In the passage we read above, Jesus calls for abundant living. The tragedy of today is that people (even members of the Lord’s church) think that following Christ subtracts from real living. No thought or theory could be further from the truth. There is something wrong when people get more enjoyment out of staying home from services on Sunday and at mid-week instead of coming and singing, praying, studying, and having a brief fellowship with the church. If one really believes the statement by Christ in John10:10, it would be hard to keep him from church services and fulfilling his responsibilities. The question in Hebrews 10:25 is not attendance only, but the writer is trying to help these Hebrews to rediscover the real abundant life. People would be motivated within themselves if they really enjoyed Christianity.
A school principle entered the classroom and asked the children, “What’s the most wonderful thing in the world?”
One little body said, “To be Michael Jordan.”
A little girl said, “To be Mary Lou Retton.”
One little girl in the back of the crowd said, “The most wonderful thing in the world to me would be to grow and grow forever.” (She must have been the shortest in the class.)
Christ came to give life here and life hereafter. He came to expand lie in order that it might grow (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18). Christ didn’t come to shut people up in prison. He came to set people free.
KEYNOTE WORDS IN THE NT THAT DESCRIBE REAL LIVING:
“Joy” – The theme of the Philippian letter.
“Peace” – John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken unto you that you may have peace.”
“Power” – There’s power in purpose (Dan. 1:8).
“Love” – 1 Cor. 13
“Truth” – John 8:32
“Victory” – 1 John 5:4 – “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
Some characters in the Bible who just thought they were living:
Lot – Genesis 18-19
Ahab – 1 Kings 22
Esau – Genesis 27
Some who were really living:
Abraham – Genesis 12-25
Ruth
Paul – Phil. 4:10-13
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Hate, lying, cheating, greed, lust, envy, strife, emulation, selfishness, backbiting. All these can be found in Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; and Romans 1:28-32.
It is a mistaken idea when one thinks he lives more by sinning. Really, he lives less. Sin subtracts from life.
CHRIST PROVIDES ABUNDANT LIVING BECAUSE HE POINTS TO THE TRUE VALUE OF LIFE:
Life can be too cramped to grow: Luke 8:14.
Jesus provides life to make it large enough to be unlimited.
People often ask questions such as:
What is there to live for?
Are there any true values?
Where can real happiness be found?
What are the things that satisfy?
One of the guides that Christ gives for abundant living is that the center of our lives must be changed.
Matthew 16:24-26 – “Deny himself.” No life will ever be full that is self-centered.
The emptiest life is the self-centered one.
We sing this song: “All of self and none of thee. Some of self and some of thee. None of self and all of thee.”
2 Corinthians 4:5 – “We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus and ourselves your servants.”
2 Corinthians 5:15, Paul says, “Since Christ died for us, we should live for Him.”
Life grows stale if we make ourselves the center of attraction and live to gratify ourselves. Make God, purity, peace, and the welfare of others the center of your life and it will become worth living.
the late Wayne Holland
a sermon preached at:
Hiawassee, GA 3/18/1984
Roxboro, NC 1/29/1991
Roxboro, NC 7/28/2002
