OceanSide church of Christ

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Biblical Paradoxes (Part 2)

by: Dalton Gilreath

I.                When we are weak we become strong (2 Cor 12:10)

A.    Paul understood that through weakness he became strong in the Lord

                                                    i.     When we are weak we realize our need for Christ’s strength

                                                   ii.     Christ Himself was crucified looking weak to the Romans (2 Cor 13:4)

B.    We look weak to the world around us as well (2 Cor 4:6-10)

                                                    i.     We do not talk or fight back to brutes around us

                                                   ii.     We are mocked and persecuted but little does the world know we are truly the strong ones

II.              It is more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35)

A.    When we give to the poor our Lord becomes a debtor to us (Prov 19:17)

                                                    i.     What a thought that He pays us back with interest

                                                   ii.     No wonder we receive more when we give

B.    How does He pay us back? (Psa 41:1-3)

                                                    i.     Through delivering us, strengthening us, and protecting us

                                                   ii.     These are worth more than anything money can buy

                                                 iii.     No wonder Paul said we reap like we sow (2 Cor 9:6)

III.            Becoming free means becoming a servant (Rom 6:18)

A.    When we serve sin we are free from righteousness

                                                    i.     When we serve righteousness we are free from sin

                                                   ii.     I can’t have it both ways

B.    Likewise, I am either a servant, tool, of Satan’s or God’s (Rom 6:16)

                                                    i.     If I am in sin I am a slave to Satan

                                                   ii.     Of course, serving righteousness means serving God (Rom 6:22)

                                                 iii.     Which one am I free of and which one am I serving?

IV.            I can’t live until I die (John 12:24)

A.    A seed is buried under the earth dead and then produces fruit

                                                    i.     In order to live spiritually I have to die to the old man (Rom 8:13)

                                                   ii.     I must crucify him like Christ (Gal 5:24)

1.     Those affections and lusts are now gone

2.     I have repented of sin and died to my old self

B.    Paul said he was crucified with Christ and yet he lived (Gal 2:20)

                                                    i.     It is Christ living in us and we not living for ourselves anymore

                                                   ii.     Christ must increase and I must decrease (John 3:30)

1.     It is like the song, “All of self and none of thee”

2.     By the end it becomes, “None of self and all of thee”