Remember Jesus Christ Raised From The Dead

REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST RAISED FROM THE DEAD (Outline)

October 29, 2006 - PENTECOST 21 - 2 Timothy 2:8-13

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INTRO: What is important in your life? It all depends when that question is asked to figure out what is really important in one’s life. At different times, stages, and places in life different things can seem more important that others. At times our family is important. Or our finances sometimes seem important. One would one do without good health? That list of important things can be rather lengthy at times.

We can narrow that open-ended question down quite a bit. What is the MOST important thing in your life? Prayerfully and hopefully you are able to answer that question automatically without much hesitation. Our most important possession is our faith, our Savior, forgiveness of sins, eternal life. For the believer the eternal things are far, far more important than any earthly things. "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures"(1 CORINTHIANS 15:3,4). We use God’s words through Paul as our theme:

REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

I. God’s word is not chained, and:

II. God will remain faithful.

I. GOD’S WORD IS NOT CHAINED

A. A reminder: Paul is in prison in Rome for the second time. This time is not as pleasant as before.

1. Still, Paul does not want the believers to be overly concerned about his situation.

2. Verse 8. Remember Jesus: God’s Son and the Son of man was raised from the dead.

B. In remembering Jesus’ resurrection the believers would focus on things eternal. Important things.

1. Verse 8b, 9 reminded the people of the importance of God’s gospel which Paul proclaimed.

2. Paul was now even considered a criminal, chained for the sake of the gospel (see Chap. 4).

C. Verse 9b describes the power of God’s word, the freedom of God’s word though Paul was chained.

D. It is good to remind ourselves of the power of God’s word and the freedom it provides for every be-liever. Scripture is filled with examples describing God’s holy word. God’s word is called a light, a sword, living and active. God’s word becomes one of our most important possessions because of its pur-pose. Consider this purpose of God’s word (and Jesus’ miracles) as given to us by John. "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name"(JOHN 20:31). God’s word is not chained. God’s word provides his holy, divine power to believe in Jesus’, God’s Son raised from the dead.

E. Like Paul, at time you and I are also prisoners. Jesus said that a person is a slave to whatever masters him. In moments of unbelief and faithlessness you and I sin. At that moment of sin we are slaves to whatever that sin might be. In sinning we are held captive by our sinful desires. Sometimes Satan chains us up with his lies and deception. It is God’s word that reminds us of our times of captivity. "But I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members"(ROMANS 7:23). Yes, God’s law is not chained.

F. What is the answer to our captivity? How can we be set free from the power of sin and Satan? Re-member Jesus Christ raised from the dead. This is the simply, saving, strong truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Armed with the resurrection knowledge of Jesus every chain is destroyed. We are no longer pris-oners of evil and wickedness. "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners"(ISAIAH 61:1). God’s word is not chained.

TR.: REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST RAISED FROM THE DEAD. God’s word is not chained, and:

II. GOD WILL REMAIN FAITHFUL

A. Once again we see, hear, and believe in the power of God in the life of the apostle Paul.

1. Paul’s suffering would serve as an inspiring, encouragement and example to others.

2. Verse 10 reveals how Paul is suffering for the sake of the elect.

a. Elect are the believers already converted by God’s power.

b. Elect also include those yet to be converted by God’s grace.

3. Realize that Paul’s suffering did not save the elect or himself -- God’s grace did that.