The Church of God

abide is the key word in the first two chapters 

Fellowship with God is essential if we are going to be what God want’s us to be

1Tim.3:15 says that the Church is the pillar and ground of truth.

Christian’s have certain responsibilities to the Church

1.      Your “presence”

a)         Hebrews 10:23-25 stir up love & good works, not forsaking the assembling, exhorting one another

b)        Proverbs 27:17 iron sharpening iron

c)         Galatians 6:1-2 bearing one another’s burdens

d)        James 5:16 confess your trespasses, pray for one another 

e)         1John 2:19 you must continue in the church

2.      Your “prayers”

a)         Praying daily for the fellowship that you belong to.

(1)        Pastors, Teachers, Staff members, Activities & ministries

(2)        1Cor.16:15-18; Phil.2:25-29

(3)        1Thess.5:12-13; Heb.13:7, 17-18

3.      Your “participation”

a)         You ought to be involved in something

(1)        Sunday morning & Wednsday night service,  Communion service, Prayer meetings

The Word of God

1.      You owe it to yourself to study the Word of God

a)         Acts 17:11 Be a Berean, search the Scriptures

b)        John 5:39 The Scriptures testify of Jesus

c)         Jesus implies that we are to live by “every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

d)        Paul did not shun to declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

e)         All Scripture is given by inspiration of God & is profitable (2Tim.3:16)

This is why at Calvary we teach from Genesis to Revelation, the whole counsel of God.

Illustration:Matt.4:5-7, Satan took scripture out of its context, not giving the whole counsel of God.

2.      You ought to store up the Word of God

a)         Joshua 1:8 God commanded Joshua to memorize the Law

b)        Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus was able to quote Scripture when faced with Satan

3.      You ought to share the Word of God

a)         Philippians 2:16 holding forth the Word of Life

b)        Psalm 119:13, 26

(1)        Love it (v.97,159)

(2)        Prize it (v.72, 128)

(3)        Meditate it (v.15, 23, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148)

(4)        Trust it (v.42)

(5)        Obey it (vv.1-8)

The Spirit of God (Galatians 5:16-21, 24)

1.      The Spirit of God enables us to overcome the flesh.

a)         The conflict (vv.16-17)

b)        The conquering (v.18)

c)         The crucifixion (vv.19-21, 24)

d)        The production (vv.22-23, 25-26)

The Son of God

1.      Practically speaking, what kind of things does a person do?

Scripture says the following:

Abiding in Christ means:

a)         A person confesses that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (1John 4:15-16)

b)        A person walks & fellowships with Christ (1Jn.2:6; Ps.16:11the narrow gate; Prov.3:5-6)

c)         A person openly confesses his sin before God (1Jn.1:6-10)

d)        A person continues in the Word of Christ (Jn.8:31-32)

e)         A person lets the Word of God abide in their life (1Jn.2:14, 24)

f)          A person experience the presence of the indwelling Spirit (1Jn.4:12-13)

g)        A person has power to live like he should (Jn.15:7)

h)         A person dwells in love, unity, & fellowship with other believers (Jn.17:21-23; 1Jn.4:16, 20)

i)          A person bears fruit & lives a fruitful life (Jn.15:5; Gal.5:22-23)

j)          A person lives & walks in love toward others (1Jn.4:12-13)

k)         A person continues in the church  (1Jn.2:19; 3:6)

l)          A person possesses confidence, an unashamedness in life that prepares him for eternity (1Jn.2:28)

m)       A person actively surrenders himself to obey God’s commandments (1Jn.3:24)

n)         A person loves his brother (1Jn.2:10; 3:14-15)

o)         A person does the will of God (1Jn.2:17) 

APPEAR

A. Appear—the coming again of Jesus, “to come alongside” or “be present with”

1.      Hebrews 9:24-28 refers to three appearings of Jesus

a)         v.26—The first appearing to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, to be crucified.

b)        v.24—The present appearing, He is in heaven praying for you & me

c)         v.28—The second coming of Jesus

This should cause us to live every moment for our Lord

Having certain attitudes in relation to His coming

If you are “looking” for the coming of the Lord, there will be a sense of urgency in your soul that will vitalize everything you do for God.  It will put enthusiasm & fire in your service for God!

Loving: 2Timothy 4:8

1.      Do you love Jesus?  Then do you love His appearing?

There is a difference between “loving Jesus” & “loving His appearing”

a)         Give illustration of Kristi catching me drinking out of the “milk carton”

I love her but at that moment I didn’t love her “appearing”

(1)        We must be careful not to be entangled with the affairs of this life (2Tim.2:4 cf. Matt.13:22)

Living: Titus 2:11-13

1.      Grace teaches us (v.12)

a)         To deny ungodliness (1Cor.6:9-10; Gal.5:19-21; Eph.5:3-6)

b)        To live soberly & righteously (1Thess.5:2-6)

c)         To be looking for the “imminent”  & “at any moment return” of Christ (1Thess.5:6; Titus 2:13; Rev.3:3)

d)        Hebrews 9:28

ASHAMED

Appear

1.      Christ will return for His Church (John 14:1-3 cf. Rev.22:12)

2.      The Judgement Seat of Christ (2Corinthians 5:9-10; Romans 14:10-12)

3.      Why is it helpful to know about eternal rewards?

a)         When hard times come, they give us refreshing help & hope.

b)        Encourages us when we feel weary and overlooked (Heb.6:10)

c)         Provides motivation to continue in the service of the King.

d)        Good information to pass along when others are discouraged.

4.      The time and place of rewards (1Corinthians 3:5-15)

a)         The Work (vv.6-8) – Paul uses a farming metaphor to describe how believers work together in the church.

b)        The Principle (vv.11-13) – although believers work as a team, God issues rewards individually.

c)         The Quality (vv.14-15) – in His eyes, one golden deed done in love outweighs a truckload of straw.

5.      Who is our Judge?  When will this occur?

a)         Christ is our Judge, He alone knows our motives and will have proper Judgment.

b)        1Thessalonians 4:16-17

6.      The Crowns

Two types of Crowns:

a)         diadema “a blue band trimmed with white, on the tiara, hence a symbol of royalty.

Revelation 19:11-12 – this crown represents regal supremacy and is reserved for Christ alone.

b)        stephanos “the wreath or victors crown”

This represents worthy service

·         The imperishable crown (1Cor.9:24-25)

·         The crown of exultation or joy (Phil.4:1; 1Thess.2:19-20)

·         The crown of righteousness (2Tim.4:7)

·         The crown of life (James 1:12)

·         The crown of glory (1Pet.5:1-4)

c)         One more “Crown” that makes all others possible (Mark 15:16-20)

d)        Our response: to cast our crowns at His feet (Rev.4:10) & worship the Lamb that was slain (5:11-13)

Acceptable

1.      Every Christian is “accepted” (Eph.1:6); “imputed righteousness”

There is a difference between being “accepted” & “acceptable”

2.      Some Christians will be “ashamed”

Being caught off guard, to shrink back; to sense guilt and disgrace; to feel embarrassment.

a)         The Return of Christ should inspire us to Godly living (1John 3:3)

b)        The Bible tells us to redeem the time, buy up the opportunity, take advantage of the time that God has given us (Eph.5:15-16)

PRACTING RIGHTEOUSNESS

Living in the Light: Ephesians 5:8-14

1.      The Contrast – v.8

2.      The Characteristic – vv.9-10

a)         Goodness – “moral excellence, to being good in both nature & effectiveness”

Goodness finds its fullest & highest expression in that which is willingly & sacrificially done for others.

(1)        1Thessalonians 5:15

(2)        2Thessalonians 1:11

(3)        Galatians 5:22

b)        Righteousness – “this has to do with how we live,” those who are made righteous are commanded to live righteously.

(1)        Romans  6:13

(2)        1Timothy 6:11

(3)        1John 2:29

3.      The Command – vv.11a

4.      The Commission – vv.11b-13

5.      The Call – v.14

Practical Righteousness: Ephesians 6:14

1.      Breastplate of Righteousness

a)         Obedience – This is to live in a daily, moment by moment obedience to our heavenly Father.

b)        Holy Living – (1Jn.2:6; 1Pet.1:13-16; 2Tim.1:9)

c)         He supplies the standard & power but we supply the willingness –we must work it out (Phil.2:12-13)

2.      Failure to be armed with this piece of armor will:

a)         Cause fruitlessness

b)        Cause loss of reward (1Cor.3:12-15)

c)         Bring reproach on God’s glory (Titus 2:10)

3.      The Victory is in:

a)         Putting on the armor of righteousness (2Cor.6:7)

b)        Abstaining from fleshly lusts (1Pet.2:11)

c)         Letting our light shine before men (Matt.5:16; Phil.2:14-16)

d)        Taking every thought captive (2Cor.10:5)

e)         Setting our mind on things above not on things of the earth (Col.3:2)

f)          Casting off the works of darkness & putting on the armor of light (holy living cf. Rom.13:12)

g)        Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ & making no provisions to fulfill the flesh(Rom.13:14)