribing that glory to God.

We've seen that in our study of the book of Revelation. Rev. 4:11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."

Rev. 5:12 "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

Beloved, that is the source of life. The glory of God. And with that recognition of the glory of God comes the primary motivation within us for a life a good works fully pleasing to the Lord. Motivation is important, because it is what keeps the message of the gospel just that, a message of good news. A motivational lecture is not good news, because ultimately, deep down, you know you can't do it. But the good news is,

III. THE FOUNDATION OF LIFE. The foundation upon which you receive and apply all the exhortations of the Scripture. This is the context within which you receive the law of God and all the commandments of God. It is the context of,

A. Gratitude for your salvation. There is such confusion abounding today, especially in the reformed church, about the use of exhortations and commandments, as if those are out of place in the preaching of the gospel. But clearly they aren't, because the Bible includes them.

But let it be said as clearly as clear can be, the exhortations and commandments are never the way in which the people of God become the people of God. They are never the way in which you meet your obligation required for acceptance by God. They are never the standard by which you earn your salvation or accomplish some measure of atonement for the forgiveness of your sins.

They have nothing to do with your justification, that legal declaration by which you are acquitted in the courtroom of almighty God. You are justified by means of faith, alone. "Faith...is the alone instrument of justification." It alone is the instrument, the means, through which and by which your standing before God is achieved.

Eph. 2:8 "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."

And yet, while the law condemns us of our sins and leads us to Christ in order to be saved by grace through faith without reference to that law, yet we know that "His commandments are not burdensome." In fact, we sing with the Psalmist,

Ps. 119:97 "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day."

Ps. 19:7 "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward."

So how do we as Christians receive the exhortations of the commandments to obey the law? What is the motivation to obey those laws, and to live a life worthy of the Lord. Beloved, that's an easy question. With a simple and clear answer. The motivation is a gratitude for your salvation. You earnestly strive to obey the law because you are thankful for the mercy of God in saving you from your sin. Your obedience, therefore, is the very definition and biblically defined expression of your love for God.

1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."

Loving God is obeying God. Obeying God is loving God. It is that simple. And surely Jesus says the same thing, John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments."

John 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

And again, the foundation for that love? Gratitude. v.12

He has saved us, more specifically, "qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance." So there is further motivation,

B. The hope of your inheritance. You see, you obey God not because you are trying to earn your inheritance but because he has already promised it to you! The motivating foundation for obedience to the commandments of God is that God has already made you an heir! In fact, a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. The inheritance is reserved in heaven for you.

1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Blessed be God! There's the gratitude. And the hope. The inheritance is yours. And how does Peter use that hope? As a motivation.

1 Peter 1:13 "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

Then there is this great encouragement Paul gives to the Colossians in, v.13-14

We looked very closely at these verses last July in a sermon entitled "A Transfer of Membership." That is what God has done, and that transfer must at the heart of your motivation for living a life worthy of the Lord well pleasing to him.

Perhaps the best description of salvation is found in,

Eph. 2:1 "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

You were dead, and God made you alive. That's the foundation for any and every exhortation of the Bible that addresses the way that you live your life. The motivation is a clear and confident recognition and understanding of,

C. The identity of your kingdom membership. You have been qualified, like a bank qualifies you to receive a mortgage loan. You have been qualified by God to receive the inheritance. You were a citizen of the kingdom of Satan and God transferred you into the kingdom of the son of his love. That's the motivation. And what a great motivation it is because just look at the next verse, verse 14, that describes what has taken place with your kingdom transfer.

D. The forgiveness of your sins. v.14

So you obey BECAUSE God has forgiven your sins, not because you fear that he won't! You live a life worthy of the Lord because he has forgiven you your sins, not because you feel guilty in your sins. You abound in every good work BECAUSE your sins are forgiven, not in some hopeless and exasperating insecurity in which you are trying to do some good enough to make you confident and secure in God's love. You are zealous to do good works BECAUSE God has forgiven you your sins.

And so it is that the promise of the gospel, the promise of the forgiveness of your sins, is the very foundation upon which God says to you, his beloved children, "if you love me you will obey me."

Remember, beloved, all of this is a prayer. A prayer for the church,

v.10 "...that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."

It is prayer which I pray for you, and the goal with which I preach the word of God to you, that you,

2 Tim. 3:17 "...may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

May God strengthen you to that end, he who "has delivered [you] from the power of darkness and conveyed [you] into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."

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