“Here we are again in a brand new year WHERE Many of us make NEW YEAR’s resolutions to do better, but just how much better can we do than FOLLOW the most marvelous words Jesus spoke long ago.”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the words of Jesus Christ spoken in His “Sermon on the Mount.” Stay tuned …

… Long ago on a hillside in Palestine , the Lord Jesus Christ of history, preach a message that has for centuries stood the test of time and been applicable to every generation of human beings to have ever lived. Such words were immortalized in the writings of the New Testament Christian Bible in what is called, the “Sermon on the Mount.” 

The Sermon on the Mount has had a long and varied history of interpretation. Generally being known as the ‘perfect’ or ‘golden rule’ or ‘pattern’ of Christian life. The “Reformers” of the faith held it to be the ‘uncompromising expression of divine righteousness directed towards all’. Still others understand the Sermon as the expression of the noblest way of thinking and teaching which dealt with what man should “be,” rather than expressly with what he should “do.”

However being a Dispensationalist in interpreting the Bible, I relegate the emphasis of the entire Sermon on the Mount, to what God will expect operational in the lives of “born again” believers living in the future promised millennial reign of Christ.

However saying all that, the Sermon is still relevant to every generation since, demanding a superb quality of ethical conduct which is breath-taking in its dimensions. Now it’s important to note that Jesus did not lay down a new code of legal regulations, for particular words such as these had in various form, been quoted long ago. Rather, Jesus was stating great ethical principles and how they affect the lives of those within the kingdom of God . The Sermon is therefore not a program for the direct improvement of the world, but is directed to those who have denied the world, in order to enter God’s kingdom. Now in particular, I want to explore Jesus’ most well known words in His lengthy sermon, known as the “GOLDEN RULE.” So after another musical pause we’ll explore them as recorded in the Bible book of Matthew seven, verse twelve…

… Over 2000 years ago Jesus proclaimed some marvelous words that became known as the “Golden Rule.” We read of them in,

Mat 7:12 (NIV)  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

The so-called “Golden Rule,” is not unique to Jesus Christ, for it is found in various ways and in many other religious and even secular writings, most often though in a negative form. But here, Jesus takes such words and transforms them into a ‘positive statement’ of action rather than reaction. This is the Golden Rule of God, that is to govern a believer’s relationship to other people around them. Note carefully, it does not say, “Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you.” Rather, it lays the responsibility on the believer to positively act, so that others will imitate such deeds of kindness and love, and in the end glorify God.

Additionally, Jesus said fulfilling this “Golden Rule,” one also fulfilled the summation of the “Law and the Prophets.” This statement referenced the entire teachings of the Old Testament in living a life glorifying to God.  In addition to this statement, Jesus gave a similar command in other teaching sessions, which He also said, summed up the Law. For instance,

Mat 22:37 -40 (NIV)  Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

The command to "love your neighbor as yourself" assumes as its basis that we love ourselves. And unquestionably we all do. And, since this is how God has made us, Jesus uses the natural, God-given trait of love for oneself as the basis of the Golden Rule in order to give a general rule for obeying God's law that is understandable to everyone.

It’s sad that today this expression of unselfish love for others has been twisted into the world’s corrupt versions which state, “do unto others as they have done unto us,” or “do unto others, before they do unto you!” Thus, we demand our rights and justice. Our sinful nature within all of us cries out – “I’ll treat others as they have treated me. If they are kind, I’ll be kind, if they are arrogant, I’ll be arrogant, if they have wronged me, I will wrong them!” Isn’t that the norm for mankind these days?  The Golden Rule is totally different, for it is based on God's own character and willingness to love and give in spite of how others may treat you.

Isn’t it true God gives to us all good things even though we do not return the same to Him? Look around, God gives us abundant food and resources for life and living. In the United States we are filled to overflowing with food and riches.  Do not think for a moment all we have is because of our own abilities. Without the air we breathe, the rain to feed our crops, the miracle of life for seeds to grow, we would all die! Yet, all this comes from a God who loves and sustains us even when we do not deserve it. The psalmist realized this when he wrote,

Psa 104:14 (NIV)  He [God] makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-- bringing forth food from the earth:

So in like manner the ‘Golden Rule’ states, we should be first to give to others, even when they are not giving toward us. Our behavior, as children of God, should without exception be better, more giving, more loving, than the behavior of others toward us. Such behavior will then set us apart as “Christians,” and glorify God in heaven.

That is the purpose of the “Golden Rule,” given by Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount.

But the question is if you are a Christian, have you considered living daily by its teachings?  Remember, practicing the Golden Rule releases the true love of God in our lives and enables us to help others see Jesus clearly, even those who want to hurt us. But also remember that practicing the Golden Rule means you will pay a price! If you want God’s best for yourself and others, but others resist God’s will, then they will oppose you, even when you do good. So Jesus said in other passages,

Mat 5:13-16 (NIV)  "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

If we are like salt, remember salt on an open wound, stings! If we are light, remember light always exposes dirt and darkness! Therefore, if we attempt to obey the Golden Rule, our doing good to others, in spite of the return actions to us, will often be misinterpreted, criticized or even hated! Yet Jesus says that is how His followers are to live. As Christians we are to dedicate our lives to the needs and blessings of others. In this, we will be fulfilling all that the Old Testament Law of Moses decreed for living a life pleasing to God. However the truth is none of us can do it! That’s right none. Why? Because the Bible says we are born with a sin nature. This nature causes all of us to center all that we do on ourselves first at all costs. Yes, we will do good, help others but “only” if it somehow benefits us. This self-centeredness is called sin in the Bible, even if we do nothing outwardly to show it, for sin is a matter of the heart. Scrupture tells us.

Psa 14:3 (NIV)  “All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Isa 53:6 (NIV)  “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…”

Rom 3:12 (NIV) “ All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

In theology this is called the doctrine of “TOTAL DEPRAVITY.” It doesn’t mean we are as bad as can be, but as bad off as we can be because of our corrupt nature and fallen condition. The entire human race is born with a sin nature that cries out: “every man for himself!” So when Jesus came with these words of positive selflessness, it is something none of us can really do, except for a momentary act of kindness, but even that is only done for a price – self glorification and smugness of how good we are to be praised!

Man’s basic problem is preoccupation with self, and thus we sin because we are totally selfish, totally devoted to ourselves, rather than to God and to others. Unregenerate man can never come up to the standard of God’s selfless love, a love that loves others as oneself.

Oh, we can fool ourselves to think we live by the Golden Rule, but the golden rule is not something we do part time, occasionally or selectively. No, it requires absolute selfless fulfillment at all times and in all ways! Now, ask yourself honestly, have you done this? Of course not! Yet Jesus says only by fulfilling this can we ever be worthy enough to enter the kingdom of Heaven . Indeed, how good and selfless do we have to be to be pleasing in God’s sight? Well my friend, Jesus and the Word of God answers,

Mat 5:48 (NIV)  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

James 2:10 (NIV)  For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

So the point of the Sermon on the Mount and particularly this statement of the Golden Rule was meant for us to realize our inability to live by it and at the least maintain it. In so doing we sin and disobey God’s plan for His highest creation called humanity. As a result, the Bible tells us there is a penalty, and it is only one – it is death! Yes my friend, to fail to obey all of God’s Laws, to commit just one single sin, causes us all to fall short of God’s standard for righteousness and glory. This is why God’s Word warns us,

Rom 6:23 (NIV)  “For the wages of sin is death…”

James 2:10 (NIV)  For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Have you ever stopped to realize this? All of us as good as we can be, are lawbreakers, living in rebellion to God’s ordered universe and law. This is why the Bible warns us all to be aware of our perilous condition, our state of condemnation, regardless of what good we do. We all have a penalty to pay for our sins and God warns it is “death.”

Now does that mean the Golden Rule is useless? Not so. As much as we attempt to live by it, we show kindness, love, mercy, justice and goodness to others who don’t deserve it. This will please God, only if you are His child by faith. For the believer in Christ who sins are forgiven, the Bible says this earns rewards in heaven and pleases the Lord. For the unbeliever it will not negate the coming of Hell for them for that has been earned by just one sin against God!

So my friend, as we are now in a new year, trying to obey the Golden Rule is useless without Jesus Christ as the head of your life and heart. Only Jesus can give you the supernatural power to live by the fullness of this truth. The dynamic for living this supreme ethic must come from outside our fallen nature. It can come only from the indwelling Holy Spirit, whose first fruit is love,

Gal 5:22 (NIV)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Scripture repeatedly cautions that those who have received Jesus Christ into their lives, that the power to obey God’s commands in the Sermon on the Mount come only from God Himself,

Rom 5:5 (NIV)  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

John 13:34 (NIV)  "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Only Christ’s own Spirit can empower us to love each other as He loves us and fulfill the Golden Rule. Yet to fulfill it is God’s command to us all.

Well there you have it. A New Year has come and new opportunities to live it to the best of your ability. But that ability by and of ourselves is inadequate and paltry, unless you make the best resolution of all for this New Year. What is it? It is to surrender your heart and life back to God who created you, and give Him the opportunity to live His life in and through you.  

This is what it means to be “born again.” It is not going to church, nor carrying a hymnbook or bible, being baptized, taking communion, confessing sins to a priest – it is none of these things! To be ‘born again’ one must look up to heaven in your heart, and confess you are a lost sinner totally incapable of pleasing God in and of yourself. In fact the opposite, you are living sinfully in disobedience to His Word and will. Then with the same breath of thought, you cry out to God to cleanse you, and make you whole in His sight. You then confess the only way possible is for you to receive forgiveness of all your sins, and that Jesus Christ, the infinite God-Man died on the cross as a substitutionary payment for your sins now and in eternity. You realize then that God will only grant you this forgiveness when you surrender your heart and life back to God by trusting alone in Jesus Christ as your Lord God and Savior. Upon doing this you simply accept by faith God’s promise to give you the power to live above sin by coming into your life and taking up residence in you by the presence of His Holy Spirit. This is what it means to be ‘born again’ and nothing less.

Friend, have you received Jesus Christ in this particular manner? If not, why not begin the New Year as a true child of God confessing Jesus Christ. Then the Golden Rule can often be fulfilled in your life and to the glory of God. Let’s make the year 2005 our best yet, and let us be sure we live it in full surrender to Jesus Christ, His Word and the ‘Golden Rule,’

Mat 7:12 (NIV)  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Mat 5:13-16 (NIV)  "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

… Is there something you can do to alleviate the problems of this world and relationships in your life, home and family? Then do it! It’s time to get right with God, and others with whom you have been estranged. It’s time to begin positive living for others rather than yourself, and showing that practically in some tangible ways. If you really want to make a New Year’s resolution that will be a blessing to all, then the time is now to receive Jesus Christ and begin living fully for Him. How sweet the world will be, if you add your contribution to it. May God so bless us all to this end, for Jesus sake, Amen.