Introduction
- Christ is speaking
- He is comforting us before He goes
- The way of comfort is the way of faith
RELATE: "Happy new year" = Have faith
FAITH IN GOD
- To have faith in God the Father (here)
OBSERVE: It must be "God the Father" - John 1:1
- Four Ways in which we do so:
- As Creator: believe Genesis 1
APPLICATION: Science v. Scientism
- As Controlling all things (Providence)
"the sparrow - the hairs of our head..."
APPLICATION: Infinite power + infinite goodness
- As Redeemer: the eternal purpose - see Romans 8:28-30
- As Judge: who makes no mistakes
APPLICATION: There is no escaping perfect justice
FAITH IN CHRIST
- Low views of Christ breed fear + worry: e.g. A sermon I was shown re. the Transfiguration (Church of Scotland minister)
APPLICATION: No wonder some churches are full of ignorant worshippers!
- Christ is God in our nature: the perfect
(i) Friend - John 15:5 (ii) Mediator (iii) Helper
APPLICATION: The famous "I am's" of John;
they show us His Godhead + His love to us.
- Christ mediates all our Prayers
See His own words here: John 14:13-14; chapter 16:23-24
APPLICATION: Here is the way of Assurance!
FAITH IN THE REALITY OF HEAVEN
- Heaven is not a mere Dream (v.2)
ILLUSTRATION: Some ideas are a mere dream.
APPLICATION: Purgatory/Limbo/Valhalla...
- Heaven is a very happy place
"No place like home" - "Home, sweet home".
APPLICATION: Eternally at home with God.
- Heaven is big enough for all who trust in Christ. * "JWs 144,000"
- Heaven will be ready when we get there: "to prepare a place" (Explain)
ILLUSTRATION: The story of Dr. Beery - "God my mother in".
FAITH IN THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
- "I will come again". There are various "comings"
(i) the Resurrection (ii) Pentecost (iii) Revivals of the Church in history (iv) Personal comings, as to Paul at Corinth.
- But the reference here is to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of history:
TEXTS: (i) "As the lightening..." (ii) "This same Jesus..."
- How different the 1st + 2nd Comings!
- not to save but to judge
- to separate "sheep" from "goats"
- to take us home to glory
APPLICATION: There will be no people in the end who will have any doubt about who Christ is.
Q. Do you look forward to His coming?
CONCLUSION
Do you believe these 4 things here?
ILLUSTRATION:
David Dickson: "...good deeds + bad deeds... in a heap...Christ...peace".