Baptist Christian Church

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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.

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John 6:35-40

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. We are going to begin to study the doctrine of perseverance! Both OT and NT are saturated with passages that teach our daily lives, day in and day out, reveal the truth of whether or not our salvation is real or fake! As we study this foundational doctrine, it will become evident to you that no one can hide the truth of redemption. It is here Num. 32:23 catches up with the hypocrites, liars, fakes, and wolves in sheep’s clothing and their sin finds them out! Here is the focal question the doctrine of perseverance answers: Listen carefully! Can a true Christian lose their salvation? Key word there being “true!” Here is a question for you; would a true Christian want to lose their salvation? Here is how one theologian defines perseverance: “All those who are truly born again will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives, and that only those who persevere until the end have been truly born again.”

There are 2 distinct truths of this doctrine. 1^st = All those who are truly born again are kept by God’s power. This is God’s part in perseverance. Read 1 Peter 1:3-7. The Holy Spirit actually inspired Paul to write all true Christians are “guarded by God’s power” in v. 3. It means “to guard or watch intensely/closely/attentively! It is used in Scripture when one is guarded as a prisoner, or captive, so they can’t escape, or be lost! The idea is when God is doing the keeping or guarding, loss or escape is impossible. So the assurance to the true Christian is that God makes it His business to guard them, protect them in such a way that they cannot lose their salvation, and will spend eternity with Him in His heaven! The 2^nd truth of this doctrine is, All those who are truly born again will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives. Why does a true Christian persevere? Voddie Baucham gives a simple, straight forward answer, that is also a great philosophy for the Christian life. A true Christian understands it clearly. Mr. Baucham says salvation is “What Christ has done on our behalf, to the glory of The Father, through the Cross.” The reason, the real reason a true Christian will persevere in the Christian life as a man or woman of God is because of what Christ has done on their behalf! Let’s look at some Biblical passages that speak to perseverance in the Christian life. Let’s start with:

THE TEACHING OF JESUS. John 6:35-40. His promise of being received and resurrected. Notice 3 truths about this promise of Jesus.

1. It is universal. There is not now, nor has there ever been a person who could not spend eternity in heaven if they wanted to. No one is ever too bad for God to save. There is no reason any person can’t be saved; there are only excuses people conjure up. Jesus’ promise is also:

2. It is Unfailing = Remember, when God says, “I will, or I will not” it is absolutely certain. God never, never, makes us guess or wonder what He will do, or how He will respond to His own promises and His own will. Finally, God’s promise

3. Is unique! Here is a truth you apply to many of God’s promises: They are universal invitations with individual applications. Do you see the conditional part here? Whoever and all must accept/believe and act on the invitation. The only way any person can have anything from God is to DO what He tells us we must do!  A true Christian is always looking to and believing in Jesus, no matter when, where, how, or why things happen in daily living, they always continue to look to and believe in Jesus as Savior. It is the continual or persevering way of life that is meant here.

If we can help you with your spiritual questions, call us at 574-643-9419.

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Colossians 3:1-4

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. We have studied God’s part in our sanctification, and we have studied our part in our sanctification. We have learned we are sanctified or set apart completely when we are saved, and we refer to that as our positional sanctification where God sees us as completely pure because He is looking at us through Christ’s righteousness. As I often do, I am using the outline of one of my favorite theologians. Let’s look into some of the blessings of our sanctification beginning with the:

1. COMPLETENESS OF OUR SANCTIFICATION. Like so many other facets of our salvation, our sanctification affects our entire person. Many people believe humans are tripartite, meaning they have a soul, spirit, and body. Many others believe we are bipartite, meaning only body and soul. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Paul teaches us sanctification affects our mind or knowledge or intellect. Read Col 3:1-11. Notice how what we do, and what God does is all interrelated! When we do what we are supposed to do, He does what He is supposed to do. Sanctification also affects our emotions. Our emotions are the expressions of our character. Our character is who we really are. Someone once said your character is who you are when no one is around! Our sanctification also affects our will. Our will is our desire toward anything. Here is a truth for you to remember: We are never to look at Scripture through life, but we look at life through Scripture. If we do that our will or desires will be in line with what God “wills/desires” for us. Sanctification also affects our spirit. When we get to the spirit part of life we are dealing with the deep rooted fundamentals of our life. In our spirit is where the real truth about the motives and intents of our lives are found. Read 2Cor. 7:1, 2. God is telling us even our most inward thoughts must be sanctified. You will notice Scripture tells us we are to cleanse ourselves… That means we must make a conscious effort to change the way we are in the very essence of our being. When we have made every effort to change the way we are inside, then our sanctification also E. affects our physical body. You can tell when a person is allowing the Lord to have sovereign control over their life because it shows in their physical life. Everything about them changes for the better. Let’s look at:
2. THE CAUSES OF OUR SANCTIFICATION. One writer gives this summary list of motivations or causes of our sanctification. One truth we must understand is: all cause or motivation for sanctification begins with desire to please and obey God. Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” And, “He who has my commands and keeps them, it is he who loves me.” John 14:15, 21. A 2^nd cause of sanctification is the need to keep a clear conscience before God. Read 1 Tim. 1:3-7. Paul is saying, be careful not to get caught up in meaningless discussion about untruths, what might happen or be; and focus on all things God. A 3^rd cause for sanctification is to see others come to Christ, listen, by watching our lives as we live a life pleasing to God. Allowing the Lord to work in your life in such a dynamic way, that someone asks you to help them have the life you have, is the best blessing of sanctification.

If we can help you with spiritual questions, call us at 574-643-9419.

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Romans 12:1-8

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. Just as any child is expected to learn to do many different things that will make them productive as adults, God expects His adopted children to learn to do many different things that will make them productive members of Christ’s body! I’m using an outline from a prominent theologian as a guide. Let’s start with what is probably the hardest part for most of us:

1. CONCEDING TO GOD. In Rom. 12:1 we are told to “Present our bodies as living sacrifices to God…” In Rom. 6 we are told to “yield our members to God as instruments of righteousness…” Conceding or yielding or giving up, anything to anyone is hard for us because the old sin nature still wants us to put us 1^st. Conceding, yielding, presenting, giving and a host of other such words are all synonyms for “humility.” This 1^st step in sanctification is demands we allow God to have His way in conforming us to Christ’s image, which is one of the main tenants of sanctification. Read Rom. 8:12, 13. Do you see how God is teaching us our sanctification is a unified effort involving both God and us? Look at v. 13. If you live according to the flesh you will die, but, now watch closely, if – by the Spirit – you – put to death… Your active role in your sanctification is you killing/stopping/eliminating from your life the ungodliness and unrighteousness that infected it before your salvation. Look again at v. 13. If you.. BUT if –now look and see with your eyes and heart! But if BY THE SPIRIT – you… If you want God’s help, you must change your perspective. Now in all this remember, this is a process, not an event. Change, even God’s way, more often than not takes time, perseverance, and patience, and practice! Notice the next step in progressive sanctification is:
2. CLEANSING THE TEMPLE OF GOD. Read 2 Cor. 7:1, then 1 Thess. 4:1-5. Notice 1^st God’s will is for our sanctification. God wants His adopted children to be sanctified, set apart, separated for all ungodliness and unrighteousness; which is the message of this, and many other passages in both OT/NT. Another way we cleanse the temple is: B. Make every effort to become sanctified. Read 2 Peter 1:1-11. In the 1^st 4 vs, God is the Active Agent Who is giving to us what we cannot obtain through any efforts on our own. In v. 5 Peter says, “For this reason/because of what God has done/because of what He has given us = make every effort. How does one make every effort? It is simple, one simply chooses to become like Christ. As we cleanse the temple our progressive sanctification certainly leads us to:
3. CONFORMITY TO THE WORD OF GOD. Read Phil 2:12, 13. The key phrase here is “work out your own salvation.” In Paul’s theology the work of salvation is an inward desire that is always being prompted by the indwelling Holy Spirit to obey all God says. That inward desire to obey is demonstrated outwardly by a life that conforms to the will of God as expressed in His Word, and under the scrutiny of witnesses both good and evil. To break old sinful habits is more often hard that easy, and requires extraordinary diligence and perseverance over the long haul. Only a redeemed heart surrendered to the will of God is infused with the divine power that supplies everything for righteousness and godliness!

If we can help you with your spiritual questions, call us at 574-643-9419.