CHRISTIAN CERTAINTIES
Various Texts
CERTAINTY
A newspaper publisher sent a telegram to a noted astronomer: WIRE COLLECT IMMEDIATELY FIVE HUNDRED WORDS ON WHETHER THERE IS LIFE ON MARS.
The astronomer dutifully replied: NOBODY KNOWS—250 times. Carl Sagan, Cosmos, http://www.bible.org/illus/u-v/u-v-08.htm#TopOfPage
Money magazine reported in its January 1997 issue that a group of people were asked which is longer, the Panama Canal or the Suez Canal, and then asked how certain they were that their answer was correct. Among those who were 60% certain, 50% of them got the answer right—meaning that this group was 10% too sure. But among those who were 90% certain, only 65% got the answer right, meaning that this group was 25% too sure. Apparently, according to this reported study, the more convinced we are of our knowledge, the bigger the gap between what we actually know and what we think we know. The McIntosh Church Growth Network, Vol. 9, Issue 6, June 1997 http://www.bible.org/illus/c/c-17.htm#TopOfPage
A man with one watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure. Source unknown http://www.bible.org/illus/c/c-17.htm#TopOfPage
Little Johnny’s grandfather was something of a philosopher and never missed an opportunity to give out bits of sage advice to his grandson.
“Yessirree, Johnny,” he said one day, “remember, fools are certain, but wise men hesitate.”
“Are you sure, Grandpa?” asked Johnny.
“Yes, my boy,” said the old man, laying his gnarled hand on the youth’s head, “I’m absolutely certain.” Bits and Pieces, January, 1990, p. 9
These somewhat humorous illustrations help to remind us that there is so much we are uncertain about.
· We are uncertain how long we will have our job.
· We are uncertain how long we will have good health.
· We are uncertain how long we will live.
· We are uncertain about the economy.
· We are uncertain how long the U.S.A. will remain a world power.
· We are uncertain how long friendships will last.
· We can not even be certain that our marriages will last a lifetime.
With so much uncertainty around there is a people that have some things which they can be certain about. The group of people I refer to is born-again Christians.
A true Christian faces much uncertainty in this world, but also has certain things of which he can be sure. He has:
A CERTAIN FORGIVENESS
A CERTAIN FUTURE
A CERTAIN FRIEND
A CERTAIN FELLOWSHIP
A CERTAIN FAMILY
Not everyone can have these certainties. That's because there is something that exists in this world and in our lives which causes us to be uncertain. That's sin.
Sin is simply doing anything that displeases god.
Sin is like aiming for a target and missing it badly.
Sin is like walking down a clearly marked path, and wandering off of it,
Sin is not necessarily big things. Although the big things like robbing a bank, committing adultery, and committing murder are certainly sins. Sin can be as small as a bad attitude, a bad word, a lost temper, an impure thought, or a slip of the tongue. Sin can be as simple as not seeking after God.
Psalm 10:4 - The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Sin is a universal problem. Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
How does sin make us uncertain? When we sin, but have not found the way of forgiveness, we will find that:
· Sin will make us uncertain about our standing with God. And it should. Ezekiel 18:4 says in part, the soul that sinneth it shall die.
· Sin will make us uncertain how to please God, so we'll try to compensate for sin by trying to do good works, keep the ten commandments, love our neighbors or do penance in some way.
· Sin will make us uncertain about the number of good things we must do to obtain forgiveness.
How do we truly "fix" the problem caused by sin.
We can't. Sinful people have no ability to fix things in the eyes of a righteous God. God requires punishment for our sin.
All of this would be pretty hopeless, if God in his love had not intervened to deal with our sin problem. He intervened on the cross where Christ died for our sins.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
My friend the price has been paid for your sin.
All you must do is accept God's free gift.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
When you become a true Christian, one that's born again, there are many things that become certain. Here are some of them:
A CERTAIN FORGIVENESS
We said a few moments ago that sin made us feel uncertain in our relationship with God. But, when I trust Christ for salvation, I can be certain that my sins are forgiven.
Please turn to Psalm 103:10-14
Vs. 10 - What a great assurance this is for us Christians.
If we think about the sins of the past we can sometimes get depressed.
After becoming Christians, we are more sensitive to sin, and our failures against God can get us down.
Please note that God has not dealt with us after our sins. If God dealt with us after our sins, we would all be in hell.
Also note that God has not rewarded us according to our iniquities. Oh, God will judge us, but if God gave back to us in the same magnitude that we have sinned against him, we'd all be hurting.
Vs. 11 - If you're truly a Christian, you have feared God enough to trust his Son for salvation.
Here we are told that God's mercy is upon those who fear Him is like the distance of Heaven from earth. The heavens filled with galaxies and solar systems stretches for endless miles above earth. That's how great God's mercy is towards you!
And 41 times it says in the Bible, his mercy endureth forever.
Vs. 12 - How far is east from west?
If a person heads east, he will never start heading west. They never come together.
By contrast, if a man heads north, he will eventually start heading south. North and south meet twice at the North and South Poles.
Your sins are separated from you as east is from west. Your transgressions, your failures, were removed from you when you came to Christ. Relax! The past is forgiven.
Vs. 13 - The word "pitieth" means compassion.
God has compassion on his children in the same way we parents of compassion on our children.
When our children hurt, we hurt with them.
When we hurt, God hurts with us.
When our children succeed, we rejoice with them.
When we succeed, God rejoices with us.
When our children fail, we feel the hurt deeply.
When we fail, God feels the hurt deeply.
God has compassion. He cares.
He loves us in a greater way than we love and care for our children.
Vs. 14 - God knows our frames. He knows that we are only dust. God does not put more on us than we can possibly bear. He knows the limit of our endurance, and never overtaxes us.
God's forgiveness is a wonderful thing!
The moment I die I will be with Him in Heaven. I am forgiven!
You might say, but does that mean that I can do as I wish because I am forgiven? Absolutely not!
Romans 6:1-2 - What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
The trouble is, as Christians, we do sin, in spite of our intentions not to sin! And although these sins are paid for, forgiven, and will not keep us out of heaven, they must still be dealt with by us.
Psalm 66:18 - If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
When I sin my standing before God is not affected. I am still his child.
When I sin, my fellowship with God is affected. We can not have sweet fellowship, because I have hurt Him.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
A CERTAIN FORGIVENESS
A CERTAIN FUTURE
I have done many funerals. The funerals that I like best are ones at which I am sure that a person knew Jesus Christ as their Savior.
If you know Christ as your Savior, your future is certain.
Hebrews 13:14 - For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
John 14:2 - 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.
Philippians 1:21 - For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Psalm 17:15 - As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Your time on earth is so short compared to the years you will spend in eternity.
In a little time, that hurt, that offense, that trial, that failure, will mean nothing to us.
Romans 8:18 - For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
A CERTAIN FUTURE
A CERTAIN FORGIVENESS
A CERTAIN FRIEND
Has a friend ever hurt you?
Has a friend ever been inconsiderate"
Has a friend ever failed you?
Being human beings, try as we might, we fail each other.
But we have a better friend.
John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Your friend, the lord Jesus gave his very life for you.
He took your place when He went to Calvary.
He bore all the punishment that should have been yours, upon His divine shoulders.
Proverbs 18:24 - A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
My brother Art and I are very close. We help each other, encourage each other, and love each other. We will tell each other things we would not tell others.
The Lord Jesus is the ultimate friend that sticks closer than a brother.
There is no comparison of my Brother's closeness to me with the Lord Jesus' closeness to me.
He is more faithful than any brother.
He is more loving than any brother.
He is more consistent than any brother.
He is more helpful than any brother.
Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Earthly friends may prove untrue, doubts and fears assail;
One still loves and cares for you: One who will not fail.
Tho' the sky be dark and drear, Fierce and strong the gale,
Just remember He is near, And He will not fail.
In life's dark and bitter hour Love will still prevail;
Trust his everlasting power, Jesus will not fail
Jesus never fails. Jesus never fails.
Heaven and earth may pass away, but Jesus never fails.
Jesus Never Fails by Arthur A. Luther, ©1927, Renewal 1955 by Arthur A. Luther
1 John 2:1-2 - My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
The advocate is the lawyer, the one "called along side to help."
When Satan would accuse us because of sin, Jesus is there to say, "Father I died for that."
WHAT A FRIEND!
A CERTAIN FRIEND
A CERTAIN FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship is a sharing, a having in common.
We certainly have that with other Christians.
But right now, I'm thinking of the fellowship that I can have with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
It is a fellowship that allows me to talk with God, and for God to talk with me.
Turn please to Hebrews 4:15-16.
When we get to the tight spots in life
When we get to the frustrating parts of life
When we get to the places where we could sin very easily
We are encouraged to come to our friend who is also our "Great High Priest", the one who talks to God for us when we have needs.
He is a priest who knows how we feel, having faced the same difficulties which we face. He however did not sin.
When we hurt we have a certain fellowship with God. As we follow the rules of prayer, he is there to provide mercy and grace to help.
A CERTAIN FELLOWSHIP
A CERTAIN FAMILY
Each person who has trusted Jesus Christ as his or her Savior has been born into the family of God and is my brother or sister.
That means I have a whole family with which to interact.
The key word in this family is love.
John 15:12 - This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
We are family.
Let us be open to share to share our needs.
To share our burdens
To share our hurts
Let's be transparent enough to let other help bear our burdens.
We are family.
Let us rejoice with them that rejoice and weep with them that weep.
Let us help where we can and when we can.
Our family should be a body of believers who accept help and give help. Sometimes we accept it, sometimes we give it.
If you know Christ as Savior, you will still face many uncertainties. However there are things you can be certain about.
WE HAVE A CERTAIN FORGIVENESS
WE HAVE A CERTAIN FUTURE
WE HAVE A CERTAIN FRIEND
WE HAVE A CERTAIN FELLOWSHIP
WE HAVE A CERTAIN FAMILY