Sunday, September 25,
2011 am
“COMFORT DOCTRINES” (9)
Conclusion - How Can I Find True Comfort?
As we began to bring this study to its conclusion last week,
we identified how these issues are really an assault on the grace of
God. We identified “cheap
grace” essentially as one wanting the benefits of the grace of God but
not willing to pay the price He asks.
In fact, Rom. 6 serves as an example where Paul anticipated some
who reasoned that if they continued in sin, God’s grace would abound in
His life. Paul said such an
attitude is unacceptable.
The grace of God is NOT cheap.
It cost the life of His Son on the cross.
But many today fail to fully appreciate that and seek His grace
on their terms. They find
someone who will present unto them “comfort doctrines” that permit them
to persist in sin and still expect God’s blessings.
Such is contrary to God’s word as we have seen in dismissing
these various false doctrines.
We concluded our study last week by noting that God CAN be
pleased. Psalm 149:4 says, “For
the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with
salvation.” Heb. 11:5,
Enoch, “pleased God”.
IF God can be pleased, then His expectations are not impossible.
2 Cor.
5:9 says, “Therefore, we make it our aim, whether present or absent to
be well pleasing to Him.”
The question is, HOW do we please God?
Today we want to conclude our study with some practical
applications as to how we can KNOW TRUE comfort that has no need to be
artificially sustained. It
is found in a proper attitude of God’s word. Let us notice some things
to consider that will give us assurance.
I.
What do I need to do?
a.
Seek first the kingdom
of God.
i.
Matt. 6:33, “But
seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added to you.”
ii.
This really is the key.
Will He accept anything less than total devotion?
iii.
Matt. 16:24 says, “If
anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow Me.”
Luke 14:26-33 – Jesus said we must “hate” father, mother, wife,
children, brothers and sisters and even our own lives to be His
disciples. HE also said, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My
disciple…Whoever does not forsake all that He has cannot be My disciple.”
iv.
Col 1:18 says, “And
He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
While the primary focus is that Christ IS preeminent over all
things, including the church, it is also evident that if such is true,
we need to give Him that preeminence in our lives.
v.
Paul is a great example.
He understood what it meant to put the kingdom of God first.
It is seen in his conduct and his action -
Writing to the Philippians from prison, he encourages them to stay
faithful. IN this letter he
reveals how Christ and His church are FIRST in his life.
He told them early, “For me
to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21)
Phil 3:7-11, “But what things were
gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also
count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is
from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the
power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being
conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the
resurrection from the dead.”
Because of his dedication he KNEW his destiny.
About to die, Paul said, “For
this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed,
for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep
what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Tim 1:12-13
One of the final sayings we have recorded of Paul is this confident
statement, “For I am already being
poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept
the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on
that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His
appearing.” 2 Tim 4:6-8.
What an example of putting God first!
vi.
How many today want
salvation but they don’t really want to put God and His kingdom first?
It is seen in what we do in our lives – i.e. attendance, giving,
those whom we associate with, how we treat our brethren, and numerous
other activities.
It is seen in what we are willing to give up for God AND for our
brethren.
b.
Give unto God the
reverence and glory He deserves
i.
Romans 1:20-23 describes
how those who rejected God and served “the creature rather than the
Creator” (vs. 25) did so because “although they knew God, they did not
glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their
thoughts.
ii.
This principle goes hand
in hand with putting God first in our lives.
In fact it is THE attitude that must be at the forefront of our
priorities. It will govern
our thoughts, actions, words and the direction of our lives.
iii.
AT THE CORE of many of
the issues we have discussed is a failure to properly reverence God.
In far too many circumstances today, our God is treated with
casualness and a worldly familiarity.
When one has such an attitude, he will NEVER fully submit to God.
It is too easy to flippantly dismiss some command or scripture we
don’t like.
iv.
A part of reverencing
God is to realize that not only is He good but He is also just and will
hold accountable those who reject Him. Rom. 11:22 says, “Therefore,
behold the goodness and severity of God.”
v.
Psa. 147:11, “The
Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His
mercy.”
Heb. 12: 28-29, “Therefore, since
we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by
which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For
our God is a consuming fire.”
vi.
It also involves
understanding that He doesn’t change -
Mal. 3:6, “I am the Lord, I do not
change.”
James 1:17, “Every good gift and
every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of
lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
c.
Seek to know that you are right with God – you CAN know.
i.
With a proper
understanding of our priorities, we now make practical application.
ii.
Study the word.
Clearly, if we are to be pleasing to God we must know His will.
You cannot serve Him if you don’t know what He expects!
As we have noted in this study, ignorance will destroy – (Hos. 4:6).
Eph. 5:17 challenges us to understand what the will of the Lord is.
This requires that we study His word diligently – 2 Tim. 2:15.
We frequently mention the importance of study.
iii.
How can you know you are pleasing God? 1 John is
a book that describes how we can KNOW we are pleasing God.
Among the things he mentions are:
1.
1 John 2:3, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.”
No matter how you slice it, you HAVE TO do what God says and
don’t do what He forbids! If
you don’t, you ought not to be comforted.
2.
1 John 2:29, “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices
righteousness is born of Him.”
Who determines what is righteous?
It is HIS standard, not ours!
3.
1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the
brethren.”
4.
1 John 3:18-20, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed
and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall
assure our hearts before Him.”
5.
1 John 4:13, “By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given
us of His Spirit.”
iv.
In considering this we
must not forget Romans 14:22-23 which tells us we cannot act in doubt.
If we are not certain of the soundness of some activity (i.e. we
doubt), we ought to not engage in it!
v.
Realize that the gospel
has not changed and neither has God!
We need to be careful that we do not seek to adapt the gospel to
our lifestyles, but let us adapt our lifestyles to the gospel!
1 Peter 1:25 says, “But the word
of the Lord endures forever.”
d.
Be careful who you
associate with
i.
We need to avoid those
who will drag us away from God.
This is important but something maybe we don’t take as seriously
as we ought to.
Prov. 6:27 says, “Can a man take fire to his bosom and not be burned.”
While the text warns against adultery and the harlot, the
principle clearly applies.
1 Cor. 15:33 tells us, “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Eph. 5:11 tells us to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather expose them.
2 Cor. 6:14, “Don’t be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”
2 John 9-11, when one is teaching or practicing error, DON’T receive him
into your midst or imply approval of his conduct.
ii.
We need to be around
those who will encourage us to do the right thing.
1 Thess. 5:11 tells us to comfort and edify one another.
Heb. 10:24 challenges us to consider one another in order to stir up
love and good works.
Heb. 3:13, exhort one another daily…
WHO you associate with is just as important as who you avoid!
e.
Be faithful –
i.
As we study God’s word
we learn that our race is a marathon rather than a sprint.
We have to endure and keep at it.
Don’t give up and don’t let up.
As long as you live on this earth, you are not done!
Gal. 6:9 says, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due
season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
ii.
Rev. 2:10, “Be faithful
until death…”
Matt. 25:21, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
And thus we conclude our study of comfort doctrines.
May we find comfort in KNOWING that God is pleased with us
because He is the priority He ought to be in our lives.
Having said all these things, one might think there is no hope
and it is impossible to please God.
That is simply not true.
We are not speaking of perfect law keeping!
That is impossible for us.
AS I have stated more than once in this study, I do not believe
that God is in heaven waiting for us to stumble so that He can condemn
us. BUT He does care what we
do! WE must seek to serve
and obey Him to the best of our ability.
That is what God expects and that is what we can do.
Will we?