Back 1949, a notorious gangster named Mickey Cohen, who was the big crime boss in Los Angeles with close ties to the Mafia, he attended a Christian meeting in Beverly Hills. The meeting was being led by a young evangelist named Billy Graham.
Graham was just starting out in evangelism and no one had really heard of him. Everyone knew about Mickey Cohen. Mickey was attracted to what he heard at the meeting. Afterwards, Billy and some of the others talked to him about salvation, but he made no commitment at that time.
A while later a Christian friend read Revelation 3:20 to him - "Behold, I stand at the door...." The friend then asked Mickey if he wanted this salvation. He said, "Yes, I do." The news of his conversion made quite a sensation, and the ministry of Billy Graham became known across the nation. There was only one small problem - nothing in Mickey Cohen’s life changed.
When his friend confronted him about it, Mickey complained: "You never told me that I had to give up my career. You never told me that I had to give up my friends. There are Christian Movie Stars, Christian Athletes, and Christian Business Men. So what's the matter with being a Christian gangster? If I have to give all that up--if that's Christianity--then you can count me out. "
Admittedly, Cohen's response was rather extreme. I've not met many people that think God would be cool with a Christian gangster as a career choice anymore than a Christian drug dealer or Christian porn star.
I'll bet you haven't either. But I'll also bet that you know more than a few people who think they can be right with God while ignoring most everything he tells them to do through His Word. (1)
Like Mickey Cohen, they have relegated obedience to the status of an extra-credit assignment for those who are really into the "Jesus thing."
Not too many of us are gangsters, but the story fits. When we give our lives to Jesus, we may and will have to give some things up. Putting Jesus first will cost us something. Many are not willing to let Jesus take them that deep. The Bible is full of stories of basically good people who knew God yet did some pretty hellish things. Many of us find comfort there, because many of us have found ourselves in a place far from God after having come to know him. That's probably why the story of the prodigal son is such a favorite. Lot's of us have been there and done that.
Certainly good and Godly people can fall into sin (either suddenly or as the result of a series of missteps in the wrong direction). And without doubt, all of us struggle with sin. Even the writers of scripture did so.
But here's the deal, NO CHRISTIAN can set up camp in the land of disobedience and then stay there and defend it as being no big deal. It is a big deal and it is wrong. The Apostle John put it this way:
1 John 1:5–6 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
What is walking in darkness? Is it possible to do good things and still be walking in the dark? I mean it’s not like I’m a gangster and killed anyone, robbed a bank, or even committed gross immorality. Listen what Jesus says
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Today’s passage deals with the will of God. In fact this is a pretty scary passage: Just what is the will of God?
According to a recent survey, 70% of adult American Christians believe there are no moral or ethical absolutes that apply to everyone. In other words most Christian adults have been poisoned by the drug of moral relativism.
Most Christians have joined the non-Christian culture and believe we set our own standards. In essence this survey reveals that 70% of Adult American Christians have decided that God is not capable or worthy of establishing guidelines for living.
In a similar survey only 20% of Adult American Christians said that living a life according to God’s will is the single most important thing in their lives. So, the flip side is that 80% of Adult American Christians are telling God to take a number. Yet many of these people are quick to say they do good works. They are working for God. Jesus would be pleased.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
This is a statement that Judas could make. Did not Judas go out with the 70 and preach the Gospel, heal the sick and cast out demons? In other words, a man may be able to do great things and get great results, but that says absolutely nothing about his salvation. We need to hear this well in a day when there are thousands who are claiming that in Christ they have supernatural powers. People say [to me] they have heard of some bizarre thing going on and will comment that it is okay because the individual uses Jesus’ name every time he does it. Using the name of Jesus does not prove anything. (2)
These people had been active in the service of God; “they had done everything but the Lord’s will,” and this is the critical thing. To be active in religious affairs is no substitute for obeying God (3)
It is worth pointing out here, we cannot ever know with absolute certainty the spiritual state of an individual from their activity. In context, Jesus said in the preceding verses that you can tell a a bad tree from the fruit they produce. Yet here, just because someone is doing good works (good works in our eyes) we believe them to be saved. And notice too, these are charismatic acts Jesus is specifically mentioning. Can a non-saved person to miracles? Jesus said:
Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
And this is what Jesus says to them:
Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Lawlessness! Wow, what a word! What do you mean I practice lawlessness? I obey the speed limit, I pay my taxes.
Lawlessness in the Biblical context means basically the rejection of the laws of God, willfully ignoring the commands of Jesus, disregard for the guidance of Scripture.
You can teach the most amazing Sunday School Class,
You give 20% of your income.
You are at church every time they open the doors,
but if you live an immoral lifestyle, cheat on your taxes, lie to your neighbor,
Jesus says you are practicing lawlessness.
We don’t get to pick the commands we like and disregard the rest. Who then gets to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Knowing and doing the will of God. This is not earning our salvation. This is showing our salvation. Paul would say:
Philippians 2:12b work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
Last week we said that it is out of love we are obedient. Jesus said:
John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
So how do we know God’s commandments?
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
A very import little word is in this verse – “that”
The Greek word is eis – preposition of purpose.
The NASB and HCSB has translated – “So that”
We renew our minds, in order that, so that,
we may prove, or rightly discern and determine just what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
This is not God’s good will but rather, God’s will is good; God’s will is acceptable or pleasing to God; and God’s will is perfect, or complete.
And it is that will we must do. But part of God will is knowing God’s will. How do we do that?
First step is: And do not be conformed to this world
The previous verse says we are to be living sacrifices to God and a proper sacrifice to God is to be without any blemish.
So we are not to be conformed to this world or blemished by the world.
In the Greek, the word “world” is "aion" or "age," meaning the current world order, the present culture.
“Age” carries with it a sense of the beliefs, the philosophies, the methodologies, and the strategies of the fallen world in which we live.
It is not just the world and its people in their fallen state. It is the worldviews and practices that derive from the fallen state that define the age in which humans live at any time in history. (4)
The problem is not that Christian are living in our current culture, the problem is that there is too much of our current culture living in the Christian.
Jesus, by the will of God, delivered us by His blood, from this present evil age.
Galatians 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
If Jesus delivered us, why would we want to have any part in it?
James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
John tells us in His letter:
1 John 2:15–17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
There is a word for not conforming to the world, we would say to be separate, to have a separated walk. This is the very definition of being Holy. We are called to be holy.
1 Peter 1:15–16 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.”
Jesus prayed to the Father, that his disciples who are in the world, but not of the world. Jesus prayed that they be kept from the “evil one” who is is the ruler of this present age.
How are we to avoid indulging in the evils of this present age, of our current culture? By renewing our minds.
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2)
In present passive tense in the Greek we can easily translate “be transformed” to “keep on transforming.” This is not a one-time thing, it is a continuous action. The word “transform” in the Greek is where we get our word
“metamorphic.” It means to change from one state to another; to be changed, from the inside out. To be changed on the inside ought to be reflected on the outside.
Ephesians 4:22–23 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
As our minds are being renewed, we are becoming more Christ-like. Like reprograming a computer, we must reprogram our minds from the things of this world to the holy things of God. We are overwriting all the bad data with all that is Holy.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
As we become more Christ-like, knowing the will of God will be more natural, clearly evident, and doing the will of God will become an earnest desire.
There is a lot to digest today. But are you following the gist of these messages I have been preaching? Being a follower of Jesus, confessing you are a Christian, is so much more that walking the aisle, saying a prayer, and getting dunked in the baptismal pool.
It is a total commitment to Jesus. To say I believe in Jesus, not merely about Him, is to say I fully trust all that I am, all that I have to Him.
I am not earning my way to heaven. Jesus did that on the cross.
I am serving my Lord with all that I am, because I love Him that much. I owe Him that much, He deserves nothing less from me.
Being a Christian is not something I do, it is the very fabric of who I am and to Whom I belong. I was bought with a price.
At the end of the day, when all is said and done, it is all about Jesus.
Have you given all to Jesus?
(1) http://transformetrics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9174 John Peterson, Author
(2) R. Kent Hughes, The Sermon on the Mount: The Message of the Kingdom, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001), 256.
(3) Leon Morris, The Gospel according to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992), 180.
(4) Kenneth Boa and William Kruidenier, Romans, vol. 6, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 364.
All Bible References are from the NKJV
