Hi, thanks for listening to the Hymn We Proclaim podcast with Pastor John Fonville. In this message today, John explores the tension that every believer experiences between our present struggles and our eternal hope. Drawing from Scripture and his own pastoral journey, he unpacks three key insights that shape the Christian life. Reminding us that God's love, not our performance, sustains us. If you've ever felt discouraged, defeated, or tempted to give in, The sermon offers a deeply personal and gospel-centered encouragement to persevere.
Here's John with a message called Living in Tension: Three Insights into the Christian Life. If you're a Florida fan, I guess you're happy today. Right? They did it. But if you're a Christian, I hope you're happy today because you're here at the Lord's house and He's here to serve you.
So if Florida did win, it's okay. But as we think about life, man, doesn't life feel like a battle? Doesn't it feel like a battle? Constantly Fighting this Relentless battle. We find ourselves caught between great victories.
Right. Thrilling victories. In the agony of defeat. Which threatens to bury us in despair. We know what that feels like.
As Christians, this tension is all too familiar because we find ourselves in this fallen world. living with this tension. Of having been redeemed by a glorious Savior, yet. Yet, we have these weaknesses, we have these struggles, we have these trials, we have these battles that we just constantly have to face. And so here's the question: how do we press on without falling?
into the traps of hypocrisy. Right, glorious victories. I can pull this off. Or giving into this trap wait. Of despair.
How do we navigate this journey? How do we do it? How do we do it with faithfulness? Uh with hope.
Something with that. Let's talk about that today. Let's look at three key insights. about the Christian life. that guards us against Hypocrisy.
but also guards us against despair. And through these insights, he encourages us. To keep moving forward in obedience to God. And not quit.
Now, if you look at the Reformed Confessions of the Christian Faith, which is our church. This is why I like them so much. Because it sets forth this honest picture. of a path that is marked by joy and struggle.
Sorrow and triumph. strength and great weakness.
Well, you're And success. This is what the Apostle Paul explains in 2 Corinthians chapter 4. As this, he says, we're afflicted in every way. But not crushed. We're perplexed.
But not despairing. Persecuted, but not forsaken. Struck down. but not destroyed. Always carrying about in us the body.
In the body of the dying of Jesus. Why?
So that the life of Jesus might be manifest in us. You have this tension. But here's the hope that Ultimately. The scriptures teach us that the steadfast faithfulness of God to us in Christ. A faithfulness that upholds us in our weakness, that upholds us in our struggles.
Strengthens us through every season of life's journey. His faithfulness carries us to this glorious fulfillment of new promise, a new creation that is coming. Where Jesus says. No last chapter of Bible. He says, behold, I'm making all things.
No. And this assurance of God's faithfulness provides the foundation for understanding the tension in the Christian life. God's faithfulness to us in Christ with this tension. Listen. reminds us that our journey that our life Is not.
Ain't Mus. N nor futile. And I'm grateful for that. Because there are times where we just get so bogged down with the reality of what weakness and hurt. and struggle and trial that we just want to say, my life is futile.
I just, I'm just, I'm perplexed. I'm just going to give up. I don't have hope that anything is ever going to change and work out for my good. And so, how, how do you navigate these tensions? Here's the first insight.
First, you have to understand that the Christian life is not total defeat. You have to get that. The Christian life is not total defeat. As Christians. We're not totally incapable of obeying God.
Why?
Because your life is a total defeat where obedience is seen as impossible. It's a misunderstanding of what we already have in Christ. Listen, though we cannot obey perfectly, We do have a small beginning of disobedience. This is what the Apostle Paul says in the book of Romans, chapter 7, verses 14 through 15. He's talking about his life in Christ.
after having been justified, united to Christ. And he says, but I'm of flesh, sold into bondage to sin for what I'm doing. I do not understand. Four, I'm not practicing what I would like to do, but I'm doing the very thing I hate. He goes on to say he does have some obedience.
You have to think about how to like this. We have babies, right? It's a cute baby right over here. Beautiful baby. That baby is about to walk, or might be walking, not yet, but close.
But you have to think about it like this babies learning to walk At first. Every step is like this. Yeah. You know, and then the baby looks at you and kind of gives that smile like, uh-huh. I used to love it when my kids would do that and you would just take the pictures and you would laugh and they would walk like this and it's shaky and but what happens, they go, whoa, and then they they fall.
All right. But when the child stumbles and falls That doesn't mean that they're not capable. of walking. Of course not, right? Each fall is a what learning process.
A step closer to getting their feet to work. That eventually they can go play college basketball like David, and I can watch him soar through the air and dunk it or shoot a 30-foot three-pointer and cherry him while he's playing on ESPN television. I was like, I never dreamed my kids would do that. It's just so surreal. I'm like, there's my son, he's on television.
You know, I was like. But David didn't come out of the womb going, hey everybody, watch this.
Now if he did. Wow, I mean he would be better than LeBron James or something, but But the child's parents, knowing that their child will fall. What they do. You stupid kid. I can't believe, look at you, you're a toddler.
Why aren't you running a marathon right now? Get up off the floor. Quit acting like what? A baby. Abusive parents might do that, but godly parents don't do that.
What do godly parents do when their child falls? Is this what we did? Knowing they fall, they run to them and they offer them encouragement. It's okay. Get up.
You walk over to the baby. You pick them up. You rub their heads and you kiss their boo-boo. Right. And you help them.
You foster growth like that. You foster, and that child, listen. When they fall and you help them up. From their weakness and their stumbling and their fumbling. You help them up.
Guess what that fosters in that child? Perseverance. I can keep going. I can keep going because my daddy is with me and I'm safe. The first steps of a child bring great joy to their parents.
I still have. Victoria's first video of her mocking. And it's just a beautiful thing. You know, and she was, she went off to be an Olympic qualified swimmer. Where she just never dreamed that she would do that either.
But she didn't start off like that. We did infant swimming lessons with her and she was a baby and they would just throw her in the pool and they would tap her on the head and as a little baby she would flip over and it was amazing how these babies do these things. And I'm like, oh, look at my little girl. She swam so good. And she's just floating.
But I'm just so happy about it. But when the child stumbles and falls, the parents don't scold them. What do they do? They rush to lift them up. They rush to offer comfort.
They gently help them stand up and try again. That's how God, the Father in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, treats us as His children. Jesus doesn't scold us and whip us with the cords of a whip. Just say, get your act together. I just can't believe you fell again.
No, that's not how he treats us in Christ. We may stumble, we may fall. But listen, our failures don't define us. They don't. Just as a child's falls do not erase their potential to walk.
Our struggles and our failures do not erase the possibility of obedience in Christ. They don't. Why?
Because through God's grace, we're strengthened to rise again. and keep going on this journey. Whether it be victory or defeat, sorrow or joy. God's grace in Christ causes us to persevere, just like that baby who falls. The parent comes and picks him up and lovingly says, It's okay.
Let me kiss you. Boo-boo. That's what God does to us. He said, look, your sin's not okay, but I've taken care of it. I love you.
Let me wash you off. Keep going. It's okay. Keep going. Grace.
equals and produces perseverance. Grace helps us move forward. in hope. And hope. Because if you lose hope...
You can't persevere. Why?
Why can't we do this? Because we have the knowledge that Christ is for us. and that the Holy Spirit is working in us. Sanctifying our hearts, killing our sinful flesh. teaching us new habits, training us in godliness, as we'll come back and see.
And listen, obedience. is not one of Total defeat. But but because of grace. Because the Holy Spirit, because Christ is for us, our obedience is a constant possibility. Empowered by Christ's work for us and the Holy Spirit's presence, empowering presence within us.
This is what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians chapter 2, verses 12 through 14. He says, Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Why?
Because it is God who works in you. Listen, what does it work? Both to will and to do for his good pleasure. God works in us. both to will and to do.
for his good pleasure. And so, through the gospel, we're given the strength and desire, Paul says, to walk in God's ways. Uh Saint John Chrysostom. He says, let no one mourn. That he has fallen again.
And again. And again. Why?
He says, because forgiveness has risen from the grave. Christmas words remind us that grace meets us in our failures. I want to give you a news flash, Christian. You're going to sin until Jesus comes back. You're never going to stop sinning.
Never. But grace meets us in our failures as Christians. Lifting us up to press on with renewed strength. And while this assurance sustains us, While it encourages us It guards us against this dangerous misconception that the Christian life is one of total victory. Just remember.
Brings us to the second insight. Here's an insight. The Christian life is not total victory. It isn't. This passed a week.
Well I was praying and I've been uh a morning prayer. I was listening to Mark 14. Mark isn't recounting Judah says betrayal And how Jesus is rested. And in the face of such this chaotic moment, Listen to how Jesus' disciples respond. Mark 14, verses 50 to 52, and this just struck me as soon as I heard it.
Listen to verse 52. Verse 50. And they all left him and fled. They all left him and fled. Judas betrays Jesus.
They arrest Jesus. What do the disciples do? Verse 15. Listen, they all left him. and fled.
And then, Mark talks about this. You're a man. And it's as a young man was following him. wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body. And they seized him.
But he Pauled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked. Submitted it. That's amazing. That was the response. Listen to Mark again.
They all left him and fled. And one of them fled naked. Mark 14, verse 27, Jesus says, this is exactly what would happen in fulfillment of scripture. Jesus said to his disciples, you will all fall away. Could you imagine Jesus telling you you're going to fall away?
Because it is written, I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. This commentator says, All these 11 disciples heaped shame upon themselves. Peter's case was especially bad. And somewhat later, Thomas's too failed miserably. They all failed miserably.
They all heaped shame upon themselves. How many of you know what it's like to fail miserably and to heap shame upon yourself? and to feel it deep. And Mark has this incident about this young man. Which is just reported by Mark.
And guess what? Most commentators consider that this young man is Mark himself, who wrote this gospel. And we have this vivid account that reveals the striking contrast. The disciples' fears and failures stand in sharp contrast to Christ's steadfast resolve and his faithfulness. to his failing followers.
What grace is this? Scripture never promises that our Christian life is this unbroken sequence of victories. Like Jesus, his disciples will not always prevail over temptation. or deliver perfect obedience. Why?
Because perfect obedience is this perfectionist. Error. It's what's called, I'm trying to say this, overrealized eschatology. There we go. What is that?
Thinking that you possess now the fullness of the blessings for the age to come. I'm influenced by these kinds of holiness movements that talk about the victorious Christian life. You guys ever heard that? You can come to a point where you have the victorious Christian life.
Now, listen, there are times when the Holy Spirit brings freedom from certain sins. He absolutely does that. We pray for that.
Sometimes it can happen. Just instantly. Then, other times, people pray for it. They go through their whole life for 30 years and they can't get free from it. But there are times when the Holy Spirit brings freedom from certain sins.
But the Bible portrays the Christian life not as this constant source of just walking on the clouds of victory. But this day, this daily battle against the world, the flesh, my flesh, the devil. This constant spiritual warfare. And what are we called to? Steady perseverance by grace.
Not the expectation, this unrealistic expectation of a flawless victory. That's not it. Michael Horton says we have to keep our eyes on the gospel. The reality of Christ dying for his church, if we're going to, in any shape, form, or fashion, obey the commandments of Scripture. He's exactly right.
What is he saying? The gospel doesn't just save us. From the guilt of sin, but the gospel empowers and shapes. our obedience to save us from the power of sin. This is what Paul says in Titus chapter 2 verses 11 through 14 where he says that the gospel, the gospel is the key that opens the door to obedience.
He says, for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. What is it appeared to do? Listen. The grace of God instructs us constantly to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope. And the appearing of the glory of Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed.
And to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. That's what the grace of God teaches us constantly. And Paul tells us that his grace. That does mean more than just save us. It transforms us.
It instructs us to live in obedience, but also in hope. And so the grace of God does not take away this tension that we need to face and that we feel. It equips us to navigate it. and persevere. Here's the third insight.
You have to understand that the Christian life isn't lived in the tension between the present. The fulfillment to come. The scriptures stand against both perfectionism. and defeatism. We'll just call it that defeat, defeatism, if that's a word.
It stands between those two. What does it teach? It has already, but not yet. The Christian life is a journey between this present reality that we have in Christ. And the future glory that is to come.
This is what John says in 1 John 3, verse 2. He says, Beloved, now. Right now. Already, now we are children of God. And we can rejoice in that.
We can have assurance of that. And here is the not yet. And it has not appeared yet. There it is.
Now, not yet. But it has not yet appeared what we will be. But here's the assurance now. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him just as he is. Yes.
And that's detention. Dost thou already? But not yet. And so scripture teaches that we live in between two ages, this present age and the age to come. Which is what?
The promised new creation. But Paul says in Scripture, we're already a part of that new creation to come. Listen to what he says, 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17. If one is in Christ, he's what? A new creation.
Now, you're a part of the age to come now in this passing age. If anyone is in Christ, he's a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. If you're trusting Christ today, The Holy Spirit has come in your life and he's created you to be a part of this new creation that is coming.
You're already there. Yeah. You're still here. You see that tension.
So, while we are new creations, we await the full realization. of God's kingdom. to come. And it's this tension that characterizes the Christian life, and it's why we both experience the joy of salvation and the agony of our struggles and defeat and failures. You have to think like a traveler who is standing on this great edge of a vast canyon.
And he's just gazing out across. to a sunlit land far off in the distance, but he can see it. And while he's certain of the destination, this journey is long and difficult, and each step is marked by obstacles and struggles. And he takes off because as he's walking towards that beautiful countryside to come, he can still see it. And he has hope, and that hope causes him to persevere to make it.
And so despite the hardships, he knows that every step he's taking, as he sees the goal in the future, as he sees what he's walking to, he goes, I'm going to keep going. I'm going to keep going. Never. Ever Ever as a Christian, never give up. Never.
Why?
Because you have a glorious future and you're already a part of it and you can see it out in the distance, but you can persevere. Martin Luther said it like this: Reformation. We are. simultaneously justified yet a sinner. We enjoy peace with God, yet we groan inwardly, longing for the day when our struggles will finally end.
The Apostle Paul says, We ourselves having the first fruits of the Spirit, we have it. But it's just the first fruits. It's not the full harvest. But it's coming. He says, you have the first fruits of the Spirit.
We ourselves groan within ourselves. Have you ever found yourself praying, and the only thing you can do is this? Mm. Have you ever done that? I have.
I would be praying, I would be praying and praying and praying about things, and just sometimes you just put your head down and you go. Ooh. That's what Paul's talking about. This groaning. This groaning within ourselves.
Why?
Because he says we're waiting. Eagerly for our adoption of sons. What is that? The redemption of our body, the resurrection, the age to come. The hope of the gospel.
That's what we want. And Paul says. Verse 24, for in hope, for in hope, we have been saved. We can see that sunlit. Countryside that we are walking to, and we just keep walking.
We know that every step, though painful, is worth it. And so this tension of the already, but not yet, protects me from despair. And it protects me from hypocrisy thinking I'm pulling it off and that I'm Mr. Big Shot now because I'm just walking in victory. Oh, be very careful if you think you are.
Because Mark 14:15, in the time of trial, they all left him and fled. And you would too. But here's the good news. We're not Totally defeated. But we're not perfectly victorious.
Instead, the scriptures say we live in hope. We have hope because we have been saved in hope. And because of this hope, we can press forward into the fullness of what Christ has secured for us now, and we can rejoice in it. And we can have a taste of the powers of the age to come, the author of Hebrews says. That's why, when we come to church, listen carefully.
When we come to church, church is not a concert and it's not entertainment, it's a supernatural work, it's a mystery that occurs. Worship is supernatural. And what is it that is supernatural? God comes to us through means of grace by the power of the Holy Spirit that He has instituted, and He gives us Christ. And we get to taste.
each Lord's Day of the powers of that age to come, and that gives us great hope. I can't believe it, but just in two weeks, Advent begins. It's amazing how fast time is going. It's a time for us to begin to look back and reflect upon Christ's first coming in humility, but also his promised return in glory. And so as you approach Advent.
What we see here from Scripture today is this: that our future is brightened by the hope. that we live not just to wait, but with great anticipation. Advent reminds us that Christ's first coming laid the foundation of our salvation. And his second coming brings the fullness of his kingdom. The new creation.
And this season of expectation encourages us to live with hope. Press in forward. to the future when our faith becomes Sight. Paul says in Philippians chapter 3, verse 12, not that I've already obtained it, or have already become. Perfect.
I haven't become perfect. He says, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which I also was laid hold of by Christ. And what is the Christian life? It's not marked by self-focus, but dependence on Christ. And every time I fall, it's an opportunity to learn how to get back up and depend more upon Christ.
And so in Christ, Our past is not defined by sin. But by Grace. And our future is defined and brightened by hope, not despair. The Holy Spirit, may He constantly teach us to live each day with this tension. Holding fast to Christ, who has won the victory.
On our behalf, And then who calls us to press forward like that dad, like that mom, who helps the baby get up and walk again? He calls us to press on by grace. Till we see him face to face. A new creation.
Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you that. You meet us in grace. All of us here today. Need Grace upon grace.
And we thank you that in Christ, that's what we get. Grace upon grace, grace multiplied. As we prepare to come to your table, we pray that you would give us grace. and strengthen us with faith. And hope for our journey through this tension, this battlefield that we experience each day.
And let me fall. Help us to remember that we can look. to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and we can get back up. and we can persevere. and move forward in hope.
Grant us that hope here today, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. John Fawnville sends his thanks for listening today. And before we wrap up, can I tell you about an encouraging book you might want to get soon? It's called Hope and Holiness: How the Gospel Enables and Empowers Sexual Purity.
You're not alone if you've tried to conquer sexual temptations and tried all the methods available, only to find yourself feeling defeated again. This book may be just what you're looking for. With his shepherding heart, John shows that the gospel, not practical steps or more self-discipline, is God's provision for the power to live a life of sexual purity. and it's available to every Christian. What I like is the book is available in three convenient ways, paperback, audiobook, or Kindle.
The links are in our podcast descriptions or just search for Hope and Holiness by John Fawnville on Amazon to get a copy for you. And it's a wonderful book to go through with a small group. Him We Proclaim is a ministry of Paramount Church in Jacksonville, Florida. You can find us at paramountchurch.com. We'll talk again soon.
