"The Sayings of Christ"

The first part of chapter 7 completes the second section of the Sermon on the Mount, True Righteousness pacticed by the Believer. In 6:1-18 the emphasis was on WORSHIP; in 6:19-34 it was on WEALTH; and 7:1-12 deals with the WALK of the CHRISTIAN, his relatioship to other people.


III. The Believer and His Walk

    THE KEY VERSE FOR THIS SECTION IS 7:12, Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them....". This is the Golden Rule that governs a believer's relationship to other people. The Golden Rule is strictly Christian because it is POSITIVE. It lays the responsibility on the believer so to act that others will imitate him and in the end glorify God.
    I believe we need to look at three main issues, each related to the other: JUDGING, DISCRIMINATING, and PRAYING

1. Christ is not telling us to avoid evaluating people, or using our God given wisdom (1 John 4:1-6). The world is full of false Christians and even ministers of Satan (2 Cor. 11:13-15). As never before, Christians must be alert and must "try the Spirits." What Christ IS condemning is harsh judgment and unjust criticism of men's motives. Note that He uses the symbol of the eye. In 6:22-23, Christ defined "the eye" as the spiritual outlook of a person, that which motivates his life. Every believer has the obligation to test men by their fruits (7:15-20), but no Christian should ever judge a man's motives. Romans 14 and 1 Cor. 4:5.
       This command of Christ does not prohibit church discipline. He tells us to face disobedient Christians honestly, examine the evidence, and deal with sin decisively. The Christian that says that church discipline is not Scriptural should read 2 Thess 3:11-15 and Gal. 6:1-5.
       Christ gives us the right to help others AFTER we have straightened out our own lives. He did not say that it was wrong for you to help your brother get rid of the sin in his life; but He did say that first you should take care of your own sin. In other words, we should be as severe with others as we are with ourselves. Christ points out two dangers in the life of the Christian who judges others:
   

• That judgment will come back to him
• He will become blind to his own needs and eventually need help himself
  
      We are not to judge others, BUT we must also be careful how we distribute Holy things. We must preach the Gospel in all the world.
      Why does Christ include this exhortation on prayer at this point in the sermon? Because it is so difficult for us, in our own power and wisdom, to obey the commands He has given. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God", says 
  James 1:5. The believer who seeks to obey the Word of God must constantly ask for strength, seek wisdom, and knock at God's door for the supply of grace needed. As God's children, we can expect God's care. 
      Christ outlines three tests that will prove our righteousness is from God:
  
• THE TEST OF SELF DENIAL 7:13-14 I believe there are two types of life: the easy, comfortable life, or the difficult way of self-denial. These ways are entered by two gates: a narrow gate of surrender or a broad gate of self-sufficiency. True righteousness leads to self-denial. In Matthew 8:18-22 we see two men turned from Christ because they failed this test. Demas also failed in 2 Tim. 4:10.
  
• THE TEST OF SPIRITUAL FRUIT 7:15-23 "False prophets" does not only mean "false preachers" who proclaim a false gospel, but also "false professors" of faith in Christ. Their inward nature has not changed; they merely wear the outward disguise of a sheep. (2 Peter 1:4) They call Christ "Lord" and even do religious deed; but they have not been saved! How do we detect these false believers? "Ye shall know them by their fruits."
      What fruit does Christ seek? He seeks: 1. the fruit of the Spirit, or Christian character; 2. the fruit of the lips, testimony and praise to God; 3. Hoy living; 4. Good works; 5. Lost souls won to Christ.
      The professing Christian may be involved in Christian activities and pretend to be saved, but if he is honestly born again, he will reveal these fruits in his life. REMEMBER: It is possible to fool ourselves! Satan blinds the mind (2 Cor. 4:3-4) and deceives people into thinking they are saved. WHEN CHRIST RETURNS MILLIONS OF PROFESSING CHRISTIANS WILL BE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THEY WERE NEVER SAVED AT ALL!!!
  
• THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE 7:24-29 These two builders represent two men in this life. They both used the same material and the same plans, and the world could not tell the difference in their two houses. But when the storm comes--the time of testing--the house not founded on the rock crumbles and falls. The true Christian is founded on the Rock, Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 3:11). His righteousness is not based on a church, a creed, or a "good life", but on Jesus Christ who died for him. He proves he is a child of God by lasting through the storms that test him. He proves he is a true Christian by obeying Christ. He was not merely a hearer of the Word; he was also a doer.
      Go through your Bible and note how false believers always fall away in the time of testing. Many of the so-called Christians in Rome deserted Paul at his time of need. YET, note how the true Christians stand regardless of the test. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Peter, Paul, and many others, proved the reality of their faith by standing through the storm. They were built on the Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ!!!!
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws