All things are yours
William MacDonald teaches that believers possess all things through Christ, including life, death, and the world, emphasizing unity and inheritance in God's kingdom.
In this teaching sermon, William MacDonald explores the profound truth that all things belong to believers through Christ. He addresses the divisions in the early church and encourages unity by reminding believers of their shared inheritance. MacDonald highlights the abundant life, the future reign with Christ, and the victory over death that believers possess, offering encouragement and assurance to Christians today.
Text
“All things are yours.” (1 Cor. 3:21-23)
The unsaintly saints in Corinth had been squabbling over human leaders in the church. To some Paul was the ideal. Others made Apollos their favorite. And still others felt that Cephas was superlative. Paul is telling them that it is ridiculous to limit their choice to one when all these men belong to them. Instead of saying, “Apollos is mine,” they ought to say, “Paul, Apollos and Cephas are all mine.”
It is a word for us today. We err when we become exclusive followers of Luther, Wesley, Booth, Darby, Billy Graham or any other great gift to the Church. All these men are ours and we can rejoice in the measure of light that each of them gives to us. We shouldn’t become followers of any one man.
But it is not only servants of the Lord who are ours. The world is ours. We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. One day we are going to come back and reign over the world with the Lord Jesus. In the meantime, unconverted men are running things as if the world belonged to them. But it doesn’t. They are simply caretakers, managing it for us until the day when we take possession.
Life is ours. This does not mean simply that we have life; all men have that. It means that we have the more abundant life, eternal life, the very life of Christ. Our life is not vanity and vexation of spirit. It is meaningful, purposeful and rewarding.
And death is ours. We are no longer subject to slavery all our lives through fear of death. Now death is the messenger of God that brings our souls to heaven. Therefore to die is gain. In addition to all this, we belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. When I think of this I am reminded of Guy King’s whimsical remark, “What fortunate beggars we are!”
Sermon Outline
-
I
- Addressing division over church leaders in Corinth
- Paul's call for unity among believers
- Rejecting exclusive allegiance to any one servant
-
II
- Believers' inheritance of the world
- The temporary stewardship of the unconverted
- Future reign with Christ over all creation
-
III
- The abundant and eternal life believers possess
- Life's meaning and purpose in Christ
- Contrast with worldly vanity and frustration
-
IV
- Victory over death through Christ
- Death as a messenger to heaven
- The assurance and gain in dying
Key Quotes
“All these men are ours and we can rejoice in the measure of light that each of them gives to us.” — William MacDonald
“One day we are going to come back and reign over the world with the Lord Jesus.” — William MacDonald
“To die is gain.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Avoid division by embracing unity among all servants of Christ.
- Live confidently knowing you are an heir to God's kingdom and the world.
- Rejoice in the victory over death and the promise of eternal life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'All things are yours' mean?
It means believers have access to everything through Christ, including life, death, and the world, as part of their spiritual inheritance.
Why does Paul discourage exclusive allegiance to church leaders?
Because all servants belong to the believers collectively, and focusing on one leader causes division rather than unity.
How can believers be heirs of the world if it is currently controlled by others?
Unbelievers are temporary caretakers, but believers will ultimately reign with Christ and take possession of the world.
What is the significance of death being 'ours'?
Death is no longer a fearful end but a transition to eternal life with God, making it a gain for believers.
How should this sermon impact a believer's daily life?
It encourages believers to live confidently in their inheritance, unity, and victory through Christ.