NOT A FAN

Becoming A Completely Committed Follower of Jesus: Bible Study Lesson 3

Believing Is Not Enough For the City (of Heaven)

In chapter 5, Idleman tells a story of a famous marksman who was on the brink of earning a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics. When he had only one more shot to make to earn the gold, he fired and hit the bull’s eye… unfortunately, he had aimed at the wrong target and ended up in eight place. Idleman says that when it comes to being a true follower, “It’s not a question of effort or desire. They are following hard.  Here is the problem; it’s not Jesus they are following. Without realizing it, they are aiming at the wrong target.” (Idleman pg. 69). The passage below illustrates such a dilemma.

Matt 7:21-23

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you (I never acknowledged you or approved of you) : depart from me, ye that work iniquity. KJV

Most Christians at some point were required to confess their faith in Jesus Christ as a means of their public acknowledgement of their belief that indeed Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the world. Such a confession is totally biblical and is most certainly relevant to the salvation experience. However, most of us who have publically confessed our belief in Christ were never publically asked to confess our willingness to following him and fully obey his will. Jesus informs his listeners that just because someone acknowledges his authority, power and divine nature and believes in his office as the only wise God does not guarantee them entry into heaven.

QUESTIONS: If believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and having faith in his atoning death and resurrection isn’t enough to get me into heaven what is? And, what Christian practice really changes a person?

 Obedience to his will is the test of true faith in Christ! The lesson here is a fearful lesson. It at once speaks both of the great mercies of God and the terrible judgment of God. God in his great mercy blesses the gifts he has placed upon this individual allowing his Spirit to accomplish his mission in the souls of those that are being ministered to while at the same time rejecting the very vessel in which these gifts are operating.  These are those who point out the road to others but fail to walk on it themselves!

Rom 1:18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; KJV

QUESTION: Why would God use someone that is “holding” his truth in unrighteousness to accomplish his will?

In reality, God may use any agency that his sovereign will determines. He may gift the unsaved surgeon to save a life just as easily as he uses an unrighteous preacher to lead others to Christ. God doesn’t require your permission to gift someone.

QUESTIONS: How do you feel about this statement? Shouldn’t God only entrust his miracles to those that are authentically and genuinely serving him is righteousness? Why would he make such exceptions? Keep in mind, that God didn’t save you and gift you because of your stellar resume. He did it out of his grace and sovereign will.

We who believe we are working for God must understand that the final test is not what we think of ourselves, or what others may think. The final test is: What will God say?—

EXPLAIN what you feel the author meant when he wrote: “Jesus doesn’t expect followers to be perfect, but he does call them to be authentic” (Idleman pg. 73)

What Is it All About?

Matt 23:5

"Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear extra long tassels on their robes. NLT

Being a true follower of Jesus is more than just saying “Lord, Lord” and then NOT obeying his commands! Words and religious practices are never a substitute for obedience. In this text in Matthew, Jesus confronts the so-called religious leadership of his day (the Pharisees) and accuses them of being hypocrites. Such a term refers to ancient theatre where one talented actor played many roles by constantly holding a different mask over his face. The audience would be mesmerized by the actor’s talents but they would never see the actor’s real face. 

Matt 23:27-28

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. NIV

Like a skilled actor, many people work hard to keep up outward appearances of looking like a follower when in fact they have died inwardly.  I am told that Hepatitis C is a very critical disease of the liver but you will never see its effects on the outside of the body for some time; “instead it just eats your insides” (Idleman pg. 76). If the disease would attack people’s face rather than just there liver, then they would probably act faster to address the problem. An interesting observation is that unrighteousness in the life of a sinner tends to show outwardly because they tend to have little motivation to conceal that which they see as their normalcy. But unrighteousness in the life of a Christians, like Hepatitis C, tends to be kept more inwardly as the Christian must thwart off the convicting power of the Holy Ghost and labor to keep up a righteous front for others to see.