MEDIOCRE CHRISTIANS

MATTHEW 22: 36 – 38

 

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

 37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

 38 This is the first and great commandment.

 

Now does this sound like a mediocre love?

Let us define mediocre.  Literally means half way up a mountain.  Half way.  Middle way.

A synonym is average.  In the middle.  Some people shot for the middle ground.  Many are in the middle,  Does Jesus sound like he is talking about a love that is average?  No.

Matt. 5: 17 – 20  He says we must go beyond the righteousness of the old rulers.

 17 ¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

1).     The average religious person in Noah’s day drowned in the flood.

2).      The average religious person in Lot’s day burned in Sodom.

3).      The average religious person in Jesus last days shouted, “Crucify Him”.

I.       Average is good enough for many.  In the Christian life average is not what Jesus is looking for.  He is looking for one that will serve him with all their life.  A Christian not willing to serve is worthless and disobedient.  Well what do I have to do?  Give your all in service in this life, believing that Christ will save you in the judgement.

 

A.      Luke 14: 33  Just saying you are a Christian is not enough.  There must be commitment.

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

          B.      Matt. 16: 24 – 26  Denying our will and accepting the will of the Lord in all.

24 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

          C.      1 Peter 2: 9  We are not an average people, but a special people called out.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

II.      There is no middle ground.

A.               Matt. 12: 30  Jesus says you can not be in the middle.

30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

          B.      Rev. 3: 15 – 17  Jesus says he does not want lukewarm service.

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: