A Recommendation

1. A Recommendation • Often people will ask for a recommendation to a place of business when they are in a strange town. Usually someone is more than willing to give one because they feel certain they know of a place just like the person is looking to find.

2. A Recommendation • Sometimes we receive requests for personal recommendations from people. Sometimes we can give them, sometimes we cannot. However, at this point, I want to unreservedly recommend someone to you. But, of course, there are some that would not even recommend Him. In fact, some have despised Him.

3. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Life And Character Of Christ • He alone has lived the perfect life - Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Heb 4:15

4. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Life And Character Of Christ • Peter, who knew Him intimately, said of Him that he "did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" - 1 Pet. 2:22 Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth 1 Pet 2:22

5. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Life And Character Of Christ • Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and Peter himself, were great in the service of the Lord • But no such statement could be made of them. • For as noble as these were in many respects, not one of them was perfect.

6. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Life And Character Of Christ • The attitude that Christ had toward God would lead Him to faithful obedience. • Even when He faced the horrible death of the cross • He knew that it was His Father's will - Jno. 1:29 • He said, "not My will, but Yours be done" - Lk. 22:42 Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Jn 1:29

7. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Life And Character Of Christ • On more than one occasion, God said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" - Matt. 3:17; 17:5 • So, it is the will of God that we should look to this noble character as our perfect example - Phil. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 1 Pet 2:21 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3:17 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” Matt 17:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus Phil 2:5

8. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Authority Of Christ • All authority belongs to Him - Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Matt 28:18

9. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Authority Of Christ • The apostle Paul tells us of the authority of Christ - Eph. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9-11

10. A Recommendation which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph 1:20-23 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:9-11

11. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Authority Of Christ • There are many authorities in the world. • Civil governments, parents, religious authorities (such as -- the pope, councils, conventions, conferences, synods, etc.) • When we accept completely the authority of Christ our relationship with all other authorities will fall into place - Rom. 13:1-7

12. A Recommendation Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Rom 13:1-7

13. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Authority Of Christ • There are many authorities in the world. • Civil governments, parents, religious authorities (such as -- the pope, councils, conventions, conferences, synods, etc.) • When we accept completely the authority of Christ our relationship with all other authorities will fall into place - Rom. 13:1-7 • Some we will accept and obey -- others we will of necessity have to reject - Acts 5:28-29; 4:17-20

14. A Recommendation saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" 29But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:28-29 “But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” 18And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:17-20

15. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Gospel Of Christ • First of all, it is the power of God unto salvation - Rom. 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Rom 1:16-17

16. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Gospel Of Christ • All men stand in need of salvation from sin - Rom. 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom 3:23

17. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Gospel Of Christ • This gospel was made possible by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ - 1 Cor. 15:1-4

18. A Recommendation Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Cor 15:1-4

19. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Gospel Of Christ • It contains great facts and truths to believe, great commands to obey, and great promises to be enjoyed.

20. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Gospel Of Christ • When one obeys this gospel, he will have the remission of sins and be led to a higher and nobler way of life - Acts 2:38 • For every requirement that God makes of us is for our total good – for our physical, moral, and spiritual good always - Deut. 6:24-25 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

21. A Recommendation And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. 25Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He has commanded us. Deut 6:24-25

22. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Name Of Christ • Today there are many names worn in religion • Some of them are outrageous - others are even silly • Many of these cannot even be found in the word of God • But the name of Christ can be freely and unreservedly recommended - Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

23. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Name Of Christ • The name of Christ is pre-eminent - Phil. 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:9-11

24. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Name Of Christ • It is the name in which repentance and remission of sins should be preached throughout the whole world - Lk. 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Lk 24:47

25. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Name Of Christ • It is the name in which we are to be baptized for the remission of sins - Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

26. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Name Of Christ • It is the name in which all things are to be done religiously - Col. 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Col 3:17

27. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Name Of Christ • Human names, in matters religious, are divisive and condemn - Matt. 15:7-14 • When the Corinthians identified themselves with human names, Paul said that they were carnal - 1 Cor. 1:10-12; 3:1-4

28. A Recommendation Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 1 Cor 1:10-12 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? 1 Cor 3:1-4

29. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Church Of Christ • Today, we hear people refer to "my church" or "your church" or "Doctor So and So's church.”

30. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Church Of Christ • But the only one that can be truly recommended is the one belonging to Christ. • It is the one that was in the eternal purpose of God - Isa. 2:2-4; Eph. 3:8-12

31. A Recommendation Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD'S house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. 3Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore. Isa 2:2-4 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Eph 3:8-12

32. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Church Of Christ • But the only one that can be truly recommended is the one belonging to Christ. • It is the one Christ promised to build - Matt. 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matt 16:18

33. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Church Of Christ • But the only one that can be truly recommended is the one belonging to Christ. • It is the one Christ died for - Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, Eph 5:25

34. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Church Of Christ • But the only one that can be truly recommended is the one belonging to Christ. • It is the one He purchased with His own blood - Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28

35. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Church Of Christ • But the only one that can be truly recommended is the one belonging to Christ. • It is His body - Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18-24; Eph. 4:4

36. A Recommendation And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph 1:22-23 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight--23if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. 24I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, Col. 1:18-24 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; Eph 4:4

37. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Church Of Christ • But the only one that can be truly recommended is the one belonging to Christ. • It is the one of which He is the Savior and Head - Eph. 5:23; 1:22-23

38. A Recommendation For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Eph 5:23 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph 1:22-23

39. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Church Of Christ • But the only one that can be truly recommended is the one belonging to Christ. • It is His Kingdom - Col. 1:2, 13; Matt. 16:18-19

40. A Recommendation To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Col 1:2 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, Col 1:13 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matt 16:18

41. A Recommendation • I Want To Recommend The Church Of Christ • But the only one that can be truly recommended is the one belonging to Christ. • It is the one that He will deliver back to His Father when the end comes - 1 Cor. 15:24

42. A Recommendation Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 1 Cor 15:24

43. A Recommendation • So, without any reservation, we can recommend to you the Christ. • If you will respect His authority, obey His gospel, wear His name, be a faithful member of His church, you will enjoy an abundant life here and hereafter.