Christ: Our Unchanging Hope in Uncertain Times

 

Summary

In this sermon, I reflect on the enduring truth of Jesus Christ as the same yesterday, today, and forever, drawing from Hebrews 13:8. This message was delivered at the inauguration of the London Theological Seminary, a momentous occasion that underscores the importance of theological education in challenging times. The Hebrew Christians, to whom the epistle was originally addressed, faced persecution and discouragement, much like the challenges we face today. The world around us is fraught with uncertainty, and the church appears to be in decline, with empty pews and a society that seems to have moved beyond Christianity. Yet, beneath the surface, there is a profound opportunity for the gospel.

A hundred years ago, the church seemed prosperous, but it was a superficial prosperity, masking a deeper spiritual malaise. The Victorian era was marked by a smug respectability and a reliance on past revivals, while new scientific and philosophical ideas began to erode the foundations of faith. Today, the world is disillusioned with the promises of progress and reason, having witnessed the horrors of two world wars and the limitations of human achievement. This disillusionment, however, opens the door for the gospel, as people search for meaning and certainty in a world that offers neither.

The task of the church remains unchanged: to proclaim the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ. Despite the changing scenes of time, the core problem of humanity—sin—remains the same. The church's mission is to address this fundamental issue, offering the hope and salvation found in Christ alone. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is the only Savior, and His work on the cross is complete and sufficient for all time. He is the changeless anchor in a world of shifting sands, offering salvation and hope to all who believe.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Unchanging Christ: Jesus Christ remains the same throughout history, providing a constant source of hope and salvation. In a world of uncertainty, His eternal nature offers stability and assurance to believers. This truth is a cornerstone for faith, reminding us that while everything else may change, Christ's love and power remain steadfast. [01:01:46]

2. Historical Context and Faith: Reflecting on the past century reveals that while the church once appeared prosperous, it was often superficial. Today, despite apparent decline, there is a deeper spiritual hunger. This context challenges us to look beyond appearances and recognize the enduring relevance of the gospel. [10:20]

3. The Task of the Church: The church's mission is unchanging: to address the problem of sin and proclaim the gospel. Despite societal changes, the fundamental human condition remains the same, and the church must continue to offer the hope found in Christ. This mission is as vital today as it was in the past. [39:29]

4. The Illusion of Progress: The optimism of the past, rooted in human progress and reason, has been shattered by historical events. This disillusionment presents an opportunity for the gospel, as people seek meaning beyond the material and the rational. The gospel speaks to this deeper need for purpose and redemption. [27:20]

5. The Completeness of Christ's Work: Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is complete and sufficient, needing no supplement or repetition. This truth is central to the Christian faith, affirming that salvation is found in Christ alone. It challenges any notion that human effort or additional mediators are necessary for salvation. [53:02]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction and Context
- [01:04] - The Unchanging Christ
- [02:32] - Encouragement for the Discouraged
- [06:04] - Historical Reflections
- [10:20] - The Illusion of Victorian Prosperity
- [13:06] - The Rise of Scientific Thought
- [17:48] - Beneath the Surface: Spiritual Malaise
- [24:11] - Today's Challenges and Opportunities
- [27:20] - Disillusionment and the Gospel
- [30:42] - The Changing Scenes of Time
- [39:29] - The Unchanging Task of the Church
- [45:07] - The Changeless Christ
- [53:02] - The Completeness of Christ's Work
- [01:01:46] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Observation Questions:
1. What challenges were the Hebrew Christians facing when the epistle was written, and how does this relate to the challenges faced by the church today? [01:59]
2. How did the sermon describe the state of the church a hundred years ago compared to today? [08:00]
3. What are some of the historical events mentioned in the sermon that have led to the current disillusionment with human progress and reason? [26:09]
4. According to the sermon, what is the unchanging task of the church despite societal changes? [39:29]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the unchanging nature of Jesus Christ provide stability and assurance to believers in a world of uncertainty? [45:24]
2. In what ways does the historical context of the church's apparent prosperity a hundred years ago challenge our understanding of true spiritual health? [10:20]
3. How does the sermon suggest that the current disillusionment with progress and reason opens opportunities for the gospel? [27:20]
4. What does the sermon imply about the sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross, and how does this challenge any notion of needing additional mediators for salvation? [53:02]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt discouraged by the state of the world or the church. How can the truth of Jesus Christ being the same yesterday, today, and forever provide comfort in such times? [01:59]
2. The sermon mentions a superficial prosperity in the church a hundred years ago. How can we ensure that our faith and church community are not just outwardly prosperous but deeply rooted in Christ? [10:20]
3. In what ways can you personally contribute to the church's unchanging mission of addressing sin and proclaiming the gospel in your community? [39:29]
4. How can you engage with those around you who are disillusioned with the promises of progress and reason, offering them the hope found in the gospel? [27:20]
5. Consider the completeness of Christ's work on the cross. How does this understanding affect your daily walk with God and your interactions with others? [53:02]
6. Identify an area in your life where you have sought stability in things other than Christ. What steps can you take to anchor yourself more firmly in the unchanging nature of Jesus? [45:24]
7. How can you encourage others in your church or small group to look beyond appearances and recognize the enduring relevance of the gospel in today's world? [10:20]

Devotional

Day 1: The Eternal Constancy of Christ
In a world filled with uncertainty and change, the constancy of Jesus Christ offers a profound source of hope and stability. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, providing an unchanging foundation for our faith. This truth is a cornerstone for believers, offering assurance that while everything else may shift, Christ's love and power remain steadfast. In times of doubt or fear, we can anchor ourselves in the eternal nature of Christ, knowing that His promises are reliable and His presence is unwavering. [01:01:46]

Hebrews 6:19-20 (ESV): "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel most uncertain or unstable? How can you intentionally anchor yourself in the unchanging nature of Christ today?


Day 2: Beyond Appearances: The True State of Faith
Reflecting on the past century, it becomes evident that the church's apparent prosperity often masked a deeper spiritual malaise. The Victorian era, with its smug respectability, relied heavily on past revivals while new scientific and philosophical ideas began to erode the foundations of faith. Today, despite the apparent decline of the church, there is a deeper spiritual hunger as people search for meaning and certainty. This context challenges us to look beyond appearances and recognize the enduring relevance of the gospel, which speaks to the deepest needs of the human heart. [10:20]

Isaiah 29:13 (ESV): "And the Lord said: 'Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.'"

Reflection: Consider the ways in which you might be relying on outward appearances in your faith journey. How can you cultivate a deeper, more authentic relationship with God that goes beyond the surface?


Day 3: The Unchanging Mission of the Church
The mission of the church remains unchanged: to address the problem of sin and proclaim the gospel. Despite societal changes and the challenges of modern times, the fundamental human condition remains the same. The church is called to offer the hope and salvation found in Christ, addressing the core issue of sin that affects all of humanity. This mission is as vital today as it was in the past, reminding us of the church's role in bringing the message of redemption to a world in need. [39:29]

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV): "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in the church's mission to address sin and proclaim the gospel in your community? What specific steps can you take this week to share the hope of Christ with others?


Day 4: Disillusionment as a Doorway to the Gospel
The optimism of the past, rooted in human progress and reason, has been shattered by historical events, leading to widespread disillusionment. This disillusionment, however, presents an opportunity for the gospel, as people seek meaning beyond the material and the rational. The gospel speaks to this deeper need for purpose and redemption, offering a message of hope and transformation. In a world that often feels empty and directionless, the gospel provides a path to true fulfillment and peace. [27:20]

Ecclesiastes 1:14 (ESV): "I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced disillusionment with the promises of progress and reason? How can you use these experiences as an opportunity to deepen your understanding and embrace of the gospel?


Day 5: The Sufficiency of Christ's Sacrifice
The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is complete and sufficient, needing no supplement or repetition. This truth is central to the Christian faith, affirming that salvation is found in Christ alone. It challenges any notion that human effort or additional mediators are necessary for salvation, emphasizing the completeness of Christ's work. As believers, we are called to rest in the finished work of Christ, trusting in His grace and mercy for our redemption. [53:02]

Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV): "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are relying on your own efforts for salvation or acceptance? How can you fully embrace the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and rest in His grace today?

Quotes



The task confronting us is the state of the world and the state of man. These differences of which people make so much are entirely on the surface. A man's a man for all that. As Robert Burns puts it, in the rank is but the guinea stamp, a man's a man for all that. [00:39:47]

The problem confronting the preacher of today is the same one that has confronted every preacher that's ever existed for nearly 2,000 years. What's the problem? It is man in sin. It doesn't matter whether he flies in an airplane or walks on his feet, he is still the same. [00:40:31]

The world has been following men. It's followed its different and philosophers with great eagerness and with great thoroughness, and they've all failed us. We stand before them and we say there is only one who is deserving of your utter and complete loyalty. [00:46:51]

The Lord Jesus Christ is the savior, and we must assert equally that he is the only savior. There is no other. He needs no help, he needs no assistance, he needs no supplement. There are those who would have us believe that we must also believe in the Virgin Mary. [00:51:06]

He is the only Savior, and so to talk about a World Congress of Faiths or to say that Judaism has got its insights and Hinduism and Buddhism and Confucianism, it is a denial of the very elements of the Gospel. But above all, it is an insult to this one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. [00:52:14]

Christ died once and for all, once and forever, never to be repeated. In the case, he says, of those earthly priests that you had under the old dispensation, you had to keep on changing your priests. They got older and they died, and you had to appoint new ones, priests and high priests. [00:53:05]

Here is one who ever liveth. He's done something once and forever. There is no repetition. There's no need of a repetition because he has done everything. And what this Jesus has done, this Jesus Christ, he has done once and forever, the same yesterday, today, and forever. [00:53:47]

No developments in the future, no discoveries of science, no advances in social, nothing is going to make the slightest difference. Man is a helpless, hopeless, doomed, damned sinner. His greatest need is to be reconciled to God. Nobody can do it except this one. [00:54:32]

We know that we have become sons of God, but we are still in this world, and it's a difficult and a trying world. And there are moments when the world and the flesh and the devil attack us in such a strenuous manner that we are made to shake and to quake. [00:55:56]

He knows all about it. He's been through it all. He's been tried and tempted in all points like you and I have. Never forget this, and he's a sympathetic high priest. You know, one of these hymns, it puts it in a very glorious manner. [00:57:56]

He who for men their short he stood and poured on Earth his precious blood pursues in heaven his mighty plan, the Savior and the friend of man. Though now ascended up on high, he bends on earth a brother's eye, partaker of the human name. [00:58:28]

He knows the frailty of our frame. Our fellow sufferer yet retains a fellow feeling of our pains and still remembers in the skies his tears, his agonies, and cries. In every pang that rends the heart, the man of sorrows has a part. [00:59:06]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 24, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?