Conversing the Kingdom: Which Religion are You?

1 John 4:1-5   Tim Keller - exclusivity sermon

Everyone of us is religious, but not every religion has an easily identifiable religious institute. Religion, however is mearly the framework from which one answers the big questions of life. Who am I? Where do i come from? What is my purpose? What do I dedicate my life to / what or who do I worship? So as we see religion with all it's differing answers tearing this world apart, the question can only be which religious framework will produce peace and prosperity in the midst of war and suffering.
Only Christianity offers this because of the three distinctions Christian Salvation has from all other religious salvations...
First the origin of Christian salvation is from God who in unconditional love, to a world who were his enemies, sent his one and only Son to die in their place. If we have this same view on all around us, friends, family even our most violent enemies the outworking of our faith will be radically different from other religions.
Secondly the purpose of Christian salvation is for regeneration. As we hear from the Lord in Jeremiah 29 we are to seek the prosperity of the situations we find ourselves in through service.
Thirdly the method of Christian salvation through grace keeps us forever humble. If we fully understand that grace means we did nothing to deserve this salvation leading to the fact there are very likely non-Christians who are morally superior to us or more loving than us this is truly a humble position.
Christianity is distinct in these attributes and for these reasons is the only religious framework that will ever bring about peace and prosperity in this world!

Conversing the Kingdom: Disobedience

Philippians 3:19

Let us beware, even as Christians, where we attribute glory. We are to give glory to our Lord Jesus Christ alone. Not to ourselves in pride or self esteem or self empowerment. Nor should we attribute glory to that which is shameful. Epheshians 5:1-21 gives a helpful, practical insight into what this looks like:
Sexual immortality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named;and
No filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking.
To partner with such as these, Paul says, is to be unequally yoked. How can a Christian of maturity partner with a Christian of immaturity and infancy who glories in their shame. One who boasts of drunken nights, sexual encounters, live in boyfriends or girlfriends, immoral dealings, horded wealth, physical self inflictions, morality and religosity. One who gossips or crude jokes, or puts another down. The wrath of God is against such things in the non-Christian how can we as children of light be participators. It is our responsibility to expose such for the non-Christian as lights how can we expose what we are also participating in...

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Conversing the Kingdom: Peace Out Man

Philippians 4:6-7

Paul makes a bold command for us as Christians to follow."do not be anxious about anything," Easy enough for you to say Paul cause you don't have to live with the same family I do, or you don't have the job I do or your not married to the husband/wife I am, infact your not even married!
However Paul does not leave us hanging but provides us with the practical outworking of his command."In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." And that is it if we think about it, truly, as simple as that. If we know in our hearts that God is in control and in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving hand EVERY part of our lives over to his control what is there left for us to control and be anxious about. Like a young daughter with her loving father on a outing to the funfair. She is not anxious about anything because she has handed over control of where to go, when to eat, the money needed to pay for things and safety all to her Fathers care. And what does Paul say is the result of letting go of our control on life? Peace! Not just the type of peace a daughter feels with a father who loves her but the type of peace that surpasses all understanding. Because our heavenly Father is in control beyond our understanding! As Christians we should be really rather peaceful! What in our lives do we still hold on tightly too... What are we still anxious about...

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Conversing the kingdom: Unceasing, Outpouring

Philippians 3:3

We are all of us unceasing, outpouring, worshipers. We were made that way. It's how we are built. The question is not "do we worship?" But "what or who do we worship?" Do we worship the one true God the uncreated one or do we worship his creation as idolators. There are only two options. But even when we worship the one true God it is not something we do in the flesh as a religious duty but as John 4:23 says we are to worship "in Spirit and truth." For a long time this phrase has been somewhat of a mystery to me until reading today's verse and something clicked. To worship "in Spirit" is to worship "by the Spirit of God." Everything we do in life the Bible calls fruit and we are called as Christians to produce a fruit of righteousness that come through Jesus Christ and for his glory. Therefore to worship "in Spirit" is to build our whole lives in the strength that comes from the indewelling power of the Holy Spirit. If we burn ourselves out pursuing our potential in our own strength we are not worshiping in Spirit but in the flesh. However if we cultivate our calling in partnership with God, walking in his presence, working from his strength, following his leading then this is true worship in the Spirit...

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Conversing the Kingdom: Riding on the Clouds

Philippians 1:9-11

Paul often, in his letters, refers to "the day of Christ." God the Father's plan of salvation has been progressively revealed ever since the day mankind turned their backs on him at the fall Genesis 3. We sit in a privileged position in these last days that we have clearly seen the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf that the prophets of the Old Testament longed for and believed in through faith. But the story is not yet complete as God patiently waits for his church to be gathered. The New Testament often hints at future events yet unseen. The most obvious place being John's book of Revelation. Somethings, however, are presented clearer than others and one of those future events is "the day of Christ." For the non-Christians this day is a day of judgement that leads to condemnation and eternal separation from God in hell. For the Christian this day is a day of judgement for the testing of our obedience by fire (1 Cor 3:13) that we may be rewarded for the fruit of righteousness and suffer loss for the fruit of the flesh, works done in our own strength. Paul prays for the Philippians that their love may abound. That with knowledge and all discernment they may approve what is excellent and so be pure and blameless. Not through their own effort for that is like building with hay and straw. But that they may produce a fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God the Father for that is like building with gold, silver and precious stones. May that also be our prayer for ourselves and for one another...

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