Skyscraper Ministries/Lectures/2005 Baptisms/The Other Seventy Training Academy
The Virtuousness: Christian Class,
II
Sermon Notes
And
the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. 64 And when they had blindfolded
him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is
it that smote thee? 65 And many other things blasphemously spake they against
him. 66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief
priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye
will not believe: 68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. 69
Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said
unto them, Ye say that I am. 71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves
have heard of his own mouth. (Luke 22:63-71)
Christ expects class because His children have been adopted
into His beloved family. Notice the scriptures below that speak to the
spiritual adoption of Gods children:
- Romans 8:15 For ye have not received
the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of
adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
- Romans 8:23 And not only they, but
ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we
ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the
redemption of our body.
- Romans 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom
pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving
of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
- Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were
under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
- Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the
good pleasure of his will,
- Whereby are given unto us exceeding
great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust. And beside this, giving all
diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to
temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these
things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. “2 Peter
1:4-8”
- Lie not one to another, seeing that ye
have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man,
which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
(Col 3:9-10)
- Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have
been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
An innocent Christ was questioned concerning His deity and
Lordship. The supreme power who put into perfect execution, the building of the
universe in six days, found Himself rudely interrogated by His own mortal,
terrestrial, and inferior creation. During the most grim and ghastly episode in
His earthly life, Christ sought not self vindication. Neither was He a man of
many words. Christ shared that which was enough, and what He expressed and
verbalized never conflicted with His divine or human character. Jesus, under
extreme duress, always maintained His power, virtue, and class. When a persons
heart was not right, Jesus remained guarded and refused to reveal His treasures
and water of life. Thus, He often responded, “Thou sayest it.”
Again, under extreme persecution and ridicule, Jesus
maintained His balance and class. His disposition was never diminished and His
demeanor remained divine. Christian class is the essence of following Christ. “And the whole multitude of them arose, and
led him unto Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this
fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying
that he himself is Christ a King. 3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the
King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.” (Luke 23:1-3)
The response of Christ through His cup of suffering was not
for Himself, but for others. Jesus never allowed the focus to be placed upon
Him. He was always concerned about the next person. This was the time when
Jesus could have begun to extol the words, “It sure is hard being Jesus. I bear all burdens, must continue to love, I
cannot sin, I can ever lash out, this
is difficult work.” However, Jesus exuded Christian class. “And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian,
coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear
it after Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of
women, which also bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning unto them
said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for
yourselves, and for your children. 29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the
which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare,
and the paps which never gave suck. 30 Then shall they begin to say to the
mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31 For if they do these things
in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” (Luke 23:26-31)
Some of the last words of Christ equate to His true class. “And there were also two other, malefactors,
led with him to be put to death. 33 And when they were come to the place, which
is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the
right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:32-34). This was a true statement for
those who crucified Christ, they were unclear of the magnitude of their
actions. Many today are denying Christ with full assurance that He is Lord and
Master.
- And one of the malefactors which were
hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God,
seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we
receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy
kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say
unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 44
And it was 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:
and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:39-46)