Built on the Rock (Matthew #39)

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Text: Matthew 7:24-29

Laying down the law of the New Covenant (New Testament)

• These sayings of mine (vs 24)
• This Sermon on the Mount is three chapters of the Lord Jesus Christ laying the foundation for the New Covenant in the Lord Jesus Christ and His reign as King of kings in the world to come.  What were the Lord’s sayings?
• #1 – Jesus Christ explained the spiritual nature of the New Covenant and the world to come (Matthew 5:1-12)
  • New Covenant is better than the old covenant because it is spiritual – Hebrews 7:14-19
  • Contrast that to the present evil world which is physical and carnal
  • The New Covenant is spiritual until the King physically returns with physical rewards.
  • Matthew 5:1-12 Jesus Christ laid out future rewards in Christ’s kingdom.
  • Matthew 5:12 physical rewards are in heaven?  Yes, until the Lord returns with the reward. Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
  • Matthew 5:46, 6:1,2,4,5,6,16,18 …thy Father… is to the Jew first.
  • Because the rewards are stored up in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ a person must live by faith according to Hebrews 11:6.
• #2 – Jesus Christ explained the sacrificial people of this New Covenant are salt and light right now (Matthew 5:13-16)
  • Contrast that with the celebrated people of the present evil world are darkness.
  • The children of the New Covenant are not kings yet, but salt and light.
    • Mark 9:49-50 – salt is seasoning
    • Luke 14:34-35 – salt is seasoning
    • Leviticus 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
    • 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
    • Children of light to the Jews first, then Gentiles – Paul said it in Ephesians 5:3-8, 11-13 (Colossians 1:12-13)
• #3 – Jesus Christ explained access into the New Covenant by righteousness (Matthew 5:17-43)
  • New Covenant is better than the Mosaic Covenant
    • Galatians 3:16-22
    • Access into the Kingdom of Christ and of God is by righteousness, specifically righteousness that is in Jesus Christ.
    • Ye have heard it said this way, but I tell you….
  • Access into the kingdoms of this world are through filthy lucre.
    • Notice how covetousness blinds men from righteousness (6:19-34) and the two are contrasted by the Lord.
    • Solomon prophesied about the coming of the King and the storm that will knock down houses built on sand when he said: Proverbs 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
• #4 – Jesus Christ explains service to God in this New Covenant (Matthew 6)
  • Is not limited to a physical priesthood, but encompasses a spiritual priesthood.
  • Giving, praying, fasting all to be seen of men versus to be seen by God.
  • Either you are trying to please men or you are trying to please God, but not both.
  • Paul would say it this way: Colossians 3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
• #5 – Jesus Christ excludes hypocrisy from this New Covenant (Matthew 7:1-5)
• #6 – Jesus Christ explains the good gifts in the New Covenant (Matthew 7:7-12)
• #7 – Jesus Christ warns that believing lies will keep you out of the New Covenant (Matthew 7:13-23)

Hearers versus doers

• Doers are rock solid.
  • Matthew 7:24-25
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
  • Hearers only are headed for a fall
    • Matthew 7:26-27 …great was the fall of it…
    • 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 …great falling away first…
    • Romans 11:11-12
    • Hebrews 6:1-6
    • Galatians 5:1-6
  • James’ analogy of hearers versus doers – James 1:22-25 – not salvation, but blessed in his deeds versus self deceit