The Components of Christianity, Part 6 (Have I Died to Self)

Let's pray together. Father, we are grateful for the opportunity you give us to trust in you. We realize, Lord, that because of you, we have the wonderful opportunity to be a part of your great and glorious kingdom. We thank you that you are our king, and we are subjects of yours. We are children of yours. We are friends of yours, and we are slaves of yours. We pray, Father, that our lives would glorify and honor you, and that, Father, the things that we learn this day would enable us to serve you all the more, that we truly would be the kind of children that bring great glory to their Father in heaven.

We pray in Jesus' name, amen. I would advise you to turn with me once again to Luke chapter 9, a portion of the scripture that we have been in for several weeks, and we'll be in for at least one more week after this one.

Look into that crucial verse in Luke 9, verse number 23, where it says, If any man come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. And we've come to a point in our study where we want to ask the question, have I died to self? Or as Paul said, I am crucified with Christ. And ask ourselves, are we crucified with Christ? A very important question, especially in light of the words of the great Harry Ironside who said these words, The church of God has gone into the entertainment business.

People must be amused, and as the church needs the people's money, the church must supply the demand and meet the craving. How else are godless hypocrites to be held together? So the show and entertainment take the place of the gospel address and the solemn worship of God, and thus Christless souls are loathed to sleep and made to feel religious while gratifying every carnal desire under the sanction of the sham called the church. In the end, what an awakening in eternity. You see, so many times people don't ask the question, have I died to self?

Am I crucified with Christ? Is it true that I have denied myself, I have taken up my cross daily, and I am following Jesus Christ, my Lord? That is the question. So Luke chapter 9 verses 18 to 26 provide for us a very key address as we understand, number one, the identity of the Messiah, number two, the centrality of his mission, and number three, the reality of his message.

Because of who he is and because of what he did, the response on my part is crucial. Have I given my life to Christ? Have I denied myself? Have I taken up my cross daily, and do I follow Jesus Christ, my Lord? So we have set forth nine principles that we will ask ourselves to see, am I crucified with Christ? And the first one was Luke chapter 14, and that is the man who was crucified with Christ has counted the cost.

And that's what Jesus said in Luke chapter 14. If you have your Bible, just turn there real quick in terms of review because this will set the tone for today's lesson. It says once again, now great multitudes were going along with him, and he turned and said to them, if anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?

Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him saying, this man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel whether he is strong enough with 10,000 men to encounter the one coming against him with 20,000.

Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks terms of peace. So therefore, no one of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. Christ says you need to make sure that you count the cost.

The very first thing you need to do is to calculate whether or not you are able to finish. You are able, you must consider whether or not you are able to fight in the battle. Why? Because you can't just jump on the Jesus bandwagon. You must count the cost. It's coming after me. It's denying yourself. It's taking up your cross and it's following me. Now folks, that is the essence of what salvation is. And if you were to trace that throughout the Bible, that is the call of God to man. You must deny yourself.

You must take up your cross and you must follow me. That's always been the call. It's never changed from Old Testament to New Testament. The call has always been the same. And the question comes, is the cost worth it? I mean, Christ would say, what would it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? You must lose your life in order to gain my life, Christ says in Luke 9.

In Matthew 16, Christ says, and what will a man give in exchange for his soul? There's a transaction that takes place when someone is born again. It's a giving away of my life in order to obtain the life of Christ. This is paramount when it comes to understanding redemption, conversion, salvation. And the question comes to us, is that cost worth it? And the answer is, of course it is. Because we have calculated the cost. We have counted the cost and realized that my life doesn't really mean much at all, but Christ's life means everything.

And so let me take you back, way back to Genesis chapter 12, and show you that the call of Abraham, the call of salvation to a man, the father of our faith, is the same call in Luke chapter 9.

Turn back with me, if you would, to Genesis chapter 12. Genesis chapter 12. I want to belabor this point for a moment because you have to ask yourself this question, have I counted the cost? Have I realized that following Christ is a lot better than anything else in this world? I hope that that's the question you've asked and you have answered, yes, it's better to follow Christ than anything else in this world. But remember the words of our God when it says in Genesis chapter 12, the Lord said to Abraham, go forth from your country and from your relatives and from your father's house to the land which I will show you and I will make you a great nation.

God says, follow me and I will make you. The exact same thing he said to Peter, James, and John and Andrew. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. The call of God has always been the same, separation, submission, and sacrifice. If any man come after me, let him deny himself. That is self-denial. That is a separation of myself from all the things of the world. And take up his cross, that sacrifice. Follow me, that submission. In the life of Abraham, the same was true. Abraham, I'm calling you, go forth from your country, leave your country, leave your relatives, leave your place, leave your family and follow me.

And I will make you a great nation. For Abraham, there was a separation that was the denial of himself. For Abraham, that was a, there was a submission to the call of God to follow him and go forth and do what he says. For Abraham, it was a sacrifice because you read earlier in Genesis chapter 11, it says, and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan and they went as far as Haran and settled there. Folks, that's 600 miles from Ur to Haran and they're not even in Canaan yet.

And they couldn't take a bus and they couldn't get in their car. They couldn't ride a train and they couldn't fly in a plane. They had to walk and ride on the back of donkeys some 600 miles. The call of God always involves separation, submission and sacrifice. It always has, it always will because that is the gospel message. And that's what Abraham did. He followed his God. Now let me ask you the question, was the cost worth it for Abraham?

Was it worth him leaving his relatives, leaving his father, leaving his position, leaving his country and going to a place that he knew not where he was going? Read Hebrews 11 verses 8 to 10. Abraham went out not knowing where he was going. None of you would do that, would you? If God said, listen, I want you to move and I want you to go to this country. You just keep going until I tell you to stop. We'd have trouble with that, wouldn't we? Do I stop today? Do I stop tomorrow? How far God? But Abraham followed the call of God and Abraham would separate himself and he would submit to the words of God and he would sacrifice himself for his God.

So much so that he would even sacrifice his own son for his God. How many of you would do that? Now we know that the angel of the Lord stopped him from doing that, but he was willing to obey no matter what because you see when it comes to Christ, you submit to the words of God. Why? Because you've already separated yourself from the world. So now you submit to God and you sacrifice on behalf of your God because you've counted the cost and found the cost worth it. The question comes, was it worth it for Abraham?

Sure it was. All you have to do is read Genesis 25, verse number eight. The text we used yesterday at the funeral message for Alan Pribble, who went home to be with the Lord this past week. Abraham was 175 years old when he died. Genesis 12, he was 75 when God called him. 75. How many of you at 75 years of age would hear the call of God to go to a land you knew not anything about and just follow him at 75 years of age on the backside of a donkey, some 600 miles? Probably not, but Abraham is the father of our faith and he did.

And so God would call him, he would obey. And Genesis 25, verse eight says that when he was 175 years of age, Abraham died satisfied. The man died satisfied and he was gathered to his people. And the topic of yesterday's funeral message was how do you die satisfied? You're either going to die satisfied or you're going to die unsatisfied. And if you're going to die satisfied, you've got to separate yourself from the world. You've got to submit yourself to the word of God and you must sacrifice your life to obey the will of God.

And that's exactly what Abraham did. He was a man who counted the cost and found the cost worth everything to follow his God. The same thing Jesus says in Luke chapter nine.

The gospel message has never changed. It doesn't change from the old testament to the new testament. It's still by grace through faith in God alone, believing everything God says and submitting myself to him and following him.

That's always been the gospel call. It's never changed. And don't let anybody tell you anything different because if they do, they're a heretic. It's always been the same. God's method of salvation, God's meaning of salvation has always been the same from the old testament to the new testament. You must believe everything God says and submit to him unreservedly and follow him obediently.

And that's what salvation is. And when God calls a man or God calls a woman, folks, that's exactly what they do because the call of God is efficacious. That is, it works in the heart and soul of a man to be obedient to him. So Abraham would live a life and he would die satisfied because he understood exactly what God said. Turn to Genesis chapter 15 now.

Genesis chapter 15. So God says to Abraham, after these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision saying, do not fear Abram, I am a shield to you, your very great reward.

That's the exact translation. I am your reward. Now Abraham would count the cost and realize that God was his reward. I'm your protector and the reason I'm your protector is because you possess me. I'm yours. I am your very great reward, Abraham. You see, the reason people don't want to count the cost is because having God as a reward isn't good enough for them. But for the believer, it's more than enough. And I shared with the people yesterday the great words of A.W. Tozer that Jesus is all you need but Jesus is never all you need until Jesus is all you got.

And while that might not be good English, it's great theology because that's the essence of what salvation is. Jesus is all I need. And when I have nothing else to trust in, nothing else to believe in, Jesus becomes everything to me. And for Abraham, God was enough. I am your shield. I am your protector, Abraham. You have nothing to fear. In fact, it's the first time the phrase do not fear is used in the Bible.

And it's associated with the first time the words, the word of the Lord came. So when the word of the Lord comes, there is no need to fear. Why? Because God's word is a protection. God's word is a provision. And God says to Abraham, I am your very great reward.

And in a world of materialism, in a world that focuses in on the temporal, having God as a reward isn't enough for most people. But for those who have counted the cost, it's more than enough. Because their focus is on the immaterial. Their focus is on the eternal. So having counted the cost, the cost is more than worth it to give my life away. And Abraham lived his life in obedience to his God, faithfully following his God. The Bible says in Genesis chapter 15, verse number 15, these words, and as for you, Abraham, you shall go to your fathers in peace.

You shall be buried at a good old age. God said, not only am I your possession, not only am I your protector, I am your peace. You will go to your grave in peace. Why does he go to his grave in peace? Because he has submitted his life to following the God of the universe. He has separated his life from the world and he has sacrificed his life for that God. And God promises him, I am not only your protector, I am not only your possessor, but I am your peace, Abraham, and you will die in peace, Abraham.

And so when you come to Genesis 25, when he's 175 years of age and you read, and Abraham died satisfied, you say, wow, what a way to go. That's how I want to go. I want to die satisfied. Well, to do that, you've got to count the cost. You've got to deny yourself. You've got to take up your cross and you've got to follow Christ. You've got to separate yourself from the world. You've got to submit to the will of God and you must sacrifice yourself according to all that he says. That's what Abraham did.

I love that phrase. And you will die in peace. Let me help you understand something about peace. You need to forgive me because sometimes I kind of like, you know, veer off the track every once in a while. You know, if you only knew what went through my mind every time I studied a passage and it had to come to you and just give you the little, the little minute package instead of the whole picture, you would sympathize with me a lot more than you do. But the point is, is that when you understand the whole aspect of, I'm not only your possessor, I'm it.

You're going to possess me. My presence, Abraham, is good enough. The choir just sang about the presence of God. You are not alone, right? Well, for the believer, you see, those are comforting words because I need somebody who will not let me down.

Your husband and wife, they're going to let you down. Now, I know they love you, but they're going to let you down. But God will never let you down because he's always there. He is your possessor. His presence is always there. I am your great reward. He is the gospel. He is the savior. He is your God. And he must be enough. And folks, if he's not enough for you, you haven't counted the cost and found the cost worth it. It's as simple as that. He must be everything to you because he not only gives you himself, but he gives you his peace.

Can I just give you seven words that will help you understand that peace? The Bible says in Romans 5, verse number one, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God.

Abraham had peace with God. But let me help you understand the essence of that peace. That peace, number one, is, listen carefully, to those who have counted the cost.

That peace is inevitable. It is inevitable. Ephesians 2, verse 14, says that he is our peace. God told Abraham, you will die in peace. You will go to your grave in peace. Why? Because you have my presence with you. You have me. So therefore, the peace of God is inevitable in the life of the believer. Paul said in Romans 14, 17, these things, the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but here it is, righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. That's the kingdom of God. So Christ comes following the message of John the Baptist, who preached, repent, excuse me, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The kingdom of God is among you, Christ said. You want to be a part of that kingdom? Well, that kingdom involves righteousness, not self-righteousness, but my righteousness, the righteousness that I reckon to your account. The same thing that Genesis 15, 6 says when it says that Abraham believed God and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness. Genesis 15 is the first time the word, excuse me, believe is used in the Bible.

And it's associated with Abraham believing the words of God and trusting in all that God said. And therefore, when Christ came preaching the kingdom of God, he says, my kingdom involves righteousness, not a self-righteousness, but a divine righteousness that's imputed to your account. And with that righteousness comes peace and joy. Listen, peace and joy are inevitable in the life of the believer. There is a contradiction in your life if there is no peace and joy in your life. Something is drastically wrong, not with God's words, but with your life.

Because the kingdom of God consists of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. And that peace that God gives is absolutely inevitable. Number two, why am I telling you this by the way?

Because the cost is worth it. It's worth it. You count the cost, it's worth it because you get God's very presence in your life. You get his protection, you get his peace. And that peace is inevitable. Number two, that peace is invaluable, invaluable.

Psalm 119, 165 says, Great peace have those who love thy law, and nothing causes them to stumble. Nothing. Folks, it's invaluable. Those who love the law of God have great peace. And nothing, not some things, not certain things, but nothing causes them to stumble. Why? Because they are at peace with their God. And he himself is their peace and therefore they go through life at ease, resting in the presence of his peace. It is inevitable. It is invaluable. It is incomparable. It cannot be compared with anything else.

It's incomparable. John 14, 27, Christ said, My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives, give I unto you, but my peace I give unto you. It's my peace, the same peace that encompassed him when he was asleep on the boat and everybody else was terrified for their lives. That can't be compared with anything the world offers. It's incomparable because it is his peace that he gives to you. And on the eve of his death, as he sat and gathered his men together, he says, I want to assure you that my peace I'm going to give to you.

And believe me, he says, you're going to need it. You're going to need it because you're going to face insurmountable odds. But my peace, not only is inevitable, not only is it invaluable, it is incomparable. You cannot compare it with anything the world gives. Is the cost worth it? Now you bet. God, but there's more. It is inscrutable. The peace of God is inscrutable. That is difficult to understand. How do we know that? Philippians chapter four, verse number seven, says it this way. Verse six, be anxious for nothing, but in everything, my prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension.

It's inscrutable. So guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. You can't comprehend it. You can't even understand it because you're at peace with God. And that's what causes people to say during times of tragedy, when the believers at peace with God, they don't get it. They don't understand it. When everything breaks down around them and they live in peace with God and they don't come unraveled, they don't understand it. It's inscrutable. It can't be comprehended because that's the life of the believer.

He has a peace that's inevitable. He has a peace that is invaluable. He has a peace that is inscrutable and incomparable because it's from God and no one else and nothing else can compare. But there's more. It's a peace that is inimitable. That means it cannot be mimicked. It cannot be copied. It is inimitable. Isaiah, I'm sorry, Galatians 5, 22 and 23. But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, and peace. The fruit of God's spirit in a person's life produces peace. It can't be copied by anyone. Or anyone else.

Because it's spirit induced and spirit produced. It comes from the indwelling spirit of God in your life. Folks, this is, listen carefully, the characteristic of one who has denied himself, taken up the cross, and followed God. They have experienced the peace of God. Why? Because Romans 5, 1. Those who are justified by faith have peace with God. A peace that is absolutely inevitable because He is our peace. It's a peace that's invaluable. It's the most precious thing that you own. It's a peace that is incomparable, inscrutable, and inimitable.

Inimitable. Easy for you to say. But I have two more. It's a peace that's invincible. It's invincible. Isaiah 26, verse number three.

Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. The Hebrew writer said, Thou will keep him in peace, peace. It's a repetition of the word. Because he couldn't begin to describe the way God's peace will keep you when your mind is focused and stayed on him, on God alone. It's a peace that for all practical purposes is absolutely invincible. Because your mind is stayed on God, and he is your peace. Galatians chapter, I'm sorry, Colossians chapter three, verse number 15. It says, And let the word of Christ dwell in you.

That's verse 15. Verse 16 says, And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. When the word of Christ reigns in your heart, the peace of Christ rules in your hearts. And therefore, God's peace is invincible. One more word. The peace of God simply is incredible. It's incredible. And Paul would say in Ephesians three, verse number 20, Now unto him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that you ever can ask or think. And that's why over in second Thessalonians chapter three, second Thessalonians chapter three, verse number 16, it was the apostle Paul who said these words, second Thessalonians three, verse 16, Now may the Lord of peace himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.

The Lord be with you all. So maybe a better word than incredible would be inexhaustible. That's the peace of God. Is it any wonder that Abraham died satisfied? Having counted the cost of following Christ, is it worth it? You bet. You bet it is. Because God is your reward. God is what you receive. God is yours. Now let's know what Peter said. Peter said this, first Peter chapter two, verse number four, And coming to him as to a living stone rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also as living stones are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Verse six, For this is contained in Scripture. Where? Isaiah 28, verse 16. Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone. Are you ready? And he who believes in him shall not be, what's the next word? Disappointed. He who believes in him shall not be disappointed. Now let me ask you a question.

Are you disappointed today because you believe in Jesus? The Bible says he who believes in him should not be disappointed.

Now if you go back to Isaiah 28, verse 16, it says that he who believes in him shall not be, are you ready for this? Disturbed. Well that's a unique translation of the Hebrew word. Disturbed. Why does Peter say disappointed? Why does Isaiah interpret it disturbed? In the Hebrew it's a word that means he who believes in him shall not be in a hurry. What? A hurry to do what? To leave the one you've given your life to. He who believes in him, he who trusts in him is never disappointed in him, never disturbed by him, therefore is never in a hurry to leave his presence because his presence encompasses him.

He is the believer's reward. That's why the cost is worth it. You obtain the life of Christ. That's why Paul said I am crucified with Christ. I've died to self. Yet it's not I who lives but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me. Folks that is Christianity in a nutshell. It's receiving the glorified God and obtaining his life. So I ask you, is cost worth it? Have you counted the cost? And found that transaction worth everything to obtain the life of God?

The answer is yes. For what would a profit a man if he gained the whole world and yet lost his own soul? One writer said it this way. In the cross of Christ thy glory towering o'er the wrecks of time all the light of sacred story gather round its head sublime. When the woes of life overtake me, hopes deceive and fears annoy, never shall the cross forsake me, lo it glows with peace and joy. When the sun of bliss is beaming, light and love upon my way from the cross a radiant streaming adds more luster to the day.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure by the cross are sanctified. Peace is there that knows no measure, joys that through all time abide. The cross of Christ and Christ when he bids a man, he bids him as Dietrich Bonhoeffer said to come after him and die because in that cross is peace and joy. I've counted the cost. Those who are crucified with Christ have counted the cost. Number two, they've repented of their sin.

We talked about that last week, right? They've turned from their idols to serve a true and living God. Repentance involves will, mind, emotions. It involves every aspect of your life and he's repented of his sin because he wants to turn and follow his God. Those who have been crucified with Christ, number one, have counted the cost.

Number two, have repented of their sin and number three, are unashamed of the cross and that's what Christ did in Luke chapter nine.

Luke 10, that very simply this for whoever is ashamed of me and my words of him with a son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the Holy Angels. I'm not ashamed of him. I'm not ashamed of his words. That's why Paul said I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ Romans 16, Romans 1, 16 and then over in 2nd Timothy chapter one, he said to Timothy, Timothy, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, but suffer alongside with me for the sake of the gospel.

He would go on to say these words, in fact let me read it to you, because it's so powerful. What he says in 2nd Timothy chapter 1 is crucial to our understanding the presence of God. He says these words, 2nd Timothy 1 verse number 12. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. Why is he not ashamed? Because he knows whom he believes in. Because God is his reward.

Not ashamed of the gospel. Not ashamed of the Christ. Not ashamed of those who want to follow Christ, because they have made the same commitment he has. And you know what, listen to what the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter 2 verse number 11. For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one father, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren. You see, he's not ashamed to call you his brethren. And over in Hebrews chapter 11, it says these words, by faith Abraham, when he was called obeyed by going out to a place where which he was to receive for an inheritance, and he went out not knowing where he was going, by faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob.

And it says as it goes through down to verse 16, but as it is they, men like Abraham, men like Isaac and Jacob, desire a better country that is a heavenly one, therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. God's not ashamed to call them, to call them his children, because he is their God. He's not ashamed of them. Why? Because they're not ashamed of him. That's why Christ said, if you're not ashamed of me and my words in this generation, then I won't be ashamed to confess you before my father who was in heaven.

But if you're ashamed of me and my words in this generation, then I will not confess you. I will be ashamed of you before my father who was in heaven. You see, God's not ashamed of us, because we've obtained his righteousness. That's why that young preacher from Zimbabwe said, well, I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit's power. The die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made, I am a disciple of his. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I've stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and preached up for the cause of Christ, for I am a disciple of Jesus. Not ashamed of the gospel, and that's one who was crucified with Christ. So I ask you, have you counted the cost? Have you repented of your sin? Are you unashamed of the Christ? That was all review from last week, with a little additions here and there. Let me give you point number four, and it's this, those who are crucified with Christ conform not to the world.

They conform not to the world. The Bible says in Romans chapter 12, Paul would say in verse number one, I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God.

But I beg you, I implore you, based on the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable unto God, which is your only logical form of worship. And this is verse number two, and be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.

Those who are crucified with Christ conform not to the world. Listen to what Paul said in Galatians chapter 5, verse number 24, when he said this, now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. In Galatians chapter 1, verse number 4, Galatians 1, verse number 4, Paul says, verse 3, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us out of this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father.

He gave himself for us that he might deliver us out of this present evil age. And Paul says we have crucified our passions, we have crucified our desires, conforms not to the world. What's the world? The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, where the Lord God said love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, the lust of the flesh that deals with my affections, the lust of the eyes deals with my attractions, and the pride of life deals with my ambitions. Those have all been crucified and therefore I have died to self and I conform not to the world.

Listen, the Bible says in James 4, verse number 4, if you are a friend of the world, you are an enemy of God, an enemy of God.

That's why Abraham was called in James chapter 2 a friend of God. Abraham was called a friend of God because he wasn't a friend of the world. He conformed not to the world. And therefore we realize that being associated with the world is wrong and those who have crucified their passions and crucified their desires conform not to the ways of the world. I love the words of Bishop J.C. Ryle when he said these words about the world. He says, is it not true that nothing damages the cause of religion so much as the world?

It is not open sin or open unbelief which robs Christ of his professing servants so much as the love of the world, the fear of the world, the cares of the world, the business of the world, the money of the world, the pleasures of the world, and the desire to keep in with the world. This is the great rock on which thousands of young people are continually making shipwreck. They do not object to any article of the Christian faith. They do not deliberately choose evil and openly rebel against God. They hope somehow to get to heaven at last and they think it proper to have some religion.

But they cannot give up their idol. They must have the world. And so after running well and bidding fair for heaven while boys and girls, they turn aside when they become men and women and go down the broad way which leads to destruction. Why? Because they love the world. Isn't that what Jesus said in the parable of the sower and the soils? Oh, there are some who receive the word with joy. And we see it all the times in our families with young people, right? When they're children, they receive the word with joy.

And yet when they get older, we realize that the cares of this world choke out the seed and the world reigns supreme in their lives only proving that their profession was merely an empty one way back when. Because if it was true, they would have conformed not to the world because they would have crucified those passions and desires. And therefore we begin to understand what it means to be crucified with Christ. So I ask you again, have you died to self? Are you crucified with Christ? If so, you conform not to the ways of the world.

You're not being shaped and molded in the form of the world's attractions, affections, and ambitions. Why? Because you counted the cost. You repented of your sin and you are unashamed of the Christ. That's what it means to be a follower of Christ. That's what it means to be a Christian. That's why we spend time here. It is so important. As Harry Ironside said, as we read earlier, that what a tragic awakening in eternity to have religion but not obtain the righteousness of God. For Abraham, way back when he was in Ur of the Chaldees, he was a religious man.

He was a pagan worshiper of idols. But it wasn't enough for Abraham to be a religious man. He had to become a righteous man. And only God can declare someone righteous. Only God can take a dirty, sin-filled life and clean it and make it righteous and pure and whole. And when he does, oh, that person, that person has counted the cost. That person had repented of his sin. That person, oh, yes, he is unashamed of the Christ and conforms not to the world. Because God is his very great reward. And having come to him, the Lord God, he is never disappointed.

He is never disillusioned. And he never wants to depart from that one who gave his life for him. So I ask you, have you been crucified with Christ? Let's pray. Father God, we thank you for the truth of your word. It is so vital for us to understand what Christianity is all about. What it means to deny ourselves and take up the cross daily and follow you. Oh, Lord, may you go before us to stay. If there be one person today who is among us, who is yet to come to a place where they have followed Christ and given their life to him, may today be that day.

May they recognize that they are far from God. And they need to have God as their very great reward. May today be the day of their salvation. And may we proclaim this message loud and clear to those in our family, to those who are our friends, that they might know that he who comes to God will never be disturbed, will never be disillusioned, will never be disappointed, and will never depart. Because you are the precious cornerstone. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.