CAMDENTON MO 2-9-97 PM
INTRODUCTION
When a farmer has broken a field, harrowed and planted it, fertilized and cultivated it diligently, yet is able to reap nothing but thorns and thistles he could not be blamed for setting a torch to the field and moving elsewhere to try again.
Thisis Paul's picture of some Christians, once enlightened and tasting the heavenly blessings, but who had turned from the same. Paul is sure his present readers are not of that sort, but will produce fruit of the type sown...will produce "things that accompany salvation."
It is to be expected that the life which has received salvation from sin should produce, at least the following;
I. Love - this is the very essence of the seed planted in our hearts by Christ.
A. God is Love - (1 John 4:8 KJV) "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
B. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
C. We must love man or we do not love God. (1 John 4:20 KJV) "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"
D. It is by this charactoristic that men know we are His disciples. (John 13:35 KJV) "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
E. We are even to love our enemies. (Mat 5:44 KJV) "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
II. Work - it is inconceivable that one could claim to be afollower of Christ and not be a worker for Him.
A. Christ's own example;
1. (John 4:32 KJV) "But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of."
(John 4:34 KJV) "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."
2. (Acts 10:38 KJV) "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
B. God's work - (John 5:17 KJV) "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work."
C. He seeks workers for the harvest.
1. (John 4:35-36 KJV) "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. {36} And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."
2. (Mat 9:38 KJV) "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
III. Worship
A. David's attitude - (Psa 122:1 KJV) "A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."
B. The ealiest Christians gathered with joy for worship to God.
1. (Acts 2:46 KJV) "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,"
2. (Acts 5:42 KJV) "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."
IV. Understanding
A. The Savior considered our lost state, put Himself in our place and redeemed us. (Heb 2:17-18 KJV) "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. {18} For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."
B. The followers of Christ must also be understanding and considerate of one another;
1. To provoke to love and good works. (Heb 10:24 KJV) "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"
2. To bear one another's burdens. (Gal 6:2 KJV) "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
3. To share Joy and Sorrow. (Rom 12:15 KJV) "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
4. To win the lost to Christ. (1 Cor 9:22 KJV) "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."
CONCLUSION
A. In the next lesson we will consider the following things that accompany salvation; Peace, Sacrifice, Joy.
B. This week we have seen that Love, Work, Worship, and Understanding should accompany salvation.
C. It is through such things as this that we will "with faith and patience inherit the promises."
D. That is of course the promises of eternal life, but before one can inherit these promises s/he must first obey the gospel.
1. Hear (Rom. 10:17)
2. Believe (John 14:1)
3. Repent (Lk. 13:3)
4. Confess (Mt. 10:32-33)
5. Baptism (Acts 2:38)
E. Having then done those things one must be diligent "unto the fulness of hope even to the end: that we be not sluggish, but imitatiors of them whoul through faith and patience inherit the promises." Heb 6:11-12.
F. Won't you then determine to obey the gospel and then endeaver to walk in those things which accompany salvation.