Colossians 3:11
- How is it that Christians who once had a vibrant testimony can reach a place where they merely exist in their faith?
- Why is it that so many saints have so little passion for the lost condition of people’s souls and even less passion for His church and its mission in this world?
- Why is it that our worship and service to God through the local church is viewed as an optional commitment, but most every other commitment in life is considered obligatory?
- How is it that we can state accurately what we believe about Christianity, but it has so little impact on our daily lives in our attitudes and actions?
- Why are churches with hundreds or even thousands of attendees understaffed in their ministries while the majority of the congregation does little more than sit in worship services?
- How can we view a once a month commitment to serve Christ through His church as satisfactory when God has saved us for all eternity?
- Since when did it become acceptable to allow our children and their activities to take precedence over what Christ commands us to do?
- Why is it the rest we say we need so desperately is rarely the “rest” that is found in a living relationship with Jesus?
- How is it that we can justify our heartlessness towards the Savior Who paid the ultimate price for our eternal souls?
Questions of this nature could go on endlessly and should be of interest to every follower of Jesus, lest we drift in our faith and devotion to Christ.
In the Revelation, John tells us about a church that had all the machinery of ministry in place, as well as maintaining their doctrinal purity, had a serious problem in that they had left their “first love.”
The city of Ephesus had been the place of ministry for saints such as the Apostle Paul (Acts 18:19-19-21; 19; 1 Corinthians 16:8), Timothy (1 Timothy 1:3) and the Apostle John (According to the writings of several early church fathers, the Romans sent John as a prisoner from Ephesus, where he pastored, to the island of Patmos in A.D. 95) And yet, after all the blessings and privileges afforded this church, they had become a body of believers with little more than a perfunctory service to Christ…they had no heart for Christ! They were a people that said the right things at church, but their hearts were aligned with Christ in name only.
How can it be that a congregation with such an august beginning and under the influence of apostolic leadership could drift so far from the true motivation and passion of their faith? In approximately one generation this church had left its “first love” and was merely going through the motions of religious duty!!
Recently, I read an article entitled: The Autopsy of a Deceased Church. The church under review had gone from an average attendance of 750 to 83 on Sunday mornings over a ten-year period of time. The article diagnosed some of the characteristics of this congregation that ultimately led to its demise.
“1. The church refused to look like the community. The community had started its transition toward a lower socioeconomic class 30 years earlier. However, church members had no desire to reach out to new residents. The congregation gradually became an island of middle-class members in a sea of lower-class residents.
“2. The church had no community-focused ministries. This may seem to be stating the obvious, but I wanted to be certain. My friend affirmed my suspicions: There were no attempts to reach the community.
“3. Members became too focused on memorials. The memorials at the church were chairs, tables, rooms, and other places where a neat plaque could be placed. The point is that the memorials became an obsession at the church. More and more emphasis fell on the past.
“4. The percentage of the budget for members’ needs kept increasing. At the time of the church’s death, that percentage had climbed over 98 percent.
“5. There were no evangelistic emphases. When a church loses its passion to reach the lost, the congregation is on its fatal descent.
“6. The members had more and more arguments about what THEY wanted. As the church continued to decline, members’ inward focus turned caustic. Arguments erupted more frequently and business meetings grew more acrimonious.
“7. With few exceptions, pastoral tenure grew shorter and shorter. The church had seven pastors in its final 10 years, with the last three serving in a bi-vocational role. All seven pastors departed feeling discouraged.
“8. The church rarely prayed together. In its last eight years, corporate prayer consisted of a three-minute period during the Sunday worship service. Requests were limited to the needs of members, their friends and families, or physical ailments.
“9. The church had no clarity as to why it existed. With no vision and no mission, it had no purpose.
“10. The members idolized another era. Over the final six years of the church, all active members were over the age of 67. They all remembered fondly—to the point of idolatry—the era of the 1970s. They saw their future in returning to the past.
“11. The facilities continued to deteriorate. Ironically, this wasn’t a financial issue, but a spiritual one. Members failed to even notice the continuous deterioration of their building. Simply stated, they no longer had ‘outsider eyes.’”
How sad and yet how often this pattern repeats itself across this country. As stunning as it may seem to us, approximately 7000 churches close their doors every year.
How do we stop this spiritual disinterest and drift among believers? How do we keep ourselves from a progressively diminished influence in our neighborhoods and communities?
Well, the answer is pretty simple! We must be a people wholly occupied with the person of Christ. For too many of us Jesus is barely a footnote or an after thought in our daily lives.
Someone has said that, “When Christ is not central and supreme in our lives, everything about life shifts out of orbit and moves out of kilter.” That’s true both personally and corporately as the body of Christ. What should be true of the followers of Jesus is that Christ is the center, circumference, substance and culmination of everything we love and long for in life.
We should be like the Heavenly realm that is totally occupied with the person of Jesus Christ. The Father declares from Heaven that Jesus is His Son in Whom He is well pleased (cf. Matthew 3:17; 17:5). The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to magnify the Son and point people to Him (cf. John 16:14). And, the Heavenly host of angels gathers around Him to lift their voices in praise to Him (cf. Revelation 5:11-12).
It’s seems impossible for us to miss that the overarching theme of the entire Bible is Jesus Christ! The entire story of Israel is the story of the Messiah and how He was delivered to mankind through this chosen nation.
From the opening chapters of Genesis, where the first prediction of the coming Christ can be found (cf. Genesis 3:15), to His final coronation in the Revelation…the Bible is all about Jesus!
Listen to how Jesus quoted the Old Testament to show that it spoke of Him:
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. (John 5:39)
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself…Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. (Luke 24:27, 31)
Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. (Luke 24:44-45)
Even the creation account demonstrates the preeminence of the Son of God.
And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit…The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:45, 47)
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32)
When reading New Testament texts like these you see the authors doing exactly what all of us must do to fully understand the Bible. They interpreted the Old Testament in light of the person of Jesus Christ (cf. Colossians 2:16-17)
If you don’t read the Bible through the lens of Christ you’ll miss the central meaning of scripture.
Ancient theologian John Calvin wrote, “We ought to read the Scriptures with the express design of finding Christ in them. Whoever shall turn aside from this object, though he may weary himself throughout his whole life in learning, will never attain the knowledge of the truth…”
Jesus is on the pages of the Old Testament scripture and in every Old Testament type. He is revealed in all of the offerings and feast days of the nation of Israel. He is the central theme of the Bible and the One we must pursue when reading the sacred text.
The centrality of Jesus and His mission is equally found throughout the New Testament. Of course, He is the preeminent figure of the Gospels, as well as the theme of the Apostles’ doctrine.
For instance, Luke begins His historical narrative of the early church by saying, “The former account [the Gospel of Luke] I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up… (Acts 1:1-2) He then went on to pen the book of Acts, which is a continuation of what Jesus did and taught through His body…the church.
And, it shouldn’t surprise us that the central message of the early church was Jesus Christ. Just consider these scriptures…
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before… (Acts 3:19-20)
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. (Acts 8:5)
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit…Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:17, 20)
Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” (Acts 17:2-3)
In addition, when the scripture says that the early church was taken up with four key purposes (Acts 2:42), first among them was “the Apostles doctrine.” And, just what was that doctrine the Apostles taught so faithfully? John tells us in his Epistle of 1 John.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1-3)
Everywhere people went they were talking about the one message that really mattered…JESUS!
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. (Acts 5:42)
Just to get a sampling of how many times Jesus is referenced in the writings of Paul listen to these numbers from the first chapters alone of some of Paul’s epistles:
He’s referenced in…
Colossians 1---------- 30 times
Ephesians 1----------- 26 times
Philippians 1--------- 20 times
Romans 1-------------- 11 times
1 Corinthians 1------- 13 times
2 Corinthians 1--------- 5 times
Galatians 1------------- 4 times
Next time you read through the New Testament Epistles make a count on your own of all the times Jesus is referenced and it will amaze you. There is no mistaking it, the early church thought about Jesus, talked about Jesus, sought fellowship with Jesus, and introduced others to Jesus...and they did it all the time. He was the central focus of their messages, their meetings and their writings.
In a nutshell, the New Testament is all about Jesus, His ministry, and the church through He is still working in the world.
Listen to Paul speak about his own ministry…
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ… (Ephesians 3:8)
But…it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles… (Galatians 1:15-16)
For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5)
Herein is the problem in many churches and among too many believers. We want everything but Christ! Part of that is due to the fact that the Jesus Who is preached today is so shallow, so insignificant and so un-captivating that countless Christians have become enthralled with other things of lesser value.
It’s been well said, that, “once our eyes are opened to see the incredible richness and captivating beauty of Jesus, either our other pursuits will take a backseat, or we will discover them anew and afresh ‘in the light of His glory and grace.’”
Dr. S.M. Lockridge was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, CA, from 1953 - 1993. He is well known for a passage from one his sermon entitled, “He’s My King.” I could never do justice to how Dr. Lockridge delivered these thoughts, but I want to read them to you as he extols the virtue of the Christ.
“[Jesus is] He’s enduringly strong, He’s entirely sincere, He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. He’s God’s Son. He’s a sinner’s savior. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s preeminent. He’s the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest idea in philosophy. He’s the fundamental truth in theology. He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick, He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners, He discharges debtors, He delivers captives, He defends the feeble, He blesses the young, He serves the unfortunate, He regards the aged, He rewards the diligent, He beautifies the meek. Do you know Him?
Well, my king is the king of knowledge, He’s the well-spring of wisdom, He’s the doorway of deliverance, He’s the pathway of peace, He’s the roadway of righteousness, He’s the highway of holiness He’s the gateway of glory, He’s the master of the mighty, He’s the captain of the conquerors, He’s the head of the heroes, He’s the leader of the legislators, He’s the overseer of the overcomers, He’s the governor of governors, He’s the prince of princes, He’s the king of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Well. I wish I could describe Him to you. But He’s indescribable. Yes. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible, He’s irresistible. I’m trying to tell you, the Heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explain Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well, the Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my king!
He always has been, and He always will be. I’m talking about He [who] had no predecessor and He [who] has no successor. There was nobody before Him and there will be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him, and He’s not going to resign. We try to get prestige and honor and glory to ourselves, but the glory is all His. Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long is that? And ever, and ever, and ever, and ever, and when you get through with all of the forever’s, then 'Amen'."
“Oh I wish I could describe him to you.”
Closing:
One of the most moving stories following the resurrection of Jesus centers on a thrice-repeated question Jesus asked of Peter.
· It’s important to note that He didn’t ask if he was ready for some more intense leadership training.
· He didn’t ask is he wanted to help start a new movement in the world.
· He didn’t ask about his five-fold purpose in life.
· He didn’t ask whether he was ready to be further discipled.
· He didn’t ask about his unique theological preferences.
He asked him the most important question any believer can ever answer, DO YOU LOVE ME? (cf. John 21:15-17)
You can always tell who or what occupies a person’s heart by listening to what comes out of their mouths.
…For out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)
The more enthralled we are with Jesus, the less we talk about lesser things and waste time pursuing temporal things. Instead, we look for ways to spend time with Jesus, talk about Him to others, give ourselves to Him by serving others, and live so that He might be pleased with our lives.
The fact is that once you’ve seen the true revelation of Jesus Christ you’ll know that He bests every other competitor for the devotion of your heart. If we can just see the magnificent of His person in the pages of scripture and in our experiences with Him, he will capture our hearts making everything else pale in comparison to Him!
People that truly know Christ know that…“JESUS IS ENOUGH!”
What should you do if you know you have drifted from Christ and from a passionate love for Him?
1. Repent for your spiritual drift from Christ.
2. Start again pursuing the person of Christ above all else.
3. Ask God for a renewed revelation of your Savior from His Word.
