11-29-09 Sermon Review

Remember Your Benefits
John 14:15-31

John Piper last week wrote a short post on why someone should want to be a Christian. He gives one reason. I'm sure he'll agree with me though, that there isn't just one reason why someone should want to become a Christian. They are myriads upon myriads of blessings as a believer. John Piper simply boils it all down to one. It is good however, to take our time and consider the benefits we have in Christ. Psalm 103:2 commands, "forget none of His benefits." It will do us well to contemplate all that we have in Christ.

The passage today lends itself to such meditations. We find it in the context of Jesus comforting His disciples preparing them for what they are about to experience. He comforts them by way of reminder and promises. These are truly comforting not only for the disciples, but also for us since their benefits are also ours. Though this may seem like overkill, please bear with me as we look at fourteen blessings in Jesus' comforting words. Today, we'll only look at five of them, and we'll finish the rest next week.

We are driven by love to live the Christian life. Jesus starts off this passage with the words, "if you love me" Why should we live the way Jesus calls us to? Because we love Him! Christianity is not simply about God loving us but also about us loving God. We are not driven to obey because of a great fear of punishment but rather because of a great love for Jesus. Remember that Jesus did not say, "If you fear me" but, "If you love me".

We have a perfect and good Law. "If you love me, you will obey my commands." This presumes that Jesus had given them commands. Have you ever been at job where they never told you what you should be doing? It's quite fun until your boss comes around and tells you that you're fired because you didn't get any work done. But Jesus has given us His commands. We do not need to guess what our Savior desires from us! These commands are perfect and good. They are complete because they address all of life. They are good because it comes from the only good God for the benefit of our souls. Let us rejoice that we have a perfect and good law to obey!

We have a great High Priest. "I will ask the Father." Do you find this statement delightful? I do. I find this delightful because it is an apt picture of grace! We as sinners have no right to come before the Father. We are banned from His presence. However, Jesus asks the Father on our behalf! The son pleads on the behalf of those who have infinitely offended His Father. Do you see grace? His High Priestly role allows us to experience all the blessings we have from the Father. We should not fear approaching the Almighty for we have a great High Priest who will plead our case before the Father.

We have a Helper forever. "He will give you another Helper, that He may be with your forever". What is so great about this Helper? Let us first address how this Helper helps us. The word parakletos used here was specifically used to refer to a legal defender. We are so often plagued with doubt concerning God's promises. Are we really children of God? Are we really going to see Jesus? I'm such a sinner, how could I ever expect to see Christ? The Spirit, our Helper defends us against these thoughts. He testifies to our spirits that we are indeed children of God and brings confidence for us in God's promises (cf. Romans 8:16, 17). What a blessing to have a constant, eternal Helper!

We are not deserted orphans. "I will not leave you as orphans." Do you feel deserted here on earth? Where is Jesus? Where is the hope of His coming? Day after day passes by, and yet He is not here. Well rest assured for our Lord will definitely return. He loves us so and though He be away, He cares for us and is intimately concerned with all our breath and life. We have a joyous reunion with our Maker and our Lord awaiting us in the future. What hope we have in Christianity!

I pray these five points have been a blessing for you. Next week we'll look at nine more. Count your blessings. Do not forget what you have in Christ. Declare it in the morning, meditate on it at night. God bless!