St. John’s Church on Morgan Hill

Blake Heffner September 17th, 2006

“Not I, But Christ…” September 17, 2006

A Confirmation Meditation

Texts: Galatians 2:15-21 & Revelation 3:14-22

INTRO: I’ve had a marvelous experience this week – and a rather rare one: two members of our family have been preparing for confirmation. On Tuesday, Rhonda and Lauren Spirko reached the point of saying: “We’re ready!” Ready to trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and to serve Him as Lord. Ready to stand up before God and this family to confess this faith and the desire to live for Jesus. In a few minutes you will all have the joy of participating in this ancient rite of the Church.

Among other things, our candidates studied a short chapter entitled, “How to Become a Christian” by John Stott. I believe Stott’s message – the perennial good news - is worth our consideration this morning. So here we go…

1. What Christianity is Not

Stott wants us to be very clear about what Christian faith is. So, he begins by illustrating what it is not. First, Christianity is not primarily a creed. Although there are many classic expressions of faith, which are instructive and useful, Christianity is not mainly “head stuff.” It’s not a matter of filling our minds with correct theological principles or doctrines. It’s entirely possible to know all about theology and not be a Christian. For example, Stott writes, even the Devil knows some theology. James wrote in his letter: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.” OK, Christianity is not just a matter of thinking the right things about God.

Secondly, Christianity is not primarily a code of conduct, either. It’s not God’s “to do” list. A lot of folks think, if we can keep the Ten Command-ments and the Golden Rule, we’ll be fine. If we can just find a way to love the folks who live under our roof and our neighbors, be kind to our coworkers, and live as decent citizens, we will please God. It’s not that our behavior doesn’t matter. But, we can do all the right things and still not be a Christian. This is what Paul is arguing in his Letter to the Galatians: keeping the rules of Jewish law will not put us right with God. If that would have been possible, then Jesus did not need to die on the Cross for us! Yes, his death would just be a waste of a good life! We could never work our way into heaven – that‘s why Jesus came to us, to offer us a gift we could never earn or purchase. That’s why it’s called grace.

Thirdly, many people identify Christianity with rituals and ceremonies. Stott insists: Christianity is not a system of religious observances. We do, of course, routinely celebrate Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. We hold weekly worship services and educational opportunities. These are all precious and profitable. But it is possible to engage in these outward practices and still miss the core of Christianity. We could have perfect attendance for fifty years and still stand outside the kingdom of God.

Christianity is neither a creed, nor a code of conduct, nor a ceremonial system. Again, it is possible to believe all the right things, do the right things, and be at all the right events – and still miss the heart of Christianity. Are you with me? Do you agree?

2. The Example of John Wesley

Stott offers a vivid example of all this in the life of John Wesley, the father of Methodism. John, his brother Charles, and a few friends were students at Oxford. In 1729 they founded a religious society, which they later called the “Holy Club.” These students were really intense about their faith. They believed all the classic creeds. They lived impeccable lives – meeting together several times a week for encouragement and Bible study. They visited prisoners in Oxford Castle; they founded a school in a slum area - paying the teacher and clothing the children out of their own pockets. And, they were exceedingly religious. They attended Holy Communion weekly, fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays, as monks do. They prayed together throughout everyday and read the Bible voraciously. Yet later, John looked back and reckoned that he was not even a Christian during that period of his life. He wrote to his mother that his faith may have been that of a ‘servant,’ but it was certainly not that of a ‘son.’ Do you understand the difference?

What was missing in Wesley’s life? In 1735 he sailed for Georgia to serve as a chaplain to the colonists and a missionary to the Indians. He returned home two years later feeling demoralized and defeated. However, it was on that trip home that he met some Moravians, who impressed him with their piety. A short time later, on the 24th of May, 1738, Wesley visited a Moravian meeting on Aldersgate Street, East London. He wrote what has become a famous entry in his Journal: “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

For years he had been trusting in himself – his belief, his charitable works, and his religious zeal – but now John came to put his trust completely in Jesus Christ as his Savior. That is the key to becoming a child of God – the core of Christian faith and life. In Paul’s own words, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).

3. How to Become a Christian

OK the, how do we become a Christian? Stott explains commitment to Christ simply in terms of A – B – C - D.

A. Something to Admit

Our first step is to admit that we are sinners who need a Savior. By sin, the Bible means self-centeredness. That is what separates us from God and from each other. The Bible declares we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s plan for our lives. Because the wages of sin is death, that is what we deserve.

B. Something to Believe

But, “God so loved the world – and each of us, personally – that he sent his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him may not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). That is the gospel in a nutshell! “B” stands for believing this good news: that Jesus died so we might live. His precious blood was shed that the stain of our sins might be washed away.

C. Something to Consider

We need to consider that Jesus Christ wants to be our Lord (or Master) as well as our Savior. He didn’t come merely to free us from our past; he cam to offer us a new future. As Lord, Jesus calls us to leave our old ways and learn his ways. With Peter and James and John of old, we are invited to become his disciples and follow wherever he leads us.

D. Something to Do

“D” stands for something to do. This is a critical piece of the puzzle. The first three steps take place in our hearts and minds, the fourth involves cultivating this new relationship for the rest of our lives. John Stott says it was Revelation 3:20 that made all this clear to him: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock (Jesus says); if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” This is not just a moment or an event, it is an ongoing intimate relationship.

Friends, I can personally attest to this truth. I was brought up in the church – spent nearly every Sunday in worship and Sunday School. I was confirmed at 14. But ten years later, on September 20, 1975, I realized that I had missed the boat. I had been a ‘servant,’ but not a ‘son’ of God. That day I opened the door and invited Jesus Christ into my heart and the journey has been unbelievably rewarding!

Today, we have the joy of celebrating that two of our sisters have also opened this door. They are ready to stand and publicly profess their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and desire to serve him as Lord…

Prayer of Commitment:

This famous picture by Warner Salman depicts Jesus standing at a door and knocking. It represents the door to the human heart – your heart, my heart. There is no latch visible on this door – suggesting that it must be opened from the inside. I invite all of you to do this today – whether for the first time or the hundredth time. Let us pray the ABCD prayer:

Lord, Jesus Christ, I admit that I have sinned against God and others, and I have gone my own way. I repent of my self-centeredness.

I thank you for your great love in dying for me, for bearing in my place the penalty of my sins.

Now I open the door of my heart to you. Come in, Lord Jesus. Come in as my Savior, to cleanse and renew me. Come in as my Lord, to take control of me.

And by your grace, I will serve you faithfully, in fellowship with your other disciples, all my life. Amen.

Quotations and the above prayer are from Christian Basics, by John Stott (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1991), pp. 14-25.

Galatians 2

15″We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ 16know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

17″If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”[d]

Revelation 3

14″To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

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