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Southern, Northern, Eastern, Western Comfort

Confession: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 1, QA 1-2

Scripture: cf. outline

Preacher: Rev. David Inks

Sermon Outline:

• Introduction
• 1. Why We Need Comfort? (Mark 7:21-23, Hebrews 9:26)
  2. What is Your Only Comfort in Life & Death?
     1. I Belong to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
     2. He Has Paid for All My Sins (1 Peter 1:18-19, Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 2:20)
     3. He has Set Me Free from the Devil (2 Timothy 2:24-26, Colossians 1:13, Ephesians 6:16, Revelation 12:11, Hebrews 2:15, Philippians 1:23)
     4. Christ Watches Over & Preserves Me (Matthew 10:28-31, Romans 8:28, Psalm 23)
     5. Christ Assures My Trembling Heart (Romans 8:16, Ephesians 1:13-14, Luke 11:13, Romans 5:5, Philippians 2:12-13, Galatians 5:22-24)
     6. Christ Gives Me a New Spiritual Heart (Ezekiel 36:25-27, 2 Corinthians 5:14-17, Ephesians 5:22-24, Colossians 3:15-17)
• Conclusion

Sermon Video:

The Heidelberg Catechism:

Lord’s Day 1

Q.1 What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A. That I am not my own,but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has delivered me from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, also assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Q.2 How many things must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?

A. Three: first, how great my sin and misery are; second, how I am delivered from all my sins and misery; third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.

Scripture Reading:

Mark 7:21-23 (King James Version)

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Hebrews 9:26 (King James Version)

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (King James Version)

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Peter 1:18-19 (King James Version)

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Ephesians 1:7 (King James Version)

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Galatians 2:20 (King James Version)

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 (King James Version)

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Colossians 1:13 (King James Version)

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Ephesians 6:16 (King James Version)

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Revelation 12:11 (King James Version)

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Hebrews 2:15 (King James Version)

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Philippians 1:23 (King James Version)

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Matthew 10:28-31 (King James Version)

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Romans 8:28 (King James Version)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Psalm 23 (King James Version)

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Romans 8:16 (King James Version)

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Ephesians 1:13-14 (King James Version)

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Luke 11:13 (King James Version)

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Romans 5:5 (King James Version)

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Philippians 2:12-13 (King James Version)

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Galatians 5:22-24 (King James Version)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 (King James Version)

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

2 Corinthians 5:14-17 (King James Version)

14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ephesians 5:22-24 (King James Version)

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Colossians 3:15-17 (King James Version)

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

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