Dakota Community Church
May 22, 2011
Mighty to Save - 2
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
This is not about salvation depending upon works.
Those who Jesus "KNOWS" are saved - those who point to the works they did in His name are lost!!!
What about the line "He who does the will of my Father" What is the will of the Father?
John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
I heard one preacher say:
“If we were all gripped with the fear of God there would be less Christians going to hell”
THERE WILL BE NO CHRISTIANS GOING TO HELL.
This pastor claimed that he fears the Lord and this prompts him to “do right” - because of this right behavior he has confidence about the Day of Judgment!
Here is my resume vs. I’M WITH HIM
You do not want to be standing before God with your resume in your hand.
You want to be going in on Jesus’ resume.
Luke 18:9-14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Does God expect perfection from us?
If not - then how good is good enough?
Who decides that standard?
Those who teach that salvation is by works always claim that "we don't have to be perfect" - Jesus taught that we do (Matthew 5:48)
Matthew 5:38-48
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
“Maybe we need to redefine what "perfect" is.
Is perfect always doing the right thing or loving others as we love ourselves? Is it following the right rules or laying our lives down for those around us?
We don’t get to set the definitions – God does that!
How do believers become more Christ like and is it possible to just coast along on the coat-tails of grace?
There are things that we are to do:
Resist the devil
Put on the whole armour of God
Pray with all kinds of prayer
Walk in the Spirit
Be transformed not conformed
Ultimately it is God who brings about sanctification!
Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 1:6
...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:2-5
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
