Sunday, February 8, 2015 am
GOING ON TO PERFECTION
2015
What it Means to Be a Christian (2)
Blessings and Responsibilities
Last week we discussed what a Christian is.
We examined what the word Christian means and noted some
qualities of the Christian.
We noted that a Christian is a new creation, a child of God, he belongs
to God (His servant), and he lives by faith.
In our lesson today we want to continue our study by noting how
the Christian is blessed and some of the responsibilities that accompany
his blessings. This will
lead to a series of lessons describing what the Christian is using
various descriptions (for example: He is a citizen, a soldier, a branch,
part of a body, he possesses the qualities of an athlete and a farmer,
etc.). in these lessons we
will begin to examine some
of the practical qualities associated with being a Christian and thereby
gain an understanding of what is expected of us as Christians.
So let’s get started by noting some of his blessings and
responsibilities.
i.
In our lesson last week
when we discussed what it means to be a Christian, we noted some of our
blessings.
ii.
Innumerable blessings. The blessings we
all experience in this life are innumerable.
All of mankind is blessed by Him.
But as Christians, there are other blessings – greater blessings -
spiritual blessings – we enjoy in Him, again too numerable to count.
Ephesians 1:3,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
in Christ,”
iii.
You have peace with God –
Sin produces enmity with God.
But because of Jesus (i.e. we become Christians) the enmity that
existed before is gone –
Rom. 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Isaiah 53:5, a passage that describes our Lord Jesus suffering for us on
the cross says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was
bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.”
Phil. 4:7 – when we
trust God, “the peace that passes understanding” will guard our hearts.
Jesus as He taught His disciples said that what He spoke was so
that in Him we might have peace. (John 16:33)
Earlier He said, ““Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to
you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Ephesians 2:14-15, “For
He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the
middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity,
that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to
create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,” In a
context that is dealing with how the gospel is for all mankind (Jew and
Gentile alike – cf. Gal. 3:27-28) Paul reminds us that the peace we
enjoy with God is also extended toward one another when we act as we
ought to.
iv.
You have the privilege of prayer
–
1.
Prayer is a manner God
has provided for us to personally approach Him.
It is a privilege for those who belong to Him – Christians.
2.
In Heb. 4:14-16 we Jesus
is our High Priest. A study
of the High Priest under the Levitical priesthood shows that He
interceded to God on behalf of Israel.
Jesus is OUR High Priest and intercedes for His people.
Heb. 7:24-25 tells us “But He, because He continues forever,
has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the
uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to
make intercession for them.”
3.
1 John 2:1-2, in a
passage directed toward Christians (those walking in the light – 1 John
1:7-10) we are told that we are not to sin, but if we do, “we have an
Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
Again, Heb. 4:16 tells us that because of Jesus, we can come boldly to
the throne of grace.
4.
1 John 5:14-15, “Now
this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us,
whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked
of Him.” We can be assured that God hears our prayers. (He may not
answer the way we want, but He hears.
AND He knows what is best.) What a privilege it is to be able to
pray to God.
v.
You have a family
–
1.
Last week we noted how
we are sons of God (children and heirs), but that makes each of brethren
– brothers and sisters in Christ.
2.
Ephesians 2:19 “Now,
therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow
citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”
3.
Continually we are
described as brethren. 1
Peter 3:8 calls for us to love as bothers.
4.
The New Testament has
much to say about how we are a family and we will address that in a
future lesson. For now we
simply note what a blessing it is.
We can share with those of “like precious faith”.
Those who genuinely care about us and to whom we can turn for
guidance and strength. Our
brethren will love us, encourage us and come to us when we need them to,
both pleasant and unpleasant.
They are a source of strength in a world that is against us.
5.
And thus we need to
treat each other like family!
vi.
You have hope –
1.
Christians have
something better to look forward to when this life is over.
As Paul gave a defense to Felix he said, “I have hope in God, which
they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the
dead, both of the just and the unjust.” (Acts 24:15)
This hope caused him to live
with a pure conscience and without offense (vs. 16)
2.
1 Peter 1:3 speaks of
God who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…
3.
Colossians 1:5 describes
it as a hope laid up in heaven.
4.
Hebrews 6:19 describes
it as our anchor in heaven.
5.
When we are facing
troubles, discouragement, and setbacks, this is something we must
continually keep in our minds. Whatever
we endure in this life is not for nothing. God knows and will make
things right. 2 Thess.
1:6-10, “since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with
tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled
rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His
mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know
God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence
of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day,
to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who
believe, because our testimony among you was believed.”
We often appeal to this verse as a source of comfort knowing that God
will take care of our enemies, but notice also the reference for us as
we endure.
i.
Along with our
blessings, we have obligations.
Contrary to what many teach, we are called upon to remain
faithful to Him. As
Christians we have many responsibilities.
ii.
We have a responsibility to be faithful children, serve God and trust Him
as we have discussed last week.
iii.
To be different than the world –
1.
Terms such as sanctified
and saint indicate that we are set apart to Him.
Even the word “holy” indicates that.
2.
1 Peter 2:9 describes us
as “His own special people…”
3.
2 Cor. 6:14-17 – come
out from among them and be separate.
4.
1 Peter 4:1-4 – the
world will think it strange that you do not walk in the same way as
them.
5.
Philippians 2:14-16 – we
shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.
iv.
Keep yourself pure –
1.
2 Cor. 7:1, “Therefore,
having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God.”
2.
1 Timothy 5:22, “Keep
yourself pure”
3.
1 Peter 1:13-16, “be
holy for I am holy.”
v.
To remain faithful –
1.
2 Pet. 1:5-9 – make your
call and election sure.
2.
Jesus taught us, “He
who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matt. 10:22, 24:13).
3.
The church at Smyrna was
told to be faithful until death (Rev. 2:10) to receive the crown of
life.
4.
Take steps – attend
worship services, prefer your brethren, study and pray, work, etc.
vi.
And we need to keep growing – the very premise of our discussion this year.
1.
2 Peter 3:18 – grow in
the grace and knowledge
2.
2 Corinthians 4:16 – our
inward man is being renewed day by day.
3.
Romans 12:2 – by the
renewing of your mind.
4.
That is something we
must be striving to do.
Truly we are blessed as Christians.
But being a Christian involves a life of service to Him.
IT comes with great responsibilities.
And as long as we live in this world, we must fulfill those
responsibilities. AND in the
end, when we stand before Him to give account and into eternity if we
have been found faithful, those responsibilities will be recognized.
Our study this year is about these responsibilities.
Are you faithful in your service to Him?