Sermon Recap
Today's sermon was on 1st Peter 5:9-11:
1 Peter 5:9–11 (NET 2nd ed.):
9 Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. 10 And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him belongs the power forever. Amen.
And we were asked two questions:
Why am I here?
What makes life worth living?
The closing hymn was "Because He Lives" which could not have been more appropriate as an answer to both questions.
Reflections
I'll pull answers to these questions from the Heidelberg Catechism.
Question 1:
What is thy only comfort in life and death?
That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.
Question 2:
How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happily?
Three; the first, how great my sins and miseries are; the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.
Historic Creeds and Confessions (electronic ed.). (1997). Lexham Press.
We were not made to be Hedonists, as the culture teaches. To be always seeking temporary happiness instead of eternal joy. To be seeking earthly comfort and ease instead of joy in suffering.
We should rejoice in trials and tribulations, as it gives us an opportunity to suffer with our Savior:
James 1:2–4 (NET 2nd ed.):
2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, Jas 1:2–4). Thomas Nelson.
Count it all joy, brothers, to be able to suffer for the name. To be able to take up your cross and follow Him into eternity. What makes life worth living? Because He lives. This is the answer to the second question.
To answer the first, we look to Genesis:
Genesis 1:26–27 (NET 2nd ed.):
26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.” 27 God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, Ge 1:26–27). Thomas Nelson.
1. We were created.
This is the first point to understand. We are not accidents, we are creations that share the image of the Creator.
2. We were given dominion over creation.
In us is vested dominion over the rest of creation. To be stewards of God's awesome creation.
3. Why is this?
Soli Deo Gloria, to the Glory of God alone. That is why we were created, to bring God glory. That is why He saw fit that despite our sin and failure in Eden He would send His Son to die for us, to pay our ransom, to save us from ourselves. To bring God glory. That is why we are called to repent and trust in Him, to bring God glory. That is why we can count it all joy when we suffer for His name. To bring God glory. Not to elevate ourselves, but to elevate Him. To bring God glory. That is why, at the end of this life we will get to join Him in eternity, and for all time have the joy and privilege to bring God all the glory, forever and ever amen.
Jude 24–25 (NET 2nd ed.):
24 Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence, 25 to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, Jud 24–25). Thomas Nelson.