Sermon Tone Analysis

The Gospel of the Lord

!! The victory of the Gospel

!!! Lord’s Day 5th October, Morning Worship, 9.30am

© Rev D Rudi Schwartz[1]

*Bible Readings*

Old Testament:                     Isaiah 46:1-10

New Testament:                   Colossians 2:9-15

*Hymns~/Songs*

                1.

Approach:                        “/O God, our help in ages past/”

                2.

Forgiveness of sins:        “/This world has great rewards to give/”

                3.

Thanksgiving:                   “/Come you thankful people come/”

                4.

Preparation:                    “/How blest the righteous in their life/”

                5.

Response:                        “/Hallelujah, hallelujah, hearts to heaven/”

!!! Main Points

!!!!!! 1. Introduction

!!!!!! 2. The victory of the Gospel: The God of heaven and earth revealed in Christ!

!!!!!! a.       Deity of Christ announce before his birth

!!!!!! b.       Deity of Christ announced at his baptism

!!!!!! c.        Salvation is in Him alone

!!!!!! 3. The victory of the Gospel: unity with Jesus Christ

!!!!!! a.       Unity because of what God has done

!!!!!! b.

We were dead in our sins

!!!!!! c.        God made us alive in Christ

!!!!!! d.

What belongs to Christ now belongs to us: victory      

!!!!!! 4. Conclusion

!!! 1.  Introduction

Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ,

Last week the Gospel of our Lord came to us urging us to be equipped and built up in the Lord with all knowledge and understanding so that we would not be taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophies which depend on human tradition and understanding (Col 2:8).

There are indeed a lot is “isms” on the marketplace these days.

We need to take note of these “isms” without reverting to ostrich practice, digging our heads in the sand, hoping that our “isms” were “wasms”.

But the question we need to ask ourselves is this:  Why should the Christian stand firm and be victorious over these philosophies?

Why is it important that we do not conform to the philosophies of this world?

Remember the word of God in Romans 12:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(Rom 12:1-2)

Or, as another translation puts it:

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service.

Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.*[2]*

In comment on the phrase “/do not be conformed/” a commentator writes:

It is very telling that being “conformed” to the present world is viewed as a passive notion, for it may suggest that it happens, in part, subconsciously.

At the same time, the passive could well be a “permissive passive,” suggesting that there may be some consciousness of the conformity taking place.

Most likely, it is a combination of both.*[3]*

!!! 2.  The victory of the Gospel: The God of heaven and earth revealed in Christ!

The answer to the question about why the Christian should see to it that he or she should not be taken captive is given in verse 9:

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

(Colossians 2:9-10)

This verse begins with “for” – it gives a reason for the argument put forward in the previous statement.

The Greek word here is used after verbs of thinking, judging, believing to introduce the content of the thought processes.

/First/ the apostle makes the statement: 

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

(Colossians 2:8)

/Then/ follows the “/for/”, the /reason/ why Christians should not be found falling for hollow and deceptive philosophy and be dragged away from the truth, not being able to defend the truth of the Gospel.

Against the philosophy of the Gnostics – and let us add to this – many the philosophies of our age too, comes the statement:  “/In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form/.”

This is where the “isms” of philosophies and the Gospel of Christ intersect; this is where they meet head to head:  Christians don’t believe in an idea; they believe in God, they believe in Jesus Christ who is God, and who represented the Father to take on the enemy of the Gospel and to defeat it comprehensively.

!!!! 2a.

Deity of Christ announce before his birth

There was a time when the heavens were rendered and God visited this earth by sending Jesus Christ to take on the enemy.

The first steps were given when the angel announced the birth of Christ:

The angel went to her [Mary] and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored!

The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.

You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

\\ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

(Luke 1:28-35)

The shepherds heard the voice of the angels singing:

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.

(Luke 2:10-11)

!!!! 2b.

Deity of Christ announced at his baptism

Of Him John the Baptiser declared:

“I baptize you with water for repentance.

But after me will come One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

His winnowing fork is in his hand, and He will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

(Matthew 3:11-12)

And when Jesus was baptised, we read:

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water.

At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him.

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”

(Matthew 3:16-17)

!!!! 2c.

Salvation is in Him alone

Of Him John declared:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(John 1:14)

He fulfilled the will of God, He drove out demons; He made the deaf to hear; the sick He healed; He raised the dead; He stilled the storm; He fed the multitude; He rebuked the learned and the wise; He came to seek and to save; He never wanted to be served, He only served.

But then, He also took on the enemy – and overcame victoriously!

That’s why the apostle could say: