April 2, 2017

I would like to begin by reading Psalm 98. We read a portion of Psalm 98 to begin the service. And it's the song for the sermon this morning and I'd like to read the whole song.

David says sing to the Lord a new song for he has done marvelous things his right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nation's. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel. The ends of the Earth have seen the salvation of our God shout for Joy To The Lord all the Earth burst into drupe jubilant song with music make music to the Lord with the harp with the harp and the sound of singing with trumpets and the blast of the Rams Horn shout for Joy before the Lord the king let the Siri sound and everything in it the world and all who live in its let the rivers clap their hands let them mountains sing together for joy. Let them sing before the Lord for he comes to judge the Earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the people's with equity. The beginning of that song we're pretty familiar with this Shout to the Lord and praise the Lord and and to be honest most of time. We kind of read that and say, that's awesome. And we really don't read all the way through to the end and see what it is. they're excited about

I titled this sermon Judgment Day and I added a little smiley face at the end of Judgement Day. Now that that may seem strange to you that little smiley face at the end of judgement day, but that's exactly what this song has in it that strange combination of this call to excitement and joy combined with this announcement that God will judge people are bursting into song and blowing Ram's Horn rivers are clapping mountains are singing. This is like some Disney movie where all the little creatures are joining in this amazing celebration this huge call to Joy and to worship and to praise and excitement and it's for this reason the song and sang. The reason everyone is called to joy and excitement and celebration is for he God comes to judge the Earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the people's with equity. Now that's a little odd. That's like a little smiley face at the end of the phrase Judgment Day. We normally don't combine those elements together. What about Judgement Day could be day.

If you know you are set to fail a test, you don't get excited when the teacher comes in the room to administer the test pool goodie. Yay. I get to get a nap. What could be joyful about judgement day? This is the answer. It is the return of the Good King who makes everything, right? That's what's going on in this song. They're excited and calling everyone else to be excited and to praise and rejoice because God the good King is returning and he will make everything right? That's why it's a celebration. Think about it many stories that we tell Elevate the day of the good Kings return Greek fairy tales talk about that King Author is all about him being the ultimate. Can you will make things right? Even in the future Robin Hood is always waiting for Good King Richard to come back and set things right the Lord of the Rings it climaxes in this celebration. What's the third movie The Return of the King? All the stories. We tell me the stories. We tell reflect this yearning for this true king. During reflects the limitation of what we know in our hearts of human systems of human governments of human beings. We long ago left human King and Queens because of their ability to rule so poorly and so selfishly. But we're still fascinated with frothy and we're still fascinated with this idea of the king returning and making everything right? That's what's going on in this song that's calling for that Joy Robbins ate like this song speaks of everything including creation celebrating Christ the true and good King return. All the best stories have their origin in the reality of God. The one and True Team are we tempted to say well scripture talks about, you know, the Trees of the field clapping their hands and this song talks about the rivers, you know are singing and and that's all just a metaphor Romans 8 suggest. It may not simply be metaphor Romans 8 suggest that creation itself is in pain because of the Twisted nurse of sin in this world and that creation itself long for and looks forward to the day in which Christ will return and restore everything make everything right so that creation itself. Very much like a Disney film suddenly starts to celebrate and the truth is all these things. We see in literature find their origin in the original story of God as our one and true king who will return and make everything right? That's why we see the Echoes of that one true story throughout literature. They find their origin in the reality. Of the true story of God because the reality is the image of God and the imprint of Eternity are stamped Upon Our Hearts. Genesis 1 and please Gatsby's talks about that true that we are made in the image of God. And that's our very core identity from the very beginning and Sam has corrupted that but we still have that imprint that echo in our hearts that we long to be who God designed us to be that's why we know what pain is that's why we know what Injustice is. That's why it's built into the stand up and defend the weak Because deep in our hearts. We have the imprint of God our maker up on us and the stamp of Eternity itself on our heart and that's why no matter how much we achieve in this lifetime. We know there has to be more so nothing short of a permanent return to the goodness and Purity and joy, Only that we only get a glimpse of now will suffice. I think of what we think of as the Christmas song Joy to the World. Earth receive her King and that when he comes everything will be restored right far as the curse is found. Isaac Watts wrote that him not about Christmas Even though. It's become the most popular Christmas hymn. He wrote that about the second coming of Christ. He wrote that about this song. Joy to the World the Lord Has Come Earth receive her King and heaven and nature rejoice But the King has returned.

Now when this return happens everything for everything to be made right anything and anyone that has done wrong that wrong must be paid for. This is part of the Dilemma of the song that the farmer says, you know, God is coming to judge. Everyone celebrate out of those. How does how does go together I get it that this song is announcing celebration? in light of God's Judgment Day upon us it and I get that the reason there's excitement about judgment days because that Judgment Day means the ushering in and the restoration of all things and of all things that were wrong being made, right but as soon as you think about it a little more deeply than you realize Why our Natural Instinct are temptation is to fear Judgment Day matter fact, I think the Terminator movies right? We're all about Judgement Day and nobody was like Yay, let's Usher in Judgment Day. They're all like we have to stop this no matter what we have got to avoid Judgment Day. That's the natural inclination because we know that if everything and everyone must be made right that includes us. and so Judgment Day Threatens us in many ways because Justice is essential. You can't tell a victim that we've evolved Beyond right and wrong and judgment. You can't do that those who are victims of SEF sex trafficking the corporate ROM that can be orchestrated in our world that robs people of their retirement or or pharmaceutical companies who do corrupt things or individuals who who Embrace identity theft and steal your money out of your bank account. We can't just say, you know, just relax We're postmodern we don't believe there is any such thing as right and wrong we've evolved Beyond right and wrong. It's no big deal. Is it as soon as we think about that for more than just a few seconds? We say wait a minute that can't be right. That can't work out. We we can't think in terms of having evolved Beyond right and wrong life does not work that way one.

Non-Christian very left in intellectual who's written a lot about post-modernism.

Should be congratulated for his honesty because as he thought through post-modernism a mini safe post-modernism is now dead. He acknowledged is some good that came from post-modernism the idea that we've evolved Beyond right wrong the idea. He says this is post-modernism the idea of be privileging anyone meaning this idea that all just forces are equally valid has therefore led to some real world games for humankind because once you're in the business of challenging the dominant discourse, you're also in the business of giving giving his marginalized and subordinate groups their voice. So some of what has ushered in the past 50 years in post-modernism is this idea that you don't want every voice is equal. We can't we can't give in to 1 meta narrative that explains life or the universe. We've got to giving giving everybody a valid account. And some good has come from that because it's it's allowed some of the marginalized and suppress voices to be heard, which we're good voices that did not and should not have been marginalized or suppressed. But in his honesty if he continues to think about it, he says however if we'd be privileged all positions, we can assert no position. The postmodern solution will no longer do as a response to the World We Now find ourselves in So again, if you say we've evolved Beyond right and wrong, we're going to assert no position. We're going to be privileged every assertion about truth or reality. We're post-truth culture postmodern world as soon as you say no one has the right to claim anything as objectively true, then you've let go of Justice itself. Because Justice requires us to say hey, there is a right and there is a wrong and what you did was wrong and that must be made amends for. Again, we can't say to the victims of sex trafficking. Oh just get over it. We've all involved now. We don't think in terms of right and wrong who are you to assert that that you were victim that that this happened and it was wrong everyone gets to assert their own truth, even those champions of post-modernism. I began to realize the absurdity of trying to live in a world in which there is no right. There is no wrong. There is no judgment. That's from The secular world so to speak when you look inside a scripture. It's always been the case that that's been the reality the world in which we lived relationships of God our covenants with curses and blessings from the very beginning. God said I will establish a relationship with you and if you're faithful that will be blessings and if you're Unfaithful Derby curses and so since we always we are always breaking our promises here comes the theological question that this song Just forces us to think about since we are always breaking our promises. Will God give up on us or give in to us.

Do you see what how that question arises if there is such a thing as right and wrong and consequences and judgment. And if you and I are honest. We are consistently breaking our promises to God all have sinned Romans says and fallen short of the goodness of God. Since we're always breaking his promises are promises to him what will happen. Will they get will he give up on us? And sorry there are unfaithful.

I'm done with him. Are Willie given to us? And say you know what? No big deal. It's going to scrap her hair a little bit. those war crimes

Which will it be where do you land?

The human heart is tempted to the land on one side of the other to say well we need to obey God, but ultimately. Even if we don't obey he's going to forgive us. Some land on that side. other side well, God is good and loving but If we don't do what he asks to do. then we're done for So which is it? That's the question this song kind of. Brings up. I think when it says Judgement Day is coming. Everyone should celebrate because then you go. Wait a minute as soon as I think about that a few moments. I'm not how do I celebrate Judgment Day? How do we how do we celebrate judgment that do we just act like it's no big deal. Just going to Usher everybody in with no actual judgment, but that doesn't seem right because The world can't operate without right and wrong and consequences. If there's a real judgement then I don't know that I have anything I can celebrate. Because I'm one of those who've broken my promises to God and others and so I stand judged. In the end our God's blessings conditional you must obey or unconditional if you don't obey God Saves you anyway judges to one talks about God being faithful no matter what happens faithful to us. No matter what no matter what judges says and I could preach that sermon you be like, yeah. I mean if your faithful you'll receive blessings if you're Unfaithful you'll receive curses. And so there's these seemingly contradictory words, especially the Old Testament there seems to be this wrestling to reconcile those sorts of things. So we end up in that dilemma if there is no judgement day. What hope is there for the world as I said, we really can't announce. There's really no judgement day.

I mean what will happen?

If we tell the victims of every crime and every horror. There's going to be no consequences. There's no judgement day. We're not going to arrest those please. Abuse their power and victimized somebody was innocent. We're not going to going to stop. That pedophile. Who's targeting children through his workplace?

If we just say there's no judgement what it what will happen. I can tell you what will happen people will rise up and they will issue the judge with himself victims will say no, but you know what? I don't meet that guy in the parking lot at work the next day to do what he's been doing. We can't live without judgement. It doesn't work with reality. And even the second or thinkers that begin to say wait a minute. If we do the privilege every every understanding of right and wrong every view of Truth. We can't stand for justice. We can't stand for the victim. We can't stand for those who need so there's no judgment. What hope is there for the world and if there is a judgement day what hope is there for you? And I Paul says in Romans 2 that everyone will be judged even those who haven't heard the gospel understood everything about God's it says they will be judged by what they do know. And as we said a few weeks ago, if somebody recorded your entire life and every time you said to somebody else, you know, you really ought to... I think you should... Maybe it'd be better if you if every standard that we placed on someone else. We were measured by. Would we pass or fail? and honesty reveals that Judgment Day

Is a threat to us to all of us to every one of us what hope is there for us? And when you read the song you realize the hope is in those first three verses the psalmist announces the hope he says sing to the Lord a new song for he has noticed it's past tense. He has done marvelous things right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nation's. He has remembered his and his faithfulness to Israel. All the ends of the Earth will have seen the salvation of our God. this song has the same sort of language as Miriam song in Exodus 15 and Mary song and Luke 1 So when I say this this song Taps into it too huge theological themes think about it Miriam celebrates Passover, which is God rescuing Israel from Egypt through judgment.

In one day the king will come and Judgment Day will occur and all wrongs will be made right and all Injustice will be rectified and they'll be no more sin. No more pain no more suffering No More Tears, but the Passover is almost like this little moment where God said, you know what? I'm just lifting the window just a little bit and I'm going to bring down some judgment and restore things the way they should be And so our nation that had embraced slavery. And took a whole group. The Israelites because they weren't Egyptians. So since they're not like us they must not be any good what let's just enslave them. Let's just beat them make them work do whatever we want to them and they cried out to God.

This is wrong this bright Injustice. And so he sends this judgment on Israel, but it's interesting. If you know, the passage is a Passover. He doesn't exist Israel from judgment. Egyptians worship pagan gods and the Israelites worship the one true God yet. He doesn't exempt them from judgment. He says to them judgment is coming on everyone every household in Egypt and you equally were experience. This judgment on the list. You take the blood of the lamb and you paint the door post of your home, and then that judgment will pass over you. And that's they celebrate God's provision and the Passover. Mary song has the same celebration at she's celebrating the resolution of the problem and the promise of Judgment Day. If you read that song She Sang all this dilemma through history of righteousness and unrighteousness of of Good and Evil of those who oppressed and those who were oppressed. All of this is being resolved in my face my child who will be Lord and savior of the world.

That God has provided the Salvation John one when he sees Jesus makes this amazing pronouncement and when you think about the entire Old Testament and the sacrificial system and the need for a price to be paid and for animals to be sacrificed John points at Jesus and says behold. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Mind blown for anyone hearing John say that what how can you say that this this man? This human being is the Lamb of God said what's God doing with the lamp aren't we the ones that are supposed to bring clams and and make some sort of price to how is he takes away the sins of the world? I mean It's not that big.

Is this Plan of Salvation that large? Is he no longer dealing with people's or ethnicities? Or an old Covenant in a law that says You must do this in order to get that.

Is he announcing this radical news that he so loves the world?

That whoever anyone and everyone. Who would believe?

In this amazing good news this gospel. But he so loved the world that he gave his only son that anyone who would believe would not perish would not have to fear judgement day. But instead would live forever, but he came in the world not to condemn the world but to save the world.

It makes you want to celebrate. In it. The song is kind of this Peak at the gospel announcement. John Stott said the essence of sin is we human beings substituting ourselves for God putting ourselves in his place insisting on making all our own decisions ruling are on life ignoring right and wrong while the essence of Salvation is God substituting himself for us. We put ourselves. We're only God deserves to be and God puts himself where we deserve to be.

Are the blessings of God conditional or unconditional the answer is yes. They're both. conditional a price has to be paid. God is a holy God and a just God and he cannot look at the victims of criminals the victims of our of our sin and say oh, that's no big deal. His heart is broken and judgment must come down a price has to be paid. If you ever been a victim you understand the truth of that reality. I'm not talking about vengeance, but you can't have a child victimized and Society can't say. Well, let's just all turn their heads. No big deal with us. Talk about it talk about it. We know where our hearts that you have to step in and protect the innocent and the victim's it's that reflection of God's imprint on our own heart until evil has to be called evil and good has to be called good and judgment has to come down a price must be paid and the gospel is the truth that Jesus Paid that price.

So yes, it's conditional and yes, it's unconditional. It's conditional in the sense that a price had to be paid. It's unconditional in the sense that Jesus said I'll pay the price. I'll pay it on your behalf.

We can't just disregard send. We can't disregard hurt or pain or suffering. There has to be a price and I will pay that price think about this reality. In Christ, if it if Jesus is your lord and savior, if you've called upon him your judgment day has already occurred.

Have you thought about that before? That's what I was celebrating is about.

This announcement Psalm 98. God has secured salvation. He has worked with his mighty arm. Therefore let the trees the frogs the ponds the sky every human being celebrate with jubilant song with clapping and singing because God has accomplished our salvation and he will judge us.

Do the gospel right based on Christ? So our Judgment Day has already occurred on the cross.

If you believe the gospel if you placed your faith in Christ than your judgment day has already occurred. What you have to look forward to is being declared righteous through the blood of Christ.

Have you ever thought about that? I never thought about judgement day.

I don't think that way do we but Romans 8:1. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. If you have placed your faith in Christ, you're not placing your faith in yourself. Therefore. Your judgment day is not based on yourself is not based on your success some days and your failure other days is not based on the days. You were good and got up early and read your Bible and prayed and we're kind and generous to everyone that crossed your path or base. Tell me that isn't what you got up late and you didn't read your Bible and pray and you're cranky that everyone that crossed your path if you place your faith in Christ, you're not placing your faith in yourself. And on Judgment Day your judgment is through Christ. And what will happen for those who are in Christ on Judgement Day is there will be no condemnation. It will be the celebration of righteousness gifted to us through the blood of Christ.

Another reason you see these these verses like Philippians to where it says every tongue will confess every knee will bow. Jesus Is Our Savior Jude 24 and 25 to him who is able to keep us from falling and present us before his glorious presence one day without fault and with Rejoice to the only God Our Savior Jesus Christ be all glory and power forever more Jude ends his book with that prays to God. So yes. celebrate

celebrate the approaching judgement day.

Think about the implications. I'll invite the worship team to come Ford. If your judgment day has already occurred on the cross.

because of the work of Christ

And what you have to look forward to is this celebration? Misattribution to you of righteousness think about the thing about that you get the stand before God and instead of hanging your head in shame for all of you for your sin will happen instead of Christ's righteousness will be attributed to you and you will stand before the father clean and pure. Honoring him. Well done my good and faithful servant you trusted in my son. So let me let me just be honest with you if that's if that's a settled issue. Does that free up a whole lot of energy for you and your life? Don't we spend a lot of time worrying about judgement day? Don't we spend a lot of time thinking and I ain't good enough. I am I doing good enough, you know most days. I feel like too little butter spread over too much toast. You know, I'm just I'm just not coming. I just don't I just don't have what it takes a lot of energy trying to impress people or trying to get things like if I had enough money or if I was physically fit enough or had enough degrees if I had enough of this or that or the other then somehow I would have this sense of well-done. I have the sense of I've succeeded How much of our life energy gets spin trying to accomplish those sorts of things which are really about us having a sense of peace and Wellness. If we believe the gospel, and we believe that that's been gifted to us in Christ through faith in Christ. All those things are resolved our identity our success. The meaning of our life are significant if we can let go of all that energy that we go down the wrong path cuz the world is happy to shake and Rattle and say look at this shiny think who this will make you significant and distract if we believe in the gospel and we let go of that how much energy could we give simply to loving others?

And advancing the gospel the good news that Jesus Christ died on the cross. The God so loved the world that anyone and everyone who believes in Him should not perish.

I mean if you really weren't worried about what people thought about you or your reputation or your bank account numbers or your waistline. How much energy could you give? to the least and the last and the Lost Could you dedicate your life to fight Injustice? Did you dedicate your life to love the unlovable? Could you live like Christ for others might say what are you doing hanging out with those people? Hey, you you you miss this or you missed that. Could you let go of all those things that are hindrances that so easily entangles you and press toward Christ. Is example his model? Celebrating and worship is just the beginning and I want us to do that the rest of the service I want us to celebrate through the rest of our worship in our communion are offering what Christ has done what God has done, but I wanted to continue when we leave this building. I want us to walk differently in to talk differently. I want us to be a different person with a much lighter burden. And the ability to bring that good news in that join that Grace that celebration to those we encounter.

And when we need God to do that, that's why we worship. That's why we come to communion. That's why we read our Bibles and we pray the foundation is depending on God leaning on him leaning on this true that we preach from Psalm 98 leading on the gospel and the grace and the forgiveness. Wheat we need him. That's the foundation and he knows that and he gladly says I know and here I am. No guilt. No shame amerifactors the wise one who humbly bow before God and says I need you. I need you right and Luke. That's the one that left Justified. One man came before God in the temple had all these reasons why you know, I'm pretty good. I'm halfway decent not as bad as that guy that the other guy just came and fell flat before God and said, I need you and Jesus said which one do you think left? And right standing with God which one do you think left Justified before. And so as we sing this song let God know you need him. If you have a decision to make if you've never given your life to Christ then make that decision. I'll be in the back of ailable to talk to you answer any questions help you make that decision pray with you. If you got a prayer concerning that we folks in the front and the back during this song. We would love to pray with you and pray for you. Let God know the truth of this song that you want to face Judgment Day with joy because you've given your life to him cuz you know, you need him and you've given your life to him, please stand as we sing.