Christianity Starts
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· 2 viewsChristianity starts not from our pursuit of Christ, but Christ's pursuit of us.
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Sit the cup on the pulpit
I want to invite you to turn with me .
TRUTH: Christianity starts not from our pursuit of Christ, but Christ’s pursuit of us.
I. Jesus Pursues Us
I. Jesus Pursues Us
18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
18 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.
Jesus knew where Peter & Andrew were. He knew their story.
Matthew 5:18-
Jesus knew exactly where He was going by the Sea of Galilee. This wasn’t a “spur of the moment” thing. Jesus was pursuing Peter & Andrew.
Subtruth: Our pursuit of Christ is an overflow of His pursuit of us.
Some of us have been “following” Jesus for sometime without Jesus. Sounds kind of silly doesn’t it? But here’s what we do:
We try to be Christian by ourselves
We try to constantly measure up to the Holy God we know about by good works such as coming to church, reading our Bible, praying, etc (To make us right with God).
(To make us right with God)
INSTEAD OF HAVING
Everyday - doing the right things, not doing the wrong things, trying to be perfect.
All we are doing is trying to earn our salvation with God, trying to make ourselves right with God by ourselves. But we can’t do it by ourselves.
says that Jesus pursued Peter & Andrew. says that Jesus invaded Peter & Andrew’s life. It’s from His pursuit of us that we pursue Jesus.
TRUTH: Christianity starts not from our pursuit of Christ, but Christ’s pursuit of us.
So, first we see that Jesus pursued them. Then what happened?
II. Jesus Calls Us
II. Jesus Calls Us
II. Jesus Calls Us
II. Jesus Calls Us
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19
Intentional. Clear. Authoritative.
After the pursuit of Jesus, Jesus called them and said, “Follow Me.”
>>Culturally normal to follow a teacher in the time of Jesus<<
What did they do?
Matthew 4:
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
They left E V E R Y T H I N G. That’s what happens when you realize the pursuit of Jesus in your life. Nothing else matters.
The Gospel of Luke provides more information about this scene.
Jesus gets in the boat with them. They have caught zero and done.
Jesus tells them to put the net on the other side. They catch a lot
Peter is terrified and realizes Jesus’ lordship and says
8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
Luke 5:8-
Peter teaches us that when we see Jesus who He is, there is no choice but to confess our sin and turn from it and follow Jesus with everything.
THAT’S WHEN SALVATION HAPPENS. When our eyes are opened to the pursuit of Jesus in our lives, everything changes! It’s then when we confess our sin, repent from our sin, and trust in Jesus for the salvation of our souls. >> We take our trust from ourselves and we place it onto the completed saving work of Jesus on the cross — His life, death, and resurrection.
TRUTH: Christianity starts not from our pursuit of Christ, but Christ’s pursuit of us.
And it just keeps getting better. Not only does Jesus pursue us, Not only does Jesus call us to follow Him, but Jesus promises us.
III. Jesus Promises Us
III. Jesus Promises Us
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
“I will make you fishers of me.”
Immediately Jesus promises these two that they will be changed from the inside-out and given purpose. They would no longer be living for themselves, but for Jesus, the very one that pursued and called them.
Immediately after the promise, Jesus brings them alongside Him in what He was doing.
21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Matthew 4:21-
Conclusion
Conclusion
Cup
Cup with nothing in it - Living the Christian life without Christ
Pointless to carry around this cup. Pointless to have it in your hand.
Cup with liquid in it - Living the Christian life with Christ
Makes all the difference in the world.
Jesus is pursuing you.
Respond to Him.
TRUTH: Christianity starts not from our pursuit of Christ, but Christ’s pursuit of us.
Subtruth: Our pursuit of Christ is an overflow of His pursuit of us.