[0:00] partially on the theme of resurrection in the passage. I welcome you to turn with me to 2nd Corinthians chapter 4. We'll be studying verses 13 through 15 this morning.
[0:15] The title of the sermon is not because I'm speaking in tongues or coming up with some gibberish for you. You know, I want you to, my question for you is, what do you know?
[0:28] What do you know? Hopefully that helps to make it more memorable for you this morning. What do you know? So, what do you know with so much confidence that it guides your life?
[0:49] We all believe something. We all have truths that shape the way we act. What do you know? What do you believe? Do you know Christ? Are you so sure of who he is that you could speak confidently on the things of God? If someone asked you, hey, you believe Jesus rose from the dead?
[1:13] Why do you think that? Could you give a defense? What do you know? 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verses 13 through 15. This is continuing our study in the book of 2nd Corinthians.
[1:29] Please follow along with me as I read. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed and therefore I spoke.
[1:42] 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. For all things are for your sakes, that grace having spread through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
[2:09] This is the word of the Lord. So I have two main highlights for you. Know and do. So what do you know?
[2:22] The most important thing to know about is Christ. If you have wisdom in earthly things or even Christian things, but you do not know about Christ, it is worthless.
[2:37] You might know the stock market well enough to have a massive portfolio, to live in luxury. But one day your soul will be required of you.
[2:49] And what will you say in your own defense? The only defense anyone has to offer is Christ. And so the one thing that matters the most is what you do with this man called Jesus.
[3:03] What do you know about the one who is called the Son of God, the Savior of the world? Earlier in 2 Corinthians, sorry, in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verses 1 and 2, we would read, And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom when I declared to you the testimony of God.
[3:30] For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Paul, the apostle of God, who had been a Pharisee, well-educated in the scripture, he would have been able to list countless scriptures from his memory.
[3:50] He was knowledgeable about things of the world, about Jewish law, about politics, and all of these things. Well-educated, well-taught, a citizen of Rome.
[4:00] And he says, when I came among you, it wasn't earthly wisdom and eloquence that I put before you. But I put one thing. As if I only knew one thing.
[4:14] As if all my education had left me. I could only speak to you in one way. That of Christ in him crucified. If you know that, nothing else matters.
[4:30] If you don't know that, nothing else matters. It's whether or not you know him. There's one thing that matters.
[4:42] We all come in various levels of intellect or academic knowledge. But the smartest person with the most PhDs is hopeless if he doesn't know Christ.
[4:55] I love this one story about some educated man who was trying to poke at the Bible. And, you know, he was explaining that what the Bible accounts as the parting of the Red Sea was likely just a ebb tide where you had only a few inches of water and the sea didn't actually part.
[5:18] But this is just a natural phenomenon that God had nothing to do with. And some uneducated lady in the crowd says, praise God for drowning all those Egyptians in just a few inches of water.
[5:32] She refused to let worldly wisdom skew her off of the truth of the Bible, which was plain to her.
[5:44] If you know Christ, you have the one thing that is necessary. So you must work to know about Christ. Just as Paul says here, We believe and therefore speak knowing, knowing these things.
[6:01] What do you know? Do you know the gospel? Do you know that truth well enough that nothing is going to shake you from it?
[6:11] You know, if someone came to me today and tried to tell me that Tony was a mean-spirited man who hated everyone around him and took advantage of people at every opportunity, I would say, you're ridiculous.
[6:28] I know, Tony. There's no chance that that's true. That's because he paid you to say that. Maybe. Maybe. But the question is, if someone came to you and asked about the gospel, are you as confident about that as I would be about Tony's character?
[6:48] Are you going to be easily swayed from this truth? Or have you worked it down so deep in yourself that if someone tried to poke at it, your faith would remain unshaken because you know it to be true.
[7:03] As we know, things fall down and fire is hot. This is what it is to know the truth. I love how Peter talks about this in 1 Peter 3.15.
[7:14] But sanctify the Lord your God in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
[7:29] That means they should see a hope in you because of the gospel. And that means you should always be ready to answer the question if people ask, what do you believe and why does it mean so much to you?
[7:43] Know the truth. Christ lived a perfect life. He was completely without sin. Are you aware of that?
[7:54] Have you thought about that? It's amazing. It's unbelievable. And yet, that perfect man, we learn in the gospel, he was not raised up and praised by everyone around him, but instead he was crucified.
[8:16] The perfect man was put to death on the cross. And for what purpose? To atone for sinners. Do you know about the atonement?
[8:27] You know, someone might come to you and they might ask, okay, Jesus died on the cross. So what? What does that mean for me? Could you tell them that his death was in the place of ruined sinners like you and me?
[8:42] That anyone by faith has their debt transferred to him and they gain his righteousness? Are you confident in these truths? I love how Colossians speaks about it.
[8:55] Colossians 1, 19 through 21. For it pleased the Father that in him, that is Jesus, all the fullness of God should dwell.
[9:06] And by him to reconcile all things to himself. By him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
[9:20] And you who were once alienated and enemies of God in your mind by wicked works, Yet now he has reconciled you. Do you know this truth that the blood of the cross makes peace between God and sinners?
[9:38] Do you know the resurrection? Do you know why it's even important? Many of us could list the gospel truth of the atonement of Christ.
[9:49] But if I asked you, why was it necessary for Jesus to be raised from the dead? Could you explain it to me? Because in Jesus's resurrection, what we have there is God's declaration that the sacrifice is complete.
[10:08] That the debt is paid in full. Romans teaches us that the wages of sin is death. And that means that if Jesus remained dead, he would still be paying for sins.
[10:23] But because he was raised up, that is proof that the payment has been fully made. And there is now no more debt. If Jesus isn't raised, we are dead in our sins and trespasses and there is no forgiveness.
[10:40] But since he is raised, you are free. The debt is paid. It's like when you take out a loan on your car. The title is held by the bank.
[10:53] But then when the title is, when the loan is paid in full, the bank sends you the title. As proof that it now belongs fully to you.
[11:07] Jesus' resurrection is that title in the mail. It is that proof that the debt is paid. Know these things.
[11:19] That's what Paul says. We believe and therefore speak. Knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus.
[11:35] We have newness of life. We will conquer death if we know that God had Jesus to conquer the grave. So know the gospel.
[11:47] Know the truth of it. Jesus' perfect life. His atonement and his resurrection. Know the Bible.
[11:59] It is true. It is the word of God. It is inerrant. That means there is no verse here that you will find that is untruthful.
[12:14] Every aspect of it is rich. 2 Timothy 3.16 says, All scripture is given by inspiration of God. That means that God puts it into the minds of men to write down.
[12:27] And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
[12:40] Do you know this word? Do you know and believe its truthfulness? You should. This is the word of life.
[12:53] Paul knew it. And he labored hard so that the Corinthians would know it. Will you labor to know this word?
[13:05] To know its teaching, which is profitable for you. You learn many things in life to make your life easier. Think about how most of you have learned to drive.
[13:19] And how much that knowledge has made making your way through the world much simpler. Well, the profit of knowledge of this book outstrips any other knowledge.
[13:36] To be rich in knowledge about the Bible is to know the design of the universe and the creator of it. He is the light that makes sense of all things.
[13:50] I was talking earlier in the Bible study. How when we are dead in our sins and trespasses. It is like walking through a room in the darkness. It's a good way to stub your toes and bark your shins.
[14:03] You know, you have to feel around and go slowly. Especially if you're blind. It's even worse. But as soon as the light comes on, it becomes much easier to pick your way through.
[14:15] So too with life. When you walk in darkness. You stumble. You find pain everywhere you go and difficulty. But when the light of scripture comes on.
[14:28] Suddenly the path through life becomes clear. But some of us.
[14:39] We all. Have doubts. When you come to scripture. It's going to teach things that don't make sense to you. Or someone might raise a point about the resurrection or the gospel.
[14:54] That you don't know how to answer. In your own studies, you may come across a text where you're like, that doesn't make sense to me. And so what do you do?
[15:05] Do you just let them pile up until it's enough to outweigh your faith in the word and you throw the book out? No.
[15:15] I encourage you to wrestle with your doubts. When a question in your heart is raised about the truths of the Bible. Search and understand until you find that that doubt is taken away by a massive weight of truth.
[15:36] Test the Lord and see that he is good. See that his word is true and profitable. Sometimes my dad will say something that comes across harmfully.
[15:52] That hurts me or offends me. And it's confusing because I know he loves me. So why would he do something like this? And so then that's a doubt in my mind.
[16:06] So I come to him and I ask him about it. And then he explains, oh, I didn't mean that that way.
[16:17] What I said wasn't intended to hurt you. And I had no desire to cause you pain. And he explains what he actually meant. And suddenly my doubt is washed away by the revelation of truth.
[16:32] So too with the word. When you have questions, read on. Study more. Ask God to make plain to you what he means.
[16:45] And you will find your confidence in the truths of the Bible strengthening. So that is knowing. But I need you to know that knowing doesn't just stop at the head.
[17:00] It has to make its way down to your heart. There are people who can quote the Bible endlessly. But they do not live the Bible endlessly.
[17:13] Jesus says to the Pharisees, you search the scriptures, believing in them that you have eternal life. But these are them which testify of me.
[17:24] They knew the Bible forwards and backwards. But they missed Christ right in front of them. The word has to make that travel from your head to your heart.
[17:38] And to flow out of your heart into action. Matthew 24, it says, Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
[17:56] And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house. But it did not fall for it was founded on the rock.
[18:07] But everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
[18:18] And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat on the house. And it fell. And great was its fall. If you hear this word and it is not united to you by action, you have no real knowledge of it.
[18:37] Paul quotes Psalm 116 when he says, What is written? I believe and therefore I spoke. We also believe and therefore speak.
[18:53] If you know these things, it must produce action. And that first action is speaking. What you know speaks out of you.
[19:05] Perhaps you know about football and you'd be happy to talk about it for long times. Or maybe you know about home improvement and the various tasks of that.
[19:19] Maybe a TV show or a video game. Your favorite book series that you could happily speak on for long periods of time. You should know the word and you should speak the word.
[19:35] You should have this work down so deep into you. You should be so confident of you, of it, that as people speak to you, they can't help but hear its influence in your life.
[19:49] The words of this scripture should be in your mouth. People in your life should hear it from you. What things are you comfortable talking about in the world instead of the Bible?
[20:08] Are you happy to list politics and to debate them with people passionately? But you're never happy to debate, to bring the word of God between people, to bring the gospel and the truth of Christ?
[20:23] What you know should speak out of you. What you know should also unite you with other people. Look at verse 13.
[20:36] And since we have the same spirit of faith, Paul here is highlighting that both himself and the Corinthians have faith in Christ through the spirit of God.
[20:49] They both know that the Lord raised up Jesus and will raise up believers with him. And knowing that they have a unity.
[21:02] This church is not to be united around our favorite hobbies. It's not to be united around our favorite foods. Tony's pasta.
[21:12] It's not to be united around a certain color of skin or a certain economic status.
[21:23] Oh, this is the church for the people with the nice clothing. Or this is the church for the people with the broken down cars. No, this church is to be united around the knowledge of Jesus Christ and his word.
[21:38] The knowledge of the Bible unites people together. And if you know the word of God and you use it to divide people, to divide believer from believer, you are misusing it and misapplying it.
[21:58] The purpose of the word is to unite people around God into local churches. What you know unites. What you know encourages.
[22:12] Look at what Paul says in verse 14 and 15. Knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will present us with you.
[22:25] For all things are for your sake. That grace having spread through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
[22:37] So last week I preached on suffering in the Christian life. We know that that is a real truth.
[22:47] And Paul here closing out that idea wants to encourage them to remember that one day they will be raised to life again with Christ.
[23:00] The answer to all of the troubles of this world is that one day this world will die. One day you will die. And you will be raised again with Christ if you believe and trust in him.
[23:17] What you know should encourage you because you should know that death is not the end. That this life is not the end of the story. But there is a better story that comes when you turn the page.
[23:33] The story of glory. What you know should encourage you. And finally, what you know should bring glory to God.
[23:45] He says in verse 15. All things are for your sakes. That's for your good. That grace having spread through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
[24:01] The right reaction of knowing Christ. That grace having spread through the many may cause thanksgiving to the glory of God. That the world might be filled with many people who have repented and believed, been saved from their sins.
[24:18] Be raised to a newness of life. That you all might gather together thanking God for the good things he has done.
[24:28] So that he might be glorified and exalted above all other things. What you focus on learning and knowing and what you do shows that which you think is glorious.
[24:44] Let me say that another way. When you spend a lot of time learning about something. You show that it is valuable to you. When you spend a lot of time doing something.
[24:58] You show that it is valuable to you. And when you spend your time learning the word. And then having it shape your life.
[25:08] You show to the whole world and to the heavenly host. That the one thing that is most valuable is this God and his word. How you live.
[25:21] What you know. Brings glory to God. So in conclusion. I encourage you. To make sure you know these truths.
[25:36] Make yourself deeply confident of them. Not an artificial confidence that just comes from being stubborn. But the real confidence that comes from study and life and time and experience.
[25:54] That as you work this down deep into your heart. Like Psalm 1 says. The blessed man meditates on the law of God day and night.
[26:05] That as you pursue these things. You will become deeply confident of them. Even as I have. And labor to become even more confident.
[26:15] Then go speak and live. Know these truths. Then go speak and live. And if you do these things.
[26:28] You will be sons of your father. You will be like your savior. Who knew and therefore spoke. You will be like the apostle Paul.
[26:38] Who is one of the pillars that God builds his heavenly city on. You will be a faithful believer. Bringing glory to your savior. Do this all in the humility and meekness of sinners who have received grace.
[26:54] Grace by this knowledge. Let's close in prayer. Lord God. It is through your word that we have come to know and to believe.
[27:08] We ask you to plant it deep down within us. As we read in the study earlier. That we would be seed sown on good soil that yields fruit.
[27:20] Lord might we receive the engrafted word with meekness. And give all glory to your name. Knowing that we are nothing without you.
[27:32] Might we fulfill our task as image bearers. And be united as a congregation around your truth. And might the word see and know through us.
[27:44] That you are the one true God. It is in your son's name we pray. Amen.