Why Did God Save Me?

10,000 sermons

Angus McGillivray Gave It All

In Ernest Gordon’s true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp, Through the Valley of the Kwai, there is a story that never fails to move me. It is about a man who through giving it all away literally transformed a whole camp of soldiers. The man’s name was Angus McGillivray. Angus was a Scottish prisoner in one of the camps filled with Americans, Australians, and Britons who had helped build the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai. The camp had become an ugly situation. A dog-eat-dog mentality had set in. Allies would literally steal from each other and cheat each other; men would sleep on their packs and yet have them stolen from under their heads. Survival was everything. The law of the jungle prevailed...until the news of Angus McGillivray’s death spread throughout the camp. Rumors spread in the wake of his death. No one could believe big Angus had succumbed. He was strong, one of those whom they had expected to be the last to die. Actually, it wasn’t the fact of his death that shocked the men, but the reason he died. Finally they pieced together the true story.

The Argylls (Scottish soldiers) took their buddy system very seriously. Their buddy was called their “mucker,” and these Argylls believed that is was literally up to each of them to make sure their “mucker” survived. Angus’s mucker, though, was dying, and everyone had given up on him, everyone, of course, but Angus.

He had made up his mind that his friend would not die. Someone had stolen his mucker’s blanket. So Angus gave him his own, telling his mucker that he had “just come across an extra one.”

Likewise, every mealtime, Angus would get his rations and take them to his friend, stand over him and force him to eat them, again stating that he was able to get “extra food.” Angus was going to do anything and everything to see that his buddy got what he needed to recover.

But as Angus’s mucker began to recover, Angus collapsed, slumped over, and died. The doctors discovered that he had died of starvation complicated by exhaustion. He had been giving of his own food and shelter. He had given everything he had—even his very life. The ramifications of his acts of love and unselfishness had a startling impact on the compound. “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12).

As word circulated of the reason for Angus McGillivray’s death, the feel of the camp began to change. Suddenly, men began to focus on their mates, their friends, and humanity of living beyond survival, of giving oneself away. They began to pool their talents—one was a violin maker, another an orchestra leader, another a cabinet maker, another a professor. Soon the camp had an orchestra full of homemade instruments and a church called the “Church Without Walls” that was so powerful, so compelling, that even the Japanese guards attended. The men began a university, a hospital, and a library system. The place was transformed; an all but smothered love revived, all because one man named Angus gave all he had for his friend. For many of those men this turnaround meant survival. What happened is an awesome illustration of the potential unleashed when one person actually gives it all away.

Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.

WHY DO YOU MAKE SACRIFICES?

WHAT COMPELS TO DO WHAT WE DO? Generally speaking, LOVE.

Why Did God send His Son? LOVE.

Have you been born again? Have you been forgiven of sin, cleansed by the blood of Jesus?

Why would God save us?

Why would God send His Son?

Why did Jesus die in our place?

I hope to answer these pressing questions from our passage today.

“FOR” in each verse and point.

“FOR” vs. 4 = διά dia; a prim. prep.; through, on account of, because of:

Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc.

“FOR” =vs. 8, 10 = γάρ gar; a contr. of γε ἄρα ge ara (verily then); for, indeed (a conjunc. used to express cause, explanation, inference or continuation):

Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc.

Because of God’s Love, He shows love, grace and workmanship in us!

WHY DID GOD SAVE ME?

For LOVE. 1-6

He loved us when when DIRTY. 1-3

He loved us when DEVILISH. 2

The prince of the power of the air - Satan.

We have an unseen enemy.

Unregenerate, we are related to Satan.

John 8:44 (KJV 1900)

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Non-Christians often ask the Christian, “But how can the God of love allow any of his creatures to suffer unending misery?” The question is, how can he not? The fact that God is love makes hell necessary.“Hell,” as E. L. Mascall once said, “is not compatible with God’s love; it is a direct consequence of it.” That was his way of stressing the fact that the very God who loves us is the one who respects our decisions. He loves us, but he does not force his love on us. To force love is to commit assault. He allows us to decide. He loves us, he encourages our response, he woos us, he pursues us, he urges us, but he does not force us, because he respects us.

He Loved us when DISOBEDIENT. 2 (Child of disobedience)

God does not love you for what you DO. Performing.

God does not love you for what you have done. Bad Past.

God does not love you for what you don’t do. Performing.

God does not love you for what you will do or don't do!

He loved us when DEAD! 1, 5

The World says, “Have fun, do what you want to do, sin is not bad, right is wrong and wrong is right. The Philosophy of the world is summed in the song titled: “Everything that kills me makes me feel alive.”

Addictions

Coveting

Lust

Selfishness

1 Peter 4:3–5 (KJV 1900)

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

1 Peter 4:6 (KJV 1900)

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Instead of living like the Spiritually dead, God has made us spiritually ALIVE because of His LOVE!

Colossians 2:13–14 (KJV 1900)

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

QUICKENED = συ-ζωο-ποιέω, -ῶ: 1 aor. συνεζωοποίησα; to make one alive together with another (Vulg. convivifico): Christians, τῷ Χριστῷ , with Christ, Eph. 2:5; σὺν τῷ Xp. Col. 2:13; in both these pass. new moral life is referred to.

Thayer, J. H. (1889). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: being Grimm’s Wilke's Clavis Novi Testamenti (p. 594). New York: Harper & Brothers.

In his book, Soul of a Hero, Steve Arterburn tells the story of a friend who was bucked off a horse.

When the horse knocked him off he fell into a metal gate, caving in his skull, instantly blinding his left eye, and breaking a slew of bones in his body. He spent the next two years in the hospital enduring more than 20 operations before he could go home again.

Those who were with my friend at the time of the accident said that as he hit the ground he began to scream and shout, twisting and turning violently from the pain. Then, in an instant he quietly settle down, not moving, and a look of peace came over his face.

Everyone thought he was dying or maybe was already dead. They knew not to touch him or move him but it took almost an hour for the life flight helicopter to arrive.

My friend later told me that in those moments that he felt the presence of God as he never felt it before or since. It was like a color a beautiful purple glow and all he felt was the presence of God was love - pure, strong ‘ eternal, and measurable love.

This love enveloped him so much that it empowered him-  anything wrong he had ever done in his past, calmed every fear he had in the present, and overcame his intense pain.

He felt the Lord speak to him telling him not to worry and that he would not die but recover. He also felt God impressed a verse of Scripture on his heart;

“The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord.”

My friend believes this was in reference to his blind eye which was not repairable.  my friend experienced the supernatural love of God and his power with so much stronger than any sense of his past which were at irrelevant in the brilliance of God’s divine power and love.

Make sure that those around you know you love them for who they are not what they do. Performance or “what you can do for me“ is not genuine love.

1 John 4:19 (KJV 1900)

We love him, because he first loved us.

For LOVE. 1-6

For GRACE. 7-9

Grace Through Faith is the Way into the vehicle/boat of Salvation.

Jesus is the Savoir and the way IN - is grace through faith.

Genesis 6:8 (KJV 1900)

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Get on board the ARK of Salvation. Be “In” Jesus!

Grace demonstrated God’s Kindness.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (χρηστότης)

Kindness = benignity, kindness:

Benignity = Benignity is any condition that is harmless in the long run. The opposite of benignity is malignity. “Sympathetic concern for the well-being of others.”

Grace demonstrates God’s Giving.

Today's Best Illustrations, Volumes 1-4 (Two Kinds of Grace)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate. Costly grace … is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Titus 3:4–8 (KJV 1900)

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

For LOVE. 1-6

For GRACE. 7-9

For Workmanship. 10

Workmanship = ποίημα =a work:—what has been made.

Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (ποίημα)

Workmanship = of the works of God as creator.

God Made You. God does not make Junk! Birth.

When He Saved You - HE REMADE YOU! New Birth!

He made you for good works! Contrast verses 2 and 10c.

He made it so you can “walk” in good works.

My Favorite Illustrations (A Mixed Response)

So often people give different responses to the same thing. Three people view a masterpiece in art. One exults in its beauty, another examines the workmanship, and the third is bored with the entire matter. Two people hear the same sermon. One is convicted of his sin, believes in Jesus, and is saved. The other hardens his heart, rejects Christ, and is lost.

People will have difference responses to your life. THAT is OK. The Response that matters - is God’s Response!

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (προ-ετοιμάζω)

ORDAINED = to prepare beforehand in mind and purpose, i. e. to decree, Eph. 2:10

Before you were born and before you were born again - God ordained or called you to a life of good works!

God prepared good works for you and He is preparing you for good works!

What good works are you doing? Are you using your Spiritual gift to serve the Lord and advance the GOSPEL?

There is always something to do in every life stage that can glorify the Lord and point others to Jesus if we would just do it!

New Cyclopaedia of Prose Illustrations (2616. Good Works, Manifesting)

GOOD WORKS, Those which are planted in the church must not conceal the grace they have received, no more than a tree doth his sap. We glory in the discovery of rich metals and precious stones which Nature hath buried in the sea; we suffer nothing of this great world to lie hid; we labor to bring it forth, to behold, to show it: so should we deal with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, which God hath treasured up in this little world of ours. True grace is diffusive: no tree can more strive to send forth fruit than it will to show itself in good works.

ANSWER the QUESTION: “WHY DID GOD SAVE ME???”

Have you been saved?

WHEN I was 7 years old, our pastor as preaching about Heaven and Hell. I responded to God’s call on my life to be saved.

Prayed with my father at my bedside that night.

God changed my life.

God changed my eternity.

HE Can do the same for you.

For LOVE. 1-6

For GRACE. 7-9

For Workmanship. 10

RESPONSE: WHAT DO WE DO?

Love God with all your heart soul and mind.

Show Grace to Others, giving better than they deserve.

Glorify God as His Workmanship doing the good works He prepared for you.