Life! The New Creation

Revelation 20:7-21:8

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Two weeks ago I was in the car on the way home from Kongsberg – and I was sitting in a long traffic jam – an hour and a half. Now that was an everyday thing in Cape Town, even in Oslo - but in Notodden?
That traffic jam meant something. It meant that something had gone very wrong. And as I finally reached Notodden I saw the reason why: a truck with a damaged front on the left side of the road… and on the right - a car smashed up really badly, front end collapsed. The car had drifted over into the wrong lane and collided head-on with a truck. The driver of the car was killed.

Death sucks. Whether it’s sudden like a car accident, or “expected” after a long life - death is always brutal. And we feel it. It’s a strange thing really. Death is a natural part of things. It’s the circle of life, and all that. But we hate it, we rebel against it.

Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet, wrote these words:
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Is that all there is? Is that what is left to us? To simply shake our fist at death, at hopelessness, to rage against the dying of our light until we snuffed out like a candle burned down to the end?

Actually, yes. That is all there is. Without Christ.

Death is just one of the reminders that something is wrong with the universe that we live in. We rebel against something so natural because for us it feels anything but natural. We fight it with anti-aging products and Artificial Intelligence and Freezing our bodies and anything we can to desperately push back against death. We rage against the dying of the night because we feel – no we KNOW that night should not fall.

And we are right. We were created to life forever. We are eternal creatures, all of us. We have the spark of the divine, you and me, every human being who was ever conceived in their mother’s womb (or in a test tube) – we are eternal creatures.

But we are in a war. We are at war.

1. We are at war

Rev 20:7 When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. 9 And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city.

The picture here is of a battle. Satan released in order to gather the nations – all the peoples of the world, in a war against God and his people. And this picture of war is one that is used throughout the Bible.

See, we like to think of God as an old kindly man in the sky, long beard, slightly senile – just sort of smiling down on us and going tut tut when bad things happen. Maybe wringing his hands and saying oh dear.

But the Bible’s picture of God – the way God has revealed himself – is something entirely different. He is a warrior, a fighter. He is not smiling kindly down on us, because we are at war with him. He’s more Rambo than Old Man. Armed to the teeth rather than losing his teeth!

We are at war with God. Now rightly enough it was we who declared war on him. We want to decide for ourselves how our life will go. We want to decide what is right and what is wrong. We want to be God in our own lives. In effect, we want him to be dead. Nietzsche even said, defiantly, that God is dead. It appears, however, that Nietzsche is dead. And God is still very much alive.

But that is the cry of the human heart. No God. We are at war.

What is it like to live in a war zone? We’ve heard the stories from the Ukraine, from Syria. I remember my friend 20 years ago telling me stories from Sarajevo as the former Yugoslavia broke up in war.

Life takes on a different flavour. You become kind of numb to the destruction around you. You go to sleep and are surprised when you wake up. You walk outside and see that where your neighbour’s house stood – now there’s just a big hole. The house blown apart by artillery fire. You walk to the shops, hoping that today there’ll be some food there – that someone will have got through the blockade with supplies. Life is a struggle, death around every corner. You barely flinch anymore when you hear the bzzt – thunk of bullets whizzing overhead. You scrounge for food, for water, anything to keep you alive. When you hear the boom-boom of the artillery guns you run for cover, and hunker down, just trying to survive.

And that, for a while, becomes normal life. That’s the way things are. You know there’s a different way to live, but it was so long ago when you lived in freedom, in gladness.

That is what we are like. The entire human race. We live in a spiritual war zone. Some of us have given up and say this is the way things are. Some of us have a sense of that which could be. That which we were made for. We have a longing in our heart for a world that we have never seen. A world without death, without sin, without evil. A world where we belong.

We long for a world at peace with God. But how?

Well, what do you do if you’re in a war you can’t win?
You surrender. You raise the white flag, send your envoys (messengers, diplomat), and ask for mercy.

The problem is, we don’t want to. We are the ones who started the war. And we still think we can win it!

But just look at v9. It’s one of my favourite verses. Because the build-up is for some epic Lord of the Rings style battle. V8 the mighty army from every nation numberless. You can see them roaring their victory cry, banging their weapons against their shields “here we come God, we’re coming for you!”. And then… nothing. No epic battle. No charge of glory. No once more into the breach men. This seemingly great and powerful army is not at all a threat to God. Our rebellion is nothing, a mere inconvenience, an annoyance. V9 But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. And then everyone was thrown into the lake of fire. Like you brush a bug off your shoulders.

We cannot win this war. Our rebellion is a joke. But because we’re locked into sin – that is wanting to be God – we cannot surrender, we will not surrender. But we cannot win. We’re fighting an unwinnable battle. Things will just get worse and worse. So what do we do? Well, because WE wouldn’t send an envoy of peace, God, in his mercy, sent HIS envoy of peace.

Dear friends, this is why the gospel means good news. Momentous, huge, good news.

2. God’s has sent an envoy of peace

21:5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

The one on the throne, God, says that he is making all things new. He says it is finished! He says whoever is thirsty can receive freely the water of life, and then that anyone victorious – those who overcome will inherit the blessing – the blessing of being with him. Not at war, but as children, part of the family. Closer you cannot get.

This is what Jesus did. These are his words, his actions. He was the envoy of peace from God to us: his own Son. We heard John 3:16 last week, those famous words that God loved the world so much he sent his only son… not to judge the world, but to save it.
Every Christmas we read the story of Jesus’ birth (Juleevangeliet). What do the angels announce to the shepherds in the fields: Glory to God in the Highest and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. (Luke 2:14) Jesus’ birth announces peace, announces a way out of war, a way to be made right with God, a way to regain the reality that we lost when we went to war with God.

It is finished because the cost of making peace has been paid, not by us, but by God himself. Peace costs. Peace comes at a price. War crimes need to be judged. Restitution needs to be paid. Someone needs to answer for the evil that was done.
Those words “It is finished” are the words Jesus cried out on the cross, as Jesus gave his own life so that he could bring peace. He paid the crimes of war – our war, in order to bring the war to an end. It is like the captain falling on a grenade to save his men. Or more like the enemy soldier rushing forward and falling on the grenade to save his enemies. Who would do this? Only God. Only God has love even for his enemies. He paid the cost.

A few weeks ago we read the story of the siege of Jerusalem in Isaiah 36. The great and powerful Assyrian army surrounded Jerusalem. But they didn’t attack. No. They sent envoys – representatives, diplomats – to see if they could negotiate a surrender without a fight. “Surrender now, and we’ll look after you. No one can save you. Don’t fight. Don’t throw away your lives on a lost cause, a battle you cannot win.”

Jesus is God’s envoy, and it is his message today: don’t throw away your lives on a lost cause, on a battle you cannot win. Surrender to me. Seek peace. I will look after you.

And unlike human beings, when God makes a promise to look after us if we surrender to him, he means it. He really does look after his people. There is not hidden agenda, no trick, no bait and switch, no small print.

God has sent an envoy of peace, Jesus, to us, his enemies. And to those who accept, those who surrender their lives to him, he promises a new life, a new hope, yes, a new creation. Look, I am making everything new He says in verse 5. And he’s not joking.

3. The New Creation

21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”

This is a picture of eternal life. Not sitting around on clouds strumming harps – good grief that sounds deathly boring. But it is a fantastic place to live. A city buzzing with life, with vitality. It is life at its best! And God will be there, amongst us. We will see our saviour’s face – face-to-face. No more sin, no more suffering. No car accidents. No dementia or cancer or war or theft or terrorism or worries about life. No tears or crying or pain. All gone forever. Everything is renewed.

It is this world, this universe, rebooted, restarted, restored, redeemed. This was just the cover and the title page. The new creation is Chapter One of the Great Neverending story, where every chapter is better than the last.
This is the shadowlands – that is the real country. The Real Country our heart longs for. The real country we were made for.

Revelation continues like this, describing the heavenly city of the new creation 21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honour into the city.

It is life with God, in his presence, in his holiness, without fear, for we have been made holy. This is a gift, what Christ has done. There is no-one in heaven who will say “this is what I have done” or “I did it my way”. No. This is what God has done. All glory to Him.

He is the Light, the sun and the moon. And the best of this world will be in the new creation. All the good things that are and have ever been and will ever be in this world – the best things of this world: they will be there - but better. Perfect. From every nation, every tribe, every people group and culture – the best of us will be there and it will all be giving glory to God.

And as we look around us we will see – ah, that which we loved so dearly here on earth we loved because it was a shadow, a picture, a reflection of the real thing here in the New Creation.

This is the hope of Christianity. A preacher called Mark Driscoll put it like this “For non-Christians this life is the best it will ever be. For those saved by Christ’s mercy, this life is the worst it will ever be.”

There is a great secure hope. The world we were made for. Jesus has come to bring this message: THE WAR HAS ENDED! Amnesty for all. Freedom for all.

Let me end by using a picture of the gospel. Here we are – people. And we have declared war on God. That is sin. We have turned our back on God. We have made a huge distance between us and God – so big that we cannot cross, even if we wanted to.
Here is God – the new creation. This is what we were made for, what our heart longs for. When we catch a glimpse of the shadow of heaven, of God, our hearts long for it. This is what we were made for. And he is a God of mercy, so instead of just blotting us out like we deserve – he sends his envoy, his messenger, his own Son, Jesus, to bridge the gap.

Now, where are you on this picture?

You may be here saying. Yes, I am a sinner. I’ve made a mess of things. I surrender.
You might be thinking “But I’m a good person” And you might be. Maybe that’s why you’re here this morning. There was a good man called Cornelius and the Bible says “his good deeds have come up before God” – so God sent Peter to him to share the gospel. Your good deeds might be the reason you are here this morning. God has had mercy on you by bringing you here so that you can hear the gospel and respond to it. Your good deeds are not enough. You alone cannot make peace with God.

Or maybe you have surrendered your life to Jesus. You may be filled with joy and excitement. I am! What a future. And you know what. That future is now. We already know God. He is with us every step of the way. The Spirit is with us. He looks after us. He keeps us secure in Christ. What blessings now! But then! Oh then! Face to face. Come Lord Jesus, Come!

Isaiah 13:1-14:25 War and bloodshed and Hell

Isaiah 13:1-14:25

Last week’s passage was great. Last week we saw hope for the future. We saw the destiny, the future, of those who love God and are called according to his purposes: the great heavenly City coming down from heaven to earth: the new Jerusalem, God’s city filled with God’s people. No more suffering, no more death, no more evil, no more judgement. An eternity of happiness. The name of the city is God is there. And this was won for us by our King, King Jesus. Won on the cross, as he took our place and paid for our sins with his blood. We are free from suffering for he suffered for us, once, for all, a perfect sacrifice.

That is our future – if we belong to Christ. A secure future. A good future. A future full of mercy and hope. And even now we see pictures of that, as Jesus is King now, as his banner is raised among the nations and people all over the world come to Christ.

That was last week passage. This week’s passage gives us the flip side. If last week was a picture of Heaven, this week we see a picture of Hell. It is brutal language, disgusting, raw, an unflinching picture of our evil hearts.

Isaiah 13:1-14:25 War and bloodshed and Hell

It is describing the coming war against Babylon. Babylon who will rise up and conquer Assyria, conquer Judah (Southern Israel), strip the Temple, and carry all the Israelites off into captivity – that Babylon which will rule the world will fall. That Babylon which was brutal in warfare, which dashed children to death before their parent’s eyes, which sacked homes and raped wives – that Babylon will experience justice. Exactly what they have done to others will be done to them. The King of Babylon, king of the world, who says to himself “Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendour.” (Dan 4:30). That king will be brought low. The arrogance of men will be brought low. The pride of men will be dealt with.

But it is more than that, because the fall of Babylon is seen as a picture of the fall of all wickedness and evil. The judgement on Babylon is a picture of the final judgement day of God.

Just two headings today:

1. Babylon, the symbolic city of wickedness

2. The Day of the Lord.

Ok, let’s get into it.

1. Babylon, the symbolic city of wickedness.

Chapter 13 is way out of chronological order. Isaiah is here predicting the fall of Babylon before it’s even become a superpower! Assyria’s the problem at the moment. Assyria is the one who surrounds Jerusalem in chapters 36-37. Only near King Hezekiah’s death do we hear about Babylon, when envoys from Babylon arrive at the end of chapter 39. So why is it here?

Because it is a symbol of rebellion against God. Babylon is where the tower of Babel was built – indeed, that is where it gets its name “Babel-lon” meaning “gate of God”. Remember the tower of Babel? The tower reaching up to heaven in Gen 11, when God reached down to scatter the languages. Babylon is not just a city, but it is a symbol of man’s rebellion against God.

Isaiah could be called “A tale of two cities” – as particularly in the second half Babylon and the new Jerusalem are contrasted with each other: Babylon the city of sin and rebellion, Jerusalem symbolising the righteous people of God.

For the Jews this was very symbolic as they were all technically Babylonians! You see, Babylon is the great capital city of the Chaldeans – you see it there in 13:19 Babylon, the most glorious of kingdoms, the flower of Chaldean pride. Guess where Abraham, the father of the people of God, is from? Gen 11:26–28 After Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran…. Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, the land of his birth.

And the question asked is which city do you live in? Are you Jerusalem or are you Babylon? There are only two ways to live: the way of Babel, Babylon: rebellion against God. Or to hear God’s call, and leave that way of life, and move to Jerusalem.
You live in one of these two cities.

The future of Jerusalem we heard last week, and it is glorious, secured not by our own efforts, but by the blood of our King Jesus. If you missed that sermon, get it. It is deeply encouraging, and you need to hear that one alongside this one!

This week we see the future of Babylon – and it is terrifying. Because Babylon has set itself up against God, and God’s patience will one day run out. There will come a day when he says “Enough! Evil has run its course, has served its purpose. Enough!”

2 “Raise a signal flag on a bare hilltop. Call up an army against Babylon. Wave your hand to encourage them as they march into the palaces of the high and mighty. 3 I, the LORD, have dedicated these soldiers for this task. Yes, I have called mighty warriors to express my anger, and they will rejoice when I am exalted.”

The picture is of a great siege – an army attacking a town. The army is huge and powerful, and it surrounds the town. The flag is raised and the attack begins. Great catapults flinging huge stones into the city walls. Huge ballista’s (arrow machines) firing wave after wave of arrows. And the soldiers, grim-faced, pounding on the gates.

This is what happened in 539BC when the Persian king Cyrus captured Babylon and the Babylonian empire fell. The Persian army surrounded the great city and then took it. King Belshazzar was killed – remember the writing on the wall in Daniel? While they were feasting and drinking and mocking Israel’s God – a hand wrote on the wall words meaning “you have been weighed, measured, and found wanting” – and the next day Cyrus entered Babylon and Belshazzar was killed.

Babylon, though continued to rebel against Persia in 522,521 and 482 – and in 478 the Persian king Xerxes destroyed the city completely, and it was never rebuilt. Babylon’s ruins stand as a warning to all those who imagine the Day of God’s judgement will never come. This once great city reduced to nothing. 13:21 Desert animals will move into the ruined city, and the houses will be haunted by howling creatures. Owls will live among the ruins, and wild goats will go there to dance. 22 Hyenas will howl in its fortresses, and jackals will make dens in its luxurious palaces. Babylon’s days are numbered; its time of destruction will soon arrive.

So that was the fate of historical Babylon, but also all who follow in Babylon’s footsteps, which are really the footsteps of Satan. Look at how the king of Babylon is described in 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! Literally “Lucifer” the name of the devil. You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. 13 For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. 14 I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.’

It is that arrogance, that wanting to be God, that is Satanic to the core. And when we try to take God’s place, we follow Satan as our master. We choose Babylon.

Babylon is the symbolic city of wickedness. It is set up against God, to reach to Heaven to pull him down. And one day that rebellion, that wickedness will be dealt with. That day is

2. The Day of the Lord

13:6 Scream in terror, for the day of the LORD has arrived— the time for the Almighty to destroy. 7 Every arm is paralyzed with fear. Every heart melts, 8 and people are terrified. Pangs of anguish grip them, like those of a woman in labour. They look helplessly at one another, their faces aflame with fear. 9 For see, the day of the LORD is coming— the terrible day of his fury and fierce anger. The land will be made desolate, and all the sinners destroyed with it. 10 The heavens will be black above them; the stars will give no light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will provide no light. 11 “I, the LORD, will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their sin. I will crush the arrogance of the proud and humble the pride of the mighty.

Well, it’s quite different from chapter 11 and 12 isn’t it? Then it was all 11:6 In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together and 10 In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. And 11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people

In that day, in the Day of the Lord, there will be peace, there will be hope and salvation. And in that same day, the Day of the Lord, chapters 13 and 14 show us there will be terror and horror and Hell unleashed.

For there to be peace, evil must be dealt with. Evil has had its day. SO like the flood in Noah’s God’s judgment covers the earth – and anyone not in the ark will die. Or like the angel of death in the Exodus who sweeps through the land of Egypt and every firstborn son not covered by the blood of the lamb dies.

Evil is dealt with. Justice is done. So far, so good. But I have a problem with this passage, and it’s there in v16. It is brutal, it is horrific, it is awful. It is real warfare. But in this passage God says that He is the one who has sent the army who has done it. In the very next verse, v17 he says “Look, I will stir up the Medes against Babylon”. In v3 I will call the mighty warriors – in fact the whole way through it is God who is calling down judgement.

And I realise that there is something right in my reaction – to have a problem, and there is something wrong in my reaction.

The right thing in my reaction is to be appalled, to be sickened by the wickedness on display.
Simply because God allows this to happen, simply because God uses evil to achieve his good purpose of righteous judgement doesn’t make it not evil. When God used Judas’ betrayal to send his Son to the Cross, it did not make Judas’s betrayal right. Jesus had to die in our place, cursed upon a tree – but that did not excuse the evil of Pilate and the chief priests condemning an innocent man to a horrible death. Just because God uses evil for good does not make evil good. It is still evil. In Deuteronomy 22:22-27 the penalty for rape is your life. That’s how serious it is. The penalty for murder, even murder of children, is your life. It is evil.

So that is the right part of my reaction – to be appalled. But the wrong part of my reaction is that I forget that God is God – even when evil things are happening. I think that because evil things are happening then God’s lost control. He’s fallen off his throne. Oh I might not say that but I certainly feel that way! We struggle to believe what the Bible says: that God reigns and that everything that happens in this world is bent towards his purpose to fulfil his eternal plan.

Last week’s passage was easy, wasn’t it? Happy things are happening and God is in control. Yay! I like God being in control. This week’s passage says horrible things are happening – and God is in control. Oh. Yay? How hard was it to say “Thanks be to God” after the Bible reading? I didn’t want to say it!

What must we learn from Isaiah 13? How must we be stretched, to have our little view of God exploded into the reality of God? This chapter challenges us with: Why? Why is this world so horrible? Why does God allow this – even take responsibility for it. I will. I have. I will send. They are my agents of judgement.

And the answer that the previous chapters have made very clear is: because we are sinners. Sin – rebellion against God – is literally Hell. Hell is where God is not, it is the absence of God. That’s why it is pictured as fire and torture and generally not a place you want to be. Our sin – rebellion against God – leads to sins – all the wrong things we do. Lying, cheating, gossiping, harsh words, cruelty, teasing people, bullying – all the stuff that goes on in every playground in every country in every culture – and however much we try to stop it we can’t. Kids can be really nasty to each other. And no one taught them to be nasty. It comes from within. And then murder and rape and abuse and theft and war and the list goes on and on and on. What aren’t we capable of? In our hearts is bound up hell.

It was the American theologian Jonathan Edwards who said in 1741 that “within our hearts are the seeds of hellfire”. Basically, if hell did not exist but one man did exist hell would soon take form from the evil in his heart.

God’s holy goodness makes him opposed to sin and any form of evil. Just look at v9 For see, the day of the LORD is coming— the terrible day of his fury and fierce anger. The land will be made desolate, and all the sinners destroyed with it.

That Day is coming. But that Day has already come – against Babylon, against Assyria, even against Jerusalem in 587BC. Time and again God has judged evil and brought it to an end. Each day of judgement a picture and reminder of the Final Day. In a sense, we live now in that Final Day of judgement. Just as there are pictures of Heaven around us, reminders of God’s saving work in Christ, there are pictures of Hell around us, reminders of God’s righteous judgement. Romans 1:18 tells us what’s going on now: But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

That’s happening now. We live in the Day of the Lord – the day when God will judge. Signs of it are all around us. Every time we hear of brutality, cruelty. When we turn on the news and hear of all the evil things that are being done… it is like seeing the downfall of Babylon. A reminder that the Day of judgement is coming. Are we ready?

Which city do we live in?

It’s worth remembering the verses before Romans 1:18 is our key verse 1:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes…this is by faith.

There is hope. I mean we see it there in 14:1 But the LORD will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. He will choose Israel as his special people once again. He will bring them back to settle once again in their own land. And people from many different nations will come and join them there and unite with the people of Israel.

Because evil is dealt with, the people can be rescued.

The Day of the Lord is either a Day of great rejoicing and freedom – or it is a day of horror and pain. The horrors of the Babylonian war were just a small picture of the horrors of facing God’s judgment. Don’t face it! Run to Christ and shelter in him.

Two comments before we end.

Firstly: The Babylonians were horrible rulers. And everyone rejoiced when they were defeated. 14:5 For the LORD has crushed your wicked power and broken your evil rule. 6 You struck the people with endless blows of rage and held the nations in your angry grip with unrelenting tyranny. 7 But finally the earth is at rest and quiet. Now it can sing again!
Some of you have lived under such rulers. Some of you have had to flee, run for your lives, because of such cruelty. But one day it will be over, and every evil deed will be repaid. Every debt settled. Justice will be done. That is a good and comforting thought. We do not have to take revenge. God will deal with everyone rightly and justly.

Secondly, you might be thinking, oh, this is just that Old Testament God nonsense. Jesus isn’t like that. Come with me to Revelation, to the picture of our Lord Jesus’ return – gentle Jesus, meek and mild – no. He will returns as the Warrior King, to destroy evil forever, and any who is not against him will be destroyed. Re 19:11–16 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

The Day of the Lord is either a day of terror or a day of joy. And it is coming as surely as the day Babylon fell came. That is a day of terror.

When the White Rider, Christ Jesus himself, appears, will you look to him with hope and joy: rescue! Salvation! Or will you look with fear and anger? Are you Babylon? Or Jerusalem? Two cities. Two futures. Where do you stand?

Isaiah 11 & 12: Hope and fulfilment

Isaiah 11:1-12:6

Two weeks ago we tackled some pretty rough chapters, 9&10: judgement on Israel, the terror of Assyria which will wipe them out – then the judgement on Assyria “who do you think you are – you’re just a tool, like an axe. Is the axe greater than the arm that wields it?” – and bam – you who were a great forest will be just a few sticks in an open field.
After seeing the sinfulness of man, whether in Israel or Assyria - After seeing what happens when God’s patience runs out and he moves in terrifying righteous judgement - after all that, we finally get some words of hope.
In the mess and the suffering and the confusion of a broken world, a world filled with war, with refugees fleeing for their lives, sitting in foreign countries longing to go home – into that situation God speaks. Sound familiar?

Is there hope for today? Is there hope when we see millions of people fleeing from their homes because of the sinfulness of man expressed in war? It is not just. It is not right. It is evil. It is sin.
I love this church – all of you that make up this church – I love each and every one of you. You are my family, my brothers and sisters. But it saddens me that the reason that many of you are here is because you are refugees, fleeing for your life. Because war has overtaken your homeland and ruined it.

That was the situation in Israel: the Assyrians would stomp on everyone, removing the Northern Kingdom of Israel entirely. Everyone moved. The land emptied. And most of the Southern Kingdom would be equally destroyed. Towns, villages, empty. Fields and farms deserted, abandoned. People taken into captivity or fleeing into neighbouring lands.

Israel will be nothing more than a stump. The kingdom has had bad kings who have lead them to ruin. The great promise of the King like David, David’s son who would rule well and would bring peace and prosperity – that, like a great tree, had fallen. What was left was just a stump. But God speaks. And there is hope.

1. V1-5 Our hope: Jesus, the divine Davidic King

11:1 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. (Some translations say out of the stump of Jesse – Jesse was David’s father).

A new King will arise! The promise God made to David will be fulfilled. Even in the mess, even in the chaos of war and refugees and fear – God’s promises remain. They are a never-changing fixed point that will never fail. And what a King! This King will be filled with God’s own Spirit. He will be a godly king. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Isn’t this the type of leader we want? Wise. Understanding. With counsel and knowledge. But not a push-over, a weakling – someone with might (power) – able to do what is right. And he does what is right because he fears the Lord – that is, the Lord is his boss. V3 He will delight in obeying the Lord. He not only obeys the Lord, but he delights in obeying Him. It is His joy to love the Lord, to obey Him, to do His will. What a king!

And because of this His rule brings justice and peace. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. 4 He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited.

How much injustice is there in this world! How evil when the State abuses its power! When there is corruption or just laziness and justice is not done. When children are taken from their parents. When you’re forced to fight in the army. When the police arrest you and throw you in prison for being a Christian. When your village is bombed because you are suddenly in “rebel” territory. When you are wrongly accused and are put in prison for something you didn’t do.

But this king is not like that. He sees the truth. He looks beyond appearances. He sees into the hearts of men.

Who can this be? Who sees through the lies and into mens hearts but God alone? v4 continues The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. 5 He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.

A little bell should be ringing in our minds. We just read about a child that would be called God. Is this King the miracle child, the sign promised to Israel? Come back with me to chapter 9.
6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

There is a King, a King who will be born, the Prince of Peace who will rule forever, and he will be called Everlasting FATHER, MIGHTY GOD. God Himself will be born a child and will rule forever. That is the sign of the woman back in chapter 7:11 Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

This is the son, the boy Immanuel “God with us”. The Spirit will rest on Him and He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will bring justice and righteousness.

THIS IS JESUS.

Matthew 1:18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit….v20 “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Here is Isaiah 7:11 the virgin with child. Here is Isaiah 11:2 the Spirit-filled King.

John the Baptist announced his coming in Mt 3:3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!’ ” Who is coming? The Lord – Yahweh – Israel’s God is coming! Mt 3:13–17 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. ..16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Jesus was in the line of David, a son of Abraham. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, to the people shouting Lk 19:38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD (Yahweh)! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

Jesus said to Pilate Jn 18:36–37 “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” 37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

Have even just a quick read of the gospels and it’s clear that Jesus is the promised King. And because he is our king we have hope. Our future is secure. Because he is the King of the far future of the prophecy, the future yet to come for us. And he is the King of the near future of the prophecy, that for us has already happened and is happening.

Remember that prophecy works on multiple times: now, future, far future. Isaiah could not see which was which. We, because we live in between these two times: the coming of Jesus, and the Return of Jesus – we can see what belongs to what time.

2. V6-9 Jesus: King of the far future

Our future is secure. This King, this promised King, secures a perfect future. This has not happened yet – although we get some foretastes of it. But it lies in the future.

Re 21:1–4 (NLT) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Re 22:3–5 (NLT) No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

A Day is coming, the Day of Christ’s return, when there will be no accursed thing! Everything that is evil will be dealt with, destroyed, never to rise again. Jesus says Rev 21:5 “Look, I am making everything new!”. There will be a new heavens and a new earth. A new creation. A return to Eden – but better. Instead of two people, Adam and Eve, there will be millions upon millions. Instead of a Garden, a whole City. Instead of God walking in the cool of the day, he will live among us. There will be no tree of the knowledge of good and evil – only the tree of life!

Brothers and sisters, that is what we long for! That is what we were made for! When we see natural beauty – when we look around at this country, this amazing country – it is only an echo, a faint shadow of the glory of the Real Norway, the Norway in the new creation. And when we get just a glimpse of that beauty, our heart aches.
When we see human kindness, when we see people rescuing people, when we see the joy of someone accepting Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour for the first time. These are echoes of the new Creation.

Brothers, we are made for eternity. We are not made for this fallen world. We are not made for evil. That is why we react to it, fear it. There is something wrong with the world. This is not the way things are supposed to be! And we are right. And Christ will set the world right. The lion will lie down with the lamb. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. And the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord. Our future is secure.

But is this all just pie in the sky when you die? Do we just struggle through life waiting for the day Christ finally returns. No, because he is active now. He rules now, and all around us we see evidence of the work of Christ.

3. V10-16 Jesus: King of the near future (or as we would call it: Jesus: King of the now, for we live in Isaiah’s “near future”)

10 In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.

In that day? Which day. The First day or the Final day. Well, this is both isn’t it. For on that Final Day the nations will stand before him at the final judgement. Those who know him will go in. Those who do not will be shut out forever.

But we see this in action now. From that First Day, we see his banner raised all over the world. We see the nations gathered to him each Sunday in churches all over the world. Right now, millions of brothers and sisters are gathered in Jesus’ name: in Beirut, in Paris, in Darfur, Iran, Pakistan, India, Eritrea, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, US, and on and on across the world: some in secret, some openly, but all in His Name. Our King! And this church family we have is a glorious place. It is not a perfect place, not yet! But it is glorious.
Here we are, from all across the world. We have nothing in common. Except Jesus. He is our Lord and Saviour. God is our Father, and we are brothers. Praise God!

11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people— those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt; in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam; in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands. 12 He will raise a flag among the nations and assemble the exiles of Israel. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth.

In that day, the First Day, the day of the cross, was when Jesus completed the true Exodus. Remember the Exodus, when Moses lead the people of Israel out of slavery to Egypt, and into the Promised Land. Throughout the Old Testament there have been signs and prophecies looking forward to a second Exodus, a greater Exodus: and that is what Jesus achieved on the Cross. On the Cross he rescued us from slavery to sin, and will take us safely to the Promised Land, the New Creation. This is the second Exodus, the greater Exodus. And all who put their trust in Jesus are part of it.

And this is where we find ourselves today. Christ’s banner is raised. Our Spirit-filled King calls all men to himself. He has achieved the great Exodus: the rescue of people from slavery to sin. This is the hope of the nations. This is the power that can break war, and hatred, and racism, and fear, and lies and gossip and sexual sin and cruelty and murder and bullying and neglect and laziness and cheating and stealing and… all taken by him on the Cross. Borne by him, our righteous King. And we stand united in Him, the church his glorious family, full of love and hope and righteousness and truth.

Jesus is our King now.

4. 12:1-6 Our response: Joyful obedience!

And as his people we should be like him. What does that look like? Well, not like Israel in Isaiah’s time! Actually, we should be like our Spirit-filled King. Turn with me to Gal 5 to see what that looks like.

Ga 5:22–26 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

What should our lives look like under King Jesus’ banner?
Well, these are some of the things a Christian will be, just taking a few of the fruits of the Spirit:

Love: putting Christ first, and serving others. I love Jesus so I serve my wife, even if I feel like she “owes” me. I love Jesus so I serve my kids even when they annoy me. That service can mean getting up off the sofa to deal with their disobedience. Love is seen in action! I love Jesus so I share the gospel. I love Jesus so I invite people to my home. I love Jesus so I…

Peace: Not causing fights. Looking to reconcile but in truth. Do you have hatred for someone? How can you be like Jesus and take the step to make right?

Faithful: Committed to the right things. Committed in church. Committed to your wife! And that includes sexually purity. Things like not watching pornography. Not having sex with anyone other than their wife. Having sex often with their wife! (If you are having sex with a not-wife – then repentance means stopping. If you’re not married, get married. If you’re married to someone else, you need to confess your sin.)

Gentle: Not given to outbursts of anger. Not being cruel or harsh with your kids or co-workers or wife or anyone else. Not being cutting with your words, belittling people, hurting them with your words. Even on Facebook. Even with your enemies. Even with groups of people like “the Muslims” or “the refugees” or “the Norwegians” or “NAV” or whatever. Let us speak like Christ.

Now remember this is not something that we have to ACHIEVE and then God will like me. You know, you need 20 “love points” and 15 “faithfulness” points to enter the church. This is a by-product of being a Christian. We are with our King and his Spirit starts to change us.

Because this is what we will have if we are with Jesus, and this is hard to fake: Joy! Yes, we should be bursting with joy. We are saved! Jesus is King! There is hope for the nations! Hallelujah

Praise Jesus that there is hope in this world! That his promises still stand. That he is a safe port when the storms rage about us. I think there is no better way to respond than to say the words of chapter 12 together. I have written them on the screen as well.

Let’s stand and say together: “I will praise you, O LORD! You were angry with me, but not any more. Now you comfort me.
2 See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.”
3 With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!
4 “Thank the LORD! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is!
5 Sing to the LORD, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world.
6 Let all [his] people…shout his praise with joy! For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.”

Let’s raise our voices with the faithful people of God across the world and throughout history from before Isaiah’s time, with Isaiah in his time, and all the way until today – millions praising God! Let’s sing “see what a morning”. What a mighty, amazing, God we serve. The God who saves us. The God who gives us hope and a secure future. Praise God.

Colossians 3:1-17 Anger, war, malicious behaviour, lying...and Christ.

Colossians 3:1-17

One of the best days in my Granddad’s life was the day he was dismissed from the British Army after World War 2. No more marching. No more fighting. No more war. No more standing to attention. No more of the Sergeant shouting and screaming and yelling at them. Free. He was free.
Walking away after he was dismissed, he saw his sergeant approaching. Immediately his arms went straight at his sides, his chest went out, his whole posture stiffened and changed as he went to attention and his hand was ready to salute.
And then he remembered. “I’m free”.
And all the attention went out of his body, his hands went in his pockets, and he whistled a happy tune. The sergeant was furious, his face turning bright red, looking like he was about to burst – but his rage was powerless. He had no authority.

How often do we stiffen to attention and salute and obey the old sinful nature within us? How often do we forget that we are free, and keep living the old way? We live like we’re in the Army, instead of living as free men.

Brothers and sisters, live as free men and women. Live as those who have been set free by Christ. Why go back to the old way of living? Why listen to the world, your own sinful desires, and the devil? Why allow yourself to be ruled by the old nature?

We have died to that old life. It no longer rules over us: it is dead. We are alive to Christ. As we see in this passage, death is the pathway to life. And only when we understand that, can we start to live like Christ.

1. Death leads to life

2. Live for Christ: anger does not rule you

3. Live for Christ: be like him (Put on the new nature)

1. Death leads to life

3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. 5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you

Christian, you are dead. So live like it! You are dead to the old life, alive to the new, the new life of Christ. You have been raised to life like Jesus, perfect, holy, full of love and compassion and righteousness. You are now tender-hearted, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving, loving, at peace (v12-15). That is who we are in Christ. That is what we were made to be. Imagine a society like that!! That is what the new creation will be like one day. We will, all of us, be like Jesus.

So let us lift up our eyes to heaven. Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

And if we are looking up to heaven, our vision filled with Christ, then we will see our sin as the dirty enemy it truly is. In the presence of Christ Almighty do you want your mind to be full of lust? In Him, can you lie? With Him by your side can you be full of rage?

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.

Last week we dealt with these verses. If you weren’t here, download it listen to it, particularly if you struggle with sexual sin. In other words: all of us! No matter what your sexual sin, your sexual struggle, you are not judged here. You are welcome here. There are things in our past we are ashamed of, just like you. But you know what. We have been declared holy and blameless. Our sins have been confessed and forgiven. We have made right and asked for forgiveness where we have had to make right and ask for forgiveness.

God does not call the holy, but the broken. That is why Jesus came. You cannot deal with your sin. But he can, and has.
So if you are a sexual sinner, you are welcome here. Actually, let me correct that: you are a sexual sinner, and you are welcome here. You are among friends. And we urge you, turn to Christ – he is the only one who can wash away your sins, set you free from addiction to your bodily urges. Only he is a better vision.

There is no room for sexual sin in the Christian, so put it to death. There is no room for greed in the Christian, so strip it off. Greed says “I’m worshipping something else. I’m looking to this thing to satisfy me” – instead of looking to Christ. Strip it off, put it to death. And if that means you close your eyes during the adverts and avoid the shopping mall and stop looking on finn.no then good for you. Do whatever you need to do to get rid of greed in your life. That goes for food too. We probably all of us here eat too much and exercise too little. I know I do. Greedy little piggy. Look to Christ, not to food to satisfy.

We must put to death these things, brothers and sisters, because they belong to the old life – and we have died to that old life. We must not go back under the authority of the Sergeant, standing to attention, obeying his every whim. We are free! Let’s live as free men. No sexual sin, no impurity, no lust, no evil desires, no greed for we have found what is real, what truly satisfies.

Let Christ rule your sex life, you thoughts and actions. Let him fill your needs and lead you away from greed. We have died to that old life, and live for Christ. Death leads to life.

2. Live for Christ: anger does not rule you

7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behaviour, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Paul now changes the picture from death/life to clothing: stripping off and putting on. Rip off the old life, put on the new life of Christ. And part of what belongs to the old life is anger and rage. Rage. That fury which bubbles underneath the surface in all of us, just looking for an excuse to come out.

We have a problem with anger, rage and malicious behaviour. These come so naturally, so easily to us.

My children regularly disagree. “I say Kaleb, would you mind terribly giving back that toy that you just took from my hand.” “Certainly, just as soon as you stop driving it into my foot and messing up my game.” “Oh, I am so sorry, I do apologise”. Is not how things normally go. Things escalate rapidly: Stop it! No, YOU stop it. Give it back! Not if you don’t stop it! No! Yes! Give it! Nyahh, nyahh! Graaaaaah! AAAAAAAHHH! And enraged they fly at each other grabbing and hitting and kicking.

Now what’s remarkable about that picture is that we’ve never taught them that. We’ve never sat them down and said “Now, first you yell and scream, then you go red in the face, then you insult him, and then you hit her there, and...” No, we say the opposite time and time again. But blind rage comes so easily to us. Revenge. Maliciousness – because they deserve it. Kids fighting over toys is one thing, and we shake our heads and go “huh, kids” – but we adults do the same, and it becomes deadly serious. Hamas shoots rockets at Israel, and Israel hits back. Both sides enraged by the other, until the actions and reactions leave thousands dead and thousands more wounded. In Mosul Muslim warriors are enraged at the “blasphemy” of Christians and Shia Muslims, and run rampage through the town murdering anyone who stands in their way, and justifying it through selected suras in the Khoran. Our anger is the just anger of Allah they say, while holding up the heads of innocents.
How is this possible? How can ordinary men and women be so easily converted into murderous lunatics, so full of rage and anger against their fellow humans?
The Nazis managed to turn ordinary Germans into murderers. They would be sitting down to a pleasant meal with their family only a few hours after savagely beating, stripping, and gassing Jews.
And here we have our own Anders Bering Breivik, so enraged by the policies of the Arbeiderpartiet that he plans and executes the cold-blooded murder of children and teenagers – and to this day thinks his actions are justified, in fact, good, instead of monstrously evil.

There is something wrong deep within us.

And I say “us” because we are just the same. The same anger, the same rage burns in us, just in more socially acceptable ways. The guys cuts us off on the road, and we fly into a rage. At work, we complain about our colleagues or our boss behind their back, all the while presenting a fake smile to them. And then we mistreat those under our authority. Maybe we take out our anger on them, using cutting words – slander, malicious behaviour, lies. Whatever it takes to build us up and to tear them down.

Now this might sound way too extreme. Seriously, you’re comparing me snapping angrily at a bad driver to..to murder? Really? Well, let’s take us out of a situation where irrational anger is frowned upon and socially unacceptable and put us in a group baying for blood in front of someone we intensely dislike. The crowd is shouting, egging us on – glory awaits in giving in to our anger, our hate – and if we don’t we will be an outcast, disloyal to the cause, shunned perhaps even beaten or killed. You still think you wouldn’t give in to your rage? You still think you’re so peaceful?

In 1994 the country of Rwanda exploded into bloodshed as ordinary people turned on their neighbours and murdered them because they were of a different tribe. Doctors let patients die, teachers murdered their students… over half a million people died in less than 100 days.

What is wrong with us? It’s sin. The root of this anger, this rage that flares up so quickly, is idolatry. Idolatry of self. “I believe I am God” is the root problem. That is what sin is: replacing God with something else (most often me). And when people do not do, say, or believe what I do, say or believe. How dare you disagree with me? How dare you get in my way? How dare you have a different opinion? Feel my wrath.

Someone once said “What would happen if you put a weapon in the hand of a two-year old in a temper tantrum?”.

7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behaviour, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Strip off the anger, put on the new man. As the words are about to flood out, pray! Say, Lord, I hate this person right now, please help me to love them, please help me to see them with your eyes.

Strip off the old. Put on the new.

3. Live for Christ: be like him (Put on the new nature)

10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

CS Lewis once described Christianity as a renovation of a house. He compares our lives to a run-down house in need of repairs. At the beginning, you can see him fixing up the roof, and replacing windows and fixing the pipes – all good things, and you feel better. But then he starts tearing down walls, and digging new foundations, and putting up a whole new wing over there, and lifting the roof off to put a new floor – and it’s painful! It hurts. It’s HARD! You see, you thought you were just going to be a nice little garden cottage – but Jesus is transforming you into a palace. Why? Because it’s his house, and he’s the King.

Being a little bit better is insulting to the King. We are not called to be slightly nicer than everybody else. That’s religion. That’s a self-help program. That’s a waste of time – chapter 2 told us that. Christianity is a program of perfection, of pure holiness. It is utterly extreme in its demands. We are not called to be better. We are called to be exactly. Like. Jesus.

10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

A while ago there were little bangles that really popular with WWJD on them: “What would Jesus do”. They were a little bit silly, I suppose, but they really got to the heart of this truth: that we are to be like Christ in everything we do. Look at v17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
In everything we do. We are not to be like each other, or like this church group or that type of Christian. But we are to be like Christ. He is the standard, he is the goal. Because one day we will be with him, in his very presence. His holiness burns like the noonday sun, his righteousness a blazing fire. And anyone who is not perfect will be destroyed in his presence. Remember the Temple in the Old Testament, how no-one could go in to God except the High Priest and even he had to first be made holy through lots of sacrifices and elaborate rituals. How not even Moses could see God’s face without being destroyed? How Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark of God’s Covenant as it was about to fall off the wagon it was on – and was struck down dead because he was unholy and the Ark was holy?

We will be in the presence of the Living God, in his terrifying holiness! And we will be seated on his lap, our Abba, our Daddy, because he who began the good work in us will complete it. We will be made holy. We are declared holy. We are being made holy. Be like Christ.

We have died to our old life, and now live for Christ. Our new life is Christ’s life, and we are being made like him. That is our goal, our destiny. That is the Holy Spirit’s work within us.

So, no more sexual immorality, but love. No lust, but kindness. Not evil desires and malicious behaviour, but mercy and gentleness. Not anger and rage but patience, harmony, and forgiveness. Not greed, but thankfulness.

What would Jesus do? Well, often we know exactly what Jesus would do. My Dad wore the bangle he said to ask not what would Jesus do, but what will Jack do?
This week, before you act, before you speak, ask yourself what would Christ say? What would Christ do? And then do that.

Big Question 4: How can I trust Christianity when the church has been so evil?

Isn’t Christianity evil?

It’s a good question.

Does it work? It’s the question of our age.
Like good, post-modern consumers we want to test the quality of the product or service we are about to commit to.

Does it work?

Does Christianity work?

The narrative in the world today is “no”. Christians are homophobic bigots, judgemental, obsessed with telling other people about sex, anti-science, and dangerous to society: after all, religion is the cause of most wars.

If we look around at our own town, and ask different non-Christians or even Christians about their experience of church and many have met exactly those attitudes. Many have been hurt by the church –judgmental or downright cruel people wearing a fake smile and a little halo while making them feel like dirt.

So that might be your experience. If it is, well done for being brave enough to come!

Now you’re may be expecting me to now go on and on about how the idea that Christians are evil is false, and spend ages trying to argue away the bad things that have been done in the name of Christianity and try and whitewash them so they are “good”.
If so, you’ll be surprised to hear that my first two points are

1. “Christians” are evil

2. Christians are evil

Great, sounds wonderful doesn’t it? Why be a Christian then? Because

3. Christians are forgiven

And finally we’ll stop looking at the evil things done by Christians, and look at the good things done by Christians.

4. Christians have been the biggest force for good in the world’s history

1. “Christians” are evil

You see, not everyone who calls themselves a Christian IS a Christian. Now this may be surprising. Surely if you say “I am a Christian”, then it’s true for you, and “who are you to say it’s not true?!”. But Jesus disagrees....

In Matthew 7:15 Jesus says “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, the way they act....On judgement day many will say to me “Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name”. But I will reply “I never knew you. Get away from me you evildoers”

You see being a Christian is not like being a Muslim or a Buddhist or a Crystal healer or a nihilist or even a Jehovah’s Witness. It’s not about subscribing to a philosophy of life, or doing certain religious rituals, or belonging to a certain group, or even “serving the Lord”. Surprisingly, as Jesus said, it’s not even about doing great miracles or casting out demons or prophesying. It is about KNOWING and BEING KNOWN BY God Himself.

We saw that last week, as Christian helped us answer the question “Why is Jesus the only way to God?”
Because, as Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”
Jesus himself is the way, the truth and the life – he doesn’t just tell us “this is the way”, he IS the way. Jesus is the only way to God because he is God.

Because the only way to know God is to…know God. Just like the only way for me to know you is to know you. I could talk to your friends, read your Facebook statuses, look at pictures of you – but I would only know about you, I would not know you. WE would still be strangers, not friends. The only way to know God, is to know Jesus.

That’s why simply saying “I am a Christian” is meaningless without the reality of relationship with the Living God. Ticking a box on a census form no more makes you a Christian than walking into a garage makes you a car!
Going to church on a Sunday, even going regularly, doesn’t make you a Christian. Jesus didn’t say “I am a truth” or “I can explain the truth”. He said he is the Truth. He is the Ultimate Reality at the centre of all of life. Jesus isn’t in the “Sunday” box which you can pick up when you feel like it. Becoming a Christian is giving up your LIFE to Jesus. Wherever you go, I go. Whatever you tell me to do, I obey. Whatever you say, I trust. I am yours. I belong to you.

This is very different to most religions, so it’s easy to be confused. There are also plenty of people wearing white collars and fine robes and big silver crosses and big hats - or torn jeans and a guitar and a soul patch and Chinese “Jesus” tattoo and an iPad with a cross on it – or a white suit and a big leather-bound Bible to wave from the front and never open. Plenty of those people around who look the part, but are anything but.

The most effective lies are those that are 90% truth. And there is a lot of that type of “Christianity” in the world, and has been in the past, particularly as Christianity gained political power.

In the film the “Book of Eli”, Gary Oldman’s character, the “Mayor” of the town desperately wanted the book of Eli (the Bible) in order to manipulate people. He wanted to wield it like a weapon. And the Bible has been misused and abused throughout history to get people to do things in “God’s name” which have nothing to do with God and everything to do with me and what I want.

Like getting people to go to war. Right? “Religion is the cause of most wars”.
In the “Encyclopedia of Wars”, authors Philips and Axelrod chart the motivations for wars – among them religion.
Do you know how many wars were religiously motivated (where religion was used as the reason for war – and this is broadly interpreted): 123 wars.
That sounds like a lot. But there has been a total of 1763 wars! Meaning “religion”, even in its broadest interpretation, and that’s ALL religions, not just Christianity, is fairly insignificant as a cause of war (less than 7%). As the agnostic comedian David Mitchell said “People are just very good at finding reasons to kill each other, and I’m not convinced that removing one of the reasons (religion) will lead to any significant change”.

But there have been and are many things done in the name of the church or Christianity or “God” that are rightly condemned. The Spanish inquisition, burning “heretics” at the stake, indulgences, and so on and, of course, many of the wars in the name of God. These things are evil and opposed by Christians! And many evil things have been and are still done by people in the church hierarchy who by any stretch of the imagination could not be obeying Christ, and they should be exposed and punished. Think about the priests abusing children, and then the bishops covering it up. Think about the oily preacher in his white suit calling on people to “give generously so that God will bless you”. Evil men twisting the truth for their own gain. Their father is the devil, the father of lies.

“Christians”, the religious, churchians, or those simply using the name to achieve power – they are self-righteous, judgmental, evil people.
But so are real Christians. Because becoming a Christian doesn’t mean that all your selfish behaviours vanish. Oh no. Becoming a Christian means you start to realise how really sinful and selfish you actually are! It’s like when you’re up in the attic under the roof or something – it’s only when you come down into the light that you realise how filthy you are. That’s what it’s like becoming a Christian.

2. Christians are evil

The Bible’s pretty clear on this point. Christians are evil.
Eph 2:1-3 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil...3 All of us used to live that way, following...our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
Rom 3:10-12 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”
Gen 6:5 The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.
Rom 7:18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway…24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

Christians do and say wrong things all the time, just like everybody else – and sometimes colossally wrong things. Christians can be liars, gossips, prejudiced, racist, bigoted, gossips, slanderers, evildoers, murderers, sexual sinners, and so on – just like everyone else in the world. We don’t magically transform immediately into Jesus. And so it’s not surprising that we manage to hurt outsiders and each other along the way.

The first step in becoming a Christian is admitting that you are a sinner, a rebel against God. And what we too often forget is that here is then no room for being judgemental (“den store pekefinger”) because we have been forgiven so much. Why should I look at the speck in YOUR eye when I have a LOG in my own? Particularly when we look at the lives of non-Christians.
Judgementalism, looking down on people, pretending we are better – that should have no place amongst God’s people.
So I want to apologise on behalf of the church for when we get it wrong, when I get it wrong. I apologise for when I have sinned, thinking myself better than you or you or you because I don’t do such and such a thing. I have forgotten that I am a sinner, saved by grace, and grace alone.

This means, brothers and sisters in Christ, that we need to work hard at loving each other and bearing with one another. This is a club for sinners, and we will sin against outsiders, and against each other – often without even realising it. Remember Eph 4:2–4 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

We are sinners, and so we will sin, and hurt each other. But let us then be quick to forgive, because, even though Christians are evil,

3. Christians are forgiven

Eph 2:4–5 We were dead in our sins...But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
Rom 3:21-22 No-one is righteous...But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him... 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
Gen 6:8 Everything we thought or imagined was only evil...But Noah found favour with the LORD.
Ro 7:24–25 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

God looked upon us in our filth – and He had compassion on us, loved us enough to become a baby and be born right into our filth. Not because we are loveable (or “worth it”) or our hearts reached out to him – we’re dead, whoever heard of dead people doing anything? - but because of His great love, of His great worth. Praise Jesus! We are sinners, yes, but we are forgiven sinners. What love!

Sin and forgiveness is a huge mindshift – and is often misinterpreted by non-Christians.

For example: homosexuality. Saying “Homosexuality is a sin” is not saying “we hate people who have same sex attraction”. In fact we love those with same sex attraction (we have to!) the same way we love those with opposite sex attraction (we have to!), while still saying that divorce is a sin, and sex before marriage is a sin, and sex with someone other than your spouse is a sin, oh, and by the way, lying is a sin and murder is a sin and gossip is a sin, and jealousy is a sin, and greed is a sin, and.... And all of us are welcome at the cross.

If you doubt what I say about the homosexuality thing, consider that the most conservative, fundamentalist wing of the church in England – has a gay man as the head of one of their most prominent organisations. And he’s been heavily involved in leadership there for 20-odd years. (livingout.org) Despite the media reports or the liberal smear campaign “Being gay” has never been an issue in the real church. Trying to twist God’s word so you can sin the way you want to – now that is an issue.
And if you are gay, you are most welcome here. You will be loved, you will be respected, you will be called upon to repent of all your sins, not just sexual ones, and salvation will be found in Christ, not in changing your orientation. We’ve definitely got it wrong when we end up preaching “be sexually attracted to women” as salvation instead of the glories of the cross!

This room is full of sinners. And praise God! The church is not a place for those who want to come and shine their halo, and have God bask in their glory – God coming down off his throne and saying oooh, well done. Many places are like that: get yourself cleaned up before you come to God. Do, do do. Jesus says “done”. “Come to me just as you are”, he says.

Christians are forgiven sinners.

Now, before we hit the last point let me sum up where we’ve got to: We know that being a Christian means knowing Jesus personally.
We know that many people have used the label “Christian” to do evil things, and many evil people have seen the church as a way to personal power and have abused that power.
We know that Christians have often messed up and sinned against those outside and inside the church – and will continue to do so. We’re not perfect! Yet!
And we know that Christians are forgiven by the mercy of God.

But, to come back to that quintessential post-modern question “does it work?” I want us to consider the impact of Christianity on our world today and throughout history.

4. Christians have been the biggest force for good in the world’s history

Imagine now a world without Christianity.

It would not be a world at peace since 93% of the world’s wars have had nothing to do with religion. In fact, since Christians are commanded to be peacemakers, there would probably be far more conflicts. Take South Africa, for example: Mandela’s presidency ushered in peace, reconciliation, deep sacrificial forgiveness. Why? 27 years in prison in which this firebrand founder and head of the military wing of the ANC, in his own words, “never missed a Bible study or a church service”. 27 years, week in, week out, seeing Jesus, being challenged by the One who said “Father, forgive them”

In a world without Christianity, much of the world would still be unknown to us. The maps would be dark, because many of the world’s great explorers were missionaries, seeking to obey Christ’s commission to take the gospel to the world. They recognised that people are people no matter how “savage” they may be.

There would be no universities – certainly not as we know them today. Aristotle taught that knowledge came through a deductive process of the mind, not through experimentation, and he supported a pantheistic world view—with gods controlling nature and the universe and fighting – so the universe was inconsistent and untestable. Christianity taught that there was one God, a rational being, who was consistent in the way he ran the world. He was knowable and his world was knowable.

Bishop Robert Grosseteste, first chancellor of Oxford University in the 13th century, proposed the scientific “experimental method”. 300 years later, the devout Christian Francis Bacon, began recording results of his experiments, and scientific methodology began to be more widely accepted. The underlying philosophy behind our modern science is Christianity! No Christianity, no science.

There would be no hospitals – certainly not public ones, and there would be no nurses. Florence Nightingale was an upper class lady of privilege moved to compassion by the plight of the soldiers in the Crimean War, and considered it her Christian duty to get in and serve these soldiers, commoners!, washing them, binding their wounds, caring for them. Nursing was founded.

There would be no orphanages. For what other world view could motivate men like George Muller, who single-handedly cared for over 10 000 orphans in order to demonstrate the love and power and compassion of God?

Prisons would be dungeons where people are sent to die.

There would be no justice system to speak of.

There would still be slavery: it was first banned by church council in 1157. The battle against slavery had to be refought in 1800s by William Wilberforce and other Christian parliamentarians. And indeed, today “human trafficking”, slavery, is raising its head again as a huge problem, and Christians are rallying together to fight it.

Polygamy (many wives, one husband) would be the norm.

Women would have no rights – children even less. The concept of equal rights is found in Genesis 1 where male and female are created equal. Jesus treats women with great respect, and even includes them as part of his group of close followers – unheard of in those times. Even more scandalously, he allows children to come to him, and says that the disciples should be “like these children”.

Tragically, it would be a world without Manchester United, the world’s greatest football club! The clubs, United among them, started as a way to keep young men out of the pubs and doing something productive.

In our beautiful land, unwanted children would simply be abandoned in the forest to die – and that would be seen as perfectly normal. It was so normal that Olav the holy the first Christian King of Norway had to outlaw it on pain of confiscation of property – that is: if you kill your child, you will lose your farm. It stopped shortly after that. Without Christianity we would still be killing our children today – particularly those with defects or disabilities. Imagine that, just killing a child because he’s disabled.
Looks like we need another King Olav.

Music and the arts would be a shadow of themselves, Architecture would be stunted.

Leadership would be by might – the idea of servant leadership, of the leader who cares for his followers, started with Christ, and was ridiculed for hundreds of years. But now it’s part of our culture.

Most people would be illiterate, and most countries, tribes and people groups would not have a written language at all. Bible translators have had to create written languages from scratch on hundreds occasions – and the big push to educate people was so they could read the Bible. Those in power did not want to educate people – why give away power? The church disagreed.

Does Christianity work? Look at the track record (the whole track record). It works!

But more importantly than that: it’s true. It works because it is Truth. It works because Jesus is real, because he rose from the dead, because he is seated upon his throne. The church is not dead because he is alive and has a job for us to do as everything rushes toward the Day he returns, a Day of fire and judgement, terror and fear – and a Day of joy unimaginable for those forgiven sinners who bear his name: Christians.

Rejoice, Christian, for Jesus is Lord!