How The Blood Of Christ Saves

I often like to make comparisons.  Personally, I learn easier when I can compare A to B.  Then it seems to make things easier to comprehend.  I truly believe Satan's focused attack is on the blood of Christ today.  I want to make a comparison to show how the blood of Christ and baptism are related.  

It actually all starts with Christ's death.  Christ shed or poured out His blood in His death. Lk 22:20  We are commanded to be baptized (Mt 28:19,20) into His death. Rom 6:3   The baptism into Christ's death is by immersion only.  Have you ever sprinkled dirt on a person at a funeral and called them buried?  Have you ever rubbed dirt on their head and called them buried?  NO!  You call them buried when they are completely covered with dirt.  Thus, we must be completely covered by water in our baptism into Christ's death.  The close connection between baptism and the blood of Christ has begun. Let us compare A to B, or A (the blood of Christ) to B (baptism).  

      A                                         What we Receive                                    B

Mt 26:28                   New Covenant/Added to the Church           Acts 2:37-47

1Jn 1:7                                             Cleansed                                 Heb 10:19-22

Eph 1:7                                      Remission of Sin                               Acts 2:38

Rev 1:5 KJV                            Sins Washed Away                           Acts 22:16

Heb 9:13,14                            Conscience Cleansed                           1Pe 3:21

Heb 13:12                                     Sanctification                                Rom 6:3,4

The true Christian walks in the light with Christ and the blood of Christ continually cleanses them.  Now, there is nothing automatic about this.  It takes work to walk in the light of Christ.  We can't claim to be baptized into His death and washed by His blood and not walk in His light.  We must be seeking a "way of escape" from temptations. (1Co 10:13)  When we do stumble into sin after being blood bought and washed, we merely have to confess our sin and ask for forgiveness. (1Jn 1:9) Walking in the light of Christ, being blood washed, confessing our sins, and asking for forgiveness is how we know we are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. (1Pe 1:18,19) 

Bible baptisms have always been done this way in the New Testament.  Baptism must be preceded by faith in Christ and repentance from all sin.  This should help everyone see that baptism is definitely linked to the blood of Christ.  

Satan does not want people coming into contact with the saving blood of Christ.  That is why he has created the fierce opposition to baptism into Christ's death for the remission of sin.  DO YOU OPPOSE?

We are no doubt saved by the gift of grace given by God. (Eph 2:8)  That grace comes through faith.  We are not claiming this as a work that we should boast reception of grace rather, by obedience, we are working to be His workmanship.  That is how God had prepared for us to walk. (Eph 2:8-10)  Baptism into Christ's death for the remission of sin is walking in the light of Christ that God had prepared for us to walk in that way.  Baptism and an obedient lifestyle proves us to be His workmanship, NOT EARNS OUR SALVATION!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22   

Back To The Basics: Sin

Sometimes it is necessary to revisit basic principles.  We get so involved in being deep thinkers and speakers that we leave out some basic things.  When I coach sports I always hammer basic fundamentals.  Today, we are trying to avoid the basics of sin by changing the name of it.  We avoid calling it sin, so we call it "freedom of choice" or "alternate lifestyle" or "convenience" and in doing that we change the word grace to fit our new look at sin.  We change the word grace to "free pass."  That leaves us with a free pass to a freedom of choice or an alternate lifestyle or to live conveniently.  Today, I want to point out that we can change the names of many terms but we are doing that because we do not understand the basics of sin, like where sin started, what it is, etc..  I read a quote and I thought it was very relevant to this subject and it goes like this, "I covet no phraseology that lends respectability to sin.  The sorest injury we can do a man is to lighten his conception of the enormity of sin."~J.H. Howet  I must add here that we can't sugar coat sin, but we can and should expose it as loving as possible!  Remember, a liar is as evil as a raping murderer in the eyes of God.  You don't have to burn down the place the congregation gathers to be a sinner.

Sin started in the Garden of Eden.  Mankind became a sinner because they heard, believed, and obeyed a lie that was preached to them by Satan through the serpent. Gen 3:1-8  Eve was deceived because the lies that were preached to her was mixed with some truth.  That is happening today as well.  Except Satan is using well dressed, articulate, and intelligent men and women to preach his lies mixed with truth.  Adam and Eve were given a simple and plain command that they chose to disobey.  That disobedience brought sin into the world.  Which brought death, or separation from God, into the world. Gen 2:17   

Let's look at a few words that are translated sin to understand what sin is.  First, sin is lawlessness.  One word translated lawlessness means to break, violate, or reject God's law. Sin is to be in opposition of and disregard God's law. 1Jn 3:4  This is exactly what we see in the actions of Adam and Eve.  Remember there was only one tree forbidden tree in that entire garden.  The command was simple and clear "you shall not eat."  You have to hire someone to help you misunderstand that!  God provided a way for them to be saved forever in the tree of life, but He also allowed Adam and Eve to have the freedom of choice: loyalty or disloyalty, obedience or disobedience, life or death.  He is doing the same today.  He has provided a way for us to be saved forever through Jesus Christ, but He is allowing us to choose from the same choices.  This test of loyalty definitely didn't cause the disloyalty.  This test of obedience didn't cause the disobedience.  The disloyalty and disobedience came from a rebellion of Adam and Eve that started in their hearts!  The eating of that fruit, or disloyalty and disobedience, was just a display  of what is their hearts.  

Second, sin is a transgression of God's law.  This word that is translated transgression means to go over or beyond God's law. It is disregarding the boundaries between right and wrong.  This is the word that the elder brother of the prodigal son uses when he is voicing his complaint to his father. Lk 15:29  This is what we do when we try to change the meaning of the grace.  

Third, sin is missing the mark.  The word translated sin literally means a missing of the mark.  Vine's says this word sin is an inward element producing acts.  That is why I say Adam and Eve's sin started in their hearts.  The mark that is missed is God's mark.  All mankind has missed the mark and fallen short of the glory of God. Rom 3:23  

I read one time, I believe it was Barclay, and he was discussing the difference between sins of commission and sins of omission.  I want you to know that sin is not just avoiding the wrong, but it is also not doing the right!  We can avoid all the bad and never do any good!  That is just as sinful as doing the bad and wrong in God's eyes!  James says as much in Jas 4:17  

Sin is selfish and that is its essential principle.  The chief characteristic of love is giving.  No matter what it cost ourselves.  The chief characteristic of sin is the exact opposite.  It is getting, no matter what it costs others.  Sin is very alluring.  It has an appealing characteristic to it.  It is very charming and fascinating because it is filled with pleasure.  Often times sin can feel great.  That pleasure may be short lived but is still alluring.  It makes me think of a bug zapper.  I can never figure out how so many bugs fly into that light to their death.  That light is so alluring to bugs that just can't resist.  I would look around see all my dead buddies and say, "Forget this.  I'm outta here!"  Really...   I look around and see my buddies now filled with sin and far too often I fail to say, "Forget this.  I'm outta here."  The biggest reason is because sin is also deceitful.  Sin shows off all its pleasure but disguises its pain, shame, and consequences.  That is exactly what Satan did to Eve!  He listed all the advantages but disguised the consequences and pain of sin.  Satan is a barter, who bargains with things he doesn't have!  That is what he tried with Jesus. Mt 4:1-11  Satan wants us to think of sin as something beautiful and pleasureful.  The beer commercials do the same thing today.  Their product will cause you to do dumb and costly things.  It will make you extremely sick.  It will cause to loose memories of what you did.  It could even kill you.  Yet, their commercials never communicate that.  All we see is fun, pleasure, and beautiful people. If we are not careful sin will make us its slave.  Rom 6:16  

Sin separates us from God. Isa 59:2  It brings suffering.  Eve suffered in childbearing, Adam suffered in labor, the earth suffered in what it produced, and Satan suffered with his head being crushed.  Everything and anything suffers when sin enters the picture!  Sin also brings death, both physical and spiritual.  It may have took over 900 years for Adam's resulting death from sin to catch him, but it did.  Cemeteries all over the place are a reminder that sin resulted in a physical death.  Paul reminds us of the spiritual death that sin produces.  2Th 1:7-9  

Thank you Lord for providing a cure from this sin in Jesus Christ! Rom 5:8-12

He died for our sins, by His wounds we are healed, and He destroyed death and brought life! 1Co 15:3; 1Pe 2:24; 2Ti 1:10  Thank you Jesus!  His blood provides our redemption and forgiveness in accordance with God's grace. Eph 1:7

The cure is provided all we must do is partake.  Antibiotics can't help you if you do not take them.  Christ can't help if you do not obey Him.  Obedience to the Gospel is a must.  God did His part and now we must do ours.  Those at Pentecost understood this and asked, "What should we do?"  Saul understood this and said, "What will you have me do?"  Today, are you ready to let go of sin in your life that is separating you from God and ask the same question as Saul and those at Pentecost?  Sin is not an alternate lifestyle or permissible due to convenience.  It is separating you from God and eternity with Him.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22   

What do you think of the Christ?

Mt 22:41-46

This is the most important questions ever asked.  No man can ever be saved if he fails this test.  To recognize and hail Christ as God come in the flesh is the beginning of the salvation process that leads to eternal life.  Christ is the "cornerstone." Eph 2:20  Honestly, without that perception, man will remain guilt ridden, roam as a lost sheep without a shepherd, and condemned forever.  What a person thinks of Christ determines the destiny of their soul. Jn 8:24  Every person must think something about the Christ.  No one can be indifferent, or sitting on the fence.  Mt 12:30  A person who denies Christ is often stimulated by the mention of His name.  The mention of Buddha or Muhammad doesn't upset them, but the very sound of Christ gets them up in arms and brings forth fierce opposition, why?  It is my opinion, that people have no fear of Muhammad or Buddha.  Now Christ, on the other hand, is a different story because the thought that Christ just may be all that He said He is can be very alarming and disturbing.  They can not let the thought of Christ alone because the thought of Christ can not let them alone!   So, what do you think of the Christ, whose son is He?

The Pharisees said He was "the son of David."  Jesus was the son of David according to the flesh. Rom 1:3  His mother was human, which made Him the son of man. With a portion of His nature as human as His mother, Christ "became flesh and dwelt among us." Jn 1:14  His dual nature of human and divine made Him qualified to be the only redeemer and mediator of mankind. 1Ti 2:5,6  Christ was tempted, He felt hunger and thirst, He suffered agony, and he felt the need for prayer like any other person on this earth.

 The only problem with the Pharisees response is that is only half true!  Remember this, "A half truth is a whole lie."  Christ formed an argument (Mt 22:43-46) from Ps 110:1 saying since He existed before David, He is more than the son of David. Christ has always existed! Jn 1:1-3  Christ is the only begotten Son of God, born of a virgin, begotten of the Holy Spirit. Lk 1:26-35; Jn 1:14  He is called Immanuel Mt 1:23 

Jesus' teachings testified to His divinity.  Mt 7:29  His authoritative teachings distinguished Him from other men.  He spoke of the future so positively that you would have thought it had already happened!  Have you ever realized that Jesus said He would return in the day and night? Lk 17:31,34 Today, we understand the possibility of that because we know the earth is round.  It is day on one part of the earth and night on another.  How can you account for this teaching hundreds of years before mankind ever even dreamed of the earth being round?  Because Christ was divine and more than the son of man!

His works testified to His divinity.  His miracles were evidence to support His claim of divinity. Jn 3:2  He had power over nature.  He walked on water.  He had authority over diseases.  People who had long term diseases that couldn't be cured by doctors were healed just by touching Christ's garments.  Even death submitted to Jesus.  A man, Lazarus, was dead for four days and Jesus raised him from the grave!  Why do we read of these miracles in the Bible?  So Jesus can be lifted up as one cool cat and a powerful cat at that!  NO!  These are recorded so we can have believe in Jesus today (Jn 20:30,31) and understand He is more than the son of David, He is deity!    Because that belief is the start of a salvation process that leads to eternal life.  The question that arises is this, are the Biblical accounts trustworthy?  Yes, because I said so and that's good enough.  Just playin'! don't ever take a man's word on Scripture.  Let the Bible commentate on its self!  

These signs and miracles we read about are not hearsay.  The writers had seen, heard, and touched Christ. 1Jn 1:1  The writers definitely believed what they wrote and testified to as they died for what they taught.  Not many people will die for what they know to be false!  The letters they wrote passed the "acid test."  The acid test is basically a time proven thing.  I heard Ed Wharton use this illustration one time.  "If I wrote a book today about a man named Ed Wharton that did all these miracles, signs, and wonders in Lubbock, TX people would read it and call me a phony.  They would say I live in Lubbock, TX and I have never seen hide nor hair of this fella.  This book is garbage and it is not true.  They would be correct in that assumption.  This never happened to the letters that are in our Bible because they were written and circulated in a time that everyone knew Jesus did these things."  That is the acid test.  

History testifies to His divinity.  Today is A.D. 2012.  That means in the year of our Lord two thousand and twelve.  Our calendar is based on the advent of Christ!   That calender is recognized by the most powerful nations in the world today.  That is a true testimony of Christ's divinity.  Beware my friends there are attempts to change our calendar.  Satan will never stop attacking.  

Think about the vast amounts of people that gathered yesterday, the Lord's Day, or Sunday, or the first day of the week to worship.  What great event happened to make this day special?  The resurrection of Christ!  For this reason it is called the Lord's Day. Rev 1:10  Did these two things happen accidentally?   NO!  They are powerful testimonies that Jesus is more than the son of man.  He is the Son of God!

Today, tell someone about the Son of God and the love He had for mankind.  That agape love that sent Him to the cross so that we can have eternal life with our Father in heaven.  He has provided a way for us to be saved, but will we choose, or partake of, the path he lays out in His teachings?  Will you partake of what Jesus provided?

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22    

     

  

I Ain't Got No Money, But I Do Got Jesus!

Acts 3:1-10

These two guys, Peter and John, were always together.  We first find them fishing together when they are called by Jesus (Lk 5:10), they were both in the inner circle of Jesus' disciples that witnessed the transfiguration, the healing of Jarius' daughter, and in the garden of Gethsemane, and they were sent together to prepare the Passover meal the night Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper (Lk 22:8). 

They are heading to the temple because there are no buildings built for Christians to publicly worship yet.  The temple is still the place of meeting, but it soon becomes the place of conflict.  I read somewhere that the first type of place wasn't constructed until after 125 A.D. in towns east of Damascus, don't quote me on that.  They are headed to the temple at the ninth hour for prayer.  This practice of prayer three times a day is frequently mentioned in scripture.  Daniel did it out of habit. Dan 6:10.  Ps 55:17 carries it back to the time of David as well.  Those who desired more were not limited to that either. Ps 119:164

While on their way they see a lame man who daily was carried to this door to beg for money, so to speak.  He was basically asking for support due to his condition.  There would have been a multitude of people there at this time to witness what was about to happen.  This man asks alms from Peter and John.  He obviously has his head down when Peter tells him to look at them.  Peter is trying to give the guy some hope and he wanted his undivided attention.  It was common to look the other way as you passed a beggar and Peter was letting him know that this was about to be very different.  This time there will be compassion!  

I find the next part extremely funny.  Peter gets the beggar's attention, looks this lame beggar in the face, and says, I'm broke.  I'm sorry but that is funny to me.   Now about Peter, what a change we see today huh?  Peter is incorrectly thought to be the first Pope.  Here we see him physically broke but able to heal a lame man from birth.   His usurping "successors" of today can't heal a common cold by themselves but are very rich.  That is the exact opposite of Peter.  Makes you wonder doesn't it?  

Peter tells him he has something better than money, he has Jesus Christ.  I want you to know that the greatest gift you can give a person is sharing Jesus' saving power. When you tip a waitress or waiter don't just give money, give them info on Jesus.  The best of friends will get you to the feet of Jesus.  

This miracle was done "in the name of Jesus" which means "by the authority of" or "by virtue of the power derived by Him."  I love the fact that we are told to be baptized in the same authority or powerful virtue derived by Jesus today.  They didn't physically see a change take place in the lame man's body did they? NO!  They only knew of Christ's healing and saving power was by the way he walked afterwards.  The same with baptism.  We can't physically see us being born again of the water and the spirit. Jn 3:3-5 We can't see the sins removed.  We can't see the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 We can't see us being added to the Lord's Church.  Acts 2:47 NKJV We can't see our names being written in  the Lamb's book of life. Rev 20:15; 21:27 The only thing we know is that after we are immersed into Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection we are to walk around in the newness of life. Rom 6:4

Many people were probably present to see this man walking, leaping, and praising God.  Can you imagine the feeling in this man?  HE CAN WALK!!  He was lame since birth and he was over forty years old.  Acts 4:22  I would be running around telling everybody and anybody who would listen.  For those of you who know me, I would even try too tell those who wouldn't listen.  Remember, this is the time of prayer, people are probably solemnly approaching the temple.  Then there is this guy leaping around and they realize it was that lame beggar, what a surprise!

Acts 2:43 states that many signs and wonders were being done.  Have you ever wondered why the Lord chose this one to be in our Bible?  I have and the best solution I can come up with is because of what happens after this is done.  We see in chapter four that this miracle resulted in persecution.  God doesn't hide that fact that His children will face persecution. 2Ti 3:12  Joseph, Daniel, and Jeremiah were all thrown into a pit for sharing the truth!  There will be times of these tribulations, even Jesus said that in Jn 16:33.  If people aren't mad at you for sharing the truth, you probably aren't sharing the truth.  I always say if you aren't suffering any type of persecution you probably aren't doing it right.  You probably look so much like the world that the world doesn't know you are a Christian.  If the people close to you do not know you're a Christian, God probably doesn't either!  These times are all worth it my friends. Rom 8:18

Today, make sure we are sharing the love and saving power of Jesus Christ.  There will be consequences for sharing that truth, but it will be worth it in the end.   This economy has many people hurting financially but we can still give spiritually!  May your message be that of Peter's in Acts 3.  "I do not possess silver of gold, but what I do have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ..."   Remember, we are not called to approve how people live.  We are called to go, preach, baptize, and teach. Mt 28:19,20  Go to someone today, preach Christ crucified, baptize them in the name of, or by the authority of, Jesus (Mt 28:18), and then we can teach them how to live as Christians.  We far to often skip the first three and expect the world to live as Christians and that shouldn't be!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22    

Time To Work

Titus 1:16

I have noticed that people, including me, often times try to segregate their lives.  We have this section of our life for family.  Another section of our life for work.  Yet another section for church, and so on.  We often try to keep them apart.  We say, "I leave work at work" when we refer to problems or struggles we have at work.  We say, "I will miss service to be with my family" and it may be needed but none the less it is segregated.  Have we ever considered the thought that working for the Lord must permeate through our entire life and cannot be segregated?  A few weeks ago I taught a lesson on the word "worship" and we discussed a few of the Greek words that are translated worship in the New Testament.  One of the was "latreuo", which basically means worship is a lifestyle not just a specific act in a specific place, but a way in which we live.  That sure doesn't sound like a segregated life to me.  The above tells us that is possible to claim, or profess, Christ and deny him with our works.  To me, that sounds like an attempt at a segregated life.  Paul tells Titus three things about this type of person.

Before we dig into that, I think it must be said that profession without practice brings condemnation.  This will be explained in another paragraph but do we ever think of it like that?  We must produce fruit.  Mk 11:12-14  These verses sound really mean and harsh for Jesus to do, but what we don't realize is that a fig tree there is a little different than our trees here.  We know trees to produce leaves then fruit, but figs are the exact opposite.  They produce fruit then leaves.  Therefore, the tree having leaves should have already been producing fruit but failed to do so!  Many Christians are failing to produce fruit but are showing leaves as well.  I can't see how an honest Bible student can read the few verses used thus far and still believe in "faith only."  But on to our work!

Paul says a person who professes but doesn't practice has a detestable character.  This word is often translated "abominable."  Have you ever thought that profession and no practice is an abomination?  This word means that which is an abomination to God.  We are so quick to hammer homosexuality as an abomination and refer people to Lev 18:22 but are you prepared to say the same thing to a person who professes and doesn't practice?  Both are an abomination to God but we choose which we fight and stand firm on, sadly.  Some say the man preaching faith only is not as wicked as a homosexual, but that is if you are writing the Bible.  Spiritually they are both an abomination.  Both can be repented from.  Both can be forgiven. That is why I say profession without practice brings condemnation.  Do your works deny Christ? 1Jn 2:4  Profession without practice makes you a liar.  Rev 21:8   Liars will face a second death.  Therefore, profession without practice brings condemnation.

Paul says a person who professes but doesn't practice has a disobedient action.  Again, I find it funny that Paul says here to Titus that practicing is obviously commanded because you can't disobey something that was not commanded!  If profession without practice is disobedient profession and practice must be commanded!  Why then do people try to make Paul and God's Word their sock puppet and support a faith only?  You see, the word translated disobedient literally means unwilling to be persuaded, spurning belief, disobedient.  It is addressing intentional unbelief.  Profession without practice brings condemnation and so does unbelief.  Mk 16:16  Make no mistake, I know we are saved by the grace of God and no other means.  I also believe that that saving grace is PROVED, not EARNED, in our lives by our works.  Without a living and working faith we cannot claim to have God's saving grace.  If we do that is professing without practicing.  When we walk according to the world we are "sons of disobedience" and will be overcome by the "wrath of God" Eph 2:2; 5:6  Do you walk according to the world or the Word?

Finally, Paul says a person who professes but doesn't practice has a worthless value.  The word translated worthless here is usually applied to metal.  It means not standing the test, rejected.   You see, if we are professing and not practicing our work is rejected.  Our work is not approved by God.  We have no value at that point.  We must have different works than that of the world.  We must delight in God's Word.  That is the picture of the tree that doesn't wither!  Ps 1:1-3  This is why we must meditate on the Word of God day and night.  We must seek Godly wisdom.  We must meditate on , profess and practice the Word of God so that we are ready to do every good work.  2Ti 3:16-17   I am reminding you to be ready for "every good deed."  Titus 3:1

As Christians today we must be seeking the wisdom of God's Word.  Remember, wisdom is the proper application of knowledge.  Wisdom of God's Word must be our foundation.  Sanctification in obedience to God's Word (Jn 17:17) must be our rule.  The resurrection from the dead reserved for us in heaven to spend eternity with our Father (1Pe 1:3-4) must be our goal.

Today, are ready to work?  Are you ready profess and practice?  I said this week in my message that one sermon lived will be far more effective than ten sermons preached.  Today, live the Bible, don't just profess it and you will be proving God's saving grace in your life.  You will be equipped for every good work.  Then and only then you won't be found as an abomination, disobedient, and worthless.  Are you ready to work for Jesus with a lifestyle?

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22      

    

Conversion Is More Than A Van

Mt 18:3

I truly believe the word "converted" is disappearing from the 21st century church.    The above verse is not saying we are to be childish but that we are to be childlike in our pursuit of power and dominance.  Children really care less about those things, but those are the things that drive adults!  Remember, Jesus said this right after he was asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  In conversion, the entire person is remade from the inside out, and that is bound to show up in our daily lives.  What do we treasure most in life?  Consider what Jesus said in Mt 12:35   You see, a new life is the product of conversion!  There are steps a person takes as this conversion, or new life, happens.  Consider the following...

Faith leads to a new life.  Christians live for a world that they have not seen.  They lay up treasures in a place they have never been.  They are not overly concerned with the things of this world.  This is all done is faith!   People of the world, however, are very much a part of the world.  These people are not merely in the world, as a Christian is, but they are truly a part of the world.  Jn 17:14-16  I preached a message a month or so ago and I asked the question, "Will someone from your life stand up and witness, that by the way you live, they know you are not a part of this world?"   Can someone do that for you?

Faith is a must.  Faith changes the way we live.  If you faith doesn't change the things you say and do you do not have a saving faith.  Does your daily walk in the world reflect that you are converted by your faith?  Heb 10:38; 2Co 5:7; Gal 2:20.  We must have and live by faith if we plan to please God.  Heb 11:6  Notice that faith is more than believable that He is.  We must also understand that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him!  Too many people think faith is believing that He is, fail to seek him, and are robbed of a reward!!!!

Faith is believing that He is.  Faith is believing that He rewards those who seek Him.  Faith is believing Jesus is God's son. Jn 8:24  We prove this faith is God's son by loving him with our obedience to his commandments.  Jn 14:15  Having a faith that changes our lives, or converts us, is proving we are "saved by grace through faith." not earning grace!  Eph 2:8   A person cannot live a Christian life without being converted by faith.  The Christian life is a life of faith.  

Peter failed to walk on water when his faith failed.  The disciples failed to cast out demons when their faith failed.  The same thing happens to us when our faith fails.  We sink and fail to imitate Christ!  A living, active, and saving faith is found in the obedience and practice of God's Word (Jn 17:17) and that is how faith leads to a new life.

Repentance leads to a new life.  Our actions prior to being converted nay not have appeared foolish (Titus 3:3) while in the world because we were seeking fleshy things. Rom 8:5.  Repentance of something is to quit doing it!  We must quit seeking fleshy things if we are to be converted.  When we repent of a life of sin we must change that life we lived.  We must change all of our behavior.  1Pe 1:14-16. When someone repents due to a strong faith in God's son they are thrusted into a new life.  That is how repentance leads to a new life.

Confession leads to a new life.  I do not want to spend to much time on this as I have posted on this in the past called, "I confess... I confess..."   God has a claim on every life on this planet.  Many do not recognize that claim and confession is a way of saying we recognize God's claim on our life.  We confess that our creator surely knows more about us than we do, I mean He is our creator!!   The confession is a solemn committal to the will of Christ before others!  That is how confession leads to a new life. 

Baptism leads to a new life.  Many people try to elevate baptism and others try to bury it.  The Bible has a lot to say about baptism and that is a fact.  Here are some more facts, until this point we still have the old self with us and the old sins on us!  We have a dirty conscience about our past life.  How is that going to change?  BAPTISM!  In baptism, we have a clear conscience toward God concerning our past life.  1Pe 3:21  In baptism, we have our old sins washed away.  Acts 22:16  In baptism, we lay the old self to rest and rise to a newness of life. Rom 6:1-4  In baptism, we have the blood of Christ applied to us and that sets us a part for the service of the living God.  Heb 9:14   In baptism, we are clothed with Christ.  Gal 3:27  nd not of it!  That is how baptism leads to a new life.  

Today, do you live a life that says you are converted from the old fleshy lusting person you used to be?  Do you walk in the newness of life?  Do those of the world around you know there is something different about you or do you look too much like the world for them to tell?  I always say if the people around you do not know you are a Christian, God probably don't either.  Potiphar knew God was with Joseph because of his demeanor, do others know God is with you because of yours?  Have you been converted to Christianity or are you just claiming Christianity?

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22      

The Reality Check

1Pe 1:13

Leading up to this verse, Peter has been talking about the greatness and the glory that Christians can look forward to.  The problem is when someone get so lost in their dreams of the future glory they forget they are in a battle in the present.  Many are so focused on the Christian's coming glory they forget of the Christian's current struggles.  Eph 6:11,12  So to keep Christians focused on our current battles and still looking forward to the coming glory Peter gives a three point reality check to his readers.

The first reality check is to "prepare your minds for action."  This is a very vivid phrase.  It actually means something like "pull up your sleeves" or how a person will "take off their jacket" when it is time to work.  Peter is telling us that we must be ready to put in mental work.  We must be ready for a very strenuous mental endeavor.  A person who rolls up there sleeves of takes off their jacket to prepare for work does so because they want to work without any type of interference.   Do we prepare our minds like that for our faith?   This is a reality check, how often do you clear your mind just for spiritual things?  Too many of us never clear our minds and fix our eyes on Jesus.  We must "lay aside every encumbrance" to do this!  Heb 12:1-3  How many people can't prepare their minds and focus on the Lord's Supper for a weekly observance?  We must never be content with an unexamined faith.  Do you believe what you believe from your own personal study or because the preacher said so?  If you are of the latter, you are not preparing your mind for work!  You may be drifting away (Heb 2:1) because you are not heeding the Word, paying attention to the Word, or preparing your mind for work.  Reality check, are you preparing your mind for work?  Are you doing all you can to keep your mind free from interference?  Are you taking off the mental jacket?  Are you rolling up the mental sleeves?

The second reality check is to be sober in spirit.  The word sober means to refrain from drunkenness or to be free of the influence of intoxicants.   It metaphorically carries the association of watchfulness.  Peter is giving the reality check of being steadfast and knowing what we believe.  As mentioned earlier, how many people when asked, "Why do you believe this or that" can only reply, "I don't know.  It's what the preacher always says."    To be free of intoxicants is to not be carried away by a new enthusiasm and then be completely under the influence of the latest craze.  Paul tells Timothy the same thing.  2Ti 4:5   This being "sober" is to be in spiritually sound judgment.  It is having a spiritual self restraint that will not allow you to be entangled by the allurements of the world.  Reality check, are you making sound spiritual judgments from a mind that is prepared to work for Jesus Christ?  Many people are so focused on earthly things that all they can think about is getting to the weekend.  Why, Monday is just around the corner?  I am not ignorant to the fact that we have tough and difficult weeks, but there will be many more.  May we focus on Christ from a sober and prepared mind!

The third reality check is fixing your hope on grace.  This hope is in something we haven't seen, but we are eagerly waiting for.  Rom 8:24,25  Grace is often under valued and misunderstood.  Many think grace is ticket to sin and lack repentance.  Jesus said we all must repent in Lk 13:3.  People say, "That was told to the Jews.  There is no call of repentance today because we are covered by grace."  Well, the book of Acts tells us how the early church grew and how the Lord added people to the church.  You do not "join" the church.  In this book you can read where God has called all men to repentance. Acts 17:30,31    You can stand in the corner like the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz saying, "I do believe, I do believe, I do, I do, I do, I do believe" and be immersed in every pool, pond, and waterway in the United States, but without repentance you will perish.  The greatest characteristic of Christianity is that we live in the hope of grace.  It is that hope that gets us through trials of this present time.  It is that hope that carries us through our toil and struggles.  It it because the Christian knows these struggles leads somewhere great and incomparable.  Rom 8:18  The glory that awaits is why athletes train so hard. For Christians, the best is yet to come.  I often say when the struggles feel like they are to much to bear, think about how great the glory will be later!  Reality check, are you living with the gratitude of mercies for all that was in the past, with the fortitude to meet the struggles of the present, and with the hope of grace that for those in Christ, the best is yet to come?   Is that how a friend would describe you?  Do you friends and coworkers even know you are a Christian?  I always say that if those around you do not you are a Christian, God probably don't either!

This is a reality check to make sure our minds are prepared for working for Christ, our judgments are wanting for Christ, and our hopefulbelieve.  He is coming for those who are obedient!  2Th 1:7,8

Today, is a reality check.  If Christ would return today would you be found obedient or disobedient.  You see God loves us so much He sent his son to be a final and perfect sacrifice for our sins.  That is done from His mercy.  He gives us His gift of grace that saves us through faith.  That faith is determined by our obedience to God's Word not by what we claim to believe!  Mt 7:20  In the winter time when you look at mountain it is hard to differentiate between the trees.  Yet, in the summer when you look at the same mountain, it easy to differentiate between the trees because you can see the fruit they are producing.    Reality check, are you producing Christian fruit because that is what differentiates Christians from other people.  Sanctification and holiness are the desire and duties of every Christian!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

We must hear the Word of God:  Rom 10:17; Acts 4:4

We must believe or have faith:   Heb 11:6; Acts 16:31

We must repent of our sins:  Lk 13:3; Acts 17:30

We must confess Christ before others:  Mt 10:32; Acts 8:37

We must be immersed into Christ (baptized) Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38

We must be faithful:   Rev 2:10; Acts 14:22