"His Commandments Are Not Grievous" -- 1/20/08

Sunday, January 20, 2008
HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS
I John 5:3

Last week our study could well be entitled: "Don’t Let Go of the Eternal." Jesus said, "Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto eternal life" (Jn. 6:27). No one can argue with that counsel, because we know that these physical bodies are going to die, and we also know that the physical food we eat will not sustain us a single day past the grave. So by all means, let’s spend ourselves for the meat which endures to eternal life. And what is that meat? It is Jesus, the one who went on to say, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall life forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (Jn. 6:51).

We learned from the experience of Esau that it is very possible to grasp the temporary meat that perishes and forsake the eternal. Esau was very hungry and listened to the cry of his flesh. He sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. He forfeited his rich spiritual heritage in order to satisfy his immediate hunger. God’s Word then records this brief but sobering message: "…and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way; thus Esau despised his birthright" (Gen. 25:34). That is, he counted it as nothing. He regarded it as having less value than a bowl of soup. No wonder the writer of Hebrews refers to him as a profane man, a man that valued the common and despised the eternal.

Out of those passages, we emphasized our need to focus on the eternal. II Cor 4:17-18…
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

We also acknowledged that such a focus in this world is not easy. Our five senses are bombarded by a powerful message that tells us to enjoy the here and now, because that is all we have. I pointed out three persuasive tools the enemy uses to derail our eternal focus. They are food, possessions, and entertainment. And guess what, those temptations will not be toned down in the days ahead; no, they will scream out with even more intensity.

Good News – God’s Commandments Are Not Burdensome

This morning I want to remind us of a great truth from the scripture. It comes out of I John 5:3, "…his commandments are not grievous." God’s commandments are not grievous. Most modern translations (including NKJV) render the word "burdensome," and that is the idea. The word literally means "heavy." God’s commandments are not heavy to bear.

We find this same word used in Matthew 23, where Jesus says of the scribes and Pharisees, "For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers" (Matt. 23:4). That word translated "heavy" is the same word that is "grievous" in I John 5:3. It is religious men whose commandments are heavy and burdensome. Jesus also spoke of the burden He gives. Do you remember? Let’s read it in Matt. 11:28-30…
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The word "burden" (fortion) is exactly the same word that is used in Matt. 23:4 of the burden that the Pharisees put on men, but there is one great difference. The burden the Pharisees bind on others is heavy; the burden Jesus gives us is light. God’s commands are not heavy; they are not burdensome.

Isn’t that good news? Isn’t it good to know that God has not burdened us down with His commandments? Are we struggling a bit with that concept? Did the things I shared with you last week seem to constitute a heavy burden? Are those things too heavy to bear? From more than one source I have heard hints of such. I want us to think about that this morning. If those things are truly burdensome, then they are not from God, because His commands are not burdensome.
We could have sited a number of direct commands to go with the last week’s message. For example, in that context we could have quoted I John 2:15-17…
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

We could have just as easily quoted Rom. 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Are those commands burdensome? They can’t be, because they come from the Lord God. And yet, if we don’t have a good understanding, such commands can seem burdensome. Is it a hard thing not to love the world, not to be squeezed into its mold?

Now let me give you a little reminder. John did not say, "His promises are not grievous (burdensome)." Rather, he said, "His commandments are not grievous (burdensome)." John chose his words carefully. The commands God gives us are not burdensome.

Rejoice, Even in the Midst of Suffering

Let’s begin in I Peter. Let me remind you that I Peter is a letter about suffering. We find references to suffering for Jesus’ sake all through this letter. I won’t take you to all those references, but don’t take my word for it; find them for yourself. You will find that Peter wrote to Christians who were experiencing difficult trials. The amazing truth is that coupled closely with this context of suffering is a strong emphasis on rejoicing in the Lord. That makes no sense to the world. In the natural economy of man, suffering and rejoicing are opposites. Surely they can’t go together. Nevertheless, that is what we find in I Peter.

Let’s read I Pet. 1:3-9…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

We greatly rejoice in the fact of our eternal inheritance in Christ. Now notice in verse 5, "though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations (trials)." Mark it down, it will be necessary for us to experience heaviness through various trials. It is of God, for it provides a testing of our faith. Peter speaks of trial by fire. But this trying of our faith is glorious, because it will ultimately bring praise and honor and glory when our Lord Jesus appears. Now listen again to verse 8, "Whom having not seen, you love; in whom though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." Though we cannot see Jesus with the physical eye, though we are in the midst of great trials, as we continue to trust Him, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Now come to chapter 4. Let’s read I Pet. 4:12-14…
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Again, the context is considerable suffering, as this is a fiery trial. Nevertheless, we shouldn’t view such trial as being unusual. So what are we do in the face of such suffering? Rejoice, because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings. When Christ appears in His glory, our rejoicing will be even greater, as we will be glad with exceeding joy, but even now we rejoice in the fact that we can suffer for His sake. If we are insulted for the sake of Jesus, we are blessed ("happy" here is the word that is normally translated "blessed"), because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon us. Don’t miss the fact that we are blessed when we are mistreated for the sake of Christ.

Do you see? Peter paints a picture of rejoicing throughout his letter. Not only do we rejoice because of the eternal inheritance that awaits us, but we also rejoice because we suffer for the sake of our Lord. We find exactly the same thing when we read what Paul writes in Romans 5. Let’s read Rom. 5:1-2, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." We rejoice in our confident expectation of the glory of
God that shall be revealed. But now listen to verses 3-5…
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We rejoice in tribulations. This is the word that literally speaks of being squeezed. When we are squeezed by suffering, we rejoice, because we know that God is going to use this painful squeezing to conform us to the image of Jesus. We rejoice in the Lord, and that rejoicing is heightened through suffering.

We find the same message in Philippians. Many of you can quote Phil. 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice." Praise God for this command, which is certainly not burdensome, but we must put it in its proper context. Later in the same chapter, we are reminded that Paul was in prison. In chapter 1 he elaborates on this theme, assuring his readers that his imprisonment was for the furtherance of the gospel. Because Christ was preached as a result of his imprisonment, Paul rejoiced. Let’s read it in 1:18, "What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." Furthermore, Paul urged this same attitude in his Philippian borthers and sisters. 1:29, "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." Do you see it? When he commanded them to rejoice in the Lord, he was speaking to Christians who were being privileged to suffer for Christ’s sake.

James tells us the same thing in James 1:2-3, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." It wouldn’t seem to be joy, but we are to consider it joy. Why? Because we know that God has great purpose in it; He is using this testing to work patient endurance in us, and that will bring glory to God.

Joy’s Close Friendship with God’s Commandments

What am I saying? I am saying that true joy in the Lord is not a cheap happiness that depends on the circumstances. Rather, it is a joy that is furthered greatly by suffering on behalf of Christ.
Now let’s pause for a moment to ask a question or two. Come back to I Pet. 4:13, "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings…" So here is the question: What is it that will cause us to be partakers of Christ’s sufferings? Think about that for a little while. We partake of Christ’s sufferings, when we are identified closely with Jesus Himself. Isn’t that what Jesus was teaching when He said in John 15:18-21…

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Because of the close association between Jesus and those who belong to Him, their treatment will be essentially the same. The world will hate them.

Now comes a second question: What is it that constitutes this close identification with Jesus? First of all, let’s be clear on what does not bring this close identification. It is not the profession of the mouth. In other words, because a person says he is a Christian, that does not mean that he will be closely identified with Jesus and will suffer with the Lord. This is especially true in the society of 21st century America. People around us are very accustomed to hearing people profess Christ, and it doesn’t phase them much. In our society, profession means little. Why? Because people in our society have seen again and again those who profess Christ with the mouth but continue to live like the rest of the world.

So what is it that demonstrates this close identification with Jesus? Is it not the keeping of God’s commandments? Surely someone will say, "No, it is not the keeping of the commandments. Rather, it is loving God with all our heart. That is what identifies a believer with Jesus." I certainly can’t argue with that. However, be careful. If we don’t define the term "love," we will be led far astray. Many who profess the name of Jesus will also say, "I love the Lord with all my heart." But it isn’t the profession of the mouth that demonstrates our identification with Jesus.
Come back with me to the place where we started. We began with the words from I John 5:3, "…and his commandments are not grievous." But now let’s read the context of those words. I John 5:1-3…
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

There is much here, but focus on the words of verse 3. "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." People will say, "But that is a life of drudgery. That will rob us of joy." Let people say what they want to say, we are interested in what the Word says.

Look at Jesus. No one can dispute the fact that Jesus suffered greatly and that Jesus had great joy. He said to His disciples in John 15:11, "These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy may be full." We read of Jesus in Heb. 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame…" Notice that joy and the cross are not mutually exclusive, but they are linked closely together.

What was it that gave Jesus such joy? What was it that caused Him to suffer so much? Now I want to show you a powerful scriptural basis for the joy that was in Jesus. Come to Hebrews 1. We will be reading a quotation from Psalm 45:6-7. That passage is quoted almost word for word in Hebrews 1, where the writer is showing the vast superiority of Jesus over the angels. Let’s read Heb. 1:8-9…
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

You will notice in this passage that God the Father addresses Christ the Son as "God." That’s because Jesus is God, and has always been God. Then in verse 9, the Father speaks of Himself as God, even as the God of the Son. Though we may not have perfect understanding, let there be no question that Jesus is indeed God. That is the emphasis of this chapter. Having said that, let’s come back to verse 9 and ask the question again: "What was it that gave Jesus such great joy? It was the fact that He loved righteousness and hated iniquity. This is placed beyond dispute by the use of the word "therefore." "Therefore (because you have loved righteousness and hated iniquity), God has anointed you with the oil of gladness above those around you. He has given you supreme joy."

What is it that caused people to hate Jesus? It was His love for righteousness and His hatred of iniquity. Jesus could have been a highly-respected, well-loved teacher in Israel. Remember, after He fed the 5,000, the people wanted to make Him king. But Jesus couldn’t go along with them, because He loved righteousness. And that righteousness was nothing less than the perfect will of the Father. He couldn’t compromise; because He loved the Father, He must do what was right, whatever the Father wanted. It was the living out of that conviction that got Him into deep trouble. Don’t miss the fact that the same thing that brought Him joy from the Father was the thing that caused Him to suffer at the hands of men.

Is there any connection? Could it be the same with us? Back to I Pet. 4:13, " But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings." They partook of Christ’s sufferings because they loved righteousness and hated iniquity, because they took seriously the will of God and the keeping of His commandments. We see this back in 4:4, "Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you." The world didn’t think it strange that they professed Christ, but that their lives were changed. They no longer loved iniquity; now they loved righteousness.

Joy and Eternity

Last week we talked about the importance of an eternal focus. I suggest to you that such a focus is both a cause for suffering and a gateway to joy in the Lord. We have already seen the joy that it brought to Jesus. "Who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross…" (Heb. 12:2).
I must ask you a question: What exactly is the eternal focus? We read about it earlier from II Cor. 4:17-18…
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The unseen things are eternal. And what are the unseen things? They are defined most clearly by Paul’s own words in Col. 3:1-4…
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Ultimately, the eternal focus is turning our eyes upon Jesus. He is the eternal one. He Himself is eternal life, according to I John 1:2. The eternal focus is not only looking to the distant future, but looking to the Christ who is our all in all, both now and forever. When I look to Jesus, worship Him, depend on Him, I am focusing on eternity.

But what does that have to do with joy? Everything. What did Paul command us to do in Phil. 4:4? He commanded us to rejoice, but that is only half the truth. Paul also revealed the source of that joy, when he said, "Rejoice in the Lord always." For the child of God, all true joy is in the Lord. We see that truth demonstrated in Paul’s own life. Acts 20:24, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." It is obvious that Paul was focusing on eternity. That is why he was not moved by the sufferings that were awaiting him. Listen to his words toward the very end of his life. II Tim. 4:6-8…
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Listen especially to Rom 8:18, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." We find the same attitude in the apostles in Acts 5:41, "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

Now I admit that there are many things in life that bring a smile. When I hear someone say, "I saw three deer on the way to Cloudcroft." Being of almost normal intelligence, I immediately wonder how the speaker knows those three deer were on their way to Cloudcroft. I enjoy going out and playing an invigorating tennis match. Those are some of the simple pleasures of life, but none of those things can compare with joy in Christ. While I may engage in those other activities from time to time, my joy is in Christ. And when we find our joy in Christ, we want to focus on Him more and more. And the more we focus on Him, the greater our joy. And when suffering comes, we find that it only increases our joy, because we draw close to Jesus.

The key to this whole concept of joy is in asking this question: What is the source of my joy? To the degree that my joy is found in Christ, His commandments will not be burdensome and the eternal focus will be my delight. The problem is that our enemy, aided by our religious society, is marketing a counterfeit joy which despises the rule of God over our lives. This counterfeit joy tells us that man’s greatest happiness is in being free to do whatever he wants. Therefore, his "joy" is the result of God giving him what makes him happy. This counterfeit joy is well represented by Joel Osteen in his book Your Best Life Now. Yes, I read the book, because I saw a couple of you reading it. Having read it, my advice to you is this: "Don’t waste your time." Trust me; it’s heresy. It glorifies man and makes God man’s servant. Joel Osteen would have us to believe that we can follow Jesus and find our joy in the same things in which the rest of the world rejoices. That’s a lie. The joy of the true believer is God Himself.

I ended last week’s message by reading from the end of Psalm 73. Let me read again Ps. 73:25, "Whom have in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." With all our faults and shortcomings, do we desire Him? To be in His presence is joy unspeakable and full of glory. Because I have tasted that, I want more of it. David echoes that attitude in Ps. 16:8-11…
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

I once met a young lady who lived 500 miles away. I wanted to see more of her, but to do so was very demanding. It meant getting in the car and driving for nine hours or so. To spend as much time as possible, that meant only stopping one time the entire trip. And, of course, when I went on a weekend, that meant I had to let everything else go. What a burden I endured during those days. That’s foolish talk. I delighted in making those trips. The only reason I made one three-minute stop on the way was because my car couldn’t make it on one tank of gas.

To think that a life of keeping God’s commands by the power of the Spirit robs us of our joy is foolish thinking. To entertain the idea that an eternal focus is not consistent with overflowing joy is to miss the source of divine rejoicing. Separation from the world may rob us of the world’s temporary happiness, but if we set our eyes on things above, our joy can only be increased.

Conclusion

God’s commandments are not grievous. They are not a burden to His children. His commandments are not heavy. Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt. 16:24). His commands are not burdensome. There is no greater joy than to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus. Jesus said in Matt. 7:13-14,"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." His commands are not burdensome. True joy comes from walking in the narrow way.

There is one other scripture that we must not miss. Toward the end of his letter to the Galatians, Paul said this: "But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14). That word translated "glory" speaks of rejoicing (sometimes translated that way in KJV, as in James 1:9, etc.). Paul’s delight was centered in the cross and nothing else. And as He gloried in the cross of His Lord Jesus, he was increasingly cut off from the world. And for him, that was pure joy. Why? Because His joy was in the Lord.

Do you want joy? Then live for the glory of God. And how do we glorify God? John Piper makes this little statement: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him" (Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, p. 45). Think about that: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." In other words, God receives glory in our lives when we make Him our delight, when we find our joy in Him. Looking to God as our all in all, focusing on His eternal value, does not rob us of joy; that is our joy!

May we not be fooled by the deceptive message which tells us we can have Christ and most of what the world has to offer. The so-called joy that comes from such a life is shallow and fleeting. But may we know in the depths of our being that in His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand there are pleasures for ever more.

Let me close with the prayer of a man who lived 1,600 years ago…

How sweet all at once it was for me
to be rid of those fruitless joys
which I had once feared to lose…
You drove them from me,
you who are the true, the sovereign joy.
You drove them from me and took their place,
you who are sweeter than all pleasure,
though not to flesh and blood,
you who outshine all light,
yet are hidden deeper than any secret in our hearts,
you who surpass all honor,
though not in the eyes of men who see
all honor in themselves…
O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation.
(Quoted from St. Augustine, Confessions, IX, 1 in The Legacy of Sovereign Joy, John Piper, p. 40)