Sermon Notes By Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. For Sunday April 28, 2014
Text: St. John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (vs32) And ye shall know the truth,( i.e.to realize in the very depths of your being the trustworthy character of my word.) and the truth shall make you free.”
Jude Verse 3 "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.17, Page 392, a comment on St John 8:32 “There is the highest knowledge--- the truth. There are many truths, but this is the truth. This truth means the great facts of human redemption through Jesus Christ. We need not to list them; they will naturally occur to each in there magnitude , beauty, and order. They are various, yet one, constituting one Divine system of salvation. This is the truth made known by Christ, and to know this is the highest knowledge attainable by man, because it pertains to his spiritual nature, and involves his highest good. It is the most necessary and valuable.”
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.22, Pages21-22, a comment on Jude verse 3. 1. The Matter To Be Contended For. (1) It is the doctrine of faith, or the truth which is to be received in order to our salvation. It is called "faith" because it is the instrument used by the Holy Spirit to work faith. (2) It is the faith "delivered" by God, not delivered by man. The natural man can no more perceive than he can discover the things which are of God (1 Cor.2:14).(3) It is the faith delivered "once for all". No other faith will ever be given. No new doctrines are to be added to the circle of faith, though the truth may be cast in new forms, and shaped according to the intellectual and spiritual demands for immediate action or attention of each age. Therefore (a)it is a great sin to despise the faith delivered to us; (b) we ought to be thankful for it; (c) we ought to receive and obey it in the love of it; (d) we ought to guard it against heretical perversions. (4)It is a sacred deposit placed in the hands of trustees--- "delivered to the saints." not to holy prophets and apostles merely, but to all saints, even in ages destitute of prophets and apostles. (a) It is a solemn trust, involving great responsibilities. (b) The saints are to keep the faith for their own salvation and comfort. (c) They are to keep it for generations to come. (d) How much is the world indebted to the saints! (e) The trustees of the faith ought to have holy hands and holy hearts. 2. How Shall The Saints To Contend For The Faith. (a) by refuting and convincing gainsayers, (b) by praying for its success, (c) by confessing it boldly before men, (d) by mutual exhortation, (e) by holy example, (f) by suffering for the truth."
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls...
Resolute means constant in pursuing a purpose.
Uncompromising means unyielding, firm, determined, immoveable, intractable, pertinacious which means a holding firmly to a purpose action or opinion or very persistent.
Contend means “to fight; struggle; to declare to be a fact; maintain as true.”
Contention means “a statement or point that one has argued for; a statement maintained as true.”
EXPOSITION
1. To Contend For Our Contention Uncompromisingly Our Stand Must Be Based On:
a. The Preservation Of The Traditions, Paths and Faith Of Our Forefathers--- 2 Thess. 2:13-15 "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (vs14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (vs15) Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."
Jer.6:16 -17 "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (vs17) Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken."
Isa.35:8-10 "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. (vs9) No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: (vs10) And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."
b. An Inward Fire --- "Jer.20:9 " Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forebearing, and I could not stay.”
c. The Outgrowth Of Faith And A Personal Experience With God--- 2 Cor.4:13-14 "We have the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, (Psa.116:10) I believed , and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; (vs14) Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you."
Psa.66:16 "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul."
d. A Biblically Based Understanding Of Holiness With Respect To Godly Living--- 2 Cor. 6:17-18; 2 Cor.7:1 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (vs18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.(1 Cor.7:1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
e. The Understanding Of The Foundation And Unity Of The Body--- Eph.2:19-22 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (vs20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;(vs21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (vs22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."
f. A Biblical Understanding Of The Times In Which We Now Live --- 2 Tim.3:1-5&7 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (vs2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (vs3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (vs4) Traitors, heady, highminded,, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (vs5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (vs7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
g. A Biblically Based View Of The World And God's Perspective Of Our Relationship To It ---
1 John 2:15-17 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (vs16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (vs17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
h. A Continual Adherence To And For The Gospel Of Christ To The Rejection Of All Others--- Gal.1:6-9 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (vs7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (vs8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (vs9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
i . A Continual And A Complete Dedication Of One's Whole -Self To Christ---
St. Luke 14:26-27 " If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (vs27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple."
Rom.12:1-2 "I Beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (vs2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."