"Regarding No One According to Flesh" - Dr. H.B. Charles, Jr.

this even have the privilege now of introducing our speaker Reverend dr. HB Charles he is the pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church up in Jacksonville Florida many of you know him he has a reputation that well precedes him in fact Terence earlier expressed concern for the carpet in the building my concerns for the windows because HB has the has reputation for threatening windows when he preaches so Lord willing we were in not simply for a treat but for an edifying word our brother has been focused a lot on the subject of preaching he was given an honorary doctorate from master seminary in California he has written several books on pastoring the difference Jesus makes on preaching and it happens after prayer I'm sure he'd want to say far more important than all of that is his family his wife crystal and three kids HB the third Natalie and Haley last thing I wanna say about my brothers I'm grateful that he's here he actually came into this picture pretty late in the game and when asked if he would come and give the opening sermon I was just delighted when he said that he would I'm really intrigued to hear what he has to say from God's Word from this text and second Corinthians and so with that I'll turn it over to my brother HB Charles [Applause] good evening grace and peace be multiplied to each of you tonight in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord I'm grateful to brother Eric for the invitation to be with you this evening and to have the opportunity to share in this conference and the more to get the privilege of giving this opening word I want to publicly say thank you to him for the very kind and gracious invitation as he mentioned there's a full slate of very capable speakers it's a joy to be added to the list let me further just say I'm here because of Terry Johnson yeah I am grateful for my friendship with dr. Johnson and I saw an email in the middle of the night and he connected pastor Eric and I and I'm grateful that he made that connection and it's a joy to see him tonight and to be with him as well when I talked various he mentioned late in the game with a pastor about this opportunity I told him literally when we talked as I was preparing to preach the first sermon to my church in 2019 on New Year's Day that I was preaching from 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verses 16 through 21 and Woody object if I just you know I have a philosophy if it's good enough to feed my family it's good enough for yours would he object to me taking a stab at it in our time tonight you'll hear a lot about the theme tonight I just want to work through a text if you'd pray with me and we'll turn our attention to second Corinthians father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we do thank you impression for the blessings of this day for your goodness kindness and faithfulness demonstrated in our lives in countless ways all day long for the privilege of ending today in your house with your people to sing praise to your high name and to sit under the wisdom of your word and to have our gaze lifted to behold the total sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ our great prophet priest and King we come into you this entire conference and all that has been invested in preparation for it and pray that as the seed of your word is planted and watered over these days that you would give the increase and that the fruit would abide to your glory even now would you open our eyes to behold the wonderful things you've stored up for us in your word help us to lay aside all malice deceit envy hypocrisy and slander so that as newborn infants we may crave the pure spiritual milk of your word and grow there by having tasted of your goodness I pray that you would guide my thoughts guard my heart and govern my words over these moments and that you would grant me physical strength and spiritual energy to speak your word with faithfulness and clarity thority passion wisdom humility and freedom and may Christ alone be exalted as the word is explained we pray amen 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verses 16 through 21 from now on therefore we regard no one according to the flesh even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh we regard him thus no longer therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation the old has passed away behold the new has come all this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the Ministry of reconciliation that is in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation therefore we are ambassadors for Christ God making his appeal through us we implore you on behalf of Christ be reconciled to God for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God amen this is the difference Christ makes the difference Christ makes Janice was a false god in ancient Rome the name Janice means doorway or passageway or archway ceremonial arches were erected in honor of Janice throughout the Roman Empire when their armies went to war they marched through janice inspired archways who was considered the god of beginnings the month of January is named after Janice who was - picked it as a man with two faces one face looked back bearing traces of sorrow dismay and perplexity the other face looked forward for Sanne fiying hope and confidence the symbol of Janice taught that there are two ways to live they live in the mystery of the misery that is of yesterday's failure or you can live in the hope of a new beginning Janice was a dead guard who only offered a false hope of a new beginning but there is a real hope of a new beginning that is true life changing and available right here right now the hope is found in Jesus not Janice Jesus Christ changes everything in fact really those four words summarize the point of everything I want to say so let me say it again right up front Jesus Christ changes everything this is the message of 2nd Corinthians chapter five verses 16 through 21 chapter 5 the enemies of Paul within the church at Corinth launched an attack against him their aim was to undermine his pastoral authority character assassination was the weapon of choice the content and circumstances the first Corinthians given have given them ammunition Paul writes 2nd Corinthians to vindicate himself in chapters 4 and 5 Paul specifically defends his ministry would be leaders in Corinth charge Paul with being a fraud Paul makes it clear that he is in fact a changed man but he does not take credit for the change he instead testifies to the difference Jesus Christ has made in his life and the question is if your opponents were to accuse you of being a spiritual fraud is there enough evidence in your life to prove them wrong what difference has Jesus Christ made in your life and for all that we will discuss over the course of the time together this is really the question what difference does Christ make second Corinthians chapter 5 verses 16 through 21 teaches three ways Christ changes everything for those who believe in him three ways Christ changes everything for those who believe in him first of all Christ changes our perspective on life Christ changes our perspective on life I read an interesting story about a young co-ed that called her parents and gave them a terrible story she made sure they were both on the phone she told them she was dropping out of school she was pregnant was running off with a drug dealer boyfriend you could imagine the parents are shocked she just couldn't let the silence sit without her laughing when they asked her what was so funny she told them none of what I just told you what's the truth what is the truth is that I got a D in one of my classes I need a little bit more money for books and they asked why would you why would you why would you tell us such a story to set that up she answered simply perspective changes everything in the real sense this is the point of verses 16 and 17 Christ changes our perspective on life as Christians we have a new view of Christ and a new view of others first we have a new view of Christ in verse 16 Paul makes two emphatic denials first he says from now on therefore we regard no one according to the flesh from now on is not a turning point in Paul's Christian experience it is his conversion from sin to salvation as a result of saving faith in Christ Paul declares we regard no one according to the flesh 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 12 explains why Paul wrote this letter he wrote we are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart to regard one according to the flesh is to boast about outward appearance it is to define people by what our eyes see our opinions deduce and our biases conclude Romans chapter eight verse five says for those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh but those who live according to the spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit Christians are spiritual people who do not define others by their physical appearance skin color political affiliation country of origin or station in life in verse 16 Paul confesses even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh we regard him thus no law after Christ Paul regarded no one according to the flesh before Christ he regarded everyone according to the flesh including Christ this argument here that's me but let me just cut to the chase to say Paul is not suggesting here that he knew Jesus during his earthly ministry he's confessing that he didn't know Jesus at all Jesus had not changed Paul did saul of tarsus view Jesus as a heretic as a blasphemer as a criminal Paul the Christian view Jesus as Savior and Lord he once regarded Christ according to the flesh but no longer this is the essence of Christianity Christianity is more than a doctrinal Creed a ceremony of worship or a code of conduct Christianity is Christ and Christ is God there are many people professing faith who regard Christ according to the flesh when you get down to it there's a word for them non-christians what must you believe about Christ to be saved everything the Bible says about him you don't have to know or understand everything the Bible says about Jesus but you cannot be a Christian and deny the biblical revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ Christians do not regard Christ according to the flesh we have a new view of Christ and as a result he says then we have a new view of others verse 17 and our boy in Sunday school they would call verse 17 the golden verse of the text therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation the old has passed away behold the new has come this is one of the greatest verses in the New Testament are can't use wrote this is the biography of every Christian we have new life in Christ therefore he says if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation don't read that so fast that you missed the gospel opportunity here for unbelievers if anyone is in Christ whatever your life has been you can change but you cannot change on your own you must be in Christ this is more than religious affiliation it is personal relationship intimate fellowship spiritual union communion with Christ is what sets Christianity apart from other world religions no one claims to be in Mohammed or Confucius or Buddha but Christians are in Christ and if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation for some of the strange views about matters of race in the church I would just come in second Corinthians 13 verse 5 examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith test yourselves do you not realize this about yourself that Jesus Christ is in you and left indeed you fail to meet the test if you are what you have always been you are not a Christian Christians are brand new creations think about that we are not repair reformed or rehabilitated creations being Christ is too various a radical change of spiritual rebirth a complete transformation Galatians chapter 6 verses 14 and 15 Paul says but far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world for neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision but a new creature we have new life in Christ and not just that we Paul is saying here in verse a did we have a new lifestyle in Christ he describes this Christian lifestyle two ways first the old has passed away Matthew 5 verse 18 Jesus says for truly I say to you until heaven and earth pass away not and I older nor dot will pass away from the law until all is accomplished Jesus here predicts the cataclysmic end of the physical universe using the same words Paul says this cataclysmic change has taken place to anyone who is in Christ the old has passed the way once and for all when Johnny Erickson tada was hospitalized as a teenager she met a man there hampered with a severe limp and she would see him every morning hobbling down the hallway on his lane joints with his walker the surgeons replaced several of the diseased joints his lameness was cured but when she saw him during a visit a year later he was still limping she seeing this suddenly said to the doctor it's a shame that the surgery didn't take oh but it did take said the doctor that man lives now out of nothing more than heaven he needs to keep practicing his walk old habits do die hard for lame men and unfortunately for some Christians too but we got to keep walking the oldest passed away and the new has come fact Paul says behold it's an exclamation of spontaneous jubilation behold brother said I threatened the windows cuz I can get kind of loud cuz Christianity is something to rejoice over I'm guilty of that look behold the new has come true Christians cannot keep their new life a secret thought the world to behold the crisis made us new and in Christ there's the transformation from old to new and at the same time there is a continuity the the real since the old becomes new right the verb here is in the perfect tense and it means that the new has come at some point in the past but it's an abiding change that continues and will not stop you know the problem with new stuff new stuff becomes old stuff it breaks down it becomes obsolete it goes out of style but the new life you have in Christ will continue to be new Romans 6 verses 3 & 4 but you now know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death 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 in the newness of life Christ changes everything he first of all changes our perspective on life but secondly Christ changes our relationship with God social media has taught us how to block mute hide unfriend and unfollow those that we have an issue with praise God this is not the way God treats us Adam and Eve sin brought us into a state of rebellion against God our own sin continues that rebellion God has every right and good reason to cut us off he is chosen to reconcile with sinners reconciliation is when hostile parties are restored to peaceful relations our sin is a declaration of war against God the holiness and justice and sovereignty of God should crush our rebellion but God reconciles with sinners Romans chapter five verses 10 and 11 says for if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son much more now that we are reconciled shall we be saved by his life more than that we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have received reconciliation father's reconciled us to himself through the person of Christ verse 18 says all this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the Ministry of reconciliation reconciliation Paul wants to emphatically declare is the acentric God did not need to be reconciled to us we needed to be reconciled to God yet God made the first move and the next move in the last move God did it all oh this is from God reconciliation did not happen by human achievement it happens by divine accomplishment and it's all of grace that it may be all of God that it may be all to his glory Romans 11 verse 36 for from him and through him and to him are all things and to him be glory for every man God says Paul through Christ reconciled us to himself Jesus Christ came to earth to do for us what we could not do for ourselves but the Incarnation was more than Christ doing something for us it was Christ doing something for God John 3:16 does not say Jesus loved us so much that he gave himself to save us it says God so loved the world that He gave his son God reconciled us to himself and he gave us the Ministry of reconciliation have you heard about the Battle of bluelux it is noted because it is the last battle of the American Revolutionary War he's also noted because it was fought after the war was over news traveled slowly there was no means of communication over the Appalachian Mountains to bluelux Kentucky so the two sides fought because no one knew the war was over they're sinners at war with God because they don't know what God has done for us in Christ so God has given us the Ministry of reconciliation this is the Great Commission Matthew 28 verses 18 through 20 Jesus says all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and behold I am with you even to the end of the age the primary central and definitive ministry of the church is the reconciliation of God and sinners through Christ there are many things the church should do but the church exists for the Ministry of reconciliation what do the people in your city in my city need the most this is the question we have to ask what what does the city need the most safer streets better schools stronger economy universal health care racial harmony more important than all of this the people in our city need the Ministry of reconciliation sinners need to be made right with God this is why we must not allow anything to supersede the centrality of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in the church first Timothy chapter 2 verse 5 says for there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus God reconciled us to himself through the person of Christ and God reconciled us to himself through the work of Christ verse 19 explains verse 18 that is in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation when Study Bible calls this verse the best summary sentence of the gospel in the Bible very well maybe consider what God did for us in verse 19 God did not do for us what God did for us is this in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself notice the language here the reconciling work of Christ was the reconciling work of God what Christ did God did it was not that the father was a God of holiness until Jesus intervened to make him a God of love he was the god of holiness and a God of love at the same time and the father sent Jesus so that he may demonstrate his love without violating his holiness in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself this reference to the world does not endorse universalism of course it doesn't mean that everyone would ultimately go to heaven God in Christ has not reconciled the world without exception but he has reconciled the world without distinction Galatians 3:28 there is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither slave nor free there is no male or female for you are all one in Christ Jesus this is what God did and then think about what he didn't do still in verse 19 praise God for what he did praise God for what he did not do what did he not do Paul says not counting our trespasses against them trespasses here indicates the sinfulness of sin you could send with good intentions you cannot trespass with good intentions the trespasses to know where the boundary is they're determined you're gonna do what you want to do right when I was a boy in the house we lived in next door there was an old man who would fuss at us kids for playing on his yard and we would play on his yard because he told us not to play on his yard that rebellious streak is in all of us against God and every trespass increases the sin-debt we must pay but the reconciled us to himself God does not count our trespasses against us david says in psalm 32 blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered blessed is the man against whom the lord counts no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit greatest blessing of all is to not have your trespasses counted against you and God wants people to be so blessed so verse 19 ears by saying that God entrusted to us the message of reconciliation evangelism is not an optional ministry for the church it is our sacred trust every beneficiary of reconciliation with God through Christ is obligated to share the message of the good news of the saving work of Christ but those who do not know him and we're to be a witness to that truth by how we love one another how can we claim to be representatives of a holy God who has reconciled with sinful men at the expense of his perfect son and refused to love one another Paul says Christ changes everything he changes our perspective on life first he changes our relationship with God second and then thirdly the text says that Christ changes our allegiance to the world you were watching a parade and as the band marches by you notice the drummer is out of step you assume that the band member has no rhythm actually he's wearing headphones under his hat and marching to the beat of a different song in a greater deeper higher way this is the Christian predicament right we are in the world but not of the world verse 20 says therefore we are ambassadors for Christ God making his appeal through us we implore you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God an ambassador is an official representative of one state to another it's it's not a politician who negotiates it's a dignitary who advocates this is the Dulli and dignity of christian ministry whereas we wrote all believers our ambassadors whether we accept the Commission or not agree to be an ambassador assumes citizenship you cannot represent a king you do not know you cannot represent a country you are not a part of you cannot represent a constitution you do not submit to Christian ambassadors our Kingdom citizens ambassadors typically appeal to foreign governments we appeal to foreign citizens God is making his appeal through us this is a dramatic picture of God God making his appeal through us listen to the language God is not on the throne ordering rebels to submit God is on bended knee appealing the sinners to repent first as we implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God this is how much salvation means to the Holy Trinity God the Father appeals to sinner God the Son pleads with sinners you would think such high stakes diplomacy would be entrusted to holy angels but God makes his appeal through us on Christ's behalf we implore sinners be reconciled to God this is not an invitation to be considered it as a mandate to be obeyed God commands sinners to be reconciled to him but we cannot reconcile ourselves this is the sinner's dilemma how can sinners get right with God verse 21 answers right for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God nations and conflict hold a summit to establish a peace treaty where both sides can live with the terms 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21 is the most incredible peace treaty ever ratified it is the heart of the gospel it is the gospel in 1 verse it is the great exchange by which sinners are reconciled to God what did God do for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin new is more than intellectual knowledge it is personal experience John 846 Jesus says which of you convicts me of sin yes or no one Jesus never committed a sinful action attitude or announcement more than that there was nothing in him for temptation to use to lead him to sin Jesus was not just sin less he was impeccable yet God made him to be sin for us Jesus had not become a sinner but God imputed our sins to Christ God put our sins in Christ account God charged him with our sin Isaiah 53 verses 5 or 6 but he was pierced for our transgressions he was crushed for our iniquities upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his wounds we are healed are we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all why did God do this so that in him we might become the righteousness of God the cross jesus paid it all think about the magnitude of what he did Romans 6:23 says for the wages of sin is death Jesus died to pay our sin debt but the divine standard is perfect righteousness not mere innocence the blood of Christ removes the charges from our account but we still need credit placed in our account get it if I pay all the debt you incurred last year you'd be grateful to me but you can't quit your job because you got bills this year second Corinthians 5:21 declares not just substitutionary atonement but a double imputation my sin was imputed to Christ and his righteousness is imputed to me Christ stood before the Father dressed in the filthy rags of my sin and in him I get to stand before the father dressed in the glorious robes of his righteousness at the cross God treated Jesus as if he had committed all of your sin but by faith in Christ God treats you as if you had performed the perfect righteousness of Christ for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of Christ of righteousness of God the cross Christ became sin for us only at the cross he did not become sin before he died on the cross he died remain saying after he died on the cross the substitutionary atonement of Christ was that is once and for all but in him we become the righteousness of God eternally Paul doesn't say we have the righteousness of Christ he does not say we are righteous in Christ he says we become the very righteousness of God 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 30 because of him you are in Christ Jesus who became to us wisdom from God righteousness sanctification and redemption William McDonough Linda's comments on this rightly said no mortal tongue will ever be able to thank God sufficiently for such boundless grace he's right can't thank God enough for his boundless grace toward us in Christ you know as a young preacher when I started pastoring young man and I started getting invited to speak and the old preacher may give me a little honorarium and they would say wear em we can't pay for the gospel but but take this and get yourself a sandwich rabbim we can't pay for the gospel but take this and get your suit clean I just started saying it because I heard other pastors say it first time I had a speaker in my church I gave him a little honorarium and told him can't pay for the gospel but take this then I invited an older pastor gave him an honorary mistake okay and pray for the gospel he looked at me and said son you can try the name of the God who is offended by our sin but reconciled to us and with us through the death of his son at the cross I worried about all the matters of reconciliation that will discuss these days is this at least we should try Father in the name of Jesus thank you for your word help us to be doers of the word and not hearers only as we deceive ourselves to the praise of your glory and to live and walk in a manner worthy of the gospel by the help of your wonderful holy spirit help us to live out the life of the teachings of our faith in our communion with you in our witness before this lost world and in our love toward one another when Jesus name

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Keywords: hb charles, h.b. charles, preaching, racial reconciliation, christian unity, ecclesiology, holy spirit, 2nd corinthians, 2 corinthians, ii corinthians, bible, scripture, jesus, christ, christianity, theology, baptist, particular baptist, southern baptist, reformed baptist

Id: uP2akjtOl88

Length: 44min 40sec (2680 seconds)

Published: Thu Feb 07 2019