Spiritual Realities Signified

SERMON OUTLINE/NOTES

“Spiritual Realities Signified”
Various Passages (1 Corinthians 10:14-22)

Introduction

· How Do We Understand Reality? Defined
· Material and Spiritual Realities
· Realities Only Seen by Their Effects: Of this World;
Spiritual Truths

I. Two Levels of Spiritual Realities

1. Seen by Outward Attitudes, Actions, and Words

· Man’s Sin Nature: The Works of the Flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) and Death (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:5-56)
· Regeneration (John 3:5-8; Galatians 5:22)

2. Not Seen by Outward Attitudes, Actions, and Words –

· Invisible, Inward, or Spiritual Events that Can Seen only by the Eyes of Faith
· Events According to Promise - Revealed in Scripture

II. Signs & Seals that Point to Actual Events in the True Believer in Jesus Christ – Two Signs & Seals (Sacraments) – The True Believer’s Assurance of the Spiritual Reality Signified (Berkhof):

· Holy Baptism – Signifying the Certainty of the Washing Away of the Pollution of Sin
· The Lord’s Supper – The Certainty of Two Spiritual Realities (Heidelberg Catechism #75):
o Atonement of the True Believer’s Sins – “Me,” “My,” & “I” (Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 5:9-10)
o Christ Feeds & Nourishes Our Soul to Everlasting Life by the Holy Spirit and the Word (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)

Conclusion and Application

· The Lord’s Supper: Ritual or a Sign and Seal of Spiritual Realities? (1 Corinthians 11:29-31; Luke 22:19-20)
· Each One of Us Must Examine Our Own Heart (2 Corinthians 13:5)