“Exalting Christ through the Gospel”
Intro:
1. The Word of God clearly
teaches that it is every Christians duty to exalt Christ (Isa 43:7; I Cor
10:31; Eccl 12:13; Mk 12:30).
2. To feel motivated to exalt
the Christ we need to be reminded of 3
truths:
a. Who we were---alienated sinners as a
result of sin (Eph 2:1; Isa 59:1-2; Habakkuk 1:13; Rom 3:23, 6:23, I Jn 3:4)
b. What God has done:
i.
Sent His Son to die for our sins (Jn 3:16, Rom 5:6-8; 2 Cor 8:9; Heb
10:9-10, 2:9, 10:12, 9:22, 14).
ii.
He has forgiven us our sins by obedience to Christ (Rom 6:17, Ps.
103:9-12; Micah 7:18-19; Col 1:14, I Pet 1:18-19, Matt 26:28, Jn 1:29; 2 Cor
5:21, I Pet 1:21-24, Heb 8:12).
c. Who we are---God’s Children (Gal 4:4-6;
I Jn 3:1; I Cor 12:27; Acts 11:26).
d. Here are five ways we can exalt Christ through
the gospel:
I.
By Knowing God’s Word. (Jn 8:31-32, 2 Tim 2:15, Acts 17:11, Heb
2:1-3, Prov 15:28, I Pet 3:15, Eph 5:17, I Tim 4:7-8, 15-16).
A. If the Lord were to come
back today and take a poll of how often you study your Bible, many of us would
probably be ashamed.
B. Our spiritual vitality
depends upon us knowing God’s word (Ps 119:11-12, 105; Rev 12:11; Jer 10:23; 2
Pet 1:3; Rom 1:16).
II.
By Living According To The Gospel Daily. (Lk 9:23).
A. First, we must deny self (Rom 12:1-2; Gal 2:20; Phil 1:21, 2 Cor 5:14-15; 2 Cor 8:5; I Cor 15:31).
B. Second, we must follow
Christ (I Pet 2:21; I Cor 11:1, Rev 14:4, Acts 4:13; Jn 2:5; Jn 10:27).
C. Notice 5 of the
characteristics of Christian living the Bible outlines as a daily deed:
1. Daily prayer (I Thes 5:17;
Ps 86:3).
2. Daily evangelism (Acts
5:42).
3. Daily benevolence (Acts
6:1).
4. Daily exhortation (Heb
3:12-13).
5. Daily study (Acts 17:11).
III.
Teach the whole counsel of
God
(Acts 20:27; I Pet 4:11; 2 Tim 4:1-4; Titus 2:1; Jonah 3:2; Jer 1:9 2 Chron
18:3).
IV.
Evangelism exalts Christ (Matt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15;
V.
When one obeys the gospel,
it exalts Christ.
A. Obedience is a must (Matt 7:21; Lk 6:46; Heb
5:8-9; James 1:22; Rom 6:17; 2 Thes 1:8; Jn 3:36; I Sam 15:22; Acts 5:29)
B. What must one do to be
saved?
1. Hear the word of God (Rom
10:17).
2. Believe in that word (Jn
8:24)
3. Confess Christ (Rom 10:10)
4. Repent of past sins (Lk
13:3; Joel 2:13; Acts 3:19)
5. Be immersed (Mk 16:16)
a. Baptism is immersion (Jn
3:23, Mk 1:8-10; Acts 8)
b. Baptism is a must (Acts
2:38; Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:21)
c. Baptism puts one into Christ
(2 Tim 2:1, 10; Gal 3:27)
Ps.
103:9-12 He will not always strive with us, Nor will
He keep His anger forever. He has not
dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us
according to our iniquities. For as the
heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear
Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our
transgressions from us.
Micah
7:18-19 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And
passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not
retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.
I
Pet 2:21-24 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit
found in His mouth"; who, when He was
reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but
committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on
the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose
stripes you were healed.
I
Tim 4:1-16 4:1 Now
the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith,
giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in
hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to
abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those
who believe and know the truth. For
every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received
with thanksgiving; for
it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6 If you instruct the brethren
in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the
words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But
reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward
godliness. For bodily exercise profits a
little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life
that now is and of that which is to come.
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
10 For to this end we both labor
and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of
all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach.
12 Let no one despise your
youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in
spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine.Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was
given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself
entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to
yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save
both yourself and those who hear you.
Jn
10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me.
Acts
20:27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you
the whole counsel of God.
2
Tim 4:1-4 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will
judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in
season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and
teaching.
3 For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires,
because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4
and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and
be turned aside to fables.
2
Chron 18:13 And Micaiah said, "As
the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak."
I
Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His
own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out
of darkness into His marvelous light;
Jn
3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not
(obey, NASB) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on
him."
I
Sam 15:22 Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt
offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of
the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of
rams.
Ps.
86:3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee
daily.