"Professors or Possessors of Eternal
Life?"
May 15, 2011
Senior Pastor Dr.
David Craig
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Date: May 15, 2011 - WEFC
Sermon Title: "Professors or Possessors of Eternal Life?" - Sermon 20 of Colossians Series
Text: Colossians 1 : 23
Sermon Notes for
"Professors or Possessors of Eternal Life?"
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
Professors or Possessors of Spiritual Life
Professors or Possessors of Eternal Life?
Colossians 1:23 – May 15, 2011 – Dr. David P. Craig
Colossians 1:23, “If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not
shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which in all creation
under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
Are You A Professor or a Possessor of Eternal Life?
1) Possesors persevere in
the faith.
(Colossians 1:21-23; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; Mark 13:13; Hebrews 7:23-25; John 17:12; Luke 22:31-32)
Colossians 1:21-23, And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil
deeds, He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh by His death, in order to
present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of
the gospel that you heard, which in all creation under heaven, and of which I,
Paul, became a minister.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you,
which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if
you hold fast the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.”
2 Timothy 2:11-13, “The saying is trustworthy, for if we died with Him, we will also
live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He
also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny
Himself.”
Mark 13:13, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But the
one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Hebrews 7:23-25, The former priests were many in number, because they
were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He holds his priesthood
permanently, because He continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to
the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to
make intercession for them.
John
17:12, “While I was with them, I kept
them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of
them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be
fulfilled.”
Luke
22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have
prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have
turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
2) Possessors have a faith
that results in holiness and obedience
(Hebrews 12:14; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians
5:3-5; 1 John 2:3-6; 3:6-10, 14; 4:20; John 8:31)
Hebrews 12:14,
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will
see the Lord.
Romans 8:13,
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you
put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity,
sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger,
rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like
these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will
not inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom
of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor
adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Ephesians 5:3-5,
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named
among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness and foolish
talk, nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be
thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually
immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is an idolater), has no inheritance
in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
1 John 2:3-6,
“And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His
commandments. Whoever says, “I have come to know Him,” but does not keep His
commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His
word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we
are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”
1 John 3:6-10,
“No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has
either seen Him or knows Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever
practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous; the one who makes a
practice of sinning is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the
beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the
devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in
him; and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it
is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil:
whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does
not love his brother.”
1 John 3:14,
“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.
He who does not love abides in death.”
1 John 4:20,
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who
does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not
seen.
John 8:31,
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My
word, you are truly my disciples.”
3) Possessors have been justified
and will be kept by God for eternity.
(Romans 8:28-32; John 10:26-30; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 5:8-10; Jude 1:24-25; 1
Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:8-9; Ephesians 1:13-14; Jeremiah 32:40;
Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:20-21; 2 Timothy 4:18)
Romans 8:28-32,
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for
those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He
also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He
might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined, He
also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He
justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is
for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him
over for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?
John 10:26-30,
But you do not believe because you are not part of My flock. My sheep hear My
voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they
will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who
has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them
out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.
1 Peter 1:3-5,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great
mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is
imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s
power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in
the last time.”
1 Peter 5:8-10,
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith,
knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood
throughout the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God
of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself
restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
Jude 1:24-25,
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless
before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority,
before all time and now and forever. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you
completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He also will
surely do it.”
1 Corinthians 1:8-9, [Our Lord Jesus Christ] will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the
day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the
fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 1:13-14, In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who
is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the
praise of His glory.
Jeremiah 32:40,
I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from
doing good to them. And I will put the fear of Me in their hearts, that they
may not turn from Me.
Philippians 1:6,
And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to
completion at the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:12-13, Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as
in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work
for His good pleasure.
Hebrews 13:20-21, Now may the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip
you with every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing
in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.
Amen.
2 Timothy 4:18,
The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into to His
heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
4) Possessors fight to make
their calling and election certain
(2 Peter 1:10; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7-8)
2 Peter 1:10-11,
“Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and
election sure; for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in
this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
1 Timothy 6:12,
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you
were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of
many witnesses.
2 Timothy 4:7-8,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also
to all who have loved His appearing.”
5) Professors falling away
from the faith show that they never belonged to Christ
(1 John 2:19; 3:6; Hebrews 3:13; Luke 8:5-8)
1 John 2:19,
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us,
they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become
plain that they all are not of us.”
1 John 3:6,
“No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has
either seen Him or knows Him.”
Hebrews 3:13-14,
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of
you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in
Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
Luke
8:5-8, “A sower went out to sow his
seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and
the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up,
it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and
the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and
grew and yielded a hundredfold. As he said these things, he called out, ‘He
who has ears to hear, let him hear.’”
In Summary:
1) Many people make a profession of
faith in Christ and later repudiate Him.
2) Perseverance of the saints rests
on the promises of God to preserve the saints.
3) God will bring to completion the
salvation of the elect.
4) Those who depart from the faith
were never really believers.
5) We can have confidence in our
salvation because we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. He is God’s pledge
to bring our salvation to completion.
6) The intercession of Christ is for
our preservation.
Guide For Discussion: Professors
or Possessors of Eternal Life?
Colossians 1:23 – May 15, 2011 – Dr. David P. Craig
1)
In the passages covered in the
sermon what are some of the distinct characteristics of possessors in contrast
to professors of eternal life?
2)
We didn’t really examine some of
the passages in the Bible that seem to suggest that we can “lose” our
salvation. Are there any particular passages that trouble you with regard to
this possibility? Why or why not?
3)
There are a lot of “warning”
passages in the Scriptures in both OT and NT – why do you suppose God gives so
many “warnings” to us? What does this tell you about God? What does this tell
you about humanity?
4)
It seems that the Scriptures
overwhelmingly teach the eternal security of believers. Which Scriptures
covered (or maybe not covered) bring you the greatest comfort with respect to
your security in Christ?
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
Professors or Possessors of Eternal Life?
Colossians 1:23 – May 15, 2011 – Dr. David P. Craig
Colossians 1:23, “If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
Are You A Professor or a Possessor of Eternal Life?
1) Possesors persevere in
the faith.
(Colossians 1:21-23; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; Mark 13:13; Hebrews 7:23-25; John 17:12; Luke 22:31-32)
Colossians 1:21-23, And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.”
2 Timothy 2:11-13, “The saying is trustworthy, for if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
Mark 13:13, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But the
one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Hebrews 7:23-25, The former priests were many in number, because they
were prevented by death from continuing in office, but He holds his priesthood
permanently, because He continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to
the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to
make intercession for them.
John 17:12, “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”
Luke 22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
2) Possessors have a faith
that results in holiness and obedience
(Hebrews 12:14; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians
5:3-5; 1 John 2:3-6; 3:6-10, 14; 4:20; John 8:31)
Hebrews 12:14, Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Ephesians 5:3-5, “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness and foolish talk, nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
1 John 2:3-6, “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says, “I have come to know Him,” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”
1 John 3:6-10, “No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or knows Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous; the one who makes a practice of sinning is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”
1 John 3:14, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who does not love abides in death.”
1 John 4:20, If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
John 8:31, So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly my disciples.”
3) Possessors have been justified
and will be kept by God for eternity.
(Romans 8:28-32; John 10:26-30; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 5:8-10; Jude 1:24-25; 1
Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:8-9; Ephesians 1:13-14; Jeremiah 32:40;
Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:20-21; 2 Timothy 4:18)
Romans 8:28-32, And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?
John 10:26-30, But you do not believe because you are not part of My flock. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.
1 Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 Peter 5:8-10, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
Jude 1:24-25, Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He also will surely do it.”
1 Corinthians 1:8-9, [Our Lord Jesus Christ] will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 1:13-14, In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.
Jeremiah 32:40, I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of Me in their hearts, that they may not turn from Me.
Philippians 1:6, And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:12-13, Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Hebrews 13:20-21, Now may the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:18, The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
4) Possessors fight to make
their calling and election certain
(2 Peter 1:10; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7-8)
2 Peter 1:10-11, “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure; for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
1 Timothy 6:12, Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
5) Professors falling away
from the faith show that they never belonged to Christ
(1 John 2:19; 3:6; Hebrews 3:13; Luke 8:5-8)
1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”
1 John 3:6, “No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or knows Him.”
Hebrews 3:13-14, But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.
Luke 8:5-8, “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold. As he said these things, he called out, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’”
In Summary:
1) Many people make a profession of faith in Christ and later repudiate Him.
2) Perseverance of the saints rests on the promises of God to preserve the saints.
3) God will bring to completion the salvation of the elect.
4) Those who depart from the faith were never really believers.
5) We can have confidence in our salvation because we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. He is God’s pledge to bring our salvation to completion.
6) The intercession of Christ is for our preservation.
Guide For Discussion: Professors or Possessors of Eternal Life?
Colossians 1:23 – May 15, 2011 – Dr. David P. Craig
1) In the passages covered in the sermon what are some of the distinct characteristics of possessors in contrast to professors of eternal life?
2) We didn’t really examine some of the passages in the Bible that seem to suggest that we can “lose” our salvation. Are there any particular passages that trouble you with regard to this possibility? Why or why not?
3) There are a lot of “warning” passages in the Scriptures in both OT and NT – why do you suppose God gives so many “warnings” to us? What does this tell you about God? What does this tell you about humanity?
4) It seems that the Scriptures overwhelmingly teach the eternal security of believers. Which Scriptures covered (or maybe not covered) bring you the greatest comfort with respect to your security in Christ?
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