ATTITUDES
This web page contains six messages on attitudes plus three that are on another web page. It has been modified to some extent All multi-volume works cited will give the volume number and p number for example, I:1. Items in [ ] are comments by this writer. To access a message, click on the title.
Full Assurance of Faith--Hebrews 10:22; this is the first of a three-part series.
Full Assurance of Hope--this is the third of a three-part series.
Full Assurance of Understanding--Colossians 2:2; this is the second of a three-part series.
The Concern of the Apostle--Colossians
1:1-14; this is the second of a study in the Epistle to the Colossians.
(Click
here to access the series.).
The Failure of Abraham--Genesis
12:13
The Faith of A Shepherd--Psalm 23:1-6; this is the seventh of twelve-part series (Click here to access the series.).
Three messages from a study in the Epistles
of James: James 2 1-7--Respecter of Persons; James 3
13-18--Heavenly Wisdom Versus Worldly Wisdom; James
4 11, 12--Who Are
You to Judge?
The Failure of
Abraham
Genesis 12:13
INTRODUCTION:
1.In an issue of a magazine this writer read that for every business started, one fails.
2. One does not like to talk about failures.
3. But God records the failure of His own as well as the successes.
4. Consider then, "The Failure of Abraham."
I. THE CAUSE OF HIS FAILURE
A. The Immediate Cause
1. Famine--Genesis 12:10. . . ."And there was a famine in the land: and
Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous
in the
land."
2. Fear of
men--Genesis 12:12, 13. . . ."Therefore it shall come to pass, when the
Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, 'This is his wife':
and they will
kill me, but they will save thee alive. [13] Say, I pray thee, thou art
my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall
live because of
thee."
3. Our case
a. Financial reversal
b. Sickness
c. Domestic problems
d. Death
B. The Real Cause
1. Worldliness
a. Went into Egypt--a picture of the world.
b. Matthew 13:22--"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that
heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of
riches,
choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."
c. James 4:4--" Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship
of the world is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a friend of
the world is the enemy of God."
2. Becoming occupied with circumstances rather than with God
a. The case with Abraham
b. Cf. Peter walking on the water
c. "But, again, we are frequently led to judge of the rightness
of a
path by its exemption from trial, and vise versa. This is a great mistake. The
path of
obedience may often be found most trying to the flesh and blood." (Mackintosh, C. H.,
Notes on the book of Genesis. New York:
Loizeaux
Brothers, 1951; 136; italics are his.)
C. The Result
1. Lying to man
a. Abraham lied.
b. Got his wife to lie
2. Loss of communion with God
a. No altar while in Egypt
b. ". . . nothing can ever make up for the loss of our communion
with
God. Exemption from temporary pressure, and the accession of the greatest
wealth, are but poor equivalents for what one loses by diverging a hair's
breadth
from the straight path of obedience." (op. cit., 138)
3. Rebuke and reproof by the world--Genesis 12:13, 19. . . ."Say, I pray
thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my
soul shall
live because of thee. [19] Why saidst thou, She is my sister?
so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife,
take her, and go
thy way."
TRANSITION: We have seen the failure of Abraham; if we stopped there it would be
a sad
picture. Now let us observe:
II. THE CURE FOR FAILURE
A. Recognizing Your Sin
1. Sometimes by being rebuked by the world
2. Sometimes by lose of God's peace
3. Sometimes by circumstances
4. Cf.
a. Romans 3:23--"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God;"
b. 1 John 1:7-10--"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth
us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that
we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
B. Revealing Your Sin
1. Confession to God not to other people
2. Scripture
a. Psalm 32:5--"I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not
hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and
Thou
forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah [pause, or stop to think it
over].".
b. Psalm 51:3--"For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before
me."
C. Returning to the Place of Worship
1. As soon as Abraham came out of Egypt, he returned to the place of the
Altar--Genesis
13:4. . . ."Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at
the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD."
2. Upon confession of sin and forsaking the world, we too return to the place of fellowship
with God.
a. To the quiet time
b. To the house of worship--the Church
CONCLUSION:
1. The cause of failure
a. Outward circumstances
b. Fear
c. Getting one's eyes off the Lord
d. Results
(I) In sin
(II) In lose of fellowship with God
(III) In lose of peace and joy
(IV) In rebuke
2. The cure of failure
a. Recognize your sin.
b. Reveal the sin to God (He knows it anyway!).
c. Repent and turn back to the place you left God.
3. Have you failed?
4. Seek the Lord
5. He is ready and willing to forgive.
6. Turn your eyes to Jesus.
Full Assurance
of Faith
Hebrews 10:22
INTRODUCTION:
1. What is assurance?
2. A dictionary states: "A statement or
indication that inspires confidence; guarantee. A freedom from doubt; certainty"
(The American Heritage Dictionary.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Company, c1982; 136)
3. This writer is presenting three messages on Full Assurance.
4. " Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water."
5. Do you have the "Full Assurance of Faith"?
6. Consider first:
I. THE APPROACH--"Let us draw near with a true heart"
A. Ready Access
1. Verse 19--"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by
the blood of Jesus,"
2. Same word occurs in Hebrews 4:16--"The phrase come boldly
expresses a thought which the Epistle emphasizes - that Christianity is the
religion of free
access to God.." (Vincent, Marvin R., Word Studies in the New
Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.,
1976; IV:431;
Italics are his.)
3. "The Exercise of Faith.--This is the upward attitude,
we are to 'draw near,' continually making use of the entrance which is
ours, not standing aloof, as
was the case under the old covenant." (Griffith Thomas, W. H., "LET US
GO ON" The secret of Christian progress in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1944; 133)
B. Ready Access with a True Heart
1. Speaks of a heart that is genuine with God.
a. Phrase only here in the New Testament
b. In the Septuagint occurs in Isaiah 38:3--"And said, 'Remember now, O Lord, I beseech
Thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a
perfect heart, and have
done that which is good in Thy sight."
c. "A true heart is required to enter the true sanctuary. The phrase means
more than in sincerity. Sincerity is included, but with it all that
enters into a right
attitude toward God as revealed in our Great High Priest, - gladness, freedom, enthusiasm, bold appropriation of all the privileges of sonship."
(Vincent, IV:501; italics are his.)
2. Speaks of a heart that is upright.
a. "A right and genuine inward attitude toward God." (op.
cit., IV:500)
b. With loyalty and fidelity or faithfulness
3. Speaks of a heart that comes in full confidence based on trust--"And
hence we learn what must be the frame of our minds in order that we may enjoy
the
benefits conferred by Christ; for there is no coming to him without an upright
or as true
heart, and a sure faith, and a pure conscience." (Calvin, John,
Commentaries of the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews.
Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1948; 236)
4. "True-hearted, whole-hearted, Saviour all glorious! Take
Thy
great power and reign there alone, Over our wills and affections victorious,
Freely
surrendered and wholly Thine own." (Worship and Service Hymnal.
Chicago: Hope Publishing Company, 1967; 511, stanza 3)
TRANSITION: Having considered the approach to the full assurance of faith, we
ponder now:
II. THE ASSURANCE--"In full assurance of faith."
A. The Word "Assurance"
1. From the verb to bring in full measure
2. Thus the idea of confidence
3. Berkeley Version--"Unqualified assurance."
B. The Word "Assurance" Connected with Faith
1. The complete confidence of faith--"Full conviction engendered by
faith." (Vincent, IV:501)
2. If there really is faith, that is trust, then there can be no doubt.
a. Romans 14:23b--"For whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
b. "The Apostle points out the nature of faith, and at the same
time
reminds us that the grace of Christ cannot be received except by those who possess
a fixed and unhesitating conviction." (Calvin, 237)
c. Believer, if you are trusting God for anything you can have no room for
doubts.
3. Trust gives the
assurance--1 John 5:13--"These things have I written unto you that believe on
the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have
eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of
God."
TRANSITION: Having seen the nature of full assurance of faith, we observe:
III. THE ASSISTANCE--"having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water."
A. The Cleansing of the Heart
1. Cleansed from an evil conscience
a. Evil means " the evil of sin, wicked, and also
the
effect of sin, miserable. It seems to be the latter sense here; a miserable
conscience is one oppressed
with guilt."
(Calvin, 237, footnote #2)
b. Speaks of our initial cleansing from sin.
2. Cleansed by the blood of Christ
a. The sprinkling
(I) A reference to the Old Testament sprinkling of blood for sin. (This is
evident from verse 19 which speaks of the blood of Jesus.)
(II) Speaks of the sprinkling of Christ's blood for our sin.
(III) (I) is the type of which (II) is the anti-type--"As the priests were
sprinkled with the sacrificial blood and washed with water before ministering,
so
do you who have now the privilege and standing of priests in approaching God, draw near, priestlike
[sic], as sharers in an economy which purges
the conscience
(Heb 9:14), having your consciences purged. Your own
hearts must experience the effects of the great sacrifice of Christ,
-
pardon, moral renewal, deliverance from a legal spirit."
(Vincent, IV:501)
b. 1 John 1:7--"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we
have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us
from all sin."
c. 1 Peter 1:2--"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of
the blood
of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."
B. The Cleansing of the Body
1. Some refer this to baptism.
a. However, this passage has Old Testament allusions.
b. "If the reference here is to baptism (quite doubtful), the meaning
is a symbol (Dods) of the previous cleansing by the blood of
Christ." (Robertson,
Archibald Thomas, Word Pictures in the New Testament. New York:
Harper Brothers Publishers,c1933; IV:411)
c. Water baptism is a symbol and cleanses us from nothing in itself.
2. Refers to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit
a. Calvin's view--"The meaning is, that we are made partakers
of
Christ, if we come to him, sanctified in body and soul; and yet that this
sanctification is
not what consists in a visible parade of ceremonies, but that
it is
from faith, pure conscience, and that cleanness of soul and body which flows
from,
and is effected by, the Spirit of God." (Calvin, 237)
b. Then it would refer to our cleansing by the Spirit after salvation--"It may
be [baptism], though I doubt if the idea is emphasized. I incline,
with Dr.
Bruce, to think that it indicates generally the thoroughness of the
cleansing process undergone by one who surrenders himself, soul, body, and
spirit,
to God." (Vincent, IV:501)
c. The difficulty is the word bodies.
(I) Actually the Greek says, the body.
(II) Perhaps it then refers to the church as a whole.
(III) This word is probably used in a figurative sense.
d. Of interest is the word wash.
(I) Not any form of the word baptize
(II) It is the simple word meaning bathe.
(III) If the word were related to the word baptize, we might concede that it
refers
to baptism. It is, however, not so related.
(IV) If the apostle meant baptism, he had a perfectly good word to use.
e. Of further interest is the word water.
(I) The Greek can be rendered in water or with water.
(II) The Greek has this ambiguity here, and, therefore, the apostle may well be
speaking of something which either meaning would fit.
(III) Baptism must be excluded, then, for from other clear passages, baptism is
in water.
f. This view of Calvin's is best.
(I) This writer would add that it is through the Word of God.
(II) It would better accord with the allusion of Exodus 29:4 which speaks of
consecration.
(III) It would, then, be in accord with the washing that the priests did at the
laver.
(IV) Thus this has to do with our priestly work as believers.
(V) This would agree with
(A) Ephesians 5:26--" That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of
water by the word,"
(B) 1 Peter 1:22, 23--"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye
love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which
liveth
and abideth forever."
CONCLUSION:
1. The full assurance of faith gives us real access to God.
a. There is the APPROACH which is perfect and perpetual.
b. There is the ASSURANCE itself based on trust.
c. There is the ASSISTANCE due to our initial cleansing and the cleansing work
of the
Holy Spirit through the Word.
2. Do you have this full assurance?
3. If not, maybe you have not trusted Him for your salvation.
4. Approach Him in simple trust and the assurance will come; He will assist you
by the Holy
Spirit.
Full Assurance of Understanding
Colossians 2:2
INTRODUCTION:
1. Often as parents we do things our children do not
understand.
2. God, our Heavenly Father, also does things that we
do not understand.
3. He wants us, however, to understand His will and
way.
4. In fact, He wants us to have the "Full Assurance of
Understanding" as set forth in Colossians 2:2.
5. Consider, then first:
I. THE BASIS OF FULL ASSURANCE OF UNDERSTANDING--"That their hearts
might be comforted, being knit together in love,"
A. Comforted in Heart
1. Because of
Paul's conflict for them
a. Colossians 2:1--"
b. "The noun" agon (conflict) "means deep and earnest solicitude,
accompanied with toil and peril." (Eadie, John, Commentary on the Epistle of Paul
to the Colossians. Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House 1957;
108; the italized word is in the Greek in the original.)
c. Galatians 4:19--"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until
Christ be formed in you,"
d. "He [Paul] was in a sort of agony, and had a constant fear respecting
what would become of them. Herein he was a follower of his
Master, who was
in an agony for us, and was heard in that he feared."
(Henry, Matthew, Commentary on the Whole Bible. McLean, VA: Mac Donald Publishing
Company, n. d.; VI:755-6)
e. It is a comfort to know that someone is burdened for you concerning your
spiritual welfare.
2. Because they are
children of God the Father of mercies, and
the God of all comfort;"
b. This comfort is for the child of God.
(I) He is speaking to believers here.
(II) Cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 ("Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God,
even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting
consolation and good hope through grace, [17] Comfort your hearts, and establish
you in every good word and work."), where he is also speaking to
believers
(III) Comfort is in view of the conflict of error with truth.
(IV) Do we not have the same conflict today?
c. Comfort here is supportive rather than tranquilizing.
(I) Ephesians 6:22--"Whom [Tychicus] I have sent unto you for the same purpose,
that ye might know our affairs,and that he might comfort your
hearts."
(II) 1 Thessalonians 3:2--"And" (we) "sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister
of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish
you, and to comfort you concerning your faith."
B. United in Love
1. The verb "knitted
together"
a. Means "to make go together"
b. "Used of putting together in one's mind, and so to
conclude by comparison." (Vincent, Marvin, R., Word Studies in the New Testament. Grand
Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1976; III:482; italics are his.)
c. Used in verse 19 also ("And not holding the Head, from which all the body by
joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together,
increaseth with the increase of God.")
d. "Holy love knits the hearts of Christians one to another; and faith and love
both contribute to our comfort." (Henry, VI:756)
2. Understanding comes to
those united in love of the brethren.
a. In the sphere of love, or surrounded by love
b. 1 John 4:7--"Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and
everyone that loveth is born of God, and
knoweth God."
c. Baptism illustrates the idea of in.
3. "In the peculiar
condition of the Colossian church, this virtual prayer was very
necessary. The entrance of error naturally begets suspicion and alienation.
One wonders if his
neighbour be infected, and how far; and that neighbour reciprocates similar curiosity and doubts. Expressions are carefully
weighed,
and a man is made 'an offender for a word.' A sinister construction is apt to be put upon the slightest actions;
nay, caution defeats its very purpose, and
fails to secure good understanding." (Eadie, 110),
4. "Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of
kindred minds Is like to that above." (Worship and Service Hymnal. Chicago:
Hope Publishing Company, 1967; 168, stanza 1)
TRANSITION: We have considered the basis of the full assurance of
understanding; now we need to ponder:
II. THE FACT OF FULL ASSURANCE OF UNDERSTANDING--"And unto all riches of
the full assurance of understanding"
A. Its Riches
1. Consider for the moment "Riches of understanding."
a. "By this phrase he means full and clear perception;" (Calvin, John,
Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Colossians. Grand Rapids, MI:
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 1948; 174)
b. "Great knowledge and strong faith make a soul rich. This is
being rich towards God, and rich in faith, and having the true riches."
(Henry, VI:756)
c. These riches are hid in Christ--cf. verse 3.
d. This is the goal of being knitted together in love.
2. Romans 11:33--"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding
out!"
B. Its Assurance
1. The French render this: "The certainty of complete comprehension."
2. "In the term assurance, he distinguishes between faith and mere
opinion; for that
man
truly knows the Lord who does not vacillate or waver in doubt, but
stands fast
in a firm
and constant persuasion. This constancy and stability Paul frequently calls (. .
.) full assurance, (which term he makes use of here
also,) and always connects
it with faith, as undoubtedly it can no more be separated from it than heat or
light can
be from the sun." (Calvin, 174; italics are
his.
The ". . ." in parentheses is the Greek word.)
3. Paul is fighting here the ancient heresy known as Gnosticism.
a. This heresy pretended to a higher knowledge than taught in Scripture--something
claimed by many today in regards to portions dealing with science.
b. Thus the emphasis here in on full comprehension, and this comprehension is
solely found in Christ.
c. The Lord through ".Paul desires the full use of the intellect in
grasping the great mystery of Christ and it calls for the full and balanced exercise of all
one's mental powers." (Robertson,
Archibald Thomas. Word Pictures in the New Testament. New York: Harper Brothers Publishers, 1931;
IV:488)
4. At least 5 times Paul says, "I would not have you ignorant."
a. Of salvation--Romans 1:13, 16. . . ."Now I would not have you ignorant,
brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,)
that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is
the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to
the Greek."
b. Of God's Word--1 Corinthians 10:1, 4. . . ."Moreover, brethren, I would
not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud,
and all passed through the sea; [4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink:
for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that
Rock
was Christ."
c. Of spiritual gifts--1 Corinthians 12:1. . . ."Now concerning spiritual
gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant."
d. Of missions--2 Corinthians 1:8-12. . . ."For we would not, brethren,
have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were
pressed
out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of
life: [9] But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we
should not trust
in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: [10] Who delivered us
from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet
deliver
us; [11] Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift
bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by
many on
our behalf. [12] For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our
conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but
by the
grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more
abundantly to you-ward."
e. Of the second coming (the rapture)--1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. . . ."But
I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if
we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of
the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the
Lord
shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds to
meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
TRANSITION: Having observed the basis and the fact of full assurance of understanding, we
can see:
III. THE RESULTS OF FULL ASSURANCE OF UNDERSTANDING--"to the
acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ"
A. Discernment
1. The thorough-knowledge
2. The same word as in Colossians 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;"
3. Ephesians 1:18--"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye
may know
what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of
His
inheritance in
the saints."
4. "When our knowledge grows to an understanding of the
mystery of
God, and of the Father, and of Christ,--when we come to have a more clear,
distinct,
methodical knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, then the soul prospers." (Henry, VI:756)
B. Discernment of the Mystery of God
1. The word "Mystery"
a. Not something spooky
b. A heretofore hidden truth which is now revealed
c. Colossians 1:26--"Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and
from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:"
2. The mystery of God
a. Some manuscripts stop after the word God.
b. Others read, "The mystery of God, Christ."
c. All of these seem to be attempts to solve a difficulty.
d. The mystery
(I) Is Christ
(II) Is Christ in relation to the Father
(III) Again, Paul is combating an error that is prevalent today--Christ is
something
less than God.
(A) Held by the Jehovah Witnesses
(B) Held by liberals
3. The mystery of God is know by those who have this full knowledge of Christ.
a. Cf. verse 3--"In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
b. Cf. John 14:9--"Jesus said unto him, 'Have I been so long time with you and
yet
hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the
Father; and
how sayest thou then "Shew us the Father"?'"
c. Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:19--"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the
world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed
unto us the word of
reconciliation."
4. Thus, Calvin could say--"That it is nothing else than the
knowledge
of the gospel. For the false apostles themselves endeavour to set off their
impostures
under the title of wisdom, but Paul retains the sons of God within the limits of the
gospel exclusively, that they may desire to know nothing else."
(Calvin, 174; italics are his.)
CONCLUSION:
1. The Full Assurance of Understanding is based on
a. The comforting of the heart--possible only through faith in Christ.
b. The uniting in love--possible only through yielding to the Holy Spirit.
2. The Full Assurance of Understanding is a fact for those so grounded.
3. The Full Assurance of Understanding results in a thorough-knowledge of the
mystery of God, even Christ Jesus, Our Lord.
4. Do you have a thorough knowledge of Him?
5. If not, possibly you do not have the full assurance of understanding. If so,
then
a. Either you are not united in love
(I) Believers recognize the necessity of this.
(II) Confess the sin to God and thus be united with one another in love.
(III) Study God's Word to help you in this.
b. Or you have not the comfort of God in your heart.
(I) This comfort is lacking because of unbelief.
(II) Acknowledge before God that you are a sinner.
(III) Receive His salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Full Assurance
of Hope
Hebrews 6:11
INTRODUCTION:
1. This writer has been presenting a series on "Full
Assurance. He wrote to you about the Full Assurance of Faith.
2. Faith is important, but so is understanding.
3. Therefore, this writer considered the Full Assurance
of Understanding.
4. To complete this trilogy, ponder the "Full Assurance
of Hope."
5. The text is Hebrews 6:11--"And we desire that every
one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:"
6. This speaks first of:
I. THE DESIRE FOR FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE
A. On the Part of the Apostle Paul
1. He had this desire for
each believer.--"The manifestations just mentioned make the writer desire that
they may exhibit more of the spirit which animates
their beneficent works." (Vincent, Marvin R.,
Word Studies in the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1976;
IV:449)
2. An eager longing for
each without exception--"Each [Greek word in
parentheses] He is concerned, not only for the body of believers, but for each
member."
(Ibid.)
3. The desire is a progress in faith.
a. Ephesians 3:13-17--"Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations
for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of
whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to
be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being
rooted and grounded in love,"
b. "'You have made', he says, 'your love evident by many acts
of
kindness; it remains, however, that you faith should correspond with it; you
have
sedulously laboured not to be wanting in your duties to men; but with no less earnestness it behooves you to make progress in faith so as to manifest
before
God its unwavering and full certainty.'"
(Calvin, John, Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Hebrews.
Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1948; 144)
c. It is a persisting in genuine Christian life.
B. On the Part of the Readers
1. Undoubtedly believers are referred to.
2. They should desire to progress in faith--2 Peter 3:18--"But grow in
grace, and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
3. All should desire this full assurance.
a. Only obtainable through recognition of one's sinfulness.
b. Only obtainable through faith in Jesus Christ.
c. "The metaphor is taken from a ship in full sail, or
from a
tree fully laden with fruit. Fullness of perfection is the general idea."
(Calvin, 145, footnote)
TRANSITION: We have pondered the desire for full assurance of hope; we trust
that you have
that desire. The apostle sets forth:
II. THE DILIGENCE FOR FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE
A. Requires the Will
1. Peter's exhortation--2 Peter 1:10--"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give
diligence to
make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall
never
fall."
2. Using one's will requires action, not just mental assent.--"When a man has
the will the way will mostly open itself. Francis Mouthelon, to whom was
awarded the 1000 franc prize by the French
society of artists for the loveliest panting in 1895, had no hands. He painted a wonderful skill by means of a
wooden hand. An artist of Antwerp, having no arms, held his brush between the toes of his right foot while he painted.
He did his work most
exquisitely. If you have the heart, my brother, to your work you will find the way." (Tan, Paul Lee,
Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations.
Rockville,
MD: Assurance Publishers, 1979; illus. no. 4121)
3. Christ is the example--Luke 9:51--"And it came to pass, when the time was
come
that He should be received up, He stedfastly set His face to go to
Jerusalem."
B. Requires Perseverance
1. One is to go forward in faith.
a. 2 Peter 1:10 (quoted above)
b. 1 Peter 1:13--"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope
to the
end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of
Jesus
Christ."
c. "The bee has been aptly described as 'busy.' To produce one pound of
honey, the bee must visit 56,000 clover heads. Since each head has 60 tubes,
a total of 3,360,000
visits are necessary to give us that pound of honey for the breakfast table. Meanwhile that worker bee has flown the
equivalent
of three times around the world. To produce one tablespoon of honey for our toast, the little bee makes
four
2000 trips to flowers. He makes about
ten trips a day to the fields, each trip lasting twenty minutes average and four
hundred flowers. A worker bee will fly as far as eight miles if he cannot
find a nectar flow that is nearer.
Therefore, when you feel that persistence is a difficult task, think of the bee." (Tan, illus. no. 4326)
2. The Christian life is a battle, and requires persistency-- "Wherefore take
unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13)
C. Requires the Full Assurance of Hope
1. As pointed out in the
first message of this series (Full Assurance of Faith) this means
a. The certainty of hope
b. The full development of hope
2. "The word hope, is here to be taken for faith, because of its affinity
to it. The Apostle, however, seems to have designedly used it, because he was
speaking of perseverance. And we may hence conclude how far short of faith is
that
general knowledge which the ungodly and the devils have in
common; for they also
believe that God is just and true, yet they derive hence no hope, for they do
not lay
hold on his paternal favour in Christ. Let us
then know that true faith is ever
connected with hope." (Calvin, 145-6)
3. The hope
a. Anchor of the soul--Cf. verses 18, 19--"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 steadfast, and which
entereth into that within the veil [the very presence of God];"
b. Gives access to God--Hebrews 7:19--"For the law made nothing perfect, but the
bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto
God."
c. That it is a reference to our Lord's return is undoubtedly evident from the
phrase "to the end."
TRANSITION: Having discovered the diligence of the full assurance of hope, we
turn to the
result or:
III. THE DESTINATION OF THE FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE
A. The Immediate
1. To cause us to be steadfast in the faith.
a. After speaking of the blessed hope, Paul exhorts--1 Corinthians
15:58--"Therefore,
my beloved brethren, "be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work
of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
b. "For months Eric Liddell with the purpose of winning 100-meter race in
the Olympic races of 1924. Many sports writers predicted he would win.
Then Eric learned that the 100-meter race
was scheduled for Sunday. This posed a problem: Eric believed that he could not honor God by running in
the
contest on the Lord's Day. His fans were stunned by his refusal.
Some who had praised him now called him a fool. But Eric stood firm.
Suddenly a runner dropped out of the 400-meter race, scheduled for a week day. Eric
offered to fill the slot, even though this was four times as long
as the race for which he had trained. When the race was
run, Eric Liddell set a record of 47.0 seconds--the winner. Later Eric Liddell went to China
as a missionary.
He died there in 1945 in a war camp." (Tan, illus. no. 6213)
2. To cause us to rejoice in our future prospects, His appearing.
a. 1 Peter 1:7-9--"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious
than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found
unto praise
and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: [8 ] Whom
having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet
believing, ye
rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: [9] Receiving the end of
your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
b. 1 Peter 4:13--"But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's
sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with
exceeding joy."
3. To cause us to be stirred up to live the Christian life.
a. 2 Peter 3:11-14--"Seeing then that all these things shall be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness,
[12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,
wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with
fervent heat? [13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. [14] Wherefore,
beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found
of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."
b. 1 John 3:3--"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even
as He
is pure."
c. "He mentioned diligence, that they might know that they were
not to sit down idly, but to strive in earnest. For it is not a small thing to
ascend
above
the heavens, especially for those who hardly creep on the ground, and
when innumerable obstacles are in the way. There is, indeed, nothing more
difficult than to keep our thoughts fixed on things in heaven when the whole
power
of our nature inclines downwards, and when Satan by numberless
devices draw
us back to the earth. Hence it is that he bids us to beware of sloth."
(Calvin, 146)
B. The Future
1. The end
a. Clearly a reference to the coming of the Lord
b. Some take it to mean perfection.
(I) "He said to the end, or perfection; and he said this, that
they might know that they had not yet reached the goal, and were therefore to
think of
further progress." (Ibid.;
italics are his.)
(II) But when do we get perfection? At the coming of the Lord.
2. "It may be at morn, when the day is awaking, When
sunlight
through darkness and shadow is breaking. That Jesus will come in the fullness of
glory, To
receive from the world, 'His own.' While its hosts cry Hosanna, from heaven descending, With glorified saints and
the
angels attending, With grace on His
brow, like a halo of glory, Will Jesus receive 'His
own.' " (Worship and Service Hymnal. Chicago: Hope
Publishing Company, 1967; 83, stanzas 1 and
3)
CONCLUSION:
1. There must be the Desire for full assurance of hope. Do you have that desire?
2. There must be the Diligence to press for that full assurance of hope. Are you
being
diligent toward a full assurance of hope?
3. There is a Destination for this full assurance of hope.
a. To help us to remain true to God and the faith.
b. To help us grow in Christ
c. To help us look of the blessed hope, the coming of our Lord
4. "Lift up you heads, pilgrims aweary, See day's
approach now
crimson the sky; Night shadows flee, and your Beloved, Awaited with longing, at
last
draweth
nigh. Dark was the night, sin warred against us; Heavy the load of sorrow we bore; But now we
see signs of His coming; Our hearts glow within us, joy's
cup runneth o'er! O blessed hope! O blissful promise! Filling our hearts with rapture divine; O
day of
days! hail Thy appearing! Thy transcendent glory
forever shall shine! Even so come, precious Lord Jesus; Creation waits redemption to see; Caught up
in
clouds soon we shall meet Thee; O blessed
assurance, forever with Thee!"
5. "And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the
full assurance of hope unto the end:" (Hebrews 6:11)
The Faith of
A Shepherd
Psalm 23:1-6
INTRODUCTION:
1. Probably none of you have been a herder of
sheep or a shepherd.
2. The Scripture abounds in references to shepherds and
sheep.
3. Thus as we continue our studies on the faith of
great men in the Old Testament we consider "The Faith of a Shepherd."
4. What better way to see his faith but from a song he
wrote.
5. Therefore, we turn to those familiar words of
the shepherd, Psalmist David: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down
in
green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my
soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalm 23:1-3).
6. Consider first that his faith gives him:
I. ASSURANCE--Verses 1-3
A. Needs Supplied--Verse 1. . . ."The LORD is my
shepherd; I shall not want."
1. He thought of
Jehovah as his Shepherd; therefore, he considered himself a sheep.
a. Being a shepherd, he knew sheep.
b. Idea is expressed elsewhere.
(I) Psalm 100:3--"Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that
hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his
pasture."
(II) By our Lord Himself--"Verily, Verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not
by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the
same is a thief and a robber. But he
that entereth in by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep." (John 10:1f.)
(III) The Apostle Paul--"As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the
day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." (Romans 8:36)
c. The Psalmist is thus representative of all believers.
d. Jehovah is none other than Jesus Christ or the Great Shepherd--"Now the God
of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great
Shepherd of the sheep through the
blood of the everlasting covenant." (Hebrews 13:20)
e. Since Jehovah Christ is the psalmist's Shepherd, He is every believer's
Shepherd.
2. Based on Christ's
shepherdhood the psalmist states: "I shall not want."
a. The word means: "To suffer want."
b. But note the negative: "I shall not suffer want."
c. O blessed truth--"But my God shall supply all your need according to His
riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
d. There is not a need that God cannot nor will not supply.
e. Therefore, with the psalmist we may say: "I shall not suffer want."
B. Rest Provided--Verses 2, 3a. . . ." He maketh
me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:"
1. The shepherd figure
continues in speaking of pleasant pastures.
a. Tender grass
(I) The very best pasture
(II) Best for food
(III) Best for rest
(IV) Does not the of the Word of God supply all of this?
b. Christ's comment--"I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, shall be
saved, and shall go in and out, and find
pasture." (John 10:9)
c. Makes me to lie down
(I) Used of quadrupeds which lie on their breasts with feet drawn under
them--sheep
(II) Sometimes the Lord has to make us lie down to rest.
2. Leads the sheep by
still waters
a. Doesn't drive them, but leads them
b. These waters of quietness speak of rest and repose.
c. Jesus Christ is the source--"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest."(Matthew 11:28)
3. The restoration of
the soul
a. As we quietly rest in His presence, our souls are refreshed.
b. This sets forth Christ's present ministry in Heaven.
c. Cf. 1 John 1:9 with 1 John 2:1--"[1:9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.
[2:1] My little children, these things write
I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous:"
d. Refreshes through His Word
C. Way Directed--Verse 3b. . . ."He leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for His name's sake."
1. As a true shepherd, He
leads us in the way of righteousness.
2. God never leads us
astray.
3. We can rendered it: "He leads me in the right course of action."
4. All we have to do is
follow.
5. He guides us "For the
sake of His name."
a. Speaks of our security
b. Not guided in the right because of our goodness
c. Guided in the right because of His name.
TRANSITION: Not only does the faith of the shepherd give "Assurance," but
also it gives him:
II. COMFORT--Verses 4-6
A. Comfort in Death--Verse 4. . . ." Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for
Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy
staff they comfort me."
1. In the moment of
walking through the shadow of death
a. Whether the death of a loved one
b. Or your own death
2. This death
a. It is a valley experience.
b. It is a dark experience--in the shadows of life.
c. It is a death experience.
3. The believer need not
fear evil.
4. The reason for this
comfort
a. "Thou art with me."
b. O the blessedness of the presence of God!
c. His rod and staff
(I) Carries through the shepherd theme
(II) Could be "rod, even staff."
(III) Symbolizes the defense of the sheep
(IV) Helps to lift us when we fall.
B. Comfort in the Presence of Enemies--Verse 5. .
. ."Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head
with oil; my
cup runneth over."
1. A table set by the
shepherd
2. A table set before and
for the sheep
3. A table set in the
very presence of enemies
4. Someday your spiritual
enemies will see your spread table, but will not partake of it.
5. Results in joy in the
Holy Spirit
a. The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
b. The anointing of the head shows that the Holy Spirit speaks to the
mind.
c. A cup running over speaks of joy.
C. Comfort through Hope--Verse 6. . . ."Surely goodness
and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the
LORD forever."
1. This is the certainty.
2. God's goodness and
mercy is the portion of the believer in this life.
a. The verb literally means "will pursue."
b. Thus, this presents the Shepherd's work apart from the sheep's behavior.
c. The goodness may correspond to grace in the New Testament; thus, we
get what we don't deserve.
d. The mercy tell us that we do not get what we deserve.
3. Again the portion of
all believer is eternal life.
a. John 14:1-3--"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God,
believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if
it were not so, I
would have told you. I go
to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto
Myself;
that
where I am, there ye may be also."
b. 1 Thessalonians 4:17--"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them [the dead in Christ] in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air: and so shall we ever be
with the Lord."
CONCLUSION:
1. David's faith gave him Assurance.
a. Needs supplied
b. Rest provided
c. Way directed
2. David's faith gave him Comfort.
a. Comfort in death
b. Comfort in the
presence of enemies
c. Comfort in hope
3. Such a faith gives security. Is that your
faith?
4. Is the Lord your Shepherd? Are you sure you
will dwell in His house forever?
5. Are you trusting the Lord Jesus Christ for all?
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