Goodmorning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that I wanted to share something with you.
When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to do something really fun with some friends over summer vacation. I got to go on a 10 day bike trip across Northern Minnesota. It was an absolutely beautiful summer, and we got to do a lot of camping which is something that I really enjoy. Each and every morning we got up early, packed up our belongings, and began to pedal another fifty miles down the road. If we didn’t continue steadfastly each and every day, we would never have gotten to our final destination.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
In order to arrive at our final destination and enter into eternal life, we must continue to abide in God’s Holy Word. Each and every day we need to continue steadfastly in the teachings and doctrines contained in the New Testament of Christ.
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
In order to be a follower of Jesus Christ, if requires following the things that He teaches. To be a disciple of Christ, it requires discipline, getting up each day and continuing to do the will of God. “Continue” is defined in the dictionary as to proceed and prolong a certain activity, or to resume, stay and abide. The Christian life is like a race that you run each and every day without stopping, until you step across the finish line at judgement day. Sadly there will be some people who begin the Christian Life but never complete the race. Whatever the reason may be, they simply give up, throw in the towel and quit. Some don’t want to suffer and be persecuted. Some love the world so much that they simply can’t let it go.
Matthew 13:20-22 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
The true disciple of Jesus must cross the finish line and win the race. This requires counting the cost before you attempt it. You are either all the way in, or all the way out.
Luke 14:28-32 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Abide means to remain or to conform to the rules. It means to accept wholeheartedly without objection. Christians are called to conform and transform through belief and application of scriptural truth. How can someone profess to be a Christian yet completely reject the teachings of the Christian Church? How can you be a follower of Jesus and not follow the things He taught? This is not being freed from sins, its living in them. People want to believe that they’re going to heaven, yet reject the teachings of the one who died on the cross to get us there. That is certainly not love for our precious Lord who bled for us. Those who choose to live in sin, will reap the wages of sin. Without repentance and submission to the will of God, faith is not existent.
2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Christianity is more than getting baptized or accepting Jesus as your Savior. It is a day by day walk of obedience and yielding your will to His. It is about denying yourself and what you want out of this life, to become what God wants you to be. He must be come greater, and we must be come lesser.
1 John 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
Just like an infant needs milk to grow into maturity, we need to continue to grow in God’s Word each day, maturing into the person He wants us to become. We need to hear it, believe it, and do it, in order to obtain a blessing from God.
Luke 11:27-28 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
The dictionary defines a disciple as somebody who learns from another, and an active follower and adherent of their doctrines. When you disciple others it means to convert, train, educate and teach them. To be a disciple of Jesus you must adhere to the things that He teaches which means to be joined together in beliefs and principals. It also means to walk in accordance with and to agree.
……….And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
In order for our lives to be purified from sin, we must become sanctified by the application of biblical truth. No education, no application: no application, no sanctification.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
If you’re not going to believe it, and ultimately do what it says, it’s obvious that you won’t be purified from anything.
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Salvation depends on walking day by day in obedience to the truth of God’s Word. Each day is another chapter in our book, as we live faithfully for Christ. It is a story of submission, a story in progress, and a story……
…….To Be Continued
Let’s think about these things for right now, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 