Sermons on Luke's Gospel - Luke 9:18-27

Luke 9:18-27
"Who is Jesus?" "What does Jesus do for us? To these question, we must make our response.
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(1) Who is Jesus?
Peter confesses his faith in Jesus - "the Christ of God" (Luke 9:20), "the Christ" (Mark 8:29), "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16), "the Holy One of God" (John 6:68-69). Where does this faith come from? - "This was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven" (Matthew 16:17). This is not the faith of a single moment or a single individual. It' s the clear teaching of the Gospels from their very first chapters - Luke 2:10-11, Matthew 1:21-23, Mark 1:1, John 1:1-2, 14. The words of John 20:31 describe the purpose of each of the four Gospels - "these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name."
"Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God" - This answer to the question, "Who is Jesus?", leads us on to the second question and its answer, "What does Jesus do for us?" - He gives us eternal life. How does He bring eternal life to us? We answer this question by looking at the events which lie at the heart of the Gospel.
(2) What does Jesus do for us?
To answer this question, we must look back to Christ's death and resurrection. We must also look forward to Christ's Second Coming. Jesus speaks to us of these three events - His death and resurrection (Luke 9:22), His return in power and glory (Luke 9:26). The importance of these events is underlined by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 - His death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), His glorious return (1 Corinthians 15:51-58).
(3) Our response
Will we confess Him? Will we be ashamed of Him? In Luke 9:26, Jesus warns us against being ashamed of Him. Jesus calls us to confess Him. Confessing Jesus is not just a matter of saying the right words. In Luke 9:23, Jesus calls us to deny ourselves. he calls to take up the cross. He calls us to follow Him. In Luke 9:24-25, we are asked the question, "Who is most important to you?" Is it Jesus? Is it ourselves? Are we living to please ourselves. Are we living to please Jesus? Let your response be the response of faith. Let it be the response of real, life-changing faith.

Advent: Praise, Prayer, Preaching

Where will God speak to us during this Advent Season? There’s a special blessing promised to those who gather together for worship. Remember Jesus’ precious promise – “where two or three come together in My Name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). In our worship, there is praise, prayer and preaching. May all that we do be “to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves” (Ephesians 1:6). Looking forward to Christ’s Return, “I am coming soon”, let us pray with eager longing and expectant faith – “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). As we serve the Lord, may we always say, “We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Advent: Grow, Glow, Go

God is calling us to grow, glow and go. We are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). We are to glow with the light of the Lord. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). He says to us, “You are the light of the world … let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16). Growing and glowing, let us go out and tell the story of what the Lord has done for us – “Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.”

Advent: Love, Light, Life

In the Advent Season, we think about love. It’s the greatest love of all. It’s everlasting love. It’s the love of God – “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son …” (John 3:16). We think also about light. It’s the greatest light of all. It’s everlasting light. It’s the light of God – “the Lord God will give them light” (Revelation 22:5). Our thoughts are focused on life. It’s the greatest life of all. It’s everlasting life. It’s the life of God – “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11).

Advent: Hope, Happiness, Holiness

What is God saying to us during the Advent Season? He’s speaking to us with His message of hope, His offer of happiness and His call to holiness. In Christ, we have glorious hope – “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). We want to be happy. Christ calls us to be holy. We don’t find happiness by searching for it. We find happiness when we seek holiness. We’re looking for a happy Christmas. Let’s remember “the holy Child of Bethlehem.” In Him, we will find wholeness – when we’re wholly devoted to Him.

Jesus: God with us, God for us, God in us

(1) God with us

In his birth, we see Jesus as God with us.
God has not kept His distance from us. He has come near to us. He has become one of us. He is God with us.
This is how we know that God sympathizes with us in our suffering. He has suffered. He is the suffering God.
We think of the question of suffering. We ask, “Why does God allow it?”. We look at the Cross of Christ and we say, “God didn’t allow it. God did it.” He sent His Son to suffer death that we might receive life.
Seeing our suffering in the light of Christ’s suffering assures us that we are not left to go it alone. Jesus is there beside us. He is God with us.
(2) God for us
In His death, we Jesus as God for us.
Here, we have the reason why “God did it”. Why did God give His only Son? It was for us. For us - these two words can be written over page after page of the New Testament. How can we doubt that God is for us when we know that Jesus died for us?
(3) God in us
In His resurrection, we see Jesus as God in us.
We recall His promise concerning the Holy Spirit: “He will be in you” (John 14:17). Christ comes to us. He gives us strength to love God. He gives us power to do God’s will.
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God with us, God for us, God in us
- The promise has been fulfilled. Christ has come to us as Emmanuel (God with us).
-The pardon has been given. Through Christ, crucified for us, we have received the forgiveness of our sins.
- The power has been given to us. Christ lives in us. He enables us to live for Him.

Advent: The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit

Advent is the time of preparation for Christmas. Make sure that you prepare your heart for a real celebration of our Saviour. Remember that Christmas is not about us. It’s about God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit: “an angel of the Lord” comes with news of something very special – “what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the Name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21). This is what makes Christmas a special time!

We look back from Bethlehem - back to the very beginning.

When we turn our attention to Christ, we do not begin with His birth.

We go back beyond the opening words of Genesis: “In the beginning, God created … ” We go back to the beginning: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
These words speak of Jesus Christ, the living Word. We give thanks to God for His written Word and His preached Word. Above all, our focus of attention is to be on Jesus Christ, the living Word, the Saviour who came to us from God’s eternal love that He might take us to be with Him in God’s eternal glory.
* We go back to the very beginning. Jesus Christ is there. “Before the foundation of the world”, Christ was “destined” to be the Saviour of the world (1 Peter 1:20).
* We go back to the very beginning. Our salvation is grounded in God’s eternal love - His “before the foundation of the world” love (Ephesians 1:4).
“Before the foundation of the world” - This is the eternal dimension of our Saviour and His salvation.
We give thanks to God that He, the eternal God, has shared His love with us through the gift of His Son.
Through Christ our Saviour, we rejoice in the eternal God, the God of our salvation.
* We have been “redeemed with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
* “In Christ, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins” (Ephesians 1:7).

Preparing for Christmas: Learning from John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-17; John 1:19-34)

The birth of John the Baptist was foretold in an angelic message (Luke 1:13-17) which speaks of  prayer  - “your prayer is heard” (v. 13), preparation - looking forward to a time of “joy and gladness”  (v. 14), power  - “filled with the Holy Spirit” ( v. 15) and purpose  - “he will turn many of the people to the Lord their God … to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (vs. 16-17).

John’s ministry is described in John 1:19-34. In his ministry, there is  prayer - pointing to Christ, the One who is worthy to receive our prayers (v. 27),  preparation - preparing people for Christ (v. 23), power - pointing people to the power of Christ which comes to us in the gift of the Holy Spirit, purpose -pointing people to the purpose of Christ’s coming (v. 29).
Prepare for Christmas prayerfully, remembering that the power of the Christian message lies in the purpose of Christ’s coming.

Preparing for Christmas: Learning from Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38, 46-55)

* The initiative lies with God.

* God’s initiative leads to Christian commitment on our part.
* The life of Christian commitment is a life lived in the mercy of God.
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The initiative lies with God.
The message comes from God. It is the message of His great and undeserved love. The purpose of God is announced. God will fulfil His purpose of love. This is the Gospel. It is the Gospel of His love. In love, God speaks to us. He speaks of His purpose. In love, grace and mercy, God is reaching out to us. He wants to work in us and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. This initiative of God calls for our response.
Our response - Christian commitment
At first, Mary was greatly troubled. At first, there was uncertainty. God worked in her. She was changed. There was the deep conviction that the Lord was doing something wonderful. She committed herself to the Lord. From that day on, her life was altogether different. In her life, God’s promise was fulfilled: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him , and He will act” (Psalm 37:5).
Commitment, Trust and God’s Action
Mary’s commitment was decisive. The conception of Jesus in her womb was a once-for-all event. With respect to His conception, her prayer, “Let it be to me according to Your Word” was unrepeatable.
For us, there is a once-for-all beginning - the new birth. We are born of the Spirit of God.
From this commitment, we move on to trust. We trust that there will be no ‘miscarriage’. God will complete His work in us - the work of His love, grace and mercy.
When we trust in the Lord, persuaded that we are now “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6), we begin to experience the power of God at work within us - He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
Praising God for His love, grace and mercy
God has come to us in love, grace and mercy. In love , He has sent His Son to be our Saviour. In mercy, He withholds from us the judgment we deserve. In grace, He pours upon us His salvation which we don’t deserve. Let us respond to Him by giving ourselves fully to Him.
Committed to the Lord, trusting in Him and experiencing His power at work in us, let us join with Mary in praising the God of our salvation, “My heart overflowing with praise of my Lord, my soul is full of joy in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:46).

“Do not be conformed … Be transformed … ” (Romans 12:2).

“However much any theology will bear the imprint of its environment, it must be remembered that, when it is really living and sensitive, Christian theology does not only submit to to the cultural and conceptual framework of its time and place, but also regenerates and reforms it sometimes very drastically.” (E. L. Mascall, Theology and the Gospel of Christ, (SPCK, 1977)).

I found this quotation in Trevor Hart’s book, Faith Thinking: The Dynamics of Christian Theology, (SPCK, 1995). Hart’s book comes out of a venture entitled Gospel and Culture. Hart emphasizes the importance of the quotation. He places it, as a lead quotation, at the beginning of his chapter on “Integration and Reformation” (p. 198), Later in the chapter, he quotes it again, emphasizing, by the use of italics, the final phrase of the sentence (p. 213).

I Am Not Ashamed, by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

This is preaching at its highest level. These sermons speak to the heart. Tremendous passion and persuasion. Excellent! Though a great expositor of the Word of God, Dr Lloyd-Jones was above all a great evangelist.

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Reviewed by "Grajon" at the "Anobii" website

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Letters 1919-1981, by Iain H. Murray

These letters of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones are instructive, informative, and perfectly delightful to read and ponder. Lloyd-Jones was noted for his interest in helping and encouraging others. The letters show that even for those he disagreed with theologically he had some words of encouragement. A real treasure!

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Reviewed by "Grajon" at the "Anobii" website

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones the First Forty Years 1899-1939, by Iain H. Murray

Iain Murray has done a first class job in producing this excellent biography of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. I was amazed at Dr. Lloyd-Jones ministry at Aberavon - I knew so little about it before reading this book - what a blessing the people received under his preaching and teaching.

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Reviewed by "Grajon" at the "Anobii" website

George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the Eighteenth Century - Volume II, by Arnold Dallimore

Dallimore’s life of Whitefield is superb! Such a wonderful analysis of his life and the 18th century, and dealing with so many people influenced by the Revival both in England and America. But what impressed me most about the book, despite the emphasis upon the powerful preaching of Whitefield, was his all controlling desire to love the brethren. He made himself available to preach for all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and went out of his way to heal the split caused by John and Charles Wesley.

A great book, indeed.

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Reviews by "Grajon" at the "Anobii" website

Diary of Kenneth Macrae, by Iain H. Murray

What a wonderful book. What a blessing to my soul. Full of Christ and His wonderful work in the lives of sinners. Macrae regularly confessed weakness in his ministry, yet he regularly had people weeping as he preached. The closing pages deal with his illness and of his wife’s loving care. I say, again, wonderful!

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Reviewed by "Grajon" at the "Anobii" website

Romans: Exposition of Chapter 6 : The New Man, by Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Tremendous preaching! Lloyd-Jones’ preaching satisfies the whole person - it stimulates the mind - stirs the emotions - and challenges the will to obedience to Christ. Exciting and detailed exposition.

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Reviewed by "GraJon" at the "Anobii" website

In Christ Alone – Sinclair B. Ferguson

Endorsements for In Christ Alone by Sinclair B. Ferguson

“The title In Christ Alone is enough to make hearts brave and souls stand at attention. And Sinclair Ferguson, the consummate teacher, takes great pains to explain the supreme sufficiency of Jesus Christ and why He is ‘enough.’” — Joni Eareckson Tada, Founder, Joni and Friends International Disability Center

“In Christ Alone is a basic systematic theology in the form of a very readable book. Whether you are a new Christian looking for basic Christian doctrine or a more mature one wanting a refresher, this book will both instruct you and delight you. I warmly commend it to all Christians who want to grow in their faith.” — Jerry Bridges Bible Teacher and Author of The Pursuit of Holiness and other titles

“Sinclair Ferguson is one of my favorite authors, and he’s done all of us a great favor by pulling together these writings penned over a long, faithful, and fruitful ministry (may it continue for many years!). This book is a feast that will satisfy both mind and heart, sharpening your thinking and deepening your devotion to Christ Alone.” — C. J. Mahaney President, Sovereign Grace Ministries

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This is a book about “Living the Gospel-Centred Life.”

Here’s what Alistair Begg (Parkside Church, Cleveland, Ohio) says about it in his “Foreword.”

“It is hard to conceal the sense of pleasure and privilege that accompanies the opportunity to write this foreword. Along with so many, I have found. Sinclair Ferguson’s writing to be profoundly helpful. It is hard to believe that twenty-seven years have elapsed since I first read The Christian Life. I remember as a young pastor being sorely tempted to preach my way through that introduction to Christian doctrine because not only was it comprehensive, it was so wonderfully clear. As I read this manuscript, I found myself employing Ronald Reagan’s memorable line in debating Jimmy Carter in 1980: “There you go again!” Sinclair has done it again! Here is rich theological content distilled with pastoral care and attention so as to make it accessible to every reader. How else could we explain a chapter on Christian liberty that bears the title “Eating Black Pudding”? As you benefit from each of these fifty short chapters, you may feel as if you have enjoyed the privilege of looking over the professor’s shoulder at a thumbnail sketch of his lecture notes. Or, better still, that you have sat with your pastor as he has encouraged you to see that, in the words quoted from John Calvin, “salvation whole, its every single part is found in Christ” (p. 7). It is this emphasis that makes the book so timely. One of the signs of aging is the temptation to view all our yesterdays as the good old days and to find in the present more causes for alarm and disappointment than are justified. As Christians, we are not exempt, and some might argue that we are more prone than others to this perspective. In light of that, I now proceed with caution. Is it wrong to suggest that earlier generations were more thoroughly grounded in the gospel, better versed in the Scriptures, and more convinced that a new life in Christ is lived on the pathway of joyful obedience? How can we possibly tell? First of all, listen to the present generation talk. I thoroughly enjoy the privilege of addressing students at Christian colleges throughout the country. Their enthusiasm and creativity spur me on, but an accompanying uncertainty and lack of definition in basic Christian doctrine are causes for genuine concern. Some cannot, for example, explain why Mormonism is not Christian because they are unsure of the doctrine of the Trinity. Many appear to be uncertain about the exclusive claims of Jesus, and with the prevailing emphasis on ecology and poverty, many would be hard-pressed to agree with George Smeaton that “to convert one sinner from his way, is an event of greater importance, than the deliverance of a whole kingdom from temporal evil.” Second, consider what is being read by this generation. If the best sellers tell the story, we are preoccupied with imaginative descriptions of end-time phenomena while searching for ways to live up to our human potential. Books on self-improvement and “how-to” texts on all matters earthly sell in abundance. We are reading about our bodies to the neglect of our souls as we measure success by achievement in the “here and now,” having lost sight of the “then and there.” Third, hear our loss of focus on the gospel in our songs. This is no comment on musical styles and tastes, but simply an observation about the lyrical content of much that is being sung in churches today. In many cases, congregations unwittingly have begun to sing about themselves and how they are feeling rather than about God and His glory. What, then, is the antidote to theological vagueness in our students, our books, and our songs? We need to learn to preach the gospel to ourselves because it is the A to Z of Christianity. We need, as chapter 28 makes clear, to be reminded of the three tenses of salvation. All this and more is accomplished by Dr. Ferguson as he consistently turns our gaze to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. We are helped in the process by the work of gospel-saturated hymn writers. Over the centuries, Isaac Watts, John Newton, William Cowper, and many others provided the church with biblical theology in memorable melodic form. Today, men such as Keith Getty and Stuart Townend are doing the same with compositions such as their contemporary hymn that shares its title with this book: “In Christ Alone.” We should be encouraged by the fact that “In Christ Alone” has become something of an anthem for the church in the first decade of this century. As Alex Motyer has rightly observed, “When truth gets into a hymnbook, it becomes the confident possession of the whole church.” Perhaps all that is necessary to expose the shallowness of our songs and to cause us to praise God as we ought is for pastors and poets and musicians to drink from the same fountain. Then biblical exposition will issue in song and our hymns will be full of the gospel. It is a double joy to count the author of this book and the writers of this song as my friends, and I can commend both the book and the hymn with gratitude and enthusiasm.

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Here are the words with which the author concludes the book.

Truly to live in Christ alone is God’s way of life for us. My prayer is that these reflections on that life may be a help and an encouragement to you, too, to live In Christ Alone.