The Mystery of Glory – a sermon by Tim Melton

2 Corinthians 3:16-18, Colossians 1:27 – A sermon preached by Tim Melton, August 14, 2011, At Surfside PCA Church, Myrtle Beach, SC

Download Mp3 Here

In this sermon, I share an illustration about a veiled bride.  At His return, Christ will unveil His bride, not only to reveal his glory to her, but to reveal her glory to Himself.  I could think of no better picture to represent this idea than a photograph of Princess Grace Kelly.  Beautiful huh?

.

The Mystery of Glory:  The Goal of God’s Future is that he is preparing the True You to worship the True God in a True World

Colossians 1:27 – To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 – But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate (Behold, Gaze upon) the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory (from one degree of glory to another), which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Quotes:

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”  – C.S. Lewis

“We must meet the uncertainties of this world with the certainty of the world to come.” – A. W. Tozer

Gospel Thought: Come Unto Me is the first Command

How often I struggle in my flesh to obey the secondary commands of the Gospel, while forgetting the first command “Come unto me and I will give you rest… (Matthew 11:28).”

Because of my commitment to self-glory, I resist the Gospel call of Christ to come to Him.  Instead I struggle to obey every other command, and in the effort I’m crushed, angered, demoralized, filled with every demonic fear, overcome with worry, and grasping at any idol I can find to save me.  The first command is not a command at all, it is an invitation that, if resisted, guarantees our demise.

Gospel Thought: Hoping is Better than Wishing

.Hoping is much better than Wishing

Wishing Hope:  is like a road in the country. There was never a road–but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.  Those who walk that road wish in a vacuum with no sure direction.

Confident Hope: is NOT following a road because it is well-worn and reliable, but it is using a road because it is going somewhere good, and that road is used by a well-worn and reliable guide.

Gospel Hope: comes into existence when the road we travel is the way of Christ that leads to heaven, paved by the Cross, made sure by the Resurrection, and when our reliable guide is the Holy Spirit Himself who resides within us.  “Christ in you, the Hope of Glory!”

The Mystery of Hope – a sermon by Tim Melton

The Mystery of Hope, Colossians 1:27 – A sermon preached by Tim Melton, August 7, 2011, At Surfside PCA Church, Myrtle Beach, SC

Download Mp3 Here

In this sermon I use an illustration about “bitter crushed almonds” and their relationship to delicious Amaretto.  The picture on the left is of two cups of steamy, sweet, Amaretto Coffee – my favorite!

Gospel Thought: We can’t turn from sin, unless we turn to Christ

Any attempt to turn away from sin without turning first to Christ, guarantees defeat.  We will fail (Romans 7:21-25).  This is a fleshly, worldly repentance that is without power and without hope.  Turning away from sin without first turning to Christ only turns me to even greater sin.  Turning away from sin without first turning to Christ, turns to me toward pride, self-effort, and cold religious duty.  Turning away from sin without turning to Christ, thrusts me into shame, casts me into anger, and drives me into isolation.  Turning away from sin without first turning to Christ, leads me to a cave of despair where I contemplate the hopeless prospect of cutting off my hands just after I gouge out my eyes with a spoon.

Gospel Thought: Jesus gives the desire and the power to turn from Sin

Repentance is not turning away from sin and then turning to Christ.  Repentance is turning to Christ.  Jesus gives us the desire and the power to turn from sin.  Any other approach is absolutely disastrous.