Untitled Sermon

When you are saved and GOD transformed you into a child of GOD, you are given benefits.This morning lessons is about some of those benefits and what you are to do with them BUT before we touch on this topic of benefits, lets touch on whether you want these benefits.And whether we want these benefits or not comes from whether you want the giver of this benefits.Very often this life, we want the gifts BUT not the giver.In this subject matter of being a Christian, the give and the giver is a package deal.We cannot want the gift BUT not the giver.For example, people want happiness BUT do not want to obey GOD - that is impossible.Likewise, if we are to wear the badge, “I am a Christian”, we cannot do so without calling Jesus Christ LORD and Master.

​ KJV 1900And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

So, the benefits of salvation only what sense when we want GOD for Himself and not for what He does or gives to us. As we move away from the false Gospel that focus on man - that everything Christ did was for you and you alone.We learn to see the act of redemption and saving man as the purpose of GOD.GOD saved us for Himself and His glory.

​ KJV 1900These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

We are benefactors of GOD’s plan of redemption.We are not the cause nor reason because GOD is still not wrong or unrighteous if He were to allowed man to be condemned due to their sins and unrighteousness.BUT GOD saved us because;He is love.He is merciful.He is gracious.He need not save us BUT He wants to because He was all of the above.There was nothing in us that is worth saving.BUT because GOD saved us, there is everything in Him that is worth living.

The first benefit is that in Christ, life is worth living.

It does not matter who you are.What is your background.What has happened in your life.Your life in Christ is worth living because Christ is in you.There is nothing more precious in this life and all of the universe than Christ.Because He is GOD and He loves you and me.What more could mortal man want and need to live well?Life on this earth will be difficult.There will be sufferings, hardship, failures, sickness and death.There will always be the unknown and bad things do happen to us.We will also do bad things and hurt people.This is life in this sinful world.Yet, in Christ, all these will make sense and life is worth living because;He is GOD.He knows everything - there is no unknown with Him.He is all powerful - what He wants to do, nothing can stop Him - not even death.He is all caring and he knows exactly what we are going through, what we are feeling and how we are coping or not coping.You see, life is not about how you can cope or what you know.Life is about who knows everything and has the power to do anything.As a Christian, as a child of GOD, we know this GOD in Jesus Christ.The giver and His gift comes as a set.This is our first benefit - our lives is in GOD and what He is and is doing in and for us.

The second benefit is that there is future.

We are promised that there is another life after this one.As young as you are, know there is more than all that you see now.Your future and mine is not some science fiction of another life in another galaxy and the excitement of meeting an alien life form.Our future will consist of GOD himself in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Yes, we will see angels BUT no aliens as portrayed in Star Wars etc.

​ KJV 1900But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Live your life with the knowledge, image seared into memory, that this life is not everything.There is more to life than the here and now.We have a future and the future is in GOD.Live your life with this future with GOD in front of you.

What does having a future and life here mean?

So, with such a future, what is GOD’s instruction for the here and now?According to the word of GOD in Colossians, we have;

​ KJV 1900If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

GOD through the apostle Paul instruct us to do the following;Seek those things that are above - things that are higher but what are these things? v2 gave us the negative answer to this questions - things that are not on this earth.v1 gave the positive side to the question - to seek the things that are in heaven, where Christ is seated.Isn’t that amazing, that when someone is raised with Christ, he/she can pursue after heavenly things.Is there anything here on earth that is better than the things in heaven, where Christ is?Christians in Christ, has been raised, from being spiritually dead, to be spiritually alive.We have this new life in Christ where we can go after eternal things that will never rot.So, what are these earthly things that we once walked and are to mortify (put to death or kill)?v7 said; .

​ KJV 1900In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

​ ESVIn these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

and these things are;

​ KJV 1900Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

​ ESVPut to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

the kind of uncleanness mentioned here has the idea of filthy sexual passion -

​ KJV 1900For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Sexual purity is a hallmark of a Christian and in Christ, someone who is raised from spiritual death, is capable of attaining.When Paul tells us to seek heavenly things, he has leading us to put-off the sinful lifestyle what is expemfied by the world.GOD is instructing us that we have a higher calling and that calling is about heavenly values. The kind of values that Christ Himself has shown us. The benefits Christ gave us is for the here and now and yet, it has eternity in mind because its the values of Christ himself.As a Christian, we do not just live in the moment.We live in the moment with our hearts set on heaven and eternity, where Christ is seated.

​ KJV 1900As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

So, what does GOD want us to do as Christians? Be holy as I am holy.My will for you. .Worship and serve Him. .