ANTIOCH CHURCH OF CHRIST

The Paradoxes of Christianity

The word "paradox" is defined as "A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true."

II. A paradox involves two statements that are contradictory yet true.

A. Today we want to look at "The Paradoxes of Christianity."

Discussion

WE MUST DIE TO LIVE (MT 16:24-26; ROM 6:3-4; GAL 2:20).

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

II. WE MUST MOURN TO BE HAPPY (MT 5:4) "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

(James 4:7-9 NKJV) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. {8} Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. {9} Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

III. WE MUST SURRENDER TO BE VICTORIOUS (MT 19:16-22).

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?"

17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."

18 He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,

19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

20 The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?"

21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

IV. WE MUST HATE TO LOVE (1 JN 2:15-17). 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions-is not from the Father but is from the world.

17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

(Luke 14:26 NKJV) "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

V. WE MUST BE FOLLOWERS TO BE LEADERS (MT 4:19). And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

(John 10:27 NKJV) "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

(John 12:26 NKJV) "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

(1 Pet 2:21 NKJV) For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

(1 Cor 11:1 NKJV) Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

VI. WE MUST BECOME POOR TO BECOME RICH (MT 5:3). "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(2 Cor 8:9 NKJV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

VII. WE MUST BECOME THE LEAST TO BECOME THE GREATEST (MT 20:25-28). 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,

28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

(Luke 9:48 NKJV) and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great."

VIII. WE MUST BE SIGHTLESS TO SEE (2 COR 5:7). for we walk by faith, not by sight.

(Rom 8:24 NKJV) For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

IX. WE MUST BE HOMELESS TO HAVE A HOME (PHIL 3:20). But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

(2 Cor 5:1-2 NKJV) For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. {2} For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,

(Heb 11:13-16 NKJV) 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.