Christ and all His Benefits (Resurrection)

Illustration: Recap

My hope is that at this point in the weekend you will have been shown the goodness of our God and that you will have understood that His grace and goodness that allows us to say a hard “NO” to those things that promise life but end in death. I hope that you will have had your eyes opened to these massive realities that are available for you in Christ.

The reason I really hope that some of what we have talked about has rattled around your soul a bit because in order for us to move on with what we want to talk about in this last time together is built on the premise that you have done what Psalm 34:8 says

Psalm 34:8 ESV

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

When you taste the goodness and the grace of our Lord…you will take refuge in Him. You will find yourself running to Him instead of away from Him. The unquenchable desire for more sin will be removed and replaced with an unquenchable desire for the One who stood up and said to a bunch of thirsty people,

John 7:37–38 (ESV)

37 “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

I hope that you are thirsty. It is good to be thirsty.

Commercial: The Most Interesting Man in the World - Dos Equis - “Stay Thirsty My Friend.”

I hope that you recognize your thirst for Him and then come to Him.

We have been talking about Christ and all His benefits. The benefit of the Gospel as a whole and the benefit of becoming a whole new creation because Jesus died a death that you and I deserved to die.

The grace of God appeared and it brought us salvation. It has been applied to us and we have accepted it.

And by accepting it we have become new creations. The old has passed away and behold the new has come! And now we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ. However, there is still a whole lot of “old nature” that we need to kill. We need to be killing sin or it will be killing us.

Romans 8:13 ESV

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Colossians 3:5 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

There is a lot of earthly stuff still in us and we kill it. We make war, not peace with it. So we are vigilant and diligent in killing sin by the sword of the Spirit. God’s grace has trained us to say NO to all types of ungodliness and worldly passions. Yes, we have ongoing temptations that are like trials of suffering, but they are producing something in us like Peter said:

1 Peter 4:1 ESV

1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

Christ suffered in the flesh to defeat sin. And He died and was BURIED. So we too must suffer in the flesh against all sorts of ungodliness and worldly passions that wage war against our born again souls, but we realize that our enemy is a defeated enemy so we keep throwing shovel full after shovel full of dirt on it so that it remains BURIED. We undergo this battle with sin on a day to day, moment by moment, progressive basis, knowing that He who began a good work in us will one day complete it. We battle sin in the flesh so that we might ultimately cease from sin.

C, E, A, S, E

So all this is in place and we are so grateful. The Benefits of His Death and the Burial and now His Resurrection.

This is like Math - Death and Burial must take place before we move on to Resurrection.

The reason why we so often stall out in our “advancement” in many areas of our lives is because we lack the proper motivation for actual change.

We might try to “change” for all the wrong reasons.

James 4:3–4 ESV

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Or you might “change” temporarily which is really no change. You “change” to get someone off your case or to get out from under some consequence that you don’t want to encounter.

This is what Paul calls “worldly sorrow” in 2 Cor. 7:10

2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

We need the proper motivation to actually change for the good and for the long haul. That only comes through tasting and seeing that the Lord and His grace are good.

That must be in place in order to move on to the benefit of seeing Christ Resurrection power at work in our lives.

Thomas Chalmers: The Expulsive Power of a New Affection

Chalmers argues that only when Christ becomes the delight of the human heart will the old sinful desires begin to lose their grip over us. This new affection has power to expel all other loves from our hearts! We become more captivated with the beauty and glory of Jesus than the fleeting pleasures of sin.

John Piper picks up on this as he is famously known for in his book desiring God.

“the most effective way to kill our own sin is by the power of a superior pleasure. No one sins out of duty. We sin because it is more pleasant or less painful than the way of righteousness. So, bondage to sin is broken by a stronger attraction — a more compelling joy.”

We need to be seized by the power of a greater affection.

I hope that what we have talked about so far has done that…so now let’s move on to Resurrection.

Titus 2:11–14 (ESV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

The Grace of God trains us live with self-control.

The Grace of God trains us to live upright and godly lives.

The Grace of God trains us to be filled with hope as we wait for the triumphant return of Christ.

Trained to live with self-control.

I think so often when we think of self-control we think of self restraint. Like stop doing this or stop doing that. This is based off the idea that something is out of control and creating chaos and we need to rein whatever “it” is and bring it under control. I think that is certainly within the realm of possibility that Paul was thinking, but in some sense he has already talked about that in the previous section… “say no to this / say no to that.” Stop it. Since that is the case, I think the self-control that he has in mind here is more positive in nature. Instead of stop doing this and that, maybe what he is thinking, “start doing this and that.” That does seem to be the context of what follows. He is going to talk about many positive things going forward (upright / godly lives / hope in the glorious future return of Christ that acts like fuel for godly living in the present.) That is what he is going to talk about, so I think the self-control Paul has in mind is more positive in nature.

Instead, “Hey exercise some self control and stop that.” I think it is, “Hey exercise some self control and start something.”

If this is the case, I and think there is a very plausible case for it…what do we need to put in our lives? Well we need to put thing in our lives that will make us more “upright, godly and hope filled.”

What might that be? (spiritual disciplines or habits of grace)

Trained to live upright and godly lives.

δικαίως

Pertaining to being right as the result of being justified.

We have been justified by the grace of God and that grace now trains us to live in a way that tangibly reflects that reality. Instead of living in a “wrong” way, we start living in an “upright” or “right” way. The way that God has intended for us to live in the first place.

Paul goes on with another loaded term

εὐσεβής

Trained to live a life that is “godly.” Our lives are being trained by God’s grace to express our devotion to Him. Our lives our lived in such a way that our practical lives are a proper expression of our religious beliefs.

Our practical outsides, match our pious insides.

Our inside devotions are shown in our outward actions.

1 Timothy 5:3–4 ESV

3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

What “godliness” where the children and grandchildren to show their widowed mother and grandmother? Take care of her physical needs. Their “devotion to God” is demonstrated by the way they were taking care of an aging parent (does that hit anybody here??? - I am just going to let that float for a minute - some of you have a very hard calling right now in life. It is a godlike calling. Your godliness is on display how you care for those who who brought you into the world.) -

God’s grace trains us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives. We need to put good things in our schedules on a daily basis that will cause us to grow in our godliness.

Spiritual Disciplines or Habits of Grace

A word of caution, this are not the means by which we are accepted by God…we do not earn His favor, His grace gave us His favor. So please don’t evaluate your spiritual condition by how many times you open your bible each week. Your “spiritual condition” has been made healthy and functional because of what Jesus did for you.

Reading

God is a God who speaks. We must listen to Him. He speaks primarily through His Word. We have to read the bible for breadth and study for depth. There should be no excuse for us. We literally have the words of life at our fingertips. In order for our Lord to read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, he had to travel to the temple. In order for Laodiceans to get the Scriptures they had to wait until the Colossians sent the letter Paul wrote to them.

Colossians 4:16 ESV

16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.

What is your excuse? You have to download an app? You have to exert energy to crack open the spine of a book? What is it? What excuse are you going to use for not reading God’s word when you stand before him?

Do we understand and appreciate what it took to give us the Bible? Do you know the setback and sacrifices have been made throughout church history to get us at least one copy (10). Read of the story of Willam Tyndale who, almost four centuries ago, risked—and gave—his life to give us the Bible.

Persecution and setbacks

Do you know he had just finished translating the first 5 books of the Pentatuch when he was shipwrecked somewhere off the coast of the Netherlands. His entire English Pentateuch, freshly translated, perished in the sea. Let’s start again. No “time machine” back up. No cloud storage…just

and what thanks did he get? This is how he was thanked

On Oct. 6, 1536 they had a ceremony for him where he and his accomplishments would take center stage. He was tied to a stake, strangled and then burned. He was 42…I am 42.

Do not neglect what has happened throughout history to bring you this word. Even greater than Tyndale, Jesus was the word that became flesh and dwelt among us and He was crucified.

Drink deeply daily of this book. Dive in by any means necessary do not neglect this discipline. (cut out social media, wake up 10 minutes early, stay up ten minutes later, stop taking your phone into the bathroom for 10 mintutes take an index card and write out a verse and meditate while you are on the throne). some of your best thinking time can be there!

Read for breadth. Study for depth (Examples)

Memorize and Meditate (examples)

There is a no “get holy quick” routine…it is called training. It takes daily, habitual practice.

and read other good Christian literature. (Life long learner).

Prayer

Do you realize that we have access to the throne of grace? You have God’s ear all the time and He knows what you need before you pray! Wow.

God is a God who speaks and He is a God who listens! So talk back to him! This is the purified version of “talking back.”

Prayer is a gift of God to His people, and it is only because of the finished work of Christ that believers have access to the throne of grace. Don’t neglect to take advantage of this wonderful grace.

I know we all struggle with this…especially in the society that we live in. We are all about productivity and accomplishing as much as we possibly can with the 168 we are each given in a week and we fail to understand how prayer might be productive. We don’t really understand how it works, so we don’t do it even though we are instructed to over and over and over again by God in His Word. You don’t have to fully understand something before you do and see it’s affect. You just do it and “trust the process.” Things might be bad now, but there is a plan in place.

Said Spurgeon - “Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscle of omnipotence.”

The best way to grow in this discpline is just to actually do it. What I have found most helpful is prayer walks. Actually talk out loud to the Lord.

Pray in private and pray with people.

Who are two or three people you might ask from your local church to pray with you regularly?

Fasting

Jesus did it…if it worked for Him and we are to be conformed to His image then maybe we should give it a shot.

The discipline of fasting is not unique to Christianity. Many other religions use it as well. What make fasting unique in Christianity is that it is not just a cutting out of what is in our normal diet (food, drink, entertainment, social things), but it is about filling ourselves up with what is more profitable…Christ.

Fasting is not meant to be a drudgery but a joy. The point of fasting is giving up something to make room for God to fill that longing. Much more things could be said about journaling, and observing a Sabbath, but I want to end this section by talking about something that we think we all do very often, but more than likely we are only doing it in form but neglecting its function.

Fellowship

Some of you are assuming the “form” of fellowship…you are here this weekend are you not? You go to church or maybe you go to a life group. You got the form down…but the “function” isn’t there. You have an appearance of godliness, but actually deny it’s power. Like Paul told Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV

5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

How do we deny fellowship’s function? Well Christian fellowship is based off of the amazing word:

κοινωνία

The essence of the Christian life is based of the idea of fellowship. Fellowship with God and fellowship with other believers in Christ.

In the beginning, Adam was placed in the garden to enjoy friendship and communion with God and it wasn’t good for man to be alone so He created a custom fit match for Adam when He created Eve so they could experience intimate fellowship.

This theme is played out EVERYWHERE in the bible. And many of us think we are doing it, but we are only doing so in form only and we are missing out on the function.

Having the form of an opposable thumb is absolutely amazing, but if we never try to grab thing or hitchhike…what is the point of an opposable thumb…we have the form but neglect the function.

Christian fellowship is based on “intimacy” and “authenticity” and nothing scares us more than really being known by our brothers and sister because what if they see the real me and don’t like me or judge me and they reject me. That potential reality is to scary for me so I won’t go there. I will just show up to things like church gatherings, or my life group or men’s advance retreat and not really let anyone in through the tough exterior too see the real me.

Christian fellowship is not just a glorified “hang out time.” It is intentionally where we engage each other with Gospel centered encouragements to live our lives on mission for Jesus.

There are no lone ranger Christians…at least not for long. You are a sitting duck for the devil. An easy target for the adversary. A snack for the devil that is prowling around seeking someone to devour. Don’t be a meal for the devil..share a meal with your brothers in sisters in Christ.

David Mathis

“True fellowship is less like friends gathered to watch the Super Bowl and more like players on the field in blood, sweat, and tears, huddled in the backfield only in preparation for the next down.”

Part of corporate fellowship is engaging in musical worship, listening to the preached word together and participating in the Lord’s Supper.

All of those things have been given to us so that we might be trained to live upright and godly lives.

Finally, God’s grace is allowing us to be

Trained to have hope in the glorious return of Christ.

Storms are promised in this life for believers and unbelievers alike. The wind and the waves beat on the house built on the sand and the house built on the rock. The house built on the rock was not exempt from the wind and waves…it experienced them as well…but it was sustained throughout the duration of the storm and ultimately survived the storm because it was fueled the the hope of the essential reality of it’s firm foundation.

HOPE IS ESSENTIAL if you are going to make it in this life and biblical hope is not a rubbing or a rabbits foot, it is an absolute certainty.

Titus 2:13 ESV

13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

As sure as the sun will rise, He will come back and it will be glorious and on that day, if we are seized by the power of a new affection…we will stand before him a “pure spotless bride” because we will have had HIs grace applied to us and we will have accepted it. And in that moment we will have a flash back a remember how His grace trained us to say “no” to things that really were destructive and it trained us to say “yes” to thing that really were life giving and really were worth it because we will be standing before Him face to face and He will say to us, “well done my good and faithful servant, now enter into the joy of your master.”

This is your glorious future, allow it to fuel your present day striving after God regardless of how dark the days may be…after darkness there is light.

The benefit of Christ being resurrected out the grave has been extended to you as well. You can walk in a whole new way…there is a newness of life that has been purchased for you to walk in.

Discussion Questions

How might you move from “checking off the box” in your Bible reading to being astonished for all that God is for you in Christ? Does your daily Bible reading lead to having your soul happy in the Lord? If not, will you resolve to change this?

Why do we tend to see prayer as “getting things from God” instead of getting more of God Himself?

Who are two or three people you might ask to pray with you regularly?

What are other things besides food that you might temporarily fast from in order to be filled up with grace? T.V.? Sports? Video Games? Social Media?

Have you fallen prey in any way to the idea of ‘lone ranger’ Christianity?

How can you cultivate fellowship with fellow brothers and sisters this week? Will you consider joining or starting a “Life Group?”

Are there times you find yourself talking about sports or hobbies with other believers more than the things of Christ? How can you take the initiative to change those everyday conversations into times of fellowship together?