Christ; The Center of It All

You’re not trying to be a better version of the old you you’re a brand new creature, the old has passed away and all things have become new

Salvation is Free, Jesus paid for It

Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

John 3:16 “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus in your name…But they never knew Him

Matthew 7:21–23 “21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Salvation = Relationship with Jesus and a new destination

Matthew 11:28 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Philippians 3:20–21 “20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Salvation is … bringing back to normal, the Creator-creature relation.

A. W. Tozer

Salvation lived out correctly leads to Works and service to and for Christ  

Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

John 21:17 “17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Matthew 5:14–16 “14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Titus 2:7–8 “7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”

Working for salvation will crush you 

You don’t earn/keep salvation, you live in the relationship that it affords. 

1512Ralph Erskine did not say amiss when he remarked, “I have got more hurt by my good works than my bad ones. My bad works always drove me to the Savior for mercy. My good works often kept me from him, and I began to trust in myself.”—1.297

Charles Spurgeon