Sermons that shape us: Relaxed Righteousness (Pt.2)

(Part 2) 

In Matthew 5:20, Jesus makes a profound and telling statement:

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”-Matthew 5:20

Even though, the Pharisees and teachers of the law were supposedly responsible for living and teaching others to live out the “letter of the law”; they were falling short of living the righteous life God intended. The standard of righteousness they were struggling to maintain was not enough to qualify them for heaven. They were living a relaxed righteousness. Jesus goes on in Chapter 5 to give them six examples of what He means.  

Each of these examples begins with the phrase “You have heard it said.” Basically, what Jesus is saying is that for generations you have been told that “this” is the standard of righteousness, but I am here to tell you that the bar is set higher than what you’ve been trying to reach:

1.  “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.-Matthew 5:21-23

2. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.-Matthew 5:27-28

3. “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”-Matthew 5:31-32

 4. “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.-Matthew 5:33-35

5. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[h] let him have your cloak as well.  And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”-Matthew 5:38-42

6. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’-Matthew 5:43-44 

Are you guilty of relaxing righteousness for your own benefit? Are you living below God’s righteous standards? Have you lowered the bar? Truth is within ourselves, we cannot live up to the righteous standards God has set for us: 

“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”-Isaiah 64:6

However, In Christ, we are without excuse: 

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”-2 Corinthians 5:21

We need to stop looking for ways to lower the goal and start living out the righteous lives God intended for us. 

Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church 

Sermons that shape us: Relaxed Righteousness (Pt.1)

(Part 1) 

 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”-Matthew 5:17-20

We have watched for generations as the standard of righteousness has slowly diminished within the body of Christ. Things that would have been renounced, rebuked and expelled from the church, in generations past, are now being tolerated, accepted and even celebrated. 

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus was quick to point out that He did not come to ‘abolish’ the Law or the Prophets. He declared clearly that His coming in no way wiped out the moral code, ethical positions or spiritual implications of the law. There are some today who place no value in the Old Testament; believing that with the coming of the New Covenant, the Old Covenant has been formally put to an end and has no authoritative rule for our lives. They contend that only those moral or ethical standards repeated in the New Testament are binding upon the body of Christ today. 

However, Jesus came and lived out the Law perfectly, fulfilling it rather than abolishing it. Going as far as to affirm that not an iota or a dot would pass from the Law until it is accomplished. Most Bible-believing Christians, I contend, still see the value and virtue of the Old Testament Law. Things like the Ten Commandments still hold a place of honor in our daily lives. But, what concerns me more is not those who are trying to abolish God’s righteous standards, but those who are more subtly attempting to relax His standards: 

 “Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”-Matthew 5:19

 Relax means to make (a rule or restriction) less strict while not abolishing it.

What we have seen within the body of Christ over the past several generations is not as much of an attempt to abolish God’s righteous standards as we’ve seen an attempt to “make it less strict”. We’ve attempted to lower the bar, rather than raise it. 

Somewhere along the way we have bought into the idea that the grace of God somehow lowered the standard of righteousness that God expects from us. 

Grace, however, in no way diminishes our need for righteousness, nor does it lower the standard of righteousness we are to live by. Some people live under the misconception that because Jesus lived a righteous life, we don’t have to. They believe that because Jesus paid the penalty of our sin at the cross, that somehow, that sacrificial act has relaxed the righteous standards expected of us. 

Scott Burr

Sermons that shape us: Salt & Light (Pt.2)

Part 2

 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”-Matthew 5:14-16

 

 It is obvious from the passage that Jesus was using light in a spiritual rather than physical context. Yet, those seated around him understood the value of light and its necessity in the physical world they lived in. Without light, you and I could not survive. Think about how plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. They need the light to grow and the byproduct of photosynthesis is the oxygen we breath.

 

This a more complex understanding of the value of light. Jesus’ crowd may have appreciated a simpler understanding: light would break the darkness each day and give them light to live by. They didn’t have the luxury of light on demand. Perhaps we would appreciate light more if we only depended on the light God gave us.

 

As Jesus declared,  “You are the Light of the Word”, I could not help but think of another passage found in John 8:12: “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

 

 As disciples this passage promises us two things: 

 

1.     Because He is the light, we won’t have to walk in spiritual darkness. 

 

2.     Because He is the light, we will have the light that leads to life. 

 

What does that mean for you and I? We are called to be light-bearers carrying His light to others. Just as the moon has no light of its own, but simply reflects the light of the sun, so believers are to reflect the light of Christ for all to see. That light is made evident to others through the good deeds we do in faith and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Much like salt diminishes in value as it loses its saltiness, so does light that is hidden from view. What is the purpose of lighting a candle, but keeping it concealed from view. We are to position the light in a place where everyone can see it, not to draw attention to ourselves, but to Christ. 

 

Not everyone is going to appreciate the light. Although it can be a ray of hope to a lost sinner, it also exposes previously unseen things. Light reveals deficiencies. Perhaps this is why so many try and avoid it. The light of Christ has a way of exposing things in our lives that we would rather remain concealed. Yet, it is this very light that leads us to life. 

 

Ultimately a believers’ life must be characterized by salt and light. Salt and light, in my mind, are a reflection of our witness. Salt represents our character and light represents our actions. Each one pointing to Jesus in their own unique ways. 

 

Scott Burr

Sermons that shape us: Salt & Light (Pt.1)

Part 1 

 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”-Matthew 5:13-16

 

In ancient times there were two commodities that were indispensable to society: salt and light. To those listening it would have been like hearing someone say. You are are like breath and blood to the body. 

 

To hear Jesus begin by saying you are the salt of the earth would have immediately resonated with them. Salt was a valuable commodity. Ever hear the old adage “He’s not worth his salt”. Salt was so valuable, soldiers in the Roman army were sometimes paid with salt instead of money. Their monthly allowance was called a salarium ("sal" is the Latin word for salt).

 

 It’s when you begin to look at the two primary applications of salt that you begin to understand why it is so important: preservation and seasoning. 

 

With the invention of refrigeration, the necessity of salt as a means of preserving food doesn’t resonate with you and I as it did with those sitting on that hillside. Likely, every one of them had food stored in salt back at their homes.  By using this salt metaphor, Jesus may have meant that His disciples are called to act as preservatives in the world by slowing down the advancement of moral and spiritual decay. 

 

Psalm 14:3 states that: “All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

 

Believers are commissioned by God to preserve truth and goodness in a corrupt world. However, this requires that we are living a life of holiness. I contend that it is the Spirit of God working through a believers life that is restraining the evil at work in this world:

 

 “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.”-2 Thessalonians 2:7 (ESV)

 

Once the body of Christ is taken out of the way, the world will see how God’s people were preserving the earth from destruction. 

 

In addition to preservation, salt was also used as a seasoning. It simply made things tastier by enhancing the flavor. It makes bland things better, by drawing out the good in it. As believers, God has called us to draw out the good in the world around us by making God’s work stand out from the normal way of doing things. One way Jesus taught his disciples to do this is found in Luke 6: 

 

 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

-Luke 6:35. 

 

As believers behave in ways that reflect God’s nature, they accentuate the difference that Jesus makes in person’s life. Nevertheless, we must be careful to not lose our flavor with the world by making them salty! Salt is an extraordinary seasoning in the hands of a chef, but dangerous in the hands of a two year old. If we are not living a life that upholds God’s moral standards or living in such a way that demonstrates the goodness and kindness of God, then what value are we?  We are like salt tossed out and trampled on. We must not only profess God’s goodness, but also reflect the character of God in how we live. 

 

Scott Burr 

Sermons that shape us: The blessing of a godly attitude. (Pt.3)

(Matthew 5:1-12)

 

Part 3

            

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.” Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”-Matthew 5:3-12

 

We learned last week the about the blessing of being poor in spirit, mournful over sin, living meek and humble lives, and pursuing God’s righteousness. Let’s look at the remaining four attitudes that invite the blessing of God:

 

Matthew 5:7: "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

 

Mercy is an expression of God’s divine love towards us. Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve, while mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve. We never will truly understand the value of mercy, until we extend it to someone else. 

 

Matthew 5:8: "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”

 

We need fan to flame a passion for holiness and purity. Moral purity and an undivided heart for God. 

 

 Matthew 5:9: “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”

 

Jesus came to give men a peace like they had never experienced before. One way we accomplish this is through spreading the gospel, because God has entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). In evangelism we make peace between man and the God whom they have rejected and offended. Reconciling men to God brought a level of peace that surpassed understanding. Jesus spoke peace and calmed storms and spoke peace and silenced troubled hearts. God has given us that same mission to teach and to live. 

 

Matthew 5:10-12: “10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

 

It seems disingenuous to be happy about being persecuted. However, when we consider the outcome of our suffering we recognize the great reward we receive from our enduring: 

 

“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”-James 1:2-4

 

Did you hear that? The testing of our faith produces steadfastness. Jesus is shaping our souls. Who wants to live a blessed life? Then be poor in spirit fully trusting in God. Live repentant. Demonstrate meekness. Embrace righteousness. Show mercy. Pursue purity. Speak peace and endure persecution for the Lord’s sake. 

 

Scott Burr 

 

Sermons that shape us: The blessing of a godly attitude. (Pt.2)

(Matthew 5:1-12) 

Part 2 

            

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.” Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”-Matthew 5:3-12

 

Most of us are familiar with the blessings listed here in Matthew 5:3-12, but perhaps you've failed to see how these blessings are tied to maintaining godly attitudes. 

 

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) tells us that: “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

 

 These 8 attitudes not only invite blessing into our lives, but they shape godly character in us as well. I found these descriptions helpful from a commentary I was studying: 

 

            1. Matthew 5:3: “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” 

 

It all starts here. Blessed are the poor in Spirit that realize their need for God and more specifically their need of a Savior. They come with no spiritual assets. Nothing to offer. Spiritually bankrupt. They cast aside self-dependence to trust fully in the Lord. If we are not careful self-dependency can lead to haughtiness and pride. 

 

            2. Matthew 5:4: “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” 

 

Those who mourn are those who respond to their own sinful condition with godly sorrow and genuine repentance. 

 

            3. Matthew 5:5: “God blesses those who are humble (meek), for they will inherit the whole earth.” 

 

Meekness is constrained power. Meekness is to show willingness to submit and work under proper authority. It also shows a willingness to disregard one’s own “rights” and privileges. It is a form of self-discipline which is a Fruit of the Spirit.

 

            4. Matthew 5:6: "God blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”

 

We see Christians hungering for many things: power, authority, success, comfort, happiness – but how many hunger and thirst for righteousness? There is a shift from pursing the things of this world, to pursing the things of God. Finding our satisfaction solely in Him and seeking first His righteousness. 

 

Scott Burr

 

            

Sermons that shape us: The blessing of a godly attitude. (Pt.1)

(Matthew 5:1-12)

Part 1 

 

“One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.”-Matthew 5:1-2

 

As I read this passage, I was reminded of the message I preached a few weeks ago about leaving the nets. How there were many that crowded around Jesus, but only a few that left their nets to follow Him. Those He called disciples. As I read this I noticed how the crowd gathered around each other, while His disciples gathered around Him. 

 

This section of scripture (Matthew 5-7) may be the most famous of all of Jesus’ sermons. When we talk about things that people have said, we often talk about people’s famous last words.

 

The Book of Matthew 28:18-20 ends with these famous last words of Jesus to His disciples:

 

 “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”-Matthew 28:18-20

 

 We all know this as the Great Commission. It is a directive from Jesus about what we are to accomplish as far as His mission to seek and save the lost. 

 

How often, however, are people known for their famous first words? In Luke 4, in his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus stood up in the synagogue and read an excerpt from the book of Isaiah. However, it is here in Matthew that we read Jesus’ first extensive teaching. It was his inaugural address. 

 

What I find interesting is that His teaching in Matthew 28 focuses on our mission, but His inaugural address in Matthew 5-7 focuses on our character. Character always proceeds commissioning. Jesus didn’t start off instructing His disciples in their mission. He began by addressing their character. Because, if your character isn’t sound enough to carry the call of God on your life, then it will collapse. 

 

When Jesus’ sat to teach, he wasn’t just trying to simply sharpen the disciples intellect. He was determined to shape their souls-their character. That is why we are calling this series: Sermons That Shape Us. We want to allow what Jesus taught the early disciples to shape us too. 

 

 

Scott Burr