HOW’S YOUR REPROACH?

1 Timothy 3:7, 4:10

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. AVOID THE SINNER’S DESERVED REPROACH

 

1. National Sin [Pr. 14:34]

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

 

2. Familial Sin [Pr. 19:26]

He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

 

3. Personal Sin [1 Tm. 3:7]

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

 

II. ADMIRE THE SAVIOUR’S DIVINE REPROACH

 

1.  His Reproach as a Condemned Sinner [Ps. 22:6, 2 Cor. 5:21]

-But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

-For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

2. His Reproach as the Father’s Son [Lam. 3:30, Is. 50:6, Mk. 14:61-65]

-He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

-I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

-But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

3.  His Reproach as a Willing Sacrifice [Ps. 22:6-8, Lk. 23:33-37]

 

-But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

-And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

 

III. ACCEPT THE SAINT’S DELIGHTFUL REPROACH

 

1. Choose to be a Reproach for Christ’s Sake [Lk. 6:22, Heb. 11:26]

 

-Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

-Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

 

2. Choose to be a Reproach for Love’s Sake [Heb. 13:12-13]

 

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

 

3. Choose to be a Reproach for Faith’s Sake [1 Tim. 4:10]

 

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.