HOMECOMING 2023
(Stick with the Stuff - March 26, 2023)
Series Big Idea: "Homecoming 2023"
Sermon Big Idea: “Faithfulness to the Gospel is key to remaining in Christ"
Key Scripture (1 John 2:24-25)
The late professor of Old Testament Dr. John Rymer at Fruitland Baptist Bible College lived by a slogan that he taught to my brother Dean and I. Stick with the Stuff! The Stuff, meaning the Bible. Holy Scripture. As we are celebrating the milestone of 30 years in the ministry here at MSBC, I want to encourage you church, with these same words. Stick with the Stuff! I could have chosen any number of topics and passages of Scripture for this day. I chose that topic and the passage from 1 John 2:24-25. If we are going to give some context to this passage, then it is this; John is discussing remaining faithful to the truth of the Gospel. But what stands out in this passage also is his focus on personal holiness. He repeats the phrase "remain in you" in these verses.
(1 John 2:24-25)
What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.
False and contradicting beliefs about the Gospel of Christ had found their way into the church. It was causing a breach in the fellowship or "joy" they had with God. John encourages them here to remain in what they had been taught by the apostles. Hold on to the Christian truth that had changed their lives. If they would let the truth they had heard "be at home" in them, then they could "abide" in the fellowship of God the Father and God the Son.
What is that truth? I believe the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul can say it better than I can.
(1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
Now brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it. 2 You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you—unless you believed for no purpose. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He also appeared to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God’s grace that was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.
Our focal verses of 1 John are a call for all believers to stay in the truth of God's Word. This is the only way to remain in God. It's not enough to believe the gospel at one point in life and then develop your own theology beyond Scripture. Only people who stay in the teaching of the apostles about Christ will have assurance of eternal life because these people continue to embrace the message of Christ and remain in the Son and in the Father. The truth of the Gospel is based on God's Word from the beginning and it will reassure us of our salvation.
Conclusion:
Our responsibility as the Church is to study the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15). It is to preach the Word of God (2 Timothy 4:2). And to keep standing faithful to His Word. If we will stay faithful to His Word we will experience fellowship with the Lord through His Holy Spirit and remain in Him.
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Print.
Yarbrough, Robert W. “1 John.” CSB Study Bible: Notes. Ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017. 1995. Print.
Barton, Bruce et al. Life Application New Testament Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001. Print.
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. Print.
Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992. Print.
Jobes, Karen H. 1, 2, & 3 John. Ed. Clinton E. Arnold. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014. Print. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament.
Walls, David, and Max Anders. I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude. Vol. 11. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.
Kruse, Colin G. The Letters of John. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos, 2000. Print. The Pillar New Testament Commentary.
Manser, Martin H. Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser, 2009. Print.
Burge, Gary M. Letters of John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. Practical Illustrations: 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2003. Print.
Osborne, Grant, Philip W. Comfort. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 13: John and 1, 2, and 3 John. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2007. Print.
Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.
Akin, Daniel L. 1, 2, 3 John. Vol. 38. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001. Print. The New American Commentary.
Vaughan, Curtis. 1, 2, 3 John. Cape Coral, FL: Founders Press, 2011. Print. Founders Study Guide Commentary.
Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.
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