R sbc
Sunday Morning
July 3rd 2005
Series: “Christ the Sum & Substance of The Bible”
Subject: “Christ In Our Hearts”
Text: Eph 3:17-21
Sermon # 48
Intro: The reality of Christ in our hearts is almost unbelievable, that is, Christ in us. The eternal God, the living Christ, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit all in us. Christ in our hearts is the vital connection between us and the life hereafter.
The Lord Jesus said:
John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. The word abode, to take residency, to stay with and in.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
(1.) He died with Christ:
(2.) He lives with Christ:
(3.) He lives by the faith of Christ:
(3.) The motive..
This morning I want to show a number of things...
I... “ THE HOW OF HIS ABIDING”.... “ BY FAITH”...VS 17
Not by feeling, not by religious beliefs, or religious duties, but by Faith... Paul said that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. We cannot rely upon anything to be assured that Christ dwells in us, but by faith.
The Elders obtained a good report by faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, Noah built an ark, Enoch was translated, Abraham was called and sojourned by faith....
1st. Christ in us assures us that we are children of God:
Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
2nd. Christ in us assures us that we will be resurrected:
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
3rd. Christ in us assures us of great fellowship:
2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
II... “ THE ROOT OF ABIDING”..VS 17 “ ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE”
The indwelling of the great Trinity in us, causes us to express the love of Christ that he hath for by showing it to others. Foremost is the love to Christ:
1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. “Anathema” to abide under a great curse”. If you love not the Lord you are abiding under danger this morning.
1st. The word rooted:
In order for the root to take hold, one must be rooted by the Father. Listen to what Jesus said: Matthew 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Rooted by him also will cause an establishing in true faith:
Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
2nd. Grounded in his love:
The prophet Isaiah spoke of this grounding love of God for his people:
Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
III... “CHRIST IN US WILL LAY HOLD OF AN UNDERSTANDING THAT CANNOT BE KNOWN BY THE WORLD” ...VS 18-19
1ST. It is a mutual understanding: With all the saints..vs 18
All true saints of God, know how much Christ loves us... We read in the word of God and we by faith lay hold of it:
a. We know it to be a great love: John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
B. We know it to be an undying love: John 13:1 Now 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.
C. We know it to an unselfish love: Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
D. We know it to be TRADMENDOUS in it’s characteristics: Look at the four words that he uses to describe this love...
(1.) Breadth: This is the great width of it.
(2.) Length: The longness of it.
(3.) Depth: The deepness of it.
(4.) Height: The exaltedness of it
It is so great that nothing, no one, will or can remove us from it... note again that wonderful verse... Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
It is so great that it constrains us: 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead
The word constrain means to hold together so as to keep it from falling apart, this is what Christ love does for us his people. We understand that, and those that don’t are missing the reality of the love of Christ.
We also know that it passes knowledge: vs 19
It goes beyond it, over it, it is greater than knowledge...and all the saints of God know this and has been given understanding in it.
2nd. The intended purpose of this: vs 19 “fulness of God”
This does not mean that you and I in this life will be so filled with the LORD in us that we will have all fulness of the LORD. But a christian can be filled so as to know much about the LORD as it is revealed in the holy word of GOD.
3rd. The ability of the Lord: vs 20 “ That is able”
A. We do not question the ability of GOD:
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
B. What he is able to do: “ above all that we ask or think”
The Lord Jesus Christ said: Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. We are to continue to do this...
Luke 18:1-7
c. How he does this: “power that worketh in us” 2 Samuel 22:48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
Psalms 18:32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
Psalms 18:47 It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
IV.. “ THE GREAT DOXOLOGY OF THIS TEXT: VS 21
Doxology is the praise that belongs to LORD: our hymn says praise God from whom all blessings flow praise him all creatures here below, praise him above you heavenly host, praise Father Son and Holy Ghost...
1st. Where he gets the glory: In his church
2nd. By whom he gets the glory: Christ Jesus our Lord.
3rd. The extent of his glory: now and in the world to come
4th. The duration of it... “ world without end”