Are
You Being Saved?
Jim
Davis
Often the question is asked, "Are you saved?"
We may answer, "Yes, I have been saved?" I notice the word "saved" in both
the question and the answer is in past tense. It leaves the impression
salvation is over and done with. Salvation is something I have already
done and now I can get on with my life. Theology often reduces salvation
to a theological formula to be adhered to, which leaves lives devoid of
God's living presence and power.
The question this morning is, Are you being
saved? Try to imagine trying to sustain your interest in baseball by merely
reading the rulebook. You have a very specific knowledge of how the game
is to be played, but you have never observed a game being played. Or maybe
you have never played the game. Many learn and obey the rules to be saved,
but they are not experiencing salvation as an ongoing event. They have
read the Bible, have a knowledge of the rules, they have obeyed the gospel
in the past tense, but they are not experiencing the joy of God's presence
and power.
Salvation becomes an open and shut case. We
have been saved. Now we are depending upon human reasoning to make our
lives what we want them to be. Too often we come to the Bible to discover
the rules to receive salvation and turn to the world for direction for
our lives. We may subconsciously and unconsciously accept the view the
Bible is irrelevant to how we live. We may turn to books on the bestseller
list to discover how to live fulfilled lives. We look to those who have
accomplished to learn how to succeed. We may see many of the principles
expounded in those books in harmony with the teaching of the Bible. But
making those principles work without knowing God is hopeless, even though
they may be right out of the Bible.
Life Will Fail Without God
Trying to live by Biblical principles without
totally relying on God’s power to salvage our lives is hopeless. The world
often encourages us to use principles in harmony with Bible teaching to
discover our own potential, but the Bible encourages us to use those same
Bible principles to discover God's potential for our lives. There is a
difference!
God has the ultimate plan for our lives. God
guarantees us that he will use his power to make his plan for our lives
work. God’s plan is not a recipe formula for us to comprehend and follow
so we can make life come out right. It is a plan, which allows God to take
responsibility for our lives coming out right as we follow his directions.
In fact, life will not work without God. I learn this truth in the first
twelve chapters of the Bible. Adam and Eve are banished from Eden through
rejection of God's plan. Cain's sinful descendants die in the flood; meanwhile
the flood saves Seth's righteous descendants. Noah's descendants, after
the flood sought to take control of their lives and make a name for themselves
(Genesis 11:4), as they endeavored to build a tower to heaven, but their
lives ended with the confusion of babbling fools. God calls Abraham and
God promises to make his name great. Notice this is in contrast to making
a name for himself, as those building the tower were seeking to do. You
must catch this as you read Genesis chapters 11 &12 --- God makes names
great.
It is amazing to read the revealing stories
of the Old Testament as God's will is wrought in the direst of circumstances
in the lives those who believe. In every one of these Old Testament stories
it seems as though Satan is in charge of the circumstances, but God's power
is directing the lives of the faithful determining the ultimate outcome.
The bulk of the book of Genesis reveals what
God did in the lives of just four people, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.
No story is more heart warming than the story of Joseph. Joseph was sold
into slavery by his brothers at age 17 and spent seven years in an Egyptian
prison for refusing to sin against God. The Egyptians considered Joseph's
race so despicable they would not even be caught eating a meal with him.
The irony is that God placed Joseph a slave and ex-con in charge of all
of Egypt. It seemed as though Satan was in charge of Joseph’s circumstances,
but God was fully in charge of his circumstances and the outcome.
There is one lesson we must learn from Genesis,
there are many others, but this one is absolutely essential. God is sovereign;
this means God is in control and has a plan to salvage our lives. He desires
to do that through the salvation our Lord offers.
Joseph's brothers, after their father's death,
were afraid Joseph would seek retribution for selling him into slavery.
However, Joseph saw God providing for others through what God allowed happened
to him.
Genesis 50:18-21
His brothers then came and threw themselves
down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. But Joseph said to them,
"Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm
me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done,
the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide
for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
(NIV)
May God help us realize God's continued plan
in our daily lives. Really this is the message, not only of Genesis but
also of the entire Bible. God intends life to work out for good. (Romans
8:28) God is the only one who can make it happen.
Life Will Fail Without Christ
The New Testament wants us to understand in
the very outset Christ is part of God's sovereign plan. The first five
books of the New Testament open using the stories of the Old Testament
for a foundation for the good news about Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew
opens tracing Christ to the fulfillment to the seed of Abraham, Mark opens
his book declaring Christ as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophesy (Isaiah
40:3), Luke opens his book up the story of salvation from Malachi and in
the third chapter he traces the genealogy of Christ to Adam, John opens
his book declaring how Christ was involved in creation and Luke also opens
the book of Acts showing how Christ is sitting on the throne of David in
fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. It is no accident that Paul opens
the book of Romans declaring the gospel as God's powerful message to save.
It is not coincidental that the first five
books of the New Testament proclaim Christ reigning as Lord and Christ
through the power of God. Someone has suggested you can hardly read 25
verses of Paul's epistles without running across a reference to the risen
Christ.
The writers of the New Testament want us to
know who is in charge. It is the same one who has always been in charge.
It is Christ who is preeminent. The miracles of the gospels proclaim Christ's
power to save. When Peter places Christ on David's throne, he proclaims
his powerful authority to save as he connects Jesus with the promise God
made to David in the Old Testament. As the apostles travel through the
New Testament world working miracles, they wanted the people to understand
who was in charge. It is absolutely essential that we understand Christ's
power to save. We may not have first century miracles but we have God's
power.
Paul portrays the whole creation groaning
to be reborn.
Romans 8:19-24
The creation waits in eager expectation for
the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration,
not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in
hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay
and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that
the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right
up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits
of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons,
the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope
that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
(NIV)
Paul tells us that no matter how impossible
a rebirth of creation may seem to be that it is within God’s power to make
it happen.
Romans 8:31-39
What, then, shall we say in response to this?
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son,
but gave him up for us all-- how will he not also, along with him, graciously
give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has
chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus,
who died-- more than that, who was raised to life-- is at the right hand
of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love
of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness
or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all
day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced
that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present
nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
It is amazing at how many times the New Testament
reminds us of the sovereignty of Christ.
Matthew 28:18-19 – has all authority --- with
us always
Acts 2:37 – made both Lord and Christ
Notice Christ position and power in the following
verses.
Ephesians 1:18-23
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may
be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called
you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably
great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty
strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and
seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule
and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not
only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all
things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for
the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything
in every way. (NIV)
Colossians 1:14-18
In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness
of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible
and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all
things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in
him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything
he might have the supremacy. (NIV)
God’s new creation begins in Christ. Paul
wants us to know that Christ has the wisdom, power and right to call the
shots in our lives.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works,
so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)
Who Is In Charge of Your Life?
Christ came preaching the gospel of his kingdom
(Matthew 4:17), which came in the lifetime of his disciples. (Matthew 16:28;
Acts 2:21-40) Christ kingdom cannot be shaken.
Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom
that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably
with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." (NIV)
I notice the Hebrew writer says, " . . . we
are receiving a kingdom . . ." It is in present tense; it is something
happening right now in our lives as we allow Christ to rule our hearts.
Those who are saved are in his kingdom but they are ever receiving his
kingdom.
Salvation is not a thing of the past, it is
happening in the lives of the saved as we speak.
God continues to be at work salvaging our
lives.
It is appalling how the religious world is
trying to get people to adhere to a man made doctrine, while leaving lives
void of God. Come and join our church, we have greater entertainment. Come
join our church we have more activities. Come join our church we have contemporary
worship. Come and join our church we have contemporary and traditional
worship. Come to our church we have a greater performance each Sunday.
We focus people on everything but God.
The reason many churches are focusing their
people less and less on Bible is because they do not believe the ancient
book is relevant. Deep down it maybe because we are afraid to focus our
lives on God. Maybe we are afraid of the challenge of seeking God face
to face.
I would like to invite you join this church
of Christ because we have a contemporary God who is the same God who led
Noah to build the ark, who called Abraham to step into the unknown, who
worked Joseph's life out for the good of all. We invite you to focus your
life on God who can handle your problems and enable you to accomplish His
will in your life.
Conclusion:
To me, the story about Rahab the prostitute
is one of the most touching stories in entire Bible. I wish you would listen
to her confession of God to the spies she was hiding. She knew more about
God than some church people today.
Joshua 2:9-13
"I know that the LORD has given this land
to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live
in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the
LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt,
and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of
the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts
melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your
God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Now then, please swear
to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have
shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives
of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to
them, and that you will save us from death." (NIV)
She understood who was in charge. She understood
who was sustaining and salvaging the lives of the Israelites. She had been
observing their God for over forty years. Joshua had just finished giving
the Israelites a pep talk reminding them of God's abilities to face the
challenges of the promise land. In fact, God had just given Joshua a pep
talk.
Joshua 1:2-6
"Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you
and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land
I am about to give to them-- to the Israelites. I will give you every place
where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend
from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates-- all
the Hittite country-- to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able
to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses,
so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. "Be strong
and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land
I swore to their forefathers to give them. (NIV)
Rahab didn't need a pep talk to remind her
of what God was capable of doing. She sought salvation because she knew
her life was over without God's help. Rahab's God desires to work in your
life just as he did in her life. It is no accident when you run across
her name as Matthew traces the genealogy of Christ to Abraham. (Matthew
1:5)
Matthew 1:5-6
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother
was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed
the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,
(NIV)
Christ is reigning on David's throne who was
in the lineage of Rahab's family tree.
