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River Church Sermons


Jan 26, 2020

#forparker #4

God Wants Radical Followers

By Louie Marsh, 1-26-2020

 

Intro – how do we deal with our lack of perfection?  Last pic Jesus Radical?

 

Our word radical was formed from the Latin adjective radicalis, which simply meant "of or relating to a root." The Latin word radix meant "root." This meaning was kept when the word radicalis came into English as radical, but new senses developed too

 

The origin of radical isn't at all radical, in the "very different from the usual or traditional" sense of the word. Radical was first an adjective, borrowed in the 14th century from the Late Latin radicalis, itself from Latin radic-radix, meaning "root." And the earliest uses of radical are indeed all about literal roots, hinging on the meaning "of, relating to, or proceeding from a root."

 

 

1) Disciples follow Jesus and NO ONE ELSE.

 

43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44  But I say to you… Matthew 5:43-44a (ESV)

  • Jesus reveals how God wants me to 

18  You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18 (ESV)

 

The Rabbi’s had added the hate your enemies, Jesus straightened them out.

 

20  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Romans 12:20 (ESV)

  • Jesus calls me to LOVEthose who hate me.

17  The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18  What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, Philippians 1:17-18 (ESV)

 

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) wrote this after being robbed:

Lord I thank you

That I have never been robber before

That although they took my money, they spared my life

That although they took everything, it wasn’t much;

That it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.

  • Jesus called me to PRAY for those who hurt me.

 34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34 (ESV)

 

2) As a Disciple of Jesus I copy the CHARACTER & CONDUCT of Christ.

 

44  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:44-45 (ESV) 

  • He gives “COMMON GRACE” to all.

 4  Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4 (ESV)

 

3) I must always remember that Jesus is calling me to a HIGHER STANDARD.

 

46  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47  And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Matthew 5:46-47 (ESV)

  • The root of Christianity is to BECOME LIKE

 48  You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 (ESV)

 

The word comes from telos, end, goal, limit. Here it is the goal set before us, the absolute standard of our Heavenly Father. The word is used also for relative perfection as of adults compared with children.
- Word Pictures in the New Testament.

 

8  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ Philippians 3:8 (ESV)