The Goal of Faith part 3

The Clouded Image

One of the more interesting facets of studying Art History are the restoration efforts historians go through in order to preserve great masterpieces. My particularly favorite part is to compare the before and after photos. These images will suffer centuries of neglect or abuse, usually not much at once, but just the continual collection of grime. Here’s one example.

Here, we see the Mona Lisa as most of us know her. That greenish hue that covers the whole thing. 

But, scholars believe it probably should look something more like this.

Now, this is actually a copy of Da Vinci’s painting by one of his apprentices. There are a few subtle differences that verify it isn’t the same painting, but based on descriptions from Da Vinci’s time and the copy’s coloring, this is probably what Mona Lisa looked like when it was first completed. 

The reason for the greenish brown hues covering the real Mona Lisa is the layers of varnish that have been applied over the centuries to protect the paint. That varnish has darkened over time. Whether or not anyone will be brave enough to attempt a restoration, or even whether popular opinion would want such a thing, is another matter. My point today is simply this: over time, what we see in the great masterpieces is not what was originally intended. We see the clouded and tarnished version of what has become. 

As we continue exploring the image of God in humanity, one point that bears further details is this:

The corruption of the image of God in humanity has altered the world to the extent that sin is viewed as normal.

For anyone who has studied the Bible, this point may seem quite obvious. Many activities and attitudes the Bible calls ‘sin’ is freely accepted, sometimes celebrated, in our world. But, I bring this up, because the opposite is just as true: to be godly in this world is abnormal. 

In Jesus’ most famous sermon, He discusses this very point. Turn with me to Matthew 5. 

Now, there is far too much in these chapters to explore in one sermon, so I want us to focus on how these chapters help us understand what God intended in His Creation vs what has become of His Creation. Our goal today is to peel back the centuries of varnish, ash, and bad breath (yes, humans breathing on artwork is actually a problem) in order to rediscover the masterpiece created by God.

The Blessed may not seem blessed : Matt 5:1-16

The first section are the Beatitudes which right away tell us what Jesus has in store will not sound like common knowledge. Those he calls ‘blessed’ are not the same categories the world calls ‘blessed.’ Jesus speaks of mourners, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, and even those persecuted. The first century, much like our own, would describe the ‘blessed’ to be those in big mansions, seats of power, large social media followings, and those who enjoy the luxuries of this life. They can use #blessed in their Instagram posts to feign humility, but we all know the truth. Jesus is letting us know right away His teachings do not align with the world.

The Beatitudes remind us the world and God has two very different versions of ‘blessed’.

The more we pursue God’s Kingdom and revealing God’s image in us, the more bizarre we will look to the outside world. But read with me verses 13-16.

Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Though we may find ourselves at odds with the world around us, Jesus reminds us that we are called to be salt and light in this world. The problem with this world is not Christians who call out sin, it is the fact that sin has so corrupted this world, many times it fails to understand up from down. Instead of cowering in the corner, Jesus says to let our light shine so they may learn to give glory to the Father also.

Living out God’s image is both worship and evangelism in this fallen world.

An Issue of the Heart: Matt 5:17-20

Then in verses 17-20, we have what would have been the most jaw-dropping sayings in this sermon.

First, Jesus says He did not come to abolish the Law or Prophets, but to fulfill them. He is going to succeed where all other humans have failed. Jesus fulfills the Law by being the perfect image of what God created in the beginning.

Second, Jesus tells us our righteousness must exceed the scribes and Pharisees. Now, here is where He might have lost some of the audience. The scribes and Pharisees were the religious elite. They were supposed to be those closest to God. And yet, time and again, Jesus would point out how they illustrate what Isaiah said in 29:13,

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

In order for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we must give more than lip service to God. The scribes and Pharisees fell victim to the same pagan ideas of their Hellenist neighbors. In the pagan world, how the worshiper felt about a certain deity mattered far less than the ritual they fulfilled. In fact, the popular opinion of the gods was rather low. Most people, and even many of the poets, did not actually like the gods, but they felt obligated to worship them, because they didn’t know any better. Many Jews found themselves worried more about the ritual of worship than having a heart of worship. 

Jesus reinforced the truth God is far more interested in our hearts than our rituals.
Now, don’t misunderstand, there is a place for ritual. But if our acts of worship do not bend our hearts toward worship, then we have failed to understand what God desires from us. 

The following chapters go into detail and application of this point. As you skim through the rest of chapter 5 and parts of 6, notice the repetition of the phrase “you’ve heard it said….but I say to you….” Each of these points drive home that God is concerned about the heart. It is not enough to not murder. We must forgive. It is not enough to not commit adultery. We must avoid all lust. It is not enough to swear with an oath. We must be consistent in honesty. 

This last one warrants a closer look. Read with me verses 33-37.

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

We should not invoke heaven or earth in an oath, because they both belong to God. Do not swear by the city or even your head, because you have no control over them. They are not ours to put up as security. Jesus is saying that we should not have to bargain with people in order for them to believe us. Honesty should be assumed, because we demonstrate a consistent character of honesty. Anything more than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ comes from evil.

Evidence of God’s image in our lives is consistency in doing the right thing.

By the way, that word ‘evil’ is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew term found in Genesis 1-3. The picture of both is a twisting or altering of what is good. ‘Evil’ often does not advertise itself as darkness, but rather as something like good. Giving an oath doesn’t sound that bad, but when we remember that society requires oaths because people lie, its evil nature becomes apparent.

If we are truly pursuing the image of God in our lives, it will be apparent by its consistency in our lives. John says the thing in different words in 1 John.

A Warning to pretenders : Matt 7:15-23

The last passage we will look at reminds us that there is no pretending to get to Heaven. We see this truth in many parts of Scripture, such as with Simon in Acts 8, or the false teachers in Jude. Read with me 7:15-23.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

“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. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

First, Jesus says to watch out for false teachers. We can recognize them by their fruits. It is important to know what kind of ethic a person has before following them. And, it is also important to know what kind of ethic their teachings will bring out in you. Beware those who will capitulate or excuse sin in their lives or the lives of those around them. We all certainly have our faults, but the difference between true and false prophets is the true prophet will acknowledge his sin as well.

True prophets and healthy Christians will cultivate more truth and health without excuse for sin.

Second, Jesus warns us that not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Notice these people are doing works in the name of Jesus. They certainly look like Christians, but Jesus says He never knew them. ‘Know’ is an important word that connotes an ongoing relationship. It is not enough to know of Christ, we must know Christ. We must experience His transforming power if we are to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We cannot fake this kind of knowledge. 

The transforming power of Christ will be evident in the lives of believers—no evidence means no faith.

If we are to reveal the image of God in this world, we must pursue a higher standard of ethics than this world could ever offer. Jesus will go on to teach that this ethic is only available to those who look to Him for righteousness and power. He also promises to send His Holy Spirit to us to help and empower us to live out the image of God as we are created to do. 

Today, take the first step towards living out this higher ethic by calling on Jesus for forgiveness and His power.