True Faith Cannot Be Faked, Matthew 10:32-42

Sermon Title: True faith cannot be faked

Matthew 10:32–42 (CSB)

32 “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. 34 Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household., 37 The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it. 40 “The one who welcomes you welcomes me, and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me. 41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

True Faith

True faith trusts in Christ for salvation and receives the reward of eternal life

True faith professes Christ in the face of persecution (10:32-34)

32 “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. 34 Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

In 10:27-28 Jesus says, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops. Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The act of denying Jesus in public is an act of fear, and fear of public rejection is a feeling we can all identify with.

One of the most famous men in Christian History is Martin Luther. Luther was one of the men responsible for what we call the Reformation in the 1500’s. The Reformation is one of the most important moments in the history of the church. During the time known as the reformation, many Christians broke from the Catholic Church to follow the Bible rather than the traditions of men. On October 31, 1517 he posted 95 statements on the doors of a cathedral in Germany. His statements criticized the practice of indulgences and many other incorrect practices and teachings in the church. The Roman Catholic Church was large and powerful; and to go against the teachings of the RCC was to put yourself in grave danger.

In 1521 Martin Luther was brought before the Diet of Worms. This was a council assembled under the direction of the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. The purpose of the council was to examine Martin Luther and pass judgment on his writings and teachings about Jesus.

Martin Luther had rejected the teachings of the Catholic Church in favor of following the actual Word of Christ, the Bible. At the center of the controversy surrounding Luther was the doctrine of justification. Martin was teaching that a person was justified by God solely by faith, and that this is what the Bible actually teaches. He correctly claimed that the Catholic Church’s teaching regarding justification was wrong, and he refused to back down and take back his teaching and criticism of the false teachings of the Catholic Church.

In a very public trial Martin Luther stood before the council of clergy, statesmen, and powerful men. When asked if he would recant, or take back, his teachings on the gospel and Jesus Christ he famously said…

“Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason (I do not accept the authority of popes and councils because they have contradicted each other), my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.”

- Martin Luther

In the face of persecution, Martin Luther could do nothing else but speak the truth and accept the consequences. He gives us an incredible example of what true faith looks like in the face of persecution.

Persecution doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care about you or know what is going on in your life.

In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Matthew 10:29-31 says, “Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Jesus comforts His disciples with the knowledge that they have value, and that God knows exactly what is happening in their lives. The problem with the thinking of the Jewish leaders is that they misunderstood what would happen when the Messiah came.

They were looking for the Messiah to come and deliver them from all of the persecution and oppression of the Roman army. But, instead of delivering them from their oppressors, Jesus is teaching them that they will face incredible difficulties because of their faith in Him.

Jesus says in Matthew 10:34, “34 Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Jesus did not come to bring peace between all men. Jesus came to make peace with men and God through the cross, grave, and resurrection.

This is the gospel… Christ came to save sinners. And, the gospel tells us that those who belong to God will be united in Christ. But the Gospel also tells us that those who are in Christ will be at odds with the world.

Being at peace with Jesus means you will be at odds with those who don’t know Christ. And this truth applies to even the closest of your relationships and it is demonstrated in your devotion to Christ over everyone and everything else.

True faith demonstrates its devotion to Christ (10:35-39)

35 For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household., 37 The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.

If Jesus is Lord, then He is Lord in every relationship you have and in everything you do.

True faith demonstrates its devotion to Christ in every relationship and in everything you do.

True faith is demonstrated in your devotion to Christ over your family

Parents, in-laws, children, etc. This doesn’t mean that you don’t love your family, it means that you love Jesus more.

True faith is demonstrated in your devotion to Christ over the world and what it offers.

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Taking up your cross is mentioned by Jesus early in His ministry. The idea of taking up a cross was culturally relevant to His listeners. They would have been familiar with the sight of a man picking up his cross and carrying it to the place where he would die. Taking up a cross is synonymous with putting your own wants and desires to death.

Jesus says that anyone who doesn’t take up his cross isn’t worthy of Him. In verse 33 He said that if you deny Him before men then He will deny you before the Father. Now, He says that everyone who tries to hang on to the world and follow Him is not worthy of His name.

True faith professes Christ in public and is devoted to Christ over all things. True faith places God and His kingdom over everything else in the world. As a result, true followers of Christ accept every other follower of Christ. Where the world is divided, those in Christ are united. And where those in the world are united, it’s possible/likely that the church will be divided from the world.

True faith accepts everyone who follows Christ (10:40-42)

40 “The one who welcomes you welcomes me, and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me. 41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

Unity in the church is based on Jesus and His Gospel, not earthly relationships or cultural expectations.

Notice the progression that Jesus uses in verse 40, “40 'The one who welcomes you welcomes me, and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.”

From the Father, to Jesus, to the disciples, but in reverse.

To further illustrate the importance of accepting or receiving those who belong to the body of Christ Jesus continues in verses 41-42; “41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

Jesus implies that reception is based on the message, because the message is based on Christ. And, because Christ is the basis for unity and reception there is equality in the body and in the reward.

The little ones are not children or the impoverished in the community. The little ones refers to the crowd of disciples or the followers of Jesus. The righteous refers to the mature, and the prophets to the teachers and leaders of the church.

True believers experience true community or authentic and equal relationships with every other Christian. No one Christian is better or more valuable than another. There are simply different roles and responsibilities that various leaders in the body are held accountable to. The basis for relationship or community is knowing Jesus. In fact, you can say that community is found with those who know Jesus, more than it is found with those who don’t.

Or, to put it another way: Christians have more in common with other Christians than they do their relatives who don’t know Christ. This means that the body of Christ transcends borders, colors, languages, and families. The world divides itself up along political parties, colors, countries, agendas etc, but the church unifies around the message of Christ and receives those who believe the message.

In our passage today Jesus doesn’t leave room to doubt how far and how deep His call to follow Him goes. Jesus calls each disciple to a real and sincere faith that is evidenced in the face of persecution, demonstrated through devotion, and experienced in relationship with other Christians.

Jesus calls his followers to a true faith. And…

True faith cannot be faked, but fake faith can fool everyone but God

Fake Faith

Fake faith lives for the acceptance of others and does not receive the reward of eternal life

Fake faith hides in the face of persecution

The reward is temporary

School

Work

Hobbies/ Sports

Social Media

We live in a world that is 100% against God and His gospel.

Many hide their faith behind conservative agendas and mask their Christianity in the pursuit of morality. (Equality, justice, etc). But, true faith doesn’t need a platform to ride along on. True faith will stand in the face of real persecution.

Fake faith proves its real allegiance

We said earlier that true faith demonstrates devotion to Christ. The reverse is also true, fake faith proves where its real allegiances and devotions lie.

Fake faith puts allegiance to family, friends, job, country, etc over Christ. Jesus is number one until there is something else to do. Or, Jesus is number one until following Him causes friction or division with others.

Fake faith tolerates sin

Fake faith lives in harmony with the world

Fake faith elevates the teaching and philosophies of the world over that of Jesus.

Fake faith looks for acceptance from everyone.

Instead of welcoming all those who love God and believe the truth, fake faith looks for acceptance from those outside the body of Christ.

Looking for acceptance from those outside the body of Christ is the same thing as saying that you care more about being a part of the world than you do the Kingdom of God.

If receiving Christ is the same as receiving the Father, and receiving those Jesus sends is the same as receiving Jesus, then to try to be received by the world is the same thing as looking for acceptance from Satan, sin, and the world.

Jesus deals in clean lines when it comes to His kingdom. He doesn’t mince words…

True faith cannot be faked, but fake faith can fool everyone but God

Application:

Count the cost

Following Christ requires that you count the cost, and the phrase count the cost comes from Luke 14:25-35. This passage in Luke 14 parallels verses 37-39 in Matthew 10.

Luke 14:25–35 (CSB) says, “25 Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. 34 “Now, salt is good, but if salt should lose its taste, how will it be made salty? 35 It isn’t fit for the soil or for the manure pile; they throw it out. Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”

Counting the cost means considering the possibility of persecution.

Counting the cost means recognizing the shift in your devotion.

Counting the cost means a reorientation of your relationships.

None of this is supposed to catch us off guard, this is why Jesus teaches us so clearly.

Counting the cost is a part of beginning a life of faith, and it serves as a pattern for exercising your faith moving forward.

When you face difficult situations you count the cost to determine which is greater, the world or Jesus?

And, when you have counted the cost, choose Christ.

Choose Christ

Not just one time, but every time.

Christians keep on counting the cost and they keep on choosing Christ.

This does not mean that Christians get saved over and over again. No, it means that Christians choose Christ and faithfulness to Him in each situation.

This doesn’t mean that Christians won’t sin, but it does mean that the Christian life will be filled with repentance. Christ has come to make peace between us and God, and true followers of Christ don’t want to live in the tension of rebellion. True faith wants to be at peace with God, even if it means being at odds with the world.

Choose Christ in the same way that Martin Luther chose Christ in 1521. Learn to say in the face of temptation, persecution, family pressure, financial struggles, and peer pressure, “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.” - Martin Luther

True faith cannot be faked, but fake faith can fool everyone but God

Count the cost and choose Christ today

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