(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)
It is important that God's people have a clear and correct understanding of salvation. That requires proper instruction, which can begin quite early.
A common theme in Jesus' preaching and teaching is the importance of God's kingdom ("kingdom" occurs 50+ in Matthew). In his instruction, Jesus explains how people should prepare for its impending advent. His advice is simple:
On rare occasions, though, gentiles would seek him out, usually not for his message but for his miraculous ability. One such occasion is the appeal of a Roman soldier,2 which leads Jesus to comment on who will reside in the kingdom, including those who will be present at...
XV. The Foremost Commemoration3
...of victory, which will be during...
John's description of heaven offers some sense of how large that group will be.
There will also be opportunity to hobnob with some famous biblical characters, because...
Heb 11 names others, in addition to these, who are on the guest list:
As I said, Jesus' statement in Matt 8 comes in response to an unusual encounter. Most of his interaction is with fellow Jews. The gospels writers record only two meetings with gentiles. In both cases, they request healing. In both cases, what stands out to Jesus is the motivation behind those requests. Here, for example, in response to Jesus' willingness to help, the gentile petitioner states that the rabbi need not inconvenience himself with a personal visit.
The hallmark of a relationship with God has been the same since the beginning, a principle God's people have long understood, even if they have not exhibited it consistently. As Paul says...
The most common of these erroneous notions is that one's pedigree determines one's part in God's program.
When it comes to salvation, there are no right deeds or right sacrifices; there is no right lineage or right initiation. These are all inadequate means of salvation. There is only one way, and that is God's way.
Later, Jesus tells a parable with a point similar to the one he makes here. In Matt 22, he likens the kingdom of heaven to "a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son" (v. 2b). The invitation went out to the most prominent people in the realm, but none of them came, leading the king to revise the guest list, saying, "those I invited did not deserve to come" (italics added, v. 8c). The new list included the most common people in the realm, and they were happy to come. Knowing that some guests on the new list would not have suitable attire for such an important affair, the king even provided the requisite clothing. When one guest tried to enter the banquet without the proper attire, he was punished, leading Jesus to conclude the parable, saying...
Still today, people claim there are many ways to reach God, many roads to heaven.... That is a myth, as much a myth today as it was in Jesus' day. It is wishful thinking by those who want to follow their own way rather than God's way, usually because their way is less demanding and more to their liking.
Unfortunately for them, as Solomon says...
Having considered The Foremost Commemoration, we will look next at The Foremost Computation, which uses the parenthesis of God, in Matt 24:15-16, 21.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
A children's SS teacher was testing her class to see if the students understood the concept of getting to heaven. She asked them, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into heaven?" "NO!" the children answered in unison. "If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the lawn, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into heaven?" "NO!" they answered again. By now the teacher was smiling. This was fun! "Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my husband, would that get me into heaven?" "NO!" came the resounding chorus of young voices. It was time for the most important question. With great anticipation, she asked, "How then can I get into heaven?" A five-year-old boy shouted the answer... "YOU GOTTA BE DEAD!"It is important that God's people have a clear and correct understanding of salvation. That is true for adults as well as for children, for those who would be in attendance at The Foremost Celebration.
A common theme in Jesus' preaching and teaching is the importance of God's kingdom ("kingdom" occurs 50+ in Matthew). In his instruction, Jesus explains how people should prepare for its impending advent. His advice is simple:
Matt 3:2 [= 4:17] "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."Not only does Jesus keep the message simple, he makes it specific, directing it to a particular audience, God's people.1 He said...
Matt 15:24 ..."1 was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."For the most part, Jesus confines his ministry to the regions where Jews live: Galilee in the north and Judea in the south. He has limited time and must make the most of it. Besides, non-Jews would not be interested in what a Jewish rabbi had to say.
On rare occasions, though, gentiles would seek him out, usually not for his message but for his miraculous ability. One such occasion is the appeal of a Roman soldier,2 which leads Jesus to comment on who will reside in the kingdom, including those who will be present at...
XV. The Foremost Commemoration3
...of victory, which will be during...
- The party of God (Matt 8:11)
Matt 8:11 [= Luke 13:291 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.This future banquet is a common expectation among Jews,4 because it is what God's people will enjoy in the Messianic Age. Some, especially the religious elite, think they will be the only ones invited to the party. Here Jesus indicates how the banquet will include a broad representation of God's people, including you.5
John's description of heaven offers some sense of how large that group will be.
Rev 7:9a ...there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language....Jesus alludes to this international gathering here in Matt 8,6 saying that people will come "from the east and the west,"7 meaning that...
1. Your celebration will be with the saints from everywhere.We do not know how many believers there are throughout the world today. Even less do we know how many believers there have been throughout history. Whatever that number, they will all be at this party. (The Wall Street protests pale in comparison.)
There will also be opportunity to hobnob with some famous biblical characters, because...
2. Your celebration will be with the patriarchs of Israel.There will be other famous individuals, of course. Jesus mentions these three—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—because they are among the most revered in Israel.
Heb 11 names others, in addition to these, who are on the guest list:
Heb 11:4a ...Abel.... 5a ...Enoch.... 7a ...Noah.... 8a ...Abraham.... 20a ...Isaac.... 21a ...Jacob.... 22a ...Joseph.... 23a ...Moses' parents.... 24a ...Moses.... 29a ...[many of] the people [who left Egypt]... 31a ...Rahab.... 32b ...Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,and this is only a partial list. What distinguishes the guests at this party? ... The author of Hebrews explains it in one word when he says "These were all commended for their faith" (v. 39a).8
As I said, Jesus' statement in Matt 8 comes in response to an unusual encounter. Most of his interaction is with fellow Jews. The gospels writers record only two meetings with gentiles. In both cases, they request healing. In both cases, what stands out to Jesus is the motivation behind those requests. Here, for example, in response to Jesus' willingness to help, the gentile petitioner states that the rabbi need not inconvenience himself with a personal visit.
Matt 8:8b "...just say the word, and my servant will be healed." ...10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith."Later, a gentile woman asks Jesus to exorcise a demon from her daughter. Although he seems to ignore her,9 she persists, convinced he can help, and her persistence pays off.
Matt 15:28a ...Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted."Common to both incidents is Jesus' recognition of the petitioners' faith, a rare quality even among God's people.
The hallmark of a relationship with God has been the same since the beginning, a principle God's people have long understood, even if they have not exhibited it consistently. As Paul says...
- It was so during the time of the patriarchs.
Rom 4:3b Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
- It was so during the time of the monarchy.
The apostle Paul also notes that faith in God has always been the basis of a relationship with God and of assured access to heaven. Nevertheless, other notions have arisen and, by Jesus' day, have gained some popularity, sufficient to confuse people, but they are notions that promote...Rom 4:6 David...speaks [about] the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Inadequate Means of Salvation
The most common of these erroneous notions is that one's pedigree determines one's part in God's program.
- Contrary to what some think, the right lineage does not gain access to heaven (Matt 3:7-9).
Matt 3:7b ...when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ...9 ...do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.The right lineage does not gain access to heaven.10
- Contrary to what some think, the right deeds do not gain access to heaven (Luke 18:9-14).
Luke 18:9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, butt beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14a "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God."The right deeds do not gain access to heaven.
- Contrary to what some think, the right sacrifices do not gain access to heaven (Heb 9:9-10, 13; 10:4).
Heb 9:9 ...[animal] sacrifices [arel not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are...external regulations.... 13 ...the blood of goats and bulls...sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean [only] sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.
Heb 10:4 ...it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins....The right sacrifices do not gain access to heaven.
- Contrary to what some think, the right initiation does not gain access to heaven (Acts 15:1,7-9).
Acts 15:1 Some men...were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." ...7a Peter [said] ...9 [God] made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith."The right initiation does not gain access to heaven.
When it comes to salvation, there are no right deeds or right sacrifices; there is no right lineage or right initiation. These are all inadequate means of salvation. There is only one way, and that is God's way.
Later, Jesus tells a parable with a point similar to the one he makes here. In Matt 22, he likens the kingdom of heaven to "a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son" (v. 2b). The invitation went out to the most prominent people in the realm, but none of them came, leading the king to revise the guest list, saying, "those I invited did not deserve to come" (italics added, v. 8c). The new list included the most common people in the realm, and they were happy to come. Knowing that some guests on the new list would not have suitable attire for such an important affair, the king even provided the requisite clothing. When one guest tried to enter the banquet without the proper attire, he was punished, leading Jesus to conclude the parable, saying...
Matt 22:14 [NAS] ...many are called, but few [are] chosen.In other words, the messianic banquet in Matt 8 as well as in Matt 33 is by invitation-only, and whoever would enter God's realm must do so according to God's rules.
Still today, people claim there are many ways to reach God, many roads to heaven.... That is a myth, as much a myth today as it was in Jesus' day. It is wishful thinking by those who want to follow their own way rather than God's way, usually because their way is less demanding and more to their liking.
Unfortunately for them, as Solomon says...
Prov 14:12 [= 16:25] There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.Jesus said much the same thing.11
Matt 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.The only way is God's way, which He made available through His son, who said...
John 14:6 ...I am the way.... No one comes to the Father except through me.You have taken the right way to heaven, the way that leads to The Foremost Commemoration of victory, which will be during the party of God, marking His sovereign rule through the messiah. You are on the guest list not because of who you are or what you have done but because of whom you have believed.
Having considered The Foremost Commemoration, we will look next at The Foremost Computation, which uses the parenthesis of God, in Matt 24:15-16, 21.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted)
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Jim Skaggs