Answers to some of life's most difficult questions

Intro: Little Johnny came home from school saying “I’m never going to school again!” His mother asked “Why not?” He answered, “The teacher doesn't know a thing, all she does is asks us a bunch questions!”

Context:

CPS: In our text Jesus gives us answers to some of life’s most difficult questions. Today I pray His answers lead us to the Kingdom of God.

I. The Question About Loyalty 13-17

Some of you may wonder about the question of where is my loyalty suppose to lie. Is it with God or Government? Does obeying the Governing Officials put me in opposition with God? What if I don’t agree with what they desire or do?

This text doesn't teach that there are two separate realms of authority, all authority is from God and its officials are God’s ordained servants. Romans 13:1-8.

A. The Government’s

This is the Poll Tax, it was collected once a year, a Denarius was the wage of 1 days labor.

Notice the coin had an image and an inscription (Tiberius on the front and “The Son of Augustus (god)” on the back. By accepting this coin as currency they were accepting Roman rule. Render (Verb) apodidomai “Pay back” They received benefits from the Government so pay for those benefits.

People that cheat on there taxes truly disgusts me.... this is not the world I want to raise my 27 dependents in!

Seriously, we give to the Government what they deem is necessary until they asks for what is rightfully God’s

B. God’s

Just as the Coin was stamped with the image of Tiberius Caesar we are stamped with the image of God, Gen 1:27-28 [Image (ṣě·lěm) likeness, made after a pattern] He is Spirit and like Him we have an eternal spirit. Give to God what is His… ourselves!

APP: Have you given your life to God? He wants to redeem us, change us, and make our lives what they ought to be. John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” The only was to give yourself to God is through receiving Jesus Christ through faith as Lord and Savior!

II. The Question About Life After Death 18-27

The Sadducees were the wealthy aristocrats, most of which made up the Sanhedrin Acts 23:8 tells us that they didn't believe in the resurrection, angels, or spirits (How did then they believe in God?). They did not believe in an after life, physical life on earth was all they thought was to exist.

No belief in the Hope of resurrection and and eternal life really made them SAD YOU SEE!

They only believed that book of Moses was from God thus authoritative. Jesus told them that they were ignorant (24)! Err (mistaken) planaomai led astray from the truth. Know (Understand) (vb) oida to comprehend the meaning of something.

A. The Power of God

Power (vb) dynamis - Supernatural Power.

There is an afterlife, Jesus attest to it! There is a heaven built by Jesus! Streets are gold, the pillars are a single pearl, It will be a place of more meaningful relationships than we know on Earth, we will know and see God as He is.

God has the power to create eternal beings that die physically yet live on spiritually! We will be LIKE angels we will neither marry or given in marriage. As beautiful as marriage is our relationships will be on a higher plane. There will be a higher plane of existence! 1 Cor. 2:9-10 , “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.”

These Sadducee had never personally experienced the power of God in their lives and there are many today that can be said about too! Have you experienced God’s power in your life?

B. The Word of God

Jesus takes them to the Scriptures that they believe to point out their err of judgment and to give proof of an afterlife. Ex. 3:6 God is the God of the living! Though these patriarchs had been dead for centuries before Moses God says they are still alive!

Many people do not believe there is an afterlife because they can not see it or experience it now but that doesn’t mean life after death doesn’t exist! Prior to 1492 there was a marker at the narrowest section of the Straight of Gibraltar. On that marker was 3 Latin words “NE PLUS ULTRA” which translates “No More Beyond” to warn sailors to go no further they had reached the end of the world. But, after Columbus’ discovery of the New World a revised outlook was reflected and pressed into Spanish coins. The Latin slogan “Plus Ultra” was stamped into there coins which translates “More Beyond!”

Jesus told us that there is more to life beyond the grave, that He had prepared us a place beyond this world in Heaven! You may not be able to see it now but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

One of these days they are going to put this body of mine in a casket and bury in the ground. Someone will say, “poor John is dead” but that will be a lie from hell because Ill be more alive then than I ever have been!

APP: By grace through faith in Jesus experience the Power of God and trust the Word of God becasue God is faithful to keep His promises. Trust Him, He loves you, and would not lead you astry!

D. The Authority of God!

Jesus is the supreme authority on life after death! Not only has prepared a place for us but He Himself died, entering the after life and arose back to this life!

There maybe someone here today, who doesn't believe in the afterlife, like these Sadducees there is nothing more out there.

At one time Spain controlled both sides of the narrowest part of the straight of Gibraltar. At that narrowing of the two land masses there was a huge marker called the “Pillar of Hercules,” and prior to Columbus’ voyage in 1492, it carried a three word Latin saying chiseled into stone: NE PLUS ULTRA, which, translated, said, “No More Beyond.” But, after his discovery of the new world a revised outlook was pressed into its coins! Coins were struck with a simple Latin slogan, PLUS ULTRA: which means “more beyond”

One of these days they are going to take this body of mine put it in a casket and roll into some church, then put it in the ground… someone will say “poor ole Falotico, he’s dead.” I think when they do, I’ll be saying “that’s a lie!” I’ll be more alive then than I have ever been in my entire life!

III. The Question About Law 28-34

Many people may question what is that God wants from me? What is that I must do! Sadly people want a works based religion because they can then rationalize their salvation.

This scribe seems almost out of place, he is not hostile to Jesus but earnestly sincere. He wants to know the greatest commandment. The scribes were the legal experts of the Law and they had isolated 613 laws from the books of Moses. 365 were negatives (thou shall not) and 248 were positive (you shall). They divided them further into “Heavy” and “Light” laws.

A. Vertical Law

Love God with all that you are! Love and worship Him as God alone! 1st 4 commandments (Deut. 6:4-5)

B. Horizontal Law

2nd 6 commandments (Lev. 19:18)

Romans 5:5 NASB95

and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

You are not far from the Kingdom of God, there was one that that he needed, he was just one step away from Salvation.

ILL: Close doesn't count except for in horseshoe and hand grenades

The step is to receive Me as your personal Lord and Savior!

Conclusion: Obey the Governing officials but give yourself to God, There is an afterlife and a place prepared for you by the hands of Jesus, Love God in His totality with all that you are. Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior

INV: BE INTENTIONAL AND CALL PEOPLE TO BE SAVED!