Let Us Go On
Hosea 6:3 “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth”
To know about God; that there is One, that He is up there “seeing” to things; is enough religion for some people.
Religion and everyday life are seen by these, as two separate and distinct issues.
Though they may not come out and say it, they agree with those that keep religion on Sunday,……and their real lives, the rest of the time.
Let me tell everyone who names the name of a Christian:
Jesus Christ interferes with life;……namely our life.
He makes claims upon us. He wants us.
Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways.”
Matthew 10:37-38 “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more that me is not worthy of me.
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me , is not worthy of me.”
To know only about God is a knowledge that does not save.
They need to be drawn to Jesus Christ for themselves.
Luke 18:9-12 “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give titles of all that I possess.”
The attitude of some is: that God should be God, and I’ll be me.
They say, in their hearts:
“God,….You stay up there in heaven, watch offer me, keep me from harm, care for me, and take me home to heaven when I die;
I’ll stay down here and do nothing too terrible. I will go to church, read my Bible when I need to and pray whenever I’m in trouble.”
These imagine that the bargain is struck.
So off we go completely convinced, like the Pharisee, we are on good standing with the Lord.
But this is a religion that never touches the heart….that never rises above what is good…..for “me”.
Luke 18:13-14 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
We have talked of “humbling” before. It means to abase yourself…..place yourself (everything of your self)….under Christ.
Some people reject Christ…..not as Savior….but as Lord.
But the truth is….that it is the Lord Jesus Christ that saves….completely and eternally.
The sincere follower has heard the call of Christ; and has left any bargaining behind. He has decided to follow Christ whithersoever He leads.
Matthew 16:24-25 “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.”
And this decision has far reaching consequences, both to ourselves, and any we come into contact with.
Christ’s life is Eternal Life.
It is Him we receive at new birth, He is our life.
Eternal life is a condition of life, here and now; as well as for eternity.
We receive His nature by the Holy Spirit.
He places the love of God and His Word within, as well as a desire for holiness of life.
Faith, joy, peace, all the graces of God, are at our disposal.
Philippians 3:8-14 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
The prize? This high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This calling is to everyone who is born again.
We are called to bring forth fruit.
We are called to walk together with Christ.
We are called to obtain promises.
We are called to witness of Christ.
We are called to know Christ.
To know Christ: this is the goal of any true follower of Christ.
Not to win salvation: that is in Christ.
Not to win heaven: that is the end of those who belong to Christ.
But to know Christ:
For to know Him is the real gain of all things. Real satisfaction, real joy, real peace.
This is to “go on to know the Lord”
When you do, you will also find His going forth with you in power and loving presence.
To follow on. To go on. To seek. These are words we need to activate in our everyday lives.
And the One we need to follow after is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 