How Do You Want To Be Found of Christ?

Introduction:

- Someday The Lord Will Return and Find Us

a. We Are Promised That He Will Return

- John 14:1-3

John 14:1–3 NKJV

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

- Acts 1:9-11

Acts 1:9–11 NKJV

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

- Acts 17:30-31

Acts 17:30–31 NKJV

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

- Rev. 1:7

Revelation 1:7 NKJV

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

b. When He Returns, He Will Find Us Either Prepared or Unprepared – Matthew 25:1-13

c. There Are Many Things That We Have No Control Over

- You can't control who your parents are, the color of your skin, or your age. And you can't control what others do.

- One of the few things you can control is How Christ Finds You!

- As free moral agents, you have the ability to determine your condition when the Lord returns.

1. I Want To Be Found “In Christ”

A. This Was Important To Paul

- Phil. 3:7-9

Philippians 3:7–9 NKJV

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

- v. 7 – “What things were gain to me, these I counted but lost”

- v. 8 - “Count them as rubbish (dung)”

- vv.8-9 – “That I may gain Christ and be found in him”

B. Why Do I Want To Be Found In Christ?

- In Christ we can find refuge

- Refuge from the storms of life

- Refuge from storms of judgment.

- In Christ, we can enjoy all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3; 2 Cor. 5:17)

Ephesians 1:3 NKJV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

- Salvation (2 Tim. 2:10)

2 Timothy 2:10 NKJV

Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

- Redemption & Forgiveness (Eph. 1:7)

Ephesians 1:7 NKJV

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

- Partakers of his promise (Eph. 3:6)

Ephesians 3:6 NKJV

that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

C. What Must I Do To Be Found In Him?

- Enter him – Baptism –Gal. 3:27

Galatians 3:27 NKJV

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

- Abide in him

- John 15:4

John 15:4 NKJV

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

- 1 John 2:6,10,14,24

1 John 2:6 NKJV

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

1 John 2:10 NKJV

He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

1 John 2:14 NKJV

I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

1 John 2:24 NKJV

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

- Keep Your Faith Strong

- Eph 3:17

Ephesians 3:17 NKJV

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

- Faith is increased as we study – Rom. 10:17

Romans 10:17 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2. I Want To Be Found “Walking In Truth”

A. 2 John 4

2 John 4 NKJV

I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received a commandment from the Father.

B. “Walking”

- Suggest habitual action & progressiveness toward a goal

- It was the everyday conduct of these children to follow the Truth.

- It wasn’t an occasional action. - 1 John 1:7

1 John 1:7 NKJV

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

C. What Is Accompanied By Walking In Truth?

- Just as we are set free by the truth, walking in the truth keeps us free. – John 8:32

John 8:32 NKJV

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

- Fellowship with each other – 1 John 1:7

1 John 1:7 NKJV

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

- Fellowship with God – 1 John 1:6

1 John 1:6 NKJV

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

D. To walk in truth means we don’t give heed to the commandments of men - Titus 1:14

Titus 1:14 NKJV

not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.

- This means we will speak the truth in love

- Must speak out against error

- To walk in truth and not turn to the commandments of men we must be firmly est. “in the truth” – 2 Peter 1:21

2 Peter 1:21 NKJV

for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

3. I Want To Be Found “Watching”

A.What does it mean to “Watch”

- It is not “sky-gazing”

- Many people have climbed the highest hills, etc., to watch.

- I deny that they were doing what the Lord commanded.

- It Means...

- “To guard”

- “Watchmen on wall”

- “Watch – look for opportunity”

B. What is involved in “Watching”?

- Watching means growing stronger– Rev. 3:2

Revelation 3:2 NKJV

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

- Watching is connected with the life of Prayer – Eph. 6:18; Mark 14:38

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Mark 14:38 NKJV

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

- Watching involves being “sober” – 1 Thess. 5:6-8 ; 1 Pet. 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8

1 Thessalonians 5:6–8 NKJV

Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

1 Peter 4:7 NKJV

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

- Those found watching are blessed – Rev. 16:15

Revelation 16:15 NKJV

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

“When Jesus Comes To Reward His Servants Will He Find Us Watching There”

4. I Want To Be Found “In Peace”

- 2 Peter 3:14

2 Peter 3:14 NKJV

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

A. The Only True Peace – Is Peace With God

- Rom. 5:1

Romans 5:1 NKJV

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

- John 16:33

John 16:33 NKJV

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

- To be spiritually minded is life & peace – Rom. 8:6

Romans 8:6 NKJV

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

B. Do You Know The ”Peace of God” That Surpasses All Understanding?

- Phil. 4:6-7

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

- Can you pillow your head at night with peace that you are “In Christ” and “Spiritually Minded”?

5. I Want To Be Found “Blameless”

2 Peter 3:14

2 Peter 3:14 NKJV

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

A. Blameless Doesn’t Mean “Not Having Sinned”– Rom. 3:23

Romans 3:23 NKJV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

B. Blameless Doesn’t Mean “Not Condemned”

C. It Simply Means – One Approved or Accepted In His Sight

- 2 Tim. 2:4

2 Timothy 2:4 NKJV

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

- Our aim must be to please him – 2 Cor. 5:9

2 Corinthians 5:9 NKJV

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

6. I Want To Be Found With My Name Written In The Lambs Book of Life

Revelation 20:14–15 NKJV

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

A. God Has A Book of Life

- Moses recognized that God had such a book – Exo. 32:32

Exodus 32:32 NKJV

Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”

- Jesus taught his disciples to rejoice that “ Your name is written in heaven” – Luke 10:20

Luke 10:20 NKJV

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

B. Our Name Can Be Added & Can Be Removed

- Rev. 3:5

Revelation 3:5 NKJV

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

- Psa. 69:28

Psalm 69:28 NKJV

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous.

C. God’s Book Will Be Opened On Judgement Day

- Rev. 20:12-15

Revelation 20:12–15 NKJV

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

- How terrible it would be not to find my name written there.