Working out our Salvation
What kind of attitude should we have towards preaching the Gospel to our unsaved friends and loved ones? Am I ashamed of the Gospel?
Romans 1:16
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
Just as we preach the Gospel so that others can have salvation as a gift, we must live by the transformation this gift has made in our lives – by changing our Beliefs and Behaviour (eg. Sin no more)
Implication – If our Beliefs and Behaviour is not changed, we might lose our own salvation!
Philippians 2:12
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”
Next question, we should we have “fear and trembling”? See below, day of destruction is near..
2 Peter 3:10-12
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.”
Hence, REPENT before the Lord!! Forgive the people you need to forgive, ask for a new life! Ask God to convict you with Godly Sorrow that will RENEW your Salvation AFRESH IN HIM. Beware of “worldly sorrow” for it “brings death”!! How many people do you know are being tormented right now by worldly sorrow? Depression, suicidal thoughts, slashing of wrists. Do you know that you can save them from this torment they have by preaching the Gospel?
2 Cor 7:10
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
What do we do to work out our Salvation? We all know that the last words of a departed person is usually among the most important things, so what did Jesus say before He departed from earth?
Implication – Jesus commanded us, you and me to carry on the work of the Great Commission that he gave to the first disciples. Remember that He is ALWAYS with us!! How? Thru the Holy Spirit, He will make us able to preach the Gospel!! And as we continue preaching His Word, He will teach us how to preach it the way He meant it to be, He will ADD to our GIFTINGS to Strengthen our Ministry to Him. This is how we GROW.
Matthew 28:19-21
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Besides this, we know that we have already been given power from on high – which can manifest itself in the form of tongues (Baptism of The Holy Spirit -Acts Chap 1). SO GET THE POWER!! ASK GOD FOR POWER AND HIS GIFTINGS!!!
Luke 24:49
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
So how do we know that God’s Ministry of the Great Commission must be powered with POWER FROM ON HIGH?
Peter heals the Crippled Beggar - Acts 3: 1-10
In verse 6, Peter cannot give the beggar something he does not have. But what did peter had then? Power. Power of the Living God. How do we know that this miracle was done by God’s Power? The fact that this beggar has been lame from BIRTH!! And the fact that the Bible did not record anything like “and peter massaged the beggar’s legs and made him do some leg exercises before asking the beggar to stand!”
Key Message
This parable tells us that we are not to wait for things to happen, but rather, we are to go out FIRST to preach the good news, practice our faith…. THEN God will add unto us, He will UNABLE us to do HIS WORK!! For even greater and mightier works shall we do!!
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