Duty is a difficult topic for the Christian because the first thing that comes to mind is, “What’s in it for me?” The truth is that there is nothing “in it” for the Christian. The duty of a Christian is something that our God expects from us. He won’t say thank you to us. God doesn’t call us his friend because we’re buddies. God doesn’t consult us when he sends us out on our Great Commission. We have been purchased body and soul by the blood of Jesus. We are his servants – his slaves – his property. That is a glorious title because as such we are also heirs of heaven.
Jesus gives us two examples of Christian duty in our text and he ends with a parable. For this post, I’m just going to focus on one of the examples he give us, the second one. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” Nothing to it you say. Well, did you know that the CDC STILL says that cohabitation – apart from marriage – is bad for a relationship. In years past they talked in some detail about the effect on kids in those relationships too! You won’t hear from the CDC that living together before – or nowadays – without marriage is contrary to God’s plan for your life. I wouldn’t expect the government to quote Scripture. But God does expect that from you, Christian. The fact that a godless government organization agrees is good apologetics. It is your duty to point out your neighbor’s sin, call him to repentance, and to offer forgiveness. That’s how the kingdom of God works.
Nowhere does God mention or seem to care that your neighbor may never speak to you again. You Facebook friends might unfriend you. You could eat alone in the lunchroom. Do you know what life is like on a public university campus? This is hard! So we cry out with the disciples. “Increase our faith!” God doesn’t leave us, of course. Want to hear more? Watch this weeks sermon taken from Luke 17.
Book(s): Luke
Speaker(s): Fred Guldberg