Erasing Fitness Myths

Erasing Fitness Myths Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Sin; Jesus as Lord; Jesus Was the Son of God; Salvation; Sacrifice / Luke 18:18-34 Introduction - Fitness Myths In the fitness world there are myths that are constantly being battled. The reason these myths must be battled is that they will forever keep someone from reaching their goals or even really making progress. Instead they will become frustrated and angry at fitness altogether. 1. You can target fat loss. This myth is the belief that if you workout the area that has the fat on it you can reduce it in that area immediately. The truth is that working out reduces fat from overall, you cannot control where the fat comes from. Its usually first on last off. 2. Lifting heavy weights bulks you up. This myth is that unless you want to look like crazy body builders - you need to lift light weights. The truth is to bulk up you have to want to bulk up by consuming alot of extra calories. Truth is lifting heavy can burn nearly twice the calories in half the reps. 3. You can tone muscles. Your muscles are already toned or you couldnt move around. Most people want to reduce the fat so they could see their rippling muscles better. 4. Fit people work out for hours. You dont need to work out for hours but you need to make the time you have to workout work for you. HIIT is great for those who are strapped for time - 15-20 minutes of HIIT a day will be more than enough to keep someone in shape. The key is high intensity. There are spiritual crossfitness myths also, and like physical fitness they will keep you from reaching God or even making progress. The one who continues in these myths usually ends up frustrated in life or surprised (in a bad way) in the moment after life ends. These myths will cause one to be frustrated and angry at God and never become Spiritually CrossFit. Lets dive in to our section of scripture before us this morning and take a look at what these myths are and what the truth is so we can continue in our journey for Spiritual CrossFitness. Luke 18:18-20 CSB 18 A ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother." Luke 18:21-23 CSB 21 "I have kept all these from my youth," he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he told him, "You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23 After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich. Luke 18:24-27 CSB 24 Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 26 Those who heard this asked, "Then who can be saved?" 27 He replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." Luke 18:28-30 CSB 28 Then Peter said, "Look, we have left what we had and followed you." 29 So he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come." Luke 18:31-34 CSB 31 Then he took the Twelve aside and told them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked, insulted, spit on; 33 and after they flog him, they will kill him, and he will rise on the third day." 34 They understood none of these things. The meaning of the saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. About Who Jesus Is Jesus never claimed to be God or it doesn't matter if we believe Jesus is God Luke 18:18-19 CSB 18 A ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone. A ruler asks Jesus a question. All three of the synoptic Gospels include this event in their accounts. From each of them we learn something about this ruler. Luke is the only who mentions he is a ruler. Perhaps he was a ruler of the synagogue or in the Sanhedrin? Only Matthew's Gospel tells us that he was young. Matthew and Mark both mention this ruler having many possessions but Luke says this man is very rich. This rich man comes to Jesus and asks "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus responds to this question but not by answering the question. Jesus responds to how this ruler addressed Him. Perhaps you are thinking who cares how he addressed Jesus - look at the question he asked! What can be more important than the question of inheriting eternal life? Jesus responded and said "Why do you call me good?". Rabbis of the day would not accept the title of "good" because it implied sinlessness, a complete goodness. So by using this title the ruler putting Jesus on par with God. Did this ruler see Jesus on par with God? "No one is good except God alone." This is not a denial of deity but a question to provoke reflection upon his choice of words to address Jesus. Jesus is implying that if He were truly good then it is because He is God. Never believe anyone when they say Jesus never claimed deity. This ruler - this man used a specific and reserved title to address Jesus and Jesus knew that more important than his question was this title he used to address Jesus. Myths about who Jesus is abounded both in His day and today now. Jesus is a "good teacher", a moral man, etc. Those are ok to believe but they drew a line then and a line is drawn today - At "Messiah", "Christ", and "Son of God". Jesus is claiming deity, equality with God as the 2nd person of the trinity - God the Son. Our view of Jesus determines what we do with Jesus. C.S. Lewis put it best in Mere Christianity ""I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." About Sin We can be good enough or anyone can keep the law or we aren't guilty Luke 18:20-21 CSB 20 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother." 21 "I have kept all these from my youth," he said. Luke 18:22-23 CSB 22 When Jesus heard this, he told him, "You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23 After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich. Now that Jesus has addressed and stressed the significance of how the ruler has addressed Him - Jesus begins to answer the ruler's question. Notice however that Jesus doesnt just give answers but leads people to discover the answers. Jesus says to the ruler you know the commandments. Every Jewish person knew the commandments for they were kept in the Torah (the first five books of Scripture, known as the Law or the Writings of Moses or Pentateuch - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). These books would be memorized by a child by the time they were 13. That was all the scriptural instruction required for the time. At thirteen the male child has a bar mitzvah in which they become keepers of the law and responsible for themselves in it. So Jesus was essentially saying - I know you know the commandments - common knowledge for Jews. • Seventh - Do not commit adultery • Sixth - Do not murder • Eighth - Do not steal • Ninth - Do not bear false witness • Fifth - Honor your father and mother The ruler responds - I have kept all of these from my youth. Jesus hears this and tells the ruler "You still lack one thing" Jesus in saying this for one He shows that perfection is the requirement, and the second thing He is showing this ruler that he does not meet the requirement. Lacking in one thing is all it takes to miss the mark and be disqualified from perfection. Without perfection there is no eternal life. Romans 3:20 CSB 20 For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law. Galatians 3:10 CSB 10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed. Sin is revealed by the law this young man could not see the stains and blemishes of His life in the mirror of the law. The law did not have the convicting effect in the life of this man because he claims to have kept these from his youth. Jesus instead of challenging him on his claim of perfection in these things (which He had every right to do) Jesus instead presses further into the law because no flesh shall be justified by the law. The law - the ten commandments given to Moses on Mt Sinai was contained in two tablets. One tablet contained the first four laws and the second contained the remaining 6. The first four - No other Gods before me, No graven images or false idols, Do not use my name in vain, remember the sabbath and keep it holy. We already saw the next five - but the one that was missing from Jesus's list was kept I think purposefully because Jesus already knew where this conversation was headed. Do not covet your neighbors house, wife, servants, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. In this commandment is the heart of greed and discontentment. Holding on to or desiring things above others and wanting what others have. Matthew 22:37-40 CSB 37 He said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands." Now Jesus didnt preach coveting to this ruler - by leaving the commandment out and by asking him to do what a covetous person could not do Jesus made His point clearly. This man lacked perfection because of his covetousness. Could the man love God and desire eternal life and following Jesus more than his wealth? His riches came before God and was an idol to him. Covetousness breaks the first, second and tenth commandment as well as the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul, and with all your mind. Could the ruler love his neighbor and desire eternal life and following Jesus more than his wealth? Coveting wealth keeps one from loving their neighbor and fulfilling the second greatest commandment. So the ruler went away extremely sad - for he could not attain the perfection in himself for eternal life and he could not bring himself to follow Jesus for he loved his wealth. One must keep the law perfect, no one can, only God could who is righteous and truly "good", Jesus was "good" so the only course left is to follow Jesus for eternal life. About Salvation Blessings are a sign of righteousness or "savedness" or salvation can be earned or bought Luke 18:18 CSB 18 A ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Luke 18:24-27 CSB 24 Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 26 Those who heard this asked, "Then who can be saved?" 27 He replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." Perhaps the ruler trusted in his riches for salvation - or was hoping he could. Like many he thought he was blessed and safe because he has money and riches. Look again at verse 18 - he asks Jesus "What must I DO to inherit eternal life?" Literally asking - by doing what shall I inherit eternal life? Just tell me what I need to do - just tell me the cost, and I will pay it so that I may have eternal life. That it could be something done or bought. The word inherit implies there is nothing for you to do - as an example I ask you what must someone do to receive an inheritance? Be born and be related? Are either of those things within one's control? Dont think you can earn, buy or do what you can only receive; because it has already been done and paid in full for you. Seeing the ruler extremely sad brings Jesus to make a statement - how hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Riches for this man became a heavy anchor weighing and dragging his soul down. Riches are a major hindrance and obstacle to one obtaining salvation. The difficulty of wealth and riches is having them without loving them and trusting them. Salvation requires loving and trusting in Jesus. Riches and wealth and coveting is not a problem only for the rich either. The poor can covet wealth just as strongly as the rich. On top of that though many would not consider themselves wealthy - for those born in the US we are richer than the majority of the world. Having or desiring riches to the point of coveting is a dangerous game because both reveal our trust is in money and not what God provides. The people who heard then ask - "Then who can be saved?" If this is true - then who is able to be saved? The statement and the illustration make it seem impossible so if it is impossible who can be saved? There was a false idea and we have touched on this idea before but it bears repeating because this myth is prevalent even today - especially among prosperity Gospel believers. That myth is that wealth is a sign of righteousness or God's special favor on you. Wealth was a mark of divine favor not a hindrance to salvation. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 CSB 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Jesus answers them - what is impossible with man is possible with God. Yes salvation is impossible with man. However with God salvation is made possible. Man cannot live perfect in the law - it is God's law by which He himself stands by - so God sent His Son to fulfill the requirements of the law. What was impossible for man is possible by God. Look deeper at what Jesus says though lets not miss this detail. Jesus doesnt say impossible FOR man or BY man and possible FOR or BY God - Jesus says with -in the greek para - alongside. Salvation is impossible WITH man but WITH God salvation is possible. If you come stand alongside God the impossible is made possible WITH God. God can break the grip of wealth upon a man's heart. God's grace is powerful and sufficient to save even the rich man. About Sacrifice Easy believism - the cross doesnt cost anything or much to follow Luke 18:28-30 CSB 28 Then Peter said, "Look, we have left what we had and followed you." 29 So he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come." Luke 18:31-32 CSB 31 Then he took the Twelve aside and told them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem. Everything that is written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked, insulted, spit on; Luke 18:33-34 CSB 33 and after they flog him, they will kill him, and he will rise on the third day." 34 They understood none of these things. The meaning of the saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. Peter then in Peter fashion jumps up and says look we have left what we had and followed you. Peter, Andrew, James and John remember left a fishing enterprise and Matthew as Tax-Collector left a lucrative position. Most to follow Jesus have sacrificed and given up. Jesus adds to what people may give up house, wife (this means choosing to give up marriage as a goal or ambition, brothers and sisters, parents and children for the kingdom of God. To understand more we look to Matthew's Gospel - Peter added to the end what will there be for us? Matthew 19:27 CSB 27 Then Peter responded to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?" To sacrifice for the Lord Jesus teaches that we will be repaid many times over - we cannot out sacrifice God. We cannot give more than He can return upon us and we can give better than Him either. Jesus promised that those who were prepared for the sacrifices involved in being disciples would receive far greater blessings both now, in the fellowship of God's people, and in the world to come. Christ rewards sacrifice - now and in eternal life. Christ mentions that even He will sacrifice in order to provide eternal life for those who would give all to follow Him and obtain it. The disciples wont remember this until His resurrection though. To follow Christ requires sacrifice - the cross calls all to sacrifice - for salvation even Christ Himself sacrificed. Christ sacrificed glory, heaven, and fellowship with God the Father. Conclusion We must dispel myths about salvation and discipleship that we have for they will keep us from progressing and cause us to become frustrated with God. We need to address Jesus properly and understand that when we address Him properly we dispel the myths about Him and who exactly He is. What we believe about Jesus remember determines what we do with Him and His teachings. Jesus is the Son of God - He claimed it Perfection requires you to be perfect - you cannot come close enough that only works in horseshoes, hand grenades and nuclear warfare. All fall short of the glory of God and if all fall short then all need Jesus - who is the only one who is good. Possessing wealth is not what keeps people out of heaven. Jesus is not giving a new command to be liquidated and give all away. Job was righteous and upright, Abraham by faith declared righteous, David a man after God's own heart whose kingdom was established forever - they were all wealthy men. It is not possessing riches it is being possessed by riches and trusting them over God Only Jesus gives security Salvation is given - not bought and not something to be earned by working. You inherit the kingdom and eternal life like you inherit anything else - by simply receiving it from Jesus. Following Jesus is costly and requires sacrifice. The way of the cross costs everyone - even Jesus But the return on cost is heavenly rewarded now and in the future - lets take a moment to remember the sacrifice of Jesus that purchased our salvation - salvation was free to us but it wasnt free - it cost Jesus - but He was willing to pay the price so we could be saved and have eternal life. one last myth - God isnt a God who is waiting to punish everyone - God is a God who loves and desires to save those who would call upon the name of Jesus - any can be saved - you say that is impossible but Jesus says what is impossible with man is possible with God. Communion 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 CSB 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 CSB 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:35 PM February 6, 2021.