Prescribed Dress Code

TEXT: Matthew 22:1-14

I. INTRODUCTION

• How do we know whether a student is from ICA or GBA?
• How do we know whether a person is a crew of Jollibee or McDonalds, or Chowking?
• The answer is they will know according to what they are wearing
• Schools, companies, and other institutions have their own prescribed uniforms.

• I remember when I was in High School, the guard did not allow many students to enter the school premises because we were not in proper uniform.

• Even having the rule "not in proper uniform, no entry, many students who were not in proper uniform tried to sneak in the class.

• But when the guards saw them wearing not the complete uniform, they will report and handed them to the principal or teachers in order to receive sanctions of not wearing the prescribed uniform.

TITLE: "Prescribed Dress Code" - "Proper Dress Code"

II. BODY

Plot

Background

• Jesus told three consecutive parables having the same theme

• However, there is a sense of progression
• First - Parable of Two Sons (The Kingdom of God comes first to the sinners than the self-righteous)
• Second - Parable of the Tenants (The Kingdom of God has taken away from Israel and has given to Gentiles)
• Third - Parable of the Wedding Banquet (For many are called, but few are chosen)

Scene 1 (vv2-7) Invitation Rejected

• First Invitation Rejected

• Second Invitation Rejected

• The Anger of the King

Scene 2 (vv8-10) Invitation Accepted

• The wedding feast is ready
• The invitation was offered to the uninvited
• The wedding hall was filled with guests

Scene 3 (vv11-12) -  Improper Dress Spotted

• The king went in the banquet
• He saw a man with no wedding garment
• Easily spotted because the rest are in proper dress code

Scene 4 (v13) - Punishment Executed

• Bind the man (hands and feet)
• Cast him in outer darkness where weeping and gnashing of teeth are experienced

Scene 5 (v14) - Conclusion

• For many are called, but few are chosen.

• This parable explains Jesus's conclusion "For many are called, but few are chosen"

Explanation:

• The word "Called"
• The word invitation in the parable correspond to the act of calling
• Those who rejected the invitation are the called
• Since they are the invited, they are the Israel who rejected the Gospel
• They persecuted the servants whom the King's had sent
• There is another group of people who accepted the call, they are also the "Called"
• When the invited rejected the invitation, the invitation was given to them
• It brings back the point of the second parable (The kingdom will be given to not His people)
• There are people who died and never had a chance to hear the Gospel
• They are not part of the group of people who are "CALLED"
• But to those who heard the Gospel, it is their privilege.
• Nevertheless, the called are the people who heard the Gospel of the Kingdom of God - Gospel of salvation
• It is a privilege to hear the Gospel of Salvation.

• However, not all who are called will inherit the Kingdom of God, but only those who are chosen.
• Part of those who are called (who heard the Gospel) are the chosen and not chosen.
• This parable describes the non chosen who are called. By this the chosen out of the called will be identified as well.

Propositional Statement: The Marks of the Not Chosen out the Privileged Called People.

1. They are those who Do not Care about Christ's Message
• They are the invited who rejected the invitation
• They heard the invitation, they heard the Gospel of Salvation, the Message of Christ, but they reject it.
• These are people who have the privilege, the opportunity to hear the message of Christ, but they are not chosen
• Their rejection of the Message of Christ proved that they are not chosen.
• Illustration: Personal Evangelism - Many rejected the message of Christ.

Challenge: We do not know who are the chosen and not.

                    But, let us preach the Gospel, giving them the opportunity to hear the message of Christ.

Transition: Those who have the privilege to hear the Message of Christ, but rejected it, are the wretched people.

                     But there are more wretched than those who hear and rejected the Message of Christ.

2. They are those who Do not Conform with Christ's Manner
• They are the uninvited invited who are not in proper dress code
• They have given the opportunity to hear the Message of Christ, to sit and to fellowship with the saints, but without repentance, no change of mind, lifestyle.
• Christ has a divine mandate for those who truly receive Him
•  
• They still love the thing that God hates and hate the thing that God loves (according to one preacher).
• These are people without evidence of holiness and righteousness.
• Here is the sad part. Many in our churches today are like the person who sat with those who accepted the invitation, but, not wearing the proper attire.
• They are the unbelieving so-called believers, the church people without transformation, and the goats pretending to be sheep.

Challenge: If we call ourselves Christian, wear the proper dress code. May our King spot us dressed in holiness.

Now we know the marks of those who are not chosen, it is important to know they are in great danger.

If we are the one who constantly rejecting the message of Christ, or the one who claim to be a Christian, but living an unholy life,  you are the Called but not the Chosen; nevertheless, you are in great danger.

CIS:  THE NOT CHOSEN ARE IN GREAT DANGER  

• These people will experience God's judgment in the end.

• If they are still in their rejection and sinful lifestyle when Jesus returns, they are in great danger.
• In verse 7, to those who do not care were brought to their terrible end (destroyed)
• In verse 13, to those who do not conform were thrown to a horrible place (weeping and gnashing)
• These are mandates of the king.

III. CONCLUSION

• I assume that we are not the first group of people who rejected the Message of Christ.
• My concern most here in  our church is the issue of the second mark, "Those who do not conform with Christ's Manner"
• If we are not in proper dress code,
• If we are not living in holiness and righteousness, if we are still playing with the world, while confessing of being a Christian,    we are more likely called but not chosen.
• And we are in great danger of the coming judgment ready to be served at the coming of Jesus Christ.
• Let us all wear the prescribed dress code as a Christian, the robe of holiness and righteousness.

Sovereign Grace of Christ Christian Church

08/13/17