The Believer's Right View

How many of you like to listen to our singing together?

Do you enjoy that?

I, particularly this morning, I guess one of the things I want to thank the Lord for

! is the enthusiastic and joyful faces of our choir. Did you notice them?

I mean, they're not up there just kind of with this obligation, like, okay, I've got to sing this morning, so...

I like looking at your smiling faces. I was tempted to turn around and look at the rest of you,

because it sounded like you were having a good time, and I'm thankful for that.

Here's the deal. Are you listening? If we know Christ as our Savior,

and we are filled with the Spirit, what should our singing be like?

How should it be? Huh? It should be pretty enthusiastic. Would you agree with that?

Amen.

Okay. I want to thank you for that enthusiastic singing.

Stop while you're ahead. Okay, I got that.

Hey, I want you to turn your Bibles this morning to 2 Corinthians chapter 5.

2 Corinthians 5 · chapter mention

We're going to be looking at a passage that really brings together what we are gathered here today to do.

This day is a day where we celebrate the Lord's table. Isn't that right?

And these elements here, this bread and this cup, are little reminders for all of us who know Christ as our Savior.

I want to tell you up front that taking communion doesn't make you saved,

and it doesn't get you extra points in heaven.

You know, the idea that you have to take communion in order to get a pass or whatever,

whatever, that's not in the Scriptures.

We take communion to celebrate what Christ has done for us,

and anyone who is here that has come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior

is invited and welcomed to this table.

We want you to celebrate with us when we remember what Christ has done for us.

And as we take the bread and we take the cup,

we are really taking what are reminders of His sacrifice.

The bread reminds us of His death on the cross.

The cup reminds us of the blood of the new covenant.

And when we take that bread and we take that cup,

one of the things I trust that happens in your heart,

and I would not be put off in the least,

if as you are taking the bread and you taking the cup,

you went ahead and said out loud,

thank you, Lord Jesus, for being my Savior

and for the blessing of what you've done in my life.

And I have no doubt that part of Christ's purpose

in giving us this command to remember what He has done for us

is not so much to inform us of the facts of what He's done,

but to rekindle in our heart an affection and appreciation

for His grace and His salvation.

And so when we are taking these elements,

it is appropriate to think about just how foundational

and how central His salvation is in our lives.

And I want you to look this morning to a passage

in 2 Corinthians chapter 5

2 Corinthians 5 · chapter mention

where the apostle addresses this issue

of the centrality of Christ's work for us

and how affecting that is to be in all of our lives.

I want you to look there, if you will,

in verses 14 and 15.

For the love of Christ controls us

because we have concluded this,

that one has died for all,

therefore all have died.

And He died for all,

that those who live might no longer live for themselves,

but for Him who for their sakes died and was raised.

As we look at this passage,

we're going to find three little truths

that I want you to focus on.

We're going to find, first of all,

the believer's operating principle.

What is it that governs and controls our life?

The believer's operating principle.

We're going to find, secondly,

a reminder of the believer's past.

And every single one of us in here

have a past that we'd soon not remember.

Am I right?

Every one of us.

Third, we're going to see the believer's present

and a reminder of this fact

that if you have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ,

you are not your own.

We find Paul says elsewhere,

you are bought with a price.

You belong to Christ.

And so let's begin, first of all,

by looking at the believer's operating principle.

You look there in verse 14,

it says,

for the love of Christ controls us.

Now, one of the important rules

to understanding the Scriptures

is remembering that the best commentary

on the Scriptures is the...

It's the Scriptures.

And so in order to understand

what a passage is saying,

it always helps to pay attention

to the context.

And the larger context of this passage

really is the entire book of 2 Corinthians.

You'll remember,

if you think about the book of 1 Corinthians,

that it was written to a church

dealing with a lot of different problems,

and Paul was writing to correct

one thing after another.

In particular,

the church was struggling with immorality.

The church was also struggling

with having an argumentative

and divisive spirit within the body,

and Paul wrote to correct that.

Now, as a result of Paul

ministering to the church at Corinth

and giving them these kind of firm admonitions,

guess how they responded to it?

Hey, how do you do when you're corrected?

Bring it on.

I had it coming.

I need it.

Is that how all of you behave?

When your wife says to you,

honey, you need to stop,

how do you do that?

Oh, thank you.

I am so glad that God hired you

to be my primary helper.

Is that how you deal with it?

Well, here's what happened.

When Paul kind of admonished

the church at Corinth,

they kind of bristled

and they got a little attitude,

and they began pushing back

against the apostle.

And one of the things

that was particularly used

against the apostle

is that he was suffering so much.

He had one hardship after another

come into his life,

and as a result,

the people that were critics of him

said, hey, listen,

if Paul was really God's man,

he would not be having

all these problems.

Do you ever bump into people today

that propose

one of the clear indicators

that you're God's man

is that everything goes perfectly?

I mean, after all,

after we're saved,

we all have these promises

that we're going to get a better job,

we're going to get more pay.

Is that the way it goes?

Now, if you're buying into

the health and wealth gospel,

probably so,

but this is not the first time,

this generation is not the first time

that people have been caught up

in ideas that if you're God's child,

everything's going to be perfect,

and just a wonderful uphill kind of walk

with everything kind of working out perfectly.

And so Paul's critics were saying,

listen, here's the proof

that Paul is not really an apostle.

Look at all his sufferings.

Look at all the difficulties he's having.

Look at all the persecution he endures.

And Paul took this subtle accusation head on

and wasn't shy in the least

about talking about his suffering for the gospel.

In fact, he goes on and explains

the value of suffering.

We're going to see that,

particularly just a little snapshot,

in chapter 1.

And so I want you to turn back,

keep your finger there,

in chapter 5.

But look at chapter 1, verse 4.

Paul's talking about suffering,

and remember, people were being critical

of his suffering.

And so he says, hey, let's take a look

at this issue of suffering.

In chapter 1, verse 4, he says,

who comforts us in all our affliction

so that we may be able to comfort

those who are in any affliction

with the comfort with which we ourselves

are comforted by God.

Do you know what Paul's saying?

One of the benefits of our own suffering

is that God uses that to equip us

to minister to other people.

Have you found that to be true?

The things that have been your private heartaches

and things that you have had to deal with

over the years,

whether it is a disappointment

in a family relationship

or losing your job

or whatever that hardship is,

the Spirit of God then takes those very difficulties

and brings in His wisdom and economy,

He brings people into your life.

You didn't go looking for them.

You didn't have to post on the internet.

I have suffered in ABC.

If you're interested in any counsel

in relationship to these things,

please email me and I'll follow up.

That doesn't happen.

But here's what happens.

God in His wisdom knows what your suffering has been,

and He knows how He got you through it,

and He will, in His providence,

bring people right into your life

that you can minister to

according to how He's ministered to you.

And Paul says,

hey, suffering's not all bad.

Suffering is actually one of the things

that equips me to minister to other people.

And so this morning,

as you're sitting there

and you're wondering,

what's going on in my life

and why am I having some of the hardships

that I'm having?

Understand this.

God is actually in that,

not only strengthening your character

and your spiritual walk,

but He's also equipping you

for a future ministry

that you will someday have.

Look also, if you will,

at verse 8 and 9.

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers,

of the affliction we experienced in Asia.

Remember there were people

that were being critical

and saying, you know,

that Paul,

he's not the real deal

because if he really was God's man,

everybody would just love him.

Paul says, hey,

let's be up front.

When we were in Asia,

we were taking a beating.

And he says,

don't want us

have you be ignorant about that

for we were so utterly burdened

beyond our strength

that we despaired of life itself.

Have you ever felt like you were

so overwhelmed

that you just couldn't handle it anymore?

That's what Paul was talking about.

He says,

I was burdened to the point,

I can't do it.

Look at verse 9.

Indeed,

we felt that we had received

the sentence of death,

but that was to make us rely

not on ourselves,

but on God who raises the dead.

Guess what another lesson is

that we learn in hardship?

We learn our own inadequacy

and we learn His sufficiency.

So long as you think

you can pull it off by yourself

and you're not dealing

with any of the hardships of life,

it just seems,

hey, I'm good.

I can handle this.

And then God allows something

to come into your life

that is absolutely beyond your ability

and you find yourself

relying upon God

and you discover what?

His sufficiency

and His worth

to handle that challenge.

And so when we find ourselves

in those hard times

and those difficulties,

instead of kind of despairing

and saying,

I give up, I give up,

understand that in that,

God is at work

and He is not only strengthening you,

but He's teaching you

that He will care for the problem.

We may not admit it,

but we are guppies in some sense

for the prosperity gospel.

And we act that way on occasion

because when disappointment

and difficulties come,

we find ourselves kind of wondering,

so all right, God,

what did I do?

What's happening?

Where are you in this picture?

And we need to remind ourselves

that when those difficult times come,

it's something that God wants us

to learn through.

And so recognize this,

a test of faith really

is how we handle the hard times.

Mark it down.

A test of faith

is how we handle the hard times.

Now, you don't need to go around

praying for those opportunities.

Do you understand that?

I've had people say to me,

well, I'm praying for patience.

Don't do that.

Hey, listen to me.

He knows what you need

better than you do.

And so just kind of say,

all right, Lord,

whatever you pitch,

let me be on the game

and be able to handle it

and grow through this.

I'll never forget

several weeks ago

when we were having

our missions conference

and Tom Graves stood up here

and he said,

you know,

in Romania,

they are looking to have

a Bible conference

and the chief thing

that they're going to talk about

is, all right, all right,

so what have we lost

now that we no longer

suffer open persecution

for Christ?

Isn't that amazing?

Here are people

who recognize

that hardship

and difficulty

were doing positive things

for their spiritual walk

and over here

we would be doing what?

We would have a conference

ringing our hands

about,

what are we doing wrong?

Nobody likes us.

You know,

all wound up.

Here they are.

Hey,

what do we lose

when we're not suffering

for the gospel?

And so I want you

to recognize

that Paul,

as he is working

his way through

the book of 2 Corinthians,

each one of the chapters

talk about this issue

of hardship and suffering.

And so the logical question

is this,

Paul,

what makes you different?

What makes you

the way you are

in the face of the adversity

and the difficulty you have?

And we're dealing

with that question's answer

in verse 14 of chapter 5.

Christ's love

is the gospel-centered motive

for Christian living

and endurance.

That's what Paul

is going to remind us of.

Christ's love

is the gospel-centered motive

for Christian living

and endurance.

Look at the passage

that we are going

to deal with here.

For the love of Christ

controls me.

What really motivates

a person

reveals what's in their heart

and what they value

the most.

It's always interesting

that when you bump

into people

within a short period

of time,

if they're relatively

new to you,

you figure out

what things they care about.

Isn't that right?

When you're in a situation

that's fairly new,

there may be a little bit

of natural reservation,

but eventually you open up

and we always begin

to talk about the things

that we like.

We talk about the things

that we think are important.

We talk about the things

that we value.

We can't help ourselves.

It comes out.

And Paul says,

listen,

let me tell you something.

It is the love of Christ

that controls me.

I look at a world

that we live in

that you don't have

to listen to very long

if you're paying attention

to the news.

And guess what you find out

when you listen to the news?

You have two opposing

world systems,

both of them

which are deeply flawed,

that propose

that the solution

to all the world's problems

really lie

in one side or another.

How many of you know

John Kenneth Galbraith?

Do you know

John Kenneth Galbraith?

One or two

of the older people here

know John Kenneth Galbraith

was an economist,

an incredibly brilliant man.

And by the way,

he's buried out

in Sunset Cemetery

within a stone's throw

of where William Brock

is buried.

You needed to know that.

Write that down.

There'll be a quiz

on that little fact.

It's an extra piece.

But John Kenneth Galbraith

made this statement.

He said,

capitalism is a system

in which one man

takes advantage

of another one.

He said,

and communism

is exactly the opposite.

You know what he meant?

He meant,

it's also a system

where one man

takes advantage

of another man.

Can I tell you

that when Jesus comes back

and the millennium

gets kicked off,

he is not going to rely

on capitalism

or communism.

He is going to rely

upon his infinite wisdom

and his justice

and his love

to bring about

perfect governance

and a world at peace.

And I want you

to understand

that as we

who are his children

think about how we are

to live in this present day,

it is not getting wound up

by one side or another

of that argument.

It is getting wound up

by the supremacy

of the love of Christ

that he has lavished on us.

And when your life

is dominated

and controlled

by your appreciation

for the love of Christ,

and I appreciate

what John said this morning,

getting overwhelmed

with the love of Christ

and understanding

the depth

of the love of Christ

is the driving force

in helping you grow

to be a more loving person.

Apart from appreciating

the love of Christ,

you are not going

to be very loving

of anyone

but guess who?

Do this little thing

right here.

If you are not affected

by the love of Christ,

you will be affected

by the love of self.

That's the way it is.

Well, Paul wants us

to recognize

that the believer

is to be dominated

and to be controlled

by the love of Christ.

Let me come to the second part

as we think about this passage.

You see,

a believer has a past

and there in verse 14

it says,

the love of Christ

controls us

because we have concluded this

that one has died for all,

therefore all were dead.

So I want you to recognize

that prior to salvation,

each of us

were utterly dead

and lost.

Do you understand

that the gospel

actually starts

with bad news?

The idea that

Jesus came into the world

just to be

kind of a nice

and wonderful example

that people can follow

and kind of move

their way uphill

and eventually get there

is a lie from hell.

When you ask people

what the gospel

actually is

and they propose to you

that this gospel

is just a,

just simply

and exclusively

a nice

and wonderful

little story

about how to be

sweet to each other,

if that's what they think,

they're missing

what the scripture

has to say

about the gospel.

Paul made this statement,

he said,

that the gospel

is something

that is offensive.

Do you know

what's offensive

about the gospel?

The gospel

is offensive

because first of all

it tells us

that all mankind

equally are dead

in their trespasses

and sins

and stand justly

condemned before

a holy God.

That's the part

people don't like.

But you know

what Jesus said?

He said,

hey,

those who don't

understand that they're sick,

there's a free rendition

unless you're wondering

what passage it is.

Remember Jesus said this?

He said,

it's not those

who are healthy

that need the physician

but those that are sick.

By the way,

was he saying

that some of us

were healthy

and some of us

were sick?

No,

he was saying

the problem

with the Pharisees

is they didn't understand

just how sick

their soul was.

You see,

in order for people

to recognize

their desperate need

for the gospel,

the first thing

they have to do

is come to grips

with the wickedness

and the absolute despair

of their soul.

And can I tell you something?

Of all the things

we can learn from history,

the thing that is clearest

is that apart from

the power of Christ

to save mankind,

all human existence

is insufferably wicked

and despicable.

Does that mean

we're as bad as we could be

without further practice?

No.

But here's the truth.

Apart from Christ,

what it says

in the Scripture

is there is none righteous,

no, not one.

There's not a one

that seeks after Christ.

And so as we think

about the truth

of what the gospel tells us,

it announces,

as we see here

in this passage,

that prior to the grace

of God,

I was utterly dead

and hopeless

in my sin

with no hope.

I stood justly condemned

for the blackness

of my heart

and the wickedness

of my sins,

and yet Christ chose

to take my place

and die in my stead.

And that's true

for every one of you

here this morning

that know Christ

as your personal Savior.

He took your sin.

He paid the penalty.

He was given

the full judgment

of God

in place of you.

And the thought

of what He has done

for me

and how He loves me

is something

that I should never tire

of thinking about

and it should give me

warm fuzzies

every time.

Hmm?

Last night,

sitting in the

family room,

I said to Judith,

I love you.

It was just out

of the clear blue.

You were watching

OSU football

and so there was

a very clear connect

between the two events,

you know.

I said,

I love you.

And she said,

and she asked

that dumb question,

why?

Well,

and here's my answer.

She's sitting in the back.

I think she'll raise

a hand if I miss it.

But I said,

actually,

starting point

is because Jesus loves me.

Do you understand that?

Here's what the Bible says,

love is of,

how did Tim Knoyer,

and I'll tell you what,

a pathological sinner

apart from the grace of God,

how did Tim Knoyer

become someone

who loved anybody else

but himself?

It was the grace of God

who brought salvation

in my life

and taught me

the width and breadth

and depth and height

of a love of Christ

and then began working

and helping me learn

how to love other people.

It didn't happen by accident.

It happened on the cross

and it happened subsequently

in the work of God

dealing in the life

of a believer.

I said,

I love you because of Jesus.

I love you,

secondly,

because I promised

to do that.

I made a promise.

I think it's 43

and a half years ago,

give or take.

I said,

that's the one

I'm going to spend

the rest of my life

learning how to love.

And can I tell you something?

It's a whole lot more fun today

than it was yesterday

and the day before.

You follow that?

It gets better as you go.

By the way,

here's a little surprise,

but it does take work.

The reason it takes work

is because I'm a sinner

living with another sinner.

Coming back to the subject,

I want you to understand

that as I think about

the love of Christ,

it ends up affecting

my love for others.

I want you to recognize

the believers present.

You look there

at the passage again

and pick up in verse 15.

It says,

and he died for all

that those who live

might no longer live

for themselves,

but for him

who for their sakes died

and was raised.

Who do you live for?

Who does your life belong to?

Who determines

what you do

and where you are

and how you spend

your time?

Are you the center

of your universe

or is Christ?

Can you justly

and honestly say

that the driving

and operating principle

in my life

is a desire

to draw attention

to the lover

of my soul?

The text really

isn't complicated,

and it makes the point

that those who are gripped

by the love of Christ

will live their life

for him

and not for themselves.

And so,

Paul closes off

his argument here

as he explains,

what is it that makes you

handle the suffering

and the rejection

and the disappointment

that you live with?

He says,

that's not a hard question.

I'm the way I am

because the love of Christ

controls me.

And let me explain it this way.

I was dead

and Jesus died for me.

And so,

the remainder of my life,

I live to say thank you

for who he is

and what he's done for me.

So,

let me ask you this.

Do you really honestly believe

that he loved you enough

to die in your place

and that he has paid

the penalty for your sins?

Is that a thought

that is central

in your living?

If it is.

I want you to understand this.

Listen to me carefully.

The way we think

determines the way we act.

Do you understand that?

Let me kind of put

the string together.

Thoughts

produce actions

and actions

produce consequences.

Would you agree with that?

The way we think

ends up being evident

in the way we act.

and the way we act

creates consequences.

And so,

here is Paul saying,

listen,

I got it.

I got it figured out.

I am dominated.

I am controlled

by the fact

that Christ loves me

and because of that,

I don't live my life

for myself.

Turn over in your Bible

just for a moment

to a passage

in Titus chapter 3,

Titus 3:8

verse 8.

Titus chapter 3,

Titus 3:8

verse 8.

Titus nails it

when he talks about

Christian motive.

He says there in verse 8,

the saying is trustworthy

and I want you to insist

on these things.

He's talking about

the pastoral responsibility

is to kind of

challenge God's people

to live a life

to a certain agenda

and objective.

He says,

I want you to insist

on these things

so that those

who have believed

in God,

you might even

underline this

and memorize it,

so that those

who have believed

in God

might be careful

to devote themselves

to good works.

Hmm.

What does it mean

to devote yourself

to good works?

Ah,

working into your agenda

once every six years.

Right?

Well,

make it a point,

once a quarter,

you're going to kind of

do something nice.

You know,

you're in line

at McDonald's

and when you pull up

and you hear the

next order coming in,

you say,

hey,

I'll pay for that

so that,

is that it?

No.

Here's what it says.

Nothing wrong

with the McDonald's idea

if I'm behind you,

but the point is,

look,

it says here.

You caught that?

You're awake.

Oh,

let's read the verse.

What's it say?

It says,

those who have believed

in God,

is that you?

Is that you?

Have you believed in God?

In other words,

you've believed in Christ

as your personal Savior?

It says,

if you believed in God,

you may be careful

to devote yourself

to good works.

These things are excellent

and profitable

for people.

Who should know

about your good works?

Who should know

about your good works?

Number one is God,

but number two,

it's your neighbors.

Everybody smile

because what you're asking me,

the next thought you're having

is can you prove that

from the Bible?

Is that what you're saying?

Is that what you're thinking?

Is that,

so should I go to my neighbors

and hand out a little survey

saying,

so do you know

that I'm into good works?

Okay.

Matthew chapter five,

remember what Jesus says

in verse 14,

you are what?

You might be on occasion.

He says,

you are the light.

And he says,

by the way,

this is the next part of it,

he says,

and when you light a lamp,

what do you do?

So when God saved you,

his intention in using your life

was just like

when you light a candle

in a home.

You put it somewhere

where it makes a difference.

The expectation that Christ has

is that you and I

are lights where we've been planted.

Monday morning

when everybody comes into work

and their attitude is,

ugh,

ugh,

you know,

I mean,

the one bright spot

is what happened

in the OSU game

and the rest of life

is kind of a bust,

you know,

and here you are.

How are you acting

on Monday morning?

Happy Monday!

Probably when I come in

on Monday,

I'll say to Connie,

the same thing I said

on Thursday,

you know,

happy Thursday,

it'll be Monday,

happy Monday,

right?

Why?

Because

I've been lit

like a candle

and by the way,

when that candle

is shining properly,

who gets the credit?

Here's what it says,

that people may see

your good works

and glorify

your Father

who is in heaven.

the way you act

either reflects favorably

on Christ

or it causes people

to think he is

of irrelevant difference

in their life

and anybody else's.

And so let me help you

understand as you think

about this matter

is when you recognize

what God has done,

understand this,

that the love of Christ

controls my life

because I knew

I deserved the penalty

of death

and he died in my place.

I was bought with a price

and my life

belongs to him.

As a result of that,

other people should be able

to see that.

Isn't that right?

They should be able

to see that Christ

has made a difference.

I am living proof

and you are living proof

of the power of Christ

to change a life.

Agreed?

Agreed?

And one of the ways

we do that

is not by being

a frowny, grumpy, frumpy person.

Would you agree with that?

One of the ways

we do that

is by being a forgiving

and forbearing individual.

One of the ways

we do that

is by having endurance

under stress.

One of the ways

we do that

is by being compassionate

to those who are enslaved

by their sin.

One of the ways

we do that

is by having joy

in the midst of adversity

and everybody knows.

Where's that come from?

Well, it's not from me, right?

It's from Christ.

It's from Christ

because the love of Christ

controls me.

That they who live

should not henceforth

live unto themselves.

But unto him

who died for them

and rose again.

I'm going to ask

that the men come

at this time

as we come

to the Lord's table.

And as the men

are coming this morning,

let me encourage you

to recognize

that I need my Bible.

Let me encourage you

to recognize

that what I said earlier

stands to be

undeniably true

that the Lord's table

is a table

to which all

who know Christ

are freely invited.

If you're here

this morning

and you know Christ

as your personal Savior,

let me encourage you

to recognize

that this table

and what we engage

in as a memorial

is something

that is designed

to encourage,

strengthen,

convict

you as a believer.

in relationship

to that,

it says in the Scriptures

that if you are here,

that you are also

to examine yourself,

that you do not

take the Lord's table

in an unworthy manner.

And so as we get ready

to take these elements,

I'm going to ask

that you spend the time

in quiet prayer

right where you're sitting

and you just say,

Lord,

if there are issues

in my life

that I need to repent

and forsake,

now's the time

to do that

so that when I take the bread

and I take the cup,

I can do it

with a clear conscience.

Let's pray.

Precious Father,

as we take just a moment

to examine ourselves

before You,

we recognize

that the Scriptures

are quite clear

that if You were

to mark iniquity

that none of us

would stand.

and yet You have

granted to us

forgiveness

through the Lord Jesus Christ

and so we first of all

come with thanksgiving

for what He has done

for us.

At the same time,

we also recognize

that the Scriptures

teach us that clearly

we do struggle with sin

from day to day

and so this morning,

if there are issues

in our hearts

that we need to confess

and forsake,

whether it is an attitude

towards another believer

or a practice

that is secret and hidden

that is offensive to You,

or a matter of the soul

that nobody else

knows about, Lord,

this morning

that we would confess that,

that we may take this bread

and take this cup

with a clear conscience.

We're thankful

that what it says

in the Scriptures

is if we confess our sins,

You are faithful

and just to forgive us

of those sins.

And so we ask

for that privilege

to be exercised

in the lives

of each and every believer

that humbly confesses

that we may take

this cup

and this bread

without condemnation.

And we ask this

in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.