Tag: Firm Foundation

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The Escape of Jesus

Summary of my sermon, based on Matthew 2:13-23. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on December 29, 2024.

One of the hard truths about the Christian life is that we will face discrimination and persecution. It has been this way from the beginning, and it remains a reality today.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned Richard Dawkins and the New Atheist movement. Their so-called intellectual objections to Christianity often serve a deeper agenda—freeing people from what they see as the “repressive” nature of religion. Their campaign slogan, “There’s probably no god. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life,” reveals their true mission. They want people to pursue joy in worldly things—money, power, and pleasure—rather than in God. But does that really lead to fulfillment?

Take John D. Rockefeller, the first American billionaire. When asked how much money was enough, he replied, “Just a little more.” That’s the trap of worldly pursuits—they never satisfy. Yet, atheists like Dawkins would have people chase those things in the name of “enjoying life.”

But their efforts don’t stop at persuasion. Dawkins, in a speech at the Reason Rally, called for open ridicule of Christians, saying, “Mock them. Ridicule them. In public.” The persecution we face in the West may not be as severe as in other parts of the world, but it is real. According to OpenDoors’ World Watch List, 365 million Christians today suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination. In just one year, nearly 5,000 Christians were murdered, over 4,000 were detained, and more than 14,000 churches were attacked.

For example, in Burkina Faso, a Compassion center was recently forced to suspend operations because its staff, all working in a local church, had to go into hiding due to death threats from armed groups. Christianity is, without a doubt, the most persecuted religion in the world. Even secular sources like the BBC acknowledge this, with a 2019 report stating that Christian persecution was at “near genocide levels.”

But persecution is nothing new. Even from the first Christmas, Jesus himself was a target. In Matthew 2:13–23, we see how King Herod, upon hearing of the newborn “King of the Jews,” sought to destroy him. An angel warned Joseph to flee to Egypt, fulfilling the prophecy in Hosea 11:1: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” When Herod realized he had been tricked by the wise men, he ordered the massacre of all male children in Bethlehem under two years old. This fulfilled another prophecy, from Jeremiah 31:15, about Rachel weeping for her children.

Matthew repeatedly highlights how Jesus fulfilled scripture. Sometimes, this fulfillment is precise, as in Isaiah 7:14’s prophecy of the virgin birth. Other times, it is a pattern, like Jesus’ journey paralleling Israel’s Exodus. The key message is that Jesus is the long-promised Messiah, not just for Israel, but for the whole world.

Even in persecution, God’s sovereignty remains. Psalm 115:3 declares, “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” Herod’s brutality could not stop God’s plan. Jesus, though despised as a Nazarene (John 1:46), fulfilled Isaiah 53:4–5, suffering for our salvation.

Christians today can take heart. Our Savior suffered before us, and He stands with us. As Titus 2:11–12 reminds us, “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people… to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.” No matter what we face, we remain steadfast, knowing that God is in control and His purposes will stand.

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Building on a Firm Foundation

Summary of my sermon, based on Luke 6:46-49. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on May 12, 2024.

In celebration of Jungee Marcelo’s 60th birthday, we were reminded of his incredible contributions to music and faith. His song, “Sa Yahweh Ang Sayaw” (translated as “To God Be the Dance”), resonates with the theme of our message today—the importance of obedience to God, the true foundation of our lives.

In our journey through Luke 6:17-49, we’ve explored some of Jesus’ most challenging teachings. From the surprising blessings and woes to the command to love our enemies, Jesus continually calls us to a higher standard of living—one rooted not in worldly success but in spiritual obedience. As we conclude our series on the Sermon on the Plain, we turn our attention to Jesus’ final parable in this passage, one that asks a probing question: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46, ESV).

This question, which might seem simple at first glance, carries profound implications. The repetition of “Lord” indicates a claim of intimacy with Jesus, much like how God called Abraham, Moses, and others by name in moments of deep connection. Yet, Jesus questions the authenticity of this intimacy when it is not accompanied by obedience. It’s a sobering reminder that knowing about Jesus or even acknowledging Him as Lord is not enough—our actions must reflect our professed faith.

In Matthew’s version of this sermon, Jesus expands on this thought: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21, ESV). Here, Jesus highlights the distinction between mere acknowledgment and true discipleship. It’s possible to perform impressive religious acts—prophesying, casting out demons, doing mighty works—and still be unknown to Jesus if those acts are not rooted in genuine obedience to God’s will.

This can be unsettling, especially in a world where external success often masks internal emptiness. But Jesus makes it clear that obedience to God is the true measure of our discipleship. As 1 John 2:3-4 states, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (ESV). Our actions reveal the reality of our relationship with Jesus.

This brings us to the heart of Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:47-49, where He contrasts two builders—one who builds on a firm foundation and another who does not. The one who builds on the rock represents those who not only hear Jesus’ words but also put them into practice. When life’s storms come, this house stands strong because it is anchored in obedience to God’s Word. In contrast, the house built without a foundation collapses when trials strike, illustrating the futility of a life that hears God’s Word but fails to act on it.

The importance of a solid foundation cannot be overstated. Just as the infamous Millennium Tower in San Francisco sank and tilted due to its unstable foundation, our lives, too, can crumble if they are not built on the solid rock of Jesus’ teachings. The floods of life—whether they be illness, loss, or betrayal—will come, but those who have built their lives on the firm foundation of obedience to God will endure.

It’s crucial to understand that this firm foundation is not just about intellectual agreement with Jesus’ teachings. It’s about living them out daily. Ephesians 2:19-20 describes our faith as being “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (ESV). Jesus is indeed the cornerstone, the essential first stone laid in the foundation of our faith. But this foundation also includes the teachings of the apostles and prophets—God’s Word, which instructs us in righteous living.

On this Mother’s Day, let’s remember the vital role that biblical instruction plays in our lives. Proverbs 1:8-9 encourages us to “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck” (ESV). Mothers, in particular, are often the first to impart God’s wisdom and teachings to their children, laying the groundwork for a life built on a firm foundation.

In conclusion, the call to obedience is not just about avoiding the storms of life but about ensuring that when those storms come, we stand firm in our faith. As Jesus said, “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock” (Luke 6:47-48, ESV). Let us be those who not only hear but also do, building our lives on the rock of Jesus’ teachings.