Possessing His Promises

Q: What does the Bible say about God dwelling in His people?

The Bible states that believers are the temple of the living God, and He will dwell in them and walk among them. In 2 Corinthians 6:16, Paul asserts that believers are the temple of God, emphasizing the profound truth that Almighty God chooses to dwell within His people. This divine presence is a precious promise, illustrating God’s intimate relationship with His chosen ones. As believers, we are assured that God walks with us, highlighting that our lives are now characterized by His presence and guidance. This is a remarkable truth, as it reaffirms God's commitment to care for and sanctify His children, which is fundamental to the Christian faith.

Q: How do we know God's promises are true?

God's promises are true because they are affirmed in Scripture and completed in Christ, as seen in 2 Corinthians 1:20. The truth of God's promises is established through the integrity of His Word and the fulfillment of those promises in Jesus Christ. In 2 Corinthians 1:20, it is stated that all of God's promises find their 'yes' in Christ, confirming their certainty and reliability. This assurance is especially important for believers, as it rests not on our efforts or merit but on the faithfulness of God. He is committed to His promises, and they are secure because of the covenant established through Jesus' sacrifice. Therefore, believers can take comfort and hold fast to these promises with confidence.

Q: Why is it important for Christians to cleanse themselves?

Christians are called to cleanse themselves as a response to God's promises and to live in holiness before Him. The call for Christians to cleanse themselves, as articulated in 2 Corinthians 7:1, is a serious and vital aspect of the Christian life. This cleansing is not based on self-effort but is a response to the promises of God, highlighting our need for holiness in light of His presence. The act of cleansing ourselves from filthiness of the flesh and spirit symbolizes our commitment to live righteously and honor God. It's essential for our spiritual growth and to be in alignment with God's will, demonstrating our reverence for Him. Believers are encouraged to rely on the cleansing power of Christ’s sacrifice rather than their own abilities to achieve holiness.

Q: How does God demonstrate mercy to His people?

God demonstrates mercy by dealing with the sins of His people through Jesus Christ, allowing for forgiveness and cleansing. God's mercy is shown in His gracious dealings with sinners, where justice meets mercy through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As emphasized in the sermon, all guilt and deserving punishment of believers were placed upon Christ, allowing God to be just while forgiving us. This is foundational to understanding how God operates as both just and merciful. By applying Christ’s sacrifice to those who believe, God cleanses us from all unrighteousness, making us new creations. Recognizing that we deserve judgment but are granted mercy instead is essential for developing a humble and grateful heart as we grow in faith.

I'm going to ask you to take your Bibles and turn with me to 2 Corinthians chapter 7. 2 Corinthians 7. Lord Witton, I'd like to look at just one verse of Scripture, the first verse. But I'd like to read before we Look at that first verse. Just 2 Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 16. 2 Corinthians 6, 16.

The scripture says, what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God. As God has said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God. Now, those are some precious promises. Precious because the Lord said them. precious promises toward the vessels of His mercy, His compassion. Now you listen to this.

You that believe, you are the temple of God. You're the temple of God. That's what scripture says. What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God. And that almighty God would dwell in his temple. That God would dwell in his temple.

Now, I realize, I've said before, this is more than we can comprehend. that God, Almighty God, He who spoke this world into existence, He who opposed all things by the word of His power, He who knows, He who sees, nothing escapes His observance, nothing. That God, the fullness of God, would dwell in his people, that he would walk with his people, that he would be their God, that he was pleased to be their God. I know what this world says. I know what the world says. Make the Lord your God. Make the Lord your Lord. I'm thinking what a foolish thought that is. That we who are maggots, spiritual maggots, would make God? Who do we think we are? Almighty God. I'd like to just dwell for just a few minutes this morning on this precious thought.

Ye are the temple of God. For back in chapter six, verse 16, he said, I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God. They shall be my people. What a blessing. What a blessing. I'm going to be your God. God Almighty is going to be our God.

Well, chapter 7, verse 1, the apostle Paul was moved to pen these words. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear, in the reverence of God, that we would revere him, honor him. And here's how we honor the Lord.

We believe him. I believe him. I believe God. Having these promises, 2 Corinthians 1 20 says, for all these promises of God in him are yea, in him, amen. They're sure and they're finished. This is the truth of almighty God. You know, we seek by nature, we seek comfort by trying to think upon the things that we've done, that we've done for the Lord. Well, I've, you know, I've gave my heart to Jesus. You know, I've tried to do the right thing. I've tried to be kind to people. I've tried to do that. Things that we've done, that's what we try to find some comfort in.

We don't by nature seek our comfort in the thought that God Almighty has promised to be the God of His people. This is comforting. That Almighty God has not left me to myself. That Almighty God has been pleased to show compassion to this spiritual maggot, a worm, a nobody. Who am I?

The Holy Spirit has shed forth the truth of God's covenant mercy. Paul said, this is all my salvation. I mean, David said, this is all my salvation. This is all my desire. That Almighty God has been pleased to show compassion. I know that if the Lord chose to be just, and he is just, and that he dealt with all of his people, those that he had chosen before the foundation of the world, to show them mercy, And I'll tell you how he shows mercy to his people. He has dealt with our sin, what we deserve. That's what we all deserve. We all deserve in ourselves to be cast into hell. That's what we deserve.

But Almighty God has been pleased to show mercy by being just. And how was God Almighty just? He took all the guilt, all the deservingness of his people, and he placed it upon his son. And the Lord Jesus Christ laid down his life for the sheep, for his sheep.

And having dealt with their guilt, their sin, in the person of Christ, God is just to forgive us our sin. and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. To all who believe God, who believe not in themselves. Now the moment we start thinking, and I know we're all prone to do it, well, I've been faithful, I've been this. But all that believe God, that believe that their sin, their debt, has been dealt with in their substitute.

He is precious. I tell you, the preciousness of Christ, when I think about what does God demand of me, that I can be good enough, that I can do, we're never gonna be good enough. We're never gonna be precious in God's sight because of what we've done. but to realize that God has done something for me that I cannot do for myself. I can't do this. That he has shown mercy to me for the sake of Christ. Lord, for Christ's sake, Lord, show mercy to this sinner.

Realizing what the Lord is demanding, having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us Cleanse ourselves from all filthiness. Cleanse ourselves from all unrighteousness. Cleanse ourselves. Let us cleanse ourselves from filthiness. Let me ask you this. How in the world do you think that a guilty Undeserving sinner is going to cleanse himself by his own will or power, thoughts, or actions. You think a man or woman can cleanse themselves? Now, that's what we're commanded to do. Having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves.

Let me tell you what the scripture says. David prayed this prayer, purge me with hyssop. Lord, discipline me. You discipline me to think right in your sight. Purge me and I shall be clean. Wash me, Lord, you wash me. And I shall be whiter than snow. Lord, if you clean me, if you clean me of the guilt of my sin, I can't do it.

I have no power to do it. I have no will to do it. If God left me to my will, I wouldn't even have shown up today if he left me to my will. I'd have thought of some reason I can't be there. Lord, if you don't do something for me, I'm going to perish. And what does God demand of a sinner?

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't believe in yourself. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Lord, I believe you. Here's what a sinner saved by the grace of God has done. By God's grace, God's given him a new heart to believe him, to trust him. Here's what the Apostle Paul was moved to say concerning his need. Lord, you cleanse your people one way by the application of the blood that was shed by the Lord Jesus Christ on their behalf.

Your blood alone cleanses me. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Christ. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Nothing. What can cleanse me? Nothing. I cannot cleanse myself. I cannot believe enough. I can't trust enough. The mercy of Almighty God is shown unto the objects of His love and affection by electing grace, particular redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ. and the power of God's spirit to regenerate a sinner and teach him. Lord, you teach me. I can't teach myself. I cannot learn enough.

Lord, all I know, I think about that dying thief. How many times have I thought about this scripture ran through my My mind again this morning, I was thinking about that thief on the cross, had been railing on the Lord just like the other thief was, just moments before. And by the grace of God, we saw the evidence of God's grace with a dying thief, guilty, robber, murderer, whatever he had done, pleading, Lord, would you remember me? Would you show mercy to me? Would you show me kindness, compassion?

I'm guilty. I'm guilty. I know I'm guilty. But Lord, you said you came to this world to save sinners. And here's one right here. Here's a sinner that needs mercy. Mercy, told you before. Mercy is for those that know themselves to be guilty. Mercy is shown to those that know they can't do anything to save themselves. Mercy, grace. but to have the promises of God revealed to us. Oh, what grace, what compassion. Having, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh. Again, how do we cleanse ourselves? We believe God has cleansed us.

We believe him. We believe Him, not believe in Him. Like I said before, the demons believe in Him. Demons believe that there's a God. They believe that there's a Christ. But to believe Him, Lord, I believe and trust You that You've done something showing mercy to this sinner. Oh, to possess these precious promises, having therefore these having them in my heart, having them to trust Him, to believe Him. Oh, it's a wonder of God's grace.

According to Zechariah, I'll read this for you. Zechariah chapter 13 verse 1, in that day, what day? Oh, in that day that God's made us to believe him. In that day, there should be a fountain opened to the house of David, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and uncleanness. And it should come to pass, in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered.

Let me tell you what evidence there is that God has given a man, a woman, a new heart. They believe then that they cannot cleanse themselves. They believe that. They believe that God Almighty must cleanse us by the application of what his blood accomplished on Calvary's tree. I will cause the prophet's unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

I'm gonna cause by God's grace, he's gonna cause a man or a woman to remember and to call, call on him for mercy and grace. In 1 John, let me read something to you. 1 John chapter three. 1 John three, verses two and three. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

And every man that hath this hope in himself purifieth himself, even as he is pure. And when the scripture says, exhorts us, that we be purified. How in the world can I purify myself? How can I purify myself who in myself I'm unclean, I'm unbelieving? Having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, purifying ourselves. one way.

I believe God has done it for me. I believe him. I trust him. I cast myself upon his mercy. First John chapter 3 again. I love this passage of scripture. First John chapter 3. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

Therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Doesn't appear right now, because we see only by faith. We don't see it by sight. Doesn't appear to us what the Lord has been pleased to do. But almighty God, according to his word and his promise that if we believe him, that he has purged us from our sins and we call on him mercy, for mercy, grace. Almighty God has shown us compassion. I believe God, I believe him, I believe him.

I know I can't cleanse myself. Ezekiel, Ezekiel chapter 36, Ezekiel 36. Verse 25, then will I sprinkle clean water. Clean water is the blood of Christ. That's the clean water he's talking about. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your filthiness, from all your idols. Will I cleanse you? Lord, I cannot cleanse myself. You that believe, you know that. Lord, you cleanse me. You cleanse me.

I see in me, I still see in my flesh there dwelleth no good thing, and I know it, and I know I must be clean before you. Lord, would you apply what Christ accomplished at Calvary? Would you apply that to me? Would you wash me from the guilt of my sin, from the deservingness of my sin? Would you wash me?

Lord, you've taught me my need of him. A new heart also will I give you. A new spirit will I put in you and take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I'll give you a new heart, a flesh. And I'll put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and keep my judgments and do them.

We are one. God's people are one in Christ. We believe that when he died, he died with our names on his heart. I can't even fathom the depth of that. I think of all these... Neil, you're the one that I heard say one time, in our minds, God is just too small. And I thought, that's so true. That's so true. God Almighty who looks and sees and knows every thought, every action, every intent, and took all of the guilt of our frailty, and Christ bore it.

I can't even pray as I would desire. I've told you, my mind's all over the place. I call myself prey, and I think if God judged me by the frailty of my prayer, he'd put me in hell if he judged me for that. I can't even speak to him as I would desire. I can't even ask or write, oh, that the Lord would make application of the preciousness of what the Lord in Christ has done for me.

And lastly, having therefore these promises, the Apostle Paul declares that we be perfected in holiness and fear of the Lord. At fear, I respect him. I respect him Lord. That you would be pleased. To take a. A worm like me. And grant me. Lord, the. The beauty. Of that precious blood that would share you apply that to me and Lord, you'd be pleased to take me when I leave this world. and take me into your presence, and allow me to reign in Christ with you forever. Oh, the depth.

Oh, the beauty of this word, 1 Corinthians 1.30. He, the Lord Jesus Christ, is made of God unto us. Wisdom. Wisdom. Christ, the wisdom of God. Righteousness. The righteousness of God in Christ. Sanctification. Holiness is what that word means. And redemption. That Christ is made unto us everything that God demands. What does God demand of the objects of his mercy? What does God demand of them?

Believe. You believe me. Are you telling me that there's nothing that God demands of me in my actions or thoughts, that nothing God demands of me to do to establish righteousness? There's nothing that I can do. We know that we cannot perfect that which Almighty God has done. That's a gross lie.

I've told you before, we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, but we don't grow in holiness. Christ is our holiness. The Apostle Paul said in Colossians 128, whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. What does God demand of a sinner? Belief. You believe him. Lord, I believe you. As I said before, I believe in you. I believe him. Lord, that which you accomplished, Lord, make application of what you've done in Christ to this sinner.

Beloved, we never look for holiness in an unholy body of flesh. I cannot please God in myself. But Lord, you have, and you will, if you're pleased to, show mercy to me, a sinner. You said you came to this world to save sinners. Lord, by your grace, you've made me to know I'm a sinner. I'm a sinner. Lord, help me. Lord, save me.

I'm like Peter, I think, about what we looked at here the other day. Peter was sinking. I can't even believe it. He was able to get out the words. By the grace of God, he did. Lord saved me. Lord helped me. And Lord, may you receive all the honor and glory and praise for showing mercy. And you did it for Christ's sake.

Possessing His Promises

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about God dwelling in His people?

How do we know God's promises are true?

Why is it important for Christians to cleanse themselves?

How does God demonstrate mercy to His people?

Sermon Transcript

About Marvin Stalnaker

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Possessing His Promises

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about God dwelling in His people?

How do we know God's promises are true?

Why is it important for Christians to cleanse themselves?

How does God demonstrate mercy to His people?

Sermon Transcript

About Marvin Stalnaker

Comments

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