R sbc
September 30, 2007
Sunday Morning
Subject: “GREAT UNDERSTANDING”
Text: I John 5: 20
Intro: Understanding is a great gift of GOD, it evolves many things. Job 28:20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? The answer is simple, and it is biblical Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
The means in which the LORD gives understanding is his word: Ps 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Ps 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Listen to me, a person may have understanding in all the academic studies they undertake, a workman may thoroughly understand his skill, his craft, a Dr may know medicine, a nurse may know how to dispense the orders of a Dr based on her training, a scientist may make great discoveries and understand them, and all that is well and good.
But if a human being fails to have the understanding of this text, which is knowing the LORD JESUS CHRIST he has failed, he has no success really. To leave the world a lost sinner, to have all that this world can give you and die without Christ is a horrible event to say the least.
I. UNDERSTANDING HAD BEEN GIVEN US TO KNOW THAT CHRIST HAS COME: VS 20 “ THE SON OF GOD IS COME”
We have been given a clear understanding from the word that, Jesus when he came had a primary mission, it was to save sinners: 1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
In saying that he came, it is a manifestation of why he did come, this is found in a number of verses in the BIBLE.
(1.) He did not come to destroy the LAW: Mt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
The apostle Paul said in “ Ro 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. That is the law what was Christ aimed at.
(2.) He did not come to call the righteous: Mt 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
(3.) He did not come to send peace on earth: Matt 10-34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
The peace that the angels talked about at his birth was not peace on the earth physical, but spiritual. This world will never know peace, war shall last as long as there is people.
(4.) He did not come to destroy mens lives: Lu 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men‘s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
(5.) He did not come of himself: Joh 7:28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.
II..UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN GIVEN US TO KNOW HIM: VS 20
(1.) Know him that is true:
He who said I am the way the truth and the life, Re 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
a. True light: Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
B. True bread: Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
C. True Vine: Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
D. True tabernacle: Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
(2.) We are in him that is true: Chosen in him: Eph 1-4
Glorified in him: 2Th 1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rooted and built up in him: Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Complete in him: Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
I know to say that all we have, all we hope in, all that we look to, all that we have been taught, all that we live for is in our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
III. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN UNDERSTANDING THAT HE IS THE ONE AND TRUE GOD AND THIS IS EXTERNAL LIFE: VS 20
When Christ prayed that great prayer in John 17 notice how he references this prayer at the first: John 17- 1 ¶ These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
What do you think of when you think of eternal life?
(1.) It reveals immortality
There are only five verses that deal with this: The patient seek for it: Rom 2-7 and also in the teaching of the resurrection affirms it: 1 Cor 15:53-54 Christ alone has it: 1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honour and power everlasting. Amen.:
(2.) It reveals the means through which it is obtained: 2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
(3.) It is in the world to come:
Mr 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
(4.) It is based up the veracity of the LORD:
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
(5.) It is something that we look forward to: Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
IV.. WHY IS THIS GREAT UNDERSTANDING:
(1.) Because it is he that hath opened our understanding: Lu 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
(2.) Because so many do not have it: Ro 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
(3.) Because it pleases him to give it to us:
Listen to Paul:
Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;