If Jesus Returned Today Part 3
If Jesus Returned Today • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Questions Questions Questions
Questions Questions Questions
I was having a conversation with someone the other day and somehow the conversation turned into questions about what Jesus might wear if he were among us today? Would Jesus be concerned with making a fashion statement? Would he dress in jeans or slacks?
Have you ever found yourself in these conversations where questions are asked like what would Jesus drive? Would he drive a luxury car, a pickup truck, a foreign model, or an electric car and help save the ozone? Would he promote this or advocate for that? Would he be affiliated with this group or that group? Would he have a Pandora or a Spotify account? Would he be an Apple or Android user?
In the end, none of these questions are even relevant. But there are other conversations of a more serious nature concerning His return. These contain questions like what will happen to the earth, to nations and to people? Will there be war, will there be a great disappearance, will there be famine, will there be a rain of fire from the heavens, or will there be great persecution?
These are all valid questions. And there are answers to these in the Scriptures. But at the end of the day, what will you be able to do? You cannot change the outcomes, you cannot change the effects, you cannot change anything about them in reality. How materially, monetarily, or militarily can you be prepared? You cannot. But you can prepare your heart and soul. You can have your life in Christ prepared. Or you can be found lacking and in want of true relationship with the Lord.
The greatest questions we all should be asking and having the most conversations about are these: Will He see me as one of His true disciples? Will I bear His mark? Will my life be counted as faith unto Him?
These are questions that relate to covenant consecration. We see the first patterns of this in Genesis.
but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
This, in Genesis, was Eve’s response to the question from the serpent (נָחָשׁ nachash). At the p’shat פשט level of understanding it is simply an answer to the question regarding a precept or law. But looking deeper we find that she may not have fully comprehended the principle behind the precept. What is she missing? Let’s investigate starting in Numbers.
And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to carry.
Here in Numbers, you might only see a law, that on the surface, seems like God just does not want anyone touching His stuff. But let us look further.
“You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material.
Have you ever wondered or been questioned about these type of verses in Scripture? Has anyone ever asked why we do not follow these laws if the moral laws of God apply to us today?
Charles Ellicott states, “One of the reasons which the ancient canonists assign for this prohibition is that “wool and linen were appointed for the priests alone.” This law is observed by the orthodox Jews to this day. The law laid down in this verse is substantially repeated in Deuteronomy 22:9-11.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown states, “This also was directed against an idolatrous practice, namely, that of the ancient Zabians, or fire-worshippers, who sowed different seeds, accompanying the act with magical rites and invocations; and commentators have generally thought the design of this and the preceding law was to put an end to the unnatural lusts and foolish superstitions which were prevalent among the heathen.”
So, we see that there was an intent to keep the Israelites from falling into the lifestyle of the pagan people. But there is more to this pattern. We can find it further in Genesis.
And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Do you see the pattern? God created each after it’s own kind. And what God created in His order and design was good, not evil. The point of the laws in Leviticus 19:19, in fact all of the Law of God, are not only to maintain divine order but to distinguish between the common and holy. The law of garments referred primarily to the garments of the Levitical Priests. There is a similar principle with that of the seeds for the Shew Bread and the livestock that were for the sacrifices in the Tabernacle. The principle is to not mix that which has been consecrated (קָדַשׁ qadash) to God with that of your life which is common.
and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
Yeshua knew and lived this distinction. So much so that even the demons knew of His separation, His consecration, His intimate relationship to the Father:
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
But Yeshua brings it closer to home for us all.
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
“Perfect” in the Greek is telos τέλος meaning to fulfill a law; to execute a resolve; consummation; closure with results; the end of a matter; completion. Hebrew equivalents include סוֹף sof meaning to end; תָּמִים tamim meaning complete, whole, entire, blameless, morally innocent, and ethically pure.
Was Yeshua just calling us to be a people better morally than others? Just being morally innocent and ethically pure does not make you holy. This is often our interpretation. Our carnality then convinces us this is impossible and so we make excuses or create a self-justifying theologies. Are we to just throw out the moral or ethical laws of God? Of course not. This would equate to lawlessness and make the work of Christ in vain. Or will religious ritual make us morally righteous? Not at all. So, what does God want from me?
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Yeshua said it this was:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
The word “wait” in Hebrew is qava קָוָה meaning to twist and bind together to make strong and inseparable. to make echad אֶחָד or as one.
All of these commands of Yeshua are a covenant call to consecration (קָדַשׁ qadash) or holiness (קָדוֹשׁ qadosh). This is the mark of the Christ. This is the identity of a true disciple of Christ. This is true faith in Christ Jesus. This is the ultimate question, when all of what you call yourself as a Christian; when all your excuses and reasons for how you live and who you are have been stripped away, if Jesus returned today, would He see His mark on your life?
Are you putting all your stock in the idea that you are a good person, or you came from Christian home, or you have plenty of time? Are you putting all your stock in the ideas of others, or your rejection of Christ living because you think it is culturally lame? Maybe you are putting on your eternity in your own idea of spirituality? Whatever the case, none of that will stand before the soon returning Messiah and Lord of all. The question is are you living a consecrated life or are you treating life eternal as common place? If Jesus returned today, is He indeed Lord of your life?