The Comfort Of Certainties

Bible Book: 2 Timothy 3 : 10-15

Subject: Peace; Comfort

Introduction

It almost goes without saying that we live in a world that is unstable and uncertain. Almost everything is in a constant state of turmoil and change. I guess uncertainty is just simply a part of life, and always will be, as long as sin reigns in our world.

However, in spite of all the uncertainty in the world around us, there are some things of which I am absolutely confident. I may not be able to count on world peace, the economy, or even whether I will live to draw my next breath; but I can be positively certain of my relationship with Christ, and all that surrounds that relationship. I want to share some aspects of one’s relationship with Christ, which are biblical certainties.

I. Salvation Is Ours By Faith

Romans 3:20-22, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.”

The NLT is helpful in clarifying the full meaning of these verses, as follows (Romans 3:20), “For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.”1

I want to be crystal clear on this idea of trusting Christ by faith. Saving faith is not merely giving mental assent to the fact that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, or even acknowledging that He arose from the tomb. Even Satan reluctantly believes those truths; but he’s certainly not saved. “The word ‘believe’ in our language comes from the Old English ‘by live.’ What we believe, we live by. The rest is just religious talk.” 2 We might say that what we truly believe, we act upon, by committing ourselves to it, and applying it directly to our life.

[3] True biblical faith, or belief, rest upon God’s Word, for, “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom.10: 17). Listen to the Amplified Bible’s definition of belief in Christ:

John 3:16, “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only- begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish—come to destruction, be lost—but have eternal (everlasting) life.” 3

Speaking of the word translated “believe” in Acts 16: 31, the publisher of the Amplified Bible explains that:

Actually, the Greek word used here for believe is “pisteuo.” It means “to adhere to, cleave to; to trust, to have faith in; to rely on.” Consequently, the words, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…” really mean to have an absolute personal reliance upon the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. 4

A. Salvation Is Accepting God’s Will For The Sinner

Timothy 2:3-4, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Man was created to have fellowship with God (Gen.3: 8-9). But sin brought a separation between God and man that only the death of Christ on Calvary could remedy (Col.1: 21-22). It has always been the will of God that the lost sinner be brought back into fellowship with his Creator.

Some years ago, a couple decided they could not live together anymore. They separated and started divorce proceedings. Through their lawyers, they agreed to meet at the home and divide the property. As they went through the home and sought to divide up the property, they came across the shoes of their little boy. The child had died in a traffic accident and left them both broken hearted. As they stared at his little shoes, they began to sob. The husband reached over and put his arm around his wife; she returned the embrace to him. They stood together in that house holding on to each other, as tears streamed down their faces. They each held in their hand a little shoe.

The couple changed their mind about divorce and stayed together. The love of the son had broken down the wall between them.

The human family is separated from the Creator because of sin. Jesus, the Son of God, came to die in our place [on] Calvary. If we will come with humble heart and repentant attitude to the Cross, the Son of God will break down the wall and place you in a right relationship with God, the Father. The love of the Son can and will break down the wall of separation! 5

B. Salvation Is Accepting God’s Word To The Sinner

1. What God Says About the Spiritual Status Of The Lost

The lost sinner must accept what God says about their spiritual status.

Isaiah 64:6a. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…”

Romans 3:10, 23, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

2. What God Says About the Sentence Of The Lost

The lost sinner must accept what God says about the sinner’s sentence. Ezekiel 18:4b, “…the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

Romans 6:23a, “For the wages of sin is death…”

3. What God Says About the Inability of Lost to Earn Salvation

The lost sinner must accept what God says about his inability to earn his salvation.

Romans 3:20, 28, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Titus 3:4-5, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost:”

No amount of moral goodness on the part of the sinner can earn their salvation. Salvation comes on the basis of what Christ has done for the sinner, not what the sinner can do for Christ.

A preacher was called to the bedside of a man who was seriously ill. After a few words of greeting, the minister asked, “My friend, are you prepared to meet God if you don’t recover from this sickness?”

“I think so,” was the reply. “I’ve always given generously to worthy causes, and I’ve been a good father and a faithful husband.”

“But my dear friend that will never get you to Heaven!”

“Oh, but I have many other good works to my credit,” protested the man.

The preacher realized he needed to puncture the balloon of this sinner’s self-righteousness, so he changed his line of questioning. “Tell me,” he said. “What do you think people do there?” “Well, they’re occupied with the things of God, and I guess they sing a lot!”

“Ah,” said the preacher, “I’m glad you mentioned that.” Opening his Bible to Revelation 5, he pointed out that the song of the redeemed was all about Jesus and His wondrous atonement. “Notice, there’s not one word about the saint’s accomplishments,” explained the minister. “Nothing you’ve told me fits into this picture. You’ve talked about what you have done, but the inhabitants of Glory speak only of what Christ has done!”

Suddenly the man saw the folly of trusting in his own goodness. Looking to the Lord for salvation, he found peace in believing. When he died, his greatest comfort was found in these words: “…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Rev. 1:5b). 6

4. What God Says About His Son To The Lost

The lost sinner must accept what God says about His Son.

John 6:35, 37b, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 37b “…him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

C. Salvation Is Accepting God’s Work For The Sinner

Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”

1 Peter 3:18a, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God…”

II. Through Christ, We Are Forgiven

A. Forgiveness Is Possible Because Christ Has Paid Our Penalty

Colossians 1:13-14, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

Colossians 2:14, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”

Folks, Jesus bore the judgment of God for our sins, so that we wouldn’t have to.

A man named Goho rose to be chief of the tribe. He was a good man, and far wiser and advanced in understanding than his fellow tribesmen. The year he became chief, the tribe brought in 40 heads. He judiciously suggested that the tribe use one head each year as a gift to the gods, and not hunt heads for the next forty years. He believed that a 40-year reprieve in headhunting would stop the practice.

The tribe agreed with the new chief, and followed the suggestion for a number of years. But their

thirst for blood, and the habits of their pagan religion finally won out, and they decided to hunt for the heads of men again. The chief agreed, but under one condition; the tribe was to take only one head, and it had to be the one he proposed. They agreed. He told them to wait in the jungle by a path, at the evening hour, and a man would pass in a red cape.

The tribesmen waited with their bows and arrows in hand. Then he approached, the man in red, and twelve arrows quickly brought him down and killed him. They decapitated him. Alas, when they held up his head, it was the head of their chief.

The tribesmen fell on their faces, weeping. They vowed never to kill another person as headhunters. In a much larger way, Jesus took our place at Calvary. He took the arrows of judgment aimed at us. 7

B. Forgiveness Is Possible Because God Has Given Us A Righteous Position

Romans 3:24, 28, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 5:1, 9, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

What does it mean to be justified in Christ?

What is justification? It is the declared purpose of God to regard and treat those sinners who believe in Jesus Christ as if they had not sinned, on the ground of the merits of the Savior. It is not mere pardon. Pardon is a free forgiveness of past offenses. It has reference to those sins as forgiven and blotted out. Justification has respect to the law, and to God’s future dealings with the sinner. It is an act by which God determines to treat him hereafter as righteous—as if he had not sinned. The basis for this is the merit of the Lord Jesus Christ, merit that we can plead as if it were our own. He has taken our place and died in our stead; He has met the descending stroke of justice, which would have fallen on our own heads if He had not interposed. 8

C. Forgiveness Means We Need Never Fear Eternal Punishment

John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Rom.8:1a, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”

III. Christ's Presence Is Ours Forever

A. His Presence Is Personal

John 14:23, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

Colossians 1:27b, “…Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

B. His Presence Is Permanent

John 10:28-29, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

C. His Presence Will Be Enjoyed In A Spectacular Place

John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

1 .It Will Be A Place Of Unusual Light And Security

Revelation 21:11, 23, 25, “Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.”

2. It Will Be A Place Of Unfathomable Holiness

Revelation 21:27, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abominations, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

3. It Will Be A Place Of Unimaginable Beauty

Revelation 21:18-21, “And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”

4. It Will Be A Place Of Unending Joy

Revelation 21:3-4, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

I am comforted by the certainty of Heaven. Are you certain that you’re going to Heaven?

A weak-minded boy was working in a pet shop making deliveries. He was called upon to deliver a rabbit to a home. The owner of the store wrote the address of the person who had purchased the rabbit, and put it in the pocket of the box.

The boy got on his bike and rode forth to make the delivery. [When] he hit a bump, the box fell off, and the rabbit ran away.

The little boy just laughed hilariously.

A man who saw the incident asked, “The rabbit is running away, why are you laughing about it?”

The boy said, “Look at the crazy rabbit. Where does he think [he’s] going? He doesn’t know where [he’s] going; I have the address in my pocket.”

Sadly, many people in life are running off in every direction and have no idea where they are going. God has the right address. He is the only answer to finding the way to Heaven. Jesus Christ is the door! 9

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4 Ibid, Publisher’s Foreword, pg. 2.

5 Dr. J. Mike Minnix, Editor, PastorLife.

6 Source unknown. Acquired from pastorlife.com.

7 Author unknown. Acquired from pastorlife.com.

8 Albert Barnes.

9 Dr. J. Mike Minnix, Editor, PastorLife.