Christ for Me
Hymn 331
Whom have I Lord, to help, but thee?
None but thee! None but thee!
And this my song through life shall be.
Christ for me! Christ for me!
He hath for me the winepress trod;
He hath redeemed me by his blood;
He reconciled my soul to God;
Christ for me! Christ for me!
I envy not the rich their joys;
Christ for me! Christ for me!
I covet not earth’s glitt’ring toys!
Christ for me! Christ for me!
Earth can no lasting bliss bestow;
“Fading” is stamped on all below;
Mine is a joy no end can know;
Christ for me! Christ for me!
Though poor and humble be my lot.
Christ for me! Christ for me!
He knoweth best; I murmur not;
Christ for me! Christ for me!
Though vine and fig tree blight prevail,
The labor of the olive fail,
And death o’er flocks and herds prevail,
Christ for me! Christ for me!
Though I am now on hostile ground,
Christ for me! Christ for me!
And foes beset me all around,
Christ for me! Christ for me!
Let earth her fiercest battles wage,
And foes against my soul engage.
Strong in his strength, I’ll stand their rage;
Christ for me! Christ for me!
Taste
Before
Serving
2 Corinthians 13:5
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith;
prove ye your own selves.”
 What do we
examine?
 What is
“the faith”
 How do we
do this
examining?
 How do we
“prove our
own selves”?
Psalm 26:2 (ASV)
“Examine me, and prove me; try my heart and my
mind.”
My Memorial Experience
 Two Nights Before Memorial I was in the Hospital
 Having Insomnia, I Reviewed the Passover
Mentally
 I Reviewed the Pros and Cons of Controversial
Questions
 This Was Not What the Passover Was About
 It was About Jesus’ Death for the Sins of All in
Adam
 The Disciples Quibbled on the Way to the Last
Supper
 Every Year We Seem to Quibble Also
 Then I Examined my Spiritual Life
Here is What I Found
Too Little
Judgment
Too Much
Knowledge
Romans 14:1 (NKJ)
“Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to
disputes over doubtful things.”
1 Timothy 1:4 (20th Century)
“Nor to devote their attention to legends and
interminable genealogies, which tend to give rise to
argument rather than further that divine plan which
is revealed in the Faith.”
1 Corinthians 2:2
“For I determined not to know anything among you,
save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
I Also Found
Too Little
Application
Too Much
Understanding
1 Corinthians 13:2
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and
understand all mysteries; and though I have
all faith, so that I could remove mountains,
and have not charity [agape love], I am
nothing.”
James 1:23-25
“But if any be a hearer of the
word, and not a doer; he is like
a man beholding his natural [lit.,
face of birth] face in a glass: for
he beholdeth himself, and goeth
his way, and straightway
forgetteth what manner of man
he was. But whosoever looketh
into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein,
he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word,
this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Two Mirrors Contrasted
The Law was perfect,
man was not. Therefore,
frustrated, they forgot
the obligations or kept
them in form only.
Law – Led to Forgetfulness
The Gospel judges by
heart intent, therefore
encourages believers to
transformation of
character.
Gospel – Led to a New Life
2 Corinthians 3:18
“But we all, beholding with open
face as in a glass the glory of
the Lord, are changed into the
same image from glory to glory,
even as by the spirit of the
Lord.”
“From one stage of heart
development to another making
the necessary progress to be
ready for the final stage when we
shall share his glory.” – R5717
Romans 12:1,2
“I beseech ye, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service. And be not conformed unto this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Outline of Romans 12
 Verse 1 – Consecration
 Verse 2 – Transformation (Sanctification)
 Verses 3-8 – Evaluation of Our Role
 Verses 9-21 – Application
 Especially Good in Phillips Translation
I Also Found
Too Little
Spirituality
Too Much
Formality
Matthew 23:23-26
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and
have omitted the weightier matters of the law,
judgment, mercy, and faith, these ought ye to have
done, and not to leave the others undone. Ye blind
guides, which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the
platter, but within they are full of extortion and
excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that
which is within the cup and platter, that the outside
of them may be clean also.”
Hypocrites
 Strongs 5273, “An actor under
an assumed character.”
 “It was a custom for Greek
and Roman actors to speak in
large masks with mechanical
devices for augmenting the
force of the voice; hence the
word is used metaphorically
of “a dissembler, a hypocrite.”
-- Vine’s Expository Dictionary
Matthew 15:7-9
“Ye hypocrites, well did
Esais prophesy of you,
saying, This people
draweth nigh unto me
with their mouth, and
honoreth me with their
lips; but their heart is far
from me. But in vain they
do worship me, teaching
for doctrines the
commandments of men.”
The Pharisee In Us
 Guardians of Divine Law and Ancestral Customs
 Kept Separate from Those of Questionable Integrity
 Prided Themselves in Denouncing Impurity
 Set Up Man-Made Rules to Prevent Breaking of Law
 Gave Equal Weight to These Laws and Scripture
 Were Rigid and Unyielding
 Took Pride in Their Righteousness Being Recognized
 Looked Down on Those They Regarded as Inferior
The Herald, September-October 1988
John 4:23,24
“But the hour cometh,
and now is, when the
true worshippers shall
worship the Father in
spirit and in truth: for
the Father seeketh
such to worship him.
God is a spirit: and
they that worship him
must worship him in
spirit and in truth.”
I Also Found
Too Little
Compassion
Too Much
Service
Luke 10:40-42
“But Martha was cumbered with
much serving, and came to him,
and said, Lord, dost thou not care
that my sister hath left me to
serve alone? bid her therefore
that she help me. And Jesus
answered and said unto her,
Martha, Martha, thou art careful
and troubled about many things;
but one thing is needful: and
Mary hath chosen that good part,
which shall not be taken away
from her.”
Mark 6:31-34
“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart
into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were
many coming and going, and they had no leisure so
much as to eat. And they departed into a desert
place by ship privately. And the people saw them
departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither
out of all cities, and outwent them, and came
together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out,
saw much people, and was moved with compassion
toward them, because they were as sheep not
having a shepherd: and he began to teach them
many things.”
2 Timothy 4:2
“Preach the
word; be
instant in
season,
out of season;
reprove,
rebuke,
exhort with all
longsuffering
and doctrine.”
Reprint 3189
“It was in season for the
multitude, because they
were gathered there, and
their attention was riveted
upon him. Had [Paul]
consulted his own
convenience he would
have said that it was very
much ‘out of season’
for himself; — that he was in no condition to speak,
his nerves were excited and his body was bruised.”
I Also Found
Too Little
Love for Man
Too Much
Witnessing
Matthew 23:15 (Emphatic Diaglott)
“Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites;
because you go about the sea and the dry [land], to
make one proselyte, and when he becomes, you
make him a son of Gehenna, double of you.”
Double; Greek diploo, from which we get our English
word “duplicate.”
Do we seek to make a Christian or a “Bible Student”?
Romans 9:1-3
“I say the truth in Christ, I lie
not, my conscience also
bearing me witness in the
holy spirit, that I have great
heaviness and continual
sorrow in my heart. For I
could wish that myself were
accursed from Christ for my
brethren, my kinsmen
according to the flesh.”
Paul’s Compassion
Romans 9:31, 10:2
“But Israel, which followed
after the law of righteousness,
hath not attained to the law of
righteousness. . . . Brethren,
my heart’s desire and prayer to
God for Israel is, that they
might be saved. For I bear
them record that they have a
zeal of God, but not according
to knowledge.”
Paul’s Compassion
Jeremiah 20:9
“Then I said, I will not make mention of him,
nor speak any more in his name. But his
word was in my heart as a burning fire shut
up in my bones, and I was weary with
forbearing, and I could not stay.”
Ezekiel 3:17-19
“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman to the
house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my
mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say
unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou
givest them not warning; the same wicked man
shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at
thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn
not from his wickedness, not from his wicked way,
he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered
thy soul.”
I Also Found
Too Little
Listening
Too Much
Disputation
Proverbs 18:13
“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it
is folly and shame unto him.”
Proverbs 26:17
“He that passeth by, and meddleth with a struggle
belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog
by the ears.”
Paul’s Advice to Timothy
“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which minister questions, rather than godly edifying
which is in faith; so do.” – 1 Timothy 1:4
“He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy,
strife, railings, evil surmisings.” – 1 Timothy 6:4
“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that
they do gender strifes,” – 2 Timothy 2:23
TO TITUS: “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies,
and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are
unprofitable and vain.” – Titus 3:9
Wise Words from a Wise Man
“Only by pride cometh contention; but with the well
advised is wisdom.” – Proverbs 13:10
“The beginning of strife is like
breaching a dam. Therefore
stop contention before
quarrelling breaks out.”
– Proverbs 17:14 (Web
Translation)
“A fool’s lips bring strife, and
his mouth invites a flogging.”
-- Proverbs 18:26 (RSV)
Jude 3
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto
you of the common salvation, it was needful for me
to write unto you that ye should earnestly contend
for the faith that was once delivered unto the
saints.”
We can contend
without being
contentious.
I Also Found
Too Little
Substance
Too Much
Trivia
Get to the Point
“And further, my son, by these be admonished: of
making of many books there is no end; and much
study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep
his commandments; for this is the whole duty of
man.” – Ecclesiastes 12:12,13
“Ever learning and never coming to the
knowledge of the truth.”
– 2 Timothy 3:7
“The Devil is in the Details”
Questions on
Details Can
Divert from
the Main Point
Time Spent on
Details is Time
Not Spent on
Main Point
All Scripture is Important
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness.” – 2 Timothy 3:16
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall
not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4
Frank Lloyd Wright

Style Follows Substance
And the Substance Is:
 Man, created perfect, fell into sin in Eden
 Therefore all were born into a sinful state
 Christ died to redeem Adam and his entire race
 God has called out of man a bride for his Son
In the simplicity of the plan and
 Christ hasnot
returned
his church
and to set up
every for
minutia
of detail.
his kingdom
 The Church is to receive a heavenly reward
 All men will be resurrected on earth
All the Rest are Details
Brethren . . .
We are preparing
a “feast of fat
things” for the
entire world; let
us taste it first to
make sure we
serve it just right!
Only Thee
Hymn 213
Only Thee, my soul’s Redeemer!
Whom have I in heaven beside?
Who on earth,
with love so tender,
All my wand’ring
steps will guide?
Only thee, only thee,
Loving Savior, only thee.
Only thee! No joy I covet,
But the joy to call thee mine –
Joy that gives the blest assurance,
Thou hast owned and sealed me thine.
Only thee, only thee,
Loving Savior, only thee.
Only thee! I ask no other;
Thou art more than all to me;
Present life, or present comfort –
I resign them all to thee.
Only thee, only thee,
Loving Savior, only thee.
Only thee! Whose blood has cleansed me,
Would my raptured vision see,
While my faith is spreading upward,
Ever upward, Lord, to thee.
Only thee, only thee,
Loving Savior, only thee.