Our Only Comfort
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
7/8/2018 AM
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Text:
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Isaiah 40;
Lord's Day 1
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Psalters: |
262, 215, 201, 203 |
- The idea.
- The Christian’s experience of pure religion is expressed in the word “comfort.”
- What comfort is NOT.
- Comfort is knowing certain facts (a “reckoning;” “being persuaded” over against a contradictory experience.
- It is knowing facts by faith (not mere knowledge), i.e., believing them to be true because the Bible says so.
- This knowledge is derived from Scripture (thus there is the “comfort of the scriptures,” Rom. 15:4).
- Comfort is essentially faith’s knowledge of the God of the Scriptures and His attitude toward His people.
- What three things must be known for comfort?
- First, faith recognizes that truth presents a very real and most serious problem (we may not deny it nor excuse it).
- No cure will be sought if we are unaware that we are sick; we must first acknowledge that we are sinners.
- It is essential that I know “sin” and specifically “my sin.”
- Second, faith seizes on Scripture’s declaration of redemption in Jesus, so I belong to Him and am His responsibility.
- Third, I must know how to show my gratitude to God for saving me: I must be made willing and ready to live unto Him.
- The Spirit so applies Christ’s redemption to me that I love God and want to obey and please Him.
- We are filled with the desire to render grateful returns of ardent love to Him Who first manifested so great love to me.
- Comfort is experienced.
- Comfort does not take away misery nor crosses, but enables me to take up the crosses which cause it (I Cor. 10:13).
- Comfort is only experienced in the way of my constantly confessing that I “am not our own.”
- This tremendous comfort is an “only” comfort. He is the “God of all comfort” (II Cor. 1:3).