This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on January 21st 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here. For the worship please click here. ( Sorry there is no sermon recording for this message)WHO ARE YOU
LIVING FOR – Part 3
Matt 16:13 - When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. This is the greatest question you can be asked, and your answer will determine your future. This answer can only come by revelation.
1. The Greatest Question and the Greatest Confession
Matt16:17 -
At the end of time ( Rev20:7-10) we see the destiny of Satan and all who follow him.
Rev20:7-10 - 7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
V11. When Jesus came on the Earth there was no
place for Him to be born. But at the end of time, we are told that Earth and
sky will flee from His presence and both the great and small will stand before
Him.
Revelation 20:11 - Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
Today in our courts evil people can get away with murder but NOT on that Day. We are all guilty. Only those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be thrown in the lake of fire. But those who have put their trust in Jesus will have their names written in the Lambs Book of Life! We cannot guarantee the number of days we live therefore today is the day of salvation!
2. The Greatest Example
Jesus was the greatest
example that ever lived! Heaven is an amazing place and that is what He left to
come to Earth to identify with us. He came poor, homeless and then served and
suffered a cruel death. At the CROSS he defeated Satan.
Heb 2:14-15 tells us how
he defeated Satan
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Col2:14 tells us that He
cancelled our debts and our sins were paid for.
14 having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
2 Cor 5:21 His good deeds have been credited to us. His righteousness has been given to us.
God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
3. The Greatest Commitment
Jesus asks each of us to make a choice.
Matt 16:24 -
Luke 14:25-26 -
Jesus is not impressed
with the crowds. He turns to them and challenges them to become His disciples.
This is outworked in practical ways. The following must be worked out in
practical ways.
Deny: refuse to associate
with. Deny is to disassociate with our needs, wants desires and selfishness.
Jim Elliot: He is no
fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
What are we willing to give up for the sake of the gospel? To see the great salvation of many will require a great commitment on our part.
4. The Greatest Community – The church
Jesus came for His church, His bride. He died
for His church.
Matt16:18 -
One day everything will fade but the Church of
Jesus will go on forever. It is a privilege to be a part of the church.
Every community has a code of conduct. Heb
10:25 – Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. We are here to be the
Light of the World.
5. The Greatest Return
Matt 16:27 Jesus will
come back to reward each one according to what they have done. We live with
this hope!
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Matt 24:30-31 He will
come with power and glory to gather His elect.
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[c] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.[d] 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
1Thes 4:16-18 The dead
in Christ will rise first. We will be with the Lord forever.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Rom 8:18 -
Rev 22:12 God is coming
with His reward.
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.
What is my answer to the
greatest question?
What is our response in the face of
suffering? Can we look to Jesus and say His grace is sufficient? Am I putting
Christ first and do I value the church?
