United In Christ · Growing In Grace · Reaching Out In Love

Sunday Morning Sermon Summary

The Faith and Works Paradox

“The Power of Lost Glory Restored”

1 John 2:3-6

Sunday, May 3, 2009

 Paradox:

               “By grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of ourselves it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast" Eph 2:8. (By grace, through faith, in Christ alone)

               VS.

               “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26)

               OR

               "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:5).
               VS.
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (James 2:17).

 How does faith relate to works?  What does it mean to be “saved

 GOD:     THREE TENSES TO SALVATION  

PAST:  When a person believes in Christ, he is saved

John 3:16 – For God so loved that He gave His Son that WHOSOVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVER LASTING LIFE.

Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

Acts 16:31 – (To the Philippian jailor) They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household."

PRESENT: God gives the power of Christ's resurrection to live a new life

Romans 6:3-4 Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 6:15-18 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey — whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

FUTURE: Our experience of salvation will be complete when Christ returns

Hebrews 9:27-28 - Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Matthew 13:41-43 - The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

 Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

 “THE POWER OF LOST GLORY RESTORED” (Creation-Fall-Redemption)

The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him

How do we know for sure: Harvey: The rest of the story!

SO WHAT?

1. REAL FAITH involves CHANGE (repentance, metanoia): ERASING THE PAST, LIVING LIVES OF OBEDIENCE IN THE PRESENT, AND PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “If any man be in Christ he is a new creation…”   

Galatians 6:14-16 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.

“THE POWER OF LOST GLORY RESTORED” God's love is truly made complete in him (ILLUSTRATION: BRIAN SEMSEM)

 2. REAL FAITH is confirmed by love

Matthew 22:37-40 "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

“THE POWER OF LOST GLORY RESTORED” Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did

 3. REAL FAITH keeps its eyes on Jesus

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

Romans 8:12-17 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh -  for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Are you enthusiastically, whole-heartedly following Christ?)

 NOW WHAT? (Past, present and future)   

1 John 2:28-29 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.

 PS: Hebrews 10:19-25 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Legend:

Green: Mission and Vision
Blue: Illustrations and quotes
Red: Scripture

Note to the visitor:  These are Pastor Paul’s sermon notes from Sunday Morning.  They probably won’t make much sense if you weren’t in the service.  Feel free to contact Pastor Paul if you’d like more detailed information.
For past sermons, please visit the Sermon Archive. 

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