Discovering Christ and Assurance of Salvation

Introduction:

Who is Christ?


Jesus is a Teacher
Most if not all people regard Jesus as a great teacher. Mahatma Gandhi regards Jesus as one of the greatest teacher who ever lived and the Sermon on the Mount as the greatest sermon ever preached. He studied the New Testament in South Africa and when he went back to India to lead the Indian Independence movement. Unfortunately, he was unable to see Jesus as more than a man.

Teaches about God (John 14:6,7)
JN 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

If you read through the Gospel accounts, you will notice that Jesus has always been teaching the people about God. He understands that it is difficult for people to relate to a God who is invisible. That is why He often points to Himself as the incarnation of an invisible God.

Teaches about God’s love (John 3:16)
JN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The other emphasis about Jesus’ teaching about a God is who is not only our creator but a God who loves us, His creation. God loves us so much that He is willing to sacrifice His only Son for us. That is another difficult lesson to learn. For example, you have a really good friend. So good that you love each other very much. Then one day, you discovered that you have cystic fibrosis. This is a disease that eats up and destroys your lung tissues. The doctors tell you that the only way you will survive is if you receive a heart-lung transplant. And your friend came up to you and said, “Here take the lungs and heart of my only son so that you can live, the son I love very much.” I know it is not a likely scenario but that is what the love of God can be compared to in our present setting.

Teaches about God’s plan of Redemption (2 Cor. 5:18,91)
2 Cor 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

This world is not what God made it to be. God created a perfect world which He said was good. This world is broken. God wants to fix this world, this creation that He has made. Therefore He has a plan which involves His Son. Jesus coming to this world is part of this plan. The other part of the plan is what Jesus has been teaching: calling people to turn back to worship God and training the disciples to be the people of God-the Church.


Jesus is a Man

The Gnostics do not believe that Jesus is a man. If you have read the book or watch the movie, The Da Vinci Code, you would have been exposed to some of the Gnostic gospels; the Gospel of Barnabas; Gospel of Mary etc. Some Gnostic teaches that Jesus is not a man but something that looks like a man. Others teach that Jesus was the first created creature of God. The biblical accounts was very clear that Jesus is a flesh and blood man.

He is the son of Joseph and Mary (Matt 13:35)
MT 13:55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?

Even though He was conceived by the Holy Spirit while Mary is still a virgin, yet He was born normally like any other child. He has a childhood and was accepted by other children as one of them. In fact, he was accepted by his community as one of them. That is why they were so surprised to find Him different. Isn’t he so and so’s son? Even though Jesus has a divine nature and a human nature, His human nature was so prominent during His time on earth that He was accepted as one of the community.

He struggled with decision making (John 12:27,28)
JN 12:27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? `Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!"
If Jesus is purely God, then there is not need to struggle. After all, God is omniscience and omnipotence. The fact that Jesus struggled with His decision making indicates that He is like us. He is a human male. For his time on earth, He has put aside His divine nature so that he is human. Like us, he felt stress, pain and the uncertainty of decision making.

He was thirsty (John 19:28)
JN 19:28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."
For me, this is the strongest proof that He was human as He hung on the cross. It was midday, the sun was beating down mercilessly and He felt thirsty. God does not feel thirsty. A human being does.

Jesus is God

Jesus is a great teacher and a man. If that is what He is, then He would have just started an effective philosophical school and we are still in our sins. Jesus is fully man. He is also fully God. That is what is so amazing about Jesus.

He is called by Divine Names (Rev.22:12,13)
REV 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Names are very important. It is not just a label to identity you but denotes who you are. Those of you who have children will be aware of how difficult it is to find names for your children. Will they grow into their names? In Revelations, Jesus is uses a name the Alpha and the Omega. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and omega, the last. It means completeness or perfection. The only one who can bear such a name is God. Jesus uses names reserved for God such as the “I am”. That is why the Jewish people wanted to kill Him. He was using the name of God and to them that is taboo; taking the name of God in vain.

He is called by Thomas his God (John 20:28)
JN 20:28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

The apostle Thomas, often called Doubting Thomas because he said he would only believe if he can see and touch the risen Christ. Actually I would consider him an empirical scientist because he wants to be sure in his own belief. Jesus knew that. That’s why He allowed Thomas to touch His wounds. Thomas burst out in amazement acknowledging that He is God. Legend has it that Thomas traveled to southern India. Here he came into contact with an ancient civilization and Hinduism. That he was able to have converts and started the Mar Thomas Church was an indication of how strong was his conviction that Jesus Christ is God.

He is referred to as God (Heb.1:8)
HEB 1:8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.

God Himself referred to Jesus as God. We believe that God is Trinity: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. We do not have three Gods. We have one God who is three. Hence the doctrine of the Trinity. God is omnipresent. When Jesus was on earth, His divine essence is still part of the Trinity. One must not have the misconception that when Jesus was walking the earth, there is only two of the Godhead up there. There are always three who are one.

Jesus is Savior

Savior because of His completed work on the cross (Col 1:20)
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

When Jesus died on the cross, it was all part of God’s plan of redemption. The world was broken. It was corrupted by human sin. Sin is defined as disobedience to God. The punishment for sin is death. That is justice. Since we have all sinned, we can die only for our own sin. We need someone who does not have sin to die for us. Then we can be free. This person is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ being God is sinless. Hence He can die for our sin. Thus justice is fulfilled. The theological term for this is penal substitution atonement.

Savior that brings the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)
AC 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

We receive this justice when we believe that Jesus die on the cross for our sins. We have received the forgiveness of sin because of what Christ has done. And what is more, God gives us a sign of our forgiveness. He gives us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to us when we accept Jesus Christ’s completed work on the cross.

Savior bringing eternal life and assurance of salvation (John 10:28-30)
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

God has given us his assurance that what He has given us is eternal. God however respects our freedom. We are all given the freedom to accept or reject Him. That is the wonder of God. Only a loving and supreme God will allow His creature to choose to accept Him or reject Him. If we accept Him, we move from the kingdom of this broken world to the kingdom of God. Once we are there, as long as we remain faithful, we will never fall out of the grace of His Hands.

Conclusion: Making Friends with Jesus (John 15: 5-8)
JN 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

If Jesus is who He is: fully God and fully man, then what He has done on the cross are true and we have been freed from our sins. He has taken our sins upon Him. We have received forgiveness. All that He has taught us about God is true. God loves us and wants us to be part of His plan for the redemption of this creation. No only people but the environment as well. Jesus Christ is God incarnate. He is the invisible God making Himself visible. So our role now is to follow Jesus Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria




Sermon Handout
Discovering Christ and Assurance

Introduction: Who is Christ?


Jesus is a Teacher
Teaches ___________________________________(John 14:6,7)
JN 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Teaches ___________________________________ (John 3:16)
JN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Teaches ___________________________________ (2 Cor. 5:18,91)
2 Cor 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Jesus is a Man
He _____________________________________________(Matt 13:35)
MT 13:55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?

He ___________________________________________ (John 12:27,28)
JN 12:27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? `Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!"

He ___________________________________________ (John 19:28)
JN 19:28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty."


Jesus is God
He is _______________________________________ (Rev.22:12,13)
REV 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

He is _______________________________________ (John 20:28)
JN 20:28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

He is _______________________________________ (Heb.1:8)
HEB 1:8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.

Jesus is Savior
Savior _________________________________________ (Col 1:20)
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Savior _________________________________________ (Acts 2:38)
AC 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Savior ________________________________________(John 10:28-30)
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."



Conclusion: Making _____________________________________Jesus (John 15: 5-8)
JN 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.



Discovering Christ and Assurance
Bible Study


Why do you think most people regards Jesus as a great teacher?



What does Jesus teach about God’s Plan of Redemption?



Do you think Jesus Christ is a human person like us? If yes, why? If no, why?



Why do you think it is important that Jesus be human?



Do you think Jesus Christ is God? If yes, why? If no, why?



How does Jesus Christ being fully God, fully human helps us?



What did Jesus Christ achieved by dying on the cross?



Can we lose our salvation?



Discuss some of the ways we can get to know Jesus Christ better.



Write down 3 applications from this study that you will apply this week.

Trust and Obey

Boys’ Brigade Founder’s Day Service 2006
Holy Light Church (English), Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Text: Genesis 22


Summary

One of the pillars of the building of Christian character is obedience. We are to obey God, our parents, our leaders and the government.


Introduction
William Alexander Smith was born in Thurso, Scotland in 1854. He moved to Glasgow in his teens and became involved in church activities. William was also a lieutenant in the 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers in 1883 while he was teaching in the North Woodside Mission Sunday School. While working with the children in church, he discovered the need for wholesome activities for children outside school hours. William Smith shared his ideas with his two friends, which later invited boys from North Woodside Mission Sabbath School and formed the first company of The Boys' Brigade, 1st Glasgow Company on 4th of October 1883. It is the world's first uniform organization, even before the Scouts.

William was the first Brigade Secretary in 1887 where he worked towards spreading the Brigade across the world. In 1909, King Edward VII knighted William Smith for his contribution towards youth development. Five years later, Sir William Alexander Smith passed away. Throughout his lifetime, Sir William A. Smith poured out everything he has into BB and he is best remembered as the man who spells Boy with a capital 'B'.

The original object of the Boys' Brigade is the advancement of Christ's Kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tend towards a true Christian manliness. Christian “manliness” was developed by the use of a semi-military discipline and order, gymnastics, summer camps and religious classes.

Motto
SURE & STEDFAST (taken from Hebrews 6:19). The original Old English (King James Version) spelling of "Stedfast" has been retained.

Emblem
The emblem is original an anchor. Like the motto it stems from the verse "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19)

Object
The Advancement of Christ's Kingdom among members and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-Respect and all that tends towards a true Christian Character.

Imagine a table. A table has four legs. Each of these legs needs to be of equal length or the table may not be stable. So it is like for a Christian character. It has four pillars: obedience, reverence, discipline and self-respect. The BB will teach you how to build these pillars.

Today we shall teach you about developing one good habits of the Boys’ Brigade- Obedience.

Text: Genesis 22
GE 22:1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.

GE 22:2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

GE 22:3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

GE 22:6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

GE 22:8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

GE 22:9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.

GE 22:12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

GE 22:13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

GE 22:15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

GE 22:19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

The story is given to us in the Old Testament of the Bible as a lesson in obedience.

Whom should we obey?

Example of Abraham (obey God)

What did God tell Abraham to do? (v.22:2)
God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Notice Abraham’s immediate respond to God’s call- “Here I am”. Abraham is always listening to God’s voice and when God speaks, he responded immediately. There were no arguments, no bargaining and no temper tantrums. Abraham just got everything ready and set out the next day to the mountains of Moriah.

Why? I believe that Abraham trust God. And with that trust came total obedience. Sometimes we have to obey God when we do not have all the facts. God knows. He is omniscience. He knows everything. And He is good. So why do we not trust Him and obey what He has directed us to do?

Do you think it is easy for Abraham?
I do not believe so. I am sure Abraham was not able to sleep that night. He must have been tossing and turning in his bed. Foremost in his thoughts must be a “why?” Why did God wanted him to sacrifice Isaac? Did God not promise him a son for his inheritance? Was Isaac not the promised son? Did God not said He abhor human sacrifice? What shall he tell Sarah? Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born (Gen 21: 5). What a struggle it must have been for Abraham the father that night. Yet, the next morning, Abraham proceeded to obey God

We should obey God
God knows everything. If God knows everything, then we should have not problem trusting in Him and obeying Him. God is invisible. We know God by reading the Bible, praying and knowing Jesus Christ. We learn to hear His voice.

A young man was walking along a mountain path on a dark, moonless night when he suddenly stepped off a cliff. On his way down, he encountered a tree which he managed to hold onto some branches. So there he was hanging in mid air. “Help!” he cried into the dark, “Help me. I cannot hold on much longer”. A voice came from above. “I am God, how may I help you?” “God, could you pull me up? I am hanging here and I cannot hold long much longer. I shall fall to my death.” “Don’t worry,” said God, “Trust me and let go.” “What!” exclaimed the young man, “I cannot let go. I shall fall to my death!” “Trust me and let go” repeated God. “No, I can’t” said the young man. So he hung from the tree until morning when the sun comes out. The young man looked down and saw he was only 2 feet from the ground. If he had listened to God and let go, he would not have to suffer the whole night through. The Christian life is like that. We have to learn to trust God and obey Him because He knows everything.

Example of Isaac (obey his father)

What did Abraham tell Isaac to do? (v.22:6-9)
Abraham told Isaac that they are going to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Isaac is to come along. So Isaac came along carrying the wood to burn for the sacrifice. In the desert country, wood are hard to come by. Isaac must have suspected something is wrong when they did not bring along a lamb for the sacrifice. His suspicions were confirmed when Abraham bound him and laid him on the altar. Yet, he went along willingly. Why? Isaac trusted his father.

Do you think it is easy for Isaac?
No, I do not think it was easy for Isaac. Who wants to die? These thoughts must have gone though Isaac’s mind; “I want to live, I do not want to die”; “I am too young to die”; “I want to experience more of life”.

When I was young I think my parents are stupid. Now my children think that I am stupid. Now I have children of my own. I now understand how my parents must have felt. And they are not stupid. They worry about us, about our safety, our future and our well-being. Being kids, we do not see what they see. We only understand that we cannot do that or cannot do that.

We should obey our parents
Our parents love us. We are their children. Sometimes our parents quarrel or work too long hours and do not have time for us. Remember that they love us. And it is for our good that they give us rules.
i. No ‘pak tor’. Try group dating instead of one-to-one dating. There will be time for that when you have finished school.
ii. No smoking
iii. No drugs
iv. No premarital sex
v. No gambling
vi. Study and get a diploma or a degree. That is your primary job at this moment.

Example of the Servants (obey those in authorities over them) (v.22: 5)

What did Abraham tell the servants to do?
Abraham’s instruction was very clear. Stay here and wait for us. Stay with the donkey.

Do you think it is easy for the servants?
No, I do not think it will be easy in the desert. The sun is hot. The servants will also wonder. What if Abraham did not return? What if Abraham commits murder? It is their duty to obey.
We should obey those who have authority over us

Like the servants, all of us have people who have authority over us. It is our duty to obey them.
i. BB officers (role models)
The BB officers are to be obeyed. They have your best interest at heart. Go to them if you have any trouble and I am sure they will be glad to help you.
ii. Teachers in school
iii. Government

Jesus Christ also taught his disciples to obey the government. At that time, they have to pay taxes to the Roman government. So Jesus took out a coin. “Whose face do you see on this coin,” Jesus asked His disciples. “Caesar’s face” they answered. “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar and to God what is God’s” answered Jesus. We have to obey those who have authority over us.

Why Should We Obey?

God will Provide (v.22:13-14)
God will provide all that we needs. That’s why we obey. In the story God provide the ram for the sacrifice. That’s why Abraham called the place, Jehovah Jireh (God provides). As you learn to trust and obey God, you will discover that He will provide for you.

Blessings of God (v. 22:15)
In obeying God, Abraham received a blessing. The blessing is that his descendents will be so numerous that it cannot be counted and it will consists of all nations. That is because Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. The descendents of Abraham also includes us because we are the spiritual descendents of Abraham.

Pillars of Christian Character
Obedience is part of the building of Christian character. Remember the four pillars of Christian character.
Obedience
Reverence
Discipline
Self-Respect

Conclusion
Boys and girls of the 1st Johor Bahru Company. This year you celebrate the 50th anniversary of your company. Remember those who have played such an important role in this company. Remember your captains such as Paul Juby and Michael Moorthy. These people are obedient to God and to their calling. That’s how you are here now. Trust and obey.

Soli Deo Gloria