| |
Sermon:
Tantamount
by Chris Cumming
printer-friendly MP3
Let us begin this sermon by defining the title, "Tantamount."
Tantamount
Equivalent, as in value, force, effect, or signification: be equivalent"
Dictionary says, "see equal."
Same
1. identical with what is about to be or has just been mentioned:
2. agreeing in kind, amount, etc.; corresponding:
3. unchanged in character, condition, etc.:
"Same" as pronoun:
The same, in the same manner; in an identical way:
Same as adjective:
1. being the very one.
2. being the one previously referred to.
3. identical in kind, quantity.
So what does the Bible have to say about these words, "Tantamount",
"Same" and "Equal?"
What does God want us to be equal to? Is He demanding that we be like
Him? In what ways does He want us to be like Him? Is God commanding that
we be kind of like Him, similar to Him or exactly like Him? If true,
does the Bible give any indication of how we are to be like Him? In this
sermon, we will answer these questions as I encourage all of us to be
like Him.
Be like Christ.
Be like God the Father.
God is asking that we be exactly like Him. Let us have a Question and
Answer session. We will go through scripture in biblical order.
Does God command us to be Holy? If so, in what way?
Leviticus 11:45
For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be
your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
The word, "holy" is the Hebrew word 6918 and is defined as "sacred (ceremonially
or morally) as God" Strong's then gives three things that are
holy: angels, a sanctuary like the Temple of God and then, as the third
item listed, "saints" or firstfruits.
Are there different levels of holiness? I cannot find anything doing
this in the Word of God. The word, "holy" is used twice in Leviticus
11:45 and both are the same word 6918; one for us and one for God.
Does God command that we be perfect? If so, how perfect?
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect.
This is Greek word 5046 and means complete in growth, mental and moral
character; of full age. Again the word is used twice in the verse; once
for man and once for the Father and is the same word 5046. Same, same.
Did Jesus say that we are to have faith? If so, how much faith?
Mark 11:22 ............Sermon:
Tell It to the Mountain
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
I cover this subject in my sermon, "Tell it to the Mountain" which I
have linked here in the text of this sermon. Notice this excerpt from
that sermon where I look at the phrase, "Have faith in God."
Now let us look at some specific elements of the text. This is where we
immerse ourselves into the Word of God. For this, keep your Bible open
here to Mark 11:22.
Verse 22 – “Have Faith in God”
Have faith in God - Literally, "Have the
faith of God." This may mean, have strong faith, or have confidence in
God; a strong belief that he is able to accomplish things that appear
most difficult with infinite ease, as the fig-tree was made to wither
away by a word. ~Barnes’ Notes
The meaning here is profound. Our faith must transcend the idea of God
giving us a measure of faith by the power of the Holy Spirit by having
us see the situation through God’s eyes and mind. This is how you “Have
the Faith of God”. Your confidence must approach the confidence He has.
After all, God, through Christ is our example. We are to be like Christ
and like God. This is what Jesus is saying in verse 22.
Another commentary says…
Mark 11:22
Have faith in God. - Echete (NT:2192)
pistin (NT:4102) Theou (NT:2316) is a mere Hebraism: have the faith of
God, i.e. have strong faith, or the strongest faith.
~Adam Clark
Jesus is uttering this admonition in the strongest terms the Greek
language will allow. “…The Strongest Faith.”
~end quote from the sermon.
Did Jesus command that we be merciful? If so, how merciful?
Luke 6:36
Be ye therefore merciful (G3629), as your Father also is merciful
(G3629).
The word is defined in Strong's as "merciful, of tender mercy." As you
can see, the word is used twice; once for the firstfruit and once for
God and is the same word. Jesus says be merciful, AS your Father also is
merciful.
The commentary on this verse says:
Be ye therefore merciful - As God is ever
disposed to give all necessary help and support to those who are
miserable, so his followers, being influenced by the same spirit, are
easy to be entreated, and are at all times ready to contribute to the
uttermost of their power to relieve or remove the miseries of the
distressed. ~Adam Clarke
Here is what the Popular commentary says:
Merciful - In substance the same thought as
Matthew 5:48 ["be perfect as your Father is
perfect"]. The likeness to Divine perfections can exist only
in moral qualities; highest among these is mercy.
~Popular commentary
Did Jesus command that we invoke love? What level of love? Who's love?
Are we to keep God's commandments? If so, what does commandment keeping
have to do with love?
John 15:9-11
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my
love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have
kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you,
and that your joy might be full.
Notice the commentary on the phrase in verse 9, "continue ye in my
love."
Continue ye in my love - meaning either in
his love to them, which, as he always continues in it without any
variableness or shadow of turning, so he would have them continue in
believing their interest in it, prizing and valuing it, in imitating and
remembering it. ~John Gill
Are we to be followers of Paul as he is of Christ?
1 Corinthians 4:16
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Notice the meaning here:
Even as I also am of Christ - I make Christ
my example. He is my model in all things; and if you follow him, and
follow me as far as I follow him, you will not err. This is the only
safe example; and if we follow this, we can never go astray.
~Barnes Notes
Notice this commentary from the Matthew Henry Concise:
The apostle not only preached such doctrine as they ought to believe,
but led such a life as they ought to live. Yet Christ being our perfect
example, the actions and conduct of men, as related in the Scriptures,
should be followed only so far as they are like to his.
~Matthew Henry Concise
Does the Bible describe a process where firstfruits are changed into the
image of Christ? If so, how is this image described?
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by
the Spirit of the Lord.
I cover this verse in-depth in the sermon, "Glory
to Glory"
Notice this excerpt from that sermon that explains the meaning of the
phrase, "Are changed into the same image."
Are changed into the same image - It is
possible that there may be an allusion here to the effect which was
produced by looking into an ancient mirror. The reflection from them
would be intense. If a strong light were thrown on them, the rays would
be cast by reflection on the face of him who looked on the mirror, and
it would be strongly illuminated. And the idea may be, that the glory of
God, the splendor of the divine perfections, was thrown on the gospel,
so to speak like a bright light on a polished mirror; and that that
glory was reflected from the gospel on him who contemplated it, so that
he appeared to be transformed into the same image. Locke renders it: "We
are changed into his very image by a continued succession of glory, as
it were, streaming upon us from the Lord." The figure is one of great
beauty; and the idea is, that by placing ourselves within the light of
the gospel—the Word of God; by contemplating the glory that shines
there, we become changed into the likeness of the same glory, and
conformed to that which shines there with so much splendor.
By contemplating Jesus Christ, we are changed into something of the same
image. It is a law of our nature that we are molded, in our moral
feelings, by the persons with whom we associate, and by the objects
which we contemplate. We become insensibly assimilated to those with
whom we have social contact, and to the objects with which we are
familiar. We imbibe the opinions, we copy the habits, we imitate the
manners, we fall into rite customs of those with whom we have daily
conversation, and whom we make our companions and friends. Their
sentiments insensibly become our sentiments, and their ways our ways. It
is thus with the books with which we are familiar. We are insensibly,
but certainly molded into conformity to the opinions, maxims, and
feelings which are there expressed. Our own sentiments undergo a gradual
change, and we are likened to those with which in this manner we are
conversant.
So it is in regard to the opinions and feelings which from any cause we
are in the habit of bringing before our minds. It is the way by which
people become corrupted in their sentiments and feelings, in their
contact with the world; it is the way in which amusements, and the
company of the frivolous and the dissipated possess so much power; it is
the way in which the young and inexperienced are beguiled and ruined;
and it is the way in which Christians dim the luster of their piety, and
obscure the brightness of their religion by their contact with the
"happy" and fashionable world. And it is on the same great principle
that Paul says that by contemplating the glory of God in the gospel, we
become insensibly, but certainly conformed to the same image, and made
like Jesus Christ. His image will be reflected on us and through us. We
shall imbibe his sentiments, catch his feelings, and be molded into the
image of his own purity. ~Barnes Notes
Does God tell firstfruits that they are something new? How is this
newness accomplished?
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Commentary from the Geneva Bible Translation Notes:
Therefore if any man be in Christ -An exhortation for every man who is
renewed with the Spirit of Christ to meditate on heavenly things, and
not earthly.
He is a new creature - As a thing made new
by God, for though a man is not newly created when God gives him the
spirit of regeneration, but only his qualities are changed, yet
nonetheless it pleased God to speak so, to teach us that we must
attribute all things to the glory of God. Not that we are as rocks or
stones, but because God creates in us both the will to will well, and
the power to do well. ~Geneva Bible Translation
Notes
Does God describe firstfruits as those putting on Christ?
Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Look at the People's New Testament commentary:
Has put on Christ. - Being in Christ, a
member of his body, a part of the Son, the believer becomes a child of
God. ~People's New Testament commentary
The Geneva Bible Translation Notes says:
The Church must put on Christ, as it were a garment, and be covered with
him, that it may be thoroughly holy, and without blame.
~Geneva Bible Translation Notes
Does God command us to invoke forgiveness? If so, how?
Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Note: "Even as God." Barnes Notes
says, "As God." as in, we are to forgive others as God does.
Jesus as God became a man to be our example. This example includes His
actions, thoughts and character. Did Jesus have a thought about His
relationship to God? Are we to have the SAME thought?
Philippians 2:3-8
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things
of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross [stake].
See verse 5 confirmed in Barnes Notes:
The principle in the case is, that we are to make the Lord Jesus our
model, and are in all respects to frame our lives, as far as possible,
in accordance with this great example. The point here is, that he left a
state of inexpressible glory, and took upon him the most humble form of
humanity, and performed the most lowly offices, that he might benefit
us. ~Barnes Notes
Be like Christ.
Be like God the Father.
Let's look at another verse showing how we are to forgive one another.
Colossians 3:13
Forbearing [showing patience] one
another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against
any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Note: It is clear. "Even as Christ
forgave you."
The first verse I gave you today was Leviticus 11:45 where we read, "ye
shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." Is there a like verse in the
New Testament?
1 Peter 1:16
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
The People's New Testament commentary says this on the verse:
"We must not only submit to God's commands but seek to imitate his
holiness." ~People's New Testament commentary
The Bible says that Jesus is in the light. Are we to be in the light? If
so, how are we to be in that light?
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
from all sin.
Note: As He is in the light.
The Bible says that we are to walk a certain way; clearly in
righteousness and holiness. Just how are we to conduct this walk?
1 John 2:6
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as
he walked.
Note: See 1 Peter 2:21
So, the Bible shows us clearly that we are to be like God and Jesus
Christ. Does the Bible show us how this is accomplished?
How to be like God
God gives us power:
John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name:
God gave us His Word:
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Note: This verse is talking about us
being fully immersed in the Word of God. See the sermon, "Full
Immersion", parts 1 and 2.
Christ dwells in us:
Ephesians 3:17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and
grounded in love,
We renew our minds...constantly:
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We depart from sin:
2 Timothy 2:19 [see
Lesson]
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The
Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name
of Christ depart from iniquity.
If we continue in our salvation process being like God and Christ, what,
ultimately, will be the result?
Psalm 17:15
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be
satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
1 John 3:1-2
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not,
because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what
we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like
him; for we shall see him as he is.
|
|