Thinking, Acting, Being like Jesus
Salvation of God
Ephesians 2:8-9
Introduction-
Last week we began a series called Thinking, Acting, Being like Jesus.
What I desire and I ask you again is to be honest where you are at and allow God to change the things that need to be changed so you can become all that God wants of you.
To be like Jesus is our virtues, that they line up with Jesus.
To think like Jesus is our beliefs, believing is not enough, you must make it a way of life.
To Act like Jesus is Bible studies, worship, praying, sharing our faith, and engaging our community of believers.
Statement of truth #1-
I believe the God of the Bible is the only true God, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.
Last week- Knowing God- you have to have a relationship with God to know God.
Today, we look at Salvation.
To be like Jesus, we need to know who we are in Jesus.
The Second truth of God is
I believe a person comes into a right relationship with God by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourself, it is the gift of God-not of works so that no one can boast.”
There are some things we can learn
We are saved by grace- meaning we cannot save ourselves.
It is the mercy and grace of God, God’s goodness towards us, not our goodness that leads us to salvation.
We receive it by faith-
Faith in what Christ has done for us, not what we do.
We cannot earn it, it is based upon what Christ has done so that we cannot brag how good we are or how much or how little was needed by God to reach us.
That is salvation! God doing something we cannot do for ourselves. We by faith except His gift. Like we said many times, it is a God thing!
It was God’s plan to redeem mankind because mankind cannot save itself.
It was God’s plan to take the punishment for those that accept His redemption.
When you see this simple yet complex plan of salvation, some people ask themselves it that enough?
We ask that question because we want to earn our salvation rather than trust God’s plan of completion.
Marks Gospel records Jesus encounter with a rich man.
“As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. Good teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
That is the question many ask but never look into for the answer, or they get the answer and they don’t like it so they do their own thing.
Most center on the rich man walking away, but I want you to see Jesus response. “Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you lack, he said, go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, then come, follow me.”
Back to the original question- What must I do to inherit eternal life”-
Answer-Be willing to give up all and follow Jesus.
John records his encounter with Nicodemus.
Nicodemus comes to Jesus and asks about salvation. Jesus says no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
Nicodemus is concerned and his question about what Jesus meant about the born again experience that is required for salvation.
Back to the original question- What must I do to inherit eternal life?
Answer-He must allow God to change him.
Rebirth of who you were to what God wants you to be.
Salvation is free to us, but it is not free. It cost Jesus everything!
The day of Pentecost
120 disciples were gathering waiting for the promise of God, the Holy Spirit to come and fill them.
The church was birthed and Jesus again gave them direction for our salvation.
“And everyone that calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The Bible tells us that God got a hold of their hearts and over 3000 believers responded to God’s call of what should we do to receive eternal life?
Peter replies, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
They turned from walking away from God and now walking toward God.
A repentant heart turns 180 degrees.
Peter tells us that we must respond and call on the name of the Lord.
“If you declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
I want you to see something here,
Faith and believe are not two separate things, in fact they come from the same Greek word.
Faith and believe are action words.
Grace means that we do not deserve salvation.
We are not entitled to it, and we cannot earn it. It is an offer made by God to offer His righteousness in our place.
His righteousness we cannot achieve on our own.
To respond, we must express faith and believe in who Jesus is and what He has done for us on the cross.
Stay with me,
Our good works do not contribute in any way to coming in to a right relationship with God, but they do express a love we have for God and we are in a right relationship with God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. ( repeat )
Some denominations believe once saved always saved, then if they turn away from God, they say that they were never in a right relationship because you cannot be unsaved.
Some believe in infant baptism.
They believe that parents can bring their children up front of a church and be saved. We believe that we as parents dedicate our children and bring them up in the Lord and they then make their own decision of taking Christ as Lord.
My Bible tells me that I have to confess my sins and profess my faith.
We cannot do that until we have reached an age of accountability and by choice want to follow Jesus.
The one thing I see is that salvation comes from God, and our acceptance of his gift of salvation comes from an expression of faith that comes from our heart.
Here is what I see today.
People accept the gift of salvation from God, but do not commit to following Jesus.
They do not allow Him to change their lives, and not allowing the Holy Spirit of God to empower them to do the works that God calls all believers too.
We are not saved by our works, but I question when we have no desire to serve God with any talents, abilities and our resources.
Filled believers at Pentecost turned this world upside down for Jesus and were ready to lay down their lives for Christ.
Randy Frazee goes on to make some very good points concerning salvation.
#1- Salvation is not something we can earn or deserve.
Jewish people tried circumcision as a means of works, some run door to door selling denominational magazines. You cannot earn it, but once you receive it, I believe you will do a 180 degrees in your life and serve God with your talents and resources.
James 2:18
“But someone will say, you have faith, I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”
You cannot earn it but you will not hide it under a bushel and do nothing once you have it.
#2- Salvation Is not one of many ways
“I am the way, the truth, and the light, no one comes to the Father except through me.”
All roads do not lead to heaven and God of the Bible. Only the narrow road that involves taking Jesus Christ as Lord and Him taking your sins and forgiving you and redeeming you.
Only the profession of faith in the redeeming power of Jesus can do that.
#3- Salvation is not unconditional reconciliation for all humans (universalism)
It is a nice thought, but not all people will be saved and on their way to heaven. It is God’s desire that all be saved, but it won’t happen because all won’t except Christ as their savior. You must repent and allow the blood of Christ to redeem you.
Not all good people will make heaven, only those who profess Christ as Lord.
Universalism implies that Christ died for nothing, that His blood was not needed for the redemption of mankind.
There will be a judgment and only those in Christ will be saved.
Salvation is found in only one person.
“For there is no name under heaven given to mankind by which to saved except Jesus Christ.
Closing,
What difference should this make in your life?
Will you understand what Jesus did so you could be saved, it should change the way you live your life.
Once saved, I believe there will be change.
You will desire to serve God and you will have a burden for people so they might receive what God has graciously given you.
We seek to please God first because of what He has done for us.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Amen.
