Sure, but…Christians
Matthew 21:28-32 “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.
And he answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went.
And he came to the second, and said likewise.
He answered and said, I go, sir, and went not.
Whither them twain did the will of his Father? They say unto him, the first. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.”
We call this “Sure, but…Christians”, because we are often as these sons in the story.
We say one thing, and do another.
We love or praise God much with our mouths, but not so much with our attitudes and obediences; which is the way the Lord said we really love Him.
John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.”
The Father in the story had two sons. Now they are both sons, both belonging to the household of the Father.
But one, rebellious at first; recognized his wrong attitude, and repented, and was obedient to the Father’s Will.
(You will notice that this son did not go back to the Father for direction…..but did what He said at first. Sometimes we just need to do what we know to do….no questions….just do, for His sake.)
The other, said the right things in front of the Father; but never followed through. Never fulfilled the Father’s Will…..for whatever reason.
(And there always seems to be a “reason” we do not get around to doing what we know to do…..that is why sanctification includes our hearts and minds, as well as our wills.)
Which one really loved the Father?
Of course, we would say, the one who did what the Father wanted.
Then why do we hesitate to do our Heavenly Father’s Will?
Or why won’t we repent of our rebellious attitude, and do what He says?
As our Heavenly Father, God has the right to command us to do His Will. We all agree to that.
But the real value to God in our doing, is the love shown Him by our willing obedience.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as sounding brass, or tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing.”
Love to Christ Jesus, shows the power of the Holy Spirit within, as nothing else does.
And this requires us to repent. Both sons should have repented. One for the rebellious attitude.
The other for disobedience.
To repent is to change our minds about the subject, our affections for it, and our actions toward it.
As sons to our Heavenly Father, we should recognize our own personal need for repentance, and do it.
Then we will fulfill our Father’s Will.
“..and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him.”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 