RLCF Sermons

4. Salvation: Perfected through suffering: Jesus’ life was the first through whom God demonstrated that perfect salvation is possible (Hebrews 2:10). When the Son of Man came down to earth, He put Himself in a position of submission where He too needed to be “saved”… from death (Hebrews 5:7). Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). Because He was made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). God “beautifies” your affliction with salvation (Psalm 149:4)

3. Salvation: Birth and Growth: Salvation comes when the heart is set toward repentance (Luke 19:9). We face the choice in our affliction: either resentment which drives us away from God; or repentance which we will not regret and which results in salvation (II Corinthians 7:9-10). If you haven’t experienced it yet, now is the right time for this birth of salvation (II Corinthians 6:2). After the birth of our salvation, there must be the “growing up” to salvation (I Peter 1:23-2:3). Salvation comes through sanctification by the Spirit (II Thessalonians 2:13). The salvation that God works in us, we must then work out with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13). We work out our salvation by saying “No!” to ungodliness through the grace of God (Titus 2:11-12). If we persevere in paying close attention to our conduct and teaching, we will insure salvation of both us and those who hear us (I Timothy 4:16).

What salvation is not: only being being saved from hell; only forgiveness of sins; forgiveness was available even under the Old Covenant (Psalm 103:3), and is only the beginning of the knowledge of salvation (Luke 1:76-77) 1. Jesus is Salvation: Salvation in your trial is not some thing, but Jesus Himself! Simeon, looking at Jesus, proclaimed: “My eyes have seen Thy salvation” (Luke 2:30). God repeatedly told His people: “I am your salvation” (Isaiah 12:2; Psalm 35:3; Psalm 38:22; Psalm 62:2,6,7; Psalm 68:19; Psalm 118:14,21). 2. Salvation: The Holy Spirit’s secret work: Like Jesus grew hidden in Mary’s womb after He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, our salvation grows in secret (Matthew 1:20). The work of salvation produces the obedience of faith (not of reason) like it did in Joseph and Mary. The work of salvation brings reproach and misunderstanding, not popularity (Luke 6:26; Matthew 5:11-12).

2. Faith in God’s Purpose: Ruth had a personal identification with God’s purpose: “God, You will be my God,” “Your people shall be my people,” “nothing shall separate me from God’s purposes” (Ruth 1:6-17). “The Lord will reward your work… the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge” (Ruth 2:11-12). 3. Works of Faith: Rahab was disobedient like the others in Jericho, but did not perish because of her faith (Hebrews 11:31). Rahab was justified by her works (James 2:14-26). Just as in the natural, the proof that your spirit is alive is your functioning body, in the spiritual, the proof that you have faith is your works. 4. Building God’s House: God spoke to Zerubbabel because God’s people lived in comfort while God’s house was in ruin, and their name was not dishonored, but God’s Name was (Haggai 1:1-9). When Zerubbabel responded in obedience, God promised Him, “I’m going to shake everything and then I will make you like a signet ring, because I have chosen you” (Haggai 2:20-23). This promise was fulfilled in Christ (Isaiah 42:1; 43:10).

1. Responsibility and Repentance: In order to experience God’s promise we must first see sin as exceedingly sinful (Romans 7:13) and God’s anger against sin must burn within us. The beginning of the pathway to the promise is that when the Holy Spirit convicts saying, “You are the man!” your response, like David’s, is “I have sinned” (II Samuel 12:5-13). The beginning of the pathway to destruction, on the other hand, is to give excuses like Adam did (Genesis 3:11-12). We learn from Jesus’ example that if you want to be happiest person on earth, you must love righteousness and hate sin (Psalm 45:7). The joy that is triumphant in every circumstance of your life is not a joy that you can manufacture, but the joy that God pours over your life. We learn from the 2 thieves on the cross beside Jesus that even in the very presence of the work of salvation, you can miss it, if you don’t take responsibility and repent of your sin. God says, “Only acknowledge your sin… and I will bring you to Zion.” (Jeremiah 3:13-15)

The only thing that limits God from doing works of power in and through us is unbelief (Matthew 13:58). Faith Lesson #1: Christ came to save sinners and to use us as an example of His grace (I Timothy 1:12-16; Ephesians 2:4-7). Faith Lesson #2: Give yourself with abandon to God because He gave Himself with abandon to you! (I Timothy 4:9-10 MSG; Romans 8:31-32): serve like a bondslave (Luke 17:1-10); be rich toward God (I Timothy 6:18-19); leave nothing undone that you ought to do (II Timothy 4:5). Faith Lesson #3: Look to the Promiser, not the answer (I Timothy 3:11-12; II Timothy 4:18): Abraham did not look at the circumstance, but at God (Romans 4:18-22; Genesis 22:17-18); true faith will outlive your life (Hebrews 11:13).

At the appearing of Christ, there will be those who, like Adam, will be afraid and hide because the nakedness of their secret sin will be exposed (Genesis 3:10). As children of God, however, we can come boldly into God’s presence because we are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:12-16). The crown of righteousness is not a reward for good works. This is the righteousness of God: that you can do nothing of yourself, but only out of the life of God in you! (John 5:19,21,26) You will experience this life only if you seek the glory of the one and only God! (John 5:44) Paul’s desire was that He would not be found with his own righteousness, but be “found in Christ”. (Philippians 3:9) Jesus rejected the foolish virgins because His life was not in them. (Matthew 25:1-12)

Living only to please God

1. Fight the Good Fight: There is only one “good fight”(Ephesians 6:12); Be specific and focused in your battles (I Corinthians 9:24-27); This is a fight! There's no such thing as “coasting” into heaven. 2. Finish the Course: Don't consider your life on any account as dear to yourself; Let there be no smell of self-preservation (Acts 20:17-38). 3. Keep the Faith: It’s not about the facts (of your trial); It’s not even about your failure; It’s about your faith (Luke 22:25-32).

Why God delays victory