“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8, ESV)
If there is one question I am asked frequently by folks it is this: “How can I get closer to Christ? How can I get more intimacy with Him? How can I know and experience His love better?”
“Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.” (Matthew 25:32-33, ESV)
One issue which has made its appearance of late in Calvinistic circles, is one raised by a friend of mine in a discussion a while back. The basic assertion (as he expressed it) was “I was ALWAYS a sheep, and never a GOAT.”
So I’d like to take some time to unpack that idea, and see what exegetical evidence (if any) there might be for either making or denying such a claim.
Lemme warn ya – its a little long.
Read on.
Our first grandchild arrived this morning a little before 8 am – 10 pounds 5 ounces and 22″.
Sky & I are now officially “Itsy” and “Big Daddy.”
How GOOD our God is!
” At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”” (Matthew 18:1, ESV)
The draw to human greatness in this life is virtually irresistible. No, I don’t mean everyone strives identically to be praised by others. But what is true of everyone of us is that regardless of how anyone else may see us, we still want to think well of ourselves. We still want some small slice of greatness in our own eyes. The proof that this is systemic and universal is the great sadness we experience when we fail, or look foolish, or do something stupid, careless or mock-worthy, even when no one else sees. But oh the blush if someone DOES see. We can do something as innocent as trip, and the first thing we do is look around to see if anyone else saw it. We can deny our pride all we want, but just let us be falsely accused of something or thought ill of or made fun of and we find out just how much we still cling some small bit of greatness inwardly. I can’t fault the Disciples here one whit. The truth is, if I didn’t think I’d be thought ill of for asking it, I’d ask it too. It is only my desire for others to think of me in good terms that would prevent me. And just because my “cancer’ isn’t visible on my skin, doesn’t mean it rages any less below the surface. Secret sin is no less sin because it is invisible.
” At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”” (Matthew 18:1, ESV)
Who indeed is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? So far Jesus has told us three things which signal heaven’s kind of greatness. First, those who have no concern for greatness in their own eyes nor in the eyes of men. Second – those who not only avoid seeking greatness in this world, but who violently oppose that tendency in themselves. And third, those who invest their lives in the lives of the humble.
Matthew 18 (ESV) 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”…10“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
1 John 2:16 reminds us that the World has precious little to offer anyone: a. The desires of the flesh (what I can physically experience), b. The desires of the eyes (delight in what things look like only on the surface), c. Pride in possessions (what I have, or do, or think I am in my own estimation or that of others). All three leave the person bankrupt. All three are purely temporal, fleeting, and have no lasting value of any kind. The 3rd one however speaks directly to our topic at hand. How many of us strive after reputation, standing, a name for ourselves in the eyes of others – or just in our own eyes? How many of us, if not openly, at least secretly, yearn for greatness in this life? It is a deadly desire.
Matthew 18:1-9 (ESV) At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”… 7“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.
The Disciples wanted to know WHO would be the greatest, the top person recognized in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus answers a very different question. The WHO is not as important as the WHAT. In other words, what is the nature of greatness in this kingdom of heaven? What will that look like in an economy where God immediately rules and reigns? And there is no question that it will be far different than how we look at personal greatness here and now. For one thing (as we saw last time) those reckoned as “great” there, are those who don’t pursue greatness as we know it at all. That is not what they are after. Jesus is about to open this door even wider.
” At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”” (Matthew 18:1, ESV)
Often, the 18th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel is looked at as a somewhat disconnected series of scenarios. It seems more likely however that the entire section contains the multi-faceted answer of Jesus to the question posed in the first verse by His disciples.
“Greatness.” How do we define it? What is it? And what especially does it mean to be great (let alone THE greatest) in the kingdom of heaven? Let’s take some time to consider each aspect of the answer Jesus gives them.
Matthew 11:20-24 (ESV) Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
Among the issues in theology which can give one a brain cramp, this one ranks right at the top: How a sovereign God can use the word “if”? “If” is a word, and a concept which Jesus clearly builds the rebuke in our text upon. It shows up in many other Scripture passages as well. So how are we to think in terms of “possibility” or something which may or may not happen, in light of the revelation both of God’s omniscience and sovereignty over all things?
