Stop Promoting Yourself

Stop Promoting Yourself

INTRODUCTION

Pompous people- people who self promote

It is not possible to self promote to heaven.

Isaiah 13:11 ESV

11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.

We can only promote to heaven by one worthy to promote us.

Colossians 1:19–22 ESV

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

4 Reasons Jesus Can Promote us Before God

1. He is Holy (19)

Colossians 1:19 ESV

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

"fullness of God"= his holiness- perfection

Jesus is perfect and therefore can approach God.

He is our mediator.

Hebrews 9:15 ESV

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

We need a mediator because we are not holy.

Psalm 53:1–3 ESV

1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

2. He is Our Peace Maker (20)

Colossians 1:20 ESV

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

ILL- Reason there cannot be peace in our world. Peace treaties never make both sides happy.

On earth peace usually happens when one side forces its will on another.

ILL- Jason dragging me through hall. Peace came when the vice-principal demanded it.

Jesus can make peace because he has paid the price for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Reconciliation is only way to true peace.

reconciliation= restore proper friendly interpersonal relations.

There is no longer anything owed and neither is being forced into the friendship.

3. He is Our Presenter (21-22)

Colossians 1:21–22 ESV

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

He made us holy and blameless by his death on the cross.

We are no longer alienated and hostile.

4. He is Our Hope (23)

Colossians 1:23 ESV

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Hope= confident assurance. Our confidence is not in our own works. It is in Christ.

Previous verse refers to justification (reconcile) and glorification (present)

These two verse refer to sanctification- the process of being made holy.

Hope is future- our hope is in our glorification.

We live different because of the confidence of our glorification.

Those who are justified will be glorified. The proof is in their sanctification.

Romans 8:30 ESV

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

1 John 5:4–5 ESV

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

CONCLUSION

How do you plan to get to heaven?

Will you surrender to Jesus as the only way?