I Corinthians 2:1-5
A THREE DIMENSIONAL CHRISTIAN
In Hermeneutics, the science of interpretation of the Scriptures, there are different principles that one will discover. One of these is the numerical principle. This is the principle by which God places a certain definite meaning on numbers employed by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures and continues that significance with unbroken uniformity throughout the inspired book.
God is a God of numbers. The Bible is perfect in holiness and righteousness, design, , and perfect in number.
In God’s work (creation) and in God’s Word, you will always find the right way, right time, right order, and the right number. As you see a remarkable numerical structure in nature, you will see the same numerical structure in the Bible. This proves that the creator of the universe is ths author of the Bible. God is perfect and therefore His works and His words must be perfect. When we see numbers used, they are used not by chance but by design; not haphazardly but with significance.
One number that I want to look at tonight is the number three. They number three has God stamped all over it. It stands for that which is real, substantial, actuality.
A man years ago wrote a book and in it he insisted that time was the fourth dimension. He didn’t mean that you had to go backward and forward in time to get into another dimension. He simply stated that reality (what you lived in or experienced right now), was a combination of three dimension, making the fourth dimension. He proved that by taking out any one of the other dimension, you would be unconscious and . He proved conclusively that you can’t have a line without three dimensions. What are length and breath without height?
So a thing has to be three to be complete. Man is made of body, soul, and spirit. If you are working on a mathematical problem, social problem, or a family problem and the solution escapes you, look for the third side and you will have it. When you don’t have the solution, it is when you only have one or two sides.
There are three dimensions: height, width, and depth.
There are three tenses: past, present, and future.
There are three parts of the universe: earth, sky, and sea.
Matter exist in three forms: gas, liquid, and solid.
There are three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.
The number three is stamped upon God’s Word and His works. Three times it is recorded that the Lord Jesus answered Satan after he was tempted with the words, "It is written." Three times the Father spoke from heaven giving approval of His Son. Thee are three people whom the Bible records that the Lord Jesus raised from the - showing his completeness to raise anybody from the . - a child, an youth, and an . The Lord Jesus is three: prophet, priest, and king. According to Hebrews 9:28 Jesus has appeared, He now appears, and He shall appear.
In Revelation 4 the four living creatures cry, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come," and they give glory, honor, and thanks to him that sits on the throne.
Three stands for reality and Divine fulness.
SO WHAT?
For a Christian to be real, he must also be three dimensional! If he is missing one he is not complete.
I. DECLARATION dimension (1)
Paul is referring to a personal visit which he made to Corinth. He went there and declared the message of the gospel of Christ to them. Paul came preaching!
A. Commanded to declare
1. Matthew 28:19-20 "GO ye therefore"
a. Duty that is personal -"ye" Next to the Apostle Paul, perhaps the greatest personal worker of all time was a man familiarly known as Uncle John Vassar. In a large railroad one day he saw a lady with a serious look on her face sitting by herself. He went to her and began to talk to her, found she was unsatisfied and urged the claims of Christ upon her. She did not yield although her eyes were filled with tears. Just as he left, her husband came up and, seeing the tears, demanded to know what was going on. She told him that a man had just been telling her of her need to be saved. "Why didn’t you tell him to go about his
business?" said the indignant husband. And she answered, "Husband, if you had only been here you would have seen that he was about his business."
b. Directive that is plain -"all the world"
c. Dynamic that is provided
2. John 17:18 "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world."
a. The PERSON we are sent by
b. The PEOPLE we are sent to
c The PURPOSE we are sent for - DECLARE The task is not for a few, and you don’t have to be eloquent!
Paul did not rely on persuasive arguments - "excellency of speech or of wisdom"
NO MINISTER CAN GIVE AT THE SAME INSTANT THE IMPRESSION THAT HE HIMSELF IS CLEVER AND THAT CHRIST IS MIGHTY TO SAVE!
An English preacher in India preaching though an interpreter once began his sermon on ‘faith’ with the sentence: "Now faith is both abstract and concrete," and he paused for the interpreter. The interpreter translating what had been said replied, "So far the preacher hasn’t said anything, but when he has I will let you know."
Paul did not rely on personal ability - "I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling"
B. Content to declare
"testimony of God"- this is the gospel.
C. H. Spurgeon on one occasion was asked the secret of his success. He “ replied, I have no other secret but this, that I have preached the gospel – not about the gospel – but the gospel: the full, free, glorious gospel of the Living Christ, who is the Incarnation of the Good News. Preach Christ, always and everywhere."
He said on another occasion, "Never lose heart in the power of the gospel. I do not believe that there exist any man, much less any race of men, for whom the gospel is not fitted."
The preaching of the gospel was the secret of Paul’s success.
1. The of Christ was actual - "Christ died"
2. The of Christ was sacrificial - "for our sins"
He suffered as our substitute (Romans 5:8).
3. His was scriptural - "according to the scriptures"
His was a pre-determined and pre-written event. It was not an afterthought but a forethought.
The Mercedes Benz company ranks as one of the top car produces in the world. They are known especially for making durable cars. There was once a TV commercial which shows their car being driven into a concrete wall as a safety test. Because the cars was built with the Mercedes Benz energy absorbing car body, their cars held up to the test better than their competitor’s cars. In fact their car design was so good that other car companies began to follow their lead. When they were asked why they did not patent their design so no one else could use it, they replied, "Some things in life are too important not to share."
Declaration dimension
II. DETERMINATION dimension (2)
There are not many determined Christians these days. To run the race is good, to run will is better, but to finish the race is best. It takes determination to finish the race. Paul at the end of his life said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Paul was faithful to the fight, faithful to the finish, and faithful to the faith.
Many a child of God’s life could be described as having a first-class dedication to secondary things. Wouldn’t it be wonderful is Christians put as much determination into their spiritual life as they do in golfing, fishing, or hunting? The problem in Christian circles is not a lack of enthusiasm but enthusiasm for the wrong things. We are guilty of first-class enthusiasm for secondary things; things that will not last.
Paul was a man that gave first-class dedication and enthusiasm for the main things. Paul was a man with focus and fervor. The concentration of his life was on the supernal, and the dedication of his life was on the eternal. The dread of Paul’s life was that Christ should be dishonored. The great fear of Paul’s life was to do something that would bring dishonor on the name of Christ. The determination of his life was that Christ should be declared. Christ was Paul’s life (Philippians 1:21). Paul was determined to preach Christ everywhere and to present Christ to everyone.
Let me give you three secrets for determined Christian living:
A. Be committed to the plan of God
See I Corinthians 1:17. Paul was determined to preach the message of Jesus Christ as the providence of God would permit.
B. Be confident in the power of God
Romans 1:16
C. Be concerned for the praise of God
I Corinthians 10:31
Our dear Lord deserves the glory, desires the glory, and is due the glory.
DECLARATION dimension
DETERMINATION dimension
III. DEMONSTRATION dimension (4)
Our lives are to be a demonstration of the power of Spirit living in us! See Matthew 5:16.
A mother wanted her son to take tuba lessons, but the father was very much against it. The couple argued, and the husband finally said, "I will agree to him taking tuba lessons, but does he have to practice?"
That reminds me of many professing Christians. They are willing to profess Christianity and but not to practice it.
Does your life give a testimony of what the Holy Sprit can do in a life? Christians are to shine in a depraved world by a distinct walk! Our walk should be different, devout, and distinct. We are to walk in such a way that others are astonished by our actions and attitudes. Is your walk such that it is undeniably Christian?
PEOPLE MAY DOUBT WHAT YOU SAY, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS BELIEVE WHAT THEY SEE.
The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example is always clear.
A. Is Christ demonstrated in your actions?
B. Is Christ demonstrated in your attitudes
C. Is Christ demonstrated in your affections
D. Is Christ demonstrated in your attire?
I think of a pious Church member who thought himself to be a great Christian. One Sunday he visited the Junior Department of the Sunday School. The superintendent asked him to say a few words to the boys and s. He stood pompously before them and asked, "Why do you think people call me a Christian?" From the back of the room, a little fellow responded, "Because they don’t know you."
Conclusion:
Are you a three dimensional Christian?
