R sbc
July 10th 2005
Sunday A.M.
Series: Christ The Sum and Substance of the Bible
Subject: “The Fulness of Christ”
Text: Eph 4:8-16
Sermon # 49
Intro: In these verses that we have read, I wish to show a few things before we get into the message for this morning... Paul mentions a number of things before he gets to our text..
(1.) That Christ is the source of all our gifts in him: vs 8
(2.) That he gave them to his church...vs 11
(3.) The purpose for which he gave them: vs 12-16
a. The maturing of the saints..vs 12
b. The lifting up of the saints..vs 12
c. To establish unity in the body of saints..vs 13
d. The ability to discern between true doctrine and false..vs 14
e. The working of the body of saints in one common cause...vs 16
In all of this Paul states this overwhelming truth... that we may experience the fulness of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. What is meant by fulness of Christ? I believe it to mean the riches of Christ. All that we have in him. We see this riches in a great number of things, which allows us to see his fulness...
I... “THIS FULNESS IS SEEN IN OUR STANDING”...
Our standing in Christ is seen in two basic truths that is often overlooked by professing Christian. Needless to say we stand in his person, but practically there are two things:
(1.) In the gospel...1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
Keep in mind that there is but one gospel... even though it is identified under different names...it is the gospel of grace, it is the gospel of the kingdom, it is the gospel of Christ, it is the gospel of God...it ancient... God preached it to Abraham, it is current for I preach it to you today...
Christ died according to the scriptures, and that he was buried according to the scriptures and that he rose again....
(2.) In the grace of God: 1 Peter 5:12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
Saved by Grace Eph 2-8-10 Stand by Grace, we live by grace, we suffer by grace, we understand by grace, we work by grace, we survive by grace, we sing of grace, we preach grace, we write about grace it is manifold as Peter said...
II... “ THAT THE FULNESS OF CHRIST IN US IS SEEN IN OUR NATURE BEING CHANGED...
In my personal devotion this week I was reading about Saul becoming the first King of Israel and one thing stood out in those events...that God changes the nature of men to suit him...
1 Samuel 10-9 ¶ And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. And then in another verse it says:
1 Samuel 10-26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
My heart said “WOW” It is just like that today the LORD must touch your heart, he must change your mind, he must sent the Holy Spirit to quicken you, and point you to Christ...
The Lord gives us a new nature whereby the fulness of Christ is seen in us.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
III.. THE FULNESS OF CHRIST IS ALSO SEEN IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A NEW MASTER...
(1.) There are those in whom cherish Christ as their master:
Matthew 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
(2.) There are those who are hypocritical about it:
Matthew 26:25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. Matthew 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
In the death of his friend Lazarus Jesus came...note what is said about him: John 11:28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
IV... “IN THE FULNESS OF CHRIST IS SEEN ALSO OUR CITIZENSHIP”
Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 3:14-15
As citizens we have a solid foundation:
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Listen to the great Apostle Peter’s inspired words..
1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
With Christ as our foundation we are full, full because it is a eternal foundation, it is a solid foundation, it is a knowable foundation, it is a tried foundation, it is a good foundation, it is a living foundation, it is anchoring foundation...
Heb 6:18-20 “ That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whither the forerunner is for us entered even Jesus made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
What a Christ we have today!
V... “ WE HAVE A FULL LIFE IN THE FULNESS OF CHRIST”
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Oh that you who need real live this morning may find your lost condition and say with the thousands that have seen his light... I need the Lord to show me the way...
There is no doubt in my mind this morning that I can with gladness in my heart say to you this morning, the following...It is so easy for sinners to pass him by, to neglect him, to reject him as that life...John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
(1.) That Christ is the fountain of life:
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
(2.) Since Christ is that fountain of life why not drink this morning?
John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
VI... “ IN THE FULNESS OF CHRIST IS SEEN A DIFFERENT DESTINY”...
Practically we came into the world, with a destiny bent toward our nature, we were never in danger of going to hell, because of the eternal purpose of the LORD, but we did not know that..
Christ set us free... we are bound for that city whose builder and maker is the LORD. Often we speak of death and heaven and hell because they all go together. All of us here are aware of it... We must take a different look at it...
Thomas Brooks wrote in one of his book a chapter on A Heavenly Cordial... what he mean by that? The word cordial means anything that invigorates the heart..that makes it glad and not sad... Brethren and Sisters heaven should invigorate our hearts...
Listen to me...no ones dies until we fill our place in the kingdom of God... till our race is run, our course is finished, our work on earth is done... Job 5-26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season.
Job 14-5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
(1.) It will be our last change till God brings us up out of the grave:
(2.) It will be a lasting change.
(3.) It will be a universal change: New body
May we conclude this morning with two passages:
Revelation 21:1-8
Revelation 21: 23-27
Revelation 22:1-7