CHRISTIAN EVIDENCES

This Month's Theme: 

“The Lord's Side”

The New Year is a time of resolution, decision, pledge, and resolve to accomplish things in our lives that have been lacking. Most commonly these things encompass physical things (diets, quitting bad habits, financial, etc…); however, this lesson is designed to help us consider a resolution that is far more vital, Our Eternal Existence!

Matthew 12:30 “ He who is not with Me is against Me , and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

A powerful statement! These are the words of the Lord pronounced upon the religious leaders of the Jews. The Pharisees were a religious sect of the Jews, known as the ‘separate ones'. They were so called because they wore different clothing in order to stand out (in order to be recognized), and were the self proclaimed experts of the Law of Moses. However, even though they studied and taught the Law of Moses diligently, they were extremely hypocritical, as they did not practice what they preached.

Matthew 23:1-3 “Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works ; for they say , and do not do .”

In the context of the opening statement of scripture, the Pharisees have been engaged in attacks on Jesus. They did not see Him as the Messiah of prophecy, they rejected His miracles, and denied the power by which they were performed. Jesus was a threat to their leadership and their dream of an earthly kingdom, where they would be rulers.

Here in the text of Matthew 12 , Jesus has healed a blind mute who is now able to speak and see (The miracles of Jesus and His chosen were immediate and verifiable as authentic by the overwhelming response of both witnesses and enemies). This caused the crowds to surmise that this could be the Son of David (A Messianic title that was well known among the Jews, via the promise of God to David – II Samuel 7:12 -13 ).

The crowd's response caused the Pharisees to be envious and fearful that they might lose their control and power. Since they could not invalidate the miracle and the obvious power behind it, they tried to disgrace the source.

Matthew 12:24 “Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."

As the Lord knew their thoughts ( Vs. 24 ), He used their own hypocrisy against them. In doing so, they had to either acknowledge their own error or admit that He was the Messiah and that the kingdom of heaven was upon them (at hand).

This is not given to be just an interesting Bible tidbit; it has an all too valuable point.

Consider the world today! Untold religions, created by men who walk in their own ways and desire to have God serve them (creating the measure by which they come to Him and serve Him, apart from His revealed will). Then there are those who attempt to destroy the very mention of God and His Son, and seek their own way in this world. In many ways it is very similar to the world that Jesus came to. The Jews of Jesus' world were fragmented into many groups and followed many different teachers.

Matthew 15:9 “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "

Romans 10:3 “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”

The Gentiles were about their own way, immoral, idolatrous, and worldly.

Romans 1:21-22 “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,”

The lesson then and the lesson now is about choice !

There can only be one of two choices and no neutrality !

The element of choice is virtually synonymous with the Bible story. The quality of choice as a condition of human life is inherent in the scriptures. The Bible opens with the tragic story of poor choice and the fall of man in the Garden. Pursuant to this fall the rules for man have remained the same. People still have the capacity to choose for or against God and for either good or evil.

In the Gospels of the New Testament, Jesus Himself become the focus of implied choice. Repeatedly, just as in our text, His claims to be the Messiah are challenged or accepted. Some would turn away from Jesus, sorrowful because what he asks pits them against what they want. Some reject Him violently and find His claim to be the Son of God so vulgar it invokes their greatest prejudice. Some would believe, however, choose not to follow because of worldliness. A few however, would choose to follow Jesus; in essence to take the Lord's side.

•  You can't serve two Masters.

Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

In the time of Christ and the Apostles the country had many slaves and the relation of master and salve was referred to frequently in the speech and literature of the time. If a man belonged to a certain master he would not be able nor even should desire to serve another (attempting to divide his services). The attempt would be brought to swift justice and punishment by his rightful master. Here, Jesus made His own application of this illustration by comparing it to God and mammon (This word is derived from a Chaldean word that is defined, “what is trusted”; “treasure”; “riches”).

The simple contrast is that we must choose between the things of this world (Satan being the ruler of this world and all that is in it, his tools being the lust of the flesh, eyes, and the pride of life – I John 2:15-17 ), and the things that pertain to life and godliness in Christ Jesus, the Lord of Salvation.

•  Hindrances.

What keeps individuals from choosing the Lord's side? The Apostle Paul would illustrate the causes in a contrast between those who have not obeyed the Gospel and those who have, note:

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord , and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake . 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Simply put, it is short sightedness! The inability to see past the horizon, the now, and the tangible. However, God has revealed something greater, something apart from the temporal and perishing. As the creator, His ability to bring light from darkness is displayed in His revealing Life in Christ Jesus from the death of sin and transgression. We have but to see the light and choose to adhere to it.

•  The Obvious Choice.

Matthew 12:30 “ He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

In the face of such an obvious statement, the choice is simple; I choose the Lord's side!

Truth is absolute and unchangeable. God's word is truth and can save today as surely as it did for true believers of the first century, if practiced with the same care and diligence. The early Christians of that time were Christians only ! Although we live some 2000 years later, we too can be just Christians, if we follow the same teachings given these first followers of Jesus.

Jesus said, Luke 8:11 “The seed is the word of God.” The seed planted in good and honest hearts produces Christians, 1 Peter 1:22-23 “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”

Just as surely as an acorn planted will produce only an oak, so God's word will only produce Christians and nothing more. Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations , baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit , 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you ; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.”

- Choose The Lord's Side ! -