So it's a great joy to be with you. Thank you so much for having me here today. Let's turn to the Word of God in 2 Timothy 2.8. 2 Timothy 2.8, it's a very clear, strong, simple imperative. We read, remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead, the offspring of David as preached in my gospel. Let's just stop there. Here's a call to remember Jesus Christ. This imperative to remember Christ might seem almost ridiculous when it is directed to believers. And especially when we know that it was written to Timothy, a minister of the gospel, a pastor. How could Timothy ever forget Christ? Christ, who left the glory of heaven obtained righteousness, died the most shameful death on the cross to ransom him. So if this instruction was fitting to be given to Timothy, then surely it is fitting for us to hear it this afternoon. It is proper for you here and now to be told to remember Christ. This is something that we must never be tired of being reminded about. It can't be too much to ask a believer to remember the Lord. You know that unbelievers, believers, all of us, have a tendency to forget their Creator. And so, Ecclesiastes 12, one, we're told, remember also your creator in the days of your youth before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them. But you see, as we read the scriptures, what is written on the gravestone of the nation of Israel, It is repeatedly written that they soon forgot God. They soon forgot God. This is a statement there in Deuteronomy 32, verse 18. You were unmindful of the rock that bore you, and you forgot the God who gave you birth. Judges 3, 7. And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord, their God, and served the Baals and the Asterod. 1 Samuel 12, 9, we read, but they forgot the Lord, their God, and he sold them into the land of Caesarea, commander of the army of Hazor. And there are so many other Statements like those that shows that the people of God, the Israelites, soon forgot their God. So that provides the background upon which we come to this verse, that we are to remember Jesus Christ. Because many are so quickly forgetting the Lord Jesus Christ, hence this message. The human mind is so forgetful. And so it was to overcome this weakness that Christ instituted the Lone Supper. Do this in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim, I did until I come. That's what the Lord said. So clearly, the need for us to remember Jesus Christ cannot be overemphasized. we must remember Christ, remember Jesus Christ. So then we ask, why should we remember Jesus Christ? But then also a related question is, how can we forget Jesus Christ? And that question is, how can we remember Jesus Christ? You know the Christian faith gives reason for what we believe. We're not just given instructions and instructions and instructions, do, do, do, do. We are given the basis and the reasons why we should do it. And so I want to point out to you from this verse the reasons why we must remember Jesus Christ. First of all, because the Bible says he is risen from the dead. That's not a small statement. How many people do you know who have been raised from the dead? Yes? Here in Wallard. None, right? But then when you consider the fact that this is Jesus Christ, the son of God, that he was, he died? then this statement becomes way, way weightier than what is just written here. See, the message of the Gospel is that God loved the world and gave his Son. Yes, God the Son, who is equal with God the Father, and the Spirit in power and glory, became man. This is the thrust of this verse. Because everywhere else in this letter, Paul calls Christ, Christ Jesus. And only here he calls him Jesus Christ. And the emphasis then we can say it's on his humanity. God became man. He had to be made like his brothers in every respect, the Bible says. so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God to make propitiation for the sins of the people, in Hebrews 2.17. And the Bible says, for our sake he made him to be seen who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. The most remarkable thing that has ever that has ever happened in the history of mankind is that God, the creator, took the human body. He was born of a virgin. And he limited himself for a while in time and space. The incarnation of Christ is the most dumbfounding thing. It blows any mind away. But even more interesting is that Jesus Christ, the only Redeemer of God's elect, became man, and so was and continues to be man. and God in two distinct natures in one person, and that this person died under the hands of sinful man. This is the very center, the heart of Christendom, that Christ came to be the substitute for the sinful man. He came to bear our griefs and our sorrows, to be smitten and be afflicted by God on our behalf, to be wounded for our transgressions, to be crushed for our iniquities, so that upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. And with his stripes we are healed. Brethren, the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all, because it was the will of Yahweh to crush Him so that through Him girls and boys and men and women who trust in His name, they elect of God, whatever they may be found, would be saved and become God's own children. We may be accounted His righteousness because He bore the sins of many. And so it is indeed a wonder that he became man. And the news we celebrate today is that it's not just that he died, it's that he is risen from the dead. He is reigning. The pans of death could not contain him. And so on the first day of the week, the day of the Lord, or the launch day, the Lord rose. And in so doing, he destroyed the portals of death. He took its thing and its power. He became the first fruit from among the dead, as the Bible says. And this is the news that we proclaim. This is the good news of the world. And only Christians can speak of life after death because they have trusted. We have trusted in no other. We have trusted in the one who resurrected, the one who promises life and immortality to those who believe in him. He is life and resurrection to those who put their trust in his name. So then I ask you, are you a believer? Have you been washed in our Redeemer's blood? There is no better person to trust in, to believe in, than Jesus Christ. Those who have trusted in Him are given hope beyond the grave. Anyone else? I'm afraid everyone else without Christ is destined to hell. So have you trusted in Him? Have you believed in His name? Is Jesus Christ your Savior? The second reason why we are to remember Jesus Christ given here is that He is the promised Messiah. The Bible says here that He is the offspring of David. Remember Jesus Christ of the seed of David. Remember Jesus Christ because He is the realization and the fulfillment of all the promises of God. All the promises of God find their amen in Jesus Christ. All the promises of the Old Testament and the New Testament too are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Messiah. And Paul is telling Timothy here to persevere in the faith because God is faithful. He promised Israelites the Messiah and delivered Jesus is the promised Messiah. He has come. He is the hope of Israel in the Old Testament and now realized in time. We ought to remember Him. For this reason, His descent or His lineage is given. He is the seed or offspring of David. You know, God promised David in 2 Samuel 7.12 that when your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you who should come from your body and I will establish his kingdom. And God fulfilled that promise. Jesus Christ, the offspring of David, who God sent in the fullness of time, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons. All those who care to listen must know that every single promise of God is guaranteed in the person of Jesus Christ. This is what has been preached throughout history. And those who have believed this wonderful message have eternal life. Those who are in Christ have been given eternal life. The same gospel has not lost its power. It is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, whether a Jew or a Gentile. For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. And the law and the prophets bear witness to that fact. In times of trials and sufferings and storms of life, we know the power of the gospel. But more often than not, We forget its power when we are in joy. You know, we say that whereas poverty has killed its thousands, prosperity has killed its tens of thousands. So it's especially at this time of joy that we are to remember Jesus Christ. But then even in times of sorrow and grief and trials, we are to remember Jesus Christ. We are to remember Christ in times of health and wealth, in times of joy and prosperity, in times of sicknesses and poverty, in times of trouble, we are to remember him. Because you see, Christ is the embodiment of the fulfillment of all God's promises. You believe in him. and all the promises of God find their amen in Him. So your help comes from the Lord, the living God. He watches over His people. So remember the Lord Jesus Christ, the seed of David, upon whom there is eternal life. All who come to Him realize all that God has promised. Because you see, All the blessings of God, all the spiritual blessings of God, they find their fulfillment in Christ. And that's why Paul tells the Ephesians that, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us, mark that phrase, in Christ. He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies. And then thirdly, we are to remember Jesus Christ because this is the good news that you ought to own and spread. Paul says here, remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel. What is the point Paul is making here? Is he claiming to have invented the gospel? that he has exclusive patent rights to the gospel? Is that what he is saying? No. He is saying that it is his gospel in a manner that it ought to be yours. He is also saying that as an apostle, he received it by immediate revelation from Christ. And so he continues to preach it by mouth and pen as an herod of the gospel, as an apostle and teacher. He clings to it with his whole heart, even now in the face of death. He recommends Timothy and everyone else who would like eternal good to do the same. To remember Jesus Christ, to preach him always in word and deed, and to live by the gospel. So this is the gospel that Jesus entrusted to his apostles. And so Paul proclaims it as my gospel. This means not a gospel that he invented or owns, but the gospel entrusted to him by the Savior to dispense authoritatively and to disperse with all zeal. And so Paul would have us know that the gospel he preached is not man's gospel, because he says he did not receive it from any man, nor was he taught it, but he received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. You see, when we own the Gospel this way, so dearly and so closely, then we would leave it, but then we would also be eager to share it. When we see the value in the Gospel, we would leave it and share it. But then you ask, in the second place, why? Why are you... thinking that I could possibly forget Jesus Christ. How can I forget Christ? And I can give you a few ways to show you how you may forget Christ in your daily living. So when you fear men rather than God, you forget Jesus Christ. When you're afraid of circumstances, like sicknesses and death, then you forget Jesus Christ. When you're anxious and worried instead of praying, then you forget Jesus Christ. When you're careless in spiritual things and live as if Christ did not die for your sins, then you forget Christ. When you sin and treat sin lightly or casually, and live as if sin is not what led Christ to die, then you forget Jesus Christ. We should ever be saying, it was my sin that held him there. When your mind is not fully occupied with Christ, and so you do not love him with the will of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, then you forget Jesus Christ. When you do not pray, then you forget Jesus Christ. When you do not listen to Christ in His Word, then you forget Him. When you allow doubts to overwhelm your faith, and so you live in spiritual despair, then you forget Jesus Christ. When you're not interested in the Church, the Bride of Christ, When you're not interested in calling others to come and gather with God's people to worship at the feet of Jesus Christ, then you forget Him. When you're ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, you forget Christ. When you would not share the gospel with your neighbors, with your friends, with your colleagues, with your relatives, then I'm afraid you are forgetting Christ. When you do not live in light of eternity and waste away God-given resources, time, talent, and treasures, when you waste time as if there were no sinners to be won and no heaven to be hoped for, and no hell to be ran away from, then you forget Christ. You have to be so heavenly minded for you to be of earthly good. So those are some of the ways that I could draw to you as to how you could possibly forget Christ. But the last question I want us to ask then is, how may we remember Jesus Christ? How may we remember Christ? First of all, it is in the manner he has revealed himself to us by his written word. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is committed to paper and ink, so that we may never forget the Lord and Savior of our souls. Therefore we go to the Bible, we learn what he has told us in his word. We listen to him, we read, we study, we memorise, we meditate and apply the word of God and we teach it to others. You know Paul in the previous verse tells Timothy to think over what he told him. for the Lord would give him understanding in everything. Then he told him to study to show himself approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, but one who rightly handles the word of God, the word of truth. And later, he reminds him that it is the scriptures which are able to make him wise for salvation. And draw this letter, there is a pertinent to spur in Timothy a sincere faith, and to fan into flame the gift of God. He encourages him to never be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord. He prays for him that he would be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus so as to pass the baton of proclaiming the gospel to others. He encourages him to share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ. And now there is this exhortation to remember Christ. And then he encourages them to endure all things for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of the elect, so that they also may obtain salvation. So, these are some of the ways that the Lord has revealed Himself to us by His written words. When we sing according to thy precious word in deep humility, this I will do, my dying Lord, I will remember thee. May we then learn and study the word of God when we wake up and when we sleep, we meditate on it. May our delight be in the law of the Lord and then we will be blessed by God. So read your Bible. Make sure that you remind yourself not just of the person and the work of Christ, but also of what he has told us in his word daily. The scriptures will encourage you to flee from sin and to flee sin and passions of the flesh and to pursue righteousness. It is only by the word that we are made competent and equipped for every good work. When we learn the word of God so that we may be able to teach and remind others and also be able to preach it in and out of season. So if we want others to never forget Christ, then we are to make all effort to reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching. Because then, When you hide the word of God in your heart, then you learn not to sin against him. But the second way in which we are to remember Christ is by the communion of the saints. Thy body broken for my sake, we sing. My bread from heaven shall be the cup of blessing I'll take and thus remember thee. This is one of the songs that we sing as we partake of the Loan Supper. The meeting of believers on Sunday worship and the Loan Supper when we gather are some of the great reminders of our savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we would be wise in always being there with the redeemed of the Lord in close fellowship, in love, and in unity during the long supper where we are called upon to examine ourselves. During the Holy Communion, we demonstrate our close relationship and dependence on Jesus Christ as our Savior. As we partake of the elements, the bread and the cup, we remember Jesus Christ. And we are also admonished not to neglect the gathering together of the saints. Any opportunity to be with Christians is a reminder that Jesus Christ is the Savior, and he has saved these saints. And so as Christ loves his church, so should we. Whenever there is an opportunity to be together, we need to be there and gather with them. Because you see, this is all a fortis. of heaven when we shall forever be with the Lord. So here is a call not only to have a relationship with Christ, but also to enjoy this relationship and always with Christ. When things are hard in life, remember the Lord Jesus Christ. He is near us. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. If you're rejected by men, It could be your own spouse or children or relatives. Remember Christ and His community. When you are discouraged for one reason or the other, remember Christ and go to Him for encouragement. When you're tempted to despair, remember Christ. Because you know He was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. So, In your family, remember Christ every day and do family devotions with your family. If there is an opportunity to pray at your place of work, by all means, if you run a business and you have a few people with you, pray with them. Bring the scriptures to them. Forget the fact that they are unbelievers. When you have any opportunity to interact with whoever it is, remember Jesus Christ and remind them that there is such a Savior, Jesus Christ, risen from the dead. And now as you do that, then Christ will always be at the fore of your mind. And when you go to heaven, It will only be a closer fellowship and communion with him. And the Lord help us to remember Christ. Amen. Let's turn to him in prayer. Lord, we confess that we so often forget you. And even when we remember your name, we don't act accordingly. We fail to Remember and act as if you are near us. But Lord, we know that you are near us. Though we may not see your face, we know that you hear our prayers. We know that you are ever near us to strengthen us. But Lord, so many times we are overwhelmed by things of this world and overtaken And to our shame, we think that we can sort things out by our own strength. But Lord, we know that our strength comes from the Lord. It is you who do not sleep or slumber. It is you who is our keeper. So help us, Lord, to remember you and to love you, to serve you, to make your name known throughout the world. to live for Your glory. Help us, Lord, that we will remember You. Help us to remember You, Lord. And we ask this in Christ's name. Amen.