Sermon Notes 10/21/2012

Sermon Text: Luke 5:27-31

Sermon Title: Jesus the Evangelist

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:9-14

Introduction

From the outset of Jesus’ ministry, His focus was teaching truth (Luke 4:16-30; Luke 4:42-5:11) and engaging the outcast (Luke 4:31-37 [the man with an unclean demon]; Luke 4:38-41 [the healing of many]; Luke 5:12-16 [the leper]; Luke 5:17-26 [the paralytic]).

This morning we continue our study in Luke 5:27-31 where Jesus follows suit. Jesus continues to engage the community by moving from the physically handicapped to the social outcast.

This morning will examine Jesus engaging the worst social outcast of His day: a tax collector named Levi, better known as Matthew (Matthew 9:9).

Before reading the text, set the tone by reading this quote by J.C. Ryle:

“These verses should be deeply interesting to everyone who knows the value of an immortal soul” (J.C. Ryle).[2]

Jesus Calls Levi (Read Luke 5:27-32)

For those of you who are careful listeners, you have noticed my use of the word “engage” three times already this morning. Regarding the call of Levi, this word is central to what I want you to know this morning:

Evangelism often requires more than casual contact. Jesus engages with those in the culture. They sense that He cares for them because He loves them, spends time with them, and does not just preach to them.

Here is what I don’t want you to hear:

• If we do not have time to engage deeply and consistently, we shouldn't bother sharing the Gospel.
• Taking opportunities where brief, casual points of contact are certain (on a subway; on an airplane; in line; at a restaurant; passing out tracks; short-term missions, etc.) are ineffective and inefficient.

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it” (1 Corinthians 3:6-10).

Here is what I do what you to hear:

Isolation from sinners is not the call of the disciple. The Pharisees and Scribes deemed the terms “holiness” and “separatist” synonymous. Engagement is the willingness to associate with unrepentant sinners, invest time in unrepentant sinners, love unrepentant sinners, sacrifice for unrepentant sinners, and offer hope to unrepentant sinners. Engagement is the role of every repentant sinner who follows Jesus.

Luke 5:27

The parallel account in Mark 2 tells us that Jesus was teaching the Word of God immediately before passing Levi (Mark 2:13).

Luke tells us that Levi was a tax collector. This man belonged to a group of people who were a byword for wickedness among the Jews.[2]

Jewish tax collectors worked for the Roman government and stole from their own people through larceny, extortion, and exploitation. Tax collectors were viewed as traitors to their people, were classified as unclean, and were barred from the synagogues. They were also forbidden to give testimony in a Jewish court because they were considered to be liars.[3]

Luke 5:28-29

While Luke says, “tax collectors and others” in v. 29, the parallel accounts of Matthew 9:10 and Mark 2:15 names these “others” as sinners.

The Pharisees had not grumbled about Jesus’ casual contact with sinners. The problem in their view is not mere contact with sinners, but table fellowship that seeks out and welcomes unrepentant people.[1]

No self-respecting Jew would eat a meal with the likes of this crowd. Meals were important social statements of acceptance and friendship.

Luke 5:30

The Pharisees and Scribes grumbled at Jesus (Luke 5:30) because He was engaging with sinners (Luke 5:30). Jesus was on their turf (sinners) and eating with them.

Hold on! What about…???

• “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).
• “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’” (1 Corinthians 15:33).
• “Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things they do in secret” (Ephesians 5:7-12).
• How about the popular statement which summarizes Haggai’s words in Haggai 2:10-14, “When you throw a white glove into the mud, the mud doesn’t get glovey.”

Luke 5:31-32

The difference between evangelistic engagement and promoting sin is communion with the Father (Luke 5:16) and the call to repentance (Luke 5:31).

We must separate ourselves from the act and temptation to sin, but we must not isolate ourselves from sinners. Jesus associated with sinners and condemned all sin – their sin as well as the sins of others. Jesus aggressively formed relationships that would help create an opportunity from which the challenge about lifestyle could be made.

Jesus remark is not an endorsement of the Pharisees righteousness. Jesus’ remark is rhetorical and reflects the Pharisee’s perspective of their condition. Jesus is making a point that you will not seek a physician and a cure if you are convinced you are well.

The image is strong. When I go to the doctor, I know three things:

1. I am sick
2. I need help
3. I cannot help myself

Jesus’ statement here is profoundly applicable for us today. How many of you have seen the “COEXIST” bumper stickers? The bumper sticker advocates the peaceful co-existence of the religions represented by the symbols crafted from each letter (Islam; peace sign; male and female egalitarian “ish” sign; Jewish star of David; pentagram of Wiccan and witchcraft or Buddhism; Taoism or Ying and Yang of Chinese Philosophy; the Cross of Christianity).

The nature of truth is that it is absolute, objective, and exclusive. Due to the nature of truth, Christianity cannot “coexist” with other religions.

John MacArthur:

The statement, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” expresses the essential uniqueness of Christianity. In every religion other than biblical Christianity, man achieves salvation by his own efforts. Buddhists seek nirvana by following the Eightfold Path; Muslims hope to enter Paradise by following the Five Pillars of Islam; Mormons seek godhood through baptism, membership in the Mormon church, accepting Joseph Smith and his successors as prophets of God, and going through the temple ceremonies; Jehovah’s Witnesses seek to earn everlasting life on earth by their morality and door-to-door witnessing; Roman Catholics seek salvation by means of the Mass, sacraments, prayers, and good works that cooperate with grace to enable them to earn heaven – even if they have to be aided by the works of others to escape purgatory.

What have we learned this morning?

“In this event, Jesus showed that His mission is not accomplished by separatism. Jesus will not wait for sinners. He will seek them out. He will accept them as persons; but He will challenge sinners to admit their sickness and turn to the God who can bind up wounds and bring them back to health” (Darrell L. Bock).

Because of what you now know, what do I want you to do?

Let me preface the application with the following thought: There is a private and corporate aspect to worship, discipleship, and evangelism. The application listed below is designed to help our particular body in our focus towards corporate evangelism.

1. Mark your calendars for November 25, 2012 and prioritize Sunday School as you would corporate worship. I will be teaching a series with the purpose of equipping our Church for evangelism. The class will be very practical and will have three primary components:
• How to use the Law in evangelism (Galatians 3:24)
• How to use apologetics in evangelism (1 Peter 3:15)
• How to use your personal testimony in evangelism (Acts 22)
2. Pray for the Elders and Deacon and exercise patience. On September 16, 2012 the Elders held a meeting with the Deacons and members of the congregation to brainstorm ways to begin formalizing a diverse number of evangelistic ministries in the Church. We have taken 22 good ideas and are narrowing them down to five that will be installed at the conclusion of the evangelism training class mentioned above.
3. When you think of the building campaign, think of reaching our community. Share my desire from my experience at Faith Baptist in Lafayette, Indiana.

The Lord’s Supper

Well, as we have discussed in previous messages, the one who realizes he has been shown great mercy has great joy. When Levi was shown grace, he celebrated with a feast. This morning, we who have been shown abundant grace shall do the same.

Please turn with me to 1 Corinthians 11.

Sources

1. Brock, Darrell. Luke 1:1-9:50. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1994.
2. Ryle, J.C. Luke. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1997.
3. MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Luke 1-5. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009.