Topical Text: Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
INTRODUCTION:
• Explain what a selfie is for the older people
• Take a few selfie’s to demonstrate!
• Selfies can be either fun or painful (Sometimes we don’t look like the person we remember in the mirror from the morning)
• If we took a “Sacred Selfie” what would we discover?
I. HOW DO I TAKE A LOOK INSIDE?
A. We measure ourselves by the Word of God
1. Psalms 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
B. Honesty is the best policy
1. Pray this prayer: “God help me see things about myself that others see that I can’t see.”
C. Examine the fruit (results) your life is producing
Matthew 7:15-20
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
II. WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE WHAT I SEE?
A. We all have a choice!
1. What are we going to do with what we know?
B. There is power in repentance. - 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
1. This passage contrasts Godly sorrow and worldly remorse.
2. Godly sorrow is constructive while worldly remorse is destructive.
3. Both are active in our lives (they are both working)
a) one brings salvation - life
b) one brings - death
III. THE QUESTION OF ETERNAL SECURITY
A. Eternal Security is the doctrine of “Once saved always saved.”
1. Some believe the Bible teaches that it is impossible to lose our salvation after we give our lives to Jesus Christ.
2. Others believe the Bible teaches that we can lose our salvation necessitating the need to return to Christ and recommit our lives to Him.
3. The contending parties have been Calvinists and Arminians; each party, in general, interpreting it according to the views which are held on the question about “falling from grace".
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
B. Several verses speak of God blotting or not blotting names out of the book of life.
1. “I will not blot out his name out of the book of life” (Rv 3:5);
2. “God shall take away his part out of the book of life” (Rv 22:19);
3. “...if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.... Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book” (Ex 32:32,33).
• These references to blotting out of the book of life allow only two possibilities:
• 1) Everyone’s name is written in the book of life from eternity past, indicating God’s desire for all to be saved, until they have irrevocably involved themselves in apostasy rejecting Jesus Christ, causing their names to be blotted out; or
• 2) When a person gets saved, their name is placed in the book of life for the first time, and when they later turn against Christ, their names are blotted out.
• Neither of these fit Calvinism. (Proponent of the doctrine of once saved always saved) The first denies that God only intends to save a select few (the elect), and the second denies the eternal security of the redeemed.
C. What about Hebrews 6:4-6?
Hebrews 6:4-6
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
1. The apostle was addressing Christians. He was endeavoring to keep them from apostasy. The object was not to keep those who were awakened and enlightened from apostasy, but it was to preserve those who were already in the Church of Christ, from going back unto perdition.
2. If one returns to Christ it is impossible for them to start over where they began in their first experience with Christ.
Hebrews 6:6 MSG if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can't start over as if nothing happened. That's impossible. Why, they've re-crucified Jesus! They've repudiated him in public!
a) If they begin again at the starting gate then they are saying that the power of the blood of Jesus was not sufficient the first time.
b) God is a God of restoration. God promised restoration to Israel after they had turned their backs on Him - Joel 2:23-27
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
3. Another way to say this is, “There is no other path to salvation.” The same blood of Jesus that cleansed us at salvation is the same blood that will continue to cleanse us IF WE KEEP OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST!
a) Everything rises and falls on our faith in Christ.
4. With God all things are possible! - Even Restoration
Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
• CONCLUSION: God will never leave us but we can walk away from Him…
IV. SACRED SELFIE - WE CAN MEASURE OURSELVES BY THE WORD OF GOD!
Psalms 19:7-10
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
A. Am I really living for God?
1. Do my thoughts, actions and life reflect Christ?
2. Am I a “practicing Christian” (One whose life is guided by the principles of God’s Holy Word)?
3. Is God pleased with me? (7 Things God hates - Proverbs 6:16-19)
B. My Options
1. Make excuses which is a none productive exercise or
2. Repent and ask God to help me!
C. Solution: Just live for God!
1. YOU CAN KNOW THAT YOU ARE BORN AGAIN!
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
CLOSING: SALVATION ALTAR CALL
