True Disciples
Notes
Transcript
1
TRUE DISCIPLES / Spiritual DNA
John 8:31-33
•
Well, we come now to the preaching of God’s Word this morning
– I invite you to join me in John 8:31-33:
1. A short passage (only 3 verses),
2. But a passage that answers the question I get asked as a pastor
the most:
a. A question that many passages in the NT address,
b. Which just goes to show you how important this question
is to answer,
v And the question is this:
a. How do I know if I am truly saved?
b. How do I know if I truly belong to Christ?
c. How do I know if heaven is truly my home?
d. How do I know if the faith that I have is:
1. Real faith?
2. Genuine faith?
3. Saving faith?
•
And this is a necessary question to ask – because, the Bible is
clear (and this is where we ended last week):
1. There is a faith that saves – and there is a faith that doesn’t,
2. There is a faith that God accepts (through which He credits
Christ’s righteousness to your account) – and there is a faith
that God rejects (leaving you in your sin),
v Not all faith is saving faith.
Verse:
And the importance of this question can be seen in how many times it
is addressed throughout the NT:
1. In 2 Corinthians 13 – Paul issues a command, “5 Test
yourselves to see if you are in the faith [take a spiritual
inventory of your life – put your Christian life on trial]
examine yourselves [another command – and notice that he
repeats “yourselves” / this is emphatic. This is an examination
each of us must make]!” (2 Corinthians 13:5):
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a. And why does Paul call us to (each) put our spiritual life to
the test?
b. Because – there will be those who “5 indeed…fail the
test” (2 Corinthians 13:5):
1. Not all who believe they are saved are saved,
2. Not all who profess Christ are Christ’s,
v And:
a. If you don’t test yourselves,
b. If you simply take your faith for granted, as saving
faith,
v You will:
1. Be unaware of your true spiritual condition,
2. Deceived into an assurance you do not possess.
2. In James chapter 2 (James being the 1st NT book penned –
takes this question head on and warns (very early on in his
letter) that,“17 faith, if it has no works, is dead…20 [repeated
in v. 20] faith without works is useless…[repeated again in v.
26] 26 faith without works is dead” (James 2:17, 20, 26) – in
fact:
a. James will even say that, “19 the demons…believe”
(James 2:19),
b. Even the demons have faith – yet their faith obviously
does not save them:
1. There’s living faith – and there is dead faith,
2. There is saving faith – and there is superficial faith.
3. Peter’s another NT author who answers this question (and
again, early on in his letter) – 2 Peter 1:10, “10 Brethren, be
all the more diligent [another command – be zealous / be
careful] to make certain about His calling and choosing of
you” (2 Peter 1:10):
a. Make sure you do not simply coast in your Christian life,
b. Do not fall into the “casual Christianity” trap:
1. Do a spiritual inventory,
2. Scrutinize the faith you possess:
a. Does it have the markers of God’s calling of you?
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b. Does it have the fruit of His choosing of you?
•
And you can add to Peter, Paul, and James:
1. The author of Hebrews,
2. Every Gospel writer,
3. And Jude,
v Which means that every NT author deals with the question:
a. How do I know if my faith is real?
b. How do I know if my faith is genuine?
c. How do I know if my faith is saving?
Verse:
Which brings us to Jesus’ words in John 8:31-33:
1. Where Jesus specifically speaks to a group of people who
have – according to v. 30, “30 believed in Him” (John 8:30),
a. They possess come kind of faith in Jesus,
b. They have made some sort of confession about Him,
2. That’s where we left off last week:
a. Jesus had issued His Gospel call in v. 24 (in the form of a
warning) – “24 For unless you believe [have faith] that I
am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24),
1. He’s calling these religious leaders to come to Him for
salvation,
2. Faith in Him is the only way to the Father,
b. And the passage ended with:
1. What looked on the surface,
2. To be a positive response,
v “30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in
Him” (John 8:30):
v But:
a. As John 2:25 tells us:
1. “25 Jesus knew what was in man” (John 2:25):
2. Jesus knows the reality of everyone’s faith,
b. And He knows (as v. 31 opens) that this group’s faith is a
false faith,
v Which is why Jesus:
1. Rather than rejoicing in v. 31,
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2. Instead puts their faith to the test,
v V. 31 – “31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews [those
religious leaders] who had believed [faithed] in Him,
‘If’” (John 8:31) – stop there.
•
Here is Jesus’:
1. “Examine yourself,”
2. “Do a spiritual inventory,”
v Call upon these “new believers.”
•
Jesus is about to put forth an “if…then” conditional statement:
1. If something is true about you,
2. Notice the 2nd half of the verse – “31 then you are truly [really
/ genuinely] disciples of Mine” (John 8:31),
v Which means that some of Jesus’ disciples:
a. His followers,
b. His learners,
1. Those who worked in His name,
2. Those who assented to His teaching,
v Were:
1. Not genuine,
2. Not truly His
a. Case in point – Judas,
b. And as we will see here:
1. These religious leaders who have just professed
faith in Jesus,
2. Theirs is not real faith.
Verse:
Notice v. 45 – “45 Because I speak the truth, you [same group – the
group of believed in v. 30 / “you] do not believe Me” (John 8:45):
1. Your faith is bogus,
2. Your faith is worthless,
Verse:
V. 46 – “46 If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me [faith
Me]?” (John 8:46):
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•
As v. 31 opens – Jesus begins to separate:
a. The wheat – from the tares (here),
b. The sheep – from the goats:
c. Superficial faith – from saving faith,
d. A profession of faith – from the actual possession of faith.
•
And in so doing – Jesus gives us:
1. 3 markers – of what:
a. Genuine,
b. Saving,
c. Real,
v Faith looks like.
2. 3 sign-posts (let’s use that imagery this morning)
a. 3 sign-posts,
b. That let us know:
1. We are on the road of saving faith,
2. That we are on the path that leads to glory.
•
Begin with the 1st sign-post Jesus gives here…
I. Sign Post #1: True Disciples Cherish Christ’s Gospel
Verse:
Notice the 1st have of this “If…then” clause – “31 If you continue in
My word, then you are truly disciples of mine” (John 8:31).
Question:
• What is “31 My word” (John 8:31) that Jesus is talking about?
• What “word” must we be committed to?
• What “word” must we cherish?
Answer:
• Answer – it’s the whole of Christ’s teaching (the whole of Christ’s
teaching):
1. Its everything He has claimed about Himself:
a. His Sonship,
b. His eternality,
c. His divine:
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1. Name,
2. And nature,
3. And character,
d. His closeness to the Father,
2. Its everything He claimed to be and to do:
a. We cherish Him as the one who would be lifted on a pole
in order to die for sin:
1. We cherish Him as the substitutionary sacrifice for sin,
2. As He claimed (about Himself) in John 3,
b. We rest on Him as the lamb of God who would take away
the sin of the world – as John the Baptist said in John 1,
c. We look forward to His glorious return:
1. What He just promised about Himself in v. 28,
2. The Son of Man being lifted up to His throne in glory,
v We love:
1. His “word,”
2. His message,
3. His claims,
4. His hope,
v His Gospel,
v And Jesus says – true disciples “continue in [those truths]”
(John 8:31):
a. They have been embraced,
b. They hold on to them,
c. They cherish them.
Question:
• Well – what does this mean specifically, though?
• That’s somewhat general in nature.
Answer:
• Well, let me give you:
1. 3 specifics of what cherishing Christ’s Gospel looks like (all
from Jesus),
2. 3 specifics of what will be true of a genuine disciple of Jesus.
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Application:
• #1 – Cherishing Christ’s Gospel means that you love Christ
supremely:
1. True disciples love Jesus as the Son of God,
2. They love Him as He commanded in Matthew 10:37 – “37 He
who loves father or mother more than Me [watch now] is not
worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37):
a. A true disciple loves Christ more than their family,
b. He is their treasure,
v And in Jewish culture:
1. The only being (Person) higher than father and mother,
2. Was God Himself,
v A true disciple:
a. Loves Christ,
b. As they are to love God:
v And how are we to love God? – With all our:
1. Heart,
2. Soul,
3. Mind,
4. And strength,
v This is what He says in v. 42:
1. Another “if…then” conditional statement:
2. “42 If God were your Father [if you have been
regenerated by God / born again by Him – if you are a part
of His family / if you are truly disciples of Mine], you
would [what?] love Me” (John 8:42):
a. Love Me as you love God,
b. Love Me supremely,
c. Love Me fully.
•
2nd – cherishing Christ’s Gospel means that you rest fully on Him
as the Lamb of God:
1. You love Him as the Son of God,
2. But you also rest on Him (and His work on the cross) as the
Lamb of God,
v That is to say – you relinquish all man-made attempts to earn
God’s favor (every single one of them):
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a. In this case,
b. For these religious leaders who have claimed to “believe
in [Jesus]” in v. 30,
v It meant that they needed to reject the Tradition of the
Elders:
1. Those man-made traditions they:
a. Taught,
b. And held so tightly to,
2. That works based system of salvation – they rested on:
a. They needed to reject everything they had believed
about what God required to receive His grace,
b. They needed to rest on:
a. Christ,
b. And Christ alone,
v As:
1. The Lamb of God,
2. The:
a. Full,
b. And final,
v Sacrifice promised in the OT,
v And as we will see in v. 33 – this is something they
would not do:
a. They would rather rest on their Abrahamic
heritage,
b. Rather than on Christ – and His sacrifice.
•
And 3rd – cherishing Christ’s Gospel means that that you obey
Him as Your Lord (you obey Him as your Lord):
1. You love Him as the Son,
2. You rest on Him as the Lamb,
3. And – You obey Him as your Lord:
a. Notice what Jesus says in v. 51 – “51 Truly, truly, I say to
you, if [another if…then clause – “if] anyone keeps [τηρέω
– observes / fulfills / pays attention to] My word he will
never see death [final death / second death]” (John 8:51) –
obedience to the Word of Christ indicates:
1. That you are on the path of life,
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2. That you are truly His disciples,
b. Notice v. 47 – “47 He who is of God [born of God / saved
by God] hears” (John 8:47):
1. Not just hears with the ears,
2. No – the Jewish concept of hearing meant:
a. To hear with the intent to obey,
b. Hearing and heeding went hand in hand,
v And Jesus says:
a. The one who has truly been born of God,
b. “47 Hears [and heeds] the words of God” (John
8:47),
v Isn’t this what Jesus said in John 5 – “24 Truly, truly, I say
to you, he who hears My word [My call to repentance /
hears to the point of obedience]…has eternal life, and does
not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into
life” (John 5:24),
Verse:
This is something Jesus will repeat this again and again – that
obedience to Him, is a mark of saving faith:
1. John 14:23 – “23 Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone
loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make Our abode with him’”
(John 14:23):
a. How do we know we are loved by the Father?
b. How do we know if we have been given the Spirit –
through which the:
1. Father,
2. And Son,
v Make their abode within us?
v Answer – we:
1. “Keep,”
2. Τηρέω – same word as v. 51:
v We obey the words of Christ:
a. We love His commands,
b. We follow Him,
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2. John 14:15 – “15 If you love Me [if you truly love Me as the
Son of God / if you truly cherish My Gospel], you will keep
my commandments” (John 14:15),
3. Repeated again in John 15 – “10 If you keep My
commandments, you will abide in My love…14 You are My
friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:10, 14),
a. True friends of Christ obey Him,
b. Those who have experienced the:
1. Saving love,
2. And redeeming grace,
v Of God – keep His commands,
Verse:
This is why John:
1. No doubt drawing off of Jesus’ words here,
2. Writes in 1 John 2:5 – “5 Whoever keeps His word, in him the
love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we
are in Him” (1 John 2:5).
•
This is the 1st road-sign of saving faith (true discipleship) – you
cherish Christ’s Gospel:
1. You love Christ supremely,
2. You rest on Him fully,
3. You obey Him wholeheartedly.
Application:
• Are these the characteristics of your life?:
1. Take a moment to examine yourself,
2. Do a spiritual inventory of your faith,
v Is Christ’s Gospel the most precious message to you?
a. Do you treasure it above all other messages?
b. Is Christ the supreme object of:
1. Your love?
2. Your affections?
c. Do you rest:
1. Fully,
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2. And only,
v On His:
a. Perfect life,
b. And sacrificial death,
v To be accepted by God?:
d. Do obey His commands?
1. Rather than being a burden to you,
2. Are they:
a. Your life,
b. Your joy.
•
True Disciples cherish Christ’s Gospel.
•
This leads into the 2nd sign post of saving faith Jesus points to
(here)…
II. Sign-Post #2: True Disciples Are Freed from the Power of Sin
Verse:
Notice Jesus’ next words – “32 and you [referring to the true disciple
of v. 31 – a true disciple] will know the truth” (John 8:32) – referring
again to Jesus’ Gospel message:
1. Jesus calls the Gospel “31 My Word” in v. 31,
2. Here He:
1. Calls it “32 the truth” (John 8:32),
2. Setting His Gospel apart as the:
a. Unique,
b. And exclusive,
v Gospel.
Application:
• Other gospels fill this world:
1. Every religion teaches its own version of salvation,
2. Every:
a. Philosophy,
b. And ideology,
v Of life promotes its own “good news,”
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v
•
But Jesus dismisses all of them here:
a. Only His Gospel is “the [unique and exclusive] truth”
(John 8:32),
b. The one and only true message of salvation.
But notice what Jesus says next:
1. When you know the truth,
2. When you have genuinely embraced His Gospel,
v You will be changed (transformed) – “32 the truth will make
you free” (John 8:32).
Question:
• Freed from what?
Answer:
• Freed from the power of sin.
Verse:
Remember Jesus’ promise in v. 12, “12 I am the Light of the world;
he who follows Me [the one who is truly My disciple – “follow Me” is
discipleship language / the one who has true saving faith] will not
walk [live] in the darkness [in sin], but will have the light of life”
(John 8:12);
1. For the true believer,
2. The power of sin has been broken:
v The believer has been:
a. “Set free,”
b. Sin’s chains have been shattered.
Verse:
And we know Jesus is speaking about freedom from sin because of
what He says in v. 34 – “34 Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who
commits sin is the [what?] slave of sin” (John 8:34):
1. That’s the bondage Jesus is talking about – its spiritual
bondage,
2. Sin is what every person needs to be liberated from:
a. “34 Truly, truly” – Be certain of this, Jesus says,
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b. “34 Everyone who commits sin” – and Jesus uses the
present tense (here):
1. Referring to a continual habit of life:
a. Not lapses into sin,
b. Followed by:
1. Repentance,
2. And confession,
2. No – Jesus is talking about:
a. Sin as a way of life,
b. An unrepentant life,
v And what does that kind of lifestyle show? – it shows:
a. That you have never been liberated by Christ’s
Gospel,
b. That you have never experienced spiritual freedom
that Christ gives,
v It shows that you are – finish the verse, “34 the
slave [not of Christ – not mastered by Christ, but
“the slave] of sin” (John 8:34):
1. Sin is your lord,
2. Sin is your king,
v Not Christ.
Verses:
This is something Paul will pick up on in his teaching – calling
unbelievers:
1. “17 Slaves of sin” (Romans 6:17),
2. Saying that without Christ we are held in bondage to “2 the
law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2):
a. Held under its power,
b. Held captive to its control.
Quote:
One commentator has put it this way, “The ultimate bondage is not
enslavement to a political or economic system, but vicious slavery to
moral failure, to rebellion against the God who has made us. The
despotic master is…self-centeredness, an evil and enslaving devotion
to created things at the expense of worship of the Creator” (Carson).
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•
But Jesus says in v. 32 – that:
1. His Gospel breaks those chains,
2. His Gospel shatters sin’s power,
v His Gospel grants freedom:
a. The greatest freedom imaginable,
b. Freedom from sin’s grip.
Verse:
In fact – notice how powerful Jesus’ Gospel is:
1. V. 36, “36 If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed
[really free / truly free]” (John 8:36),
2. Free in every sense of the word:
a. Freed from sin’s judgment,
b. Freed from sin’s alienation,
c. Freed from sin’s darkness,
d. Freed from sin’s master (Satan),
e. Freed from sin’s power,
v “36 You will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Verse:
Listen to 1 John 2:5 (John, again, thinking back to these words),
writes this – “5 You know that He appeared [Christ appeared / Christ
came from heaven to earth] in order to take away sins [to break sin’s
grip. Therefore] 6 No one who abides in Him [no one who truly
knows Christ / has experienced His grace] sins [present tense /
continually sins / habitually sins – sins without confession and
repentance]; no one who [continually] sins has seen Him or knows
Him” (1 John 2:5-6).
Verse:
This is repeated in 1 John 3:8 – “8 The one who practices sin [sin is
your way of life – sin is what you consistently choose] is of the devil
[no doubt referring to what Jesus will say in v. 44 – “44 You are of
your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father”
(John 8:44). But]…The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to
destroy the works of the devil [to break sin’s grip on you]. [Therefore]
9 No one who is born of God practices sin, [continues in sin. Why?]
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because His seed abides [God’s seed – the Holy Spirit indwells] in
Him [sin’s power has been broken]; and he cannot [continue in] sin,
[again, why?] because he is born of God” (1 John 3:8-9) – this is the
power of the Gospel:
1. God has gives the believer:
a. A new heart,
b. A new birth:
1. New affections,
2. New loves,
3. New desires,
2. He breaks the:
a. Power,
b. And grip,
v Of Satan – and gives spiritual freedom from sin.
•
This is one of the great joys of the Gospel – you are freed from the
power of sin.
Quote:
J.C. Ryle has written, “There is no slavery like sin. Sin is indeed the
hardest of all task-masters. Misery and disappointment by the way,
despair and hell in the end,--these are the only wages that sin pays to
its servants. To deliver men from this bondage, is the grand object of
the Gospel…This is the great end for which Christ sent for His
ministers. Happy is he who has opened his eyes and found out his
danger” (Ryle).
Application:
• And thus – as we take a spiritual inventory of our lives, we must
ask these questions:
1. Does sin control me?
2. Have I been granted freedom from sin’s power – or am I still
in its grip?
3. Do I:
a. Experience conviction of sin,
b. To the point of:
1. Confession,
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2. And repentance?
4. Am I growing in righteousness – choosing:
a. Obedience,
b. Rather than sin?
v Or, let’s use Jesus’ words:
a. Have I been liberated from sin’s slavery?
b. Have I been liberated from sins’ slavery?
•
The 2nd sign-post that shows we are on the path of true
discipleship with Christ – True Disciples are Freed from the
Power of Sin.
Quote:
To quote J.C. Ryle again, “Sense of sin and deep hatred of it…delight
in holiness and longing after more of it…these are the signs and
evidences which always accompany conversion.” (Ryle)
•
Which leads into a 3rd sign-post of true faith Jesus highlights
here…
III. Sign-Post #3: True Disciples Cling to the Gospel Until the End
(True Disciples Cling to the Gospel Until the End)
Verse:
Back to v. 31 – and notice that word “continue” – “31 If you
continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of mine” (John
8:31) – “continue”:
1. From µένω,
2. Meaning:
a. “To remain,”
b. “To endure,”
v Translate it as:
1. “Hold onto,”
2. “Cling.”
•
“If you do not let go of My Gospel,” Jesus says:
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1. “If it becomes more and more precious to you as the years go
by,
2. If you conform your life to it as you age – walking in a
manner worthy of the Gospel,
3. If you order your thoughts under My Gospel,
4. If you take your stand for the Gospel – even when the world:
a. Denies it,
b. And opposes it,
c. And outright rejects it,
v “31 If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples
of Mine” (John 8:31):
Verse:
Again, applying Jesus’ words – John will put it this way in 2 John 9,
“9 The one who abides [same word Jesus uses in v. 31 – If you
“continue”] in the teaching [continue and cling to Christ’s Gospel],
he [and only he] has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9):
1. Endurance,
2. Continuance,
3. Perseverance,
v Is the sign of a real disciple,
Illustration:
• Yet, unfortunately:
1. This is what many during Jesus’ ministry did not do,
2. This is what many today do not do:
a. They do not endure until the end,
b. Their love for Christ:
1. Grows cold over time,
2. Until it is extinguished.
Verse:
Think of the John 6 crowd – “60 Therefore many of His disciples
[those who had been following Jesus / learning from Jesus], when
they heard this” (John 6:60) – heard what?
1. Heard Christ’s message of His coming sacrifice,
2. Heard that they would have to acknowledge their sinfulness,
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3. Heard that they would have to follow Him fully,
4. Heard that He would not give them the physical bread
(temporal blessings) they demanded,
v “60 When they heard this said, ‘This is a difficult statement;
who can listen to it.’…61 [And they] grumbled at this” (John
6:60-61):
a. Their discipleship was tested,
b. Their commitment to Christ was tried,
1. And what was the result?
2. “66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew
[they left Jesus – they didn’t get the temporal blessings
they wanted] and were not walking with Him
anymore” (John 6:66):
a. They did not endure until the end,
b. They did not cherish His Gospel as the most
precious message,
v They did not “31 continue in [cling to His] Word”
(John 8:31).
•
This is what Judas will do – at the end of this gospel.
Illustration:
• This is what we have seen happen recently – with many high
profile “Christian” leaders simply letting the Gospel go.
Application / Question:
• How does something like this this happen?
• How does someone not “continue” in the faith?
Answer:
Well – Jesus explained how this happens:
1. According to Jesus – “17 falling away [happens]…when
affliction or persecution arises because of the word” (Mark
4:17) – and:
a. Wherever the Gospel “17 had no firm root” (Mark 4:17) –
no true faith,
b. Where there was no genuine faith to begin with,
v That “disciple”:
19
1. Chooses the path of least resistance,
2. And leaves the faith,
2. Or, Jesus says – those who once professed Christ will let go of
the Gospel:
a. When they allow “19 the worries of the world, and the
deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things [to]
enter in and choke the word” (Mark 4:19),
b. When their love for Christ is crowded out with a love:
1. For things,
2. A love for wealth,
3. A love for themselves,
4. A love for the temporal,
v Think of the John 6 crowd,
c. And when they don’t get it – they leave:
1. Christ,
2. And His Gospel,
v Having never had saving faith to begin with.
•
In the case (of these Jewish leaders, here) – it was their spiritual
pride that choked out the Gospel (we’ll see that next time):
1. Their legalism,
2. Their religious haughtiness,
3. Their spiritual self-sufficiency,
v Notice how the passage ends:
a. From v. 30 – “30 Many came to believe in Him” (John
8:30),
b. To v. 59 – “59 They picked up stones to throw at Him”
(John 8:59):
1. They did not cling to Christ’s Gospel,
2. They:
a. Let it go,
b. And turned against Christ.
Illustration:
• And perhaps not as dramatic (as what we see take place here) –
but this same:
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1. Letting go of the Gospel,
2. Allowing “19 the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness
of riches, and the desire for other things [to] enter in and
choke the word” (Mark 4:19),
v Still happens today.
1. Casual Christianity – Christianity that does not endure through the
trials of life,
2. Nominal faith – faith that does not:
a. Hold fast to the truth of Jesus,
b. When the world opposes:
1. Christ,
2. And His word,
v Is not saving faith.
Verse:
Hebrews 10:36 – “36 For you have need of endurance [why?], so that
when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was
promised [the faith that saves is the faith that endures]…38 But…if He
shrinks back [if someone professes Christ, but does not cling to
Christ], My soul has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:36, 38).
Verse:
Jesus is clear:
1. Mark 13:13 – “13 The one who endures to the end, he will be
saved” (Mark 13:13; repeated in Matthew 10:22; 24:13 for
emphasis),
2. Or Luke 21:19 – “19 By your endurance you will gain your
lives” (Luke 21:19).
Application:
And so again – we must take a spiritual inventory of our lives (of our
faith):
1. Are you continuing in the Gospel?
2. Are you holding onto to it – are you:
a. Tightening your grip around it,
b. Or are you beginning to let it go?
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3. Are:
a. The desires for other things – crowding out your life for
Christ?
b. Or:
1. Is Christ – becoming more precious to you?
2. Is His grace – becoming more humbling?
3. Is His Gospel – becoming more prized?
Verse:
“31 If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine”
(John 8:31).
Conclusion:
•
All Christians are disciples – but not all disciples are Christians:
1. There are false disciples,
2. And there are true disciples.
•
You can believe in Jesus – and still not be saved.
•
But – Jesus does not leave us guessing about:
1. What kind of faith saves,
2. What true disciples look like.
•
No, He’s clear – there are:
1. Certain marks of a true disciple,
2. Certain sign-posts (along the way) that show us that we are on
the path to glory,
v And here – Jesus gives 3 of them:
a. Sign-Post #1 – True Disciples Cherish Christ’s Gospel,
b. Sign-Post #2 – True Disciples are Freed from the Power of
Sin,
c. And Sign-Post #3 – True Disciples Cling to the Gospel
Until the End.
•
•
Do not be complacent about your faith.
Do not take the nature of your faith for granted.
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Verse:
Do a spiritual inventory of yourself – and “5 test yourself to see if you
are in the faith; examine yourselves!...That Jesus Christ is in you—
unless indeed you fail the test” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Verse:
But here is my prayer – as we do examine our faith:
1. 2 Corinthians 13:6 – “6 I trust that you will realize that we
ourselves do not fail the test” (2 Corinthians 13:5),
2. That we will “39 not [be] those who shrink back to
destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of
the soul” (Hebrews 10:39).
Prayer: