Missing the Mark
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
We are all sinners, by chance and by choice.
But this sets forth much more than that….we all have come short….or missed the mark for the goal of our lives, which is to live to the glory of God.
We have all missed that which we were brought into being for.
Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”
(This is the first song in heaven that John hears….Praise to God as Creator of all, and especially of “me”. That in that creation, there is a Purpose and determination, for me.)
What is sin? Why is each person a sinner?
There are two definitions of sin in Scripture….Romans 14:23 and James 4:17
Both speak of us, as God’s creatures….rebelling against God’s purpose for us….and making our own way, in opposition to Him.
Luke 6:46 (Williams Version) “So why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, but do not practice what I tell you?”
For to bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ….in our life….we must be obedient.
To call Jesus, Lord….means nothing without the obedience it entails.
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”
It is interesting to note that “profess”…I will profess unto them….means to calculate…computation….to lay out before them how they fall short…or miss the mark.
And how do they fall short….for it seems as if these knew something of the Lord?
It has to do with power…or the grace of God in their lives; and truth in knowledge.
2 Timothy 3:5, 7 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Most think of the grace of God as saving them….which is true. But grace….or the unmerited favor of power….is in every aspect of our lives after being born again.
Grace is the ability, through the Holy Spirit within, to understand and do what God commands.
Truth is another thing we often let slip. When we have come to “the knowledge of the truth” (and it is spoken of in 1 Timothy 2:4 as well)….we have what that truth sets forth in our personal experience.
Do we know what repentance and confession is? Then we know it by our own personal experience….we have repented…we have confessed our sins to the Lord, and turned from them.
Do we know the power of the Holy Spirit within? Then we have known His guidance and have been obedient to His Word.
James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
This is the Way God speaks…
First, Pure. There is no admixture…it is simply the Truth. The Faithful and True Witness has spoken the Truth down through the ages….
….if we want wisdom from above, we must hear and obey the truth. (John 1:17)
Then, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated. Christ Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost….His message was “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.”
If we want wisdom, we must come to Christ,….Who becomes wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption to us (1 Cor. 1:30)
Full of mercy, and good fruits. Jesus said, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. If we want the wisdom from above, we must show the same mercy that Christ has shown us….and we will see a blessing for it….in our own lives, and in others.
Proverbs 16:6 “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.”
Without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Jesus said, “He that is not with Me is against Me; and He that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.” (Matthew 12:30)
Where the Lord is concerned, HIs faith will command a person, or have nothing to do with that person. We are either for Him, or we are not…..there is no neutral ground.
Hypocrisy here means that “one conceals the truth”. We must speak the whole truth of the gospel…
…if we want the wisdom that is from above….then we must yield to the truth for ourselves…and speak the truth to others.
(this is not the truth that tells people about their faults….no, but the Truth about Jesus Christ, about HIs sacrifice, about where sin will take them….for they have missed the mark for the purpose of their lives….if they miss Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.)
James 3:18 “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
This is another way of saying that if we are walking with our “feet shod with the preparation of peace” (Ephesians 6:15)….then we are not stepping on toes….but showing the Light on the Way, before men, and giving them the directions into the Way of Peace.
The title was “Missing the Mark”….and we all have….till we come to Christ Jesus and yield to the Truth of our sin, and rebellion against Him….and obey Him and His Word….in being born again…and in everyday life.
Then we are shown our “goal”….our purpose….the Way into Truth and the knowledge of God!
Then we are “walking in the light” (1 John 1:7)
Then we are:
Titus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 