SUBJ: The
faithfulness of God to Himself and the revelation of Himself in the face
of all the opinions and false beliefs of men.
AIM: That we
may see that unbelief does not alter the plan of God or the promises of
God and that denial and unbelief is unacceptable in any form.
INTR: Paul's letters to Timothy and
Titus were meant to encourage both them and us to stand against the
enemies of the Gospel. There is no greater assurance and encouragement
that to know of the steadfastness of God. 1. Enemies of the truth and
enemies of believers were all about. The object of their contempt was
Christ and those who believe on Him completely. 2. Consider the
encouragement to the battle given to Timothy (see the illustrations in
vv 3-6). Three are mentioned - the Soldier, the Runner and the
Husbandman. 3. We note well here the form of these three verses as
that of Hebrew Poetry - not rhyming, but in parallelisms - and that
these may have been sung as a church hymn.
THESIS: In all that God does, His
glory, His holiness and His personal satisfaction and delight with
Himself are at issue and He will remain faithful to Himself; and that to
the delight of believers and the horror of those that oppose and deny.
I. The true form of "Blessed Assurance" (v. 11) - "If we be dead. .
." 1. Consider comments on the sense of Blessedness as the same as
Happy and refence to Beatitudes (Matthew 5:2-12) 2. Being "dead with
Christ" is here used in the sense of "once and for all." 1) Consider
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into his death? - we note that the death of Christ
cannot be undone and yet 2) We are alive with Him: Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so
we also should walk in newness of life. 3) Thus declaring that all
that died (the reasons and condemnations) have remained dead in the life
of believers. 3. Thus, by the grace of God we live with Him and bear
evidence of the life of Christ in us. 4. Being saved means life with
Him forevermore - not just in the distant future where all is made clear
and experienced perfectly.
II. The necessity and evidence of
personal confession (v. 12) - - "If we suffer. . . " 1. The condition
of suffering or endurance with Him. See Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye,
when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner
of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 2. The matter of reigning
with Him - we do what He does. He suffered and He reigns as do we. 3.
The contrast - Men speak of belief often and bring it down to human
terms. Not so with God and we compare and contrast: 1) Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved. - What if you don't??? 2) Romans 10:10 For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation. What if there is denial instead??? 4. The words
of: Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I
also deny before my Father which is in heaven. - Lit. He will not
acknowledge as His own - Vincent. S. A. Matthew 7:23 And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
III. The precious of assurance of God's immutability
(v. 13) - "if we believe not. . ." 1. This is not a faithfulness to
save unbelievers or those who do not continue in faith. We are reminded:
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned. 2. His faithfulness is to: 1) All
that He has determined (no aborted trips or plans with God) 2) All
His threatening with regard to fallen man - there is no recourse. 3)
All His promises with regard to redemption including to save, to
justify, to sanctify, to glorify Himself in His people. 3. While many
deny Him, the true believer cannot for any reason: 1) Because of who
they are - His 2) Because of who He is - their Lord 3) Because of
His great love wherewith He loved us 4) Because He is the blessed
hope of all who call on Him. 4. He cannot deny Himself which would
occur if: 1) He saved such as reject His Son and abide in unbelief
2) He did not save such as are found in the way of faith and life in
Christ alone. After all it is Christ in us that is the hope of Glory and
He cannot deny Himself!!
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