10). The discipleswere to keep Christ's commandments, not only by con- |
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — Matthew Henry
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2. The condition of the promise. "If ye keep my gulch: (verse 10). The disciples were to keep Christ's commandments, not only by con- | sec bedi foranitgae Tenechycapt whl RAEN GNN SAG RAINE aa EE they were to keep them as trustees in whose hands the great deposit was _ lodged. They were to teach all things that Christ had commanded (Matthew 28:20).
CONCLUSION
is obedience to the laws of — aie eles CLG GLO Ga Briana aorta cae the crown and comfort, the grace and glory which shall be to all them that love — the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
Matthew Henry
SERMON TWENTY-FIVE
THE BENEFITS OF
JUSTIFICATION
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God... we have access by faith .. . rejoice in the glory of God... we glory in tribulations.
—ROMANS 5:1-5
THE PRECIOUS benefits and privileges which flow from justification are such as should quicken us all to give diligence to make it sure to ourselves that we are justified and then to take the comfort it renders to us and to do the duty it calls from us. The fruits of this tree of life are exceedingly precious.
I. WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD (Verse 1).
A. The Condition of Man Reveals His Need for Peace.
It is sin that breeds the quarrel between us and God, creates not only a strangeness, but an enmity. The holy, righteous God cannot in honor be at peace with a sinner while he continues under the guilt of sin. Justification takes away the guilt and so makes way for peace. And such are the benignity and good will of God to man that immediately upon the removal of the obstacle the peace is made.
B. The Character of the Peace of the Justified Man.
There is more in this peace than barely a cessation of enmity, there is friendship and loving kindness, for God is either the worst enemy or the
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES —-Matthew Henry best friend. Abraham being justified by faith was called the friend of God (James 2:23), which was his honor, but not his peculiar honor; Christ has called His disciples friends (John 15:13—15). Surely aman needs no more to — make him happy than to have God as his friend.
C. The Channel by Which Peace Is Brought to Man.
This peace is through our Lord Jesus Christ; through Him as our great Peacemaker, the Mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:5), that blessed Daysman that has laid His hand upon us both. "He is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14), not only the Maker, but the matter and mainte- | nance of our peace (Colossians 1:20).
II. WE HAVE ACCESS TO GOD (Verse 2).
A. The Saints' Happy State.
It is a state of grace, God's loving kindness to us and our conformity — to God. Now "unto this grace we have access"— an introduction. This implies that we were not born in this state; but we are brought into it. "By whom we have access by faith"; by Christ as the author and principal agent; | by faith as the means of this access. Not by Christ in consideration of any "merit of ours; but in consideration of our believing dependence upon Him.
B. The Saints' Happy Standing.
"Wherein we stand": a posture that denotes our discharge from guilt.
It denotes also our progress. While we stand we are going; we must not lie. down, as if we had already attained, but stand as those that are pressing forward. The phrase denotes, further, our perseverance. We stand firm and _ safe, upheld by God's power. It denotes our confirmation in God's favor.
III. WE REJOICE IN THE HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD (Verse 2).
A. The Persons Who May Hope for the Future Glory of God.
Besides the happiness in hand there is a happiness in the hope of the glory which God will put upon His saints in heaven. Only those who have access by faith into the grace of God now may hope for the glory of God _ hereafter. There is no good hope of glory but what is founded in grace;
The Benefits of Justification grace is glory begun, the pledge and. assurance of glory. He "will give grace _and glory" (Psalm 84:11).
B. The Future Hope of Glory Is Sufficient for Present Joy.
Those who hope for the glory of God hereafter have enough to rejoice in now. It is the duty of those who hope for heaven to rejoice in those hopes.
IV. WE GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS FOR GOD (Verse 3).
One would think that the peace, grace, glory, and the joy in the hope of it were more than we could pretend to have and yet it is not only so, there are more instances of our happiness; we glory in tribulations, especially tribulation for righteousness' sake. Why?
A. Tribulation Produces Patience.
Tribulation worketh patience, not in or of itself, but the powerful grace of God working in and with the tribulation. It proves and by proving improves patience; as parts and gifts increase by exercise. That which works patience is a matter of joy; for patience does us more good than tribulations can do us hurt. Tribulation in itself works impatience; but as it is sanctified to the saints it works patience.
B. Patience Produces Experience.
It works an experience of God which gives songs in the night. The patient sufferers have the greatest experience of the divine consolations which abound as afflictions abound. It is by tribulation that we make an experiment of our own sincerity and therefore such tribulations are called trials. It works an approbation, as he is approved that has passed the test. Job's tribulation wrought patience and that patience produced an approbation
C. Experience Produces Hope.
He who, being thus tried, comes forth as gold will thereby be encouraged to hope. This experiment or approbation is not so much the ground as the evidence of our hope and a special friend to it. Experience of God is a
CLASSIC SERMON OUTLINES — Matthew Henry prop to our hope; He who has delivered, does and will deliver. Experience of ourselves helps to evidence our sincerity.
D. Hope Makes Not Ashamed.
It is a hope that will not deceive us. Nothing confounds more than disappointment. Everlasting shame and confusion will be caused by the perishing of the expectation of the wicked, but "the hope of the righteous _ shall be gladness" (Proverbs 10:28; see Psalms 22:5; 71:1). Or, it makes us. unashamed of our sufferings. Because we have hopes of glory we are not _ashamed of these sufferings.
CONCLUSION
This hope will not disappoint us because it is sealed with the Holy | Spirit as the Spirit of love. The love is shed abroad as sweet ointment perfuming the soul; as rain watering it and making it fruitful. The ground of all. our comfort and holiness, and preservance in both is laid in the shedding abroad of the love of God in our hearts. It is that which constrains us (II _ Corinthians 5:14).
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SERMON TWENTY-SIX
THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND PRAYER
et NS osicesleri ll aioe Sophie which cannot ame tered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
—ROMANS 8:26—27
THE APOSTLE, having fully explained the doctrine of justification and pressed the necessity of sanctification, in this chapter applies himself to the consolation of the Lord's people. It is the will of God that His people should be a comforted people. And we have here such a display of the unspeakable privileges of true believers as may furnish us with an abundant | matter for joy and peace in believing, that by all of these immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation. One of these privileges is prayer. While we are in this world, hoping and waiting for what we see not, we must be praying. Hope supposes desire and that desire offered up to God is prayer.
I. THE NEED FOR THE AID OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PRAYER.
A. We Do Not Know What to Pray for as We Ought. We are not competent judges of our own condition. We are shortsighted and very much biased in favor of the flesh and apt to separate