JESUS' SERMON ON THE MOUNT SERMON SERIES1. Let's Get to Know Jesus! |
|
|
Jesus Christ. You recognize the name. You know that He is the Messiah. Because He is one of God's prophets, to show respect perhaps you even add the word "hazret." You probably heard that he was born of a virgin and throughout His life He committed no sin. You know that He was a Jew who lived in Palestine in the first century in the period of the Roman Empire. Besides this, what do you know about Christ?
When supposedly Christian countries, especially America, invade, occupy and exploit other countries, Jesus' famous statement is heard in Turkey:
Matthew 5:39 But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
That is, don't retaliate, don't take revenge.
People can justly ask, "If Jesus that, how is it that these so-called Christian countries are so aggressive? What does that kind of behavior have to do with Jesus?" Good question. It doesn't have anything to do with Jesus. However if we agree with Jesus' words personally, are we applying this to our lives? Let's not retaliate. Let's not take revenge.
Let's get to know Jesus better. What did He do? How did He live? What did He teach?
Jesus' life and teaching are recorded in the New Testament. In this sermon series, we will look at one of Jesus' most famous sermons. It was given on a nameless hill. But the message is timeless.
If you haven't personally read the New Testament, there is a good chance you have two prejudices.
The first prejudice is this: The New Testament has been changed therefore it is unreliable. Actually if you read the sources of those accusations carefully, you will see that they don't say that the Bible has been changed. You will understand that they say that the meaning of the words were twisted by people. This is correct.
In the Christian world people drink wine, eat pork, priests forgive sins, crusades are established, people bow before statues and other objects, make films filled with sex and violence and such things. So much so that some people say this:
"If I say I am Christian, I can be misunderstood, because in the Bible there is none of those things. At the same time if I don't want to deny Christ by saying that I am not a Christian because to deny Christ is a big sin."
That is true. The word Christian is stained. The Christian world has misrepresented Christianity and continues to do so. This truth is a difficult situation for those who love Jesus and His teachings. But the New Testament foretold this situation:
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [end of the world] will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
The New Testament says that before Jesus comes again there will be a great apostasy. It has happened actually.
One source says this: People will appear who will write things with their hands as if it came from the Bible. Is this correct? It is correct. Besides the Bible there are a lot of supposedly holy books. But because these so-called holy writings did not harmonize with the Bible the believers rejected them. They did not accept that those false writings came from God.
From time to time in history people have tried to add things to the Bible. But because the scriptures were translated into many languages and because there were so many manuscripts when a change was introduced, everyone understood it. Plus, the essential doctrines are so solid, they are not dependent on a single verse.
What is the result? You can trust the New Testament. If that wasn't the case, why would the source that people refer to cast doubt about the New Testament also recommend it to be read?
The second prejudice is this: God has no son.
Unfortunately there are many who slander the New Testament. Let God judge them. The New Testament does not say that the Great Creator entered into a relationship with mother Mary and had a son. It just doesn't say that. God forbid. But people slander like that. I am angry with that. Should I not be angry?
Please, if you have heard such ignorant, base, foolish remarks like that, do not repeat them. They are not true. Don't repeat someone else's lies.
O.K. then, what does the New Testament say about Jesus concerning His being "son."
1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
Jesus existed before He came to this world. Why was Jesus born of a virgin. Did you ever think about it? Jesus' existence does not begin with mother Mary. Jesus was clothed in a human body in mother Mary's womb.
Let's look at another text.
Matthew 3:16-17 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
The Bible does not say that the Great God entered into a physical relationship with mother Mary. But, as it is recorded in the New Testament, to which prophet were the words, " This is My beloved Son" spoken? There were only spoken to Jesus. How is it that only Jesus passed through this life without sin? Yes, Jesus was very different. These are very important questions. We will look at these questions another time in greater detail.
You say that you believe in Jesus and the Holy Books. Good. In what way do you believe in them? In the New Testament there is a verse:
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble!
Why do the demons tremble? They believe! The demons understand the truth but it is of no value to them. Why? There is no application. The behavior of the demons does not correspond to the truth. To understand and recognize the truth merely as a fact is fruitless. It is useless. Such a faith is not worth anything.
How is your faith? Is there application of the truth?
Matthew 5:39 But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
You can resort to this text if you want to point out the sins of others. You can show their shortcomings. But this text isn't just for Christians. Jesus' message came from God and is the rule of the exalted Lord. This message is valid for the whole world, for every people group, for all people and for you. Are you applying it to your own life? When others mistreat you, in your own heart, in your own behavior are you obeying Jesus' words? This is the question.
Dear listeners, to believe in Jesus is not simply to recognize or understand the truth. To believe in Jesus is to the principles that He received from God and explained. If not, to say that you believe in Jesus and the Holy Books is empty words.
Empty.
Let's get to know Jesus better.
When supposedly Christian countries, especially America, invade, occupy and exploit other countries, Jesus' famous statement is heard in Turkey:
Matthew 5:39 But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
That is, don't retaliate, don't take revenge.
People can justly ask, "If Jesus that, how is it that these so-called Christian countries are so aggressive? What does that kind of behavior have to do with Jesus?" Good question. It doesn't have anything to do with Jesus. However if we agree with Jesus' words personally, are we applying this to our lives? Let's not retaliate. Let's not take revenge.
Let's get to know Jesus better. What did He do? How did He live? What did He teach?
Jesus' life and teaching are recorded in the New Testament. In this sermon series, we will look at one of Jesus' most famous sermons. It was given on a nameless hill. But the message is timeless.
If you haven't personally read the New Testament, there is a good chance you have two prejudices.
The first prejudice is this: The New Testament has been changed therefore it is unreliable. Actually if you read the sources of those accusations carefully, you will see that they don't say that the Bible has been changed. You will understand that they say that the meaning of the words were twisted by people. This is correct.
In the Christian world people drink wine, eat pork, priests forgive sins, crusades are established, people bow before statues and other objects, make films filled with sex and violence and such things. So much so that some people say this:
"If I say I am Christian, I can be misunderstood, because in the Bible there is none of those things. At the same time if I don't want to deny Christ by saying that I am not a Christian because to deny Christ is a big sin."
That is true. The word Christian is stained. The Christian world has misrepresented Christianity and continues to do so. This truth is a difficult situation for those who love Jesus and His teachings. But the New Testament foretold this situation:
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [end of the world] will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
The New Testament says that before Jesus comes again there will be a great apostasy. It has happened actually.
One source says this: People will appear who will write things with their hands as if it came from the Bible. Is this correct? It is correct. Besides the Bible there are a lot of supposedly holy books. But because these so-called holy writings did not harmonize with the Bible the believers rejected them. They did not accept that those false writings came from God.
From time to time in history people have tried to add things to the Bible. But because the scriptures were translated into many languages and because there were so many manuscripts when a change was introduced, everyone understood it. Plus, the essential doctrines are so solid, they are not dependent on a single verse.
What is the result? You can trust the New Testament. If that wasn't the case, why would the source that people refer to cast doubt about the New Testament also recommend it to be read?
The second prejudice is this: God has no son.
Unfortunately there are many who slander the New Testament. Let God judge them. The New Testament does not say that the Great Creator entered into a relationship with mother Mary and had a son. It just doesn't say that. God forbid. But people slander like that. I am angry with that. Should I not be angry?
Please, if you have heard such ignorant, base, foolish remarks like that, do not repeat them. They are not true. Don't repeat someone else's lies.
O.K. then, what does the New Testament say about Jesus concerning His being "son."
1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
Jesus existed before He came to this world. Why was Jesus born of a virgin. Did you ever think about it? Jesus' existence does not begin with mother Mary. Jesus was clothed in a human body in mother Mary's womb.
Let's look at another text.
Matthew 3:16-17 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
The Bible does not say that the Great God entered into a physical relationship with mother Mary. But, as it is recorded in the New Testament, to which prophet were the words, " This is My beloved Son" spoken? There were only spoken to Jesus. How is it that only Jesus passed through this life without sin? Yes, Jesus was very different. These are very important questions. We will look at these questions another time in greater detail.
You say that you believe in Jesus and the Holy Books. Good. In what way do you believe in them? In the New Testament there is a verse:
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble!
Why do the demons tremble? They believe! The demons understand the truth but it is of no value to them. Why? There is no application. The behavior of the demons does not correspond to the truth. To understand and recognize the truth merely as a fact is fruitless. It is useless. Such a faith is not worth anything.
How is your faith? Is there application of the truth?
Matthew 5:39 But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
You can resort to this text if you want to point out the sins of others. You can show their shortcomings. But this text isn't just for Christians. Jesus' message came from God and is the rule of the exalted Lord. This message is valid for the whole world, for every people group, for all people and for you. Are you applying it to your own life? When others mistreat you, in your own heart, in your own behavior are you obeying Jesus' words? This is the question.
Dear listeners, to believe in Jesus is not simply to recognize or understand the truth. To believe in Jesus is to the principles that He received from God and explained. If not, to say that you believe in Jesus and the Holy Books is empty words.
Empty.
Let's get to know Jesus better.