R sbc
Date: June 4th 2006
Sunday Morning
Series: Christ the Sum & Substance of The Bible
Sermon # 83
Subject: “Four Facts That Concern Us & Our Lord”
Text: 2 Tim 2:11-14
Intro: I have tried since I started this series of Sermons several yrs ago to show that embedded in the word of the LORD is the Christ of our salvation and service. We have seen many things about him and about us. This message this morning is not different. If you take a close look at this chapter you will see.....what I mean.
The Strength we have is in the grace of Christ: vs 1
Being a solider in the LORD’S army is in Christ...vs 3
The humanity of Christ...vs 8
The duty we have toward the lost is in Christ...vs 10
This message today show some spiritual truths that concern every believer in Christ here this morning...
I... “ IF WE BE DEAD WITH CHRIST”..VS 11
This is not the only time that we find this expression Paul said in Ro 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: We know that the death of Christ was real and that all of his people died with him.
John Gill said and I quote “ in a legal sense; when he died, they died with him; being crucified with him, as their head and representative, their old man, their sins, were also crucified with him, being imputed to him, and laid upon him; and through the efficacy of his death, they became dead to sin, both to its damning and governing power”
We died with him at Calvary....we shall also live with him. Here we have a fact stated, if we died with him life will proceed. There is life in Christ...John introduces the Lord as being the source of life. Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. The life that Christ gives...results from being born again...
2Co 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
(1.) The life that Christ gives to us is real life:
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(2.) That personal life in Christ produces a personal walk with and for Christ
Ga 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.
II... IF WE SUFFER: VS 12
The reality of this is not seen by American Christians but it is seen in other countries were Christ is hated and his word is hated. It may come, and it may be to us, or to our children and their children. No question that the bible teaches that Christ suffered. He predicted it and it came to pass...Lu 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
It is likewise that his people will suffer. Keep in mind that suffering does not always mean to be killed, to be put in jail, to be beaten and many such like things. To suffer in mind for Christ, is a suffering also, To be rejected by those that you love for Christ gospel and truths is also a suffering.
2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. The Apostle Peter said these words also:
1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 1Pe 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Not the promise he makes: “they shall reign with him” There are many views concerning the reigning with Christ but the bible is clear. That he is talking about reigning now in this life.
Reign in life: Ro 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: The reign began the moment we became a Christian.
Re 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
III... THE DENYING OF US: VS 12
If we deny him in a time of suffering we are asking for him to deny us. Not that he would deny us to the loosing of our salvation that cannot be. But the denial of service for him. It is also clear that some will be denied at judgement:
(1.) The denial that leads to the eternal lake of fire:
Mt 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
(2.) The denial of a follower of Christ leads to discipline by the Lord...
Peter denied him: Lu 22:57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. Later you see Peter serving..
Brothers and sisters in Christ we deny him in word, in practice, in not being a witness for him, not loving him like we should...we deny him in our sins, we deny him in a church service etc...
IV... “ IF WE BELIEVE NOT”..VS 13
The context shows that even one does not, will not, has not, believed on the LORD JESUS CHRIST, it will not overturn his great abilities to save, to keep, to render righteous, to love, to protect all that the Father hath given him.
There are verses that show how God feels about those who do not believe to the saving of their souls...John Gill believed that this lone verse speaks of those who rejected the Messiah and those who would not have this man rule over them... I agree.
(1.) The pronouncement of the Lord upon the children of Israel:
Deut 32-19 ¶ And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. 20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. 21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. 22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
(2.) In Paul’s day:
2 Thess. 2-11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The Lord warns us through Paul: Heb 3-12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Listen to me this morning, are you still believing on Christ today, do you still believe his words, would you turn away... I pray not. Jude said: verse 5 “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not ...
Lesson:
1. Being saved and serving Christ a serious business...
2. Perseverance is absolute also..
Mt 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
3. Assurance is necessary:
2 Peter 1-1-12