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That the Life of Jesus may be manifested in our body

Text: 2 Corinthians 4
26 April 2009

(I) WONDERFUL WAYS OF DESCRIBING OUR SALVATION IN CHRIST

1. We become God’s children

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God…” John 1:12

2. The Holy Spirit indwells us as our Seal and our Guarantee

“…in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14

(II) A SPECIAL WAY OF DESCRIBING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

“Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:10

1. The dying of the Lord Jesus in our body

a) A reference to the way Jesus faced death

i) He was not afraid to die

ii) He faced death with great calmness and courage

iii) He saw beyond death

b) A challenge to all believers to face death in the same way

i) With faith

ii) Without fear

iii) Walking in the footsteps of Jesus

2. The life of Jesus manifested in our body

a) There is great power in living as Jesus did

b) The way we live manifests the very life of Jesus

c) The power of Jesus is given to us to manifest His Life significantly

(III) A SPECIAL CHALLENGE TO LIVE OUT OUR FAITH IN CHRIST

1. We can make it our life’s goal to preach Christ Jesus

“…we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord…” 2 Corinthians 4:5a

2. We can serve the Lord

“…bondservants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5b

3. We can manifest the life of Christ mightily

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

4. We are unafraid to even die for Jesus

“For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake…” 2 Corinthians 4:11

(IV) THE EXAMPLE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

“For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:11

1. Living for Jesus

2. Delivered to death for Jesus’ sake

3. Manifesting of the life of Jesus in the mortal flesh

EVENING WORSHIP 26 April 2009

Text: Romans 8:18-30

Title: “We were saved in this hope”

THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION INVOLVES “HOPE”

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

1. Justified by faith

Once-for all decree by God!

2. Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Our relationship with God- there is no enmity!

3. Access by faith into this grace in which we stand

Faith enables us to have this access to God as His children

4. Rejoice in hope of the glory of God

We have the glorious hope that one day we will have the glory of seeing God in heaven.

LIVING ON THIS EARTH

1. There is suffering

“The sufferings of this present time” Romans 8:18

2. There is groaning for the after-life

“We know the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs” Romans 8:22

3. We constantly struggle with sin and the flesh

“O wretched man that I am. Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Romans 7:24

THE CONCEPT OF BEING SAVED BY HOPE

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope, for why does one still hope for what he sees?But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance”Romans 8:24-25

1. Establishing that we are saved “in this hope”

a) Faith and hope are “twins”

b) Where there is faith, the element of hope is also present

c) Hope is simply “faith not-yet-realised”

2. By faith we believe

a) In Jesus

b) In His atonement

c) In His promises

d) In heaven

3. The place of Hope

a) Hope enables us to exercise faith in what we cannot see

b) Hope is an essential aspect of faith

c) Hope expresses itself well in “perseverance”

CONFIDENCE IN OUR HOPE

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5

1. Hope will not let us down

2. God pours out His love into us to strengthen our faith-hope

3. The Spirit of God will strengthen our Hope further