August 29, 2006
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Tama Newtown Christian Church Sermon 2006/8/27 by Pastor Hide Noda
"What is a Christian?" I Corinthians 1:18-31
Pastor Noda began by saying that Japan seems to misunderstand Christianity as a totally Western religion. He remembered one of his friend who so resembled that historical Buddhist priest Ikkyu that he was called by that nickname. When "Ikkyu" became a Christian and told his family that he wanted to become a pastor, they all said, "Oh, does that mean you are going to become a Western Priest?" What is the Christian faith for a Japanese? Is a Christian a person who likes Jesus' teaching? Not quite, nor is being a Christian making a formal declaration of the fact in a church, nor is it going through the ceremony of baptism.
First, a Christian is one who has received salvation.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
We become a Christian when we believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and that we are forgiven through His work. Pastor Noda told us that when he became a Christian 53 years ago, he certainly did not all if the implications or meaning of what he was doing. He told his pastor that he wanted to be baptized, and when asked why, he said, "I was not really looking for God, but He found me anyway." (Apparently his pastor thought about delaying the baptism!) At any rate, it is not a question of waiting until we have read more of the Bible or waiting until we have cleaned ourselves up. It starts when we admit our sins, believe that Jesus died for them.
Second, a Christian is a person chosen by God.
26 "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.
God chose each Christian to come to Him, and this is a mysterious process. I like to think of it as a tunnel with "Whosoever Will" written over the entrance. When one enters the tunnel, turns around and looks back, one sees another sign over the inside of the entrance, "Chosen from the Beginning." We are not chosen because of any intelligence, talent or good qualities that we have, so there is no room for any pride. We cannot compare ourselves with others and say that we are better or worse. God does the measuring, and He measures value differently from the way that the world measures it. We deserve nothing from God, yet because of Christ's death on the cross, He gives us everything: forgiveness, salvation, cleansing and life with Him in His presence forever. A Christian is a sinner who is loved and chosen eternally by God. In this spiritual realm there is no competition.
Third, a Christian is one who is in fellowship with Christ.
30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.
What is meant by "in Christ Jesus?" It is like being a baby held by its mother. It is the safest, most peaceful place that one could ever be. Sometimes we may rebel and run away, but we can always run back into the loving arms of Christ. He gives to us, becomes in us, and prepares the way for us. We don't have to change ourselves or worry about how we have to be, because Christ Himself changes us.
Jesus becomes wisdom for us. This does not come from studying textbooks. It comes through trust and faith. It comes through spending time with God in prayer and reading His Word, the Bible.
Jesus becomes our righteousness. This can only be gained by receiving forgiveness for our sins through His death on the cross. Pastor Noda also cautioned us to remember that it is Christ's righteous and not our own, and we must always be ready to re-examine our motives before God. We are to act in the righteousness of Christ and not in our own righteousness, which may be mistaken.
Jesus becomes our holiness. We are not holy in ourselves, and can never hope to be. This can only happen when we invite receive forgiveness from sin and a new, clean heart in which God Himself can live.
Jesus is our redemption. He paid the price in His death on the cross that we should have paid ourselves. We were slaves to sin and death, but now the price has been paid, and we are free of both.
We ended with the following song, #527 in the Japanese Sambika hymnbook.
O You, in whose presence my soul takes delight,
On whom in affliction I call,
My comfort by day and my song in the night,
My hope, my salvation, my all!
Where do You, dear Shepherd, resort with your sheep,
To feed them in pastures of love;
Say, why in the valley of death should I weep,
Or alone in this wilderness rove?
Oh, why should I wander, an alien from Thee,
Or cry in the desert for bread?
Your foes will rejoice when my sorrows they see,
And smile at the tears I have shed.
Dear Shepherd! I hear, and will follow Your call;
I know the sweet sound of Your voice;
Restore and defend me, for You are my all,
And in You I'll ever rejoice.
Amen
