Ephesians 3:17; Galatians 1:6; Acts 20:28-31
Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in
love.
People are in the search of Truth everywhere when All Truth is found only in one place. The Gospel of Salvation in Jesus Christ is the one Truth that is sufficient for us for there is nothing better that can match this offer of Salvation and Forgiveness of Sins to man other than the simple truth of accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Is there anything that we can add to Save ourselves more than what God has given to us in Christ????
So then, why are people turning away from the true Faith?? why are believers so weak to fall away at the slightest test of their faith??
Because, they are not Rooted or Grounded in Christ!
Illustration: I was standing across the counter in a Bank where I noticed an efficient employee who wooed a particular customer. The lady, a well looking and composed personality spoke in the most kindest words to her customer, "Sir, do you have an Account in this Bank?" "No" replied the man. "Which Bank do you then have your account". The man sheepishly quoted the name of his Personal Banker since 10 years. The lady then walked forward and said, "Sir, would you appreciate in changing your Bank Account to this Bank, we offer many privileges to our customers." The man then walked along with the lady to heed her advice, although he knew little about the truth of this new bank, yet he went forward to speak. I guessed he was more convinced about her than the privileges of the new bank. In other words, he was ready to leave his Personal Banker of 10 years for something NEW!
How often, we have too been tempted and lured to get away from our Faith, dilute our beliefs and culture by something NEW that the Enemy presents before us.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the L ORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
The Apostle Paul marveled at the turning away of the Galatians to something NEW than the simplicity that was in Christ,
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.
We find in the Book of Acts where Paul warned a young Ephesian Church to remember his teachings and cautioned against wolves in sheep clothings,
Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
The question we must ask ourselves is - "Is our Faith in Christ and our belief in Him on Solid Ground or Slippery Sand??"
To be rooted in Christ is,
* To know Him and His Power,
* To Agree with Christ on His offer of Salvation without any doubt,
* To be Established in His Word,
* To be Perfect in His Love,
* To Taste of His Presence in Prayer and Fellowship
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
When we are rooted in the Truth, no one can stop from advancing in the Kingdom,
* Riches did not stop Moses from staying in Egypt because he searched for the Truth
* Temptation and the Opportunity of Fidelity and Sex did not stop Joseph to keep pursuing God in the midst of all his trials.
* The widowhood of Ruth and the comforts of her mother's house did not stop Ruth from seeking the favor of the God of Israel.
* The insults of his master and rebukes to "leave him alone" did not stop Elisha to stop seeking the Power that was in his master Elijah.
* Paul's Jewish roots and his love for his countrymen and his faith in Judaism did not stop him from preaching Salvation in Jesus Christ to the whole world.
* The Roman Government and the Kingdoms of the World did not stop the Disciples of Jesus Christ in not preaching about Jesus to the World and they even did not mind to lay down their lives for what they believed.
John 14:6 ”I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Acts 4:12, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved.”
What is the Proof that the Gospel is the most dependable Truth of ALL times??
* The Life-changing testimony of a Young Rebel Saul who was tormenting the Church of Jesus Christ who later accepted the Truth in Jesus, became His Apostle and spent his entire life preaching this truth and finally gave himself to be beheaded not willing to stop preaching the Truth is a proof of what he believed as the Absolute Truth.
* The 12 disciples gave their lives in Martyrdom to die for the Truth because they believed it to be the Absolute Truth
* Thousands of Missionaries all over the World are still continuing to give up their Jobs, Professions, Families, Properties and the Life too for the following the Gospel because they have believed it to be the Absolute Truth.
* The Testimonies of millions of Sinners across the World who testify of the same manner and pattern of their Forgiveness of sins and deliverance from Bad Habits, Sinful lifestyle and Wickedness and subsequent transformation to a Holy Life, Sinless and Spotless is a Proof that the Gospel is the Power of Salvation and the Absolute Truth that is dependable and reliable.
Jim Elliot, missionary martyr who lost his life in the late 1950's trying to reach the Auca Indians of Ecuador in one of his famous quotes said, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose"
Illustration: The Great Missionary R.R.K Murthy (speaker, Vishwavani Ministries) who got converted from his Brahmin Hindu Faith to Christianity was questioned by his own people, "What is not there in our faith that you cant find to convert for something new that is Christianity??"
He replied, "I am not interested in a faith that I can find something to convert but in a Faith that Converts me from a Sinner to a Righteous person."
4 Proofs confirming the truth of the Gospel:
01. Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul tested the Gospel for fourteen years before surrender to the heavenly calling of being the Apostle of the Early Church. (Galatians 1:15-17; Galatians 2:1-2)
02. Apostle John
Apostle John confirmed in his epistle that they had first hand account of Jesus Christ and the Word in Him and are Witness of the Truth of Eternal Life manifested in Him. (1 John 1:1-2)
03. Apostle Peter
Peter in his 2nd Epsitle to the Church, confirmed with assertion that the Gospel that he preached was not a devised fable and that he was eye witness to the "Excellent Glory" on the Mount of Transfiguration where he also heard of the voice from heaven testifying about Jesus in whom God was well pleased. (2 Peter 1:16-18)
2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
04. 40 Different Authors
40 Different Authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit who wrote the Bible in Different Timezones and Periods of History pointed out in Uniformity and Confirmation to Christ who died on Calvary Cross. These authors all spoke about Christ from Moses the first author to John the last author and others such as David, Daniel, Jonah, Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Solomon, Peter, Paul etc.,
We must be rooted in this Truth! Grounded firmly so that no storm in our lives can ever displace us from our destiny in Christ.
God Bless You!
