Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness: Dr. Nelson Kloosterman

Michael A

4 years ago

There are two mp3 sermons below sermon points, the first is 15 minutes, the second, 40. [Square brackets and emboldening are mine.]

Highlights of 40 minute sermon:

Readings: Psalm 119:97-104; 119:137-144; Romans 6:12-23; Text of sermon: Matthew 5:6
The progression inherent in the beatitudes: those poor in spirit are also those who mourn because of sin – personal sin and sin in the world; they are also the meek, who do not regard themselves, but regard God and His kingdom
Haunting questions for Christians: Is my obedience really worth it? Worth losing money due to honesty; acceptance, due to taking a stance for God’s kingdom vs the world; striving carefully for obedience such that friends hate / mock…
Those who do hunger and thirst for righteousness, can go to sleep with a clean conscience
Every day, Christians face situations in the world wherein immoral conduct has been deemed legal by society, but remains immoral according to God’s standard, His word; following God causes worldlings to mock one…
Two questions herein answered: who are the blessed; why are they blessed?
Hungering and thirsting, as Jesus stated these, are not about a passing state, such as that we have experienced all of our lives when we have coveted something and later obtained it – only then to discover that the happiness we thought to possess flies away momentarily (we’ve likely experienced such evaporating happiness thousands of times)
The happiness Jesus spoke of was like in Psalm 42:1 when David said that his heart longed for God, like a deer pants for water
Hungering and thirsting are terms that refer to survival: obtaining food and water is a necessity for existence: NOT like education, entertainment and such experiences, which we might pursue for lesser reasons
Those are blessed who seek the righteousness of God; the law; obedience
Happiness is a byproduct of such seeking; if one seeks happiness as an end, then he will not find it, as it comes as an effect of seeking obedience to God’s law
Many professed Christians cannot fathom this concept – explained
“You may eat of every tree except…” God gave His law / word, it is life
The covenant God built on His law is life [covenant indicates a relationship between two parties]
What was the problem with the Pharisee’s righteousness? They had divorced the law from a relationship with God, such that their righteousness became self-willed, based on their own efforts
Jesus questioned their perverted loyalty to the law, because they congratulated themselves for accomplishing perceived obedience
What is the difference between the Old Testament and the New? We now have the power to obey God’s law via the power of the Holy Spirit: apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, the law only kills [they were apart from Him in the OT]
In the OT, the law diagnosed the problem but gave no cure; via Christ, we have the cure, because of His perfect obedience to the law [imputed to us]
Who are the blessed? They long to see God’s righteousness in the world – examples given
[15 minute short sermon begins here]
We want God to vindicate those who do His will: this beatitude is given to replace our cynicism; to enable us to commit to God’s way and turn our back on worldliness, seeking law rather than feelings and experiences like the worldly
Is this legalism? NO. The difference is that legalism is obedience to law as an end in itself, to obtain favor – examples given
When children raised in a legalistic home grow up, they go to church “because they have to” not because they delight in the Lord, e.g. – examples given
Why are they blessed for hungering and thirsting for righteousness?
“They shall be filled” indicates future; there is a paradox herein because the filling is a present reality with a future completion: God gave His righteousness to us in justification (when Christ’s righteousness was imputed to us); He works His righteousness into us via the Holy Spirit in sanctification; in the place of our sin debt, we are righteous in Christ
The paradox: we have been filled, only to be hungry again and again; in our biblical experience of the Christian religion, the law plays such an important part: to make us hunger and thirst again
[How does it do that? It keeps showing us our sin, then we must take that to the cross]
Our satisfaction is not a one-time deal: as we mature in our faith, we grow in holiness and righteousness; the more we taste of Christ’s righteousness, the less convinced we are of our own righteousness, progressively realizing our continuing need of His righteousness
We grow from grace to grace: from table to table (the Lord’s supper)
God’s word creates this hungering and thirsting which can only be filled in Jesus Christ
You will “be filled,” it does not say, you will satisfy yourself
The difference between the church’s righteousness and the Pharisee’s righteousness is that theirs is an acquisition, for conforming to the law; whereas the church’s is free
Our holiness is given, not earned: we have to pursue holiness, work at it, strive for it; when it becomes ours, then no trophy is given us, as it is a gift of grace
Those with sensitive souls wonder, “Am I making any progress?”
Progress can be measured by seeing Christ in yourself when you look in the mirror
Diagnostic Questions to ask yourself:
Do my sins bother me more now than they did 10, 20 years ago? Do my reactions / responses / habits continue to grieve my soul? And such…
If so, then God’s word is working in me to cause despair, distress, disgust…that I haven’t fled, forsaken…those old ways completely yet [engendering greater reliance on His Spirit]
These things indicate that my righteousness and holiness come from Christ; they are a gift and I must continue to strive, pray, fight, work, receive the gift
The aforementioned keeps one from pride
If you have been tempted to think, as a parent, a spouse…that all your efforts have been in vain; keep hungering and thirsting for righteousness regardless of what the world is doing; trust in our faithful God and His word
Prayer: God’s word preached gives one the correct perspective [as in Psalm 73]