Belonging to Christ

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: II Timothy 4; Lord's Day 1
Psalters: 269, 215, 301, 203
  1. The meaning.
    1. To belong to Jesus Christ is a thoroughly biblical concept.
      1. To belong to Christ is a legal, judicial idea.
      2. This Lordship is a profession so I confess Him to be responsible for me and is my proprietor and Lord.
    2. How did I become His property?
      1. The sheep are Jesus’ sheep by an act of the triune God ordaining the Son to be Jesus and giving the sheep to Him.
      2. Secondly, we become His sheep by the act of Christ purchasing and redeeming the sheep.
      3. Thirdly, we become His sheep by an act of the Holy Spirit branding (sealing) us as Jesus’ sheep.
  2. The comfort of belonging to Christ.
    1. Comfort implies the presence of an evil which threatens me and a grief which overwhelms me.
      1. First, there is the guilt of my sin.
      2. Second, there is the corruption of my heart, my sinfulness, the power of sin within me.
    2. But God gives me knowledge of what He has done.
      1. First I belong to my Lord.
      2. Second, His Spirit within delivers us from the dominion and power of sin.
  3. The assurance of belonging to Christ.
    1. We are able to believe and say that we belong to Him over against the constant evidence of our sin and sinfulness.
    2. This assurance is often lacking because they doubt whether they belong to Jesus.
    3. Assurance comes in the way of our hungering after righteousness, i.e., striving to walk righteously.