Trusting His Promises
We must trust God's promises and serve Him with a pure heart to receive the reward of righteousness and enter into His kingdom.
Clement of Rome emphasizes the importance of serving God with a pure heart to attain righteousness and avoid misery by believing in God's promises. He warns against being double-minded and doubting, using the analogy of a vine's growth process to illustrate the progression of faith and receiving blessings after enduring afflictions. Clement urges believers to remain steadfast, hopeful, and faithful in their actions, assuring them of God's faithfulness in rewarding each person according to their deeds, leading to an unimaginable future in God's kingdom.
Text
Let us therefore serve God with a pure heart, and we shall be righteous; but if we do not serve Him, because we believe not the promise of God, we shall be miserable. For the prophetic word also declares, Wretched are those of a double mind, and who doubt in their heart, who say, All these things have we heard even in the times of our fathers; but though we have waited day by day, we have seen none of them [accomplished]. You fools! compare yourselves to a tree; take, for instance, the vine. First of all it sheds its leaves, then the bud appears; after that the sour grape, and then the fully-ripened fruit.
So, likewise, my people have borne disturbances and afflictions, but afterwards shall they receive their good things.
Wherefore, my brethren, let us not be of a double mind, but let us hope and endure, that we also may obtain the reward. For He is faithful who has promised that He will bestow on every one a reward according to his works. If, therefore, we shall do righteousness in the sight of God, we shall enter into His kingdom, and shall receive the promises, which ear has not heard, nor eye seen, neither have entered into the heart of man.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Trusting God's Promises
- The Nature of God's Promises
- The Call to Endurance
- Hope and Perseverance
- Entering God's Kingdom
Key Quotes
“You fools! compare yourselves to a tree; take, for instance, the vine.” — Clement of Rome
“For He is faithful who has promised that He will bestow on every one a reward according to his works.” — Clement of Rome
“If, therefore, we shall do righteousness in the sight of God, we shall enter into His kingdom, and shall receive the promises, which ear has not heard, nor eye seen, neither have entered into the heart of man.” — Clement of Rome
Application Points
- We must trust God's promises and have faith in His faithfulness.
- We should hope and endure in the face of disturbances and afflictions, trusting that we will receive good things afterwards.
- We will enter into God's kingdom and receive the promises if we do righteousness in His sight.