Some Advantages Of Living Right In Salvation
INTRO: Last week I talked to the fathers about living a life that would keep people talking about us long after we are gone. Not the kind of life that keeps people talking like they did about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, or Bonnie and Clyde, or Dillinger, or the likes of Hitler and Mussolini, or Sadam and his sons, etc.
No I am talking about the part where I talked about living right (for the Lord). Just what are the advantages of living right? Doesn’t everyone know that good guys finish last? Well, that is what Satan would have us to believe. To be truthful, I think he does believe that as accurate. It is not the case when we look at life’s results.
So I want to examine some of the advantages in living right or serving God as Hew would have us to do. I know we could talk a lot about eternity, heaven and all that – yes that is an advantage! But I want to look at more than just that. Let’s start…
Ephesians 4:13-24 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: {14} That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; {15} But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: {16} From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. {17} This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, {18} Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: {19} Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. {20} But ye have not so learned Christ; {21} If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: {22} That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; {23} And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; {24} And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Living right before God brings us to peace with each other – vs. 13
Comes because of our knowledge of Christ – 13
Comes when we are full of Him – 13
Increases as we mature – 14
Spreads to others with the love we have – 15
We work together like a well-tuned machine (or body) – 16
Motives are pure – 17
We are close to God – 18
We are aware of what we have left behind – 22
Our attitude is right – 23
We are on the right side - 24
2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
That life is good (abundant)
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. {2} Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; {3} That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
1 John 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
The right changes will show for eternity
1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
The right changes remove our sin from our lives
1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
The right changes are shared with us (by His Spirit)
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
The right changes can happen because of Him
1 John 4:7-11 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. {8} He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. {9} In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. {10} Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. {11} Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 062208am