Chapter # 9 Paragraph # 4 Study # 8
November 29, 2009
Lincolnton, NC
(Download Audio)

• I. The Issues of Complexity.
  • A. Arise because of the shift of historical reality.
    • 1. In the day when Jesus uttered these words, there was a physical reality that is no more.
      • a. Jesus was physically on the scene.
      • b. "Following" Jesus was not terribly difficult in the sense of meaning.
        • 1) I differentiate between "difficulty of meaning" and "difficulty of doing" because of Luke 9's focus upon "following" and the focus in 9:57-62 upon the self-denial/daily cross issues involved.
        • 2) Luke 5:11 is the initial example and it stands as the "standard".
          • a. There is no disputing the fact that it is the initial example.
          • b. Luke 18:22 and 28 make a case for the fact that it is the "standard".
      • c. In that day, "following", at the least, meant being where He was and doing what He said.
    • 2. In the present day we have a significantly different physical reality.
      • a. Not only is Jesus not physically present, but His doctrine of His "Replacement" has had two thousand years to be corrupted.
        • 1) Jesus told His disciples that He would send a more-than-sufficiently-adequate Replacement (John 16:7) when He left.
        • 2) But the adversary has not been silently inactive regarding the "faith" that permits the Replacement to be effective.
          • a) The adversary's method has always been to "push the envelope" in two directions at the same time.
          • b) The "directions" tend to be opposites so that what does not snare by its appeal on one hand can be a means to snare by the opposite.
          • c) The snares involve either a Spirit-less confidence in intellectual study of biblical revelation or a Revelation-less confidence in "Spiritual" impulses.
      • b. The degrading of God's program over time is a biblically, historically validated, fact of life that makes the initial requirements more crucial as time goes by.
        • 1) God's programs have always started with a significant level of grace that overwhelms every opposition.
        • 2) But God has always gradually lowered the level of overwhelming grace so that real growth can occur.
          • a) There is no need for growth when all of the opposition is overwhelmed.
          • b) But the need for growth creates its own danger because it demands growth of people who tend to be committed to being coddled.
        • 3) Over time, the foot-dragging reluctance of the majority generates a gradually developing malaise that requires of any who will overcome that they be more diligent.
  • B. Arise because of the complexity that has existed since Genesis 3 and was illustrated even in the more simplistic setting of that day.
    • 1. "Following" has never only been "being where He was and doing what He said."
      • a. No one will be able to mount a reasonable argument to claim that Judas was "following" Jesus because no one makes as sharp a turn from the path as did he without some serious "following" failures.
      • b. "Following" has always involved the inner realities of heart/mind and soul/spirit as well as the outer physical realities of the body.
        • 1) Loving and believing are issues that have always been on the scene and have never been suspended.
        • 2) Judaism had corrupted this reality with its external legalism, but had not effectively set it aside.
    • 2. It would be pretty much impossible to argue that the delivered man of Gadara was not a "Jesus follower" even though he was denied the privilege of "being where Jesus was" (8:38-39).
  • C. Arise because of a greater content of revelation/explanation.
    • 1. In the age of the Replacement, the instruction took on a significant complexity.
      • a. 1 Corinthians 7:20 is a definitive, but non-inclusive, command.
      • b. 1 Peter 4:10-11 is also a definitive, but completely inclusive, command.
    • 2. In the age of the Replacement, the lethargic foot-dragging has been allowed to progressively develop so that people can be pretty much cheering, or griping, spectators and feel no discomfort at all.
• II. The Unchanging Bottom Lines.
  • A. "Following Jesus" has always, and will always, be rooted in a love for Him that is sufficient to move us to a legitimate pursuit of what is important to Him.
  • B. "Following Jesus" has always, and will always, be guided by the Spirit-enlightened mind that is actively engaged in the pursuit of what He has revealed as true (study and prayer).
  • C. "Following Jesus" has always, and will always, only be possible on the foundations of "denial" and "embracing" as the prior statements make clear.