Transcript

Identifying Completely With Christ

Matthew 10:34-42
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Pastor Randy Smith

---

The story is told about a poor man who made it his life ambition to go on a cruise. He dreamed of relaxing by the pool, sleeping in a cabin and breathing the crisp ocean air.

After years of saving, he managed to accumulate just enough money to purchase the ticket. But since the price for admission cost him everything he had there was no money left to purchase the food. So despite the elegant meals advertised in the brochure, he made arrangements to bring his own provisions. He lived this way for years and thought it would be a rather small sacrifice.

The first few days were thrilling. But after observing the best food imaginable continually wheeled past his room, the peanut butter sandwiches were beginning to get a little old. Eventually he reached a point where he could no longer take it. He stopped a porter and exclaimed, "Tell me how I might get one of those meals! I'm dying for some decent food, and I'll do anything you say to earn it!" "Why, sir, don't you have a ticket for this cruise?" the porter asked. "Certainly," said the man, "But I spent everything I had for that ticket. I have nothing left with which to buy food." "But sir," said the porter, "Didn't you realize meals are included with your passage? You may eat as much as you like!"

Like this individual, too many Christians do not realize the unlimited provisions they have in Christ. Too many Christians come to Christ and settle for peanut butter sandwiches rather than feast upon the riches that belong to them because of their union with Him.

I like the way Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 3: "Whether…the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God" (1 Cor. 3:22-23). Or Ephesians 1: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). Or 2 Corinthians 9: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed" (2 Cor. 9:8).

Everything we could ever want or need for our spiritual success is included the moment we pay the price of admission.

But Pastor, I thought salvation was without cost? I thought we are saved simply by grace through faith in Christ? I thought the Bible teaches that salvation is a free gift? Absolutely - and praise God for that! Coming to God through Christ is free, but it is a transaction that may cost you everything. Receiving a relationship with God is based on His terms. And His terms, as we are learning in Matthew 10, require complete allegiance. We call this discipleship.

Receiving Christ is similar to identifying with Him. We forsake all in order that we may receive all that He is. We get the blessings of joy that replaces our sorrow and peace that replaces our anxiety and forgiveness that replaces our guilt and grace that replaces our works and mercy that replaces our condemnation and hope that replaces our confusion and love that replaces our hate and heaven that replaces our hell. At the end of chapter 10 Jesus speaks of this corporate solidarity. Verse 40, "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." And then He goes on in verses 41-42 to speak of the rewards of serving Him. We are in Christ, and He is in us to form an inseparable union. And with that union comes immeasurable blessings. With that union comes a complete identification with Christ.

With that complete identification comes the willingness to identify with Him in all things - even His suffering. In Philippians 3:10 Paul said, "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings." Earlier in that letter he remarked, "For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Phil. 1:29). Are we to think that God the Father would lay before His Son a path marked with betrayal and rejection and disappointment, and then line our paths with health, wealth and prosperity? No, God has a purpose in the pain, but with the pain always comes a grace that is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9).We will never be victorious in our spiritual lives until we understand this reality.

Identifying with Christ is completely identifying with all that He is. We are in no position to pick and choose what we want from Christ. He is Lord. He wants us to be like Him, and we should desire that. That is the essence of true discipleship.

So as the twelve disciples (in Matthew 10) stood on the precipice of their first mission trip our Lord delivers to them some key concepts before their departure. He wanted them to know the demands of discipleship. He wanted them to understand what it truly meant to be identified with Him. He wanted them to comprehend that being a Christian entails the highest level of commitment imaginable.

We already learned that He warned them as to what they would face when God-loving individuals confront a God-hating world. Verse 16, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves." Verse 22, "You will be hated by all because of My name." Verse 25, "If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign themembers of his household!"

Our Savior did not pull any punches. Jesus wanted His disciples to know what it meant to be identified with Him. Yet before these men are given over to fear, we learned last week that our Lord gave them three reasons why they can be fearless in the face of opposition.

Reason 1: God vindicates. Verse 26, "Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known." One day the Lord will right every wrong. Reason 2: God dominates. Verse 28, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." It is absurd to fear man over God. Reason 3: God cares. Verse 31, "So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows." If God cares for the sparrows how much more does He care for you?

The fear of man naturally stifles effective evangelism. We don't talk about Jesus when we are afraid of the ramifications. So with the disciples encouraged to be fearless, Jesus now commanded them to be unashamed of His name despite the opposition with the severest of warnings. Verses 32 and 33, "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven."

Two weeks ago I performed a marriage ceremony on this platform. The dating, the engagement, the preparation for the big day, the bride coming down the aisle, the music and the Scripture reading - everything leading up to the climaxing moment when the bride and groom stand before God and recite their wedding vows. And could you imagine if as I begin the traditional statements, the bride goes silent during her vows? If she refused to publicly affirm her allegiance to her husband? It would be unthinkable. The absence of her affirmation would be a confirmation of her disloyalty.

Does not the same apply with Jesus? Are we not His bride? Does He not faithfully stand by our side? Doesn't Hebrews 2:11 say, "He is not ashamed to call [us] brothers?" He is loyal, no doubt about it. The question is, Do we reciprocate with the same loyalty?

JESUS! and shall it ever be,
A mortal man ashamed of Thee? -
Ashamed of Thee whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days!

Ashamed of Jesus! sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star;
He sheds the beams of light divine
O'er this benighted soul of mine.

Ashamed of Jesus! just as soon
Let midnight be ashamed of noon;
'Tis midnight with my soul till He,
Bright morning-star, bid darkness flee.

Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend,
On whom my hopes of heaven depend!
No! when I blush, be this my shame,
That I no more revere His name.

Ashamed of Jesus! yes, I may
When I've no guilt to wash away,
No tear to wipe, no good to crave,
No fears to quell, no soul to save.

Till then - nor is my boasting vain -
Till then, I boast a Savior slain;
And oh may this my glory be,
That Christ is not ashamed of me!

(As quoted by Marvin Rosenthal in Zion's Fire, Vol. 8, No. 2, March/April 1997).

Listen beloved, evidence that we love Him and are not ashamed to identify with Him is based on our verbal profession. No wonder Romans 10:9 says, "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Public confession is directly tied to our joyful willingness to be identified with Him. It is the clearest indication as to whether or not we possess that reality.

Yet if we deny Him by our silence, we reveal a heart that loves its own reputation with man more than a heart that loves its Savior. Of course we all have momentary slips, but when we are marked by this reality of consistent denial, we give evidence that we do not truly belong to the Lord. Verse 33, "Whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." The point is repeated in 2 Timothy 2:12. "If we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us."

The fear of man is a powerful temptation to deny our Savior even among the true children of God. Remember Peter? When confronted about his relationship with Jesus, he was overwhelmed with fear and denied knowing his Master three times (Lk. 22:55-61). Yet as a true believer the man repented. For the Bible says, "He went out and wept bitterly" (Lk. 22:62).

Even Timothy had a momentary lapse of courage, and it appears like he had them more than once! Paul needed to tell his young friend, "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God" (2 Tim. 1:8; cf. 1 Pet. 4:16). Notice that even the best of saints blow it at times, but the point I am trying to make is that their character is not marked by this behavior like an unbeliever. Christians are not ashamed of Christ!

On the positive side we need to consider the apostle Paul. Acts tells us the prophet Agabus "took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, 'This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles''" (Ac. 21:11). Even "the local residents began begging [Paul] not to go up to Jerusalem" (Ac. 21:12). Yet Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus" (Ac. 21:13).

A mark of God's children is courage in the midst of persecution. Furthermore, a mark of God's children is the overwhelming urge to speak about God despite the inherent consequences from God's enemies. Their conscience prevents them from being silent. Remember the prophet Jeremiah? "But if I say, 'I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name,' then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it. For I have heard the whispering of many, 'Terror on every side! Denounce him; yes, let us denounce him!' All my trusted friends, watching for my fall, say: 'Perhaps he will be deceived, so that we may prevail against him and take our revenge on him.' But the LORD is with me like a dread champion" (Jer. 20:9-11a).

I hope you can see the call to identify with Jesus Christ. Yet if there is any doubt, I know the final few verses of chapter 10 will drive away any uncertainty that might exist regarding the allegiance our Lord requires. I would like to cover them with the remaining time we have together.

Look with me at verse 34. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Quite a remarkable statement from the One known as the "Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6)! There can be no question that Jesus came to bring peace to those who receive Him - peace with God, peace with other believers and peace with themselves. Yet on the other hand, Jesus makes it clear that He brings a sword that will divide people into two camps. Some will love Him. Many will hate Him. And those who hate Him will take out their hatred on His followers. Jesus will be polarizing. Jesus will be offensive. Jesus will be divisive. His sword of righteousness will separate and reveal those who are for Him and those who are against Him.

In the verses that follow we see this enacted in two spheres. First from without and second from within.

1. DIVISION FROM ONE'S FAMILY

First from without - coming to Christ may cause a division in the family. We studied this already in verse 21 but Jesus repeats it in verses 35 and 36. "For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household."

This is a sad statement, but a true one. Jesus received this treatment from His own family (Jn. 7:3-5). And thousands of testimonies have supported this truth of families rejecting their own when their own begin to follow Jesus. Though much more severe overseas, it is nevertheless still very true even in America. I am sure for many of you, if I were to take a quick poll, receive some of the greatest persecution for being a Christian from a family member.

I saw this often when I did youth ministry. We would witness teens coming to Christ. And rather than receive encouragement from their parents when they went home, they would be harassed and questioned and shunned. And even though these parents claimed to be "religious" and their children were becoming more obedient, they were disappointed with their kid's faith and mad at the leaders who pointed them in that direction. The sword of division, my friends! The newly-saved teens were confused. We told those students that they must honor their parents, but still follow Christ with the ultimate allegiance. That is the teaching of these verses.

Can verse 37 be any clearer? "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." I would say that's ultimate allegiance!

2. DIVISION FROM ONE'S SELF

An external division from one's family. Second, the sword of Jesus also brings an internal division from one's self. In Christian circles we often call this "dying to self."

Verse 38, "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."

In the twenty-first century we miss the historical thrust of this verse. Today we minimize the force of the word "cross." We talk flippantly about the crosses we all need to bear. When we think of a cross we often identify it with an object of beauty, possibly something we might wear as jewelry. To our Lord's original hearers these concepts would be the furthest things from their minds.

In the first century the cross signified horror, disgrace and torture. Those sentenced to be crucified were only the vilest offenders. And those crucified suffered the most painful and degrading form of death conceivable. The sentenced criminal would receive the heavy horizontal beam on his back and was forced to carry it to the site of his execution generally amid an antagonistic and jeering mob lining both sides of the street. In the original historical context, that is what it meant to carry one's cross.

When Jesus calls us to pick up our cross, He is calling us to deny self and identify completely with Him in His sufferings. He is calling us to abandon self and walk in His footsteps regardless of the cost. How can we gaze upon the Savior on the cross of Calvary and be consumed with our self-esteem?

In her book "Brokenness" Nancy Leigh DeMoss said, "We want gain without pain; we want the resurrection without going through the grave; we want life without experiencing death; we want a crown without going by way of the Cross. But in God's economy, the way up is down" (p. 49-50).

The call is for Christ's sword to divide us from our love for self whereby we might have a greater love for Him and find our truest identification of who we are in Him alone. Jesus makes this point unmistakable in verse 39: "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."

At first glance it is very easy to misunderstand our Lord's intentions. Jesus is not saying we must deny our uniqueness as a person. Each of us is wired in a special way distinct from other people. That diversity is to be celebrated. But at our core, all of us have this insidious temptation to live for ourselves. We want it our way. We want to remain on the throne. We want to be the lord of our lives. That, according to Jesus, is what must go. That spirit is what must be crucified if we are to be His disciples. Jesus wants us to find our purpose for life solely in Him alone.

"He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."

Actually, this command is for our greatest good if we really are intent on finding life, the true, abundant life Jesus spoke about in John 10:10. How many people do you hear about running all over the world trying to "find themselves"? Looking for purpose and satisfaction and meaning in life and finding only futility and guilt. I did it for 24 years and came up empty every time. As a matter of fact this was one of the primary factors (second to an awareness of my sin) that the Lord used to draw me to Himself. I knew there had to be something better out there. And what is better than entering a relationship with the living God? Dying to self to live for Him. And then truly finding the reason for our existence as He lives His life through us and we live our life through Him. As the great missionary Jim Elliot once said, "He is no fool to lose what he cannot gain to gain what he cannot lose."

We are back to where we started. All Christians find their identity in Christ. They stand courageous which enables them to speak in the face of persecution. Their life is so intertwined with Jesus Christ that they stand ready with joy to be a vessel whereby He can shine His light to others. And despite the divisions that often occur, they are unwavering in their allegiance to their Savior.

Identification in all that Christ is - both in joy and suffering. Courage and desire to publicly profess His name. Losing one's self to find one's self. Unwavering faith. Passion to be like the Savior. Supreme affection for Him. Discipleship. Salvation.

Nero was Emperor. And Nero wanted around him some of the finest men of Roman stock And so he identified his own personal wrestlers, known as "The Emperor's Wrestlers." And he wanted them selected from the bravest and the strongest and most stalwart of all of the Roman athletes. They were like the Olympic team of Rome. And they surrounded the Roman amphitheater.

They attended the arms of the emperor. They were around all the time. And they had a famous statement that they said, according to historians: "We, the wrestlers, wrestling for thee, O Emperor, to win for thee the victory and from thee, the victor's crown." That was their motto: "We, the wrestlers, wrestling for thee O Emperor, to win for thee the victory and from thee, the victor's crown."

On one occasion the Roman army, including these great wrestlers, was sent representing the Romans into Gaul (modern Western Europe), to put down some kind of rebellion. No soldiers were braver, or more capable than the wrestlers of the Emperor. They were led by a centurion under the name of Vespasian, who was also a brilliant man.

But while they were in Gaul, history tells us, that many of the wrestlers were converted to Jesus Christ. Word came back to Nero that some of his personal wrestlers had become Christians, so Nero sent a message to Vespasian that said: "If there be any among your soldiers who cling to the faith of the Christian, they must die."

The decree was received in the dead of winter in Gaul. The soldiers were encamped on the shore of a frozen inland lake. And with a sinking heart, Vespasian, the centurion, read the message.

He called the soldiers together and asked the question: "Are any of you those who have embraced the Christian faith?" They could have remained silent, but forty of them stepped forward, and saluted him. He said, "I give you till sundown tomorrow to deny that or you must die."

At sundown the next day he asked the same question. The same forty men stepped forward. He said, "I cannot allow you to die at the hands of your fellows, I strip you naked and banish you to the middle of the lake and leave you to the elements." And so he stripped them bare and sent them to the middle of the lake in the dead of night...frozen in the winter.

Not long after they had arrived there, he heard this coming across the ice: "Forty wrestlers, wrestling for Thee, O Christ, to win for Thee the victory, and from Thee, the victor's crown." And he heard it again and again through the night, and it grew fainter and fainter as the morning came.

Finally, near morning one lonely figure approached the fire who could not stand the coldness with the others and who did not hold to the faith in Christ that firmly that he should die, and he came to warm himself and admitted that he had denied Christ.

And then the cry came faintly across the ice: "Thirty nine wrestlers, wrestling for Thee, O Christ, to win for Thee the victory, and from Thee the victor's crown."

Vespasian by this time was utterly overwhelmed. And God did something in his heart at that moment, and he threw off his helmet and all of his armor, took off across the ice shouting at the top of his voice: "Forty wrestlers, wrestling for Thee, O Christ, to win for Thee the victory, and from Thee, the victor's crown."