25-0713a Transcript

Preacher: Mike Mathis

(1:01) Good morning, everyone that’s physically here at the building.

(1:07) Those who are on the phone. (1:11) Once again, it befalls me to give the lesson from God’s Word. (1:18) And the lesson that I’m going to present is from a sermon I viewed on a video.

(1:27) The speaker, his name is John Shannon, and he preaches at the James Road Congregation. (1:38) And he uses sheets to present his lessons. (1:44) Aside from the sheets that he uses, they do have visual aid, just like having two TVs, (1:57) one on this side and one on that side of the auditorium, where he preaches.

(2:04) Well, I don’t have anything like the sheet that he uses. (2:10) But what I will do to start off with is from the end of his lesson. (2:18) And this lesson deals with the same things.

(2:23) You know, sometimes we don’t like different things. (2:28) We don’t like to do things in a different way because we don’t like to change the way we do things. (2:37) There are some people that just don’t like that.

(2:42) On the other hand, there are people that do not like hearing the same things. (2:49) You teach from the book, you’re going to teach just what everyone has already heard. (2:57) If it’s the gospel, if it’s preaching about Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, (3:04) you’re preaching the same things.

(3:07) So they’re telling that they like something different. (3:13) Let’s spice it up. (3:14) Well, let’s look at some same things that everybody has to deal with.

(3:22) Now, from time to time, we have people that get trapped in sin. (3:28) They are dealing with sin. (3:32) We all deal with this, even in our personal lives.

(3:37) Even when we become Christians, we have to repent of those things. (3:46) Romans 3.23 says, (3:49) All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (3:54) Those are the same things that we need.

(3:59) And we’re going to look at this. (4:02) In Romans 6.23, it says, (4:08) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. (4:19) That’s what we need.

(4:22) These are the same things that every one of us needs. (4:27) Now, I’m going to talk about some things, and I hope I’ve got a lot of area to cover in such a short time. (4:40) And I pray that you bear with me if I just go a wee bit over the time that I’m set.

(4:54) But one of the things that all of us needs is the blood of Christ. (5:04) In John 19.34, it says, (5:09) When the soldier pierced the side of Jesus, both blood and water came forth from his side. (5:22) It is that blood that cleanses us from sin.

(5:30) 1 John 5.6, it says that he came with blood and water. (5:41) Not only with blood, but both blood and water. (5:49) And it says in there that these things witness.

(5:56) By witness of this, we also see that when we partake of the Lord’s Supper, (6:06) that we’ve got the fruit of the vine representing his blood. (6:12) We all need the blood of Christ. (6:22) In Ephesians 1 and 7, we have redemption through his blood.

(6:37) In Ephesians 1.7, it says that we are redeemed. (6:47) We have this redemption and we have forgiveness of sins. (6:56) In Ephesians 1.7, in him we have redemption through his blood.

(7:06) The forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. (7:13) And if we are in Christ, then we are worthy that blood can be applied. (7:27) In 1 John 1.7, we have John saying, (7:39) that if we walk into life as he is into life, we have fellowship with one another.

(7:52) And the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin. (8:01) Yes, there are times when a Christian does sin. (8:07) And we know that we need to accept the fact that we do sin.

(8:17) But it is the blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin. (8:22) We need to confess that we sin. (8:27) And we need, or else, if we say that we have no sin, we make God a liar.

(8:39) We don’t want to make God a liar. (8:45) For we are the ones that lie, and that is sin. (8:51) But it is the blood of Christ that cleanses from all sin.

(9:05) And I appreciate what Jim said in his remarks as we were preparing to take the Lord’s Supper. (9:16) About the blood, that it has life in it. (9:24) And therefore, when it cleanses us from all sin, we have life.

(9:34) And we need the book of Christ. (9:42) In Colossians 3.16, it says, let the word of Christ dwell in you. (9:56) And it is the book, it is the word of Christ.

(10:05) Now some believe that, and they will take only what is in red letters. (10:13) The Bible has the quotations of Jesus in the Gospels in red letters. (10:23) But you know, in my copy of the Bible here, Jesus' words I want to give to you is in red.

(10:37) And these are verses that tell what Jesus is about to do. (10:49) He is coming close to the fact of having a trial, and then having himself put to death. (11:01) And this is what he said in John 14 and verse 26.

(11:11) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name. (11:21) It says, the Father will send in my name. (11:25) He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you.

(11:34) Now let’s listen to what he says in chapter 15 and verse 26. (11:46) But when the Helper comes, whom I, that’s Jesus. (11:55) But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify of me.

(12:10) In other words, what we’re having, and sometimes people forget that these scriptures that come after the Gospels from Acts in letters, (12:28) they don’t necessarily have anything printed in red. (12:34) But they are the words of Christ. (12:38) Because the Holy Spirit is delivering what Christ wants him to say.

(12:49) He is telling people what the Father wants him to say. (12:54) What the Father and the Son says, the Holy Spirit is saying. (13:00) So what we get from here is the words of Christ.

(13:06) Now they’re not in red letters, but they are the words of Christ. (13:13) Now in Revelation 1, 11, I’ll start with verse 10. (13:30) I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard beyond me a loud voice as of a trumpet saying, (13:40) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, and what you see, write in a book.

(13:55) Notice that. (13:57) Write it in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. (14:21) Now in chapters 2 and 3, there are letters that are written to these seven churches.

(14:35) But that’s not all that John writes to these seven churches. (14:43) From chapter 4 to chapter 22, the end of the book, John writes, and it’s in the book. (14:58) And this book is the only creed, that which is believed, this is the only creed.

(15:10) We do not need anything else except this, and this is the only creed we have. (15:23) Now in Ephesians 3 and verse 6, we’re going to stay in Ephesians just for a while here, (15:33) and we’re going to see that in Ephesians 3 and verse 6, what Paul is writing to these Ephesians, (15:48) and he’s telling them what he is writing to them in verse 6 of chapter 3, (16:04) that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ through the gospel. (16:21) We do not have these Gentiles being accepted in one body and the Jews in another.

(16:33) They are in the same body. (16:39) And Ephesians 4 and verse 4 says there is one body. (16:51) There is one body.

(16:54) And you know some people want to divide up that body. (16:59) They want to bring it into splinters. (17:05) But let’s look at verse 16.

(17:11) From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, (17:21) according to the effect of working by which every part, as it shall, causes the growth of the body for edifying of itself. (17:36) So we see that as the body is together, it is fit, it is knit together. (17:52) Our bodies, physical bodies, are knit together that every joint fits.

(17:59) Well, that’s the way it should be in the spiritual body of Christ. (18:04) Now, in Ephesians 1, verse 22 and 23 says, (18:18) And he put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, (18:26) which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all and all. (18:37) Now, in chapter 4 and verse 4, there is one body.

(18:46) And if that body is the church, which is said to be the church, is the body, (18:56) and there’s one body, there’s one church, it’s the same. (19:02) But people want to divide it up. (19:08) Then there is belief in Christ.

(19:13) Where are we going to get belief in Christ? (19:18) We’re going to get it from the Word. (19:21) But we need to believe in Christ. (19:25) John 8, 24 says, (19:31) Except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

(19:39) It takes believing in Christ. (19:44) He is the Son of God. (19:47) He is deity.

(19:50) And in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul starts that chapter out by saying, (20:11) Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preach to you, (20:18) which also you receive, in which you stand, (20:24) by which also you are saved, (20:30) if you hold fast that word which I preach to you, (20:38) unless you believe in vain. (20:44) Surely we don’t want our beliefs to be vain. (20:52) We don’t want it to be empty.

(20:55) And void. (21:00) We want it to be sound. (21:05) And it takes conviction to believe in Christ.

(21:15) Hebrews 11 and verse 6 says, (21:27) But without faith it is impossible to please him. (21:34) That’s God. (21:38) For he who comes to God must believe that he is.

(21:45) We must believe that Christ is. (21:49) We must believe who God is. (21:56) Without faith it is impossible to please him.

(22:00) For he who comes to God must believe that he is. (22:04) And that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. (22:12) Therefore, there is conviction.

(22:16) It takes conviction to believe in Christ. (22:21) Galatians 3 verses 26 and 27 says, (22:28) For we are children of God through faith in Jesus. (22:34) For as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

(22:42) So we are baptized into Christ. (22:47) And in Christ is where we ought to be. (22:51) And Colossians 2 verses 11 and 12 says it this way.

(23:04) Colossians 2 verses 11 and 12 (23:12) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, (23:23) Barbarian, Scythian, slave of three. (23:27) But Christ is all in all. (23:31) And we sing a song, you are my all in all.

(23:38) Therefore, (23:42) Wait a minute, that’s not the, I’m not in the same, (23:53) But I had, it should be 11 and 12. (24:01) Chapter 2 verses 11 and 12 (24:05) In him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, (24:14) By putting off the body of sins of the flesh, (24:20) By the circumcision of Christ, (24:23) Made with him in baptism, (24:26) In which you also were raised with him, (24:30) Through faith in the working of God. (24:34) Who raised him from the dead.

(24:39) Then back in Ephesians 1 and 3 (24:47) In Christ it says, (24:53) Blessed be the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, (24:57) Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing (25:02) In the heavenly places in Christ. (25:07) So being in Christ, (25:10) If we are in Christ, (25:13) We have every spiritual blessing. (25:22) And then, (25:24) 1 Timothy, (25:26) 2 Timothy 4 (25:34) Timothy is told to fight the good fight of faith.

(25:39) As Paul has fought the good fight, (25:47) And finished the race and kept the faith. (25:50) He says, Finally there is laid up for me (25:53) The crown of righteousness, (25:57) Which the Lord, the righteous judge, (26:00) Will give to me on that day, (26:03) And not to me only, (26:06) But also to all who have loved his appearance. (26:16) At the end of life, (26:18) If we have labored, (26:21) And we have fought the good fight, (26:24) Kept the faith, (26:25) Finished the course, (26:28) There is the crown of righteousness awaiting us.

(26:33) And finally, (26:35) What is the behavior in Christ? (26:43) Behavior is the way we conduct ourselves. (26:52) In Acts 2, (26:55) It is told that the people who were baptized on the day of Pentecost, (27:03) It is said that they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine. (27:15) Notice doctrine here is singular.

(27:20) For their doctrine is the doctrine of Christ. (27:26) And Christ has only one doctrine. (27:30) They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine.

(27:36) And fellowship. (27:42) Continuing in the apostles' doctrine, (27:45) They could have fellowship in the breaking of bread. (27:50) That would be the Lord’s Supper.

(27:52) And in prayers. (27:55) Now how do I know that that is the Lord’s Supper? (27:58) Because they are worshiping. (28:02) They are continuing in the doctrine.

(28:06) They are having fellowship. (28:10) And as they are having fellowship, (28:12) They are breaking, (28:15) The breaking of bread is worship. (28:18) And then fear came upon every soul, (28:24) And many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

(28:31) Now all who believed were together and had all things common. (28:38) Philippians 3.16 (28:43) Tells us that we ought to walk by the same road. (28:51) Maybe we don’t.

(28:56) Some people don’t like rules. (29:01) Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, (29:08) Let us walk by the same road. (29:13) Let us be of the same mind.

(29:19) Well he said that to the Corinthian brethren, (29:22) That they should be of the same mind and judgment. (29:27) Well if we do that, (29:30) We walk by the same rules, (29:34) We have the same rules to obey. (29:41) We should do it with the same mind.

(29:44) We get it from the word of God. (29:51) Now, I’ve talked about the same things, (29:57) The blood of Christ, (29:59) The book of Christ, (30:01) The body of Christ, (30:03) Belief in Christ, (30:06) Baptized into Christ, (30:08) Blessings in Christ, (30:10) And behavior in Christ. (30:15) All of these are the same for all of us.

(30:23) We do the same things to get out of sin. (30:29) We do the same things to stay in sin. (30:36) Now, I’m going to extend the invitation now.

(30:46) And the invitation is mostly (30:50) To those that are here that have put on Christ. (30:58) Now the sad thing is, (31:00) We can also get caught up in doing things (31:06) That we came out of. (31:11) And if we have, (31:13) Then we need to repent, (31:19) Turn to Christ, (31:23) And have the church pray for you.

(31:26) Now I know that those who haven’t obeyed (31:30) Those commands need to believe the word, (31:36) Repent of their sins, (31:39) And be baptized for the remission of those sins. (31:45) These things we all need to do. (31:49) But we need the same thing to be rid of, (31:58) And that’s sin.

(32:01) Why not respond to the invitation? (32:05) In whatever way you need to respond to it. (32:08) Why not do so while we stand in sin? (32:12) Tonight I will have part two. (32:16) I wish there would be more that would be here (32:19) But I’ll have part two tonight.