Grace Baptist Church

Paintin the New Building 1/9/12

19 new photos

The Higher Calling Of The Christian Life

What Does The Bible Say

In Matthew 5:20, Jesus gave the disciples what must have seemed like an impossible requirement. Their righteousness was to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.

The grace of God is not only a higher calling but is also the resource to fulfill that calling. We who are born again have more required of us because more has been given to us.

There are two specific areas where this higher calling can be applied.

1. A Higher Calling In Our Conduct 5:20-28

This higher calling is based on a different reason for our conduct. Our conduct (righteousness) is to exceed the conduct (righteousness) of the Pharisees because there is a different reason for that conduct.

The righteousness of the Pharisees was based on:
1. Earning them a place in Heaven
2. Being noticed and honored by others

What is the reason behind the higher calling of our conduct?
1. Glorify God – Matt. 5:16
2. Promote the gospel – 1 Cor. 9:22-23/ 10:32-33
3. Encourage my brother – 1 Cor. 8:12-13

2. A Higher Calling In Our Values 5:29-30

Have you noticed how often when Jesus calls His disciples to a higher level of behavior, He connects it with a change in their value system.

The reason is this: what you value controls you. Your life, your decisions, your conduct is a result of your value system.

In the story of the maniac of Gadara we see those who valued the 2,000 pigs more than the changed life of the maniac. As a result of that, they rejected Christ. They valued their possessions more than God’s work. I would submit to you it is more than the Gadarenes who have this problem.

You can tell a person's value system by how he lives. Conversely, you can determine how a person will live by examining his value system.