Rev. David Holwick T Father's Day
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
June 16, 2013
Romans 10:4-10
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I. Hard dads.
A. Sometimes it brings out the best in us.
Brett Favre was one of the best quarterbacks in the history
of the NFL.
He is the only one to throw for over 70,000 yards, made over 500
touchdowns, over 300 interceptions, over 6,000 completions,
and over 10,000 pass attempts.
His high school coach was his own father.
Irv Favre drove his son relentlessly.
Brett says anytime he was hurt, his dad would say, "Get your
[butt] up."
Even after Brett reached the NFL, his dad gave him unsolicited
advice.
He was always critical of his son, always nitpicking.
Then the day came, during Christmas week, when his dad had a
heart attack and died at age 58.
At first, Brett thought it would be a relief.
Then he realized it hadn't been that bad.
He had lost something valuable, the voice that kept telling him,
"Prove you can do this."
#64191
1) Dads can be hard.
2) Some think God is hard too.
a) He demands more than you can live up to.
b) Pleasing him is tough, if not impossible.
B. In truth, God is different than a hard dad.
1) You don't earn his favor.
a) You couldn't if you wanted to.
2) You can only accept his grace.
a) Salvation isn't hard, yet so many never find it.
b) They are looking at it the human way instead of God's
way.
II. The end of the law.
A. Today's passage begins with a dramatic statement.
1) "The Law" is the Old Testament law code.
2) In what sense is Jesus the end of it?
a) Some take it to mean Jesus obliterates the O.T. law.
b) But Jesus himself said in Matthew 5:17 --
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or
the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
c) The Greek word "teleos" has other possible meanings.
1> "Fulfillment" or "goal" are good options.
2> The newest version of the NIV translates it as
"culmination of the law."
3> I think that fits the context better.
B. Even the Old Testament law system fits with Jesus.
1) Properly understood, they are not antagonist to each other.
a) Both base salvation on God's grace.
b) The purpose of the law is to make people understand
they need a sacrifice, a Savior.
2) The next few verses are Paul's running commentary on the O.T.
a) The specific passages are Leviticus 18 & Deuteronomy 30.
b) At first it sounds like salvation comes from doing
the law - "The man who does these things will live
by them."
c) Paul is probably thinking of Jesus as the "man" - Jesus
lived the law perfectly, and by God's power he still
lives.
1> No one else can do this.
2> The rest of us have to approach God through faith,
not law or works.
III. How not to get salvation.
A. Your personal effort can't do it.
1) You can't drag Jesus down from heaven.
a) You don't have to because God already did, at Christmas.
2) You don't have to haul Jesus up from the dead, because God
already did that, too, at Easter.
3) Yet people still think their effort will get them in.
B. Evangelist Luis Palau gives ten myths about becoming a Christian.
1) Myth #1: Being Born in America Makes You a Christian.
He says he has met people who told him, "I was born in
America, so of course I am a Christian.
What do you take me to be, a heathen?"
The truth is that they could be a lot of things.
Others have said: "I've been a Christian all my life; I
was born in a Christian home" or "in the church."
But since when does where you're born determine what you
are?
Being born in a stable doesn't make you a horse.
Be thankful for where you were born and for the family and
church in which you were reared.
But don't assume that automatically makes you a Christian.
God has no grandchildren.
2) Thinking Positively Makes You a Christian.
Some people also think that if you have an optimistic
outlook on life and smile a lot, you're somehow a
Christian.
It doesn't work that way.
3) Living a Good Life Makes You a Christian.
Living a clean and moral life doesn't make anyone a
Christian.
Many atheists live a decent, straight life.
Anyway, how good is "good"?
That is the real issue.
Most people have a warped idea of the true standard against
which our goodness should be measured.
4) Going to Church Makes You a Christian.
Last Sunday four out of 10 Americans went to church.
But does that mean that all these people are Christians?
Of course not.
Even some thieves go to church.
Some people go to church because it's a social habit.
Others attend because their family makes them go.
At the encouragement of a minister, they may even go to
special classes for baptism or membership.
5) Giving to Others Makes You a Christian.
Many of us were taught since childhood to give a portion
of our income to charity or to the church.
Whether rich or poor, we feel it's our "Christian" duty.
Even Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, says he
feels a "duty to do something" so that "in some way I
can make life a little less stinking for some people."
So he donates part of his wealth to worthy causes.
And that's commendable.
But that's not what makes somebody a Christian.
6) Receiving a Sacrament Makes You a Christian.
Maybe you were baptized as a child or young adult.
That doesn't necessarily mean you're a Christian.
Many violent inmates in penitentiaries were baptized years
ago.
But few people would consider these inmates Christians.
Taking communion doesn't make you a Christian either.
You see, both baptism and Communion are biblical.
God commands Christians to observe these ordinances.
But receiving either one won't make you a Christian.
7) Believing in God Makes You a Christian.
Eight out of 10 people in America say they believe God
exists.
But are they all Christians?
Colonel James Irwin, remembered for his Apollo 15 moon
mission, told Palau that while he was in the Middle East,
a Muslim leader said to him,
"You talk about God so much -- why aren't you a Muslim?"
Belief, on its own, makes no difference.
That is why belief, by itself, doesn't make someone a
Christian.
8) Talking about Jesus Christ Makes You a Christian.
Many people talk about Jesus Christ and even speak well
of Him.
They may be teachers, ministers, church leaders, or
just ordinary people.
But they may not even believe that the Bible's message
about Jesus is true.
Some actually have a distorted view of Jesus that fits
their own way of thinking, rather than seeing the Jesus
of history and the Bible.
And that disqualifies them from calling themselves real
Christians.
9) Praying Makes You a Christian.
Certainly Christians pray.
But someone can pray and still not be a Christian.
Hindus pray all the time.
Muslims pray five times a day.
10) Reading the Bible Makes You a Christian.
Of course Christians love the Bible.
Some of us read it daily.
But just reading the Bible doesn't mean you are a Christian.
Read the Bible all you can.
It explains how to settle this issue once and for all.
Since it's God's Word, not man's, we can trust it
completely.
But remember just reading the Bible won't make you a
Christian.
#64190
IV. What is the way to get saved?
A. There is only one way.
1) In John 14:6 Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the
life: no one comes to the Father, except through me."
2) You have to tell God you believe this.
a) You must confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.
B. It can't be just words - you have to believe it in your heart.
1) It has to be genuine, be spiritual.
2) Anyone can do it.
3) Have you?
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
#64190 “Ten Myths About Becoming a Christian,” by Luis Palau, adapted by
Rev. David Holwick from Kerux sermon #14624 by
Rev. Ronald E. George, Jr.
#64191 “He Eventually Appreciated His Hard Dad,” by Jon Saraceno, adapted
by Rev. David Holwick from the article article "Brett Favre
opens up: Memory of demanding dad looms in QB," USA TODAY,
<http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/vikings/~
2009-12-17-brett-favre-cover_N.htm>, December 20, 2009.
These and 35,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be
downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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