What Knowing I’m Right Means

Introduction

But while they’ve heard a version of this sermon, they will not recognize it. Number one, they’re not going to remember a sermon I preach in 95. And secondly, it is not the same sermon. It’s been given a facelift. In fact, when I ran across it a few years, a few years ago a few weeks ago, seems like a few years now, a few weeks ago, I said, I want to do a sermon in preparation for this one. This thought I had many years ago. So that was last week’s sermon. I didn’t tell you it was preparatory, but it is. And another one that grew out of it that I will preach tonight called My Comfort or the Father’s Will. So all three of these are you were in a series and you didn’t even know it.

Okay, so what I did to set this up last week, as we began by talking about convictions and the strength of those convictions. Our convictions about God, our convictions about his word, and our convictions about heaven and how important those convictions are in fueling our devotion and our behavior. We looked at a passage in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 in regard to the strength of our convictions, and we talked about our confidence in God’s Word. Now, if you didn’t hear any of this, it’s on the website. Okay, it’s on the website. And we talked about motives in discovering the will of God in the first place, and then finding ourselves in Christ as we submit to the terms of admission and then displaying diligence, which is also a part of our beginning access to truth and the things of God.

And so I went over this part rather hurriedly that I want to talk a little bit more about today. About being in Christ. That’s where it all starts for us. Fellowship with God, cleansing for our sins. If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. And so this relationship, how do you know if you’ve come into a relationship with Christ? You know, you could wake up in the morning and say, I’m in a relationship with Christ, but how do you know for sure? We must submit to the terms of admission. We must do the things that the New Testament talks about that cause us to be placed in Christ, to sit in the heavenly places, as Paul talks about in Ephesians 1, to actually come into a relationship with the King.

You’ve got to submit to the King. You’ve got to seek His will. If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching whether it is of God. We looked at that in John 7 and verse 17 last week. And so we talked about motives that are essential to coming into Christ. We talked about repenting and being baptized for the remission of your sins. Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ on the basis of all that he is. That’s how we come into Christ. Those that gladly receive his word were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls. So are you in that circle? That’s an important question. I want you to think about that this morning because it is so essential that you are in that circle.

Are you in a right relationship with Christ? And are you sure? You need to be sure. You can be sure.

We didn’t spend a lot of time in 1 John, but if you’re not sure, may I suggest a quick reading of the five chapters of 1 John? He said, I’ve written these things that you might know that you have eternal life. We sang in one of our songs, in the cross of Jesus, I have peace with my God. You know, we sing a lot of things confidently in our songs that I’m not sure we express confidently in our words normally. Why are we willing to sing things that we won’t say in a conversation? But we need to be able to say those things. We need to sing things with conviction. I have peace with God because I am Christ. Now, if you are indeed in Christ, are you willing to put that to the test?

That’s where I want to begin this morning. Psalm 26. Ran across this psalm. Test me, O Lord. Vindicate me, judge me, O Lord. For I have walked in my integrity. That’s what those who are in Christ do. We’ll walk in their integrity based upon the teaching of the will of God. He is going to repeat that phrase I have walked in my integrity again in verse 11. I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Like that. The strength of conviction. Examine me, O Lord, and try me. Test my mind and my heart. Your loving kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in your truth. Is that where you reside this morning? Is that where you’re walking as children of light? Are you walking in his truth?

I do not sit with deceitful men, David says. Nor will I go with pretenders. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked. I shall wash my hands in innocence. I will go about thine altar, O Lord, that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving and declare all your wonders. I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. Test me, O Lord. Are you in Christ? And if you are, and I assume that many of our audience is, I want to talk to you for a second this morning about what knowing I’m right means. And this is the sermon from 20 years ago that got a facelift. Now that you are in Christ, what does that mean?

1. Why Am I Confident?

How should I respond? Because I have now found myself, here I am, here you are this morning in a relationship with God. You have come to Him on His terms, and now you are walking in your integrity as a Christian. How should I view it all? How should I react? How should I relate to others? Well, why am I confident, first of all? And we should indeed be confident. Again, 1 John 5 says that we should be. But how about this in Hebrews chapter 10? I’ve been preaching this a lot lately in meetings. I love this. Hebrews chapter 10, verses 35. I said, make it your anthem. You might remember the sermon. Maybe not. Make it your anthem. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

For you have need of endurance. There’s the diligence part of last week. For you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God, look, the will of God for your life is knowable, it’s understandable, it’s doable. He didn’t say only a few of you in the audience can get this. He said, you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. So that’s what we’re talking about. What knowing I’m right means we have confidence, yes, in our standing with God because we trust in him, as we read in Psalm 26. We trust in him. We trust that we have complied with his terms of admission and that we are walking in our integrity as we strive for the holiness of this message.

And that’s where tonight’s lesson comes in. The battle between my comfort and the Father’s will. Okay? Why do we have confidence? Well, it’s more than just a sign that has a biblical description on it. We talk about that a lot. A lot of people call themselves that are not biblical names. And that is the first indication that we have that they’re not submitting to the will of God. And yes, we are a church that belongs to Christ. That’s the right thing to put on our side. We are the people who meet in Decker Prairie who belong to Christ. That’s all we mean by that. We’re not a part of a denomination or some affiliation of churches of Christ throughout the world. Other people who call themselves churches of Christ, they try to submit to the will of God.

Some do it, I think, more proficiently than others. But I’m not answering for them. I’m not connected to them. I have no idea what their preachers are preaching this morning. You know, that I’m not the preacher police where I’m on every church of Christ website. Nobody has that kind of time. Listen to every sermon that’s preached in churches of Christ throughout the world. You know. This is about what we’re doing in this place. We want to be connected to Christ. We want to follow Christ, we want to submit to him, and that’s all we mean by the designation. We’re the people in Decker Prairie who believe we’re connected to the Lord, who are teaching other people how to be connected to the Lord in His way.

Okay? Not just because we teach God’s truth on conversion. That’s the getting in Christ part that we talked about last week. Yes, repent and be baptized. We’ve got to teach Acts 2 38. If we’re not teaching that, then people are not coming into a right relationship with Christ. Their sins aren’t being forgiven. So, yes, that’s essential. The terms of admission, getting that right, not just saying what’s so popular in the religious world, just accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your personal Savior. And at that moment, you’re saved and saved forever. A lot of people teach. Well, that makes evangelism easy. The only problem with it is it’s not right. It doesn’t render people saved and forgiven. And so I’m not going to teach that. I’m not your friend if I teach that.

Well, wouldn’t it be great if I could just, everybody in the audience, from Sam all the way across over here, hold on, from corner to corner. Everybody, you’re going to heaven. It’s done, signed, sealed, and delivered. Let’s go eat lunch. Why preach a 30-minute sermon? I know you may be asking that already. Why preach a 30-minute sermon? Just declare everybody saved. Look, if it was right, I’d do it. Let’s go eat lunch and watch March Madness. But it’s about getting it right. But just because we teach the truth about that, the New Testament is very clear. Well, there were certain people who were in Christ that Jesus warned he was going to spew them out of his mouth. We had a church that had a name that it was alive, but it was dead.

So it’s more than just this. You hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans, whatever that was. It was not consistent with biblical instruction. And he says, you’ve got to repent of that. Or else, I’m going to remove your candles. There’s all kinds of threats in those letters of the seven churches because they weren’t living and walking in their integrity. So it’s not just because the sign is correct, or we teach the truth that causes one to be placed in Christ and having their sins forgiven. I’m obviously not saying those things aren’t important. But it’s not just because of that. Now here’s the big box. Okay, I want you to wrap your minds around the big box. I’m going to come back to this again. You might want to write this down because this is a lot to take in.

2. The Big Box: Walking in Integrity as a Christian

But what does walking integrity as a Christian mean? What is our confidence based on? I see your minds. Your minds are working as you’re reading the box. And just take some time. Let’s all just take some time. Take in what’s in the box. This is a summary of what the New Testament teaches. And if you don’t believe what I’m saying, hey, read it from cover to cover, see if this is so. I challenge you. Matthew to Revelation, get it done this week. Okay, that might be a little much. But a summary of what the New Testament teaches about a right response to God. We talked about submission to the terms of admission. Okay? So what is the New Testament all about? It’s about what we do as a church.

We’re talking about that this morning in Bible class, weren’t we? Romans 12. Members one of another. It’s about what we do as a collective or corporate group of Christians, and it’s also about how we live our lives individually. I don’t know of any other spheres than those. This incorporates the whole package. What we do as individuals, what we do as a group of Christians, a genuine, diligent attempt to think, to mold our character and behave as God instructed. And that’s why the sermons are what they are. They say, you know, you shouldn’t be drinking and forfeiting sobriety. That’s behavior and thinking. But there’s a lot of passages that talk about character, and we were talking about those in Romans chapter 12, developing character. Paul’s going to talk about it earlier in Romans.

He talks about proven character in Romans chapter 5. And the love of God that is that is governing and guiding the whole thing. And so it’s making a diligent attempt to think and mold character and behave as we’ve been instructed, and then with this further explanation. If we do that, we’ll find ourselves molded after God’s image. We walk in love as God is love, Ephesians 5, 1 and 2. And further, we are imitators of Christ. We possess the mind of Christ, that member of the Godhead who demonstrated those qualities while he was living among us and did so perfectly. So possess the mind of Christ. Philippians 2 and verse 5. So in the image of God, the mind of Christ, and another way of saying the same thing, let’s get the other member of the Godhead involved, the Holy Spirit.

And thus we have come under his influence and control. Thus he indwells us. The Holy Spirit, by the message of salvation, is allowed to rule and reign in our hearts and lives.

Romans chapter 8 and verse 14. Those who are being oh, yes, Romans. We’re going to get to this. Romans chapter 8. For all of you, and this is what knowing I’m right means. For all of you who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. Now, you can know you’re right. If you will allow the Holy Spirit, not in some mystical, magical tampering with your mind apart from your own will. That’s tonight’s sermon, where we talk about our wills. Not God just doing something that has nothing to do with your will. That’s what a lot of people think when they read these passages in Romans 8. They think the Holy Spirit’s doing all the work, and I do mean all.

The previous verse. It is by the Spirit that we’re putting to death the deeds of the flesh. How’s that working? You think about Romans 8.13. Okay, there’s temptation. Holy Spirit, take care of it for me. Why tell people to flee useful lust then? Over and over again, Timothy’s told that. Go ahead, Holy Spirit, get the work done. That’s not how it works. The Spirit gives us the information, the instruction, and some assistance, and all of that works together with my will to conquer the adversary. Because he’s trying to devour me. We can talk about those passages as well. By the Spirit, we’re putting to death the deeds of the flesh. And so the Spirit Himself, verse 16, bears witness with our Spirit that we are the children of God.

That’s how we know. That’s how we know. Because I look in this book, and what we’re doing, back to the box, individually and corporately, is a reflection of what the Spirit has revealed. That’s why I have confidence. I look at what we’re doing as a church. I look at how I’m living my life in integrity as an individual. And I’m asking God to test me. And those things are a reflection of the Spirit’s work. And if children were heirs of joint heirs with Christ. I can throw you another passage here. We’re going to talk about James 1 21 tonight. Whatever remains of wickedness, he says.

Can any of you tell me what the context of James 1 is about? Being doers of the word. Doers of the word. Not merely hearers who delude themselves. And he talks about a man controlling his tongue. If he doesn’t do that, his religion is vain. That’s not the Holy Spirit doing all the work for us, is it? That’s the Holy Spirit instructing us how to control our tongues and control our bodies, keeping ourselves unspotted from the world. Verse 27. Notice how these passages go together. Would you link them together? James chapter 1 and Romans chapter 8 13 through 17. That’s why we have confidence. We are trying to mold everything individually. Have I said this before? Individually and corporately after the will of God, the mind of Christ, the image of God, thus the Spirit indwells us.

3. It Should Be a Very Humbling Thing

Now let’s get to the crux of this. As a result of the fact that I’m in Christ, and I know that I’m in Christ, how should that render me, first of all, it should be a very humbling thing. David was humbled when he looked up into the heavens and he said, What? What is man? That thou art mindful of him. When you begin to take in the vastness of our surroundings that are the handiwork of God created by him, and then you look at little old me as a part of that creation, he said, What is man? But you have focused your care and concern and attention on the likes of me. Add to that the sinfulness of our past. And we even more ask the question.

How have I deserved any of this? After all, when we’ve done all that we have been commanded to do, this is after we’ve done it all, and we’re not very good at that. When we’ve done all that God has commanded us to do, he says, we are still unprofitable servants. Unworthy slaves. Some translations say. So all of this, the fact that we’re in Christ, that we sustain this relationship with God despite our smallness in creation, despite how we’ve messed things up with our sin and rebellion. The fact that we could come into a right relationship with God ought to be a very humbling thing for us. When we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, as we saw in Romans chapter 12 and verse 3, that’s where we get into trouble.

Humility fuels a continued right response to God. This isn’t an occasion. I’m in Christ and other people aren’t. Wow, look at me.

4. It Should Result in Thanksgiving

This should be a very humbling. This should never be a thing where we get on our soapbox condescending, being self-righteous in our view of others. I’m saved, and you’re not nanny boo-boo. You know? Or however we might exalt and elevate ourselves. First thing, when you’re in Christ, this ought to be a very humbling thing to us. And therefore, it should result in thanksgiving. We shouldn’t have to twist our arms and do all sorts of mental gymnastics to get ourselves to want to thank God for where we are. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Psalm 32 and verse 1. Thanksgiving, if it has to be, listen, if you have to coerce or force yourself to be thankful, there is something going wrong in your mental processes.

5. My Soul Thirsts for God: Worship

You are not seeing how incredible all this is. That the likes of us can come into the presence of a holy God and find favor and acceptance. And beyond all of that, we have a lot of stuff to boot. In everything give thanks. And again, as we talk even more generally from thanksgiving to just worship generally. Three passages. Used to quote these a lot. They’re in this old sermon. As the deer.

Worshiping with Gina back in the old building over there in Baytown. As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you. O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42, 1 and 2. All I want you to do with these three Psalms that I’m mentioning is think about is that my heart? Is that what goes on in my mind toward God? As the deer longs for the water brooks. My soul thirsts for it. Oh God, Psalm 63, verse 1. O God, you are my God. I shall seek you earnestly. As in a dry and weary land where there is no water. My soul thirsts for God. My flesh yearns for Him.

6. We Should Be Provoked to Teach Others

Is that the desires of your heart? Psalm 84.10. I love Psalm 84. A day in your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. And certainly, because we know we’re right, we should be provoked to teach others. As the apostles said before the council and their murderous intentions, they said, we cannot stop thinking, we cannot stop saying what we have seen and heard. We cannot stop speaking these things. If we’re right, then we should want others to be right with us. And so often we reason from the standpoint if I believe this, then that’s going to mean somebody else is lost. Well, if that is how it is, then that’s the way we need to think, and we need to try to rescue those people.

It says, No, I’m just going to stay with my lost friends. No, I’m not gonna, I’m not gonna embrace this truth because that’s gonna mean that I’m saying they’re lost. Here, I’ll just stay with my lost friends. That’s a bad decision. How about getting right and helping them to get it right? Wouldn’t that be better?

Conclusion

So we are thus provoked to teach because we know we possess the truth. Four things that knowing your right should cause in each of us. And as a result, because we’re right, we indeed, as we have sung, we have found peace with God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Back to this. That’s how we know we’re right. Do you this morning possess this confidence? And if you don’t think this is the box is the right recipe, then you be my friend. To go to the New Testament and show me where I’m missing it. That a right relationship with God is something else other than these two things. My response individually and my response corporately.

The things I practice with others who are in Christ. Let’s have a study about that. If you don’t think that’s right. Let’s talk about the entire New Testament as it talks about our response to the risen king. And I’ll just take you. Oh, let’s get back to this. 2 Timothy 2 19. And the firm foundation of God stands having the seal. The Lord knows those that are his. But that’s not where that verse ends. Does the Lord know you? Does the Lord see you as in a right relationship with Him? The Lord knows those that are His. I can’t just declare myself right and that be the end of it. The issue is what does the Lord know? And then this. And let everyone who names the name of Christ.

See, if we’re in a right relationship with Him, let everyone who names the name of Christ, who exalts Him to His proper place, who gives Him the attention and adoration that He deserves, let everyone who names the name of Christ just sit and enjoy. Wait a minute. That doesn’t sound like the Bible. Because it’s not. Let everyone who names the name of Christ abstain from wickedness. Ah, we’re getting back to the box here. Getting back to the box. And he goes on to talk about being vessels of honor. Useful to the master, prepared for every good work. This passage impresses me. It’s in our study on Wednesday night this past week. We may come back to it again this Wednesday night. After Paul says that God is going to render to every man according to his deeds, yes, Jew and Gentile.

He goes on to explain to those who by perseverance in doing good. There you go. There’s the box. Perseverance in doing good, seek. There’s the diligence we talked about last week. Isn’t this all coming together? I love this. Perseverance in doing good. Seek for glory and honor and immortality. Eternal life.

And then here’s tonight’s sermon, verse 8. But to those who are selfishly ambitious. You know, first in their lives is what they want. But to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness. That is, they follow whatever they will, and it’s not right what they’re doing. They obey unrighteousness. That’s what they serve. Tragically. The two words that follow. Wrath and indignation. Okay, what’s the third option? What do we got? There isn’t. Third option. Glory, honor, immortality, eternal life. And wow, that should be something to latch on to. Glory, honor, immortality. Wrath and indignation. Surely that doesn’t exist. Read your New Testament. It surely does. For those who obey unrighteousness and who do not obey the truth. This is life’s choice reduced to two verses of the New Testament.

Which will it be for you? We’re at the invitation song. Like we always are, because that’s the choice that’s always there. Do you need to make the right choice, the high choice, the wise choice this morning? We sing to encourage your response. We’ll stand and say.