Christ - The Answer to Fear

this weekend. We do again thank those this evening who stepped in and helped with the

various aspects of this service and it is appreciated. Revelation chapter 1 and I want

to draw your attention to the verse 17, the verse 18 as well. At the end of verse 17 the Word of

God says, Fear not, I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am

alive forevermore. Amen. Have the keys of hell and death. Amen. May the Lord bless the reading

afresh of his precious Word. Let us unite together in prayer and ask the Lord's help as we come to

consider his Word tonight. Let us pray. Eternal God and the loving Father in heaven, we thank you

tonight for thy Word and thy truth and we thank thee for this book of Revelation,

that is so applicable to thy church today. We pray, Father, that as we delve into one small

aspect of this book, a small aspect but great in its scope and depth, we pray, O God, that thou

would apply these truths to our hearts. May we come away from thy Word tonight and from thy house

tonight with our hearts encouraged because of Christ and we pray that we would go forward for

those who, remember those outside of Christ, we think of those associated with our congregation

outside of Christ. Lord, speak to them and may they have their souls spoken to this night by

thy Spirit. Lord, come and meet with us and do us good. We ask and we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen. Amen. I want you to imagine the scene. It was Scotland, the year

was 1528. The month was February. The location was a small but significant town on the east coast

of Scotland by the name of St. Andrews. No one today for its golf course, no one in the 1500s

for being the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. There was a young man who came to

that town by the name of Patrick Hamilton. He was 23 years of age. He was a preacher of

Reformation truth, preaching the doctrines of Luther in Scotland, preaching salvation through

Christ alone. He had important relations to figures in Scotland who were in positions of

authority but there was a plot to bring him to St. Andrews. He was placed on trial and he was

found guilty and he was sentenced to death. The stake was prepared and set before St. Salvador's

Chapel in St. Andrews. The wood was gathered. Hamilton was brought and tied to that stake. The

fire was lit below him. Perhaps today we cannot imagine human beings doing something like that to

someone who simply preached the gospel of Christ. But that is what happened. The fire was lit.

There was pain. There was the horror of being burnt alive for your faith. It was said that as

Hamilton died that everyone that the smoke of that fire fell upon became a Christian. This young man

went to his death for Christ. He was not afraid. He had no fear because of his Savior. And when we

think of that, we can consider what the Savior said to Saul of Tarsus.

He experienced a light from heaven. There was a great shock as he fell to the ground and could

not see. But he heard those words of Christ. Fear not. Fear not. Throughout history, there are many

believers who have feared. They have feared illness and persecution. They have feared the sword,

the trials and tribulations of life. Yet the word of God instructed them. The word of God was upon

their hearts.

And they did not fear. The word of God instructs the people of God to fear not. The Apostle John,

here as he received this revelation from God, he experienced fear. Verse 17,

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me,

Fear not. I am the first and the last. And at this point in history,

the Apostle John found himself exiled on the Isle of Patmos for the sake of the gospel.

Let us think of him and picture him as he finds himself on that island,

the future appearing to be dark and dreary. And maybe that has been our experience in life.

We felt cast away. We felt alone. We've looked toward the future. Our eyes have only seen

darkness and despondency because of our fear. We perhaps have faced trials and difficulties in life,

perhaps for the cause of Christ. There can be fear. But in the midst of these troubling personal

circumstances, we find that the Apostle John, in verse 10, found himself in the spirit on the

Lord's day. And that is vitally important. When our hearts are troubled and when we are compassed

by fear, we are not to flee from God, but we are to draw near to him. In verse 13, John sees one

like unto the Son of Man. Verse 17,

He falls at his feet, such was the wondrous sight. And the Savior had this great message for him.

Fear not. John, fear not. One of the southern Presbyterians in America, A. W. Pitzer, said,

Finite, incomplete, and dying, with eternity before us in such a world as this,

we cannot pass through life without many fears. The Savior says in response,

To us understanding the reality of fear, he says, Fear not. Fear not.

He put his hand on John to encourage him. We read in Matthew 17 how Jesus came and touched them

and said, Arise and be not afraid. And friends, the comforts of Christ to us and to our souls

are always based and founded upon who he is and the authority which he possesses.

Fear can hinder our spiritual lives. Fear can weaken our spiritual lives. Fear can cripple our

witness and testimony for Christ. The days of evil can cause us fear. The same way that if

there was a military operation that had to be performed and the soldiers were told of what had

to be done, they had fear. And that fear overcame them, that they abandoned their

duty. Well, that would be a very serious thing. And fear can hinder us in our walk with God.

There might be fear of circumstances, fear of illness, fear of what others might think,

fear of standing for God, fear of what the future may hold.

Because we know not what a day may bring forth. But the Savior says, Fear not.

Fear not. And so, thinking upon these verses, I want us to consider tonight very simply Christ.

Christ, the reason why believers should not fear. And how true that is. The Lord Jesus Christ is

the reason why we as his people should not fear. And firstly, I want you to see that we should not

fear because he is eternal. We should not fear because he is eternal. Notice what is said,

in verse 17. The Savior says, Fear not. I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth.

And these particular words do not merely emphasize that the person speaking to John was a living

person. But these words mean so much more. They reflect upon the independent, the underrived life

of the Son of God. A life is mysterious for many. From whence did life come? We use the

word life. We see the obvious manifestations of life. We can see life around us. As I look around

our congregation tonight, I see movement. I see hands moving. I see heads moving. I see eyes

moving. It's hard to see the eyes moving from this distance, but I see the eyes moving.

There's indications that you're alive. That nobody here is dead, but you are alive.

And we see that life.

And we see that life must derive from life. But what if the fountain of life, all life

has its source in God, from whom the streams of life flow. And the Savior says, I am the

first and the last. I am the one who is alive. And we're reminded of that in John 1 verse

1. In the beginning was the Word, speaking of Christ. And the Word was with God, and

the Word was God. I want you to turn to Colossians chapter 1 as well.

Colossians chapter 1, we again have an insight into who our Savior is. And of course, his

eternal nature. Verse 15 of Colossians 1, he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn

of every creature. For by him, Paul says, all things were created that are in heaven and that

are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created.

All things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things. And by him, all

things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the

firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. For please

the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.

Again, we have something here of that eternal nature of Christ. He was there in the beginning.

Creating the world. The eternal son of God. And we should not fear because Christ is eternal.

Because he is one who is alive. And John is being told, do not fear because I am the one who is

always living. I'm the eternal one. I'm the creator of all things. I am the sustainer of life. He is

divine. He is all powerful. Do you believe her?

That is encouraging to us. Because we have a God and we have a Savior who will never die. Who will

never grow old and perish. Who will never lose his life. Who will never become ill and be unable to

fulfill his position as the great redeemer of God's elect.

He is eternal.

He is eternal. He is eternal. He is eternal. He is eternal. He is eternal.

He is eternal. He is eternal. He is eternal. He is eternal. He is eternal. He is alive forevermore.

He is one who is endless. In Isaiah 44 verse 6 it says,

Thus saith the Lord God, the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts,

I am the first and I am the last, and beside me there is no God.

And again, we have, and there are many verses in Scripture that remind us that there is one God.

In three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There is one God.

There is one God.

false gods have come and gone, and He alone remains. And when we consider what is said here,

I am the first and the last, it is being used here to encourage the people of God, to comfort

the people of God. Isaiah 44, one of the Greek commentators, John Gill, said this about this

particular verse, I am the first and the last. It is used by God to comfort His people.

Because they can depend upon Him being everlasting. He is not a God who will vanish

away. Christ here reminds John of His deity. He is the first and the last. A great fallacy

in understanding the doctrine of Christ is that Christ only became God at the incarnation.

He only came into being at the incarnation. But we find the scriptures teach us He was there

at the beginning. He was incarnated and became flesh at the incarnation. He was always the

Son of God, the second person of the Godhead. He was always divine. And we see something

here of the divine nature, and that is to be gloried in. There's the encouragement of

Christ who is the sovereign.

The Christ who is the King and the great head of His church. We can think of a temporal

sovereign, George VI. Whenever war was declared in 1939 by the United Kingdom toward Germany,

King came and gave a speech on September the 3rd. He encouraged the people to stand

together against their common enemy at this time. He said that the task will be hard. There may be dark

days ahead and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield. And he meant by that, that war

could take place and the war could affect the cities and the civilians as it did. It was not

just the soldier who was fighting. It was the civilians whose lives were under threat. But we

can only do the right as we see the right. We can only do the right as we see the right. We can only

do the right as we see the right. We can only do the right as we see the right. And reverently

commit our cause to God if one and all we keep resolutely faithful to it, ready for

whatever service or sacrifice it may demand. Then with God's help, we shall prevail. May

He bless and keep us all. And the temporal sovereign pointed to the eternal sovereign

for help.

Dear believer, we need to look to the eternal sovereign. When we think of this world and

our fears and our difficulties, we have to look to God. We need to look to God. We need

We have an eternal sovereign.

We may look to the government.

And this party and that party will say that they have the solution.

There's a problem with the governing party.

And this is it.

We're going to fix it.

And how often they get into power.

They might fix that problem, but they create many more.

And the cycle continues.

And when we think of the trouble in society,

when we think of the issues in society,

many of those issues are because of sin.

Because of iniquity.

If there was a turning to Christ,

and a looking to Christ,

and an obedience of the word of God and the law of God,

how different society would be.

We're to look to the eternal sovereign for the help and the grace that we need.

Because he is always on the throne.

He is alive.

Forevermore.

You see, our God is not dead.

Our God is alive.

Our Savior is not in a tomb.

Our Savior is alive.

And during times of uncertainty and doubt and fear,

dear believer, remember that Christ is alive.

That your Savior lives.

He is not here.

For he is risen.

As the angel said.

And therefore, look to the eternal sovereign.

Look to his word.

Look to him in prayer.

Come to the house of God.

Have that assurance of Christ's eternal presence.

And that victory that he has to give you hope.

And to help you to keep going forward in your spiritual walk.

When we think of fear,

we have a sovereign who is eternal.

How encouraging, how comforting that is.

But secondly, I want you to see that we should not fear.

We've touched on this.

But we should not fear because he has died and rose again.

He has died and rose again.

Verse 18.

I am he that liveth and was dead.

And behold, I am alive.

Forevermore.

The Savior is powerful.

He is omnipotent.

But there is something here that shows forth.

To us.

Something that is marvelous.

We see here his love.

In these words.

A higher love than man can exhibit.

We have.

Here as A.W.

Pitzer said.

As if the son of man said to John and us.

I am the one who is divine.

I have all power.

I have loved you unto death.

I have loved you in death and through death.

I became dead for you.

Because I loved you.

I am he that liveth and was dead.

And behold.

I am alive.

Forevermore.

He is comforting John.

Fear not.

Because I was dead and now I am alive.

Fear not because.

Well underlying that is the great reason why I died.

And why I am alive.

Forevermore.

The phrase in the original Greek.

Literally means I became dead.

The eternal and infinite God.

Became dead.

Who could never perish.

Became man and perished.

We read in 1 Peter 3 verse 18.

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins.

The just for the unjust.

That he might bring us to God.

Being put to death in the flesh.

But quickened by the spirit.

Christ didn't cease to be God.

He was still God in death.

But he was man.

He truly died.

And he truly rose again.

1 Corinthians 15 is built on that.

The victory we have in Christ.

It's because Christ died.

And truly rose again.

And this is the reason why.

He came into the world.

To die.

To lay down his life for us.

Hebrews tells us.

For as much then as the children.

Are partakers of flesh and blood.

He also himself likewise.

Took part of the same.

That through death.

He might destroy him that had the power of death.

That is the death.

He is the one who became.

The mediator between God.

And men.

And these words based on those facts.

Do they not encourage.

The heart of the Lord's people.

If we have fear.

And trials and difficulties.

Is Christ not the answer.

Because he is the eternal one.

He is the one who was dead.

And rose again.

We can think.

Across the history of this world.

We can look at a thousand.

Battle fields across this world.

We can think of the French.

It could be cried to the French.

Well Napoleon is dead.

But fear not.

Or to the Americans.

Lincoln is dead.

But fear not.

The British at the height of World War II.

It could be cried out.

Theoretically Churchill is dead.

But fear not.

Those words fear not.

Do they not lose their meaning.

The great leader.

Has died.

Those words fail to make an impact.

When we apply them to the deaths.

Of mere men.

But when we think of our savior.

Christ has died.

But fear not.

Why?

Because of what his death has accomplished.

Salvation.

For all eternity for his people.

There truly is a reason then.

For Christ.

Not to fear.

For through his death.

We have a great and glorious victory.

Through his death.

Those that believe and turn from sin.

Experience salvation.

His death was vicarious.

He died in the room instead of sinners.

He died in the room.

Of his own people.

He has borne our griefs.

And carried our sorrows.

He was wounded for our transgressions.

His one sacrifice forever.

Perfected them that are sanctified.

Child of God.

When you fear the future.

Think on this.

Christ died.

And he died for you.

And he died for your sin.

And he died to redeem you.

Oh that is a great reason not to fear.

Not to fear.

Tonight.

Do you have that reason?

Not to fear.

Because you've believed.

In Christ.

And you've trusted in Christ.

And you've come and bowed the knee to Christ.

And confessed your sin.

And believed in him as your savior.

Do you have that assurance?

That you have the forgiveness of sins?

And you can say.

Yes.

Those words fear not.

They mean so much to me.

Because this is my savior.

This is my redeemer.

And this is my friend.

He has dealt with my sin.

And now I can fear not.

But if we.

Take our eyes away from Christ for a moment.

And we look at what Christ came.

And what Christ dealt with.

Sin.

And we focus upon that sin.

And we look at that sin.

And we consider what the word of God says.

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

For the wages of sin is death.

And we look at that sin.

And we consider what the word of God says.

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

For the wages of sin is death.

We look at a holy God.

And we look at the filth.

And the vileness of sin.

And what sin does.

Physically.

And spiritually.

And eternally.

When we look at that sin.

Dear unbeliever.

Can we look at your sin.

Turn around to you and say.

Fear not.

You see that sin.

You focus upon that sin.

The sins that you've committed.

The wickedness within your heart.

Can you fear not?

No you can't.

There is much fear.

There ought to be much fear.

Because of sin.

Because of the consequences of sin.

The wages of sin.

Is not happiness.

Is not joy.

Is not everlasting pleasure.

And satisfaction of the flesh.

The word of God says.

The wages of sin.

Is death.

And therefore.

If the wages of sin is death.

We cannot tell you to fear not.

Because of your sin.

Because your sin.

Cries out to you fear.

Fear me.

Fear that sin.

Because that sin.

Will take you to a lost eternity.

Let's take our eyes back.

To the Lord Jesus Christ.

The one who dealt with that sin.

The one who died for the sins of his people.

The one who says.

To repent.

To believe the gospel.

The apostle who said.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

And thou shalt be saved.

Christ dealing with that sin.

Completely dealing with that sin.

Now we can say fear not.

Dear believer.

We can say fear not to you.

Because we are not aware.

Of what Christ has done with your sin.

Do you have that assurance tonight?

When you look at your sin.

It's as if it's not there.

Because Christ has dealt with it.

It's gone.

It's washed beneath the precious blood.

Fear not.

I am he that liveth.

And was dead.

Behold I am alive forevermore.

There's a special emphasis here.

The Savior rose again.

And because he is alive.

John had nothing to fear.

Because he was alive.

John could come to Christ.

Because he ever liveth to make intercession for him.

Because Christ is alive.

We bring our fears.

And our doubts.

And our temptations to him in prayer.

Why did he rise again?

Why does he live?

He gave us victory over sin and death.

But in this life he is our advocate.

He is our friend.

There's that great anticipation for the believer.

Because of the victory of Christ for us.

Death is the cause of much fear.

But Christ has conquered death.

Christ has conquered death.

Death is a fearful thing.

There are many who fear death.

Death comes.

So unexpectedly.

We can see it.

We can expect it.

There're circumstances in which men and women know death is coming.

Where we think of age.

Where we think of age and as we grow old.

We often think death is not far away.

When sickness comes.

Maybe it is.

We've been reminded the last number of days of the suddenness of death

and the terrible nature by which men can lose their lives.

Think the hockey player and his brother who lost his life just a few days ago.

Terrible tragedy.

Something that many Canadians are talking about, the hockey world is talking about.

It made the news on the BBC in the United Kingdom,

and there's not much hockey news from North America on the BBC.

Such a terrible tragedy.

It was worth reporting in their eyes.

It reminds us.

Of the frailty of life, does it not?

How suddenly life can change.

How you can be doing things and going about life as normal.

And have exciting plans and things that you're looking forward to.

And that special time with family and circumstances can come about.

There's a time to be born, there's a time to die, and we have no idea.

I woke up, I think it was Friday morning, and I scrolled down Facebook quickly,

saw a black and white photograph and noted that something had happened.

I wondered who it was.

Some old player who had passed away.

Some hero from the past.

It was a young man, a young player in the prime of his life.

How frail life is.

How we can fear death.

And fear something like that happening.

But yet when we think of the Savior, we can fear not because of him.

And as his people, we can fear not because he died for us.

And he's alive forevermore.

We place our times in his hands.

We can trust in him.

We understand the frailty of life.

But we're looking to the Lord.

And our eyes are upon him.

Tonight, when we think of Christ's death, his resurrection, that he is alive forevermore.

When we think of the frailty of life, that our life is as a vapor that passeth away.

Where is your soul?

Who is it anchored to?

Is it anchored to Christ?

Is it fastened, safe, and secured to the Savior so that you can say, whatever this day brings forth, whatever happens tomorrow, I know I'm saved.

I know that Christ is my Savior.

I can fear not.

If there's a valley of the shadow of death, a valley of suffering and pain and persecution, I can fear not for I know he is with me.

He is my Savior.

He is my Redeemer.

He is my friend.

Oh, sin, Thomas Boston said, sin is a fountain of fear.

But Christ and his salvation is not the opposite.

It's a fountain of joy.

A fountain of peace.

A fountain of satisfaction.

Thirdly, I want you to see that we should not fear because he has all power.

We should not fear because he has all power.

The keys of death.

And the keys of death.

The keys of hell and of death in verse 18.

We have his sovereignty as our mediator.

He has all power in heaven and earth.

He was humbled.

Yes.

The Savior came into the world as that young, helpless child.

But he was exalted.

Philippians 2 reminds us of the humiliation of Christ.

But his exaltation and keys to note access.

They.

Denote authority.

They denote ownership.

They denote possession.

You do not have my house keys.

Because you don't have ownership or possession of my house.

I don't have your house keys.

Because I don't have ownership or possession or the authority given to me by you to enter your home.

I don't have it.

If I gave you my keys, there's a reason.

If I gave you that authority to go into my home to do something.

That's very different.

I have the keys and that denotes the oversight of the property that I possess.

And Christ has the keys of death and of hell.

He has authority.

He rules.

He is the rightful owner.

He humbled himself.

He became obedient unto death.

Even the death of the cross.

He is highly exalted.

He is in control over all things.

He is the great king.

He is the king of this world.

Oh how terrible death is.

We've mentioned that.

Men deny sin.

They cannot deny death.

And in scripture we find that men die because of sin.

Sin is the reason we see death.

Death is a manifestation of sin.

A manifestation of sin.

It should not be lightly esteemed.

But the Christian need not fear because one holds his hand.

One who cares, one who has conquered death.

One who holds the keys of life and death.

All is subject to him.

What cause is there to fear?

The Savior said in John 11,

I am the resurrection and the life.

He that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

One of the old commentators said of John,

The Savior is saying here,

Fear not.

Your fears are groundless.

You are affrighted at your own mercies.

The thing you fear is the very thing that brings your salvation.

It was the glory of Christ that filled them with alarm.

He is our Redeemer.

He is our God.

His atonement is complete.

His intercession is perpetual.

And he has that power.

Let us rejoice in the power of Christ.

We do not serve a weak Savior.

We serve a living Savior who is alive and who is omnipotent.

We can feel anxious about many things in life.

We can feel anxious about sharing our faith.

We can feel anxious about the circumstances of life.

We can think of the early Christians who suffered persecution.

Oh, fear not.

Why?

Because of Christ.

Their trust in Christ allowed them to boldly proclaim the gospel without fear of consequence.

Let us build our comfort on who Christ is.

Let us go forward with that great hope within us

that we need not fear because of our Savior.

Many years ago in England,

as England was experiencing the Protestant Reformation,

we can think of two men,

Latimer and Ridley,

men who stood firm for Christ.

They were taken to the stake like Patrick Hamilton.

They stood back to back at the stake, tied.

They couldn't move.

The wood was placed.

It was set on fire.

Soon their heretics in the eyes of Rome would die.

Latimer turned around and he said,

Be of good comfort.

Master Ridley.

And play the man.

We shall this day light such a candle by God's grace in England as I trust shall never be put out.

No fear.

No crying for his life to be spurred.

No recanting from the faith he had in Christ.

Why?

Because it was a real faith.

He knew who Christ was.

Dear believer, when we think of this revelation that John received,

how blessed it is.

Fear not.

I am the first and the last.

I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.

Amen.

And have the keys of hell and of death.

This is our savior.

This is our redeemer.

This is our master and our friend, the one that we serve.

When we think of our fears, and you think of your fear, cast your eye to Christ.

Look to him.

Look at his eternal nature.

Look at the great truth that he died for you and rose again.

Look at his power.

We want to whom we can pray.

When he ever liveth to make intercession for us.

Let our hearts be encouraged tonight because of our savior and because of our redeemer.

Amen.

And may the Lord bless his word to our hearts.

Let us pray.

Eternal God and our loving father in heaven.

We thank you tonight for thy word.

We thank you for the encouragement we find within it.

Lord, we rejoice in our savior.

The one who said to John, fear not.

We thank thee.

There would be death.

There would be the future.

There would be our trials and difficulties.

Those burdens that burn us down in life.

Thank thee, oh God.

We can look to thee and fear not.

Because of our savior.

We pray that the doctrine of Christ.

The person of Christ.

That our relationship with Christ would be something that is real.

And experiential within our lives.

That we know him.

We believe upon him.

We trust him.

Lord, work within us we pray.

We do look to thee that thou would be pleased to bless us.

Help us this week to live for thee and to serve thee.

of thee. May the love of God our Father, the grace

of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the fellowship

of God the Holy Spirit be with us all.