 The title of our sermon this morning is walk by faith walk by faith and we are in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 specifically in verses 6 through 10 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verses 6 through 10 as we Introduce our text and Think through what Paul is describing teaching instructing in our text. I want you to consider with me for a moment What a gift we have in God's word what a gift the Bible is what a blessing God's word is it is a tremendous act of grace a tremendous act of mercy that Almighty God the creator of the heavens and the earth has chosen to reveal himself to his creatures through his word The Bible the Bible is God's good and gracious self-disclosure and Hebrews 1 Having spoken at various times and in various ways to the fathers by the prophets God has in these last spoken to us by his Son the Lord Jesus Christ whom he has appointed heir of all things through whom also he made the worlds that Glorious revelation of God that glorious self-disclosure that we have on the pages of scripture comes to us In three primary forms and you'll find in this book God's word. You'll find law That which God commands that which God condemns or that which God commends Proverbs chapter 9 verse 10 for example the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom We're commanded to fear the Lord the commands of God lead to a fear of God Generally with God's law. There are warnings. There are sanctions Attached by which we learn to fear him the Proverbs also say because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord They would have none of my counsel and despise my every rebuke Therefore warning they shall eat the fruit of their own way and be filled to the full with their own Fancies it's often through those good just and holy Sanctions that we learn to fear God Secondly not just law, but secondly testimony a testimony of God information about God information about God's people Their nature their character conduct and specifically information about God what we are to believe what we are to know about him Proverbs chapter 9 verse 10 goes on to say the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and The knowledge of the holy one is Understanding right we gain true understanding true wisdom comes from Knowing God and we know God through his revealed word through his gracious self-disclosure thirdly There are promises in the Bible Promises there's certainly God's promises of judgment upon the wicked if you are outside of Christ here today There is a promise of God that if you do not turn from Christ You will suffer the fires of hell forever, right? That's a promise of God of judgment upon the wicked But there are many many promises given to God's people Precious promises of God to his people whereby God encourages us Comforts us leads us preserves us bolsters our faith gives us joy gives us hope precious promises of God as perfectly holy Perfectly holy Would have been just would have been right to have remained aloof from us To have been far off so to speak separate from sinners, but God doesn't do that God doesn't do that in love and in grace and mercy because we are undeserving sinners God chooses To relate to his people he chooses To fellowship so to speak with his creation he condescends in that way He stoopes to fellowship with his people Psalm 95 verse 7 For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture the sheep of his very hand, right? however We consider the word of God In order to relate to us as his people God must do far exceeding it above More than merely giving us this book, right? first Corinthians chapter 2 verse 14 the natural man Does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him Nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned We are unable apart from God Unable apart from the work of the Spirit to understand that which is spiritually discerned We're unable to understand his word unable to understand his revelation. You may think I know what it means It's not far enough the natural man's delight Is not in the law of the Lord the natural man does not rejoice in the way of his Testimonies and the natural man dies apart from faith not having the promises Second Corinthians chapter 3 verse 14 the mind of a lost man apart from Christ is blinded Second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 4 Satan the God of this age the ruler of this world has blinded his mind Ephesians chapter 4 verse 17 the natural man walks in the futility the hopelessness of his mind and Titus chapter 1 verse 15 even his mind and conscience are defiled all people Outside of the saving work of God in Christ are dead Interest passes and sins alienated and enemies of God in their minds by wicked works so God then to relate to his people Must redeem fallen man. God must redeem us save us from the Error of our sins save us from the penalty of our sins save us from his holy and just wrath Which would separate us for all eternity making us objects of his wrath We must be made alive in Christ those who are once dead must be made alive in Christ born again By his spirit granted repentance and faith through the preaching of the gospel Forgiven of sin reconciled to God justified and made righteous in Christ God says then this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days says the Lord I will put my laws into their hearts and in their minds. I will write them Right. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you It's through the work of God's spirit right it's through this work of Regeneration the new birth that we are given Spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear a mind to understand spiritual things That's the only way in which the once natural man becomes spiritual and able to understand God's regenerate people with the indwelling Holy Spirit leading them into truth are those who Experience the word of God as living Powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, but apart from Christ apart from his spirit. It's a closed book Right for those who are dead in sins and trespasses It's closed revelation so then Regarding that gracious three-fold self-disclosure in the Bible one It's then Upon the new birth that we delight in God's law, right? We acknowledge ourselves to be the vile sinners that we are and we see his law as holy just and good We have the desire then and by his spirit. We have the ability to obey it To it's then upon the new birth upon regeneration that we Rejoice in his testimonies where we see Christ as exceedingly precious worthy of worship praise honor faith obedience devotion Three it's then and only then through new creation eyes that we see Spiritual realities where we lay hold by faith to the promises that are ours in Christ Jesus our Lord Where we fix our gaze on unseen things eternal in the heavens Right, that's the context then in which the word of God is brought to bear on the life and faith of a genuine believer When one is truly born again one is genuinely saved then That's when the word of God truly becomes a lamp to our feet and a light to our path Right becomes a guide that governs a guide of his word that governs our life That's where we see Christ and we see Christ then in the scriptures and beholding Christ in the scriptures We are transformed into his image. We're sanctified right by the spirit through the word We're transformed into his image from one degree of glory to another degree of glory And as the faithful born again spirit in dwelt disciple of Christ reads and studies and Meditates on scripture right this is a His revelation give it to us in the form of a book Right, it requires that we read and we study and we meditate He calls us to read and to study and to meditate and as the faithful born again Christian reads and studies and Meditates on the Bible with his heart prayerfully set on trusting and loving and pleasing Christ then that good theology through the work of the spirit will fuel and drive and govern that believer's life There's no mystery to these things right the Bible makes it very clear If you want to grow in Christ if you want to be a faithful Christian if you want to walk by faith If you want to live for him devoted to him Then it's the spirit of God through his word preach It's the spirit of God through his word read and studied and meditated upon that will fuel and drive and govern Your Christian life it will fuel and drive and govern the preaching of the gospel and your service in his church It's no ordinary book. Amen God's words aren't near platitudes Or guidelines for a better light right the spirit of God is at work through his word You wanted to be devoted to the Lord and be devoted to his word be devoted to his revelation Know of him and the power of his resurrection of his resurrection, right and then know with him the fellowship of his sufferings God's law his testimony and those promises Revealed in God's word are intended to be the foundation upon which we live and minister and serve and preach the gospel Isaiah 55 verse 11 The Lord says for as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven and do not return there But water the earth and make it bring forth and bud that it may give give seed to the sower and bread to the eater So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth says the Lord It shall not return to me void Says the Lord, but it shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it You know as a genuine Christian with a with a new heart a new nature new desires and dwelt by God's spirit You become a willing joyful Meditating studying reading receptacle of God's revelation and it's through his revelation that he Cleanses you and sanctifies you and conforms you into the image of Christ And if you're in his word God promises that his word will prosper in you It'll prosper in the thing for which I sent it. It will do according to what God has promised it will do That happens through faith that happens through faith Paul understood this in 2nd Corinthians for studying Paul's Defense of his apostolic ministry. We see also there an apologetic for what a Glorious ministry that we have in preaching the gospel this new covenant ministry that we've all been given Paul there in 2nd Corinthians specifically now in chapter 5 Paul Delights himself in submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ submitting to his law, right? He delights himself and obeying what the Lord has commanded his favorite reference for himself is as a Slave of the Lord Jesus Christ called to be an apostle separated To the gospel of God Romans chapter 1 verse 1 for example He says in 1st Corinthians chapter 9 verse 16 that necessity is laid upon me Yes, whoa is me if I do not preach the gospel if I do this willingly I have a reward But if against my will I've been entrusted with a stewardship. I've been given a stewardship however Given a stewardship Paul didn't see his Ministry didn't see the command of God to preach the gospel as a begrudging duty Paul delighted in it Paul reveled in it. He relished it. He saw it as a great mercy a great grace from God that he would be called in the ministry He counted it a great joy. He counted it a great privilege After laboring among the Thessalonians laboring Paul told them you are our crown of rejoicing What fueled Paul's joy It's believing the testimonies of God Hoping trusting in the promises of God resting in God's word, right the promises the revelation of God in Christ To Paul delights himself in the testimony in the testimonies of God the testimony of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ his desire Is to follow in the steps of his Lord who laid down his life for Paul so Paul Has determined to lay down his life for Christ and his church even to the point of great suffering and death second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus's sake So that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then Death is working in us, but life in you. Where did Paul get? the perseverance the stick to it of this so to speak to endure affliction endure suffering and persevere in his ministry Paul delighted in the testimonies of God Paul delighted in the word of God the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and three thirdly particularly with respect to our text Paul here delights himself in the promises of God. He delights himself in the promises of God second Corinthians chapter 4 now verse 17 We know Paul says that our affliction in this life, which is light and momentary is producing for us an eternal weight of glory Paul delighted in the promises of God second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 1 We know that even if we give up our bodies in death serving Christ We have a building from God a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens So then Paul continues in second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 6. We are always confident always confident Paul it's obvious in this Exposition of Christian ministry Paul has tapped into a tremendous source of strength Joy Motivation perseverance boldness confidence and hope as the laborers right Paul laborers Paul strives Paul gives all for the sake of Christ and What fuels his faith what fuels and fires his drive The promises of God the testimonies of God the law of God the fear of God love for God hope in God's promises, right? tremendous source God's word of joy strength motivation perseverance boldness confidence and hope You see Paul's theology Revealed by God in his word Is brought to bear on Paul's life Paul's theology The the weight of that theology and the increasing weight of it as he learns more and he knows Christ more fully as he serves And as he sanctified right the weight of that theology has been brought to bear on Paul's life the way that Paul thinks about ministry right the way that Paul thinks about the way that he lives his Responsibility to God's people his responsibility to the Lord his responsibility to lost people in preaching the gospel all of that Good theology is brought to bear on Paul's understanding of those things and through that Good theology in the hands and so to speak of the Holy Spirit working in and through the apostle Paul Paul could face no matter his circumstances right Paul could face suffering Great persecution great disappointment and face it all staying with confidence. We do not lose heart We do not shrink back. We are always confident If you're like me, there are many times when you don't feel confident but Paul's theology his understanding you could say in light of second verse chapter 4 his sight of Eternal and unseen things fueled Paul's labor Fueled his faith fired his service right Paul was always confident. We are always confident. He says this all happens through the vehicle of faith Through the means of faith as Paul trusts Christ through the revealed word of God The spirit of God in Paul fueling and firing his faith in his devotion In other words walking by faith Right walking by faith involves learning and understanding God Learning and understanding the things that we know from scripture about Christ They're not just knowing those things But believing them trusting them that they are true Believing without a shadow of doubt that those promises are laid up for you in heaven right Believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is raised from the dead and if the Lord Jesus Christ is raised from the dead Then we too will be raised with him right It's believing those promises and then it's committing yourself to live in light of those things right when you live in light of Unseen and eternal things in the heavens than the things of this world grows strangely dim Pale in comparison the afflictions that we face are momentary in light Walking by faith By the strength that God's spirit supplies supplies In accord with God's word freeze Paul up to wear out his tent in the cause of Christ right Just wears it out Freeze him up to live for Christ heart soul mind and strength in the ministry that he's being called to we need we need to get a taste of that right We want to live for Christ that way if you're a genuine Christian You have that heart in your breast right? I want to live whole heartedly for the Lord Jesus Christ I want to serve him heart soul and mind and strength Sometimes his pastor rick was talking about this morning. You can lose sight of your first love Maybe that becomes a dull heartedness or an apathy or an indifference Recognize that brother recognize that sister repent of it love the Lord Jesus Christ We want to live for the Lord in that way And Paul gives us examples here in this text of how we do that practically this is very this is intensely practical I want you to see four ways in our text in which Paul's theology Impacts his faith Paul's determined to walk by faith. That's what Christians do That as Paul is walking by faith Paul one has a bold trust a bold trust versus six and seven Secondly Paul exemplifies a bold hope verse eight Has his eyes fixed on a bold and confident hope? thirdly Paul Expresses here in the text a bold Ambition a bold ambition We see Paul's bold motivation in verse 10 a bold trust bold hope bold ambition bold motivation Those points are on your worship folder We have to walk by faith We have to walk by faith. That's what Christians do But then it behooves us to encourage and exhort one another to continue that walk by faith grip Good theology right grip This good testimony of God let it fuel your faithfulness let it drive your devotion as you preach the gospel and minister to God's people One let's begin with Paul's bold trust in verses six and seven Paul's bold trust verses six and seven He says in verse six So we are always confident Always confident knowing that while we are at home in the body We are absent from the Lord for we walk by faith not by sight The note first Paul's confidence in verse six Paul's confidence God's word His laws testimonies his promises God's word Paul's theology Forms the basis. It's the granite slab on which Paul can be supremely Unwaveringly and uncompromisingly confident And not only Paul right not only Paul but the Corinthians notice that little word we in verse six He's speaking of the the Corinthians specifically But us by implication all of those who name the name of christ are included in that we We are always confident based on this theology A little word so that begins verse six Connects us to what comes before namely Namely God's promise of the resurrection Promise regarding the resurrection from the dead that truth is referenced all the way back in chapter four verse 13 Look at chapter four verse 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith according to what is written I believe and therefore I spoke we also believe and therefore speak Knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will present us with you Like the author of Psalm 116 We believe we have faith right And therefore we are moved. We are exercised compelled to speak Having the same spirit of faith. We preach the gospel Just like the author to Psalm 116 we preach christ and him crucified despite the difficulty Because verse 14 we know that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus For chapter five verse one. We know that if our earthly house this tent is destroyed We will be raised right the promise of resurrection the glory of resurrection We look forward to a glorified body a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens In chapter five verse five that promise of God Guaranteed by the presence of the Holy Spirit The spirits work in my life the spirits work in my ministry is the proof that I will be raised right It's the pledge. It's the guarantee that will be raised in him all Christians Should be able to say that right Knowing good theology Reading of christ in his word right relying upon the holy spirit We should have that confidence. How else are we to respond to such glorious promises, right? These are glorious And eternal promises. We are therefore always Confident it's not a temporary feeling It's not a temporary feeling. It's not a a passing Emotional high. It's not an occasional mountain top experience This is a settled Resolved and consistent Outlook When you understand God's revelation and you're meditating on those things it will be a consistent Outlook we are always confident Based on God's promise. We have a bold trust that doesn't give out It's a bold trust that Is steadfast the word is thorough In addition to meaning bold Or confident it also carries the sense of courageous Right courageous courage Even in the face of fear courage in the face of difficult circumstances. We have a bold confident courageous faith And that's based on the word of God Based on what we know of him. What is revealed of him, right? Paul faced his circumstances with a bold and courageous confidence We've looked at that before but the beatings right the stoning the imprisonments The turmoil the affliction the false accusations losing people around him that were dear to paul's heart It was painful for the apostle paul the heartache That came with preaching the gospel and ministering in the lord's church Paul faced it all with tremendous confidence not in himself, right? This has nothing to do with himself. Paul would have called himself weak Right an earthen vessel a nobody a worm Paul faced it in the with confidence in the lord because of the lord's word because of the lord's promises Because what the lord has said is true And all that courageous faith filled confidence Is steadfast verse six Even while we know That being at home in this earthly body means that we are absent or away from the lord Even knowing that we are always confident then Paul's unwavering confidence in verse six Characterizes his conduct in verse seven. No paul's conduct in verse seven For we walk by faith not by sight Right that little preposition that begins verse seven Introduces a clarifying thought it's an explanation Okay, being absent from the lord while groaning at home in this earthly tent Does not mean that we have no fellowship with the lord Right that we are relegated to nothing more than knowledge of these things Based on what's been taught to us so to speak It doesn't mean that we have no fellowship with the lord paul doesn't mean that we are spiritually separated from christ We're physically separated from him for a time, right? Christ said low. I am with you even To the end of the age right crisis with us He promises us in john 14 18 that he will not leave us orphans that he will come to us by his spirit No follow with me paul's line of thought paul is saying here that while we are not physically there with him To see him face to face We presently live our lives here by faith not by sight by faith Believing believing in him whom we have not seen paul would essentially say with you and I I've not put my hand in his side I'm not stretched forth my finger to place it in the scars of his hands, but I Know whom I have believed in and I am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day And the lord said to thomas that day after his resurrection thomas Because you have seen me You have believed blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed right Peter describes jesus as the one whom having not seen we love For we walk by faith not by sight having not seen him we treasure him Because we walk by faith not by sight one day Faith will become fight and we will treasure him face to face amen Now for the purposes of application we can draw an exhortation we can draw a command from verse seven can't we? And call one another To walk by faith walk by faith brother walk by faith sister. However notice in verse seven That verse seven doesn't describe a command It's not a command verse seven describes how christians normally walk It's how a christian a true christian walks The word is meant to describe how we live our lives That word there peri pateo Some of your translations translate it live right live by faith not by sight Paul is saying we live as an ongoing and Continuous habitual pattern we live by the practice of faith Not by sight by faith Not placing for the normal christian for the everyday christian life not placing our Trust not placing our hope in things that are seen in things of this world But rather placing our trust and hope in him whom we have not seen and yet love Placing our trust our hope in his word and his promises right in other words The natural man Again, the lost man the one dead in sin does not live this way The natural man does not live this way He doesn't live day in and day out as a pattern a continual ongoing pattern of his life Trusting in and looking to the lord jesus christ Believing upon him obeying his commands living for him devoted to him Reading and studying and meditating on his word The natural man does not live that way whereas the christian born again of god's spirit Naturally lives that way Naturally hopes in christ naturally walks by faith naturally looks to christ right as a pattern we live by faith not by sight We sometimes need to remind ourselves of that as paul does here in verse seven Walk by faith. Why because that's what christians do right purge out the old leaven why Because you're a new lump Put off the old man. Why because you are already a new man put on the new man. Why because you are a new man Walk by faith. Why because that's what christians do we walk my faith not by sight Can you see here for paul Why this is no mere blind leap into darkness Why This is no mystical superstition right knowledge Leaves the room And that's where state faith steps in right we put our brains on the shelf And that's where blind faith comes in No No, how should we respond once you have believed his word once you have Understood have apprehended so to speak god's revelation in his son How should we respond once you believe that Lord commands all men everywhere to repent and to believe in the gospel It's the only response worthy Of such grace and mercy right Paul is confident walking by faith In the cause of christ even in the face of death. Why why Because paul's bold trust is grounded in god's immutable and infallible and inerrant word He believes what the lord has said of himself. He believes god's word his law his testimonies his promises His faith grounded in good theology that jesus christ has been raised from the dead It's hope In the promise of god that we will be raised with him And that hope is guaranteed by the presence and work of his spirit within us It's not that faith steps in when knowledge runs out It's not a blind leap into darkness. It's based on the truth of god based on god's word And that truth verifiable By raising the lord jesus christ from the dead and by the work of god's spirit in the believer He is our guarantee our pledge It's not blind faith In the word of some man dead and buried Who went into a cave alone? And came out with what he said Was the word of god and enforced people at the edge of a sword to believe it It's not the blind faith of islam Right, it's not the blind faith It's not blind faith in the word of some man dead and buried Who looked into a hat At golden place that only he alone could translate And then came out with what he said Was the word of god it's not Blind faith in the word of some man because he has doctor in front of his name Or because he's nice Right It's not blind faith in a group of men group of men that make up Orders of popes and councils and magisterium Who have been proven not only to contradict themselves, but to contradict the bible over and over and over again It's not blind faith in some keres maniac faith healing tongue speaking fortune teller Second peter 119 peter says this we have the prophetic word confirmed Which you do well to heed is a light that shines in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts Knowing this first That no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of god spoke as they were moved by the holy spirit That's how the word of god came about we have the prophetic word Confirmed if jesus christ has been raised from the dead then god's word is true and every man is a liar In other words In other words we trust god We live for god we serve the lord jesus christ on the basis of what he has revealed to be true, right? And walking by faith requires That all of life is governed by what he has revealed to be true So knowing what god has revealed to be true believing what god has revealed to be true the prophetic word confirmed in other words fueled paul's confidence and drove paul's conduct ultimately, right paul could Abandon himself entirely to his ministry because he knows that god will not abandon him Not even in death He knows what promised glory lays ahead at the end of his rest at the end of his race The rest that lays ahead at the end of his race paul explains all of this for our admonition, right? This is not specifically referring to paul alone By implication all of those who would believe in him in christ through his word paul explains all of this for our proof For our correction for our instruction in righteousness We can have and should have the same confidence In all our conduct for the lord We should have confidence in our conduct displayed in our conduct displayed in our ministry What does it mean here to live by faith, right paul says we walk by faith not by sight First to live by faith You have to know what to believe We are to know what we are to believe and that's the revealed word of god God's word. We are to know good theology roman's chapter 10 verse 14 How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? We are to know the content of god's revelation concerning his son We are to believe that jesus christ is god the son god Incarnate fully god fully man sent to the world as god's long Promised savior to speak and to save that which was lost First 20 and chapter 15 verse 3 We are to believe that christ died for our sins According to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures 2nd, carinthians chapter 5 verse 21. We are to believe that he god made him christ who knew no sin To be sin for us in our place That we might become the righteousness The holiness right the perfection of god in him What a glorious truth we know this we know it because god raised jesus christ from the dead Jesus christ was raised the third day according to the scriptures Test it out look it up study it There's evidences for the resurrection right Because the sinless savior died my sinful soul is counted free for god the just Is satisfied to look on him and pardon me We're to know what we are to believe secondly Living by faith involves believing then that what we know To be convinced That what we know is certifiably true It's a a settled trust in the word of god A settled trust in the promises of god and the person and work of christ alone for salvation Paul said We have believed in christ jesus that we might be justified by faith in christ and not by works of the law For by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified Ephesians chapter 1 verse 13 in him in christ you also trusted After you heard the word of truth in other words after you have come to the knowledge of what you are to believe You then put your trust in him right in him you trusted after you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation In whom also having believed you were then sealed with a holy spirit of promise Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory It's believing then what we know Believing that that is true a settled trust in the word of god thirdly Living by faith is to then entrust yourself to him Committing yourself to him Acknowledging the truth is not enough There are many of those right who will admit believe and confess Admit that i'm a sinner that's a knowledge that i'm a sinner that doesn't save me believe right believe That god in christ Has promised salvation to those who put their faith and trust in christ is believing in christ confessing your sin But where is the commitment of life? Where is the repentance? Where is the walking by faith? Right even the demons believe james says and they tremble in the fear of god What separates or what distinguishes your so-called faith from that belief or faith of a demon it's this third piece Living by faith is then to and trust yourself to him committing Yourself to it's the only appropriate response to the one who believes the revealed word of god It is trusting christ alone for your salvation. It is then committing yourself to him heart soul mind and strength Living for him obeying his commandments Speaking his face turning from living life for yourself turning from your sin turning from your own preferences your own Worldly desires turning from that old man to put on the new man turning to christ in faith and hope Turning from sin to christ James Montgomery voice I believe it was Told the story of the young man. They worked for the telephone company for a period of time. I believe it was voice that said this that He learned really quick. You'd have to climb up the telephone pole Fix the connections if you work on the transformer box. He was Working on connecting the lines and as he would climb those telephone poles those telephone bowls are just Filled with splinters and jagged pieces, you know wood hanging out So voice when he first started as he's climbing up that telephone pole He would put a strap around himself and the pole and start with his hands and feet trying to shimmy up the pole But he was getting splinters all over his belly all over his chest Trying to climb that pole. He learned very quickly That in order to climb he had to lean back against the strap in other words lean back over The fall so to speak right over that distance Trust the strap lean back so that he could climb The only way that he could climb is through if you want to say it that way faith in the strap, right? John Peyton of 19th century missionary Tells the story of translating the bible Into the language of those people in the south pacific that he was ministering to And he had difficulty in their language Finding a word for faith And so he was sitting in his room one day and some of the local tribes people came in and said something to him Along the lines of you're sitting down today And so Peyton knew the phrase and he leaned back in his chair Sort of changed his posture and he turned to the man and asked him now. What am I doing? And the man said well you're in their language you're resting your weight on the back of the chair Peyton was Entrusting himself so to speak to that chair to hold him up and to support him And it was that word that he latched on to describe faith in their language and translating the bible Do you see leaning back in everything that we do think say ministering preaching the gospel We're leaning on him Committing ourselves to him and trusting ourselves to him as we step out in faith to obey his word We're trusting him that he will supply us with the necessary strength right supply us with what we need He is the one second Corinthians chapter six who makes us sufficient for such things not we ourselves We have to lean on him trusting in him committing ourselves to him three parts of faith Still relying On the testimony of god's word Paul's bold trust In christ leads to a bold hope then in verse eight look at Paul's bold hope in verse eight Paul said In verse eight we are confident Yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the lord We are confident there beginning of verse eight simply repeats the thought of verse six. We are always confident But there in verse eight in the new king james version. There is an untranslated chi or and In the new king james like the esv here where the esv rates. Yes, we are of good courage And we would rather be away from the body and at home with the lord in other words We are always confident in this life. We're always confident in this earthly house this tent this body We have joy and faith and love and hope and courage But we would far rather be there with him right heaven would be far better And notice the theology notice the theology absent from the body Is to be present with the lord when a christian dies He goes immediately to be with the lord in heaven You close your eyes in this life and you open them in bliss with the lord in heaven those words in verse eight Are the same words used in verse six essentially meaning home and away while we're home and in the body We're away from the lord right we'd much rather be away with the lord in other words in other words There's no in between in between place There's no in between state where we are absent from the body and also absent from the lord You see To be absent from the body is to be present with the lord This truth verse eight destroys any notion of purgatory There is simply no such thing. It is a figment of man's imagination Purgatory is a place where a believer goes a believer where a believer goes after death To be purified through suffering Who knows how long a thousand years two thousand years five thousand It depends on how much money they want from you to get them out of purgatory, right? Wicked false teachers There's a place where a believer goes after death to be purified through suffering before he can enter heaven It's a false doctrine that is nowhere in the bible Against the teaching of roman catholicism this truth That to be absent from the body is to be present with the lord destroys any notion of soul sleep A state wherein a believer remains unconscious after death in a perpetual sleep until jesus comes back Again a false doctrine that is nowhere in the bible Destroyed by the truth expressed in second chrithians chapter five verse eight It's against the teaching of jojoba's witnesses and other cults The text is clear to be absent from the body is to be present with the lord Jesus told the penance and thief on the cross didn't he that today You will be with me in paradise But I noticed here in verse eight that he didn't mention Any of the other blessings of heaven, right? He didn't say Absent from the body is to be there with the streets of gold Absent from the body is to swim around in the crystal sea Nope Absent from the body is to experience all the pleasures of heaven. No no He desires to be absent from the body For the preeminent and supreme joy Of being in the presence of the lord jesus christ where our faith becomes sight Because we shall see him face to face as he is right That's the bold hope of every true christian You know before the lord saved me as a lost man sitting in churches And one of the evidences That later became crystal clear proof that I was on my way to hell During that time was the fact that the only reason I really wanted to go to heaven is because I didn't want to go to hell Because I feared hell. I really didn't care One way or the other whether or not jesus christ was going to be there That wasn't what I was looking forward to I wanted to escape hell And the idea that in heaven that heaven would be Made up of the worship for all eternity of the lord jesus christ appealed not to me Are we're gonna be in church for eternity That was an evidence that I was lost Like every genuine believer the bold hope of every genuine christian Is to one day be absent from this body and to be present with him Paul is essentially saying this turn with me to philippians chapter one just flip over a little bit to the right here philippians chapter one Look at verse 19. Paul is essentially saying this Philippians chapter one verse 19 Paul is imprisoned in Rome although he has Suffered there in Rome Paul writes to the philippians with great confidence That god will deliver him even if it means his death look at verse 19 Paul says for I know That this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of jesus christ According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed But with all boldness you could say with all Confidence right as always so now also christ will be magnified in my body whether by life or by death The strong statement isn't it that's a bold statement Notice in verse 20 Paul's earnest expectation and hope is that in nothing I shall be ashamed That's not that's not an empty hope is it because we serve the lord christ You can face the derision and scorn of this world Knowing that in nothing you will be ashamed You can face their false accusations you can face that persecution knowing that we're not ashamed of the gospel in nothing Will we be ashamed god will glorify us That's not an empty hope The world may heap scorn upon us, but in nothing we shall be ashamed that led paul to great boldness For christ whether he would exalt christ in life through his ministry Or exalt christ in death He didn't know but christ will be magnified in my body paul says verse 20 whether by life or by death Whether i live or whether i die christ will be exalted One thing he did know verse 21 for to me To live is christ and to die is gain to live Is to serve christ heart soul mind and strength to die Is to be in the presence of christ right great gain all the things of this world wealth status power Possessions hell a retirement account right prosperity the boat All of it all of it is passing away Paul says to live Is christ That is a powerful statement right meditate on that for just a minute to live Your breath your life your energy your physical ability your mind your prowess your strength Your imagination your desires your hopes your dreams your work your labor your toil your prayer All of it is to be for christ to live is christ However paul says i would be well pleased rather to be absent from this body and to be present with the lord to die is in game Verse 22 if i live on in the flesh This will mean fruit for my labor Yet what i shall choose i cannot tell For i am hard pressed between the two right Paul essentially to the philippians well i love you i really want to go home I would really rather be at home with the lord right Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you philippians And being confident of this i know that i shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith That your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in jesus christ by my coming to you again Paul's bold hope both here philippians chapter one and back in second kranthians chapter five verse eight Is to be with the lord john oan had Many insightful things to say on this subject listen to this from oan He says the hearts of believers Are like the needle touched by the lodestone Which cannot rest until it comes to the point where on two By the secret virtue of it it is directed For being once touched by the love of christ receiving there in an impression of secret ineffable virtue They will ever be in motion and restless until they come unto him and behold his glory That needle vibrating until finally finally it finds its rest in him beholding his glory Owen says that soul which can be satisfied without it That cannot be eternally satisfied with it Is not partaker of the efficacy of his intercession It's not a christian Owen gives a warning no man shall ever behold the glory of christ by sight hereafter Who doth not in some measure behold it by faith Here in this world we are to see the glory of christ by faith christ as revealed in god's holy word Person's not disposed hereby unto it Cannot desire it Whatever they pretend The old they only deceive their own souls in supposing That's so they do Most men will say with confidence living and dying that they desire to be with christ and to behold his glory But they can give no reason why they should desire any such thing Only they think it's somewhat is better Than to be in that evil condition, which otherwise they must be cast into forever hell When they can be here no more if a man pretend himself to be enamored with Or greatly to desire what he never saw nor was ever represented unto him He doth but dot on his own imaginations And the pretended desires of many to behold the glory of christ in heaven who have no view of it by faith While they are here in this world are nothing but self deceiving imaginations As we walk by faith not by sight Where to behold the glory of christ revealed to us on the page of the scripture, you know, we see now in a mirror dimly But we are to behold his glory as revealed to us and Look forward anticipating hastening the day when our faith becomes sight and we see him face to face Paul continues to give the basis for this in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verses 8 and 9 then therefore We make it our aim whether present or absent To be well pleasing to him. That's the response of faith. Is it not to be well pleasing to him for What we know that good theology informing our confidence informing our conduct for verse 10 We must all appear before the judgment seat of christ So that each one may receive the things done in the body According to what he has done Whether good or bad We'll look at those verses next week I'll praise honor and glory right To god who reveals such things to us that we might behold his glory amen Let's take a few moments and pray and I want us to pray that If you're here today And you are a follower of the lord jesus christ a disciple of the lord jesus christ And pray that the lord will fire and fuel our faith with us With this knowledge right that that paul is expressing in this in these verses Um and that believing those things to be true We would commit ourselves to preaching the gospel and serving one another as he's called us to to commit ourselves to that ministry If you're here today And this just doesn't resonate with you you Don't relish the thought of spending an eternity worshiping christ forever in heaven he's not Your bold hope And pray that the lord would be pleased to glorify himself in breaking your heart over your sin and save you for his worship