R sbc
April 15th 2007
Sunday morning
Series: Christ The Sum & Substance of The Bible
Sermon # 114
Subject: “THOSE THINGS THAT CONCERN US IN CHIRST”
Text: I Peter 3:15-22
Intro: In preaching this series I have looked for Christ in all verses and in all chapters of the Bible. I have no doubt missed a great deal in preaching to you about the sum and substance of Christ in the Bible.
It was and it is still not my intention to go verses by verse but rather the passage of a chapter and a book that have a lot to say about Christ. In our message today it is no different, I intend to show Christ in these verses to you.
Even thought they are repeative in some sense they still are worth preaching. I wish to show the following to you:
I.. OUR CONDUCT IN CHRIST..VS 15-16
(1.) Our readiness: vs 15
We all know that to be ready, means to be alert and prepared for such occasion as in our text. Be ready to give an answer...Lu 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
(2.) Our readiness motivates our conduct: vs 16
Good conscience: Paul uses this term: Ac 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Heb 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Page # 2
II.. OUR SUFFERING IN CHRIST: VS 18
It is clear that we died in him, and if we did not die in him we will not live in him. Peter stresses the sufferings of Christ as we seen last Sunday. This is the internal dying of Christ. He dies a just man for unjust men.
(1.) Once is enough:
Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
It is no strange teaching that Christ once offered our sins, once died, once settle the sin debt, once obtain eternal redemption.
(2.) The purpose: “ That the may bring us to GOD”
Often I wonder why people think they can bring themselves to GOD. A simple illustration. If you are unable for any reason to go to a certain place, and I say I will pick you up, and take you and bring you back, would you understand that to mean that you would bring yourself where I am at, are would you understand that means I will come where you are at and pick you and bring you?
Jesus Christ said:
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Page # 3
III... “THE PREACHING OF CHRIST”..VS 19-20
Here is a mystery to the minds of men.. There are many interpretations to this passage of the BIBLE. I am not sure if I have the correct one, but mine is as good as the nest one.
The doctrine of purgatory originated in the minds of the Romanist and they see here an opportunity to be saved after death. They believe this a purging place. Others believe of the merit of Christ preaching to the dammed in hell and confirms why they are there..
If you remember Jesus made a promise when he was dying to one of thieves . .Lu 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Could this be the same place where Paul said he was caught up to: 2Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
The early church fathers, said that this was a place neither in heaven or on earth but between them. Is this the place where the Lord spoke of in Revelation? Re 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
This is what Jesus did he went to the spirits that were in prison or the compartment of hades for the saved departed spirits...and he empty it after his resurrection.. Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Some believe that he confirmed also to the wicked in hell the other compartment of their just damnation... listen to what is said when they shall be taken out hell judged and then cast out into outer darkness.
Re 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Re 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Page # 4
IV. “ THE FIGURE OF SALVATION: VS 21-22
In this text it would behoove those who think that baptism actually saves us, to read the whole of the verse... It does not say that baptism saves us, it says the like figure of baptism saves us...
(1.) Baptism is an important doctrine and we must not be afraid of it...
Ro 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
It is an identification: buried with him
It is a picture: That like as Christ was raised up from the dead
It is a beginning: Should walk in the newness of life
(2.) Baptism admits one to be member of a NT church and the rights of membership:
Ac 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
(3.) Baptism gives us a clear conscience before the Lord:
All of this is through and by the resurrection of Christ from the dead by the glory of the Father... now we are ready for service. Now we can take the Lord’s supper, now we can participate in the function of the Lord’s church.
Conclude this morning:
There is three thing said about Christ:
1st. He is gone into heaven:
Mr 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Ac 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Page # 5
Stephen saw him as he was dying: Ac 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
2nd. But he is working in heaven: at the right hand of God..
3rd. Ultimate power is given him: angels and authorities and powers:
It is said in Psa 2-Ps 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
He said: Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
He has been given a name: Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Eph 1-19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us–ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.