Tested & Approved In Christ

TESTED & APPROVED IN CHRIST

2 Tim. 2:15

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A man named Bubba had a stray dog that kept showing up at his door. His wife said, “Bubba, you need to take him out in the woods and drop him off.” He did, but when he got to the house, the dog was standing on the doorstep.

2. His wife said, “Bubba, you need to drive him way out in the country, drive around in circles so you get him confused so he can’t get back.” So Bubba did it; he drove 2 hours away & crossed and crisscrossed his path & dropped him off.

3. Finally he called his wife, “Has the dog come back home?” “Yes, he’s just walking up the drive.” “Do me a favor, put him on the line -- I’m going to need directions to get home!”

B. TEXT

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Heb. 12:1-2

C. THESIS: OLYMPIC GAMES ANALOGY

1. Hebrews 12:1 (and chap. 11) describe the Christian’s life as being similar to the Olympic Games where we are all competing to win the approval of God. He pictures the saints and the angels as looking on as witnesses of our efforts. But it’s not the saint’s or angel’s opinions of our efforts that matter, but only what the Great Judge, Jesus Christ, thinks!

2. Paul makes a direct allusion to the Games in 1 Cor. 9:25; “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

3. An interesting fact is that the Lord commends some people as “approved” while they’re still running their race on Earth.

4. The title of this message is “Tested & Approved in Christ.”

I. MEANING OF THE TERM “APPROVED”

A. GREEK TERM & USAGES

1. The Greek word “dokimion” means “tested in battle; trustworthy, reliable, an object which is tested, genuine, or valuable and ‘approved by God’.”

2. LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING VERSES:

a. Paul said that some Christians have “DISQUALIFIED” themselves from the prize (1 Cor. 9:27 – adokimos, disproved).

b. Some Christians are told they NEED TO WORK TOWARD THIS stamp of approval:

1). 2 Tim. 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself approved (dokimos) to God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed and correctly handles the Word of Truth.”

2). 2 Cor. 10:18, “For not he who commends himself is approved (dokimos), but whom the Lord commends.”

c. Paul says some have ALREADY BEEN APPROVED:

1). Paul & apostles, 1 Thess. 2:4, “On the contrary, we speak as those approved (dokimazo) by God to be entrusted with the gospel.”

2). Apelles, “approved (dokimos) in Christ” Rom. 16:10

3). The Macedonians, 2 Cor. 8:2, by their virtue of staying true to Christ during severe suffering, are said to be “proved” (dokime).

3. This approval always is the result of testing.

B. THE CONCEPT OF BEING TESTED NOW

1. Human existence stands under divine testing in which it must prove itself. This testing culminates in judgment. Judgment is a testing of human life and achievement. Our stance of awaiting judgment and constant submission to the divine scrutiny fashions a life oriented to testing. God’s goal is our maturity (Rom. 5:3-4).

2. Temptation is not something evil, but simply ‘testing’ which is designed to strengthen. Temptation is God’s way of saying, “I think you can handle this, so I’m going to give you a chance to grow.” God’s intent is that we rise to new heights in Christ, not that we fail.

C. EXAMPLE OF TESTING & APPROVAL

1. For hundreds of years, church bells were produced by pouring liquid metal into molds at a foundry. Once the metal had fully hardened, the founder would take a heavy hammer and strike the bell on each side with a hard blows to see if it would crack. Why? Because it was better to find out before the bell was hung in a bell tower and then cracked. [Knights 3,000 Illus., p. 685, “Tried & True”]

2. The hard blows with the hammer wouldn’t hurt a well-made bell; they confirmed its good quality! It’s the same with us!

3. Axhandles. Wind-blown hickory trees are the very best wood to make into axhandles. It can withstand the most crashing of blows; it won’t shatter, because it grew up being continually tested.

II. CHRISTIANS WILL BE TESTED

A. WHEN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS ARISE

1. As a Christian, I can’t tell you that you’ll never have troubles – because you will. We must see God as the Lord and in control of every circumstance. God is guiding us to maturity.