Saved & Called

Introduction: John Newton

Saved

Decent? Good? Holy?

In light of suffering, Paul reminds Timothy of reality - we have been saved

This is a difficult concept now - we’ve built a society on telling people they’re fine just as they are

Hear it across the age spectrum & in laity and clergy alike

God doesn’t make mistakes

if we talk about problems, they’re out there, not in here

The world needs to be saved; not me

Yet Paul reminds us that it’s not just the world: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ()

The reality is stark: we are broken, and we need to be saved.

The New International Version Chapter 7

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. u For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

We must know this deep in our being

The good news is this: God has saved us through Jesus Christ - hallelujah!

“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” - Tim Keller

Do you believe it?

Called to a Holy Life

But salvation is not like the game “Monopoly”

What is the most valuable card? Get out of jail free!

Everything stops while you’re in there; once you’re out, you resume your “life”

That’s not what salvation does

Even the church has used imagery that makes the Gospel simplistic

Life boat v. shadows

continuing my life v. having a new life

Being called to a holy life means practicing a holy life

Practicing like a doctor practices

The New International Version Chapter 3

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Learning to read - it’s hard! but we must start somewhere

Hearts must be in the right place - “Legalism lacks the supreme sense of worship. It obeys but it does not adore.” Geerhardus Vox

John Newton - approaching the end of his life (minutes!)- “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”