From the Desk of Pastor Toby Powers
Truth Baptist Church
Bremen, GA
What Does It Mean To Live A Christian Life?
Matthew 16:21-25
Intro: In this passage Jesus begins to tell the disciples about the will of the Father for his life. He goes further also to tell them about the will of God for their lives as followers of him. As his life involved sacrifice, their lives for him would involve sacrifice, and our lives, if lived for Christ, will involve sacrifice. He truly instructs these men and informs us through the witness of his Word on how to live a Christian life. I want to preach with God’s help today on “WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE?” To live a Christian life you must live a:
I. Crucified Life: The believer must understand that being a witness for Christ requires that he take up his cross and follow Christ. The cross of Christ represents the will of God for his life, and the cross of the Christian represents the will of God in the saint’s life. The crucifixion of Christ led to the salvation of the world, and the crucified life of the saint will result in the leading of sinners to saving knowledge in Christ as well. The cross of the Christian represents the sacrifices necessary to be successful. God’s will is not an environment of comfort to the flesh. It is linked with the crucifixion of the flesh. To be successful for Christ, we must bear the cross we are given.
v. 24 says a man must “deny himself.” This word deny is “apareomai (ap-ar-neh’-om-ahee)”, which means to deny utterly, to disown, totally abstain, to forget oneself, to lose sight on oneself and one’s own interests. Can you say with Paul in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ”? The crucified life is a life of denial. Are you living in denial? You must deny:
A. Possessions: To the rich young ruler Jesus said in Mark 10:21-23, “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” Here we see a lesson in priorities. There is nothing wrong with having possessions, but you can’t let possessions have you! His “stuff” was his god. He served his riches instead of the Lord, and no man can serve two masters. POSESSIONS CAN KEEP YOU FROM BEARING THE CROSS!
B. People: Luke 14:26, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” The word "hate" means to “love less.” Again it is a lesson in priorities. We are to love Christ supremely! In our text in verse 21, Christ begins to reveal the will of the Father for his life. In verse 22, Peter rebukes him and tried to restrain him. In verse 23, Jesus turns his back to Peter. Jesus still loved Peter greatly, but he did not love him supremely! People who you love can be the same type of hindrance to you in your walk with God sometimes. People can keep you from bearing your cross.
Illustrate: Abraham dwelt in the wicked place of Haran because of his Father. Haran means to “sit down.” Abraham was sitting down on the journey God had for his life because of his Father, but he had to love God supremely and follow him. The song “Brethren, We Have Met To Worship” says appropriately in the last verse, “Let us love our God supremely; let us love each other too!”
Illustrate: Job’s wife tried to get him to curse God and die!
Illustrate: Amnon’s friend and cousin Jonadab talked him into rebelling against all that is right in deceiving and defiling his own sister!
PEOPLE CAN KEEP YOU FROM LIVING A CRUCIFIED LIFE IF YOU DO NOT LOVE GOD SUPREMELY!
C. Pride: The cross is not always a popular thing. Serving God is not always a popular activity. The believer should expect some opposition to his witness. The believer must be willing to accept the criticism of the lost with a sense of humility. I Corinthians 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” The word foolishness is the Greek word “moria (mo-ree’-ah)” and is equated with silliness or absurdity. This world considers Christians to be weird. True followers of Christ are often viewed with disgust and contempt. Don’t be surprised. The cross is an emblem of suffering and shame to those who bear it.
II. A Consecrated Life: To live a Christian life means that you must deny yourself and take up your cross. You will not only need to live a crucified life, you will also need to live a consecrated life. Your cross is God’s will for your life. It is your cross (“his”). No one else can bear your cross for you. You are to “take up” your cross… you are to bear it alone. The cross is a burden. It is one that must be borne. It represents three things to the Christian:
A. A Place of Sacrifice: Romans 12:1-2. Many believers live far beneath the level of spiritual success that God intends for them because they take far too lightly the seriousness of their personal commitment to Christ and their witness for him. Serving God faithfully and effectively requires that a price be paid. Are you willing to pay the price? “I’d rather walk with my Jesus alone, and have for my pillow like Jacob a stone. Living each moment with his face in my view… I started with Jesus, and I’m going through!” A ministry that costs nothing will accomplish nothing! A person who seeks to be used in a powerful way needs to have a powerful commitment! Sometimes it is small things… in fact, it is usually small things that undermine our commitment to the will of God in our lives!
B. Place of Substitution: The cross is where our substitute, Jesus Christ, died in our place. When we bear our cross, just as Jesus died for others, we must live for others. THE CHRISTIAN’S CROSS IS WHERE DEATH TAKES HOLD THAT THE LIFE OF CHRIST MAY BE MANIFESTED TO THE WORLD! Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Those who choose to live a Christian life must not live for any self-glory. They do not seek immediate gratification. They are more interested in the hereafter than the here and now! Eternity holds their reward!
C. Place of Shame: Hebrews 12:1-2.
1. Christ Endured the Cross- if we are to bear the cross, we must also endure some things. There will be some difficulties. But he endured the cross because of the joy the reward would bring to him. Yes, “IT’S BEEN WORTH EVERY MILE OF THE TRIP!”
2. Christ Despised the Shame- Jesus no more enjoyed the disgrace of Calvary than we would have! The pain, the suffering, the absolute scorn to which our Lord was subjected was more intense than we could imagine! Still, he remained faithful!
3. The pain of the cross will not endure forever. Though he suffered greatly in the Garden of Gethsemane, at the hands of the smiters in Gabbatha, and on the rugged hill of Golgotha, when the stone was rolled from the Garden tomb three days later, his suffering and death was vindicated. His sacrifice was worth it. In like fashion one day, God will eternally justify the life lived by his saints before the eyes of all men!
III. Conformed Life: Jesus said you must deny yourselves, take up the cross, and “follow me.” We are too:
A. Follow the Example of Christ: Matthew 26:39, “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Philippians 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” The cross is a place of humility and obedience. It requires conformity to God’s plan. It is a place where you no longer lead, but follow.
B. Focus on the Endurance of Christ: The believer’s conformity will often lead to exhaustion. One must be careful of self-pity and discouragement. It can lead to failure in following in the footsteps of Christ. When you are struggling to press on consider Hebrews 12:3-4, “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Others have given their lives for the cause of Christ. Consider that whatever sacrifices we are making today to serve God is minimal. Consider that, “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” II Cor 4:17.
Conclusion: Do you earnestly and truly want to live a Christian life? I speak not only to saints, but also to sinners. Do you want to be right with God? Do you want to be pleasing to God? Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus! “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No, there’s a cross for everyone, and there’s a cross for me!”
