Week 10 wrap up

I will try to keep this brief.  This last portion of the sermon on the mount Jesus mentions several things that may keep a man from truly committing to a personal relationship with Him.  Specifically false prophets and false disciples will distort the truth and lead a person away from Christ. 

In Acts 20:29-30 Paul warns the Christians in Ephesus that savage wolves will be among you and will not spare the flock.  “From your own number men will distort the truth in order draw away disciples after them.”

There are wolves among us in the church and even in the pulpit.  So how do we recognize them?  I think you have to ask yourself does this teaching have Christ at its center?  Does it place Christ as the only solution to man’s needs and the only way salvation?  If the teaching makes you feel good about yourself and content with who you are then beware.   There message is one of false peace.

Jesus also says you will know them by their fruit.  Good fruit is spiritual fruit that reflects the character of God.  It is the result of a transformed life and only possible through Christ.  It is not good works that man is capable of achieving himself.

False disciple are those who intellectually know of Jesus as Lord and Savior but do not know Him as their personal Lord and Savior.  Scott mentioned this when he commented about “religion”  and it trappings.  Many of these individuals can be dangerous and lead people astray, while others may merely be self deluded. 

Faith is more than believing or even practicing certain Christian doctrines.  It is more than good works.  It is more than believing that Jesus is Lord and Savior.  True faith is costly.  Costly in the sense that it requires you to give up or die to yourself.  It is a true commitment to a personal relationship with Jesus that results in obedience, love, good works, and spiritual fruit.

Finally Christ finishes with “the rock” and application.  What is your foundation?  Are you building your life on the precious rock of Christ or are you building on things that dazzle the world but will rot, rust and pass away?   Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?  Are you hearing the truths of Christ and allowing His love to transform you?  Are you living for yourself or are you living for Him?