Sermon Select

Simon Peter

“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. They immediately left their nets and followed Him”
(Matthew 4:18 – 20).

Jesus Christ called a complex diverse group to follow Him. Each had a unique personality. Based on the interaction recorded in the Scriptures Simon Peter must have been one of, if not the most outspoken one. He was a blithe bold believer who took a stand and spoke out on many things. He was reprimanded by Christ and reprimanded Christ. He was bold enough to draw a sword against a contingency of Roman soldiers and cowardly enough to recoil when confronted by a single young woman. His visibility makes him one of the most familiar apostles.

A first grader had listened attentively as the teacher told of the men Christ called to follow Him. The teacher then asked, “What were the men who followed Christ called?” After a momentary pause one little enthusiast put his hand eagerly. When called upon to tell what the men were called the child said, “They were called recycles!” We might call them transformed apostles but that is Greek for “recycles.” That is what all of us are.

The various lists of apostles varies but the same one is always listed first and the same one last. Peter is always listed first and Judas Iscariot last.

Affectionately known as “the Big Fisherman,” Paul called him, along with James and John, “pillars” of the church (Galatians 2: 9).

John Chrysostom (347 – 407 A.D.) said Peter was “the mouthpiece of the apostles … the leader of the apostolic chorus — the pillar of the church, the basis of faith, the foundation of our confession (You are the Christ), the World-wide Fisherman who brought our race heavenward from the abyss of error.” (“The Twelve Christ Chose,” Smith).

Peter was one of the members of the inner circle that often had special moments with Christ. He was:

I. DARING
When Judas brought the cadre of Roman soldiers to the Garden of Gethsamene to arrest Christ it was Peter who drew a sword and attempted to defend Christ (John 18: 10).

Christ had previously told the apostles they should each purchase sword “Then He said to them, ‘But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one'” (Luke 22:36).

Why would Christ tell them to purchase swords and then rebuke Peter for using his. The Greek word translated “sword” is MACHAIRA. It was a short bladed dagger like knife. Such was an essential possession of all men. It was not a weapon for fighting, but for preparing food, cutting food, and various utilitarian purposes. Telling them to purchase such a “sword” would be like a scout master telling troop members to bring along their Swiss Army Knife on their camping trip. There was nothing warlike about having such a sword. It was Peter’s improper use of it that Christ condemned.

It is probably a stretch of the imagination to conceive of Christ saying that night in Gethsamene, “Peter, put that thing away. I am suppose to die tomorrow on a cross, but if you keep that up we will all be killed tonight in a street fight.”

Peter’s act was a brave impulsive but improper one.

Our zeal for our Lord must be tempered and timely.

In the upper room on the eve of Christ’s crucifixion Peter had boldly asserted that even if all the others deserted Him he, Peter, would not (Matthew 26: 33 – 35). Christ forewarned Peter as to how imminent his betrayal would be. He told him that before the cock would crow three times he would betray Him.

II. DEFLATEABLE
After Christ’s arrest Peter followed the contingency to the house of the high priest and waited around a fire in the outer courtyard. A young woman who had seen Peter with Christ identified him as a follower of Christ (Matthew 26: 58 – 75).

Three times she identified him and three times he denied Christ.

The third betrayal was followed immediately by the crowing of the cock. Peter was deflated.

Those of us who all too often feel like failures can relate. Thank the Lord the story doesn’t end there.

III. DIRECT
Peter revealed many attitudes that prevail in our time. He once asked Christ: “Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?'” (Matthew 19:27).

Transliterated, “What is in for me?”

Later when the mother of James and John asked Christ to let her boys sit on his right and left Peter was one of the ten that was highly indignant about it. They were upset that their little Jewish mothers let her beat them to asking the same question.

What is in if for me? The pay off is two fold.

One, the joy of being with the Lord and doing His will. Inherent in it is the reward. We need to remember that. The pay off is in the process.

Secondly, the pay off is deferred. The pay may not be much but the benefits are eternal.

IV. DECLARATIVE
Christ asked His apostles who they thought Him to be. Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

This factual revelation gave Christ occasion to declare the foundation of the church He was to build: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

V. DEVOTED
Peter was the first apostle at the tomb of the resurrected Christ (Luke 24: 12). What he saw transformed his life and started a wave of transitions that changed history. The empty tomb filled Simon with zeal.

VI. DEDICATED
Jesus, the resurrected Lord, said, “But go, tell His disciples; and Peter; that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you” (Mark 16:7).

Some think Peter was giving up in despair when he said, “I am going fishing.” What he meant was in light of Christ saying He was going to be in Galilee I am going where Christ is.

There on the shores of the sea Peter saw the resurrected Lord whom he had denied. Three times Christ asked him if he loved Him. Simon’s responses revealed a dedication that thrust him into a life time of spreading the good news.

Later Peter wrote two books contained in our Bible bearing his name: I and II Peter. Therein he appeals: “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins” (II Peter 1: 4 – 9).

Christ had said of Peter he would be called “the Rock.” In this passage Peter reveals the process by which sand is turned into a rock.

Peter became a fearless leader, filled with courage born of a faith in Christ and an awareness of His presence in every time of need.

The faith of Peter, tradition tells us, propelled him into France and England preaching the good news. Tradition further holds that Peter was condemned by Nero to be crucified. He said he was not worthy to die as his Lord and asked that he be crucified upside down. He was rock solid.

Jesus Did Party Hardy 3/23/98

John 12:1-11
Page 1574 Come Alive Bible

Jesus Christ was God incarnate, that is, God in flesh and blood. As such, by His spirit today, He wants to work in and through your flesh and blood. On a rare occasion immediately preceding His betrayal, He gathered some of the most remarkable trophies of His grace to illustrate for us His power to transform lives. By looking in on this celebration we can get a glimpse of what He can do in lives – our lives.

I. THE GUESTS
JESUS was the joyous guest of honor. His presence there dispels the stereotype of a party chilling Christ. On one occasion, at a party in His honor, He was so jubilant His detractors accused Him of being drunk. When He saves us He doesn’t rob us of social grace or cancel our need for expressing joy.

“…the joy of the LORD is your strength”” (Nehemiah 8:10). If that is true, and it is, how strong are you?

SIMON was the happy host. Matthew 26: 6-13 records him as the host. Jesus saved him and cleansed him of leprosy, now he shows his gratitude. Leprosy, the flesh consuming disease, was the most dreaded disease of the era. Persons having it were quarantined by being ostracized. They were required if approached by a person to cry out “Unclean, unclean.” If the shadow of a leper touched a person they bathed seven times in a cleansing effort. This man had great cause for devotion to Christ.

Dr. Richard Clark Cabbot and his staff at the Mayo Clinc after years of observation concluded four things contribute to good health. They are WORK, PLAY, LOVE, AND WORSHIP. All four of these were involved at the party at which Jesus was celebrating.

Lazarus loved Him for healing him; Martha was working; Mary in worship. All three were engaged in play by attending the party.

The American Medical Association estimates one-half of the people in hospitals are there because of an ailment the body caught from the brain. They need to engage in these four things.

LAZARUS the credential of creditability, never more alive and well, is at the table with Jesus. Just hours before this Christ had brought him back from the dead. For four days his lifeless body had been in the cold tomb.

His resurrection confirms life beyond the grave.

In one of his lighter moments, Benjamin Franklin penned his own epitaph. The Scriptural teaching regarding the bodily resurrection evidently influenced his thoughts. I marveled to note his grave stone:
The body of B. Franklin, Printer
Like the Cover of an old Book
Its contents torn out,
And stript of its Letting and Guilding
Lies here, food for Worms,
But the Work shall not be wholly lost:
For it will, as he believed,
Appear once more
In a new and more perfect Edition,
Corrected and amended by the Author.

These two were trophies of Christ’s triumph, one He healed the other He resurrected.

MARY AND MARTHA the spirited sisters are there.

Martha is in her customary place of service.

Mary is again the attentive one.

THE CROWD. As was the custom in those days, people came to homes where there was a notable guest just to see the celebrity. They came to see Jesus and Lazarus because of Lazarus’ new life.

The gospel uses a significant word to refer to the religious leaders of the day. Anytime the term “the Jews” appears it does not refer to the general population but to the religious leaders of the day. Their motive for being there was not a pure one. They came wanting to put Lazarus to death (Vs. 10). As long as he lived the story of his new life from death would spread.

Many pilgrims to the Passover wanted to see Lazarus. Word of him as a “living sign” raced through the crowd. Lazarus was on the “hit list” of the religious leaders. This in part is why Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not write of the resurrection of Lazarus. It would have only incited the religious leaders more and further endangered the lives of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. John wrote after their death, and it offered them no threat.

Because of Lazarus “many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus” (Vs. 11). The Greek use of the imperfect tense indicates there was a continuing growing number of defections from the Sanhedrin. This is confirmed in Acts 6:7: “…and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

Lazarus, new life also attracted people to Christ. We, too, by our changed life must attract persons to Him.

In attempting to attract persons to Christ you are doing them the greatest of favors. You are not only endeavoring to introduce them to eternal life, but to the abundant life here and now. We will never exhaust the meaning of the statement by Christ: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Current research reveals some of the present tense blessing inherent in knowing Christ.

Many studies have shown that religious belief can prevent many problems within families and society in general. For example, frequent U.S. churchgoers are about 50% less likely to suffer psychological problems, 50% less likely to get a divorce, and 71% less likely to become an alcoholic than the general public.¹

According to a Gallup Poll the number of American families who say religion is playing a more important role in their lives climbed by 40% from November 1992 to December 1995.

There is also growing evidence of links between spirituality and good health. A recent survey finds that 79% of American adults believe that strong spiritual faith can help people recover from illness or injury, and 56% say their faith has helped them in their own recovery.

Researchers further note associated revelations.

There is a rise in church attendance. In 1995, 42% attended services, compared to only 37 in 1940. Paralleling this are some significant decreases.

The divorce rate fell to 4.6 per 1000 Americans in 1994. That is the lowest rate since 1973.

The teenage birth rate declined for the fourth straight year in 1995. The birth rate for unmarried women dropped for the first time in 20 years.

According to the FBI the number of murders and other violent crimes in large U.S. cities dropped by 8% in 1995.

Three of these characters reveal various aspects of the Christian life.

LAZARUS, witnessed – MARTHA, served – MARY, worshiped

II. THE QUEST
Mary broke the alabaster bottle. The Holy Spirit led her to give her best to Christ. She poured it on Christ’s head as well as His feet according to combined Bible facts. A woman’s hair is her glory. She wiped His feet with her hair thus giving Him the glory.

Mary’s aromatic ointment, called Spikenard, was a rare import from India. Its value was equivalent to a years wages. By contrast, Jesus had told a story of a widow giving the smallest coin of the day, a mite, and her giving also lives as a memorial.

It is not who gives most that gives best, but who gives his or her best.

Three times Mary is depicted at Jesus feet.

1) She “sat at His feet and heard His word” (Luke 10:39).

A young man heard an older man speak of the grace of God in a wonderful and insightful manner. After the service he ask the speaker where he learned such truths. He said at “Mary’s College.” “Mary’s College, where is that?” asked the young man. “Look it up in Luke 10: 39,” replied the sage. He had learned by sitting at the feet of Jesus as we do every time we read the Scripture.

2) Mary “fell at His feet” in distress at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:32).

3) Now she knelt at His feet (John 12:32).

Judas spoke his first recorded words: “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12:5). His question was not prompted because of his concern for the poor, but because he was a selfish thief.

This carping question by Judas is an example of how unproductive people try to devalue good actions. When a deed is done, they don’t condemn it outright; they just say a better one should have been done instead. Persons who do good must expect their motives to be questioned, and their deeds looked upon with suspicion.

In ancient Jewish thought preparation for death was considered a greater “good work” than giving to the poor. Judas and everyone else there knew this.

The devil was soon to lead him to do his worst.

According to verse 7 there obviously was some ointment remaining. Jesus further denounced the attitude of Judas by saying, “But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial’” (John 12:7).

Then Jesus added: “For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always” (John 12:8).

By this He meant there are some things you can do at any time, but there are other things which can only be done once. She gave what she had when she had the opportunity.

This passage also reveals that spiritual needs also take precedent over social welfare needs. Both are legitimate, but we must establish our priorities. She gave what she could.

By contrast Judas also sensed the growing evidence the end was near and he went to negotiate for 30 pieces of silver. He wanted to get what he could.

III. THE REQUEST
Mary. She gave ointment worth 300 pieces of silver. That translates into a years salary. She seemed to comprehend the fact of the end and gave Him what she had. Others waited.

Her act of devotion was normally reserved for a member of royalty.

Judas went immediately and negotiated for 30 pieces of silver. He, too, seemed to sense the finale and evidenced an attitude of getting what he could.

Jesus reprimanded the disciples for rebuking her. Other gospels let us know they had joined the dispute (Mark 14:4). Jesus said “…let her alone…” Mary is spoken of as blessed. Judas is spoken of as though it were better that he had not been born.

C.S. Lewis in the “Great Divorce” notes,”There are two kinds of people. Those who in time say to Christ, ‘Thy will be done’ and those to whom Christ shall say in eternity, ‘Thy will be done.'”

¹Is Progress Speeding Up, John Marks Templeton, (Summary p. 13).

One Way: Jesus 10/25/98

John 14:6
Page 1578 Come Alive Bible

JESUS CHRIST left us a legacy of love and truth. In love He spoke truth. What He said is always best for us to know, but it isn’t always what we want to know.

Jesus Christ was God incarnate. That is, God in flesh and blood. He was the God man walking and talking. When He spoke it was the voice of God speaking. His words rang with the realism of eternity. Being love embodied His disclosure became love revealed.

On the eve of His crucifixion He had one last time to share insights. This was more than a mere pep talk. He is sharing how we can live in contact with Him and eventually share His dwelling place, Heaven. It is fitting that a persons few remaining words should be important ones. He wasted no time comforting His followers.

After hearing Christ speak of going away to His Father’s house of many mansions and assuring them they would soon join Him, Thomas asked a question: “Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?” (Vs. 5).

Christ did not defer from sharing one of the most important realities of all. It is a truth for which His followers are often criticized. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by Me.”

“I” is emphatic meaning, “I and no other always am the only way.”

Our pluralistic society prefers to hear there are many different paths but all lead to the same destination. Confidently we are told we are working to go to the same place.

If what Jesus said is true, and it is, and you wanted to mislead people into not getting to the Father what lie would you perpetuate? The deceiver has created numerous counterfeits and in this way he leads many on dead end paths.

If we believe what Jesus said was true we cannot remain mute. If you had friends in a building on fire and you knew a way out and they didn’t what would be the most loving thing you could do?

Would it be to say there are many doors take your pick? Would it not be to say there is only one way out and I want you to follow me to safety? If you knew there to be only one way wouldn’t it be loving to tell your friends there is only one way?

We are told it is bigoted and narrow minded to insist Jesus is the only way to the Father. In many areas of life there are defined and limited exact standards.

There are 16 ounces and only 16 ounces, no more and no less, in a pound.

There are 12 inches and only 12 inches, no more and no less in a foot and precisely three feet in a yard.

There are exactly 440 vibrations per second in A above middle-C on the piano.

Water consists of only two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen —- no more and no less.

At sea level water boils at precisely 212 degrees.

Colleges and universities have entrance requirements that must be met. They are spelled out and adhered to. If you want to enter you must comply with their requirements.

Nations have standards for naturalization. If you want to be a citizen you must meet these demands.

We accept all of these standards and requirements and comply. Why then do some consider Christ to be narrow and bigoted when He tells us the truth regarding there being one way to heaven?

We should not marvel there is only one way. We should rejoice there is a way.

If we have a potentially fatal disease and a competent doctor says there is one and only medical treatment that will work and without it death is certain, we would rejoice that our doctor is so wise and hasten to submit to the treatment.

If we were faced with legal action that could be disastrous and our attorney were to say there is only one course of action, but it is safe and certain we would marvel at the insight of our advocate and submit to his counsel.

Suppose a student were to apply for admission to a great academic institution such as Georgia Tech declaring, “I want to study logarithms.” The counselor would say, “Great, but first you must take basic math.” The student might protest taking math and insisting on taking logarithms. The counselor would insist. The student might assert that is mean and unfair. It is a bigoted rule that says I can’t study logarithms until I take math. The counselor would insist, “There is no other way. It is impossible for you to come to an understanding of logarithms unless you take the only way people have come to understand logarithms —- namely, the way is math.” There is only one way, math. Not psychology, physical education, or philosophy. Math only. The same is true of Christ.

Why then when Christ says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me” do we suddenly become critical and resistant?

If you believe Christ, you believe that. We believe that it should alter our behavior and stimulate our loving desire to tell others. Many churches have been cowered into not offending some persons by insisting there is only one way. I would like to tell people what they would like to hear, but that is not my task. My calling is to tell people what they need to hear. If I believe it and don’t tell people I am more heartless than a so called friend who would not warn a friend of fire and show the way to the exit.

Jesus said, “The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me…” (John 14: 10, 11).

Jesus was not exhibiting a proud narrow arrogance, He was making the only statement possible in light of what He knew and Who He was. He was God in flesh and blood. Get your Christology right and everything else comes easy. Get your Christology wrong and nothing is right.

As His minister I cannot alter, amend, or expand those parameters. If I am to be true to Him I must advocate His position. I can do none else and be loyal to Him.

Jesus is the only authorized revelation of God to humanity as well as the only authorized representative of humanity to God.

To us that is startling but to the ancient Jew hearing it for the first time it was revolutionary. The statement contained three of the basic concepts of Judaism.

Isaiah warned of false “ways,” “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying ‘This is the way, walk in it’” (Isaiah 30: 21).

We need to pray with the Psalmist, “Teach me your way, O Lord” (Psalm 27: 11).

What does it mean Christ is the way?

If you were to ask directions to a difficult destination a person might go to great length giving directions only to confuse you. If the person offered to walk with you and guide you there the person would then become the way. Then the person becomes the way.

Jesus said, “I am the truth.” Jesus has not just told us the truth He embodies it. The character of the person who teaches Latin, astrophysics, or zoology does not affect the subject. The character of the person who teaches character is important. The person who declares what He espouses is the truth needs to embody the truth.

“I am the life,” was Christ’s third claim. What every person is truly seeking for is life with meaning. Jesus makes life worth living because He is the Life.

Proud parents named their newborn son Adoniram Judson. This brilliant child at age 12 was teaching the adult men’s Sunday School class the book of the Revelation from the Greek text. His genius was obvious.

As he grew his faith began to waver through reading the wrong books. He became such a persuasive advocate of atheism that not even his father tried to share with him.

He went to Brown University in Providence, R.I. There he roomed with another brilliant young man named Jeremy Ames. Soon he had converted Jeremy to atheism. Ames became a vocal advocate of atheism and gave Judson credit for helping him develop his arguments against the Christian faith.

Years lapsed and Judson, an aspiring actor, went to New York to fulfill his dreams. Enjoying success he returned to Boston for a visit. On his way the weather turned bad and he sought shelter for the night. The inn keeper told him he didn’t have a room available. Judson pleaded to be allowed to sleep in the parlor offering to pay full room cost.

The inn keeper relinquished and conceded there was a vacant room but it was next to a very sick man who had high fever and created a lot of noise swearing and screaming. The room was offered with an understanding of the conditions. During the early part of the night the man raved and shouted profanities. A few hours after midnight he got quiet and Judson slept.

The next morning Judson asked if the quiet meant the man was better. The inn keeper told him the man had died. Judson asked how he could deal with having a man die in his inn.

The inn keeper replied it was such a pity for the young man was a brilliant graduate of Brown University named Jeremy Ames.

The shock was so great for Judson that he said all the way back to Boston two words kept ringing in his mind: “death and hell.” Over and over he heard them.

Soon thereafter Judson committed his life to Christ and set sail for India to spread the good news. After a short time in India he went to Burma. Soon thereafter his wife and children died. He remarried and his second wife died also. For seven years he labored in Burma before he had his first convert. Soon thereafter many others came to know Christ.

Unknown to Judson there existed in Burmese folklore a tale that someday a man would come with a book containing the truth. The Burmese people believed Judson to be that man, the Bible to be that book, and the truth contained therein spread rapidly.

Are you misleading or failing to lead someone to the truth? May those words “death and hell” awaken us as they did Judson.

One of my favorite courses in college was entomology, the study of insects. Of the large assortment collected and classified there was one found to be most intriguing, the Procession Caterpillar. Their name comes from their habits. If one gets in line behind another it will stay and follow. If another joins them a procession is begun.

An experiment was conducted involving them using a large flower pot. One was set in motion crawling around the perimeter of the pot. In rapid succession others were put in the procession until the rim formed a ring all following in procession behind the one in front.

Fresh pine needles are a favorite food of the little creatures. A supply was put in the middle of the pot but no one left the ring to eat. They continued to go around and around in procession until they all starved to death.

We are such followers that we tend to follow the procession of beliefs of those like us. Many are spiritually going around-and-around in procession unwilling to break with the mass and live spiritually.

A list of the religions of the world will include Christianity. In reality Christianity isn’t a religion it is a relationship.

Every religion is based on a system of works whereby a person seeks to earn, merit, or deserve the favor of God. Christianity acknowledges there is no way to do so. Instead God offers us His favor and forgiveness based on THE work of Jesus Christ.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

One enters into a relationship with Jesus Christ by faith.

Jesus Christ said: “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” (John 14:21).

Judas (Not Iscariot), Labbaeus (Matthew), Thaddeus (Mark), Judas, Son of James (Luke)

“Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?'” (John 14:22).

This follower of Christ was called TRINOMINUS, by Jerome, one of the early church fathers. The word means “the man with three names.”

The name Judas is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Judah. Jude is the Latin form of the name Judah.

Judas was an honorable name that went back to the founder of the tribe of Judah.

About 164 BC when Israel was occupied and the great tyranny that was manifest in that country was persecuting the people severely, the dominant ruler that possessed the land was named by himself Antichus Epiphanes which means the “great and mighty God.” He rededicated the house of God to the goddess Olympus Zeus. He profaned the house in so many ways and one way in which he did was he brought pigs into the house of God and had them sacrificed on the altar. To the Jewish people that was the most blasphemous degrading thing that could happen.

He then sent his soldiers out into the countryside to have the same thing done in the various villages. They went to one village just a short distance from Jerusalem in which there was an old retired priest of the temple living there. The soldier in charge of the battery of individuals assigned to enforce the law called this old priest out of the ranks and said you are to be the first to sacrifice the pig here in your village then you will be first to eat of its flesh. The old man stood there stony faced in defiance. Finally someone from the crowd stepped out knowing the age of the old retired priest and said, I will take his place. The old retired priest first attacked him then attacked the soldiers and his four sons got involved in the battle. One of those four sons was named Judas. They called him Judas Macabee which meant Judas the hammer. They were few in number with no reserves and no military strength and training. But in the weeks and months that followed their insurrection delivered the people from the bondage imposed upon them.

Unfortunately this admirable name was defamed by Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. Therefore, when this Judas is mentioned the gospel writer hastens to add, “Not Iscariot.”

To distinguish him from Judas Iscariot let’s refer to him as Jude.

Another of his names, Labbaeus, in Arabic means courageous, brave, or hearty. Thaddeus in Arabic means lively, vivacious. Names in the Biblical era were intended to reveal something of the personality or character of an individual. If so this Judas was a dynamic individual.

After having followed Christ as an apostle for three years, Jude, along with the other eleven, met with Christ for the last time in the upper room. The event is called the “Last Supper.” In reality it is the lasting supper.

There Jesus said to His beloved followers, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14: 1 – 3).

Then Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18).

There must have been comfort in the words that followed: “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19).

Then came this intriguing question: “Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?'” (John 14:22).

Jesus response forms a stable platform for life: “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him'” (John 14:23).

Jesus did not deal directly with the “how.” Some things are too complex to have a simple answer. How does a computer chip work? There is no simple answer. I saw a cartoon of a child going through a grocery check-out line with his mother. There are chess sets on the counter as a special item for the day. As they are checking out the child asks, “How do you play that game?” There is no simple answer. Neither was there a simple answer to Jude’s question. There was however a wise response. Distilled, it is: Because you love Me, you will keep my word. Because you keep My word, I will reveal Myself to you.

This is an appeal to be steadfast. “Stead” means a place or position. A homestead is a home place. “Fast” means to be fixed unmovably in a place.

In a time of military conflict soldiers from North Carolina were called “Tar heels.” It was said they were so steadfast that it was as though they had tar on their heels and could not be moved. Jesus response to Thaddaeus’ question is an appeal to steadfastness.

There are three conditions for Christ fulfilling His promise in John 14: 21, “I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

1) We must have His “commandments” (Vs. 21a). By God’s grace Christ’s commandments are preserved in his Word.

2) We are to “keep them.” Obedience is the issue.

3) We are to love Him. Only when we love Him do we desire to know His commandments enough to search them out. Only when we love Him will we do what we know He has commanded us.

Commandants such as: a] love your enemies, b] love one another, c] be His witnesses unto the end of the earth.

There is a song with these words: “To know, know, know Him is to love, love, love Him.”

There is a book in our New Testament that bears his name, “Jude.” He may or may not have been the Jude who penned the book, but it speaks of steadfastness such as that for which an appeal is here made. In it he repetitiously appeals for steadfastness. He pleads:

Do not drift away from the truth as a result of personal indifference.

Do not be deceived into following false teachers. There are two types of false teachers:
1) Those who teach false doctrine.

2) Those who teach enough sound doctrine to maintain a good front, but who are themselves false. That is, hypocrites.

Do not be misdirected away from the basic gospel.

Do maintain the faith, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 3, 17, 20, 21).

One way to maintain the faith is to keep “praying in the Holy Spirit.”

After the appeal for us to “keep yourselves in the love of God,” Jude focuses on the resource for doing so: “Now to Him that is able to keep you from falling … the only wise God …” (Jude 24, 25).

Judas, not Iscariot, remained faithful. Legend says he later ministered in Armenia and Persia where he was martyred. He was faithful unto death.

What Happens to Persons Who Never Hear the Name Jesus Christ? 11/1/98

John 3:16-21
Page 1554 Come Alive Bible

JESUS CHRIST is living proof that God loves you AND the whole world. Jesus, Himself said, “God so loved the WORLD He gave His only begotten Son…”

Why did God do that? Two quick answers are deserved.

One, God is love (I John 4:8). The very nature of love is to give. He being the personification of love fulfilled His nature and gave.

Second, He had to give because there was no other way to have a restored relationship with us. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ” (Romans 6:23).

The expression “wages of sin” refers to the big pay off made by sin. In today’s carnal world market the wages of sin can be quite high but there are no benefits and retirement is pure hell.

Likewise, the “free gift of God” means the free gift given us by God. It is without cost to us but it costs Christ dearly.

Both “death” and the “gift” are earned.

Death is earned by the sinner. The gift is earned for the sinner.

The person who in faith trusts Christ receives the most for the least. Such a person receives everlasting life for nothing.

“Everlasting life” means fellowship with God through Jesus Christ through all eternity.

On one recent Sunday I was asked by three unrelated persons about what happens to the person who never hears the name of Jesus Christ. That is a legitimate question. Often as in these cases the question is posed hoping for a simple one sentence answer. There is an answer but it is neither one sentence or simple.

We have so much and know so much; but how about others in far away places like Zaire, Sri Lanka, and Guyana? What happens to those who never know the name of Jesus: the Hottentot, Inue, and Lapplander? What about those of previous generations who never heard the gospel?

There has always been and there is more evangelism than the world recognizes and reports. For example, after Christ’s resurrection, a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit happened at the celebration of a feast called Pentecost. Acts 2: 5-11 lists the languages of 18 different languages spoken there. Years before Alexander the Great laid siege to Jerusalem. The priest came out of the city to greet him with the Book of Daniel and convinced him Daniel wrote of him. Thereafter he carried a large contingency of Jews with him in his world conquest. They were scattered over most of the known world. They learned the languages of their adopted countries but returned to the land of their ancestors to celebrate Pentecost. Many of these were saved when they heard of the resurrection of Christ. Extra-Biblical sources tell of a great wave of evangelism that swept the world in the first century as these people carried the gospel back to their adopted lands.

A letter from Pleny the Elder to Emperor Trajan referred to the large number of believers throughout the area.

Peter and Thaddaeus worked in Persia where King Agbar became a zealous follower of Christ and many people in his realm were converted.

Pontius of Alexandria went to India in 190 AD where he found many Christians resulting from the work of Matthew in that region.

In the 6th Century the Nestorians went to China as evangelists. For years there were more believers than non-believers in China. This continued to be true until the emergence of the Khans.

Globally our Lord has been at work throughout the ages. He is presently.

Traditional mission fields are experiencing marvelous growth. These are countries where there are between 15,000 and 100,000 converts a year with 75 to 200 new churches being started a year. Some of these are in Korea, the Philippines, India, Mexico, and Brazil.

Some traditional mission fields in which there is great revival going on are Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Uganda.

There are people groups being reached as never before in non-traditional mission areas. In Cambodia large numbers are being saved and churches started.

In one people group in India amid great persecution 400 new churches were started last year.

In China similar growth is being experienced among certain people groups.

In North Africa there is a house church in every town and village.

In Kazakhstan there is a bright movement of God in spite of efforts to stifle and disrupt the work.

In the Middle East, in Iran particularly, there is a great movement of the spirit currently.

This is a sampling of what the Lord is doing all over the world which He loves.

Today as in those days more people are saved than the world cares to report. Still the question lingers; how about those who have never heard the gospel. Those who live in areas where we have not exported the gospel. In the next few moments a Biblical answer will be offered. Five points are needed to answer the question. Note them please.

I. THE DOCTRINE OF DIVINE ESSENCE.
This point of beginning is the highest level possible. It is the character of God. One characteristic of God is absolute righteousness. That means God cannot sin. He never has an improper motive. Our human righteousness conduct is relative; that is, sometimes we act righteously and sometimes we don’t. God is consistently absolute righteous. That means He has never been nor can He ever be unfair or unjust to anyone. He is incapable of being unfair. All people of all ages are in the hands of a just and righteous loving God.

Install it on the hard drive of your mental mainframe and store it in permanent memory: God can not be unfair, and God can not be wrong.

God wanted to get so intimately involved in opening the door to heaven that He manifested Himself on earth in the person of Jesus Christ. He is defined and described as “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Get the message. He is identified as “our great God and Savior.” This answers the question as to who Jesus Christ was.

Romans 9:5 defines Jesus as “Christ…who is over all, the eternally blessed God.”

II. THE DOCTRINE OF UNLIMITED ATONEMENT
Atonement is not a word in the working vocabulary of most moderns. The word means reconciliation or to make peace between two parties. It refers to a sacrificial offering to remove the effect of sin. In the New Testament it refers to reconciliation between God and humanity achieved by the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The purpose of Christ coming to earth was “to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

“When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Rom. 5:10).

The way in which the way of salvation was made possible is clearly spelled out. The body of believers is depicted as “the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). This raises the question: when did God shed His own blood? Jesus Christ, God in flesh and blood, did it on Calvary.

It can be understood by way of illustration. Formerly native Americans thought a drought was caused by the gods being angry. They went through ritualistic dances to make the gods happy in hopes they would be rewarded with rain.

The Biblical reference to the principle of atonement refers to what Christ did to satisfy the righteous demands of God the Father. After sin entered the world God saw all persons as the sinners they were. In love He devised a plan to solve this sin problem. Let’s call it “Operation Grace.” The plan called for God the Son to come into the world and remove the sin barrier that existed between God and mankind. This barrier could not be removed by any human effort. The purpose of the virgin birth was to provide the sinless Son of God to die on the cross to do what no mere mortal man could do. That is, remove the sin barrier.

Get this! On Calvary He bore EVERY sin of EVERY person who has ever lived.

This made forgiveness available to the “whosoever” of John 3:16. Don’t leave me at this point. That does not mean every person is saved. It means any person can be saved. The individual must personally appropriate this forgiveness by faith.

The fact Christ died for all sin of all persons means God wants to save all persons. Observe these texts:

II Cor. 5: 14, 15 “…one died for all…”

I Tim. 4:10 speaks of Christ “who gave Himself for all.”

I Tim. 4:10 also speaks of Christ “who is the Savior of all men.”

Again I say this does not mean all persons are saved. It means salvation is open to all. Each person must personally receive it by faith.

Hebrews 2:9 says, “…He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”

I John 2:2, “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

John 1:29, “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”

In love God extended Himself on the cross on behalf of every person. God in love has exhausted His every effort to make salvation available to every person.

III. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD OR GOD’S WILL.
Through the prophet Ezekial God spoke: “‘Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ … says the Lord God, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live.’” (Ezekial 18:23). The clear answer is that God desires all to turn and be saved.

II Peter 3:9 states God’s will clearly. He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Thus, God has stated He wants everyone saved. For any person not to go to heaven they have to violate God will which is for them to be there. To accomplish this from His vantage point Christ died for all.

Again the will of God is noted in I Timothy 2:4. Therein He is described as the God “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth.” That is His will. What is yours.

IV. THE HUMAN MIND.
The determining issue is what do people think.

In the life of every person there is a time when they become God-conscious. That is, the Holy Spirit convicts them there is a loving God. No matter when or where a person lives, there is a point in their life when they are convinced by the Holy Spirit of their being a loving God.

Acts 2: 17 God said, “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.”

I Cor. 7:17, “God hath called everyone …”

John 7:17, “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know…”

At a point in the life of every person they are made God-conscious by the Holy Spirit. That is, they become aware there is a loving God.

Romans 1 tells us of the reaction of many at the point of God-consciousness.

This brings us to the fifth point.

V. THE HUMAN HEART
At the point of God-consciousness every person responds in one of two ways:
a. I want to know more about this God, or
b. I don’t want to know more about this God.

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man; and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1: 20 – 23).

It is at the point of God-consciousness that most people reject. At the point of God- consciousness they respond negatively and in their heart say: “I don’t want to know more about this God. I want to make my own god of wood, stone, or metal.”

This shouts this fact:
THE HEATHEN IS NOT A HEATHEN BECAUSE HE IS IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS, BUT HE IS IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS BECAUSE HE IS A HEATHEN.

IT IS NOT THE SPIRITUAL DARKNESS THAT CAUSES THE HEATHEN-NESS; IT IS THE HEATHEN-NESS THAT CAUSES THE SPIRITUAL DARKNESS.

However, there are those who send up positive signals at the point of God-consciousness indicating they do want to know more about this loving God. Then God takes it upon Himself to get the gospel to them through His obedient people.

No matter WHO, WHEN, or WHERE any person wants to know the gospel message, God gets it to that person through a human instrument.

God can tell who has said “no” and who has said “yes” at the point of God-consciousness. We can’t. We must assume all have said, “Yes, I want to know more.” Therefore, we must evangelistically reach out to them. That means we are to export the gospel. Have you said “Yes” to Jesus?

For any person to be saved, they must “accept Jesus Christ.” What does this involve? It involves:
1. An attachment which is: a) intellectual, b) emotional (God never intended for you to be a plaything of your emotions), c) willful.

It is as though three little people are sitting on a bench under the dome of your cranium. One is named Mr. Intellect, one Mr. Emotions, and the third Mr. Will. Each is to give a testimony.

Mr. Intellect stands to say, “I believe the Bible to be the sole authority for faith and practice. I believe Jesus Christ the only begotten son of God was born of a virgin to be the Savior who died for the sins of the world.

This intellectual ascent is wonderful but at this point the person isn’t saved.

Mr. Emotion speaks with great depth of feelings. Emotion is evident in his every word as he shares how deeply he feels about Jesus Christ. Poignantly with passion he tells of his sensitive regard for Jesus. He speaks in terms of chill bumps, thrills, a tingling spine, and tears of joy.

Now Mr. Emotion and Mr. Intellect have joined in testifying of their regard for Jesus, but the person still isn’t saved. The devil believes and trembles. He has intellectual knowledge with which he agrees about Jesus as the Son of God and is emotional about it, but he isn’t saved.

Next, Mr. Will stands to testify saying, “I ‘Will,’ will that my will be thy will. Not my will but thy will be done. Knowing the will of the Father to be to trust Jesus Christ as Savior I join with Mr. Intellect and Mr. Emotion in declaring my will is for Christ to forgive and give me new life.”

When the three join as one then the person is saved.

2. This attachment is: All-inclusive. We don’t accept his Saviorhood today and wait until tomorrow to decide on His Lordship. Our life orbits around Him.

3. This attachment is: All-exclusive.