Sermon Notes by Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. For Sunday November 10, 2013
Text :1 Peter 2:19-23 “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. (vs20) For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. (vs21) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (vs22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (vs23)Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” St. Luke 24:45-48 ( Christ appears to the Eleven) “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. (vs46) And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (vs47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (vs48) And ye are witnesses of these things.”
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 22, Pages 84 &95-96, Comment on 1 Peter 2:21 “ Christians Are Called To Imitate Christ “. “Christians are called to suffering; the cross is the badge of their profession; without the cross they cannot be disciples of the crucified Lord. This was the meaning of your calling, St. Peter says; you knew it when you became Christians; you must not forget it in the hour of trial. Christ suffered for you; he left behind him, when he ascended into heaven, an example for you to imitate, a sketch for you to fill up in detail. Try by the grace of God’s Holy Spirit to renew the likeness of God in your hearts; look to the Lord Jesus Christ as your Model; copy one by one the features of that Divine loveliness; fill up the portrait, little by little, touch by touch, looking with fixed attention on the great Original. And , to change the figure, follow him; he goeth before you. Climb the steep ascent of heaven, stepping in the very footprints of the Divine Guide. He will lead you safe. But there is only one way--- the way he trod himself, the royal way of the most holy cross”.
To walk the walk I must willingly receive the mind of Christ.
DEFINITIONS
A "witness" is defined as a person who through his own experience saw something happen with respect to himself or another. (2)A person that can furnish evidence of proof of the thing or fact mentioned or in question.
EXPOSITION
1. TO WALK THE WALK I MUST:
A. Willingly Receive The Mind Of Christ--- Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (vs6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (vs7) But made of himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (vs8) And being found in fashioned as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”.
B. Come To Terms With My Discipleship---St. Matthew 16:24-26 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (vs25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (vs26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
St. Luke 14: 25-27 “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, (vs26) 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.” 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, and the truth shall make you free.”
C. Know Humility, Sobriety, Vigilance, Put My Care Upon God, Have Resisted The Devil And Suffered Awhile ---1 Peter 5:6-10 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (vs7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (vs8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (vs9) Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (vs10) But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
D. Put on The Whole Armour Of God, Pray And Stand Strong---Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (vs11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (vs12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (vs13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (vs14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (vs15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (vs16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (vs17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
E. Be Steadfast, Unmoveable And Continuously Working---1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
2. TO TALK THE TALK; I MUST WITNESS, TESTIFY AND PROCLAIM TO ALL MEN :
A. The Greatness Of Jesus’ Name ---Acts 4:10-12 “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand before you whole. (vs11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (vs12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
B. Justification By Faith---Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (vs2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
C. That There Is Now No Condemnation To Those In Christ Jesus---Romans 8:1-4 “There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (vs2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (vs3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (vs4)That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
D. The Necessity of Being Crucified With Christ---Galatians 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.”
E. The Necessity of Being A Living Sacrifice And Not Being Conformed To This World---Romans 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.”
F. The Necessity Of Separation From This World---2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “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 I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
G. That Christ Will Make Them New---2 Corinthians 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.”
H. Of The Great Transformation, Assurance Of Immortality and Victory Over Death--- 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (vs51) Behold I shew you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (vs52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (vs53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, (Isa.25:8) Death is swallowed up in victory.”
I. How To Be Saved---Acts 2:38-39 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (vs39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”