ABSOLUTE COMMITMENT
Part I
The New Testament uses the deepest forms of human
commitment to describe what our relationship is to be with Christ. ( Marriage
Eph. 5:22-32, Slavery Rom. 6:18-22) We
find in Luke 14:26 "If anyone
comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children,
brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My
disciple. Our commitment to Christ must
be the greatest commitment of all.
Too often commitment is
conditional. People will commit when
times are tough, or if the sacrifice isn't too great.
The only commitment acceptable
to God is unconditional absolute commitment.
To make a pledge or accept an assignment to
do some particular action or perform
some particular course.
A. God takes this seriously
Ecclesiastes
5:1-7
1
Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather
than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. 2
Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily
before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be
few. 3 For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool's voice is known by
his many words. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He
has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed-- 5 Better not to vow than to
vow and not pay. 6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say
before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at
your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of
dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham,
and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 And
He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to
the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the
mountains of which I shall tell you."
9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And
Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac
his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out
his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the LORD
called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said,
"Here I am." 12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad,
or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not
withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
We will not be committed to Christ unless we
love Christ. Love is demonstrated in
obedience.
A. Love and obedience are inseparable
John
14:15 If you love me you will obey me.
Love/Commitment makes practiced sin
impossible.
I
John 2:3-6 3 Now by this we know that we
know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him,"
and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this
we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also
to walk just as He walked.
I
John 3:4-10
4
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you
know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor
known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices
righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the
devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of
God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has
been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin,
because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the
children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is
not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
Unconditional commitment must also be total
commitment.
The
Level of commitment
1
Peter 3:14-15
14
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed.
"And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." 15 But
sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to
everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and
fear;
Revelation
14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven
saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now
on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from
their labors, and their works follow them."
Philippians
3:4-8
4
though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may
have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the
stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning
the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the
righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me,
these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss
for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain
Christ
The nature of total commitment is no
different than the nature of total love.
It’s inviolate
It’s invulnerable
It’s absolute
It’s eternal
ABSOLUTE COMMITMENT
Part II
I. What is a Christian Committed to?
A. The Lord Himself
Romans
6:16-22
B. Paul was...
1
Corinthians 4:9-13
9 For
I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to
death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to
men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are
weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To
the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and
beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being
reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat.
We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things
until now. (NKJ)
2
Corinthians 4:7-12
7 But
we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may
be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck
down, but not destroyed-- 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the
Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For
we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of
Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working
in us, but life in you. (NKJ)
C. Christians have always been expected to
have this commitment.
Hebrews
10:32-39
Revelation
2:10 "Do not fear any of those things
which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you
into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be
faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (NKJ)
Revelation
14:13
13
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: `Blessed are the
dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit,
"that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."
(NKJ)
D. Many have done it, so can we.
Hebrews
11:32-40
E. It's a command not an option
Luke
14:33 33 "So likewise, whoever of you
does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. (NKJ)
Romans
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
III. But Some Will Not, Why?
Romans
8:32-39
B. Don't understand how or why.
Romans
4:18-22 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope
believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was
spoken, "So shall your descendants be." 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his
own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the
deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through
unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being
fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And
therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."
Lack of appreciation of personal destiny
Lack of appreciation for the destiny of
others.
Lack of appreciation for what God has done.
How We Can Make The Commitment
Philippians
4:13
"I
can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."