STUDY No. 50 - THE PRE-EMINENCE OF HIS PERSON

The name 'Matthew Henry' is fairly well known among students of God's word. He was the compiler of Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary. This is a monumental work which covers all sixty-six books of the Bible. Considered a wordy commentary by some, it is nevertheless a spiritual one that has helped more preachers in their preparation of sermons than any other.

When I was a young Christian, an older friend with whom I worked gave me one day a small book by Philip Henry who, I soon discovered, was Matthew Henry's father. My friend had written inside "Greetings to Ron, 4th December 1953", and above this "Bought for 3d on a bookstall 28-2-43" (That's three old pence).

In this small book I found 40 complete sermon outlines, each based upon a name or a description of Christ:

Bought for 3d?  To me, this book has been invaluable over the years.
I have selected just 3 out of the 40 (greatly condensed!) as the basis for the last of this series of studies.....

1 - CHRIST OUR FOUNDATION

Basic text to ponder: 1 Corinthians 3:2
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation, and believers are the building reared upon that foundation.

1. WHAT KIND OF FOUNDATION IS CHRIST?

1. He is a specially laid foundation,  Isaiah 28:16 .
 Intended from eternity.  Ponder Psalm 89:19-29 .
2.  He is a low foundation.  Philippians 2:8
 Made man		  Galatians 4:4 
 Presented, perfect; yet punished!
 Low in the grave JESUS lay !
3.  He is a promised stone foundation.  Psalm 118:22  Matthew 16:18 
 with 1 Peter 2:4-8
4.  He is an unseen foundation,  1 Peter 1:8  .
 Yet He is with us. Matthew 18:20  Matthew 28:20
 He is precious, proven and permanent!!! Never will fail us.

2. HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO SUCH TRUTHS?

i. We should TRUST HIM COMPLETELYJohn 3:16.
    Hear His word, believe on Him and have? John 5:24
ii. We should renounce our trust in anything or anyone else.
    Forsaking All I Take Him = FAITH
iii. We should use every means of grace given by God that we might be built up on Him (Ephesians 2:20-22). In Acts 2:42 we have four 'means of grace' for starters. What others do you know?

Want a special blessing? Then memorise this hymn:
    MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS
    THAN JESUS' BLOOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS........

2 - CHRIST OUR FOOD

Basic text to ponder: John 6:51
Our Lord Jesus Christ is bread to us. Believers must feed upon HIM. But it is a spiritual sense - we are not cannibals!

1. WHAT KIND OF BREAD IS CHRIST?

Bread is some kind of corn, rye, wheat or barley. It is thrashed and ground, kneaded and baked. It becomes food for us. We eat it and are nourished by it.
He is our spiritual bread. See Luke 24:46; compare 1 Corinthians 2:2.
The Bread of God  John 6:51
He is Bread given by God  John 6:32
He is the living Bread  John 6:51
He is meat or food INDEED  John 6:51
BREAD OF HEAVEN - Substantial, Suitable, Satisfying!

2. WE SHOULD LEARN TO EAT OF HIM - John 6:35

What is meant by this? Philip Henry says BELIEVING. There is deep truth here worth pondering:
Take-eat-chew-digest. -  See Ephesians 3:17,18

As with the Living Word, so the written word: Take-read-study-ponder-hold in the mind.
Notice our Lord is not intending literal eating of Him. There is no transubstantiation here. How could He? He was present with them!

3. IF WE EAT OF HIM WE SHALL LIVE FOREVER

See these promises in John, chapter 6:
verses: 39, 40, 44, 47, 50, 51, 53, 54, 57, 58, 63, 68, 69.

3 - CHRIST OUR FREEDOM

Basic text to ponder: John 8:36
It is God's Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who alone can make us FREE!

1. HE HAS A WAY OF DOING THIS

Freedom presupposes bondage or slaveiy.
There is a freedom of:
the body... the soul...
• the Israelites from Egypt  John 8:34 - from bondage to sin
• the Israelites from Babylon  2 Peter 2:19 - from being overcome by sin
• the Jews from the Romans
i. The PENALTY to be paid:
    Luke 12:58, 59    Romans 4:25
ii. The NATURE to be overcome:
    Luke 13:11, 16 (She could not lift herself!) but Romans 6:14-19, 22.
iii. The FEAR of death. (All subject by nature.)
    But reconciled: Romans 8:15, 16; relieved: Hebrews 2:14

2. WHAT KIND OF FREEDOM GIVEN?

REAL freedom  -  not fancied or imaginary!
INWARD freedom  -  Galatians 2:20    1 Corinthians 7:22    Romans 6:22
COSTLY freedom  -  1 Corinthians 6:20    1 Peter 1:19

3. HOW CAN WE APPLY THESE TRUTHS?

  1. We learn the main difference between people as individuals. They are free in Christ or slaves to Satan. See Luke 16:15    2 Timothy 2:25    Psalm 119:45.
  2. We must stand in our liberty. See Galatians 5:1
  3. We must proclaim our liberty to encourage others. They too may find freedom!  See Mark 5:19.
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