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John 10: 22-30
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. Last time we began to study the doctrine of perseverance. Perseverance is the drive within a true Christian’s heart that makes them want to become more and more like Christ every day. True Christians have such a desire because they understand in their heart the magnitude of their salvation. They get that being saved is not about them, rather it is all about Christ. Today we are going to study the promise that true Christians will be recognized and restored. That is a promise of certainty. God knows His own, and He cannot, and will not forget any of them. To understand the drive that makes a true Christian keep on keeping on, we must also understand why perseverance applies only to such people! In our focal passage, Jesus makes a very clear statement of truth that must not be overlooked. Read v. 24-26 again. Those who didn’t then believe, (and don’t now believe) are not saved! Someone will say, “Pastor that might be just a little too dogmatic, you can’t say that!” You would be right, I can’t say that, but I can quote Christ, and He can certainly say it! And here is the point of truth and reality Christ is making: Only those who are truly saved can and will believe Christ and all His teachings! ALL Christ’s teachings are the God breathed law of God, and how to live it daily as God intended. What makes that statement true? The truth of the indwelling Holy Spirit in a redeemed heart! Read John 16:4-15. Jesus is telling The eleven disciples (Judas had already left to go betray Jesus) that one of the most important ministries of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to guide us in understanding all truth, by declaring the truth to us. Beginning in Romans 12, Paul explains what being led by the Spirit means as he teaches what the life of a real Christian looks like. He also told the Galatians how to tell a real Christian. Read Gal. 5:13-26. All these passages, and many more, describe to us in clear, simple terms what the life of a true Christian looks like. Only a true Christian can make the choice to live in total submission to The Holy Spirit. That is because only a true Christian has experienced the death of self and their sinful nature. Their re-creation in Christ not only permits them to believe ALL of what Christ teaches –and ALL of Scripture teaches, but gives them the desire to do so. The unsaved have no idea or concept of God’s redeeming grace or most other attributes of God. Because they are unsaved, they aren’t living a lie, they are just dead in sin, living the only kind of life they can live! They may be to some degree, morally upright, honest and respected. But they are that way only for what being so will bring to them. In a pinch, or when given a choice they will always opt for the way that brings to them the best outcome. On the other hand, a carnal Christian, the person who is saved, but refuses to let the Holy Spirit lead them in transforming their lives into the image of Christ will be judged for knowing the truth and willfully, purposefully refusing to live the truth of God’s saving, and life-changing grace to all other people as it is revealed in Scripture! Why does a true Christian keep on doing all God asks His adopted children to do? The best answer is because they are vividly aware of what God in the Person of Jesus Christ has already done for them. True Christians do not live in harmony with all God says because they want what He has for them, now or in the future! True Christians live in harmony with all God says because of what they have already received from salvation alone! Being transformed into the image of Christ, and obeying all God’s commands and precepts are not burdensome or grievous to a true Christian! Extreme obedience is the least they can do from an eternally grateful heart that they have been redeemed! True Christians don’t live with the attitude “what can I get?” They live with the attitude of “how much I already have!” True Christians don’t ask what God can do for them, they ask what they can do for God!
If we can help you with your spiritual questions, call us at 574-643-9419.
