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Commitment To The Lord. Commitment Needed. “Total commitment” or “personal commitment” used to be very popular among the denominations due to a loss in numbers
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Commitment Needed • “Total commitment” or “personal commitment” used to be very popular among the denominations due to a loss in numbers • “Total commitment” was made popular among Christians by the Crossroads Church of Christ leading to unscriptural practices in the 1970-80’s
Commitment Needed • Commitment is needed when we see… • Falling away • Church fighting • Lack of edification • Lack of evangelism • Lack of benevolence • Attendance problems • Worldliness in the church
Commitment Defined • “Commitment” is simply an agreement or pledge to do something (be something) in the future
Commitment Defined • The house of Stephanas displayed commitment (1 Cor. 16:15-16) • “set themselves” (ASV), “devoted themselves” (NASV) • “addicted themselves” (KJV), “devoted…” (NKJV) • “spending their lives” (NLT), “put themselves out” (MSG)
A True Christian… • Is single-minded (1 K. 18:21; Mt. 6:24; Lk. 9:23, 57-62; Ac. 2:46; 2 Cor. 11:2-3; Jas. 1:8) • Puts the kingdom first (Mt. 6:33) • Is all in (Mt. 13:44-46) • Loves God with his all (Mk. 12:30)
A True Christian Is… • Is a completely new creature (2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 3:8-10) • Is not his own, denies self (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:21; 1 Cor. 6:19; 9:27; 2 Cor. 8:5) • Is willing to die (Rev. 2:10)
Christianity Demands Total Commitment • Commit to the Lord first before other “commitments” • A true Christian should not need exhortation to be “totally committed” • Coal does not need exhortation to be “black” (coal is carbon and carbon by nature is black)
Christianity Demands Total Commitment • Snow does not need exhortation to be “white” (snow by nature is white). • A true Christian by nature is “totally committed”
Occasions Calling For Commitment When We Are Tempted To… • Lose our love (Rev. 2:4-5) • Go after materialism (Rev. 3:14-20) • Be fearful of truth (Jn. 9:22; 2 Tim. 1:7) • Seek man’s approval (Jn. 5:44; 12:42-43)
Justifying Non-Commitment • Some Christians seek to justify their lack of commitment (Lk. 10:27-29)… • “I am often weak and sinful…” • “Where does the Bible say you have to…” • “I am doing enough…” • “The church just isn’t what it should be…”
Justifying Non-Commitment • True, committed Christians… • Acknowledge their imperfections • Pray for knowledge and wisdom • Remain committed to the Lord’s service
Commitment EncouragedLessons from Joshua • God’s people can be encouraged to commit (Josh. 23-24) • God’s people can commit (Josh. 24:21-24) • God’s people can commit for a time (Josh. 24:31; Judg. 2:6-7)
Commitment EncouragedLessons from Joshua • God’s people can lose their commitment as a result of (Judg. 2:8-12)… • Following a man only (preachers? elders? parents only?) • Lack of teaching (sermons? Bible classes?) Influence of society (t.v.? music? Internet? friends?)
Total Commitment to the Lord • True Christians bear “the old rugged cross,” not “the old padded cross” • True Christians do not attempt to leap the chasm of life in two jumps • Half-hearted Christians are not accepted by a whole-hearted Christ