Category: Salvation
Subject: Salvation
The Significance of a Steadfast Walk
There are many warnings in scripture regarding the consequence of departing from the straight path. It stands to reason that it is both possible and consequential to stray. If not, the warnings are extraneous.
One example is the call to Christian growth found in Peter’s second epistle:
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-11).
A simple reading of this text reveals why it is important to live a righteous life. It is not something that you merely should do, but something God’s requires! Consider the bold sections of the text, and their significance:
- If you add these characteristics you will not be barren nor unfruitful. If you don’t add them, you may . So what? Well, Jesus said that unfruitful branches are gathered and thrown “into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:6).
- You can forget you were cleansed from your sins. To be enlightened but lose what you have brings a need for renewal that is impossible (Hebrews 6:4-6).
- If through adding these characteristics your call and election can be made sure; then not adding them can bring uncertainty. That is why Paul told the Philippians to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
- Adding these characteristics precludes stumbling, and provides an abundant entrance into heaven. But our names can be blotted out (obliterated, erased) from “the Book of Life” (cf. Revelation 3:5), if we do not overcome. If sins can be erased (Acts 3:19), then our written names can be erased from the Book of Life in the same way.
This is the reason for the warnings. Heed them and live! Ignore them to your own eternal peril!
Mining the Scriptures: Titus 3:4-7
Our text is one of many which teaches our salvation from sin through the grace of God. This salvation came because of God’s love and kindness toward us. Because He loves us, He has showed mercy where none was deserved. We in no way deserve our salvation because of our own “works of righteousness” (cf. Romans 6:23).
This salvation by grace was accomplished through the agency of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 3:5), through which we are born again or renewed; and the Son of God, “Jesus Christ our Savior” (6). What a wonderful thing to know, that all three Persons in the Godhead — The Father, Son and Holy Spirit — were in agreement and assisted in bringing about our redemption (cf. John 3:13-15).
Because of His grace, we are justified. The word justified means to be pronounced righteous and to be acquitted of our sins. Equally wonderful is the reward that we look to receive as a result of that justification, eternal life in His presence!
By This…
A favorite turn of phrase by John in his first epistle is “by this”, the NKJ version’s interpretation of the Greek preposition “en”. For example:
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3). The Greek word is translated “hereby”, “in this”, “this is how” in other translations. The Christian Standard Bible makes the meaning plain, though the construction is awkward, “This is how we know that we know Him: if we keep His commandments.” The amplified Bible (more of a commentary) explains it well. “And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings). So, the idea is that the Greek preposition “en” is the means by which something is accomplished (in this case knowing). If we keep God’s commandments, we can know that we have a personal relationship with God. Continue reading “By This…”
Sermon: A Single Step
A discussion of what God requires of man as a part of His covenant with man to be their God. In other words, man’s obligations in God’s scheme of Redemption.
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Sermon: The Bread of Life
A discussion of Jesus’ self-designation as the Bread of Life. It indicates eternal sustenance to those who come to Him. We discuss how to come to Jesus, and the reward we receive.
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Take Away the Filthy Garments
In Zechariah 3:1-5 we see a vision delivered from God via Zechariah to the remnant of Israel. In it the present High Priest, Joshua, received cleansing as Satan, the adversary and accuser of mankind, stood by. The vision is not easy to fully interpret, but there are certain helpful truths that clearly present themselves.
First, understand that Satan is our personal opponent and seeks our eternal destruction (cf. Job 1:7-12). We are always to resist him through righteousness. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Second, understand that Satan has no power over God. God alone is sovereign and supreme. Like any other created being, Satan is subject to God and His judgment. As the text here shows, God rebuked Satan, and promised the redemption and restoration of His people despite Satan’s efforts. (cf. Amos 4:11).
Third and finally, consider the wonderful nature and extent of God’s cleansing. Without God’s mercy in sending his Son, our sins defile us. “And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…” (Isaiah 64:6). The High Priest’s filthy garments were replaced with rich robes, and a clean turban was put on his head.
When we through faith in Christ respond to God, all of our filthiness is taken away!
Mining the Scriptures: Galatians 3:1-4
The foolishness of the Galatians can be seen in their willingness to turn away from the fundamental principle of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Because of false teachers, the Galatians had turned away from the truth Paul had proclaimed to them, and had begun to depend upon their standing upon the law of Moses to justify themselves before God.
Paul argues against this throughout his epistle to the Galatians, but here he is simply stating his incredulity regarding such a backward move. He states, “Are you so foolish?” (3). Paul had taught them their standing with God was dependent upon their faith in Christ. They had started off so well. But their conversion, (which causes conflict and suffering with an ungodly world), seemed to be in vain because they were now rejecting what they once accepted.
The law of Moses can’t and never could bring the perfection that comes in Christ. This can only come through faith in Him.
Sermon: At the Crossroads!
Matthew 7 indicates two “ways” that can be taken. Either to life or destruction. This illustrates for us the consequences of choices we make in life. Applications are made.
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The Call To God’s Eternal Glory
A study of 1 Peter 5:10, noting that you must step out of self, into Christ, and through to Judgment to enjoy the eternal glory of God.
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His Glorious Body
Here we write of things for which we have little information or knowledge. Paul promised in Philippians 3:20-21, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” There are a few things this reveals, and many things we will one day know when we meet Jesus in the end.
First, our change is according to the working of our Lord. Jesus will exhibit at that time a power which is the same power He will use to put “all enemies under his feet” (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:25).
Second, the change He will render in us is a transformation. Our bodies will be changed. We will not be as we are now. Think of a tadpole’s difference from a frog, or a caterpillar from a butterfly.
Third, our new body will glorious, as Jesus’ body is now. It will be suited to a new existence with Jesus in heaven. Can I describe it? No. But, there is no need for me to explain it away, because Paul revealed it to be so! In 1 Corinthians 15, he said, “There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (44). He wrote, “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man” (49). Hallelujah for His promises!
Sermon: One Long Sentence (Ephesians 1:3-6)
An exegesis of Ephesians 1:3-5, which the apostle Paul, in one long sentence teaches three important points about God’s plan for redeeming man.
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Continuing in Sin
It is sad that a statement by Paul “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that race may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2), should need explanation and defense. And yet, because of error and the current cultural climate, it certainly does.
Paul taught salvation by grace, which just about every religious person believes. He taught that sin precludes any individual being saved by perfect obedience, which just about every religious person accepts as a true statement. Here he taught that continuing to sin after being saved by grace was unacceptable. This truth, which is clearly stated, can’t be accepted by individuals who believe the Calvinistic precept of the Perseverance of the Saints, colloquially known as “Once saved always saved.” Continue reading “Continuing in Sin”
Sermon: “In Isaac Your Seed Shall Be Called”
A discussion of Romans 9:1-8, showing that ultimately, salvation for both the Jew and the Gentile is found in the promise of the Messiah, fulfilled through Isaac.
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Sermon Minute: Today is the Day!
Today is the day that God wants us to embrace Him. It is unwise to delay!
