The Marks of the Master
A. EVERY ONE BEARS SOME SORT OF ID MARK – LITERAL OR FIGURATIVE.
1. Soldiers rank indicated by stripes.
2. Ownership indicated by cow’s brand.
3. Team by uniform.
B. PAUL BORE THE MARKS OF THE MASTER.
A. SOME EXPECTED THE PHYSICAL BRAND OF CIRCUMCISION TO BE
IMPOSED( vs. 12-13 ).
B. PAUL’S GLORYING WAS NOT IN THAT BUT IN THE CROSS, AND IN THEIR
SUFFERING FOR JESUS( vs. 14-16 ).
C. PAUL HIMSELF HAD ALREADY BORNE FOR ALL TO SEE THIS MARK OF
THE MASTER( vs. 17 ).
D. 1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Cor. 4:8-10; 11:23-27.
A. THE SLAVE IS ALWAYS MARKED BY HIS MASTER.
1. Red eyes, bloated face, the smell.
2. Hard look, restless spirit – sensuality.
3. Lying, unprincipled dealings with others – covetousness.
B. NOT ALL SLAVES STAGGER DOWN BACK ALLEYS.
C. THE TRUE CHILD BEARS THE MARKS OF JESUS.
1. Matt. 5:13-16. Salt and Light.
2. 2 Cor. 3:2. A living epistle.
3. 1 Pet. 2:9. God’s virtue seen in us.
D. THE REAL MARKS OF CHRIST ARE SEEN IN TRIAL – SUFFERING.
1. The marks Paul bore came of fiery trials( 2 Cor. 4:10-11 ).
2. Our faith is tested in suffering and difficult times( 1 Pet. 1:6-9 ).
A. WHILE PAUL UNDOUBTEDLY BORE SOME PHYSICAL SCARS, THESE ARE
NOT THE MOST ELOQUENT MARKS HE BORE.
1. The true marks of Christ are not physical.
2. More to it than going through the motions( Matt. 7:21-23, 15:8-9 ).
3. Not in icons or special clothes.
4. Not in having our name in the directory.
B. THE MARKS OF JESUS HAVE TO DO WITH PUTTING ON A NEW
CHARACTER( Gal. 6:15 ).
1. This will result in some outward signs( Col. 3:5-11 ).
2. Some of these are:
a. Obedience( Matt. 7:21 ).
b. Love( John 13:34-35 ).
c. Sacrifice( Luke 9:23 ).
C. DO WE BEAR THESE MARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP?
