Subtopic: The Attitude Of Patience: Going On To Perfection

Sermon Notes By Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. for Sunday June 1, 2014

Text:2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (vs18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

 Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us".

Hebrews 10:35-37 "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. (vs36) For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.(vs37) For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come and will not tarry".

1 Peter 5:10 "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".

Premise

The Pulpit Commentary Vol.19 Pages 95-96 ;A Commentary on 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 - THE AFFLICTIONS OF CHRISTIANS. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” These words suggest a few thoughts concerning the afflictions of the Christian.

1. They Are Comparatively “Light” And “Momentary.” They are “light” (1) Compared with what they deserve. (2) Compared with what others have endured. (3) Compared with the blessedness that is to follow. They are momentary, “but for a moment.” Momentary compared (1) with the enjoyments of this life; compared (2) with the interminable blessedness of the future.

2.That Though Light and Momentary, They Work Out Glorious Results.-They issue in what? “A far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” What is the affliction to the glory? (1) The one is “light;” the other is weighty. Put all the afflictions of the whole Church against the everlasting glory of one Christly soul, and how light! (2) The one is momentary; the other is eternal. “Eternal weight of glory.” But the result is not only an eternal weight of glory, but “far more exceeding.” No expression could be stronger than this. 

Subtopic: Let Your Blood Cover; Let Your Blood Prevail

Sermon Notes By Pastor Arthur H Coleman Sr. For Sunday April 20, 2014

Text: Exodus 12:12-14"For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.(vs13) And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (vs14) And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever".

Lev. 17:11 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for your soul."

1 Peter 1:18-21 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (vs19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (vs20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (vs21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”

Premise

The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.22, Page 50, a comment on 1 Peter 1:18-19. REDEMPTION NECESSIATES HOLINESS. “1. Redemption is from the vain manner of life received from our fathers. “Conversion;” equivalent to “manner of life.” Christ died to deliver us from the sinful manner of life received from our fathers. From hell; yes, that is clear. “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all;” (Isa.53:6) “He bore our sins in his body on the tree.”(1 Peter 2:24)      “There is therefore now no condemnation,” (Romans 8:1), ect. But that is not the end for which he died, as only a means to that end. Holiness in us was the purpose for the atonement, so much so that if we can imagine one getting no further than the cancelling of his sins only, we would be compelled to say that Christ died for him in vain.(see 2 Cor.5:15; Gal.1:4; Gal.5:25-27; Titus 2:14). Redemption by Christ is from the life of the natural man: “If any man be in Christ Jesus, it is a new creation.” 2. Redemption is only effected at unspeakable cost .     “ Not with corruptible,” ect. An emphatic testimony that redemption is through our Lord’s death --- not through his life, or example, or holiness, or mediation, but, as Scripture invariably says with unwavering consistency, by “his blood”. God himself bore the penalty of human guilt that he might righteously extend his mercy to the guilty. Nor can we imagine any method which so glorifies his grace and reveals himself. Think of the worth of our Lord’s offering. The universe were as nothing compared to the Son of God. What unfathomable meaning is in the words, “the precious blood of Christ”! Now, this stupendous price was paid for nothing less that we might be holy.”

Text Eccl.12:13-14 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.(vs14) For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil".

1 Peter 1:13-16 “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. (vs14) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: (vs15) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; (vs16) Because it is written,( Lev.11:44) Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

PREMISE

The Pulpit commentary pg.315 comment on Eccl.12:13-14 "After all the questionings and discussions, the doubts and perplexities, the counsels and precepts, of this treatise, the author winds up restating the first, the most important elementary, and the most important, principles of true religion. There are, he felt in this world many things which we cannot fathom, many things which we cannot reconcile with our convictions and hopes; but there are some things concerning which we have no doubts, and these are the things which most nearly concern us personally and practically"

1.THE GREAT SPRING AND CENTRE OF RELIGION "This is the fear of God, reverence for the Divine character and attributes, the habit of mind which views everything in relation to him who is eternally holy, wise, just, and good. We cannot begin with man; we must find an all-sufficient foundation for the religious life in God himself, his Nature and his Law."

2.THE GREAT EXPRESSION OF RELIGION "This is obedience to the Divine commandments. Our convictions and emotions find their scope when directed towards a holy and merciful God; our will must bend to the moral authority of the eternal Lord. Feelings and professions are in vain unless they are supported by corresponding actions. Where God is honored, and his will is cheerfully performed, there the whole duty of the Christian man is fulfilled. It is the work of the mediation of the Divine Saviour, of the operations of the Divine Spirit, to bring about such a religious and moral life."

3. THE GREAT TEST OF RELIGION "For this we are bidden to look forward to the future. Many things, which are significant as to the religious state of a man, are now hidden. they must be brought to light; secret deeds, alike of holiness and of iniquity, must be made manifest before the throne of judgment. With this solemn warning the Preacher closes his book. and there is no person, in whatsoever state of life, to whom this warning does not apply . Well will it be for us if this earthly life be passed under the perpetual influence of this expectation; if the prospect of the future judgment inspire us to watchfulness, to diligence, and to prayer."

Subtopic:" The Lord Is On My Side"


Text: 2 Peter 1:3-8 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:(vs4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.(vs5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (vs6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (vs7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (vs8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

PREMISE

The Pulpit Commentary Vol. 22, Page 20; a homily comment on 2 Peter 1:3-4. "There are two parties to every gift, and in order to appreciate it, it is necessary to look at the gift in relation to him who gives and to those who receive. Looked at on their Divine side, these gifts are the fulfillment of "promises precious and exceedingly great". It would be absurd and sinful to suppose that what God bestows upon his creatures is flung to them in a momentary and capricious fit of liberality. These promises might not always be fully understood, clear as they are to us when we read them in the light of their fulfillment. But they were glorious with a glory exceeding any human assurances of help and blessing. And the purport of them all was to reveal a Divine intention to provide spiritual blessings--- knowledge, deliverance, and life--- for a needy and sinful race. Great as were the promises, the fulfillment was greater still."

Text: 2 Peter 1:3-11 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:(vs4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.(vs5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (vs6)and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;(vs7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (vs8)For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.(vs9)But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.(vs10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, ye shall never fall:(vs11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

Premise

The Pulpit Commentary pg21 comment on 2 Peter 1:4 "It is not to be supposed that, merely by aspiring, a man can share the nature of God, any more than by merely desiring to fly he can raise himself into the air and cleave it as with wings. An interposition of a supernatural character is necessary. A condition and means by which this end may be secured is deliverance by the redemption of Christ from the corruption of the world. The renewal and purification which are the work of the Holy Spirit of God are the moral power by which the participation in question actually is accomplished. He brings the life of the Eternal into our human nature, and pours that life through the whole being of the believing and grateful disciple of Christ, so that he becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus".