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."