What Does God's Word Provide for the Christian--Part six
What Does God's Word Provide for the Christian? • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction:
1. Salvation requires action on our part.
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
A. What action does salvation require?
1. God desires all to come to repentance.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
A. Repentance begins with a realization that something is wrong and this understanding cuts to the heart.
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
1. The action of being cut or sorrowing leads one to godly sorrow.
8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
2. Godly sorrow leads to repentance which then leads to salvation.
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
2. God desires all to come to the knowledge of the truth.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
A. To come to the knowledge of the truth we need His Word.
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
B. To come to the knowledge of the truth we have to study His word.
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
C. This study leads to being right with God when we put into action in our lives.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
D. This is how knowledge leads to salvation.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
3. God requires us to remain faithful.
1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
A. We are to be faithful until death.
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
1. This means we are to fight the good fight of faith and take hold of eternal life .
12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
A. There are a lot of action verbs in this verse.
1. Fight
2. Take
3. Called
4. Made
2. God’s Word provides everything for the lost soul to come to Him.
Body:
1. God provided us a rational mind.
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
A. We have the ability to examine evidence and reason together to evaluate whether something is true or not.
26 Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted.
1. The truth can be known.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
A. It is because the truth can be known that we should reason together over differences so as to not be divided.
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
2. God provided nature so that we can know of His existence.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
A. His creation screams that there is a creator who made it.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
3. God provided His Word so that we can be led to Him.
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
A. God’s Word is the path that leads to the Father.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
1. Going through God’s Word is the only path to the Father.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
A. Jesus is “the Word” that leads to the Father.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
4. God provided His Word so we can know Him.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
A. God’s Word Tells us who He is...
1. He is light.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
2. He is love.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
3. He is faithful.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
4. He is merciful.
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
5. God provided His Word so that we can be pleasing to Him.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
A. God provided His Word so we can escape the corruption that is in the world.
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
6. God provided His Word so we can know Christ and what He did for us.
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
7. God provided Christ so we can be saved.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Conclusion:
1. God’s Word provides everything for the lost soul to come to Him.
A. God’s Word provides the Plan of salvation so man can be redeemed.
1. Hear
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2. Believe
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
3. Confess
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
4. Repent
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
5. Be Baptized for the remission of your sins.
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
6. Remain faithful till death.
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
2.God has provided all of this so you can know Jesus Christ died for you.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
A. Have you taken advantage of what God provides if not what are you waiting for?
1. Jesus Died for you don’t neglect that but embrace it.