Embracing Confidence in Christ Through Triumphs and Trials

 

Summary

In this session, we explored the profound concept of placing our confidence in Christ, delving into the multifaceted nature of this confidence. We began by revisiting the doctrine of union with Christ, which assures us that we share in both His triumphs and His sufferings. This duality is beautifully encapsulated in Philippians 3:10, where Paul speaks of knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection, but also sharing in His sufferings and becoming like Him in His death. This notion challenges us to embrace not only the victories but also the trials that come with being united with Christ.

Reflecting on the cultural shifts from the 1970s to the present, we noted how the church's position in society has evolved. Once seated at the "cool table," Christians now face increasing marginalization, especially in Western contexts. This shift brings us closer to the experiences of early Christians, who understood suffering and persecution as integral to their faith journey. The cross, a symbol of shame and weakness in Roman times, stands at the heart of our identity as believers, reminding us that true strength is found in embracing our weaknesses.

Paul's writings in 2 Corinthians 12 further illuminate this paradox. Despite his remarkable experiences and revelations, Paul chooses to boast in his weaknesses, understanding that God's power is perfected in them. This counter-cultural stance challenges us to redefine strength and authority, not through worldly standards, but through the lens of Christ's example.

The incarnation itself is a testament to this divine paradox. From Mary's humble status to Christ's birth in a manger, the story of Jesus defies societal norms and expectations. It teaches us that God's ways often subvert human logic, inviting us to trust in His sufficiency rather than our own capabilities.

As we navigate a post-Christian culture, we are called to find our confidence in Christ, embracing both the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. This confidence is not rooted in external validation but in the profound truth that Christ reigns as King, even as He identifies with our frailties.

Key Takeaways:

- Union with Christ means sharing in both His victories and His sufferings. This duality challenges us to embrace the full spectrum of the Christian experience, recognizing that suffering is not a detour but a part of our journey with Christ. [01:52]

- The cultural marginalization of Christians today mirrors the early church's experience, reminding us that our identity is rooted in the cross, a symbol of shame and weakness. This calls us to redefine strength through the lens of Christ's example. [06:50]

- Paul's choice to boast in his weaknesses, as seen in 2 Corinthians 12, teaches us that God's power is perfected in our frailties. This counter-cultural stance invites us to find our strength in Christ's sufficiency rather than our own capabilities. [13:20]

- The incarnation of Christ, from Mary's humble status to His birth in a manger, defies societal norms and expectations. It reveals that God's ways often subvert human logic, inviting us to trust in His sufficiency. [19:18]

- As we navigate a post-Christian culture, our confidence in Christ is rooted in the profound truth that He reigns as King, even as He identifies with our frailties. This confidence is not based on external validation but on the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. [24:58]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Confidence in Christ
[00:47] - Union with Christ
[01:21] - Sharing in Sufferings
[02:21] - Cultural Shifts
[03:04] - The Cool Table
[03:56] - New Cultural Moment
[05:08] - Marginalization and Suffering
[06:18] - The Cross as Shame
[07:23] - Christ's Reign as King
[08:13] - Embracing Weakness
[09:14] - Paul's Sarcasm and Weakness
[10:52] - Boasting in Weakness
[12:51] - Paul's Thorn in the Flesh
[13:58] - Strength in Weakness
[15:33] - Counter-Cultural Message
[17:16] - Living the Christian Life
[18:49] - The Incarnation's Paradox
[20:25] - Disciples' Misunderstanding
[21:52] - Bearing the Cross
[23:15] - Luther's Final Journey
[24:30] - Confidence in Christ's Dual Nature

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Confidence in Christ

Bible Reading:
1. Philippians 3:10 - "That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
2. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
3. Luke 1:46-48 - "And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.'"

Observation Questions:
1. What does Philippians 3:10 suggest about the dual nature of our union with Christ? How does it describe both the power and the suffering involved? [01:21]
2. In 2 Corinthians 12, what does Paul mean when he says, "For when I am weak, then I am strong"? How does this reflect his understanding of strength and weakness? [13:58]
3. How does the cultural shift from the 1970s to the present affect the church's position in society, according to the sermon? [03:56]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the counter-cultural nature of Christ's incarnation and life? [18:49]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of sharing in Christ's sufferings challenge the modern understanding of success and strength? What implications does this have for believers today? [05:37]
2. In what ways does Paul's boasting in his weaknesses in 2 Corinthians 12 serve as a model for redefining strength in the Christian life? [12:51]
3. How does the sermon suggest that the church's current marginalization can bring believers closer to the experiences of early Christians? [05:08]
4. What does the story of the incarnation, particularly Mary's role, teach us about God's values versus societal values? [19:18]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenge or trial in your life. How can you view this experience as sharing in Christ's sufferings, and what might you learn from it? [01:52]
2. In what areas of your life do you feel weak or inadequate? How can you invite God's power to be perfected in these weaknesses? [13:20]
3. How can you redefine your understanding of strength and success in light of Christ's example and Paul's teachings? What practical steps can you take to embrace this new perspective? [06:50]
4. Consider the cultural shifts mentioned in the sermon. How can you remain confident in your faith despite societal changes and pressures? [05:37]
5. Identify a situation where you feel marginalized or out of place because of your faith. How can you find confidence in Christ's reign and His identification with your frailties? [07:23]
6. Think about a time when you relied on your own capabilities rather than trusting in God's sufficiency. How can you shift your focus to trust more in His provision? [18:19]
7. How can you actively embrace the paradox of Christ's incarnation in your daily life, choosing humility and service over societal expectations? [19:18]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Full Spectrum of Union with Christ
Union with Christ involves sharing in both His triumphs and His sufferings. This duality is a profound aspect of the Christian journey, challenging believers to embrace the entirety of their experience with Christ. Philippians 3:10 encapsulates this beautifully, as Paul speaks of knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection, while also sharing in His sufferings and becoming like Him in His death. This perspective invites Christians to see suffering not as a detour but as an integral part of their spiritual journey, where they are united with Christ in both joy and pain. [01:52]

"For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." (2 Corinthians 1:5, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a recent trial or challenge in your life. How can you view this experience as a part of your union with Christ, sharing in both His sufferings and His triumphs?


Day 2: Redefining Strength Through the Cross
The cultural marginalization of Christians today mirrors the early church's experience, reminding believers that their identity is rooted in the cross, a symbol of shame and weakness. This calls for a redefinition of strength, not through worldly standards, but through the lens of Christ's example. The cross, once a symbol of Roman shame, stands at the heart of Christian identity, teaching that true strength is found in embracing weaknesses. This counter-cultural stance challenges believers to find their strength in Christ's sufficiency rather than in external validation. [06:50]

"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on worldly standards of strength? How can you begin to redefine strength through the example of the cross today?


Day 3: Boasting in Weakness for God's Power
Paul's writings in 2 Corinthians 12 highlight the paradox of boasting in weaknesses, understanding that God's power is perfected in them. Despite his remarkable experiences and revelations, Paul chooses to boast in his weaknesses, teaching that divine strength is made perfect in human frailty. This counter-cultural message invites believers to find their strength in Christ's sufficiency, rather than their own capabilities, and to embrace their weaknesses as opportunities for God's power to be displayed. [13:20]

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a weakness you often try to hide. How can you begin to see it as an opportunity for God's power to be displayed in your life?


Day 4: Trusting in the Paradox of the Incarnation
The incarnation of Christ, from Mary's humble status to His birth in a manger, defies societal norms and expectations. This divine paradox reveals that God's ways often subvert human logic, inviting believers to trust in His sufficiency rather than their own capabilities. The story of Jesus' birth teaches that God's plans often unfold in unexpected ways, challenging believers to trust in His wisdom and timing, even when it defies human understanding. [19:18]

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a situation where God's ways seemed illogical to you. How can you trust in His sufficiency and wisdom in that situation today?


Day 5: Confidence in Christ's Reign Amidst Frailty
As believers navigate a post-Christian culture, their confidence in Christ is rooted in the profound truth that He reigns as King, even as He identifies with their frailties. This confidence is not based on external validation but on the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. In a world that often marginalizes faith, Christians are called to find their assurance in the eternal reign of Christ, who understands and shares in their human weaknesses. [24:58]

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways are you seeking external validation for your faith? How can you shift your confidence to be rooted in Christ's reign and His understanding of your frailties?

Quotes


And because we are united with Christ -- this wonderful doctrine of union with Christ -- we, then, are brought in, and we participate in the full benefits of that which Christ receives and which Christ has. We like to celebrate that. In fact, if you look with me at Philippians chapter 3, verse 10, we see the first half of verse 10 as a very positive thing; of what it means to be in Christ, and what it means to participate in all that He accomplished. [00:00:28]

But also being united with Christ means that we share in His sufferings and that, as Paul says here, we become "like Him in His death." Now, what does this mean? And I especially want to think in terms of the implications of this in this moment we find ourselves in. So if we could go back a generation -- let's just go back a generation and we'll start it at the 1970s. [00:02:01]

And so we have new questions to ask about what it means to be a Christian in culture. In many ways, I think -- as we anticipate where things are going, and we see where things are going culturally, and what it means for folks who stand on genuine biblical conviction -- in many ways, we may be having more in concert with the pages of the New Testament than in previous generations; especially, I'm thinking here, of the American church, or the church in the West. [00:04:25]

The cross, we now have it nice and shaped as jewelry, and it's fine, and we use fine, precious metals to make crosses. It was an execution symbol in the first century. And not only that, but it was reserved for the lowest of the low. In Roman culture, the cross was very simply a symbol of shame. The cross represented the ultimate social outcast who was pushed not only to the margins, but pushed even outside of the margins. [00:06:22]

On the one hand, we see that Christ currently reigns as king. We speak of Christ as holding the three offices -- Prophet, Priest and King -- and so, as king, He reigns. He reigns over all things. And that is certainly a basis for us to have confidence. Christ is king. Christ rules. It's not that He will rule; He rules now. And so that's a basis for confidence. [00:07:23]

But there's also another basis for confidence, and it has to do with this idea of what the cross represents; what embracing those things that seem very counter-intuitive -- embracing the suffering and the shame -- that seems so counter-intuitive, but in fact, I think, is presented to us in the pages of Scripture as very much at the core of who we are and at the center of our identity. [00:07:55]

So, this is Paul. And what's going on here? Well evidently, Paul is not really that great of a spokesperson. Now, we've got to put this in the first century context. Rome was a culture that valued strength, that valued the physical form, the perfect physical form. Paul, apparently, was anything but that. There's this understanding he's going to talk about his "thorn in the flesh." Maybe Paul had a bad back, right? [00:09:42]

So what we're going to see here in chapter 12 is he's going to boast about his weakness. Now, this is very counter-cultural, what he's doing here, this move. If I were his PR guy, I would recommend he take a different approach if he's trying to win over the Corinthians. So he says, "I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. [00:11:07]

And the lesson is this: "My grace is sufficient for you." And so what the chronology tells me is that this is not about coming to grips with our weakness so that we recognize our utter dependence upon Christ, so that we can have our sins forgiven and His righteousness imputed to us, so that we can stand before a holy God. This is not about conversion. This is about living the Christian life. [00:17:13]

Everything about the incarnation points away, again, from what was valued the most in the first century. And everything about the incarnation is counter-intuitive. First of all, we even have to start before the actual birth of Christ, which itself is remarkable, with Mary. Mary is not a good choice. She's likely a poor, unknown, we would say 'socially marginalized' young lady. And yet that's where the story of the incarnation begins. [00:18:49]

Even the disciples -- the closest, intimate relationship with Christ -- even they could not grasp this idea of the cross. King, who dies on the cross is the king of a very strange kingdom. You know, at the end of Calvin's Institutes, in book four -- and I'm so convenient to have the Institutes right here when I need them; don't leave home without them! At the end of book four, Calvin's talking about the state. [00:21:20]

We can have confidence in Christ because Edwards -- Edwards spoke of the -- let me make sure I get this right -- the "admirable conjunction of divine excellencies in Christ Jesus." Do you know what that means? That means that He is the reigning king who is king over all things, and He is a helpless babe in a manger. And it is in Christ that we put our confidence, so that we may know Him, the power of His resurrection, and also that we share in His sufferings and we understand what the cross fully means. [00:24:36]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Feb 21, 2024. Do you have any questions about it?

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