The World Is Not Worthy

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Introduction: God’s people are unique in this world. They do not belong to this world. The world does not deserve them. (Hebrews 11:38) It is not because of what they are in themselves, that makes them unique in the world, but it is due to what God has done in them. He saved us. He changed us. He made us into something that cannot be explained by nature. They are unique because God has made them His treasure. ESV Psalm 83:1 A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! 2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. 3 They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. 4 They say, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!" ESV Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. What can be said of the people of whom the world is not worthy? THE PEOPLE OF WHOM THE WORLD IS NOT WORTHY ARE THE PRODUCT OF SAVING FAITH Hebrews 11 is really a testimony about faith. The people who are mentioned, and the KIND OF PEOPLE who are mentioned, serve only to demonstrate what GOD HAS DONE through faith. Faith is a gift. We were not born with saving faith. Faith is the result of the new birth. Faith is only present in those who have been regenerated through the preaching of the gospel. ESV 1 Peter 1:23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; When we celebrate the people of God, we are celebrating the people of faith. When we celebrate the people of God, we celebrate the people who have been given the eyes to see that Jesus is Lord. ESV Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. THE PEOPLE OF WHOM THE WORLD IS NOT WORTHY DEMONSTRATE THEIR FAITH IN MORE THAN ONE WAY Genuine faith is sometimes put on display through triumph, and it is sometimes put on display through trouble. Sometimes saving faith is distinguished through temporal successes. Sometimes saving faith is distinguished through temporal suffering. In both cases the lost world never identifies with it. When genuine faith triumphs, unbelief resents submission to it. When genuine faith suffers, unbelief is what makes it suffer. THE PEOPLE OF WHOM THE WORLD IS NOT WORTHY DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY KNOW MORE THAN ONE CITIZENSHIP The world judges them unworthy to live in its midst (as persecution demonstrates), and the Lord confirms that judgment but in a way the world does not understand. The world says you don’t deserve to live among us. The Lord says, this is true, because of my grace you don’t deserve THEM. ESV Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. This is the tension that Christians always live with. The now, and the not yet. What we are and what we will be. Where are citizenship is for the moment and where our citizenship will be for forever.

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• Christian Living