The Little Sinners Jesus Loves Part 2

Introduction

When I was 14 I read a balled in school which was written by the Canadian folk singer Stan Rogers. The song is titled White Squall and it moved me so much that I quickly memourized the song and even learned to play it on guitar. It is a sad song about a young man working on a freight ship travelling from Wiarton to Sault Sainte Marie on Lake Huron. The narrator is the captain who is recalling how the young man, so full of energy, did not heed his warnings that the Great Lakes occasionally have freak storms called White Squalls which have been known to throw men into the storm. The young man did not wear a safety line because the night was so calm, but when disaster strikes he is washed into the deadly waters. The captain is left to mourn the loss after giving the news to his young wife.

The refrain of the song says, “but I told that kid a hundred times don’t take the lakes for granted.” Unfortunately, despite a hundred warnings, the young man was still lost.

Now think of another situation, a common story in evangelical churches. Another young man, though it could be a young woman too, grows up in the church. He is baptized after a moving conversion at a Christian summer camp and starts to listen to the sermons eagerly. Christ looks upon him with love and sends him a godly pastor who instructs him Sunday after Sunday. In these sermons, the young man is warned against sins of various kinds and the great danger they pose to the Christian life. Some of his friends talk about how such sermons about sin are judgmental and legalistic and he listens to them and begins to roll his eyes every time the pastor mentions the word sin. The pastor is not condemning in these sermons, but eagerly warning his listeners of spiritual danger. Still, the young man does not take the warnings to heart. Eventually he is in high school and various temptations flood his world. He is exposed to pornography and flirtatious relationships. He is introduced to shows and movies that regularly make light of sin. He becomes ashamed to name himself as a Christian in front of his friends. The Saviour is concerned and in love brings another Christian into his life who urges him to pursue holiness. Again, the word legalistic comes to mind and the young man shuns the warnings. After all, he is saved by faith and not works, and Jesus forgives sin, right?

Then college comes and the variety and depth of sin grows even greater. Drugs, drunkenness, illicit sex, cheating on exams, and worldly lies all press themselves into his world and life. In his heart he knows that he cannot indulge in these things and still call himself a Christian, and yet he longs for them. For so long he has taken sin lightly, he has hidden it and it has grown, and now taking another step in that direction seems easy enough. Eventually, after a lecture in rationalistic philosophy or evolutionary biology given by an atheistic professor, he has his excuse. He can live in sin without worrying about God. He leaves the church, and both they and the Saviour are grieved.

They told that kid a hundred times, don’t take sin for granted, but a hundred warnings did no good. A heart so hardened by sin was a prime victim for Satan to snatch him away.

This story is a tale as old as time in the church today. It is not one thing that brings about apostacy. And yet, in all these cases there was a warning not heeded, if not from the pulpit then certainly from the Bible itself. It was never a warning given by an angry God about to lose his temper, as is often imagined. Rather, they were the stern warnings of a loving heavenly Father who has such affection for sinners that he warns them seriously of the danger that exists. If the warning is not taken seriously, it is all too easy in this world of temptations to be swept off like the young man in the song.

Warning against Temptation

While last time in this text we looked at the obligation we have towards the humble and meek who make up the people of God in Christ, today we will look at other parts of this text that address believers who face temptation directly. In the passage we began two weeks ago, there is a mix of Christ both instructing his disciples to adopt the humble, submissive, and trusting heart of a child, and also how each Christian must act towards other child-like disciples. In doing this, we will look at the warning we have as little children so that, in being humble and meek, we do not become ignorant and gullible.

Back in Matthew 10:16, as Jesus was sending his disciples out into Israel to preach and perform miracles, he had warned them against trusting their fellow countrymen by telling them to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. That is, in adopting the meekness and humility of a child, they were not to also adopt the gullibility or ignorance of one. Although they must be innocent and not dishonest schemers and manipulators like those in the world, they must also be careful to not be tricked by the schemes and manipulations of those same wicked men.

In verse 5, Jesus instructs us to receive such meek and humble Christians eagerly and, as we saw last time, this is proof that we ourselves have a meek and humble heart. Those who are willing to serve the least of all Christians make themselves even less, and therefore Christ will exalt them all the more. However, any who would cause a metaphorical little one to stumble into sin or be led astray would face the wrath of a God who is very protective over his little children.

Warning against Stumbling

Now in verse 7, Jesus moves onto the reality that, regardless of his warning, the world is always going to be full of stumbling blocks for Christians. Notice he says the world, for this is the mark of the world against the Church. The world is the place where stumbling blocks exist by necessity. He does not say the church because it is not the will of Christ that his church be a place full of stumbling blocks, and indeed we see here one aspect that properly defines a true Church of Christ.

We may very accurately say, in one sense, that a church is a place where there is no stumbling block for Christ’s little ones. In the world, these stumbling blocks will always exist. In the nicest and most sincere group of friends the world has to offer, temptations, lies, and distractions from Christ will always be present. The Church is meant to be a place where such stumbling blocks must not stand. Any place that calls itself a church and yet continues to allow and cause stumbling blocks, regardless of biblical correction, cannot truly be called a church. That so-called “church” would be better tied to a stone and drowned in the sea. In the words of Christ in the openning chapters of Revelation, their candlestick will be removed. That is, the Spirit will leave them and with him the presence of Christ. Where the Spirit is, there Christ is, and there is the Church “where two or three are gathered.” To habitually and unrepentantly create stumbling blocks in the church grieves the Spirit. If he leaves, what is left is not the true Church, it is the world and must contend with Christ’s warning at the end of verse 7: “woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!”

It is Necessary (vs 7)

But why is it necessary that temptations come? We know from James 1:13 that God is not the source of any temptation. God tests us, which is meant to produce holiness. Temptation is meant to cause us to fall into sin and is never from God. So why is it necessary that temptations come? Why doesn’t God just do away with them?

It is necessary because of God’s mercy. If God were to remove every stumbling block today, than today would be the day of Judgement and the revelation of the New Heavens and New Earth. However, God’s mercy and patience with sinners like us causes him to hold off on the final judgement of this world. 2 Peter 3:8-9

2 Peter 3:8–9 ESV

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

We saw in Jesus’ parable of the weeds that the day of judgement is the day in which such stumbling block will be removed. Matt 13:41

Matthew 13:41 ESV

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,

So we see that, while God is never the author or cause of temptation, because of God’s mercy on a sinful world it is necessary that temptations exist in this age. As long as sinners continue to rebel against Christ, stumbling blocks will exist. It is impossible for wicked people to exist in this world in any kind of contact Christians without creating stumbling blocks for them.

Warning Against Sinful Body Parts

In verses 8-9, Jesus gives a similar warning to the one he gave in Matt 5:29-30. It is doubtless that many of Jesus’ saying and parables were repeated in different contexts, which is also obvious in how at times different gospels will give the same teaching in different contexts. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was talking about lust and adultery of the heart. There, he was teaching how the true child of the Kingdom is not someone who only has control of their outward actions and impulses, but one who has submitted their heart to God. In this way, their righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees. Not only do they avoid physically committing adultery, but they recognize that God judges the heart and so refraining from adulterous behaviour is not enough. The Christian’s heart must be guarded against unholy sexual longing. In that example, Jesus gave the powerful and gruesome analogy of self-mutilation, which would be better than losing your soul. Of course, nothing about this was literal and that was understood by the audience as well as virtually all Christians throughout the history of the Church. However, this should not take away from the weight Jesus is placing here. Our zeal and willingness to avoid temptation should be to the point of cutting off things in our life that are important to us. For example, someone struggling with pornography might have to get rid of their smartphone or computer if other attempts have failed, despite how debilitating that is in our modern society. It simply isn’t worth the risk.

Jesus takes this warning against lust and applies it to temptation in general here. All temptation in any area should be taken this seriously. Since we live in a world of temptation, and indeed inhabit bodies that are not yet perfected in holiness and are still prone to wander and fall into sin, it is important that we take the greatest care. The Christian life is nothing less than walking through a minefield, where any wrong move could destroy our faith and hope. That is not to say that the sins of a Christian are not forgiven, 1 John 2:1-2 makes it clear they are. However, we are foolish if we assume that we will repent. Repentance itself is a gift from the Holy Spirit, and if we are presumptuous that he will always give us that gift we harden ourselves to the point where he may withdraw his grace from us.

The seriousness of sin cannot be overstated here. Do you realize that every time you sin, you are completely helpless and unable to repent unless the Spirit gives you the grace to do so? If you understand that, you will see every temptation as a possible apostasy. How many professing Christians have lived with secret sin in their lives growing uncontested, or if it is fought against it is done only with painless and meager effort, trimming fingernails instead of cutting off hands? Eventually the sin takes them over and pulls them helplessly into hell itself. A little gossip fosters hatred which is incompatible with salvation. A little dishonesty fosters fraud and a double life which bears hypocrisy, a sin which damned the Pharisees. A little laziness fosters sloth and passivity which is harmful to us who are called to run the race of faith with endurance. A little gluttony produces a love of bodily passions and desires, making our stomach our god rather than Christ. Does a gardener look at a small weed sprouting in their garden and say, “it is only a small thing, there is no need to go and root it up”? Surely that weed will produce a hundred more and will destroy any crop that garden may harvest. So, Christ implores us, in a world full of temptation do all that is necessary to be holy and do not take even the slightest sin or temptation as a light thing. In each temptation is the potential to destroy your soul forever.

The Love Behind Strict Warnings

Jesus warning against sin in verses 8-9 is not from a place of stern judgement, but of genuine love and care. Falling into sin always carries with it the danger of falling away from God’s grace. Jesus warning here is not meant to make you feel guilty or insecure in your faith. If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and are repenting of sin, you are saved! It doesn’t matter how many times you have fallen, you are secure in Christ. He loves you. It is because he loves you that he speaks with such strong words, for his heart is set on you that you should not perish.

A good parent does not allow their toddler to wander about the street by herself. If she does disobey and walk onto the road, the parent does not disown the child. Far from it! The parent grabs the child harshly from the street and rebukes her seriously and even angrily. This is not done in judgement or wrath, as if the parent will now disown the child because she isn’t good enough. If the parent did not love the child, they would not care for the child’s safety with such passion. The parent’s harsh words come from fear and sorrow at what could have happened. When you read these words and feel the harsh and extreme language being used, understand that it is not meant to communicate God’s hatred for you. It is exactly the opposite! Hebrews 12:5-11 tells us that this harsh discipline is proof that you are God’s beloved children. So the Author of Hebrews ends that point in Heb 12:12-13

Hebrews 12:12–13 NIV 2011

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees, ‘Make level paths for your feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

So in such passages as this, those of you who fear should be comforted and strengthened for greater holiness, and those of you who are without fear at this passage should be terrified. If Jesus’ warning of hell in such extreme language does not move you, what hope do you have that you will escape that horrible end?

The warning of hell here is not to say that God’s wrath is primed and he’s waiting for you to slip up just once in order to condemn you. This was the god that the protestant reformer Martin Luther prayed to as a monk for many years, believing that God was more wrath than mercy, until he discovered that the true God is compassionate and patient. His wrath has already been taken away by the blood of Christ for all who believe.

Rather, this text is a warning against the car of a hard heart the could run you over and kill your soul. If God is yelling at you, it is in fearful love and not in wrath. The lost sheep isn’t sought out in order to kill it, but to rescue it before the wolves can get to it. Jesus isn’t telling us that God will quickly lose his patience and cast us into hell unless we are good boys and girls. This is assuredly not God’s will, as verse 14 clearly tells us. Rather, it is God’s will that we take great care to avoid sin, lest we find ourselves hobbling onto a busy road and get hit by a car. If you are not careful with sin, one of these days sin will run you over and your heart will be so hardened that you will never return to the Good Shepherd. You will no longer be a little child, but a walking corpse given over to pride and lust. You will be lost and thrown into hell.

Christ cries for some of you as he cried for Jerusalem, “oh, how I would gather you under my wings as a mother hen gathers her chicks. How I would love you, save you, clean you, and raise you up to glory. But you are not willing! How I warned you of the danger of sin, but you do not listen!”

So flee temptation at all costs! Recognize the great and very real danger it poses to your life, greater than the danger of a toddler crossing the 401! If you fall into sin, come quickly to your loving Father who, his Word assures us, will rejoice that he found you! Learn the lesson and stay far from the sin which threatens to destroy you forever. Those who truly have childlike humility will learn from God’s loving discipline and trust their heavenly Father; his warnings and commands.

Assurance of God’s Love for Little Ones

Now again, as I mentioned earlier, Jesus gives this warning in love. Here is further evidence of this; one of the most encouraging and comforting parables ever spoken by our Saviour, the Parable of the Lost Sheep in verses 10-14. As if to strengthen his disciples in their fear of sin and hell, he comforts them with the reminder of God’s love for them if they continue in the humility of the little child.

The Father sees the souls of his precious little ones all the time in heaven, and he is concerned for them on earth. He is pictured as a shepherd with a sheep who has wandered away. Does he, in anger, curse the lost sheep? Does he say, “well that sheep was a troublesome one anyway, good riddance! After all, I still have most of my flock”? No! He searches, he finds, and he rejoices. To see you humble and repentant, with tears in your eyes after nearly being eaten by wolves, to see you cling to him, brings him great joy! You have been found! The sin you committed is far from his mind, already nailed to the cross, and his tears flow in joy for your safe return. This is the heart of God for you!

See the love Jesus has for sinners. In John 8:34-5 he tells us

John 8:34–35 (ESV)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

Then he continues in John 8:36

John 8:36 ESV

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

He came to set sinners free from sin. Salvation is not just being saved from hell, but also from the sin that gets you to hell. He not only saves you from death, but from the poison that you drank that kills you. He has come to set you free from slavery to what is harmful and leads to death so that you may have life in him.

So here, God is like a Shepherd who will not let one of his little ones, his sheep, be lost. John 6:37 Jesus says,

John 6:37 ESV

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

And John 6:39

John 6:39 NIV 2011

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

Christian, see with what great love the Father warns you with today. He is not impatient, and he certainly does seek out those who go astray. But if you truly belong to the elect, you will hear his voice and return. If Christ loses none that the Father gives, and you are straying and have not yet been found, what assurance do you have that you are truly the elect? Do not sit there and wait to find out!

If you are fearful of the sin in your life, that is a good sign that the Spirit is calling you as the voice of the Shepherd. Do not drown out that fear, let it have its full effect unto repentance. Return, come, live! He does not desire to harm you, to yell at you, or to shame you by casting you out. The shame you feel now is discipline meant to bring you to him for restoration. If you are his, it is not his will that you perish. Will you perish? Will you allow sin to numb you bit-by-bit until it has consumed you? Will you go to hell because your hand or foot was more important than life?

Stop and consider what stands in the balance. In one direction there is a God who loves you, who will forgive you and set you free, who sent his Son to die and pay for your sins. In the other, there is a devil who hates you and the image of God you bear. He offers you pleasures to destroy that image and watch it burn forever in hell. Little one, come to the loving arms of Christ and know that his love for you is that of a good shepherd. Don’t be so foolish as to see how close you can get to the edge of hell without falling in. Let the temptations you experience smell of sulfur and death to you so that you stay near him, clinging to him, dwelling in him. He will keep you safe, he will hold you fast, he will be there when you stumble, and he will rebuke you, even scream at you, when you wander because he loves you and doesn’t want to see you die. But you must abide in him, you must dwell in him. If you don’t, you do not know him. If you do dwell in him, if you take his warnings seriously and do all you can to cling to him in faith, his love will sustain you, forgive you, sanctify you, and bring you to glory.