The Normal Christian
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Introduction
Introduction
Hudson being left-handed - want to change him. Why? RH world - 90% - Lefties die 9 years earlier than righties, can’t use scissors, baseball gloves, golf clubs, 2009 study by Aussie researchers: perform worse in vocabulary, reading, writing, and fine motor skills, 2013 Yale study more likely to develop schizophrenia, 2011 U. of Toledo study - more likely develop Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
I want my son to be normal!
We want to be nor
We all want to be normal except when it comes to living the Christian life. We’re so concerned about living a normal life in they eyes of the world that we end up living an abnormal Christian life. Simply put - an abnormal Christian is one who doesn’t live consistently as a surrendered follower of Jesus. As we examine this text we’re going to discover the characteristics of a normal Christian.
1. The normal Christian life makes the right confession.
1. The normal Christian life makes the right confession.
Jesus is continuing to train His disciples for the work that they will do after His death and resurrection.
The disciples are becoming more convinced that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah the OT promised.
Jesus takes the disciples to Caesarea Philippi - a pagan Gentile area immersed in idol worship - worship of Pan - half goat/half man. A place where the disciples would never go on their own - but Jesus takes them there to have an important conversation with them. (They would spread the truth about Jesus in a world full of idolatry.)
As they make their way to C.P., they can see the pagan temples in the distance, and Jesus asks them, “Who do people say that I am?” In a world full of false gods and false worship, the disciples needed to know exactly who this man was they were following.
They need to
“John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets.” Obviously, people thought highly of Jesus. (There are people who think highly of Jesus today. J.W.’s think highly of Jesus. Mormons think highly of Jesus. Muslims think highly of Jesus. Even many atheists think highly of Jesus. But, there’s a difference between thinking highly of Jesus and thinking rightly of Jesus.
To the disciples: “But who do you say that I am?” - The most important question anyone can ever answer… Eternity hinges on your response to this question.
Peter: “You are the Christ.” Christ = anointed one. NT equivalent of Messiah. The King of all kings - The One promised to be sent from God to rescue us from our enemies.
Peter got it right! : “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” The church built on Peter and the other apostles who confessed Jesus as the Christ. ()
The church is built on the confession that Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords, fully God and fully man who has come to redeem the world! If a church does not make this confession, it’s not a church!
This is the normal confession of a Christian. When it comes to this confession we are:
Unapologetic - In a pluralistic culture, we do not apologize for believing that Jesus is the only King, and to be outside a relationship with Him is to be under the wrath of God.
Unwavering - The more we know Jesus, the more convinced we become. We are not going to be moved in our confession. Even though this world is rapidly changing, we are not going to change in our conviction about who Christ is.
Unashamed - We’re not embarrassed by Jesus or our beliefs. We don’t hide our belies. We want everyone to know that we’ve been changed by the King.
2. The normal Christian embraces Jesus for who He is.
2. The normal Christian embraces Jesus for who He is.
Imagine Peter and the disciples excitement to have Jesus tell them that He would build His church on them. They could see it in their minds: They imagined the Kingdom of God on earth - and they would be at the center of the Kingdom. They would sit on thrones beside Jesus and rule with Him.
So focused on what they wanted - they’ll completely miss the essence of Jesus’ mission. (Hudson focused on water - me focused on car)
Jesus bursts their bubble: The Son of Man must suffer many things. Son of Man - - victorious King over the nations - an everlasting throne. But, in nothing about suffering. The idea of a Suffering Messiah foreign to their minds. - “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief...” Jews did not associate that verse with the Messiah.
Yet, Jesus spoke plainly. “I will be rejected by the very people who should embrace me - the ones looking for a Messiah - the religious leaders. They will have me killed. But, I will rise three days later.”
Peter was shocked - couldn’t believe what he heard - took Jesus aside and rebuked Him! Jesus: “Get behind me Satan!” Sounds harsh - BUT - Peter interfering with the ordained plan of God to save the world! In that moment, Peter more influenced by the enemy who tried to interfere with God’s plan ( ) than by God.
Right confession, but Peter still doesn’t understand the true identity of Jesus.
Warning: You might make the right confession but live as if Jesus is not who He is. Like Peter, you might be embracing Jesus for who you want Him to be rather than for who He really is. Who do we want Jesus to be?
Genie in the Bottle Jesus - Our wish is His command - prosperity Gospel - If I pray and believe, He’ll give it to me.
Non-Judgmental Jesus - Don’t judge me. Love me, give me heaven, but don’t make me change. Love me for who I am. Don’t judge me when my life isn’t in line with the Bible.
Lifeguard Jesus - Always watch me, but at a distance. And, then when I get in trouble, rescue me. But, leave me alone until I need you.
Who is Jesus? The Suffering Servant - the One who loved you so much that He willingly submitted to the plan of the Father to endure the humiliation and shame that you deserve so that you could know the love of the Father! He’s the One who died the death you deserved yet rose three days later so you could be assured of eternal life.
The normal Christian embraces Jesus for who He is, not for who he wants Him to be. And, when you embrace Jesus for who He is, you’ll see that you can’t use Him to get what you want. Rather, you’ll say, “Use me for what you want!”
3. The normal Christian understands the cost.
3. The normal Christian understands the cost.
Victory would come through a cross. Victory would cost Jesus His life. Death was the only way victory was achievable. The only way we could experience ultimate victory was to have the Son of God die for us. And to share in His victory, Jesus’ disciples would have to lose their lives as well.
“If you want to be a part of my Kingdom - you have to suffer with me. You find victory when you lose it all for me.” (Nicholai in N. Korea - how do you get to the point where you want to serve in the most persecuted country in the world?)
Find victory by putting to death your self-centered life. - Deny yourself. Life is not about you! Putting to death the idol of “I.” Take up your cross - daily () - Since Jesus died for me, I’m dying to me. You’ve died to your desires. You are crucified with Christ - you no longer live. If you want what Jesus has for you, you must live His way. Always asking: “What’s best for God and His Kingdom?” Honestly: Who’s way are you living? His way or your way?
Find victory by putting to death the safe life.
Safe life = treasuring everything but Jesus and doing everything you can to live a comfortable, easy life.
If you live to save your life - you’ll lose it. But, if you give up your security, your satisfaction, your safety, you’ll find real life.
Safe life asks: “What’s best for me and my family?” (Financial security, the right neighborhood in the right school district, associated with the right people, the right steps to success…) What you think is best for you and your family may be completely opposed to God and His Kingdom. He may want you in the last place you want to be for Gospel influence.
Find victory by putting to death the self-serving life. (36-38)
Self-serving life = I want to gain now.
What does it benefit you to gain everything and lose your life? Nothing - Therefore, Ph. 1:21, to live is Christ, to die is gain.
You can have everything in the world but it won’t give you real life. But if you have Jesus, you will always have more than you need - riches untold.
Many will come to the end of life and have nothing because they didn’t have Christ.
The normal Christian life seems radical because it has become so abnormal for us. The normal Christian life for us is complacency and simply going through religious motions.
Why should you embrace the normal Christian life?
For your own sake - If you are ashamed to live for Jesus, He will be ashamed of you. The abnormal Christian life isn’t a Christian life at all.
For the sake of others - vs. 35 - the Gospel’s sake - Who is hearing the Gospel because of you?
For Christ’s sake - when you live for Jesus, you show the world that He is worthy of everything you have and everything you are.
Are you a normal Christian? Embrace normalcy. Repent of complacency. Obey Him. Embrace intimacy with Him.
Not a follower of Jesus? Turn to the Suffering Servant who loved you enough to give His all for you. He is worthy of your surrender.