Being Captive to Christ

1. To truly live is to die

2 Timothy 2:4 KJV 1900

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

2 Timothy 2:11–16 KJV 1900

11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

The contrasts is where the truth lives.

To live, you must die

To reign, you must suffer

2 Timothy 2:11–13 KJV 1900

11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

What can this mean but that in order to live in Christ, I must die.

As john the Baptist said,

John 3:30 KJV 1900

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

c. Die daily, because you are becoming something more

1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV 1900

31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

1 Corinthians 15:31–34 KJV 1900

31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

1 cor 15:

Daily we die, so that daily we may live in Christ

2. To live for Christ is to suffer

Denying yourself will lead to more happiness, not less

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

a. To live for Christ is to be crucified with Christ -

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

b. The things we used to live for - that which is good in the world’s eyes, died when we were buried with Christ

This Christian life is often a paradox - a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement

a. To die is to live

b. To suffer is to gain

To the World that is nonsense

Philippians 3:8 KJV 1900

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Philippians 3:7–8 KJV 1900

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

3. WE do this not for us - but for the elect’s sake

2 tim 2:

2 Timothy 2:10 KJV 1900

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

3. To suffer is for the elect’s sake. The degree to which we suffer for Christ, is to the gain of the elect. Therefore, we endure for each other - so that Christ may be glorified.

John 3:3 KJV 1900

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

a. We die and suffer for the sake of the elect

b. All suffering is for the sake of the elect - so that all might die in Christ to be reborn in the righteousness of Christ

4. To recap, we die and we die daily with Christ, we suffer and we suffer daily with Christ, and we do so not for me but for the elect’s sake.