New Life in Christ, Pt1.
Ephesians 4:20-32.
Stream or download The unsearchable riches of Christ, Pt54
The verses we have been looking at over the last few weeks dealt with the subject of the need of the Christian to remain separated from the ways of the ungodly. This takes the matter a stage further.
The pupils of Christ cannot fellowship with those who remain in ignorance.
Rather, a great contrast should be observable.
I. THE CHRISTIAN IS A GRADUATE OF CHRIST’S SCHOOL
1. Christ runs a school. What an education He gives! The call of the gospel is one to attend upon learning. It requires an acknowledgement of our ignorance and inability to discover the knowledge of God for ourselves. Zophar the Naamathite said: “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?” Job 11:7. No man can.
2. Christ is the teacher in His school. One of the offices of Christ is that of Prophet. SC. Q24: Christ executeth the office of a prophet in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him,” John 1:18, K. “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name,” John 20:31. “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,” John 14:26. John 6:45.
3. The chief instrument of instruction is hearing His Word. Verse 21. God the Father’s charge to mankind is to HEAR His Son. Matt 17:5. It is not enough to hear ABOUT Christ, we must hear HIM, His voice. “Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire, ” Deuteronomy 4:36. “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness,” Psalm 95:7-8. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls,” Matthew 11:29.
4. Conversion is the consequence of being taught by Christ. SC. Effectual calling is the work of Gods Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. Acts 26:18; Eze 36:26; John 6:44-45.