O God!
The sermon emphasizes the importance of walking by faith, rather than relying on our own efforts and good deeds, in order to truly please God.
K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the futility of living by sight rather than by faith, using Mahatma Gandhi as an example of someone who, despite his adherence to the Sermon on the Mount, ultimately did not place his faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. He illustrates that mere obedience to laws, like that of the rich young ruler, does not equate to true faith, as the Bible states that 'whatever is not from faith is sin.' Yohannan warns that many Christians today may be engaged in ministry that appears good but lacks the foundation of faith, which is essential for God's blessing. He calls for believers to ensure that their actions align with God's will and are rooted in faith, as this is the only way to function effectively in God's kingdom.
Text
Most examples of the futility of walking by sight aren't so clear as this one. You can make your life look spiritual by obeying the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. You can walk by sight and it can look okay, even good. Mahatma Gandhiji, the father of my nation, was known as a man who literally obeyed the Sermon on the Mount. When he died (as seen in the movie Gandhi), the last thing he said, translated in English, was, "O God!" But that translation can be deceiving. Gandhi was not calling out "O God!" to the God of the Sermon on the Mount or the God of the Ten Commandments, which he was so known for following. He was actually calling out "Hare Ram" or "O God!" to lord Ram, the Hindu god whom he followed. Even though Gandhi knew the good things Jesus said and even followed them, he still had no faith in Jesus Christ to save him. He walked by sight, by the good things he did, never having faith for salvation.
With deliberate willpower, people can rightly obey the laws and modify their behavior. This was the case with the story in Luke 18 of the rich young ruler who obeyed the Ten Commandments. He was the model individual, but just because he was perfect in obedience doesn't mean he lived by faith. The Bible says, "Whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). Sin is walking your own road, regardless of whether the road you choose looks good or bad to the rest of society.
Even today, a lot of Christian work is done by sight. There are Christian people who think they know how to carry out God's work. They think they know how to win the lost, grow fruitful ministries or attract the youth. But the truth is that if what you are doing is not done by faith, God will not bless it. God is deeply concerned that we do His work, His way, by faith. It is simply how things function in the kingdom of God.
Sermon Outline
- Walking by Sight vs. Walking by Faith
- Examples of Walking by Sight
- Gandhi's Example
- The Rich Young Ruler's Example
Key Quotes
“Whatever is not from faith is sin” — K.P. Yohannan
“You can make your life look spiritual by obeying the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount” — K.P. Yohannan
“O God!” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- We must recognize the difference between faith and works, and rely on faith for salvation.
- Our good works are not enough to earn God's favor; we must trust in His work and salvation.
- God will not bless our work if it's not done by faith.