Rsbc

Date: March 20^th 2005

Series: Christ The Sum and Substance of The Bible

Sermon # 36

 

Subject: “ Causeth Us To Triumph In Christ”

Text: II Cor 5-12-17

 

Intro: The Apostle closes this chapter with a note of concern about Titus whom he had sent to ordain Elders in every city. He also shows his intent at Troas, to preach the gospel of Christ...So many are not concerned with the true gospel but we are at this church.

 

The preaching of the gospel of Christ requires a door to be open...verse 12 Often those of us who are in the ministry we forget sometimes who it is that opens doors and opportunities for us to share the gospel of Christ.

 

My focus in the message is not necessarily on the gospel but rather the effects of God causing us to Triumph in Christ. The word Triumph is a  word of victory. We all like to be victorious and that we are if we are saved by the grace of GOD.

 

I... “ THE THANKFULNESS OF PAUL VS 14 “ Thanks be to God”

 

This was not an unusual for Paul. In his epistle he stressed the people of God to be thankful. Note with me a few times in which he expresses this:

 

Colossians 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

 

He spoke of his thankfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Corinthians 9:15  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

 

That we as he did are to give thanks for all things: Ephesians 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

 

II... “ THAT IT WAS GOD WHO CAUSED HIM TO TRIUMPH AS WELL AS US”...

 

This word is used through out the Bible...

 

David said:

 

1^st. He is the cause of feeding: Psalm 104-14 “ He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man, that he may bring forth food of the earth;

 

2^nd. He is the cause of pouring contempt out also: Psalm 107-40 He poureth contempt upon princes and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

 

3^rd. He causes the rain and lightings: Psa 135-7 “ He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

 

The great cause of Christ being revealed before the whole earth is a wonderful and profound blessing... Isaiah 61:11 “ For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the tings that are sown in it to spring forth; so the LORD God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations...

 

The Lord caused Noah to build an Ark that would deliver him and his family and the animals of God’s choosing...The Lord caused Abraham to leave his country and pursue the land and the gospel that whole world would be blessed by... The Lord caused Joseph to save a nation to preserve the people of God and the seed of the woman, The Lord caused Moses to be spared death, so that he could deliver his people and instruct them. The Lord caused a donkey to speak to a prophet, The Lord caused a prophet named John the Baptist to announce his Son and our saviour to the world: Be assured today that nothing happens by luck, by chance, but it happens because the LORD causes it.

 

III... “IN WHOM DOES THE LORD CAUSE US TO TRIUMPH?”..VS 14 The Lord Jesus Christ...

 

When we look back in Chapter 15: 57 “ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

Some facts:

 

If you have victory this morning it is in Christ:

 

1 John 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

Revelation 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

 

There is no victory in your free will, there is no victory in your decided to be a Christian, there is no victory in baptism, there is victory only in Christ. We must look into his word and see where and how is this victory applied to us...

 

A. It begins with the Father: “He loves us and chose us in Christ”

b. It continues with the Son: He likewise loves us, and gave himself for us” In his own words he said:

 

John 13-1 “ No before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come, that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end.

 

The great work of incarnation, redemption, the work of resurrection guarantees us a home in heaven through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

C. It continues with the Holy Spirit: Our Lord said ye must be born again. The work of the Spirit in our hearts is a work of conviction, a work of convincing, and a work of quickening.

 

Titus 3-5 “ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us; by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

Vs 6 Which is shed on us abundantly through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

Once again we see the great sum and substance of Jesus Christ in everything and in everywhere, the LORD causes us to triumph in his son our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

IV... SOME SPECIFIC AREA’S HE MENTIONS THIS TRIUMPHING

 

We have seen that the cause of all victory is the Father, the one through whom we have this victory our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the application of that victory is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.. Of course I did not mention the precious word of God is the instrument of God’s activity in us...

 

1^st. In every place... vs 14

 

Look at the verse, it is said that he causes us as well as those who are following Christ to spread the odor of Christ everywhere. This word “savour” means odor. So Paul is saying that the odor of Christ and his sweet smell comes through us his people.

 

2^nd. In both the saved and the lost...vs 15

 

Note the direction of this odor, unto GOD. When we are saved the Father smells the sweetness of his Son’s life and work as it comes from our born again souls unto him. It does not turn his head.... he gladly approves of it.

 

3^rd. The clear explanation ...vs 16

 

 

Two things are said:

 

(1.) An odor of death unto death:

 

Many men are hardened in their sins when they hear the gospel of Christ. This is primarily what this is talking about. Stephen in preaching the gospel it really effected those who heard it...

 

Acts 7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. Vs 57 Then they cried with a loud voice, and stopped their ears and ran upon him with one accord...vs 59 And they stoned Stephen...

 

The true gospel of Christ is an odor of death unto death, upon some who hear it with the natural ear.

 

(2.) An odor of life unto life:

 

To those whom God is please to open their hearts to the truth of the gospel of Christ a great triumph takes place. The odor is sweet to the heart...the sound is tremendous it is good news to those who have been given life.

 

Jesus said:

 

John 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

 

Sing over wonderful words of life, let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life, words so freely given wooing us to heaven beautiful wonderful words wonderful words of life...

 

This does not come of nothing but the gospel of Christ that Paul desired to preach for in it and it’s message God causes us to triumph in Christ.. It is no doubt to me sweet music to the soul, it is meat to my mind, it is hope to the hopeless who stand at the cross roads this morning not knowing where to go, Come to Christ this day, this moment, this hour.

 

The gospel in and of it’s self cannot give life, only Christ can give life, only the Holy Spirit of GOD can make a sinner alive to hear and believe the truth about their self, and about what Christ hath done.

 

Do you hear the wonderful sound in your soul this morning, I do, do you need a saviour today I do and I have one.